DOCSLIB.ORG

Submission to the Senate Inquiry Raaf Base, Pfos and Pfoa Contamination

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Submission to the Senate Inquiry Raaf Base, Pfos and Pfoa Contamination SUBMISSION TO THE SENATE INQUIRY RAAF BASE, PFOS AND PFOA CONTAMINATION DECEMBER 2015 Fred Haskins Fullerton Cove 2318 Back Ground I am 69 year old 3rd generation farmer, having been so for most of my working life, I have been a member of the NSW Farmers Association, for many years, during which time I have been an elected representative. (Executive Councillor, currently Region 7 Chair). The property at 272 Fullerton Cove Road, is currently owned by Gary and Elizabeth So, 3rd generation Australian Chinese farmers of Cantonese decent. The farm was originally purchase by Gary’s grandfather and operated as a Chinese market garden until the early 1970s. Gary and his cousin operate one of the largest Chinese Market Gardens at Kemps Creek Western Sydney, supplying fresh Asian vegetables to Harris Farm Markets. The Kemps Creek area has been earmarked for future urban expansion in the very near future, so as a result the decision was made to re-activate the farm at Fullerton Cove so as to be able to continue his business of supplying Asian vegetables to Harris Farm Markets. It was also decided that due to the increased high demand for organic food, this farm would be prepared to go down the path of Organic Certification. DESCRIPTION OF AREA LAYOUT AND SOIL MAKEUP The land to the east of Fullerton Cove is a low lying swampy area less than one metre above sea level, which then meet sand dune rises as nears the Pacific Ocean. The soil is made up of about 300 to 450 millimetres of black Hunter River flood plain Soil over 150 millimetres of clay, which is above sea sand ( The Tomago Sand Beds). The water table varies from at the surface level to approximately one metre below the surface during summer. The swamps are drained by numerous drain constructed at some time in the early 1900s, to allow the land to be used for agriculture ( mainly dairies and horticulture). The drainage systems were routinely maintained so as to keep the land productive. Since the decline of commercial agriculture and the land use more to rural lifestyle blocks, the maintenance of the drains has ceased. There are two main drains which run East to West, ( the fourteen foot drain and the ten foot drain) from East of and South of the RAAF Base to the north eastern shores of Fullerton Cove, where they discharge into the Circle Drain which runs from the northern shoreline of the Cove following the eastern shoreline, discharging into the Cove several kilometres south. Dawsons Drain runs north south draining surface water from the western side of The RAAF Base into the Circle Drain near the junctions of the Fourteen Foot Drain. PFOS AND PFOA CONTAMINATION There are two reported methods that the contaminatants are continuing (A) Groundwater via the Tomago Sand Beds, (B) Surface water via the complex drainage channels. Obviously the ground water contamination spread will be very difficult to control or remediate, however the contamination spread by the surface water by the drainage channels could be controlled or at least restricted so as not to further contaminate uncontaminated areas. The following shows a development plan application submitted to Port Stephens Shire council to construct a significant green house over the fourteen foot drain which has diverted contaminated surface run-off water into the ten foot drain. The plan does not appear to show rainwater roof runoff retention reservoir for this very large green house. The diversion of the water during heavy rainfall combined with the water shed from the green house will increase inundation of the land bounding these and the Circle Drain, thereby creating further contamination. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. That urgent maintenance cleaning of all artillery drains be instigated. 2. That Port Stephens Council (a) ensure all environmental requirements are implemented regarding water and nutrient discharges from Maria's Veggie Farm. (b) That a full impact study be carried out with regards to showing flow and flood implication resulting from the closure and diversion of waters from the fourteen foot drain into the Ten Foot drain. (c) That water flow from Dawsons Drain the Fourteen Foot Drain and Ten Foot drain exit into Fullerton Cove via the original drainage system at the northeast area of the Cove rather being diverted South via the Circle Drain to the flood gates. 3. That the Red Zone be extended to cover the drainage channels which disperse surface water from the contaminated area. 4. That both water and soil testing be carried out on an area 500 metres either side of these main drainage channels . IMPACTS ON INDUSTRY COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT The mental and financial impact on the owners and families of the primary industries either in or adjacent to the declared Red Zone has been substantial. The failure by both Federal and State Government Departments to adequately communicate with these agricultural industry group members has increased the anguish these farmers, fisherman, and prawn trawlers have suffered as a result of the contamination. The soil has been tested for the pollutant chemicals at my own expense , as I could not take the risk, both moral and financial of supplying vegetables that may have been grown in contaminated soils. The enforcement of commercial and recreational fishing bans have also affected those members of the community involved in tourism and service businesses. CONCLUSION It is apparent that the failure to notify the community of the contamination by the RAAF base when it was first discovered has angered the community, it likely resulted in a far wider area being contaminated. Substantial financial valuation losses to both business and land values are evident. Tourism is a significant industry in the Fullerton Cove which will also suffer as a result of the closure of waters for fishing. It is imperative that Government ensure that industry and community are informed as to the progress of remediation. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Newcastle Fortresses
    NEWCASTLE FORTRESSES Thanks to Margaret (Marg) Gayler for this article. During World War 2, Newcastle and the surrounding coast between Nelson Bay and Swansea was fortified by Defence forces to protect the east coast of New South Wales against the enemy, in case of attack from the Japanese between 1940 and 1943. There were the established Forts along the coastline, including Fort Tomaree, Fort Wallace (Stockton), Fort Scratchley, Nobbys Head (Newcastle East) and Shepherd’s Hill (Bar Beach) and Fort Redhead. The likes of Fort Tomaree (Nelson Bay), Fort Redhead (Dudley) and combined defence force that operated from Mine Camp (Catherine Hill Bay) came online during the Second World War to also protect our coast and industries like BHP from any attempt to bomb the Industries as they along with other smaller industries in the area helped in the war effort by supplying steel, razor wire, pith hats to our armed forces fighting overseas and here in Australia. With Australia at war overseas the Government of the day during the war years decided it was an urgency to fortify our coast line with not only the Army but also with the help of Navy and Air- Force in several places along the coast. So there was established a line of communication up and down the coast using all three defence forces involved. Starting with Fort Tomaree and working the way down to Fort Redhead adding a brief description of Mine Camp and the role of the RAAF, also mentioning where the Anti Aircraft placements were around Newcastle at the time of WW2.
    [Show full text]
  • PORT STEPHENS COUNCIL COMPREHENSIVE KOALA PLAN of MANAGEMENT (Ckpom)
    PORT STEPHENS COUNCIL COMPREHENSIVE KOALA PLAN OF MANAGEMENT (CKPoM) Prepared by Port Stephens Council with the Australian Koala Foundation June 2002 Port Stephens Council CKPoM - June 2002 Port Stephens Council Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management (CKPoM) – June 2002 This document is to be cited as: Port Stephens Council (2002). Port Stephens Council Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management (CKPoM) – June 2002. Prepared by Port Stephens Council with the Australian Koala Foundation. Enquiries should be directed to: Port Stephens Council PO Box 42 RAYMOND TERRACE NSW 2324 PH: (02) 4980 0255 FAX: (02) 4987 3612 EMAIL: [email protected] 2002 Port Stephens Council. 1 Port Stephens Council CKPoM - June 2002 Table of Contents Page 1. Introduction 4 2. Koala Habitat Identification 7 3. Ecological History 8 4. Habitat Conservation Measures 9 5. Development Assessment 13 6. SWOT Analyses 14 7. Habitat Restoration 26 8. Traffic Management 28 9. Dog Management 31 10. Feral Animal Management 34 11. Bushfires 35 12. Koala Welfare 37 13. Education 38 14. Tourism 41 15. Funding 43 16. Research 44 17. Monitoring 46 18. Implementation 49 19. Action Plan 51 20. Glossary of Terms 59 21. Abbreviations 61 22. References 62 23. Appendices 63 2 Port Stephens Council CKPoM - June 2002 List of Figures Figure 1. Koala Habitat Planning Map for the Port Stephens LGA Figure 2. Koala Management Units for the Port Stephens LGA Figure 3. Black Spots, Conflict Areas and Potential Problem Areas Figure 4. Guidelines for Koala Habitat Assessment Appendices Appendix 1. Justification for rezoning of selected areas of public land to Environmental Protection Appendix 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Inquiry Into the Management of PFAS Contamination in and Around Defence Bases
    PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Inquiry into the management of PFAS contamination in and around Defence bases Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade © Commonwealth of Australia ISBN 978-1-74366-909-9 (Printed Version) ISBN 978-1-74366-910-5 (HTML Version) This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License. The details of this licence are available on the Creative Commons website: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/au/. Contents Foreword .......................................................................................................................................... vii Members ............................................................................................................................................ ix Terms of Reference .......................................................................................................................... xv Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................. xvii List of Recommendations .............................................................................................................. xix The Report 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 Conduct of the inquiry ......................................................................................................... 2 Report structure
    [Show full text]
  • Flora of Stockton/Port Hunter Sandy Foreshores
    Flora of the Stockton and Port Hunter sandy foreshores with comments on fifteen notable introduced species. Petrus C. Heyligers CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, 306 Carmody Road, St. Lucia, Queensland 4067, AUSTRALIA. [email protected] Abstract: Between 1993 and 2005 I investigated the introduced plant species on the Newcastle foreshores at Stockton and Macquaries Pier (lat 32º 56’ S, long 151º 47’ E). At North Stockton in a rehabilitated area, cleared of *Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata, and planted with *Ammophila arenaria interspersed with native shrubs, mainly Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae and Leptospermum laevigatum, is a rich lora of introduced species of which *Panicum racemosum and *Cyperus conglomeratus have gradually become dominant in the groundcover. Notwithstanding continuing maintenance, *Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata has re-established among the native shrubs, and together with Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae, is important in sand stabilisation along the seaward edge of the dune terrace. The foredune of Little Park Beach, just inside the Northern Breakwater, is dominated by Spinifex sericeus and backed by Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae-*Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata shrubbery. In places the shrubbery has given way to introduced species such as *Oenothera drummondii, *Tetragonia decumbens and especially *Heterotheca grandilora. At Macquaries Pier *Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata forms an almost continuous fringe between the rocks that protect the pier against heavy southerlies. However, its presence on adjacent Nobbys Beach is localised and the general aspect of this beach is no different from any other along the coast as it is dominated by Spinifex sericeus. Many foreign plant species occur around the sandy foreshores at Port Hunter.
    [Show full text]
  • Vertebrate Fauna Survey Worimi Conservation Lands
    VERTEBRATE FAUNA SURVEY WORIMI CONSERVATION LANDS FINAL REPORT Prepared for NSW DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE ECOTONE ECOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS Pty Ltd 39 Platt Street, Waratah NSW 2298 Phone: (02) 4968 4901 fax: (02) 4968 4960 E-mail: [email protected] EEC PROJECT No. 0583CW SEPTEMBER 2008 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Worimi Conservation Lands (WCL) cover an area of 4,200 hectares and are made up of three reserves: Worimi National Park, Worimi State Conservation Area and Worimi Regional Park. The WCL have been identified as a significant cultural landscape and are co-managed by a board of management. A vertebrate fauna survey of the Worimi Conservation lands has been undertaken in order to identify the fauna species assemblages within the WCL and record any significant species, including threatened species. As most of the previous studies were situated outside of or on the periphery of the WCL, a more detailed assessment of the fauna communities and habitat would assist in the future management for the WCL. From the literature review a total of 270 fauna species (excluding marine mammals) have been recorded within the study locality (2 km from the centre line of the WCL). These consisted of 189 bird, 49 mammal, 17 reptile and 15 frog species. It should be pointed out that it is unlikely that all of these species would occur within the WCL as the search area provides a greater variety of habitats than those identified within the WCL. Prior to the current survey a total of 135 species had been recorded within or very close to the WCL boundary.
    [Show full text]
  • Maitland & Raymond Terrace Region
    Maitland & Raymond Terrace District Bus Network Guide Effective from: 23 August 2020 185 Bus continues to Paterson D chie and Gresford ea Dr u K n c McKeachie’s m M o r Run e arbler St W Teale St r R L Largs H D ig a d Gannet St h Bolwarra r k l g r a s a n A v P d Heights e r a Oakhampton Rd r W ar D w a ol e B y i 185 Aberglasslyn H h C c u Map Legend o a Paterson Rd Denton Park Dr n r t e i te n t K S a Adam Ave Adam c r S g M le Av h Hospital s e 186 g Dr n Da i Anambah k d Dr lveen R r D d H n udgeree r a B a Oakhampton Rd l P 177 Oakhampton Shopping Centres Bolwarra A b n n e d a o Sporting 179 180 t m W R n Railway Station b Complex e n a Buses continue y h D Bolwarra Rd s to Branxton, R s Paterson Rd Ferry Wharf d Bingara St a North Rothbury l Fa Avery St g 185 i r and Singleton rf a Oakhampton e Light Rail Stop x b 178 179 S A Heights t 180 W 182 Schools S New England Hwy e h t 186 y S b Bolwarra i le la KensingtonBayswater Rd Rd p k n n l u d University/TAFE e D Scobies La s Phoenix y Hinton S D t 182 Walka r Bus Route 178 Water Park d 179 Westbourne Rd R 179 Works Rutherford Multiple services on route y exandra Ave 180 e 180 Al Addison Rd v d r Rutherford 177 181 183 R a 183 d Limited Service e H Bus Terminus s R Log 178 182 186 r t an Racecou n R e d Arthur St y Hw 184 Bus Route Number im nd N gla g w En e e Ne R v 181 N i e Bus Terminus/Interchange l B l w Westside e Gi E 183 r t llie i gantine S s St ng t S S la Golf Course t 183 nd Street Legend e H R E For more information about bus t g w 3.
    [Show full text]
  • 130/131/132/133/134/135 Bus Route Map POPORRT STEPHENS COACHES U Grahamstown Dam
    Routes 130/131/132/133/134/135 Bus Route Map POPORRT STEPHENS COACHES U Grahamstown Dam Everitt Pk t S Raymond For more information Ave Ridgeway e Soldiers Point 132 133 d Terrace Sunset Bvd i a visit www.131500.com.au l N Ridgeway Ave 134 e Resthaven Ave d Raymond Terrace A or call 131500 135 C Sturgeon St, south side R r Soldiers d ic Salt Ash o h m R a Nelson Bay – Tea Gardens rd e s a Point i o n r Ferry Route t w Rd y o R B d a Nelson Port Stephens d gn e Map Legend all v M A Head P S Port Stephens Dixon Dr o Reserve ld 135 M i a Hospital e Fly Point s r Nelson C Shoal s Gowrie Ave o d Nelson Bay Park n R P Bay Sh Bay i oal Park t 130 131 135 Shopping Centres S Bay Rd Heatherbrae e y o and a i y n H P Dutchmans St S R Newcastle n B o h so Routes continue t int s oa d d l R u Fin l Bay R e R d Bay n N Railway Station ag ga t Shoal Bay Airport below right d Reserve G Rd M l St Tomaree 130 W Q overn ent S 131 il 130 130 m 2. 3. Community Shoal Bay Rd li h 132 d am Schools B a Rd c A Corlette w u R 131 131 r stral a d l to 132 132 l St Hospital a u D e w F R 135 W h E e 135 o Trevally St t n 133 r r Bus Route e G C n Shoal Cabbag D s Reserve d alo a e Tree Rd r 134 h F R y ol Street Legend o Salamander Bay Wa a m r er me k e S h pinna o Lorikeet D 1.
    [Show full text]
  • SUBMISSION for PFAS CONTAMINATION PARLIAMENTRY INQUIRY AFFECTS of WILLIAMTOWN RAAF BASE CONTAMINATION the O'connell Family
    SUBMISSION FOR PFAS CONTAMINATION PARLIAMENTRY INQUIRY AFFECTS OF WILLIAMTOWN RAAF BASE CONTAMINATION The O’Connell family properties at . Our properties are approximately 5kilometres from Williamtown RAAF Base. The farm has been in my wife’s family over 100 years. My wife’s grandfather was born on the property in 1900. My wife’s mother and father bought the farm from her uncle in 1960 and we have lived on the property since 1989. Defence’s reckless use and disposal of fire fighting foam at Williamtown RAAF Base is the cause of the PFAS contamination in the townships of Williamtown, Salt Ash and surrounding areas. In the 1980’s there were extensive expansions to Williamtown RAAF Base to cater for the arrival of the F18 fighter planes: (Extensions to the runway, Housing of aircraft, Hardstands, etc). Before the upgrade to the RAAF Base all stormwater coming from the RAAF Base flowed south via Dawson’s Drain into Fullerton Cove. To drain stormwater from the 1980’s expansion to RAAF Base a new drain was to join into Moor’s Drain. Moor’s Drain was dug over 100 years ago to stop water from the Moor’s flooding dairy farms along Nelson Bay Road, in Williamtown and Salt Ash. Moor’s Drain has only one levee bank to stop flooding of properties along Nelson Bay Road. After heavy rain in February 1990 Moor’s drain couldn’t control the extra stormwater being pushed off Williamtown RAAF Base. Moor’s drain overflowed flooding Williamtown and Salt Ash. Water was over Nelson Bay Road, flooding along Lemon Tree Passage Road, Rooke’s Road, and up to Brown’s Road, Salt Ash.
    [Show full text]
  • EIS 1123 Part D Stockton Bight Environmental Study
    EIS 1123 Part D Stockton Bight environmental study U SW DEPT PRIMARY 1DUS1RIES I STOCKTON BIGHT I now I ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY I AND I MANAGEMENT PLAN I Part D FIGURES AUGUST 1995 I I Prepared for: NEWCASTLE BIGHT CO-ORDINATION AND LIAISON COMMITTEE ON BEHALF I OF PORT STEPHENS COUNCIL AND NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL I I I I STOCKTON BIGHT I ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY I PART D I FIGURES I I I I I I I HLA-ENVIROSCIENCES PTY LIMITED 122 Parry Street, Newcastle West NSW 2302 I Phone (049) 262600, Fax (049) 264532 I (Other offices at Sydney, Tamworth, Brisbane, Gladstone & Mackay) I JULY 1995 I I LIST OF FIGURES I FIG NO. DESCRIPTION 1.0 LOCATION PLAN I 1.1 LAND ZONINGS 1.2 LAND STATUS 2.1 TOPOGRAPHY I 2.2 GEOLOGY 2.3 MINING LEASES 2.4 SOIL LANDSCAPE UNITS I 2.5 LAND CAPABILITY 2.6 AGRICULTURAL SUITABILITY 2.7 ACID SULPHATE SOIL RISK I 3.1 VEGETATION DISTRIBUTION 3.2 PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OF VEGETATION 4.1 WIND ROSES I 6.1 NOISE LEVEL CONTOURS 6.2 UNEXPLODED ORDNANCES 7.1 BEACH RIDGE SECTIONS I 7.2 PHOTOGRAMMETRIC PROFILE LOCATIONS BY CaLM 7.3 COASTAL AND MOBILE DUNE HAZARD LINES I 7.4 NET VOLUME / INUNDATION VOLUME 7.5 SHORT TERM BEACH FLUCTUATIONS AND LONG TERM BEACH RECESSIONS I 7.6 MOBILE DUNE INUNDATION 8.1 SUBCATCHMENT BOUNDARIES 8.2 TILLIGERRY CREEK - FULLERTON COVE DRAINAGE NETWORK 8.3 TOMAGO/TOMAREE/STOCKTON SAND MEMBERS 8.4 AQUIFER BASE CONTOURS 8.5 WATER TABLE CONTOURS I 8.6 GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION AND WATER QUALITY THREATS 9.0 ARCHAEOLOGY 10.1 SCENIC QUALITY I 11.1 HEAVY MINERAL SANDS 11.2 COAL RESOURCES I 11.3 EXTRACTION HISTORY NEWCASTLE REGION
    [Show full text]
  • ASX / Media Release
    ASX / Media Release 10 May 2019 Ingenia’s JV with Sun Communities makes first acquisitions Highlights • Joint Venture to acquire two greenfield sites located in Burpengary (South East Queensland) and Fullerton Cove (NSW Mid North Coast) • Both Joint Venture sites have approvals in place – Burpengary partially commenced • Mobilises Joint Venture’s development strategy, with first home settlements expected in FY20 Ingenia Communities Group (ASX: INA) today announced that the Group’s Joint Venture with Sun Communities (NYSE: SUI) has secured its first projects. Further to the announcement in February 2019 that Ingenia was conducting due diligence on six potential acquisitions for the Group’s Joint Venture with Sun Communities, the Joint Venture has now contracted its first acquisitions, well ahead of plan, with agreement to purchase greenfield sites at Burpengary in Queensland and Fullerton Cove in NSW. Both sites are in markets where Ingenia sees strong demand and has existing communities within the region. Combined, the sites provide the potential to deliver approximately 350 new homes through the creation of new master-planned communities. Burpengary, Queensland The 9.5-hectare site is located approximately 35 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD within Brisbane’s Northern Growth Corridor with potential for 233 homes. Approval is in place for the first 131 homes and a Development Application for a further 102 sites has been lodged. The ‘build ready’ site has lead-in infrastructure, initial civil works and road network in place, providing the opportunity to commence on site immediately and deliver settlements in FY20. Level 9, 115 Pitt St, Sydney T 1300 132 946 www.ingeniacommunities.com.au NSW 2000, Australia E [email protected] The acquisition is expected to settle in May 2019.
    [Show full text]
  • APPENDIX 8 Unexploded Ordnance Management Plan
    APPENDIX 8 Unexploded Ordnance Management Plan Gibson Nominees Pty. Ltd. One-stop Seamless Strategic Support A.C.N. 008 434 222 For Umwelt (Australia) Pty Ltd Environmental Consultants Post Office Box 838 Toronto NSW 2283 UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE EXTRACTION OF WIND-BLOWN SAND FROM LOT 218 IN DEPOSITED PLAN 1044608 AT WILLIAMTOWN NSW September 2011 © Gibson Nominees Pty. Ltd. "COPYRIGHT Gibson Nominees Pty. Ltd. 2011. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording of information and retrieval systems, including publication on the web) without prior permission of Gibson Nominees Pty. Limited. " 2930 Nelson Bay Road, Salt Ash N.S.W. 2318 Australia Telephone: +61 2 4982 6205 Mobile Service: 0427 680 685 E-Mail: [email protected] Gibson Nominees Pty Ltd Unexploded Ordnance Management Plan for Sand Extraction at Lot 218, DP 1044608 at Williamtown NSW PREFACE The Department of Defence (Defence) has established and sponsors the Defence Unexploded Ordnance Panel (DUXOP), to which a group of specially trained and skilled commercial ammunition search and technical contractors and consultants have been accredited (see http://www.defence.gov.au/uxo/duxop.asp ). The primary role of the DUXOP is to provide UXO assessment, search and clearance services to Defence and to other Commonwealth departments. Accreditation to the DUXOP is frequently seen as a pre-requisite for the provision of such services outside Defence, including by some State Government Departments and by some commercial entities. This Plan has been prepared by Gibson Nominees Pty Ltd.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds of Tomago Wetlands, Hunter Wetlands National Park 2007 – 2012
    Birds of Tomago Wetlands The Whistler 6(2012): 1-10 Birds of Tomago Wetlands, Hunter Wetlands National Park 2007 – 2012 Ann Lindsey and Neville McNaughton 37 Long Crescent, Shortland NSW 2307, Australia [email protected] 58 Wilkinson Avenue, Birmingham Gardens NSW 2287, Australia [email protected] As a result of a project to reinstate tidal inundation to the Tomago Wetlands in the Hunter Wetlands National Park, the Hunter Bird Observers Club commenced monthly surveys before and after tidal gates were opened to provide baseline data for waterbirds, in particular shorebirds, and to monitor changes in diversity and numbers. Tidal inundation had been cut off in 1976 which resulted in drying of the largely Coastal Saltmarsh habitat. The effectiveness of the project has been difficult to ascertain as, after initial opening of tidal gates, tidal inundation was interrupted on a number of occasions and consistent heavy rain fell during the study period. The gradual increase in diversity and numbers of waterbirds resulted from the constant presence of water whether saline or fresh. Small numbers of three shorebird species visited the two sites chosen for intensive surveying. The restoration of habitat requires a maturation period and ongoing monitoring will be required before its effectiveness can be quantified. INTRODUCTION collaborative project of the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority with several For the purposes of this article, the story of the organizations, including NSW Fisheries and NSW Tomago Wetlands begins in the 1970s when, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), was according to Clarke & van Gessel (1983: 117-144), formed and the Tomago site was incorporated into migratory shorebirds used the Tomago Wetlands the KWRP.
    [Show full text]