ESTUARY GENERAL EIA REPORT Prepared for: NSW Fisheries September 2001 Prepared by: SMEC Australia Pty Ltd ACN 065 475 149 Project Number: 31229.001 PREPARATION, REVIEW AND AUTHORISATION Project Name: Estuary General EIA Report Project No.: 31229.001 Prepared by: Ros Taplin Signature: Position: Senior Consultant Date: 13th September 2001 Reviewed by: Jan Parsons Signature: Position Environment Manager Date: 13th September 2001 (Australia) This report was prepared in accordance with the scope of services set out in the contract between SMEC Australia Pty Ltd (SMEC) and the Client. To the best of SMEC’s knowledge the proposal presented herein reflects the Client’s intentions when the report was printed. In preparing this report, SMEC relied upon data, surveys, analyses, designs, plans and other information provided by the Client and other individuals and organisations referenced herein. Except as otherwise stated in this report, SMEC has not undertaken further verification regarding the accuracy or completeness of these information sources. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................... 1-1 1.1 BACKGROUND ............................................................................... 1-1 1.2 METHODOLOGY............................................................................. 1-1 1.3 CONSULTATION............................................................................. 1-2 2 ESTUARY AND FISHERY DESCRIPTION............................... 2-1 2.1 ESTUARIES .................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Description ........................................................................... 2-1 2.1.2 Land Uses Surrounding Estuaries......................................... 2-1 2.2 FISHERY DESCRIPTION ................................................................ 2-2 3 IMPACT ASSESSMENT ........................................................... 3-1 3.1 NOISE ............................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1 Impact Assessment .............................................................. 3-1 3.1.2 Mitigation Measures ............................................................. 3-3 3.2 LIGHT ............................................................................................ 3-6 3.2.1 Impact Identification.............................................................. 3-6 3.2.2 Mitigation Measures ............................................................. 3-6 3.3 AIR QUALITY .................................................................................. 3-6 4 ENERGY AND GREENHOUSE ISSUES .................................. 4-1 4.1 DESCRIPTION OF FISHING FLEET................................................ 4-1 4.2 ENERGY AND GREENHOUSE ASSESSMENT............................... 4-2 5 REFERENCES .......................................................................... 5-1 APPENDICES A Questionnaire to Councils 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND NSW Fisheries is currently preparing fishery management strategies for the State’s commercial marine fisheries. Concurrently, environmental assessments are being prepared under Division 5, Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The assessments will estimate the level of pressure on the environment from the fishing activities and predict the likely impacts of implementing the draft fishery management strategies. The guidelines for the preparation of the environmental assessments issued by the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP) requires that among other issues NSW Fisheries must address noise, light, air quality, and energy and greenhouse issues. SMEC Environment was commissioned by NSW Fisheries to prepare assessments addressing noise, light, air quality, and energy and greenhouse issues for three commercial fisheries, Estuary General, Ocean Haul and Estuary Prawn Trawl. This report presents the assessment for the Estuary General Fishery. 1.2 METHODOLOGY Estuary General Fishing: • involves over 20 different fishing methods; • is undertaken by about 940 fishing businesses; • occurs in approximately 80 estuaries; and • involves over 100 species. This complexity has made it impossible to assess each activity and estuary separately. The methodology adopted involved: • consultation with NSW Fisheries, members of the fishing industry and local councils; • broadly describing each method of fishing and identifying the activities that may generate noise, light or air emissions; • identifying the types of land use that occurs within the estuaries; • combining the above two factors to identify whether there was any potential for significant adverse effects; and • identifying mitigation measures to minimise or reduce identified areas of impact. Greenhouse and energy issues were considered by examination of the fishing fleet and methods of fishing. To present the findings of the investigations this report contains four sections: 1. this brief introduction; 2. a description of the fishing activity and estuarine environment; 3. an impact assessment for noise, light and air quality issues; and 4. a consideration of greenhouse and energy issues. 31229.001 September 2001 1-1 Estuary General EIA Report 1.3 CONSULTATION To facilitate an understanding of the Estuary General Fishery and relevant environmental issues consultation was undertaken with members of the Estuary General Management Advisory Committee (EGMAC), Local Councils and the staff of NSW Fisheries. i Consultation With EGMAC Members Three members of EGMAC, Mr. Karl Tesar, Mr. Graeme Byrnes and Mr. Brian Clifford, were contacted regarding issues in the Estuary General Fishery. These members of EGMAC serve as industry representatives for commercial fishing operators in the Estuary General fishery, and have first-hand experience of the fisheries’ issues. Responses from the three members indicate that commercial fishermen are generally engaged in a broad range of activities within the Estuary General Fishery, and utilise a wide variety of different equipment to conduct their activities. The peak fishing season extends throughout spring, summer and autumn, with winter being the least active period. On a daily basis, there was a general balance between daytime and nocturnal fishing activities, with neither period dominating. The Estuary General Fishery is subject to a large number of restrictions, the majority of which are imposed by NSW Fisheries. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) also imposes some restrictions in estuaries that are bounded by National Parks. Local Councils play a limited role in controlling commercial fishing activities, with their input generally limited to location and access controls. In relation to noise, light, air quality/energy and greenhouse issues, there was an appreciation that commercial fishing activities do have some impact on these areas as follows. • Noise Issues Estuary General Fishing activities can have associated noise problems. Fishermen generally take precautions to avoid excessive noise, and attempt to avoid any audible noise in the vicinity of residential dwellings. • Light Issues The use of equipment, in particular spotlights, can result in issues concerning light. There are attempts to minimise the impacts of such equipment, and use of this equipment is avoided where possible, particularly during night operations. • Air Quality/Energy and Greenhouse Issues There is an appreciation that the use of boats do have associated air quality and energy and greenhouse issues. While it would be possible to make improvements in these areas, like switching from 2-stroke engines to 4-stroke engines, there is an associated economic cost. It was felt that the impact of commercial fishing on these issues was less than the cumulative impact of recreational fishing. The rationale behind this was that the total number of recreational fishermen is much greater than the number of commercial fishing operators, and recreational fishermen are generally less concerned about taking necessary precautions to minimise the impacts they have. Commercial operators have a greater awareness of the implications of their activities and the need to minimise their impact. 31229.001 September 2001 1-2 Estuary General EIA Report ii Consultation With Local Councils Questionnaires were sent to seven local councils, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Maclean Shire Council, Great Lakes Council, Lake Macquarie City Council , Port Stephens Council, Greater Taree City Council and Richmond Valley Council. A copy of the questionnaire is included as Appendix A. These Councils were selected because they contain some of the major commercial fishing estuaries within New South Wales, and because they offer a diversity of estuary types within their local government area. Three responses were received, from Eurobodalla Shire Council, Greater Taree City Council and Port Stephens Council. The responses were, on the whole, very similar, with all indicating that these Councils had very little to do with commercial fishing management, largely because the Councils do not have the staff expertise available to deal effectively with fishery issues. No public complaints had been received at the three Councils about noise, light, air quality or energy issues in relation to commercial fishing activities. iii Consultation With Regional Offices of NSW Fisheries Regional offices of NSW Fisheries were contacted to determine the numbers and types of complaints received concerning