Integrated Water Management Plan (Iwmp) for Burra

Goyder Regional Council

Burra IWMP GOYDER: INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (IWMP) FOR BURRA

January 2012

Regional Council of Goyder AWE

Document History and Status

Issue Rev. Issued to Qty Date Reviewed Approved 1 V7 T.Wood 1 30/9/11 GF GF

Final V8 T.Wood 1 25/1/12 GF GF

Printed: January 25, 2012 Last Saved: September 30, 2011 File Name: 11105 R001 IWMP Burra v8 120125.docx Project Manager: Ben Taylor Client: Regional Council of Goyder Project: Integrated Water Management Plan for Burra Name of Document: Integrated Water Management Plan for Burra Document Version: v8 Job Number: 11105

11105 Integrated Water Management Plan for Burra i AWE Regional Council of Goyder

ii 11105 Integrated Water Management Plan for Burra Regional Council of Goyder AWE

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ...... v 1 Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Total Water Cycle Management ...... 2 1.2 Purpose of the Plan ...... 3 1.3 IWMP Objectives ...... 4 2 The Township of Burra ...... 6 2.1 Climate ...... 6 2.2 Future Township Growth Scenario ...... 6 2.3 Residential Land Supply and Demand ...... 6 2.4 Potential Areas for Future Residential Development ...... 7 3 Strategic IWMP Objectives ...... 9 3.1 Objectives and Measures ...... 9 4 Current and Potential Water Resources Use and Recommendations ...... 12 4.1 Water Balance ...... 12 4.2 Potable Water ...... 14 4.3 Groundwater ...... 16 4.4 Water Dependent Ecosystems ...... 22 4.5 Stormwater ...... 24 4.6 Wastewater ...... 29 4.7 Climate Change Impacts ...... 32 4.8 Outcomes ...... 33 5 Implementation Plan ...... 35 5.1 Overview ...... 35 5.2 Immediate Recommended Actions ...... 36 5.3 Intermediate Actions ...... 45 5.4 Strategic and Long Term Actions ...... 47 5.5 Monitoring and Review ...... 49 6 Funding Opportunities ...... 51 6.1 Strengthening Basin Communities – Water Saving Initiatives ...... 51 6.2 South Australian Murray Darling Basin NRM Board ...... 51 6.3 Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse Projects ‐ Third Competitive Grants Round ...... 51 6.4 Regional Development Australia ...... 51 7 References ...... 53 Murray Region ...... 3

11105 Integrated Water Management Plan for Burra iii AWE Regional Council of Goyder

List of Tables

Table 2‐1 Average Rainfall Statistics for Burra Calculated Over all Years of Data ...... 6 Table 2‐2 Burra Lot Yields and Potential Additional Population ...... 7 Table 3‐1 Integrated Water Resource Management Objectives, Strategies and Measures ...... 10 Table 4‐1 Current Water Use in Burra ...... 13 Table 4‐2 Potential Future Water Resource ...... 13 Table 4‐4 Wastewater Water Balance for Existing CWMS Scheme Servicing South of Burra ...... 30 Table 4‐5 Wastewater Water Balance for Potential CWMS Scheme Servicing North of Burra ...... 31 Table 4‐6 Monthly Climate Change Scenario Data ...... 33 Table 5‐1 Description of Priority Rankings ...... 35 Table 5‐2 Immediate IWMP Recommended Actions for the next 1‐5 Years: Burra ...... 42 Table 5‐3 Immediate IWMP Recommended Actions for the next 1‐5 Years: Regional ...... 43 Table 5‐4 Intermediate IWMP Recommended Actions for the next 5‐10 Years: Burra ...... 46 Table 5‐5 Intermediate IWMP Recommended Actions for the next 5‐10 Years: Regional ...... 46 Table 5‐6 Strategic and Long Term IWMP Recommended Actions for the next 10‐30 Years: Burra ...... 48 Table 5‐7 Strategic and Long Term IWMP Recommended Actions for the next 10‐30 Years: Regional ...... 48

List of Figures

Figure 1.1 Total Water Cycle ...... 2 Figure 1.2 Township of Burra...... 5 Figure 4.1 Current Potable Water Use in Burra ...... 14 Figure 4.2 DES Borehole Location Plan ...... 18 Figure 4.3 Maximum Drill Depth ...... 19 Figure 4.4 Depth to Groundwater ...... 20 Figure 4.5 Salinity (TD5 mg/l) ...... 21 Figure 4.6 Proposed Stormwater Detention Basin Locations ...... 27 Figure 4.7 Existing Catchment, Wastewater, Stormwater Infrastructure and Flooding Issues in Burra ...... 34

Appendices

Appendix A : Federal, State and Regional Legislative Framework Appendix B : Council’s Strategic Planning Framework: Development Planning and Climate Change Appendix C : Recommended Actions Map

iv 11105 Integrated Water Management Plan for Burra Regional Council of Goyder AWE

Executive Summary

Introduction

Council engaged Australian Water Environments (AWE) to develop an Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP) for Burra. The Regional Council of Goyder (Council) and the community are committed to becoming more sustainable with its water use and to ensure that existing flooding and wastewater management issues are administered appropriately to enable future growth.

Objectives

The IWMP aims to provide for Burra:

 Sustainable management of all water resources within, impacted or drawn upon by the township including planned growth areas;

 Preservation, or enhancement where possible, of the ecological function of watercourses that receive runoff from Burra;

 Water management strategies to support productive, sustainable, liveable, socially inclusive town that is well placed to meet future challenges and growth;

 Sufficient water supplies to maintain public open space for amenity and recreational values, while protecting the health and wellbeing of the community ina warming climate;

 Water use that is “fit for purpose”, i.e. Water treated to an appropriate standard in keeping with its intended use;

 Clearly articulated connections and directions to the different sections of the council’s business, e.g. Planning and engineering, operations, and strategy;

 A resilient township capable of responding to an uncertain climate future;

 Water infrastructure with a minimised carbon footprint across its life‐cycle; and

 Clear direction as to how water will be managed within growth areas and the existing township area.

Burra Township

The IWMP applies to the township boundaries of Burra designated in Figure 1‐2.

The township of Burra is located 154km north of Adelaide on the Barrier Highway and it is on the western fringe of the Murray‐Darling Basin. Burra is located within the Regional Council of Goyder, and the town of Burra is included as a State Heritage Place due to its significant mining history. Burra recorded a population of 978 in the 2006 Census. The Regional Council of Goyder has identified a number of water resource management issues in the township, including stormwater, groundwater and wastewater management.

Burra comprises two distinct residential areas, which are physically separated by both historic and current mining infrastructure. For the purpose of this report they are referred to as Burra North and Burra South.

The long term average annual rainfall for Burra is 430mm. Burra is not anticipated to experience major growth, either outside or inside existing township/settlement boundaries.

11105 Integrated Water Management Plan for Burra v AWE Regional Council of Goyder

Key Findings

The main water management issues faced by Council and the people of Burra relate to ongoing management of groundwater resources and maximising the beneficial reuse of treated wastewater.

Current large water users in Burra have recently undertaken wastewater harvesting projects which may significantly reduce reliance on potable water from the River Murray. The recent CWMS scheme upgrade is also able to store and treat wastewater from the township for reuse. This can offset the bulk of irrigation demand which historically has been drawn from groundwater.

Stormwater reuse will require further investigation to prove its feasibility as there are likely to be constraint. Constraints include the variable nature of the aquifer and that Burra Creek is already a water stressed system making increased extractions undesirable. Collection of runoff from roof areas may be the most appropriate option for stormwater harvesting in Burra.

Climate change will effect both irrigation demand and water resource availability but the impacts are not large and are less than the national variability in runoff from one year to the next.

Recommendations

The report provides a series of recommended actions in relation to potable water, groundwater, surface water, water dependent ecosystems, stormwater and wastewater, as summarised below:

Potable Water

 Council consider increasing the storage volumes of rainwater tanks required to be provided as part of new legislation and / or Development Plan provisions, especially with regard to commercial, industrial and larger scale residential developments.

 Council investigate opportunities to encourage installation of rainwater tanks through additional rebates and education of the benefits.

 Council review where rainwater tanks can be installed on Council properties and / or opportunities for tanks to be plumbed into Council buildings, where this is not already done.

Surface Water

 Reduce the reliance and impact on the surface water resources of the region by implementing harvesting and reuse schemes that comply with the relevant legislation.

Water Dependent Ecosystems

 Undertake an on‐ground survey of sites that might potentially be impacted by IWMP related works to ensure WDE’s are not compromised.

Stormwater

 Develop a Stormwater Management Plan to determine the capacity of the existing network and identify appropriate Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), detention and capacity improvements for the expanded township boundary.  Complete the sealing and kerbing of all roads and provide formalised drainage easements/reserves over existing water courses through private land.  Develop concept designs for detention basins by Mevagessey Street and Penglawadd Street.

vi 11105 Integrated Water Management Plan for Burra Regional Council of Goyder AWE

 Ensure all stormwater harvesting opportunities are thoroughly investigated and comply with the relevant legislation.  Remediate sections of natural channel where accelerated bank erosion has been observed.

Wastewater

 Convert any existing septic tanks to biocycle or equivalent wastewater system.  Mandate appropriate wastewater systems for future development within the township.  Meter and monitor wastewater inflows and outflows to determine accurate long term water balance to base future decisions regarding system augmentation requirements.  Future reassessment of community wastewater treatment system viability in Burra North.

Implementation

The Implementation Plan in Section 5 clearly sets out the activities that Council can undertake to achieve the objectives of the IWMP. It breaks the activities down into immediate, intermediate and strategic/long term actions.

Monitoring and Review

A monitoring and evaluation approach for the IWMP is recommended which establishes an approach for continuous improvement in the planning, implementation and regular review of the Plan. This is detailed in Section 6.

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Regional Council of Goyder AWE

1 Introduction Growth in rural towns, tourism, drought, degraded and depleted water resources and watercourses have changed the way we view water, leading to a more holistic approach to water resources management. For many communities, new and ongoing realities point to a water constrained future unless water resources are more effectively managed and utilised. Conventional water resources management strategies are required to be integrated with contemporary principles such as stormwater and wastewater reuse to address current and future water supply and water demands. Given the range of dynamic extremes of South Australia’s water resources systems, it is essential that we plan appropriately for cyclic wet and dry periods. Factoring drought risk into the reliable yield of our system is essential. There is a rising need to assess a range of the risks to water resource systems, including prolonged drought, increased population growth and climate change. Our water resource practices must also minimise our local environmental impacts and support the achievement of other state objectives and targets such as reducing reliance on the River Murray as a source of water and sustainable management of water resources.

The Regional Council of Goyder (Council) and the community are committed to becoming more sustainable with its water use and to ensure that existing flooding and wastewater management issues are administered appropriately to enable future growth. This has been demonstrated via a range of initiatives, including the Water Supply Investigation (2005), the Regional Council of Goyder Strategic Directions Report and the Draft Climate Change and Natural Resources Management Plan (January 2011). Council and the community are also looking to establish the utilisation of innovative, alternative water resource sources, including maximising the potential re‐use of stormwater and treated wastewater, both of which is under‐utilised at present; whilst ensuring sufficient water, of a suitable quality, is provided for the environment. Council has consequently engaged Australian Water Environments (AWE) to assist them in the development of an IWMP for Burra.

Burra predominantly relies on the River Murray and local groundwater for its water supply. Issues which will affect water management in Burra into the future include:

 Damage to property from stormwater flooding;

 Water quality and public health risks associated with poor wastewater management;

 Population, housing and business growth and the associated water demands/needs;

 Open space water (amenity horticulture) needs;

 Climate change;

 Need to minimise greenhouse gas emissions;

 Concerns regarding the ongoing use of groundwater; and

 Water quality risks associated with Burra Creek.

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1.1 Total Water Cycle Management Total water cycle management is about planning for the integrated management of water consumption, river water, groundwater, rainwater (or roof water), stormwater and wastewater to support the environment, economy and community. The total Water Cycle is illustrated conceptually in Figure 1‐1. Traditionally, mains water supply (i.e. River Murray water), groundwater, wastewater and stormwater have been managed as separate systems. Integrated total water cycle management looks at the way key water resources are used and the effects this has on the quality of natural resources and waterways. Water users in the Regional Council of Goyder have relied heavily on surface water supplies from the River Murray distributed through the mains water system. Continuing to extract large volumes of surface water from the River Murray will place significant stress on ecosystem health. Arguably the decline in the health (including the rise in salinity) of the River Murray is evidence that resources are already over‐exploited.

Existing water supply, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure is ageing and reaching its capacity and the replacement costs to the community are considerable. In addition, there will be the need to expand the infrastructure to facilitate future growth in the township.

Solutions to improve water management challenges in the townships therefore need to be found that protect the existing network system, benefit the environment and are socially acceptable.

FIGURE 1.1 TOTAL WATER CYCLE

Source: Adapted from www.recycledwater.com.au

2 11105 Integrated Water Management Plan for Burra Regional Council of Goyder AWE

1.2 Purpose of the Plan The development and implementation of an IWMP will help the Council and the community establish a strategic, proactive, innovative and targeted approach towards sustainable water usage (and re‐use) during a 30 year period of growth. The benefits of such an approach will help minimise the draw on the River Murray and local groundwater resources and provide the Burra community with opportunities to improve their recreational facilities as well as delivering a wide range of other environmental, social and economic benefits. The Plan is intended to provide Council management, staff and Elected Members guidance for investing in water management actions that:

 Conserve water;

 Protect water quality;

 Protect ecosystem health; and

 Support the sustainable growth of Burra.

The Plan will also serve to inform the community, other Councils and State Government about the water management programs and goals that the Council have for the township. It is intended that this Plan will be integrated with other water management tools and initiatives in the Council area including:

 The Regional Council of Goyder Development Plan;

 The River Murray Water Allocation Plan;

 Community Wastewater Management Systems;

 Water for Good Plan; and

 The South Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Plan. The development, and most importantly, the implementation of the Integrated Water Management Plan for Burra will enable it to prosper whilst ensuring that:

 Council has an understanding of the scale and sustainability of its surface and groundwater resources;

 The general public and landowners can support and implement relevant strategies;

 Developers are better informed and educated on environmental considerations;

 Council can develop a long term Capital Works Programs and Asset and Infrastructure Management Plans, matched by a Long Term Financial Plan;

 Council can effectively deal with emerging global warming and climate change adaption scenarios;

 IWMP outcomes can be marketed to stimulate further growth;

 Council, agencies and the community are well placed to target grant opportunities for various projects;

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 Council’s Development Plan is brought up‐to‐date with current environmental considerations and are consistent with Structure Plans, the Planning Strategy, NRM Strategies and other relevant research;

 The taking of water for current and future uses is within sustainable limits;

 Where practicable, re‐use of stormwater and wastewater can be economically achieved;

 Development is balanced with environmental and social considerations;

 Consideration is given to water quantity, water quality, surface and groundwater and other resource linkages; and

 The plan provides linkages with relevant Local, State and Federal Government plans and strategies. 1.3 IWMP Objectives This IWMP aims to provide for Burra, the following: