2 Water 2.1 Introduction

Ballina Shire Council 2004 Comprehensive State of Environment Report

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Table of Contents

section Page

1 Introduction 1.1 Why has this report been produced?...... 1 1.2 SoE Reporting: A short history ...... 1 1.3 The pressure-state-response model...... 2 1.4 How does this report work?...... 5 1.5 Environmental Management Resources...... 5 1.6 Agency response to SoE process ...... 6 1.7 Future SoE reports...... 6 2 Water 2.1 Introduction ...... 7 2.2 Trends at a Glance...... 8 2.3 Pressures On Our Water...... 8 2.4 State Of Our Water ...... 19 2.5 Response to these pressures...... 29 2.6 More Information ...... 42 2.7 Definitions ...... 42 2.8 References...... 43 3 Waste 3.1 Introduction ...... 51 3.2 Trends at a Glance...... 51 3.3 Pressures On Our Waste Management ...... 52 3.4 State Of Our Waste...... 55 3.5 Response To These Pressures...... 59 3.6 More Information ...... 62 3.7 References...... 62 4 Biodiversity 4.1 Introduction ...... 63 4.2 Trends at a Glance...... 64 4.3 Pressures On Our Biodiversity ...... 65 4.4 State Of Our Biodiversity...... 70 4.5 Response To These Pressures...... 76 4.6 More information ...... 84 4.7 References...... 85 5 Land 5.1 Introduction ...... 97 5.2 Trends At A Glance...... 98 5.3 Pressures On Our Land ...... 99

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

5.4 State Of Our Land ...... 103 5.5 Response To These Pressures...... 111 5.6 More Information ...... 117 5.7 References...... 118 6 Atmosphere 6.1 Introduction ...... 119 6.2 Trends At A Glance...... 119 6.3 Pressures On Our Atmosphere...... 120 6.4 State Of Our Atmosphere...... 125 6.5 Response To These Pressures...... 127 6.6 More Information ...... 130 6.7 References...... 131 7 Natural and Cultural Heritage 7.1 Introduction ...... 134 7.2 Trends At A Glance...... 135 7.3 Pressures On Our Heritage...... 136 7.4 State Of Our Heritage...... 138 7.5 Land protected for conservation purposes ...... 141 7.6 Aboriginal Heritage...... 142 7.7 Response To These Pressures...... 143 7.8 References...... 147 8 Conclusion 8.1 Conclusion ...... 148

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

List of Appendices

A Local Results from “The Richmond River Catchment: Stream Health Assessment Report”...... 45 B EPA Licences in Ballina Shire...... 48 C Supplementary National Parks and Wildlife Information ...... 87 D Supplementary information supplied by NSW Fisheries ...... 91 E Bushland Friendly Nursery Scheme – List of Environmental Weeds ...... 94 F Climate according to the Koeppen classification system...... 132

iii

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report 1 Introduction

1.1 Why has this report been produced?

The 2004 State of the Environment Report for Ballina Shire provides an overview of the environmental performance of the community, industry and state and local government over the past four years.

Council produces a Snapshot report each year as an update, which is freely available from the Council offices, Ballina Library and on Council’s website. The Snapshot updates trends, identifies new and upcoming issues and provides progress reports on particular initiatives being undertaken to address environmental issues.

This Report is a Comprehensive Report prepared under the terms of the Local Government Act 1993. Comprehensive reports are prepared every four years, so that the previous Comprehensive State of the Environment Report was prepared in 2000. The three intervening reports provide information on the progress of issues identified in the Comprehensive reports as well as identifying new issues that will be examined in more detail in the next comprehensive report.

State of the Environment Reporting is an effective tool for informing the public about their environment. It describes the impacts of human activities on the environment, as well as identifying the potential implications of our actions on our social, economic and environmental health.

SoE reporting is effectively a “Report Card” on the condition of our environment and natural resources, as it provides an opportunity to monitor the performance of government policies against actual environmental outcomes.

1.2 SoE Reporting: A short history

State of the Environment reporting was developed as a concept by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Australia is a member of this organization, consisting largely of developed countries, who together share a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. The OECD’s Environment Committee was instructed in 1979 to derive a core set of comparable environmental indicators for member countries as a means of monitoring environmental health.

The concept of reporting on environmental outcomes was made a legislative requirement in NSW following the introduction in 1993 of the Local Government Act, which requires annual reporting on a number of areas including management of public monies and public infrastructure as well as environmental issues. SOE reporting was intended to include reporting on a set of national indicators, however delays in the development of notional indicators led NOROC to develop a set of 21 agreed and consistent indicators for use by Councils in the Northern Rivers. Reporting on these indicators provides local government with certainty about the types of information that might be expected from the NSW Government, as well as the community with certainty about the minimum indicators to be reported against. It should be noted that not all these indicators have information available for

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report reporting, and this has generally been as a result of some NSW Government agencies’ failure to prioritise the provision of this information.

According to the State of the Environment Advisory Council (SEAC), there are six principles that guide reporting and the use of indicators. These are rigour, objectivity, co-operation, open-ness, global vision and ecological sustainability.

Again, according to the SEAC, the objectives of SOE reporting are:-

to provide accurate, timely and accessible information about the condition and prospects of the Australian environment; to increase public understanding of these issues; to facilitate the development of an agreed set of national environmental indicators, and to review and report on these indicators; to provide an early warning of potential problems; and to report on the effectiveness of policies and programs designed to respond to environmental change, including progress towards achieving environmental standards and targets.

1.3 The pressure-state-response model

The pressure-state-response model was developed by the OECD and is now widely used by local government in their State of the Environment reporting as it clearly makes the links between an issue, its causes and effects and the management response required. Australian SOE reporting has made some changes to the model proposed by the OECD, as shown below in Figure 1.1. The OECD model is based on the concept of causality, that is, human activities exert pressures on the environment, these change its state or condition, society responds by developing or implementing policies that influence those human activities, and so change the pressures.

Australia has modified this model to include cultural aspects of the environment, to recognize the inherent variability and lack of knowledge about the Australian environment and to allow for an interactive rather than a linear model (SEAC, 1996).

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Figure 1.1 Australian SOE Reporting Model

As a comparison for this document, Figure 1.2 is reproduced from Key Environmental Indicators (OECD 2001). It identifies national and international issues faced not only by OECD countries, but also across the world.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

It is important to remember that our impact on the environment does not stop at the Shire boundary, and that decisions taken in other locations sometimes impact on our environment, our lifestyles and our lives.

Figure 1.2 Signals of the OECD Environment Outlook (OECD Environment Outlook, 2004)

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

1.4 How does this report work?

State-Pressure-Response model for reporting Each chapter of this report deals with a different environmental issue. The issues that must be reported on are defined in legislation, and are: water waste biodiversity land air noise aboriginal heritage non-aboriginal heritage

For this report, the chapter headings include consideration of each of these issues in as much detail as possible. References for further information are given at the end of each chapter, for those who would like to explore any of the issues in more detail.

Each chapter also uses the pressure-state-response model discussed in the introduction, to describe the general state of the environmental issue at this time, indicate any pressures that can be identified as acting on the issue (whether these are qualitative or quantitative) and where there has been a response. As this document looks beyond Council’s activities, there are many good news stories in the SOE report about community responses to environmental issues. Council’s management of particular issues is also highlighted, as is that of State Government where applicable.

A pressure, state and response has not been specifically identified for each aspect of each issue discussed in each chapter. As the environment exhibits a multitude of complex interactions it is not possible to detail the impacts of each specific pressure and resultant response in this SoE. Some examples of these potential complexities are summarised as follows:

freshwater extraction from rivers may influence downstream freshwater inflows to the estuary which may affect sediment deposition patterns in the estuary; extraction may also reduce the variability of flows in particular streams leading to fish relying on a particular flow pattern for spawning having reduced opportunities for spawning; and a new dam for urban water supply built above a particular extraction point may affect the farmer’s ability to grow crops, which may not only reduce his income but affect the local economy by reducing the available supply of that particular crop.

Therefore, although there are some issues for which clear linkages may be made, generally, each pressure, state and response are discussed individually. Collectively, they present a local ‘state of the environment’ for each issue.

1.5 Environmental Management Resources

As part of its commitment to environmental issues, Council has increased its environmental expertise across a range of areas since the last comprehensive SoE. In 2000, the equivalent of 3.1 full time positions with responsibility for an aspect of environmental management existed. These represented two full-time and one part- time environmental health officers and one officer with responsibility for the Waste Management Centre as part of their role.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Council now employs a number of people in the field of environment management including an environmental scientist, a natural resources extension officer, an onsite sewage management officer, a full-time waste manager, three full-time and one part-time environmental health positions and one half of a planning position. This is the equivalent of 8.1 full time positions with responsibility for an aspect of environmental management.

Additionally, Council has been very successful in applying for funding in environmental areas. Some of the programmes implemented by these grant funds are discussed throughout this document.

1.6 Agency response to SoE process

Throughout 1997 and 1998, a process to identify a regional approach to State of the Environment reporting was undertaken throughout the Northern Rivers Region. This process involved Council SoE staff as well as State Government agency staff determining useful indicators that could be reported on an annual basis, and was known as the Northern Rivers Regional Environmental Indicator Development Project. The indicators represent a consistent set of information to be provided as a minimum in each Council's SoE report, and the process was 'signed off' by agencies and local government alike in 1998. Since that time, an annual meeting is held to discuss the process by which information will be provided, and to reaffirm agency commitments to providing this information.

Much of the information required to fulfil these indicators comes from NSW government agencies and therefore reports cannot be finalised until this information is made available. For years when a 'snapshot' report is required (such as in 2001, 2002 and 2003), preparation of the SoE is quite straightforward and consists of raising briefly any new issues and reporting on ongoing trends. In 2004, due to the local government elections, the SoE is a Comprehensive Report, requiring a good deal of project management and information gathering to provide Council and the community with a basis for gauging environmental performance over the previous four years.

Whilst some NSW government agencies are very timely in the provision of the information needed and agreed to by them in the Regional Environmental Indicator Project, information from one or two agencies is consistently provided at a very late stage in the development of the SoE report. This makes it extremely difficult to anticipate the information that will be available to include in the report, as well as meet deadlines for exhibiting the SoE report before it is forwarded to the Department of Local Government. Ballina Shire Council has raised this issue on a number of occasions, although the response from the agencies in question has not improved. The very low priority placed by these agencies on providing information to the community via the SoE report is a significant limitation to the reporting process.

1.7 Future SoE reports

This report represents a Comprehensive State of the Environment report for use by Council and the community to understand the pressures on our environment, and the wide and varied range of responses to these pressures. These responses come from Council itself, from the community, from NSW government agencies and from the Federal Government. The next Comprehensive SoE report will be prepared after the next local government elections, scheduled for 2008. For the intervening years, an "Environmental Snapshot" will be prepared as an update report. For detailed information, refer to this report or other specific Ballina Shire Council publications on environmental issues.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report 2 Water

2.1 Introduction

Our shire is entirely within the Richmond River Catchment and much of the urban development within the Shire lies on the lower floodplain close to the estuary. The Richmond River catchment has an area of 6,940 km2 and rises in the Nightcap, Macpherson and Richmond Ranges.

Average annual rainfall ranges from 1,650mm or more along the coast to less than 1,025mm at Casino and other inland areas. Spring is usually the dry period, with rainfall at its maximum during summer and autumn.

The average yearly discharge of the Richmond River is 1,920,000 megalitres. This discharge figure can fluctuate significantly from as little as 15% to as much of 233% of average annual discharge, illustrating the extreme variability of flows in dry to wet years. Flooding can be an issue for localities in the upstream reaches of the Richmond River but is generally less severe in Ballina Shire, although flooding does occur.

Runoff as a percentage of rainfall is 18%, which is slightly above the average for coastal rivers, however in urban areas, impervious surfaces such as roads and pavements greatly increase this percentage.

The Richmond River is subject to tidal influences that can affect water movement as far upstream as Coraki, approximately 90 km from the river mouth.

Two significant tributaries of the Richmond River in the Shire are Emigrant Creek and North Creek, both of which enter the estuary at Ballina.

The main drinking water supply storages are at Rocky Creek Dam, 60km northwest of Ballina, Marom Creek Dam, 20 km west of Ballina and Emigrant Creek Dam, 14km north of Ballina. These principal supplies are supplemented with groundwater from Ellis Road and Lindendale Road Bores, near Alstonville.

In addition to freshwater contained in rivers and creeks, the 36 kilometres of coastline provide recreational and economic opportunity for the community of Ballina Shire.

This chapter examines a few of the many aspects of water and its management in Ballina Shire.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

2.2 Trends at a Glance

Table 2.1 Trends

Indicator 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total Water Consumption for Ballina Shire (ML/yr) 3795 3708 4213 3831 2708 3414 Per capita water 130 124 139 141 110 108 consumption (kL/yr) No. of water pollution complaints received by - - - 28 54 65 Council No. of licensed discharge - 20 - - 28 29 points to waters Total volume of wastewater 3867 3892 - 3399 3863 - treatment (ML/yr) No. of septic approvals (to - - - 33 35 11 install) No. of days Lake Ainsworth - - - 26 141 65 closed to swimming

2.3 Pressures On Our Water

Overview of Pressures

The population on the NSW north coast is estimated to increase 30% by 2030. Considering the existing pressures on the Richmond River Catchment from urbanisation, and economic and agricultural activities it is anticipated that pressure on water resources will escalate in future years. It is worth noting the finite water resources of the Richmond Catchment are expected to satisfy a growing number of stakeholders with diverse economic, social, ecological and health expectations. Land use is considered an important influence on the function and quality of catchment water resources.

Regional indicators for pressures on water:

number, location and type of point source discharge to creeks, rivers and oceans; number of new septic approvals per year; and percentage of wastewater treated to primary/secondary/tertiary standard.

1. Discharge to rivers

In 1987, the then State Pollution Control Commission published a table showing discharge types and maximum discharge volumes in kilolitres per day (kL/day). For all licensed point source discharges up to 80, 315kL/day of wastewater was legally permissible to be discharged to the Richmond River. Generally, these discharges were regulated with respect to what pollutants, if any, could be discharged with the water.

As at May 2004, almost four times as much water per day (300,011kL/day) is legally permitted to be discharged to the Richmond River or its tributaries in 29 licenses (issued by the NSW EPA), either directly or indirectly (via irrigation). By far the biggest single permissible daily volume is for the Broadwater Sugar Mill and this discharge occurs within strict limits for temperature and pollutants.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Sewage treatment plants also discharge significant volumes to our rivers, again within strict ‘pollution’ limits set by the Environment Protection Authority. For example, the Ballina Sewage Treatment Works is legally permitted to discharge up to 96,00kL/day to Fishery Creek Canal. There are annual limits to the amounts of nutrients that may be discharged with this water as illustrated in the following table.

Table 2.2 Annual Load Limit for Nutrients and Pollutants for Ballina STW

Assessable Pollutant Load limit (kg) BOD(Waters) 23,265 Nitrogen (total) (Estuarine Waters) 31,019 Oil and Grease (Estuarine Waters) 9,307 Phosphorus (total) (Estuarine Waters) 9,307 Total suspended solids (Estuarine Waters) 31,019

As well as an annual load limit for particular pollutants, the discharge cannot contain large amounts of each potential pollutant. This ensures that the total amount of pollutants entering our waters are capped as well as reducing the potential for one incident carrying a high concentration of pollutants. Estuarine waters can process a certain amount of pollutants before harm occurs to the environment. The licence is therefore addressing short-term as well as long-term, cumulative impacts.

Table 2.3 Permissible concentrations of particular pollutants in water discharged by Ballina STW

100 percentile Concentration Pollutant Units of Measure Limit Oil and Grease mg/L 10 Faecal Coliforms cfu/100mL 300 Total suspended solids mg/L 105 Biochemical oxygen demand mg/L 20

There are 29 premises licensed to discharge water to the Richmond River, with varying degrees of nutrients or pollutants contained in the water to be discharged. A full list of NSW Department of Environment and Conservation licenses held in the Richmond River catchment may be found in Appendix B to this section (or may be accessed on the Public Register at www.epa.nsw.gov.au).

In addition to legal discharges to waters, each year there are accidental spills or illegal discharges, which are regulated by Council’s Environmental Health officers. In 2004, 6 infringement notices were issued for pollution to water.

2. On-site Sewerage Systems

A number of on-site sewerage systems have been approved for installation on properties without access to reticulated sewerage in Ballina Shire over the past four years. However, most of these systems are not approved to operate at this stage due to licensing issues. It is expected that these licensing issues will be finalised in the next few months and that those septic systems without an approval to operate will be licensed.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

3. Percentage of wastewater treated to tertiary standard

One hundred percent of wastewater moving through a treatment facility in Ballina Shire is treated to tertiary standards. The following table shows the amounts of wastewater treated at various sewage treatment works in Ballina Shire, and the amount re-used in the year ended 30 June 2004. The re-use figure is expected to rise dramatically as rural users take up treated wastewater for irrigation, and residents of Cumbalum and Ballina Heights use treated wastewater for non-contact purposes in their home.

Table 2.4 Ballina Shire Council Treated Wastewater Annual Flow Statistics – 2003/04

Treatment Facility Inflow ML Reuse ML Rainfall mm Ballina STW 1504 181 927 Lennox Head STW 1555 99 1237 Alstonville STW 468 0 1118 Wardell STW 121 42 1046 Totals 3648 322

Council recently resolved to pursue re-use as a preferred disposal option for treated wastewater, and this is discussed later in this report. Re-use has increased from 128ML/year in 1996 to 323ML/year in 2004.

4. Urban development

The 2002/2003 drought illustrated just how reliant the North Coast community is on our limited potable water resources. An increasing urban population in Ballina Shire has been the subject of Council’s Urban Water Strategy (UWS) which is discussed in this chapter under the “Response” heading.

Rous Water has calculated that we will need 16,900ML/year to cater for the population expected in 2020. Even now, demand for water supplies in the Northern Rivers is nearing what is known as the ‘secure yield’ for Rocky Creek Dam. Secure yield can be defined as the amount of water required so that the system can supply 80% of the normal demand (that is, a 20% reduction in average consumption) through a repeat of the worst drought on record. In practice, this means that the number of people that Rous Water can safely supply from existing sources is reaching its limit.

The amount of potable water used each year in Ballina Shire is shown below.

Table 2.5 Amount of Potable Water used annually Location Annual Volume (ML) Year ended 30 June 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Ballina and Lennox Head 2739 2671 2745 3180 3213 2461 3153 Alstonville 851 985 824 863 835 732 813 Wardell 168 139 139 169 162 110 113 Total Shire 3 758 3 795 3 708 4 213 4211 3452 4078

Total Bulk Water Supplied 10 479 10 078 9 939 11 470 11 599 9 055 10 660 Across Northern Rivers

The secure yield managed by Rous Water, from all sources, is shown below. This secure yield allows for an allocation for environmental flow from the Emigrant Creek Dam. Ballina Shire Council supplies between 120,000kL and 170,000kL in a typical year for its own customers and this amount is not included in the calculations below.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Rocky Creek Dam 9,500 ML/year Emigrant Creek Dam 1,600 ML/year Groundwater Bores 1,000 ML/year Total 12,100 ML/year

However, demand for water across the Northern Rivers already exceeds this calculated secure yield. In 2009, assuming demand for water grows slowly, the volume required to meet this demand will be 13,200ML/year which represents an 1,100 ML/year shortfall.

Trying to reduce the demand for water from all sectors, known as demand management, is crucial in the short-term to keep demand low.

Higher demand, and growth in population, means that even the development of what is known as the ‘Lismore source’ cannot provide a secure yield beyond 2019, as shown below. Essentially this means that new water sources will be required, such as the proposed Dunoon Dam.

Figure 2.1 Future Water Demands

20000

18000 Demand (High) 16000

14000 Demand (Low )

Lismore Source 12000 Bores

10000 Emigrant Creek Dam

8000 Rocky Creek Dam

Water supplied in Ml/year 6000

4000

2000

0 2004 2009 2014 2019 2024 Year

Although the ‘Lismore source’ was utilised in emergency conditions during the 2002/2003 drought, Rous Water is currently negotiating a licence with the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources to extract water from the Wilson River at high flows during non-emergency conditions. This will increase the secure yield of

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report bulk water supplies as shown in the above graph and environmentally, extraction during high flow events has relatively less impact than extraction in median to low flow events.

It is partly our own population growth that has contributed to the need for more town water. However, the greater the volumes of water extraction in our upstream catchments, the less water is available to contribute to environmental flows in the downstream catchments. Anecdotal reports from local fishers have identified that the salt wedge (indicative of salt water) has extended further upstream in the Richmond River in recent years. The apparent cause of this change is unknown, however the recurring drought, and resultant increases in water extraction in upstream catchments may be contributing factors.

5. Water use from rivers

Demand for water from our streams and catchments by water authorities, farmers and householders is increasing, sometimes to the detriment of our natural ecosystems. There are 294 surface water extraction licences held in the Ballina local government area, for farming or domestic purposes. These extraction licenses add up to entitlements of 8,942ML/water. See over page for map showing the surface water licence locations in Ballina Shire.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Figure 2.2

6. Groundwater use

Additionally, there are 580 groundwater licenses issued on the Alstonville Plateau, although 464 of these are for domestic purposes and therefore are likely to use much less water than a bore installed for irrigation purposes. The total allocation from the Alstonville aquifer for Ballina Shire is 1 963Ml/year. Figure 2.3 indicating the location of groundwater bores in Ballina Shire is shown below.

Please see overpage for a map showing the licensed groundwater bore locations in Ballina Shire.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Figure 2.3

Work undertaken by DIPNR suggest that there is stress on the aquifer, also known as the Alstonville Basalt Plateau Groundwater Source. Records of the long term shallow and deep level groundwater monitoring data from 1987 to 2004 are collected by the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources for groundwater management.

The shallow groundwater has shown an annual trend of water level decline system over the past 5 years during winter, spring, and summer followed by recharge events during late summer and autumn. These recharge events typically result in water levels rising to a roughly similar level each year. This is possibly due to an increase in base flow to streams when water levels reach a certain level. However the shallow water levels did not reach this similar

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report level during the late summer/autumn period of 2004. If rainfall continues to be below average, this may potentially result in water level declines within the shallow system during the following winter, spring and early summer to levels that have not been recorded previously within the past 5 years.

Long term groundwater monitoring data from 1987 and 2004 has shown that deep groundwater levels have dropped significantly over this time period by approximately 7 to 19m. It is clear that there is a strong relationship between extraction rates and consequential reductions in groundwater levels.

Since February 2002 there has been some recovery in the water levels of approximately 5 to 12m, which may be attributed to a decrease in aquifer extraction caused by the rainfall which broke the drought in early 2002. Recharge to the deep aquifer is considered to be significantly slower than to that of the shallow aquifer, because of the considerable depth of the deep aquifers. Groundwater levels have not stabilised in the deep aquifer and it is unclear at this stage if the recovery will be permanent, particularly with the current dry period the North Coast region is encountering.

7. Floods

Major floods in the upper reaches of the Richmond River systems in February and March 2001 led to deoxygenation of the water in the lower reaches. Evidence strongly suggested that most fish and crustaceans in these rivers were flushed, migrated actively from the river system or were killed by the anoxic water (NSW Fisheries, 2004). “The flood combined, with other factors such as summer heat, pasture grasses, drainage channels and sediment, triggered a chain reaction that left the coastal river devoid of oxygen and life” (Dawson, 2002).

In the days and weeks after the first flood in February, acid levels and dissolved oxygen were measured at a number of locations in the Richmond River. Levels of pH were measured as almost neutral in the early monitoring suggesting that acid runoff was not a factor in the fish kills. However, there was almost no dissolved oxygen in the water during the flood event and for two weeks following, oxygen levels were approximately 60% below the level needed to satisfactorily sustain fish (ANZECC, 1992). . The primary factors identified in ‘stripping’ the water of its dissolved oxygen were the presence of mono-sulfidic black oozes, the warm weather conditions immediately after the February flood event and higher than usual sediment loads carried by the river in the wake of erosion. Mono-sulfidic black oozes and high sediment loads combine via a series of chemical reactions to remove oxygen from water, thereby educing the displaced oxygen available to fish. Concurrent warm weather conditions provided water temperature between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius. Warmer water is less able to carry dissolved oxygen thereby contributing to an already poor water quality situation.

The rivers and adjacent inshore ocean waters were closed to all fishing following this fish kill for approximately five months, to provide the systems with time to recover.

A series of scientific programs were initiated at the time of the kills to monitor the recovery of fish, crustaceans and water quality in the rivers. An analysis of data collected during the scientific water sampling illustrated that, by the time fishing restrictions were lifted, the populations of fish and crustaceans in the Richmond River had recovered to levels that were sufficient to sustain normal commercial and recreational fishing practices. Some species appeared to recover relatively quickly in the main river channel to levels that have been more or less maintained since, while some other species took longer to recover.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

8. Aquatic weeds and blue green algae

Many weeds or blue green algae live on enhanced nutrient loads in still or slowly moving waters. The use of detergents high in phosphorus, and fertiliser runoff, are two common sources of nutrients in waterways.

Residents of Ballina Shire would be very familiar with regular closures of Lake Ainsworth due to the presence of blue-green algae. In the case of Lake Ainsworth, it does not appear that either stormwater runoff or sewage sources provide the conditions that allow the blue-green algae to flourish. The lake stratifies during warm weather, creating a warm water layer close to the surface. The position of the lake in the surrounding catchment means that it has acted as a ‘sink’ for naturally occurring nutrients for many thousands of years.

Lake Ainsworth was closed to swimmers for a total of 141 days due to public health concerns regarding the presence of blue green algae in 2003, and 65 days in 2004.

9. Urban Stormwater

Stormwater runoff is an environmental issue more commonly discussed in relation to water quality for receiving waters. It is not only the quality of the water that may be an issue, but also the quantity and local conditions (tidal position, period since last rainfall event, accumulation of sediment load).

Lennox Head Moat

Stormwater in the CBD of Lennox Head discharges to the Lennox Head Moat. According to a study by Smith and James (2003) for the Marine Parks Authority, freshwater runoff has been identified as affecting the diversity of plants, fish and other aquatic biota in the location of discharge at the Lennox Head Reef (also known as the Moat).

The most common effect is sediment inundation of rocks and boulders, sometimes smothering organisms, which are already growing on them. Runoff flowing across beach sand will ‘pick up’ sand particles and transport them into the moat area. The introduction of freshwater in large rainfall events in concentrated flows (as happens with flows from stormwater drains) can also send organisms into osmotic shock. Pollutants are also carried in stormwater and may have either an immediate or cumulative effect on the Reef inhabitants, depending on the type of pollution carried. For example, a chemical spill may have an immediate effect, whilst heavy metals will tend to be cumulative – affecting particular populations over time.

Smith and James (2003) also express some concern with regard to the decline in abundance of sea urchin populations, both in total species and in frequency in numbers for each of these species. Part of this decline may also be attributable to unauthorised collection of large numbers of sea urchins in the 1990’s by persons unknown.

Shaws Bay – A Case Study

Shaws Bay is a small tidal embayment located adjacent to the mouth of the Richmond River at East Ballina that was created as a consequence of river entrance training wall construction. There are seventeen stormwater drains discharging into Shaws Bay(Patterson Britten 2000).

The Processes Study undertaken as a precursor to the development of the Shaws Bay Management Plan, showed that water quality in Shaws Bay was generally good, although swimming was best avoided for up to 24 hours after a stormwater runoff event. Dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH, temperature and turbidity were within acceptable limits to support aquatic life.

The study also examined the pollutants from different parts of the Shaws Bay catchment. This provided interesting insights into the runoff and the types of pollutants that might be expected from different landuses. The catchment itself is 59% urban land use, 23% native vegetation (largely on slopes) and 18% open space.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Table 2.6 Water Quality Impacts from Landuse in Shaws Bay Catchment Area

Subcatchment Subcatchment Area (m2) Landuse (Urban/Native Vegetation/ Open Space) Solids Suspended (kg/yr) Phosphorus Total (kg/yr) Nitrogen Total (kg/yr) x (cfu E. Coli 106/yr) 1 Southeast Lighthouse Beach 126 400 Urban 12809 51.2 320.2 4483 2 Shaws Bay Caravan Park (Sthn section) 32 500 50% urban, 2882 8.2 49.4 642 50% open space 3 Shaws Bay residential area 66 300 100% urban 6719 26.9 168 2352 4 Shaws Bay Caravan Park (Nthn section) 31400 50% urban, 2784 8.0 47.7 621 50% open space 5 Shaws Bay northern residential including 84 900 100% urban 8604 34.4 215.1 3011 Compton Drive 6 Lighthouse Hill, southern face 151 500 50% 5949 8.1 42.2 326 vegetation, 50% open space 7-12 Eastern Slope 60 000 100% 151 0.3 3 16 vegetation 13 Pine Street and adjacent residential 45 200 100% 4581 18.3 114.5 1603 vegetation 14-17 Caravan Park 8800 50% urban 780 2.2 13.4 174 50% open space Totals 45260 157.6 973.6 13227

10. Emigrant Creek Dam

Emigrant Creek Dam was constructed in 1967 and 1968 to provide a water supply to Lennox Head and Ballina. It was the major supply for those areas before connection to the Rous Water supply system in 1996, and now forms an integral part of the Regional Water Supply system.

In recent years, Rous Water has undertaken a risk analysis on Emigrant Creek Dam to identify issues potentially affecting drinking water quality. The catchment area above Emigrant Creek Dam consists of a diversity of land uses including orchards and plantations, rural residential landuses and pasture for cattle grazing. A survey of Emigrant Creek Dam by Sainty and Jacobs (in Bishop, 1999) found that the density and health of the aquatic plant growth (consisting mainly of Water Hyacinth) was indicative of nutrient rich runoff from the catchment.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Table 2.7 Water quality risks identified in this investigation for the Emigrant Creek water catchment area

Source of Risk Result of risk (expressed in water quality parameter which must then be treated)

Septic tank leakage and groundwater infiltration; dumping septic Microbial pathogens (e.g. viruses, protozoans) wastes in catchment. Spraying and use of farm chemicals (spills). Pesticides, herbicides Runoff from dairy farms in catchment (especially storm events) Microbial pathogens, algae nutrients Existing and future development; agricultural Activities Microbial pathogens (e.g. protozoans) (macadamia wash off/orchards/cattle/sheep/dead animals) and Algae nutrients urban, industrial and tourism development. Algae and other water weeds in Emigrant Creek dam. Taste and odour Toxins Access to Emigrant Creek dam; cattle crossings, road run off, Microbial pathogens, viruses recreational use. Human access; vandalism, defecation, erosion, fuel leaks, Public outrage rubbish, etc. Microbial pathogens

Rous Water has an ongoing program to address these issues, which includes fencing off of the dam and a Healthy Catchments program offering assistance to farmers to reduce runoff and erosion from their properties.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

2.4 State Of Our Water

Regional indicators

annual total volume and per capita water use in kilolitres; and presence or absence of riparian vegetation.

1. Potable Water

Rous Water manages much of Ballina Shire’s water supply, supplying Ballina and Lennox Head, as well as Lismore City and Byron Shire with potable water (also known as town water). Ballina Council manages smaller town water supplies at the Ellis Road and Lindendale Road bores and Marom Creek Dam. Therefore, the water in your tap may come from Rocky Creek Dam, Emigrant Creek Dam, Marom Creek or from one of Council’s groundwater supplies.

Each source has an important role in meeting part of the total demand for water across the Northern Rivers. Figures on this demand are presented in the Pressures section of this Chapter.

To ensure the quality of potable water Ballina Shire conducts weekly sampling from 25 sites. These sites include raw water sources, reservoirs and points along the distribution lines supplying consumers. The parameters that are tested include bacteriological levels, chlorine and pH levels and turbidity, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and temperature measures.

Sampling occurs on weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly and annually basis for a range of chemical residues in accordance with the Australian Water Quality Guidelines 2000. Pesticide residues are also sampled regularly.

Table 2.8 Treatments applied to our water to ensure it is of the appropriate standard Water Quality Parameter Treatment Applied Stabilisation Lime and CO2 Colour, Turbidity, Algae (not blue-green) Membrane Taste and Odour Ozone/BAC Dissolved iron and manganese Potassium permanganate Algal toxins Ozone/BAC Herbicides and pesticides Ozone/BAC Bacteria and viruses Chloramination

2. Riparian Vegetation on Streams

Work undertaken for Council by a Southern Cross University student in 2003 indicates that approximately 58% of our streams have either medium density or high density vegetation on the banks. The work did not examine the nature of this vegetation, that is, whether it consisted of native vegetation or weed species. The type of vegetation also has an impact on how rivers and streams function as habitat.

The study also identified a number of sites at risk from erosion. These generally occur in areas of high slope and where dense vegetation is not present.

3. River Health

The 2003 Healthy Rivers Commission Inquiry into the North Coast Rivers indicated that the Richmond, Tweed and Brunswick Rivers are in worse than ‘average’ condition. The Inquiry highlighted issues such as water extraction, a lack of riparian vegetation, bank erosion and poor water quality as the main reasons for this. Their findings build on

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report the 1999 report by the then Department of Land and Water Conservation “The Richmond River Catchment – Stream Health Assessment Report” which found that in Ballina Shire, many of the streams were in ‘poor’ or only ‘average’ condition.

This document highlighted a lack of aquatic vegetation, a lack of riparian vegetation and issues impacting from the surrounding environment as being the main reasons for the poor ratings given to streams in the Richmond River area. Grazing and stock access, water extraction infrastructure and the location of roads and bridges negatively impact on our streams and rivers and their overall ability to provide habitat.

The following information shows the report’s rating of the four subcatchments in Ballina Shire in comparison to the Richmond River overall. More information is available in Appendix A or from the report itself. The full report reference is available in the References section of this chapter.

Table 2.9 Stream health in Ballina Shire

% in Good to Very Good % in Poor to Very Poor Sub-catchment Condition Condition Lower Richmond River Region 20.9 25 Lennox Area Subcatchment 18.4 21.7 Alstonville Area Subcatchment 19.7 32.7 Tuckean Area Subcatchment 13.8 19.7 Richmond River as a whole 15.9 35.2

Generally, the rivers and streams on the Lower Richmond had greater impacts from water extraction and irrigation drains as a disturbance factor than was the trend across the Richmond as a whole. This might be expected as irrigation for crops is more likely to occur in floodplain areas as is the construction of drains in cane growing areas.

Grazing and stock impacts appeared to be a contributing factor to disturbance of reach environments and bank instability across all areas. A lack of aquatic vegetation was an issue for all sites, but fish passage was generally better in those streams in Ballina Shire. This may be due to the floodplain nature of many of the rivers and streams surveyed allowing greater depths on shallower slopes.

4. Water quality

Water quality is not always an absolute measure. Depending on the intended ‘use’ for water, the quality of the water may be variable. For example, the Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fish and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC 2000)) guidelines provides a variety of measures against which water quality can be judged. The water quality guidelines are most stringent where supporting aquatic ecosystems (including fish, but also other aquatic organisms) and least stringent where the end use for water is for irrigation purposes.

This might mean, for example, that for North Creek at Lennox Head water quality may be assessed as being poor for supporting aquatic ecosystems but suitable for sailing or boating.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Monitoring for river health

Generally speaking, the Richmond River is able to support aquatic flora and fauna in its upper reaches more readily than in its freshwater lower reaches. For the Richmond River as a whole, water quality is only average to poor during normal flows (Stressed Rivers Report, 1999). However, it does appear to have been slowly improving over the past sixteen years, since the ‘Water Quality in the Richomnd River(SPCC 1987) report by the then State Pollution Control Commission (SPCC). The SPCC undertook extremely detailed monitoring over 2 ½ years at four locations on the lower Richmond River and estuary. Two locations were on North Creek, one on Emigrant Creek and one at the Bagotville Barrage. At that time, for all licensed point source discharges, up to 80,315 kL/day of wastewater was legally allowed to be discharged to the Richmond River.

In the 1987 SPCC report, water quality of the Richmond Valley was found to be poor when compared with the other NSW North Coast Rivers studied. The table below presents some selected water quality characteristics for low flows on North Coast Rivers, from the 1987 SPCC study. These will be compared with the later EPA 1996 report “The Northern Rivers – A Water Quality Assessment”.

Table 2.10 Results of 1987 WQ monitoring by SPCC

Chlorophyll a NFR (mg/L) (non- River TN (mg/L) TP (mg/L) (µg/L) filtrable residue) Richmond 0.30-1.30 0.06-0.21 2-20 2-14 Tweed 0.33-0.43 0.04-0.09 2-12 3-8 Brunswick 0.45-0.82 0.04-0.07 3-22 2-14 ANZECC guidelines for <0.5 mg/L <0.05mg/L 5 µg/L <10mg/L. lowland rivers (2000)

Recommendations made by the SPCC report related to the issues of excessive nutrient concentrations entering the river below Casino and Lismore, particularly in times of low flow, the impact of flood mitigation drains and agricultural activities generally on dissolved oxygen and nutrient availability, urban runoff from Casino and Lismore, and the suspended solids load held in the central catchment as a result of erosion from agricultural activities. A number of actions were identified in this study for various agencies to undertake. These actions and the subsequent responses by the community, by agencies and by local government are discussed in the Response section of this chapter.

The results of the 1996 report “The Northern Rivers – A Water Quality Assessment” (NSW EPA 1996) indicate that there has been some improvement in particular indicators, specifically the amounts of Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus present at low flows in the lower Richmond River since 1987. The table below presents the median values (middle range of values, between 25th and 75th percentiles) at low flow.

Table 2.11 Results of 1996 WQ monitoring by EPA

NFR (mg/L) Chlorophyll a DO (% River TN (mg/L) TP (mg/L) (non-filtrable pH (µg/L) saturation) residue) Richmond 0.15-0.75 0.02-0.12 1-88.8 1-11 6.3-8.3 60-110 Tweed 0.1-0.43 0.01-0.07 0-7 1-7 6.5-7.8 65-110 Brunswick 0.12-4.1 0.01-0.085 0.5-134.6 1-11 6.1-7.6 30-90 ANZECC guidelines <0.5 mg/L <0.05mg/L 5 µg/L <10mg/L. 6.5-8.0 85-110 for lowland rivers (2000)

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Direct comparisons cannot be made without replicating the extremely detailed spatial and temporal water quality monitoring undertaken by the SPCC, but it does appear that a number of the actions aimed at improving water quality have had an impact on nutrient levels.

However, this does not mean that water quality is good or even generally fair in the Richmond River catchment. The 1996 EPA report found that there were no sites that could be classified as Good for aquatic ecosystems and only 10 of the 49 freshwater sites ranked as Fair. Two of the estuarine sites received a Fair ranking, with the remainder ranking as Poor or Very Poor. Generally, high phosphorus concentrations and a low nutrient ratio were the main reasons for poor water quality. Low dissolved oxygen levels in freshwater sites and low pH values at estuarine sites were also contributors to water quality problems.

In 1996, as a whole catchment, the Richmond River has poor primary contact recreation water quality values, generally due to low water clarity and high levels of enterococci. Ballina was the only location to score a Good ranking.

The impacts of the flooding experienced in February and March of 2001 was probably the most dramatic example of how poor water quality affects fish and other aquatic organisms.

Monitoring for primary contact recreation

Water quality monitoring is undertaken for many different purposes and by different organizations. Council’s Public and Environmental Health section monitors water quality for primary contact recreation throughout the summer months at popular swimming locations as part of the Beachwatch program. Council has monitored the above parameters at Lake Ainsworth, Shelly Beach, Prospect Lake, Boulders Beach, Banyanda Lake, Sharpes Beach (inclusive for 12 years) over summer to the commencement of Beachwatch. Locations at The Serpentine, Shaws Bay, Lake Ainsworth, Seven Mile Beach and Shelly Beach, amongst others, are monitored for the presence of faecal coliforms and E. coli, two pathogenic organisms that can cause sickness in humans where found at statistically significant levels.

Generally, the results have shown in the 2003 – 2004 seasons (when Beachwatch monitoring was undertaken) that water quality is suitable for primary contact recreation, with the exception of some locations after heavy rain.

Council uses slightly different guidelines against which to assess water quality, monitoring for primary contact recreation and aesthetics, which are published by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC 1990). The NHMRC guidelines are currently based on the ANZECC guidelines, but new guidelines are in preparation which will be based on World Health Organisation standards.

Beachwatch

Over the past 12 years Ballina Shire Council has been engaged in a recreational water quality-monitoring program for faecal coliforms during the swimming season (October to March) on a monthly basis. Council has also monitored algae levels in Lake Ainsworth over the past 7 years.

During the period October 2002 to April 2003, sampling was undertaken at 10 popular swimming locations in Ballina Shire, using funding provided by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) under the Beachwatch Partnership Pilot Program (BPPP).

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

These locations were as follows:

Lake Ainsworth - Freshwater lake; Shaws Bay – Estuary; Boulders Beach- Surf Beach; Sharps Beach - Surf Beach; Prospect Lake – Estuary; Banyanda Lake – River; Seven Mile Beach - Surf Beach; Shelly Beach - Surf Beach; Lighthouse Beach-Surf Beach; and The Serpentine – Estuary.

Tests included algal analysis for blue green algae identification (particularly at Lake Ainsworth), microbiological analysis for faecal coliforms (FC) and enterococci (Ent), physico-chemical measurements including pH, conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and temperature, and any field observations including stormwater flow onto beaches and pollution, sewage pollution, odours/frothing and surface scums.

Generally, beaches and lower estuary locations had very good water quality in terms of faecal coliforms and enterococci. These organisms are used as a monitoring tool to detect the potential for the presence of pathogenic organisms. The more enclosed lake systems of Banyanda Lake and Prospect Lake were more likely to contain elevated levels of these organisms.

All five coastal beaches complied 100% with guideline limits for the six months for primary contact recreation. The term ‘primary contact recreation activities’ is generally referred to as ‘swimming’ but also includes water activities such as diving, water skiing, surfing and windsurfing.

Lake Ainsworth at Lennox Head has had ongoing problems with water quality due to high algal counts although other water quality parameters were within the guideline limits.

Council has monitored algae levels in Lake Ainsworth for the past 7 years. For several years the lake has experienced algal blooms, primarily during the spring and summer months from September to March. These blooms have caused concern as they not only present a health risk to humans and animals but may also impact on the recreation and tourism of the area.

Ballina Shire has a number of man-made lakes with various purposes, including recreation, habitat and stormwater treatment. Stormwater drains collect surface runoff from the surrounding residential areas and discharge directly into the lakes. At Banyanda Lake adjacent, landuses along North Creek Canal such as the Ballina Racecourse and private stables, the Ballina Industrial Estate and the Ballina Sewage Treatment Works are all potential sources of pollution to the lake as well as urban stormwater runoff.

Prospect Lake is located at East Ballina and is part of a man-made lake system that drains into Chickiba Creek. Prospect Lake is a popular swimming spot for local residents of the adjoining residential area as well as students from the nearby high school and triathlon club. The lake is used by rowers, with the East Ballina Rowing Club located adjacent to the eastern sampling point. The NSW Department of Sport & Recreation also uses Prospect Lake extensively during the summer period when Lake Ainsworth is unsuitable for swimming in due to high levels of blue green algae.

Over time, local residents have occasionally used Banyanda Lake area for swimming and recreational purposes. Water quality in Banyanda Lake did not comply with guideline limits in the months of February, March and April 2003. Residents also utilise other lake systems in the Shire for swimming during warm weather, but this should be done with caution due to the potential for water quality to be unsuitable for swimming and primary contact.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

During the BPPP the levels of compliance recorded at all three sites was high. At the northern and southern sampling sites, enterococci levels complied with swimming guideline limits 86% of the time and 100% of the time for faecal coliform levels whilst at the eastern sampling site, faecal coliform and enterococci levels complied with guideline limits 86% of the time.

Figure 2.4 Microbiological compliance of Beachwatch Sites (October 2002 – April 2003)

Faecal coliforms Enterococci The Serpentine 5/5 5/5

Lighthouse Beach 5/5 5/5 Shelley Beach 5/5 5/5

Lennox Beach 5/5 5/5 Banyanda Lake - West 3/5 3/5

Banyanda Lake - South 3/5 3/5 Banyanda Lake - East 3/5 3/5

Prospect Lake - South 5/5 4/5 Prospect Lake - East 3/5 3/5

Prospect Lake - North 5/5 4/5 Sharps beach 5/5 5/5

Boulders Beach 5/5 5/5 Shaws Bay - West 4/4 4/4

Shaws Bay - East 5/5 4/5 Shaws Bay - North 5/5 5/5

Lake Ainsworth - South 5/5 5/5 Lake Ainsworth - West 5/5 4/5

Lake Ainsworth - East 4/4 4/4

0 14.3 1 28.6 2 42.8 3 57.1 4 71.4 5 85.7 6 100 7 114 1 129 2 143 3 1574 1715 1866 2007

Months complied out of months sampled

The Wet Weather Monitoring Program

The Wet Weather Monitoring Program (WWMP) followed the BPPP and monitored the impacts of stormwater inflows to Shelley Beach, as well as 4 estuarine sites.

Shelly Beach at Ballina showed some problems with enterococci levels after rainfall events greater than 20mm in the previous 24 hours. However, these generally reduced dramatically to below guidelines limits after 24 hours with no rain.

Shaws Bay complied 100% with guideline limits during the Beachwatch monitoring but entercocci levels remained elevated for more than 48 hours after rainfall events greater than 10mm.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Whilst The Serpentine at Ballina had 100% compliance with guidelines limits during the 2002/2003 period, after rain both faecal coliforms and enterococci levels were elevated for up to 48 hours. The exact time for recovery rates after rain at this location is not known.

The water quality guidelines referred to above are the National Health and Medical Research Council (NRMRC) 1990 “Australian Guidelines for the Recreational use of Water”. These guidelines were used to determine the suitability of sites for primary and secondary contact recreation. Guidelines for these ‘end uses’ of water have a different focus than those aimed at supporting aquatic ecosystems. They provide a benchmark for deciding whether water is safe to swim in (for primary contact recreation) or safe to go boating or fishing on (for secondary contact recreation).

Following completion of the BPPP in April 2003, Ballina Shire Council received further funding from the EPA to carry out water quality monitoring during wet weather events. This was known as the Extended Beachwatch Program or Wet Weather Monitoring Program (WWMP). Sites already monitored during the Beachwatch Program which were selected for the WWMP were Shelly Beach, The Serpentine, Shaws Bay, Prospect Lake and Banyanda Lake.

The WWMP is Ballina Shire Council’s first step in developing a database for wet weather water quality information. This database will provide Council with information to better understand water quality during and after rain events. Ballina’s sub-tropical climate brings not only an extended swimming season but also NSW’s highest and most intense rainfall. It is a combination of these factors that makes the WWMP a worthwhile and beneficial program for Ballina Shire Council.

5. Water Dependent Ecosystems

Wetlands are the ecosystems most commonly considered to be water dependent and of course the plants which grow in them are dependent on water being available for most or all of the year. However, there are many other plant communities ‘that have a requirement for surface and /or subsurface water for part or all of their ecological needs’ (NPWS, 2001) and these are also defined as water dependent ecosystems.

During 2001, the then National Parks and Wildlife Service mapped water dependent ecosystems on the Richmond River. Those mapped as occurring on the Lower Richmond (ie Alstonville, Broadwater, Evans Head, Lennox Head, Tuckean and Wyrallah subcatchments) include:-

Estuarine Wetlands

These include mangrove forests, seagrass beds and saltmarsh communities occurring as far upstream as Broadwater and throughout the North Creek catchment. Ballina Nature Reserve and Richmond River Nature Reserve (at South Ballina) protect large areas of estuarine wetland in Ballina Shire.

Freshwater Wetlands

The freshwater wetlands on the Lower Richmond support a wide range of wetland dependent threatened species on wetlands such as Broad Leaved Paperbark forests, Swamp Oak forests, Swamp Mohagany forests, open water and sedge communities and mixed sclerophyll forests (dominated by Swamp Box and a variety of other species).

Threatened species found on these freshwater wetlands include the Brolga, Jabiru, Magpie Goose, Black and Australasian bitterns, Bush Hen, Painted Snipe and Comb Crested Jacana.

Endangered species supported by freshwater wetlands in the Lower Richmond include Mitchells Rainforest Snail, the Red Goshawk, the Swamp Orchid (found in Broad Leaved Paperbark wetlands) and the Oxleyan Pigmy Perch (occurs only in coastal lakes and lagoons).

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Acid runoff represents a threat to both estuarine and freshwater wetlands. Runoff from the Tuckean Swamp has been responsible for some of the largest recorded fishkills in NSW (NPWS 2001).

Previously, clearing and draining of wetlands for agricultural and urban purposes represented a threat to these wetlands. Clearing and draining activities have largely stopped now, and there are mechanisms in place to protect wetlands from further clearing.

Rainforests

Ballina Shire contains almost a third of the remaining Big Scrub remnant that exists on the Alstonville Plateau. However, this rainforest type (known as Subtropical Rainforest) is not the only rainforest type identified by the Study. Also included are littoral rainforests (those found in close proximity to the sea), warm temperate rainforest and dry rainforest.

Generally clearing represents the greatest danger to these habitat types, although water extraction from streams and the aquifer may also impact during dry times.

Riparian Forests

Riparian forests are found in close proximity to streams, often occurring as a narrow fringing forest to streams. Flooded Gum, Tallowwood and Weeping Myrtle dominate subsets of this water dependent habitat classification. They are limited in their natural extent, and threats include clearing and weed invasion.

Floodplain Forests

Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain is an endangered ecological community listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995. Other floodplain forest types include Forest Red Gum Forest and a Mixed Floodplain Forest that contains both eucalypt and rainforest species. Threats include clearing and extraction of groundwater from alluvial floodplain aquifers.

Moist Coastal Vegetation Communities

These communities include Wet Heath, Banksia forest and woodland, Scribbly Gum forests and grasslands and sedgelands. Threatened species recorded in these areas, which mainly occur on the coastal plain between Lennox Head and Broken Head, to the west of Wardell and south of the Richmond River to Broadwater and Bundjalung National Parks, include the Eastern Blossom Bat, Long Nosed Potoroo, Ground Parrot, Grass Owl, Common Planigale and Squirrel Glider.

A large proportion of the remaining Moist Coastal Vegetation communities are reserved in National Parks and reserves, however clearing and over-extraction of groundwater from aquifers may threaten communities not located in these areas.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

7. Industries dependent on water

A number of industries are dependent on water for their viability in Ballina Shire. These are usually primary industries, namely fishing and agriculture.

Commercial Fishing

Table 2.12 Reported Commercial Wild Harvest to 2003 – Estuary General Catches

Year ended 30 June 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 No. of fishers reporting 38 39 45 36 37 28 Catch reported (tonnes) 289 163 247 169 193 163 Estimated value of catch ($’000) 915 742 1019 576 649 1125

As at February 2004 there were 56 commercial estuarine fisherman and 6 fisherman who work outside the estuary. These fishermen may be directly affected by changes in river health or fish populations for the Richmond River.

Table 2.13 Ocean Landings into the Port of Ballina for Ocean Prawn Trawl, Ocean Fish Trawl and Ocean Trap and Line Fisheries Landings

Year ended 30 June 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 No. of fishers reporting 27 29 35 40 37 26 Catch reported (tonnes) 399 310 291 408 299 240 Estimated value of catch ($’000) 2171 2021 2739 3518 3046 2269

The above figures provide an indication of the value of commercial fishing to the Ballina Shire community annually.

Recreational fishing

Unfortunately data on recreational fishing was not available.

Agriculture

NSW Agriculture has estimated (for 2002/03) that agriculture at the farm gate has a value of approximately $672 million for the North Coast Region. Almost half of this amount comes from irrigated agriculture, to a value of approximately $330 million. Although North Coast crops use only 1% of the total water used by irrigated agriculture in NSW, they account for approximately 13% of the value of irrigated agriculture.

This is due to the presence of many horticultural crops which are farmed more intensively. Horticulture and pasture (for dairy largely) are the main reasons for irrigation. Horticultural crops include high-value tropical crops such as avocados, bushfoods, olives, coffee, vegetables (NSW Agriculture after Creighton et al 1999).

Twenty-six percent of all NSW enterprises using irrigation are in the North Coast Region. Pasture accounts for approximately 56% of the area irrigated on the North Coast and each property irrigates an average of 43 Ha, much lower than the State average of 189 Ha. Generally irrigation is used as a supplement to rainfall. Demand on rivers and creeks for irrigation comes at a time when flows are in the low to median range, and maintaining a certain flow is critical also for the survival of fish and other organisms. “The impact of the industry on the environment relates not so much to the total amount of water it extracts, but to the timing of the extraction” (NSW Agriculture, 2003).

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Five hundred and seventy three people are directly employed by agricultural industries using irrigation as a major component of their business (predominately in horticulture, fruit growing and dairy farming) in the Ballina local government area. A further 106 people are employed in grain, sheep and beef cattle farming where irrigation is used for supplementary water to support pasture. Agriculture, forestry and fishing accounts for approximately 9.3% of all employment in the Far North East Region (Census 2001 data).

There are also the indirect jobs created by agricultural workers who need somewhere to buy clothes, to get medical advice and to do their weekly grocery shopping. Agriculture and the water it depends on for irrigation therefore play an important part in our region’s economy.

Tourism

Approximately 29,000 people visit Ballina Shire as an overnight visitor during the December – January holiday break, with an average stay of 4 nights. Arguably, tourists visit our Shire in large part because of the clean beaches and water recreation that are offered.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

2.5 Response to these pressures

Overview of Response

Many of the responses discussed here overlap into other themes presented in this report. This is because the environment is a dynamic system and the effect of action in one location may have a downstream or corresponding effect somewhere else.

Nevertheless, a lot has been happening in Ballina Shire over the past four years! These activities are aimed at improving the health of our waterways and the sustainability of our resources. Council, State agencies and the community have been working together to provide a healthier water environment for everyone.

1. Urban Water Management Strategy

In July 2003, Council adopted the Urban Water Management Strategy, which provides a ‘blueprint’ for how water supply, wastewater and stormwater will be managed in Ballina Shire. The Strategy commits Council to a course of action that will result in progressive improvements in line with best practice in each of these areas, particularly in water supply and wastewater treatment. The full Urban Water Management Strategy may be viewed on Council’s website at http://www.ballina.nsw.gov.au/. The following information highlights some of the key initiatives to be undertaken over the next few years:

publication of Results of Urban Water Performance Monitoring – in the future, these will be regularly published on Council’s website and will include the results of monitoring of potable water, reclaimed water and environmental water quality; retention of both Lennox Head and West Ballina Sewage Treatment Works – an upgrade of each facility will be undertaken to provide for the longer term management of sewerage; reclaimed Water Irrigation of Public Open Space – a review of the current Public Open Space reclaimed water reuse throughout the Shire is underway with a view to maximising the additional opportunities for reuse; dual reticulation – Infrastructure has already been provided for Ballina Heights to have dual reticulation and future developments occurring in this area will also be required to utilize dual reticulation. A formal policy on the provision and servicing of dual reticulation systems in residential areas of Ballina/Lennox Head is being drafted. Re-use of treated wastewater for agricultural purposes in Alstonville is also being explored; demand management – Council is a partner with Rous Water in its program to implement a regional water efficiency program for potable water; rainwater tanks – Council is reviewing its current policy on rainwater tanks in existing and proposed residential areas; development and Implementation of Current Stormwater Management Strategy – Council will continue to develop and implement elements of the current Stormwater Management Strategy plus other opportunities identified in the strategy review, including water sensitive urban design initiatives; and biosolids reuse target – sets a beneficial reuse target of 50% by 2008 and 100% by 2013.

More detail about some of these initiatives is provided below:

Reclaimed water and dual reticulation

Up to 50% of average daily household water is used for toilet flushing and outdoor uses such as garden watering and washing cars. Traditionally we have built new dams to cater for increasing demand, while at the same time we’re wasting millions of litres of water from our waste water treatment plants which could be recycled and used for these activities.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Using reclaimed water will help to conserve high quality water supplies for drinking and personal use, by substituting reclaimed water for applications that don’t require potable (drinking) water, such as toilet flushing and garden watering. Reclaimed water is not suitable for all uses so that new subdivisions will need to be specifically plumbed to ensure that reclaimed water is used only for non-contact purposes.

A particular issue with reclaimed water is the high sodium (or salt) loads and high phosphorus loads that sewage traditionally carries. One major source of salt and phosphorus is washing machine powder.

Who is using the reclaimed water?

Ballina Heights Estate is the only subdivision in Ballina Shire currently installing plumbing to receive reclaimed water although the reclaimed water is not yet available. Each house in the subdivision is to have two sets of water pipes. One set will carry potable water for use in cooking, eating, bathing and clothes and dish washing. The second set of pipes will carry treated effluent for use in watering gardens, toilet flushing, outside washing jobs (cars, boats etc) and for construction activities. The project will significantly reduce the quantity of raw water needed to service the subdivision.

A number of industries in Alstonville are also developing systems to receive reclaimed water. Reclaimed water is currently being used in Ballina Shire to irrigate fairways at the Ballina Gold Course, the track at Ballina Racecourse, and the sporting fields at Kingsford Smith Park, Skennars Head and Wardell.

Reclaimed water use almost doubled in the year to 30 June 2003, with 7.7% (299 Ml) of our annual sewage load being re-used for irrigation on sporting fields and other purposes. On one day, 79% of the treated sewage from the Ballina Sewage Treatment Plan was re-used.

Water Restrictions/Demand Management

During the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 reporting years, water restrictions were imposed due to the recurring drought. Rocky Creek Dam, Ballina’s major water source, fell below 24% capacity at the height of the drought.

The public’s water consumption fell considerably in response to water restrictions, and to a public awareness campaign. Ballina Shire’s total water consumption fell from approximately 300 ML in the month of August 2002 to 85 ML in the month of April 2003.

However, drought is not the only time that Ballina Shire residents have reduced their water usage. The following graph shows the bulk water production by Council since 1976, plotted against the population growth between 1981 and 2001. Our total water consumption has increased from approximately 3000 ML/annum in 1976 to just over 4000 ML/annum, but our population has more than doubled. This shows how much water has already been saved through the introduction of water meters, use of water saving devices and general awareness about the scarcity of our water resource.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Figure 2.5

Annual Water Production Plotted Against Population Growth

4500 45000 Tint enbar, Newrybar and 4000 Cumbalum t o Rous 40000

3500 35000

M eters installed 2002/2003 3000 30000 drought

2500 25000

2000 20000

150 0 15000

1000 10000

500 5000 WATER PRODUCTION (ML)

0 0

YEAR

Bulk Water Production Population Growth (1981 to 2001)

To assist new and existing residents to further reduce water usage, Rous Water has employed a Demand Management Officer and an Education Officer to implement demand management programs and provide community education about potable water use across the Northern Rivers Region.

2. Water Sensitive Urban Design and Stormwater Management

Council is currently involved in a regional project setting targets for Water Sensitive Urban Design. This approach will provide certainty to developers and the broader community about the expectations for water management and urban design in new residential development.

Council also adopted Development Control Plan No. 13 – Stormwater Management in March 2004. This plan has adopted as its guiding principle, the stormwater management objective for new urban developments that there shall be “no net increase in the average annual load of key stormwater pollutants and peak discharge flow rates”, above that occurring under existing conditions. This is particularly important for areas with sensitive receiving environments.

Council has been progressively requesting more stringent stormwater management measures over time. For example, best practice measures have been introduced in the development of the Ballina Heights subdivision. All new allotments within the subdivision are to have onsite filtration detention systems installed. These are gravel- lined trenches which allow runoff from roofs and hard surfaces to infiltrate at a reduced flow rate directly into the watertable, reducing the amount of runoff entering Council’s stormwater system.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

An additional initiative is the installation of specially designed curb inlet pits (“enviropods”), which filter organic matter and sediment from road runoff before it enters the stormwater system.

For some areas, such as Ballina Island, there is very little scope for treatment as the land is very flat and close to the watertable and receiving waters. Innovation is required to find ways in which to treat stormwater before it discharges to North Creek or the Richmond River.

3 Marine Park Established

In November 2002 the Cape Byron Bay Marine Park was established, to improve the management of the region’s coastal-marine habitat. The park extends south from the mouth of the Brunswick River, to the Lennox Headland. The Marine Parks Authority is managing the planning process for the park, which is currently at the community consultation phase. It is worth noting that studies undertaken regarding biodiversity along the coastline indicate that Flat Rock provides better habitat than Julian Rocks, The Pass and Lennox Head. Smith and James (2003) recommend that consideration be given to the possible extension of the southern boundary of the marine park to include Flat Rock promontory, although there has been no indication that this will, in fact, occur. Council’s ability to manage activities in this area is limited.

4 Recreational Fishing Haven established

As part of the funding obtained from Recreational Fishing Licences, NSW Fisheries have ‘bought back’ commercial fishing licenses from a number of fishermen in the Richmond River estuary. This has enabled the declaration of a Recreational Fishing Haven in the Richmond River, which is now one of 30 similar areas declared across the state of NSW.

Crab and eel trapping is still permitted for commercial purposes in the estuary but commercial fishing can only occur upstream of the Haven limits or outside the training walls. The exception is a landmark agreement reached by commercial and recreational fishers about the Missingham Bridge sea mullet hauling shot. In return for a closure to commercial fishing of 27km of river upstream of the Norco Weir at Casino, recreational and commercial fishers agreed to a reopening of the mullet haul.

5 Lake Ainsworth Plan of Management

Finalised in the 2002-03 reporting year, the Plan seeks to implement and regulate actions within the lake catchment, to ensure that competing uses and processes are managed, so that the water quality and environmental functions of the lake will be maintained and improved.

For more information please, see the environmental snapshot in this chapter.

6 Richmond Floodplain Committee

The Richmond Floodplain Committee is a sub-committee of Richmond River County Council and was established in November 2000 to 'coordinate natural resource management activities, research and projects on the floodplain in partnership with councils, State government, commercial fisheries, agricultural industry and the community'.

The committee assesses and coordinates projects that are designed to improve the water quality of the Richmond River and land management practices on the floodplain for both ecological and anthropogenic reasons.

The range of projects the Floodplain Committee is involved with in the Ballina Shire is very broad, from actively managing floodgates to improve water quality and reinstate environmental flows to rehabilitating land affected by acid sulfate soils.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

The RFC also works with Southern Cross University, to research causes of deoxygenation processes on the Richmond floodplain. This research will help identify management actions to reduce impacts of deoxygenated waters on the Richmond estuary as occurred in early 2001 where low dissolved oxygen levels in the Richmond River caused a massive fish kill.

Deoxygenation of the water may occur for a number of reasons. Two of the main causes significantly increased are chemical oxygen demand caused by the runoff from acid sulfate soils and monosulfidic black ooze (also known as MBO) and biological oxygen demand from rotting vegetation and manure entering the waterway and using oxygen in the water to complete the breakdown of organic matter.

Southern Cross University is also investigating drain management techniques to reduce the amounts of MBO in drains, which has also been identified as potentially being a cause of deoxygenation of small waterways.

Other projects undertaken within the auspices of the Richmond Floodplain Committee include:

floodgate management at fourteen drainage and creek systems on the estuary restoration and protection in tributary creeks of the lower Bungawalbyn improving aquatic habitat acid sulfate soils community capacity building; and coastal ecosystems restoration

The aim is to provide an holistic approach to managing floodplain issues and recognise the interdependence of issues that combine to produce the effects we see on our land and water systems.

Further information on this committee and the Richmond River Estuary Management Committee can be found at www.rrcc.nsw.gov.au.

7 Richmond River Estuary Management Committee

The Richmond River Estuary Management Committee is also a sub-committee of Richmond River County Council, established in 2002 to formulate an estuary management plan for the estuary of the Richmond River. Membership consists of local and State government representatives, landholders and industry representation.

All available information for the estuary has been collated and an Estuary Processes Study is due to begin in late 2004. This study will provide the information on which to base the decisions for the Estuary Management Plan.

8 Actions to improve water quality

The State Pollution Control Commission’s (now Department of Environment & Conservation) 1987 report identified a number of actions as desirable to improve water quality in the Richmond River. For further discussion of that report, see the Water Quality discussion in State of our Water. The following provides an update on what has occurred as a result of this report and provides some indication of whether or not it has made a difference.

Point source discharges

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Action 1: All future Sewerage Treatment Plant discharges to the river and its tributaries between Casino, Lismore and Wardell should be located to allow maximum flushing; in some cases alternative disposal practices or treatment processes such as nutrient removal may be required.

Action 2: Any industry currently discharging high organic or nutrient loads which are causing problems should be required to draw up a plan of effluent improvement.

Action 3: The relevant local government body and the Public Works Department should be made aware of the water quality problems and take them into consideration when establishing sewage priorities in the region.

Over the past four years the Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly the Environment Protection Authority) has been implementing Load Based Licensing. This program has converted all licenses discharging to waters and to the air to a licensing fee that is based on the amount of pollution that is discharged. Although all discharges are treated before being released into receiving waters, there may still be excess nutrients, a temperature differential or residues that are not found in the receiving waters. By introducing a charge for this ‘environmental service’, those holding a Load Based License have a much greater incentive to find alternate and more environmentally,-friendly methods of treating the by-products of their operations.

Ballina Shire Councils Urban Water Management Strategy is also addressing this issue by utilising treated effluent for irrigation on farms and in the future, as an alternative non-potable water source in the Cumbalum and Ballina Heights new urban release areas. Using this water not only removes a potential source of pollution for our rivers and creeks, but also reduces demand on existing dams therefore increasing the potential to provide a minimum flow. This is known as an environmental flow.

Action 4: Care should be taken when selecting and approving new sites for prawn farms. Licence conditions for discharges from prawn farms may vary depending on location. Areas where discharge conditions should be most stringent are North and Emigrant Creek.

There is one prawn farm licensed to discharge to waters within the Ballina Local Government Area at this time.

Flood Mitigation Drains

Action: The local county council, the Public Works Department and the Department of Agriculture’s Fisheries Division should develop management strategies to minimise retention times within these drains.

Richmond River County Council convene the Richmond River Floodplain Management Committee and the Richmond River Estuary Management Committee. Under the auspices of these Committees and in line with their corporate charter, the Richmond River County Council undertake a number of programs to assist in the management of flood mitigation drains. They co-ordinate research into the way in which drains work and how best they may be managed. Southern Cross University, NSW Agriculture, NSW Cane Farmers Association and NSW Fisheries are also heavily involved in assessing and managing the impacts of flood mitigation drains on the water quality and habitat qualities of the Richmond River.

As a result of these partnerships and the research conducted, a number of floodgates are now managed in order to improve environmental outcomes, not simply as a flood mitigation measure.

Action: Local government should develop and implement strategies where possible to control the quality of urban runoff.

Urban runoff

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Urban runoff, more commonly referred to as stormwater, is an area in which there has been significant work undertaken, by State government agencies and by Ballina Shire Council. New subdivisions now require implementation of on-site stormwater treatment devices and increasingly these are moving to what is euphemistically termed ‘soft engineering’ options such as water quality treatment lakes instead of gross pollutant traps requiring significant annual maintenance.

The community is also changing its practices by washing cars on the lawn and composting lawn clippings instead of placing them near gutters. Projects such as the Bundjalung Nation Stormwater Education Project (BuNSEP) and the Stormwater Education and Assessment Project target different groups within the community and talk about the importance of reducing potential pollutants in urban runoff. These are discussed in more detail later in this Chapter.

Elevated Suspended Solids Loads

Action: Agricultural practices need to be modified and soil conservation promoted. The Department of Agriculture (now DoPI) and the Soil Conservation Service (now DIPNR) should be made aware of the Commission’s concerns and encouraged to reduce erosion.

Erosion and the presence of sediment in our rivers is still of significant concern. Sedimentation and suspended solids may enter streams and rivers in both urban and rural areas as a result of erosion. Apart from the reduction in clarity in rivers that may occur as a result of elevated levels of suspended solids, the individual particles may also carry pollutants and nutrients.

8 Healthy Rivers Commission

The Healthy Rivers Commission (HRC) has conducted three Inquiries into rivers and lakes that traverse Ballina Shire. The reports included the:

independent Inquiry into the North Coast Rivers coastal lakes Inquiry and securing healthy coastal rivers inquiry.

Generally, recommendations have focussed on the need for more cohesive decision-making between agencies with responsibility for management of aspects affecting lakes and rivers.

Although the responsibilities of the HRC have now transferred to the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, the recommendations identified in the table below remain relevant.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Table 2.14 Recommendations of the HRC for the Richmond River

Recommendation Outcomes sought Actions undertaken 1. Joint accountabilities A Statement of Intent recognised as a dedicated Northern Rivers Catchment suite of state strategies funded across agencies ManagementAuthority established and authorities through adjustment of existing with a Board responsible for programs. investment across catchment. 2. River Health Goals Realistic river health goals, for conservation, Planning for water sharing across sustainable use and protection of selected catchment begun. values, adopted and used to guide natural Estuary management planning resource management strategies and process started. statutory land use planning processes. ANZECC guidelines for Aquatic Agency programmes consistent with these Ecosystems. goals (see various management responses Catchment Management Blueprint within this report). published as a template for interim investment in natural resource management. 3. Sustainable Agriculture A strategy for promoting long-term adjustment Farmland Protection mapping towards sustainable agriculture in which river undertaken and its statutory nature health is included as an explicit goal. established in a section 117 direction. All agencies, with programs that impact on agricultural activity, committed to implementation of that strategy. 4.Sustainable Aquaculture Community goals for aquaculture recognised in statutory land use plans in order to safeguard water quality and related requirements of the industry. Industry impacts on river health avoided or minimised to levels consistent with other water use goals identified by the community. 5. Fisheries management Stronger integration in the management of Floodgates management programmes rivers/estuaries and fisheries, including, with whole of government specifically, the development of a set of involvement. mutually supportive goals and consistent Commercial fishing in Richmond River priorities. now banned. 6. Regional planning Integrated regional plans that identify and A new regional planning process is prioritise whole of system-based goals and planned as part of the recent NSW recognise the implications of Government agency changes. interrelationships among the goals and strategies across all social, economic and environmental considerations. 7. Connectivity of stream Multiple benefits secured by capitalising on Key Habitats and Corridors Mapping works the natural connectivity across the landscape by NPWS. provided by the stream network. 8. Water cycle management Current impediments to integrated water Ballina Urban Water Management cycle management posed by pricing Strategy. arrangements across three levels of IPART review of water pricing (state- government removed. wide). Planning, regulatory and funding mechanisms Implementation of BASIX. used in ways that require integration of DCP No. 13 – Stormwater service provision at the regional and local Management. scale. WSUD Regional Initiative 9. Estuarine dredging A strategic context to guide council and Estuary management planning agency decision makers and the private process started (Richmond River sector about estuary dredging proposals, Estuary Management Plan). complementing the existing state policy for

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Recommendation Outcomes sought Actions undertaken the non tidal parts of rivers. Costs of compliance monitoring and addressing environmental impacts to be internalised into the cost of the development. 10. Navigation and river Transparent and consistent cost-effective DIPNR and Council are jointly health arrangements to address navigational needs undertaking a Recreational Boating of recreational boating. Needs Analysis for the Richmond Community expectations for works to improve River estuary. navigability met within the context of a A comprehensive bathometry of the publicly stated position. Richmond River estuary is planned for State funds allocated in the most cost- 2005. effective ways, in light of criteria developed through the state-wide review of options and priorities.

10 Shaws Bay Management Plan

The local community of Shaws Bay identified stormwater pollution as the major concern for the health of the Bay, as documented in the Shaws Bay Estuary Study Processes Study, Patterson Britten & Partners (1999).

The need for installation of litter/organic debris collection devices was identified as necessary because “the input of litter and organic debris is one of the main threats to the ecological habitats of Shaws Bay” Patterson, Britten & Partners (1999).

In response, following funding from Coasts and Clean Seas, Council in 2002 installed 92 Enviropod units in stormwater pits in the eastern residential area of Shaws Bay. The units have been designed to control and collect the amount of litter and organics currently being flushed into the Shaws Bay environment. Ballina High School was involved in the project and has developed a specific curriculum for students from K – 12 on stormwater management and the Shaws Bay Project is used in this as a case study. Senior students have been involved in sampling and monitoring the efficiency of the Enviropod units.

As part of the Coast and Clean Seas Grant, Council has also regraded the Lighthouse Hill carpark area and provided a new drainage system to a specialised collection device. The device is designed to show the public the amount of material collected over nominated periods of time. Unfortunately, this device has had some design faults and Council is currently investigating new options and designs for this area. The hundreds of cigarette butts discarded weekly at the Lighthouse Hill lookout therefore currently discharge via the stormwater direct to the ocean.

11 Stormwater Education and Assessment (SEA) Project

The SEA Project was a regional initiative between Tweed, Ballina, Byron, Lismore, Kyogle and Richmond Valley Councils. SEA stands for Stormwater Education and Assessment Project and the project was targeted at businesses in the Northern Rivers to provide support and encourage conductory inspections and environmental assessments to improve practices impacting on stormwater quality.

The project inspected 2,381 businesses throughout the region, offering advice, audits and encouragement to improve practices. 212 of these were located in Ballina Shire, as shown in the following Table.

A further 568 visits were made to businesses across the 6 shires as part of the initial determination of their suitability for stormwater assessment. These were found to be low risk businesses, needing only some stormwater information handouts and/or a brief individual assessment or advice.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Therefore a total of 2,941 businesses were assessed in the field. Desk-top assessments also occurred at the commencement of work in each shire accounting for a further 1,200 businesses.

Table 2.15 Results of inspections undertaken during the SEA Project

Local Mobile & Commercial Business Industrial Business Government Home-Based TOTAL Assessments Assessments Area Business* Poor Good Very Good Poor Good Very Good Byron 17 65 9 11 165 6 102 375 Tweed 12 157 1 4 520 7 377 1078 Ballina 7 10 0 11 85 21 78 212 Richmond Valley 23 59 12 8 79 17 46 244 Lismore 29 93 27 12 78 86 76 29 Kyogle 1 22 0 0 37 1 10 71 TOTAL 89 406 49 46 964 138 689 2381 *Note: Mobile and home-based businesses contacted via telephone.

Another outcome of the SEA project was the development in each Council of a protocol for enforcement of the Protection of the Environment (Operations) Act 1997. The following table provides a summary of action as at the conclusion of the SEA project in December 2003.

Table 2.16 Council actions undertaken during SEA Project

Reviewed Conditions Introduced Authorized existing of Consent/ Introduced warning educational/ Council staff to issue Introduced New system enforcement role to warnings Conditions existing staff Tweed Yes Yes Proposed Yes Byron Yes Yes Yes No Ballina Yes Yes Yes Pending Lismore Yes Yes Yes Pending Richmond Valley Yes Pending Pending Pending Kyogle Yes No Yes

In addition to inspections of commercial and industrial premises, a number of building sites were inspected for compliance with erosion and sediment control conditions of consent. Sixty five sites were inspected in Ballina Shire, with a further 186 kits mailed out to site managers.

The “Business of the Week” was used to profile businesses who were conscientious about their stormwater management techniques. For each Shire or City, local businesses were chosen so they were visible and easy for other businesses to make contact with. For Ballina Shire, the “Businesses of the Week” were:

Sirocco Cafe Ballina Car Wash Weatherby’s Take Away Dancers Car Care G & H Car Repairs Ampol Collect, Lennox Head

12 Bundjalung Nation Stormwater Education Project (BunSEP) Project

The Bundjalung Nation Stormwater Education Project (BuNSEP) is another example of regional partnerships aimed at delivering long-term environmental outcomes. The purpose of BuNSEP was to develop and deliver culturally

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report appropriate education and awareness raising materials and activities for and with Bundjalung Aboriginal communities, and to improve Aboriginal participation in stormwater management in their own (Bundjalung) country.

Ballina Shire hosted the BuNSEP team for the eighteen months the project ran. It involved extensive consultation with Aboriginal elders and communities in regard to stormwater management issues. A key event in Ballina Shire included sponsorship of the Cabbage Tree Island Rugby League Football Club Memorial Dick Roberts and Tim Rhodes Rugby League Knockout Competition, which was held on the 21st and 22nd September 2002 at Ballina. In 2002 the annual event attracted Aboriginal people from throughout the entire Bundjalung Nation, as well as Moree (NW NSW), Kempsey, Nambucca and Bellbrook, and southern Queensland.

A number of events ran in different local government areas across the region. The final project was the development and distribution of a Bundjalung Stormwater Education Kit to all primary and high schools throughout the Bundjalung Nation region. The kit contained:

- lesson plans - stormwater education video (completed by Aboriginal youth) - CD - Stormwater pollution poster - Catchment maps (five types) - Boardgame - Timeline (history of water use and management in Bundjalung Country)

T-shirts developed as part of the project.

13 Alstonville Groundwater Management Plan

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

As reported in the 2000 Comprehensive State of the Environment Report, the Alstonville Plateau area was identified as being under both hydrologic and environmental stress with a high volume of extraction and having high conservation value. A Groundwater Management Plan for the Aquifer was formulated by the Northern Rivers Water Management Committee (NRWMC) throughout 2001 and 2002, which was adopted by the Minister of the Environment in December 2002. The plan came into effect on 1 July 2003.

To attain the “water sharing rules” adopted by the Plan, the NRWMC considered the existing state of the aquifer and the amount of water needed by the environment to sustain flows to rivers and streams as well as supporting any groundwater dependent ecosystems. For the purposes of this Plan, 80% of average annual recharge is reserved to recharge the long term storages within the Aquifer and for the environmental purposes already discussed.

A ‘basic rights’ allocation for rural landholders of 1,552ml/yr was also made. Basic rights refers to the watering of stock and domestic use. For comparison, the Ballina Shire residents connected to mains water used 3,452 Ml in 2003.

Licensed water users are entitled to use up to 6,440 Ml each year, although there are other rules that govern when water can be used. These rules aim to protect the integrity of the Aquifer so that its ongoing environmental health is maintained.

Extraction from other sources

Extraction for irrigation, stock and domestic or town water supply has a direct effect on the downstream flows we can expect in Ballina Shire. Water sharing plans have been produced for other catchments in the Northern Rivers region, namely the Brunswick River and Coopers Creek. The water sharing decisions for Coopers Creek will have an impact on estuary and river health in Ballina Shire as we rely on environmental flows to be maintained from upstream catchments. The Coopers Creek Water Sharing Plan is currently under challenge in the Land and Environment Court by the NSW Farmers Federation.

More information regarding the water sharing decision-making process and the final Water Sharing Plans is available from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources.(www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au)

14 Water walks at Emigrant Creek

As part of a joint project, Rous Water and the Widjabul Elders have put together information about the Aboriginal culture and use of the Emigrant Creek and Rocky Creek Dam areas. The Rocky Creek Dam Water Walks were officially opened in July 2004 and the Emigrant Creek Water Walks are expected to open early next year.

The Water Walks also provide information about the water cycle and how water gets from the catchment, through the various treatment processes and pipe systems, to our homes. The graphic overpage shows the future location of the walk at Emigrant Creek Dam.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

2.6 More Information

You can find more information about environmental pollution issues and licenses issued by the Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly the Environment Protection Authority) at www.epa.nsw.gov.au. There are links to the Public Register at this site to all licenses held by industry or organisations in Ballina Shire.

DIPNR holds all water licensing information for both surface and groundwater licenses, as well as undertaking studies in river health. Their website is www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au.

Rous Water manages local water supplies and up to date information about dam levels and current issues can be accessed at www.rouswater.nsw.gov.au.

More information on Marine Parks can be found at www.mpa.gov.au.

Ballina Shire Council publishes a number of documents with useful information, including a yearly "Environment Snapshot" and its Annual Report. Try www.ballina.nsw.gov.au to access these and other documents. Beachwatch results are published in the Advocate (when available) on a weekly basis.

Other useful NSW Government websites are www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au and www.agriculture.nsw.gov.au.

2.7 Definitions

These definitions are taken from “The Northern Rivers – A Water Quality Assessment”

Chlorophyll-a – this is a measure of the amount of phytoplankton (microscopic, suspended plants) in the water, and is used to identify undesirable growth of phytoplankton.

Dissolved oxygen – the amount of oxygen that is dissolved in the water. DO affects the ability of aquatic plants and animals to live in the water. Oxygen can enter the water from the atmosphere (in rapids and waterfalls) or through aquatic plants releasing oxygen directly to the water. Dissolved oxygen can be removed from the water when it is used by aquatic animals and plants in respiration (breathing). When material containing a high concentration of organic matter is discharged to a river, bacteria use up oxygen in breaking down the organic matter. This is thought to be the cause of the fish kills in early 2001 on the Richmond River, where large amounts of organic matter previously located on streambanks entered the water and were broken down very quickly.

It also explains why milk is such a serious issue if there is a spill into a waterway as the available dissolved oxygen is quickly used up in breaking the milk down.

Water runoff from acid sulphate soil areas may also have extremely low dissolved oxygen levels and algal blooms will cause large fluctuations in dissolved oxygen. pH – the hydrogen ion concentration in the water, a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the water.

Nutrients – the levels of phosphorus and nitrogen in the water. These nutrients are essential for plant growth, however in large amounts they can promote excessive plant growth, which in turn degrades the quality of the water.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

2.8 References

ANZECC, 2000. (Australian and New Zealand) Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality. Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council.

Ballina Shire Council (2004). Alstonville Reclaimed Water Scheme. Brochure.

Ballina Shire Council (2003). Beachwatch Partnership Pilot Program and Wet Weather Monitoring Program – Final Report. Prepared by Regulatory Services, Environmental Health Team.

Dawson, Katryna. (2002). Fish Kill Events and Habitat Losses of the Richmond River, NSW Australia: An Overview. Published in the Journal of Coastal Research, ICS 2002 Proceedings, pp216-221. Accessed online. http://www.science.ulst.ac.uk/ics2002/katryna%20dawson.pdf. 8/4/2004.

Department of Environment and Conservation (National Parks) (2002, 2003, 2004) – Information supplied by National Parks and Wildlife Service for the Ballina State of the Environment Report 2002, 2003, 2004.

Department of Environment and Conservation (National Parks) Website (2004). Available online: http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au. Accessed: 15/1/04.

Department of Environment and Conservation (Environment Protection Authority) Website (2004). Available online: http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au. Accessed: 15/1/04. Public Register – Licensed discharges to Richmond River.

Department of Environment and Conservation (National Parks) – Lismore Office (2001). Big Scrub Nature Reserves Plan of Management. (website accessed 22 January 2004).

Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources. (2004) Information supplied for the 2004 Ballina State of the Environment Report.

DLWC 1998. Stressed Rivers Assessment Report, NSW State Summary, NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation. Accessed online. http://www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/care/water/wr/pdfs/stressedrivers.pdf. Accessed 28/5/04).

(Reference is http://www.scu.edu.au/sponsored/tcm/nthcoast/richmond/RichOV.htm accessed 7 April 2004).

EPA, 1997. Proposed Interim Environmental Objectives for NSW Waters – North Coast Catchments. Environment Protection Authority.

EPA, 1999. Water Quality and River Flow Interim Environmental Objectives: A Review of Community Consultation. Environment Protection Authority.

EPA, 1999. Guidelines for River, Groundwater and Water Management Committees: Richmond River Catchment. Environment Protection Authority.

EPA, 1996. The Northern Rivers – A Water Quality Assessment. Water Studies Section, Environment Protection Authority.

Far North East Regional Profile (2002) – Sustainable Regions. Accessed 2 June 2004 http://www.sustainableregions.gov.au/downloads/ sr_nsw_fne_profile.pdf

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Healthy Rivers Commission, 2003. “Final Report: Independent Inquiry into the North Coast Rivers”. [Online]. Accessed 28 May 2004.

Lismore City Council Website (2004). Available online: http://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au.

NSW Agriculture, 2003. NSW North Coast Region Irrigation Profile. Water Use Efficiency Advisory Unit, Dubbo.

NSW Fisheries. 2002. Scientific reports on the recovery of the Richmond and Macleay Rivers following fishkills in February and March 2001. [Online]. http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/sci/outputs/fisheries_services/s_fishkills.htm. Accessed 28/5/04.

NSW Fisheries. Recreational fishing statistics [Online]. Available http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/rec/gen/survey.htm (20/5/04).

NSW North Coast Region Irrigation Profile (2003). NSW Agriculture, Water Use Efficiency Advisory Unit, Dubbo.

Moore, A. (2003). “Mapping riparian vegetation to assess soil erosion risks within Ballina Shire: A GIS Approach”. Unpublished Third Year Undergraduate Report. School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore.

Patterson, Britton and Partners. (2000). Shaws Bay Estuary Management Plan. Patterson Britton Consulting Engineers.

Rous Water (2004). Information supplied for the Ballina State of the Environment Report, 2004.

State Pollution Control Commission (1987) Water Quality in the Richmond River.

Smith, SDA and James, KJ. (2003), Rapid assessment of rocky shore biodiversity in the Byron Bay region. Report prepared for the NSW Marine Parks Authority. [Online] http://www.mpa.nsw.gov.au/cbmp/cbmp.htm. Accessed 16 January 2004.

Woodhead, A. (2003) “Acid Sulfate Soils 4 years On – What Changed?” NSW Agriculture and ASSMAC, Wollongbar, NSW, Australia.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report Appendix A Local Results from “The Richmond River Catchment: Stream Health Assessment Report”

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Local Results from “The Richmond River Catchment: Stream Health Assessment Report”

The Stream Health Assessment Report examined sub-catchments across the Northern Rivers using a consistent approach to assessing various factors which contribute to river health. An extract from each of these reports for the four catchment areas studied in Ballina Shire is presented below.

Lower Richmond River Region

Indicator used Percentage Sites with grazing recorded as disturbance factor to reach environs 53 Sites with water extraction/irrigation drains a disturbance factor 40 Disturbance of reach environs (from highly disturbed to extreme) 77 Factors affecting bank stability – runoff 77 - flow and waves 67 - stock 53 - clearing of vegetation 47 Sites where fish passage restricted at least moderately 50 (usually rapids or fords) Sites with virtually pristine riparian vegetation zones 13 Sites with good to very good aquatic vegetation 1.2 Sites with good to very good aquatic habitat 28.8 Sites rated as having good to very good conservation value 27.3 Overall Condition Assessment – Good to Very Good Condition 20.9 - Poor to Very Poor Condition 25

Lennox Area Subcatchment

Indicator used Percentage Sites with grazing recorded as disturbance factor to reach environs 43 Sites with water extraction/irrigation drains a disturbance factor 86 Disturbance of reach environs (from highly disturbed to extreme) 71 Factors affecting bank stability – flow and waves 71 - runoff 43 - stock/road culvert/veg clearing 29 Sites where fish passage restricted at least moderately 43 (usually fords) Sites with virtually pristine riparian vegetation zones 8 Sites with good to very good aquatic vegetation 16 Sites with good to very good aquatic habitat 18.4 Sites rated as having good to very good conservation value 27.3 Overall Condition Assessment – Good to Very Good Condition 18.4 - Poor to Very Poor Condition 21.7

Alstonville Area Subcatchment

Indicator used Percentage Sites with grazing recorded as disturbance factor to reach environs 50 Sites with water extraction/irrigation drains a disturbance factor 33 Disturbance of reach environs (from highly disturbed to extreme) 88 Factors affecting bank stability – runoff 78 - flow and waves 56 - clearing of vegetation 50 Sites where fish passage restricted at least moderately 55 (usually rapids)

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Sites with virtually pristine riparian vegetation zones 19 Sites with good to very good aquatic vegetation 0 Sites with good to very good aquatic habitat 24 Sites rated as having good to very good conservation value 27.6 Overall Condition Assessment – Good to Very Good Condition 19.7 - Poor to Very Poor Condition 32.7

Tuckean Area Subcatchment

Indicator used Percentage Sites with grazing recorded as disturbance factor to reach environs 64 Sites with water extraction/irrigation drains a disturbance factor 39 Disturbance of reach environs (from highly disturbed to extreme) 78 Factors affecting bank stability – runoff 82 - flow and waves 71 - stock 68 - clearing of vegetation 50 Sites where fish passage restricted at least moderately 54 (usually fords) Sites with virtually pristine riparian vegetation zones 10 Sites with good to very good aquatic vegetation 0 Sites with good to very good aquatic habitat 35.1 Sites rated as having good to very good conservation value 18.2 Overall Condition Assessment – Good Condition (none Very Good) 13.8 - Poor Condition (none Very Poor) 19.7

For comparison, the Richmond River overall attracted the following results:- Richmond River

Indicator used Percentage Sites with grazing recorded as disturbance factor to reach environs 68 Sites with water extraction/irrigation drains a disturbance factor 17 Disturbance of reach environs (from highly disturbed to extreme) 70 Factors affecting bank stability – stock 57 - clearing of vegetation 46 - flow and waves 36 Sites where fish passage restricted at least moderately 62 (usually fords) Sites with virtually pristine riparian vegetation zones 6 Sites with good to very good aquatic vegetation Almost 0 Sites with good to very good aquatic habitat 23.4 Sites rated as having good to very good conservation value 23 Overall Condition Assessment – Good to Very Good Condition 15.9 - Poor to Very Poor Condition 35.2

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report Appendix B EPA Licences in Ballina Shire

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

EPA Licences in Ballina Shire

Licence Holder Street Licence Use Suburb Licence Number Ballina Quays Pty Ltd Burns Point Ferry Road Mooring and Boat Ballina 10895 Storage – License surrender Ballina Shire Council Johnstons Road Alstonville Sewage Alstonville 199 Treatment Works (STW) Ballina Shire Council Fishery Creek Road Ballina STW Ballina 588 Ballina Shire Council North Creek Road Lennox STW Lennox Head 590 Ballina Shire Council 486 Gap Road Tuckombil Quarry – Alstonville 3856 Hard Rock Gravel Quarry Ballina Shire Council 6 Convair Ave Ballina Ready Mixed Ballina 4276 Concrete – Concrete Batching Plant Ballina Shire Council Kays Road Wardell STW Coolgardie 5785 Ballina Shire Council Southern Cross Drive Airport Sandpit – Land Ballina 5948 Based Extraction Ballina Shire Council Southern Cross Drive Ballina Waste Ballina 6350 Management Centre – composting and related processing/waste landfilling in an environmentally sensitive area Bitupave Ltd Gap Road Bitumen Pre-Mix or Alstonville 959 Hot-Mix Production Boral Resources North Teven Road Teven Quarry – Teven 2261 (Country) Pty. Limited Crushing, Grinding, Separating Works/hard Rock Gravel Quarrying Csr Limited 36-38 Kays Lane Concrete Batching – Alstonville 2752 License surrendered Eljo Pty Ltd Fishery Creek Road Richmond Waste – Ballina 10055 Waste Processing – Hazardous, Industrial or Group A Gradwell Excavations Pty. Newrybar Swamp Road Land Base Extraction Lennox Head 11897 Ltd. Hanson Construction 15 Simmons Street Pioneer Construction – Ballina 3263 Materials Pty Ltd Concrete Batching Manga Singh& Sons Pty. 178 Midgen Flat Road Pig Production Byron Bay 3605 Limited N.C.Q. Seafoods Pty. 218 North Creek Road Aquaculture or Ballina 7522 Limited Mariculture Readymix Holdings Pty Cnr Simmons And North Concrete Batching Ballina 479 Ltd Creek Road Readymix Holdings Pty Stokers Lane Hard Rock Gravel Teven 3293 Ltd Quarrying Rous County Council Pacific Highway Water Treatment Plant Knockrow 4797 – Miscellaneous

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Licensed Discharge to Waters Solo Waste Aust. Pty. Fishery Creek Road Solo Wa Ballina 10055 Limited

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report 3 Waste

3.1 Introduction

Ballina Shire diverts over half the waste it receives at the Ballina Waste Transfer Station away from landfill. This means it is recycled, re-used or sold. Waste minimisation, and resource recovery and reprocessing, yield long-term environmental, economic and social benefits. Whilst disposal of waste to landfill will always be essential, as a community our Shire has already dramatically reduced the amount of waste disposed of to landfill.

An Integrated Waste Strategy has been prepared which sets out a plan for waste management and resource processing for the Shire of Ballina for the period up to 2024. The Strategy identifies future waste management infrastructure needs and staged approaches to their development

3.2 Trends at a Glance

Table 3.1 Trends

Indicator 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total volume of waste managed at Ballina 43,263 47,347 37,128 64, 521 62, 908 55, 212 Waste Facility* Tonnes to landfill 30 177 32 778 19 169 24 290 28 079 29, 640 Tonnes per capita 0.83 0.88 0.59 0.64 0.72 0.77 Tonnes recycled ** 4 806 5 550 5 797 4 467 10 333 8, 318 Tonnes reused 8 280 9 018 12 162 35 764 24 496 19, 863 Total Waste diverted 30% 31% 48% 59% 55% 54% from landfill *Council now accepts recycling materials for Lismore City and Richmond Valley Councils, which is the reason for the large increase in tonnes managed from 2002. **Generated from Ballina Shire Council, Byron Shire Council, Lismore Shire Council, Richmond Valley Council.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

3.3 Pressures On Our Waste Management

Overview of Pressures

What happens to our household waste once it goes into the green wheelie bin? Although we no longer have to think about it, the type of waste and the volume created needs to be managed effectively so that material that can be recycled is reused, and only that material that has no further use is disposed of to the landfill.

Regional indicators for pressures on waste

volume and percentage of solid waste disposed to landfill; and per capita solid waste generated.

1 Waste generated in Ballina

In Australia, each person generates approximately 400kg of household waste per year (OECD figures). Additionally, another 300kg per person per year is processed at a waste management centre, from offices, from building sites and from all other sources.

If one acknowledges that there are 20,000 000 people in Australia (ABS website, 28 /8/04), this equates to 14 million tonnes of waste each year.

Each person in Ballina generates approximately 400kg of household waste per year, although some of this is later recycled or reused. Regionally, this is below average. Each household in Ballina Shire generates approximately 15kg of waste per week, compared with 24kg for households in Lismore City and 30kg for households in Byron Shire (although this partly reflects the high proportion of tourism in Byron Bay township) (Connell Wagner, 2004).

Much of this waste is organic and able to be composted as shown below.

Figure 3.1 Ballina Shire Domestic Waste Composition 1998

Other organic 4% Special Paper 2% 11% Plastic 10% Earth Based Organic 2% (compostible) Ferrous 61% Non-ferrous 3% Glass 1% 6%

Approximately 48% of commercial and industrial waste is also organic and compostable, and a further 22% is able to be recycled.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

It is costly to remove the green waste from the waste stream, stockpile it and manage it accordingly, although it is still a priority for Council. A major issue with the compostable waste is the lack of a market to take the compost once it has been prepared. Other options to deal with green and compostable waste have been identified and are currently under consideration in Council’s Waste Minimisation and Management Strategy report.

Have you ever considered what happens to your rubbish when it is removed from your premises?

Figure 3.2 2003 Ballina Waste Characteristics (Connell Wagner, 2004)

What happens to my rubbish at the Waste Management Centre? Landfill 48% Recycling 22% Green Waste 9% Food Waste 21% Commercial/Industrial Sector – 18% of total

Landfill 70% Recycling 13% Domestic/Municipal Sector – 55% of Green Waste 17% total

Construction/Demolition Sector – 27% Landfill 45% of total Recycling 38% Aggregate 17%

Unfortunately, at present, only 21% of the total waste stream is being recycled. This is due largely to poor rates of recycling for domestic waste – that is, too much going in the green bin and not enough going in the blue and yellow bin! This is despite a very high rate of recycling bins presented each fortnight (over 75% of households).

Hazardous Waste

A significant problem is the disposal of soil from contaminated sites. This is of particular concern where soils have been contaminated by cattle tick dipping, spraying of agricultural crops (such as banana farms), and previous uses of land, as in the case of heavy industry and petrol stations.

Council participates in the drum muster program, which involves the collection and recycling of triple rinsed used chemical containers. This program is one way to reduce the inappropriate disposal of contaminated waste.

Ballina Shire currently has no facility for the disposal of hazardous waste, so that all hazardous waste is disposed of out of the Shire. Up until recently there were no facilities in the Northern Rivers region for the storage or treatment of hazardous waste. The North East Waste Forum (NEWF) has worked together to open a Hazardous Waste Store at Lismore Waste Management Facility. The Hazardous Waste Store can accept gases, including flammable gases, poisonous substances and corrosives.

The NEWF co-ordinated a number of Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days across the region during 2003/4. More than 13,700 kilograms of material was collected, most of which was reused or recycled. Landfill

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report operators also attended Hazardous Waste Training to better understand the requirements of handling hazardous substances, risk assessment and handling dangerous goods.

In October 2003, a Shire-wide ‘hazardous waste surrender program’ was co-ordinated with over 1,400 kg of hazardous materials collected and sent for safe treatment or disposal in Brisbane, Sydney or overseas facilities.

Trade Waste

There are approximately 310 premises approved to discharge liquid trade waste in Ballina Shire. Generally this waste is pretreated to ensure that generally grease, fat, edible or motor oils, heavy metals, organic and inorganic solids are removed prior to discharge to Council’s sewer system.

Private contractors remove chemicals such as battery acid and dry cleaners chemicals.

There is a substantial volume of trade waste actually collected and/or treated in Ballina Shire, as shown below in the Table below

Table 3.2 Trade Waste Collected 2004

Type of Waste Volume Collected Grease Trap Waste 98 k/L/month 1.17 ML/yr Oily water 6 k/Lmonth 73 kL/yr Septic Waste 1.18 MLyr

Trade waste consists of grease and oil from the food industry, motor vehicle industry, silver (being a heavy metal) from the photographic industry, organic waste from the horse industry, and suspended solids from the art and craft industry.

Markets and price for recyclables

What happens to the material that you recycle each fortnight?

Council operates the Materials Recycling Facility at the Ballina Waste Management Centre, processing approximate 5,600 tonnes of material each year. This includes paper, plastics, glass, aluminium and steel.

However, this facility has to be funded, either through the yearly rates we each pay or through receiving a return on the recycled material.

Ballina has a relatively small resource compared with some of the larger metropolitan councils and is therefore a ‘price taker’ with respect to the price per tonne that can be achieved. At times during the past decade, some products have been of no commercial value at all. This is not the case at the moment, however, but due to the volatility of markets it is difficult to make assumptions about the potential for future prices remaining at levels that allow Council to recover it’s costs contained in the collection and sorting of recyclable material.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

3.4 State Of Our Waste

What is waste?

There are many types of wastes in our environment. Waste is derived from a number of sources including domestic, commercial and industrial and construction and demolition. Liquid waste is sourced from night soil and septic tanks is disposed of at the Alstonville and West Ballina Sewage Treatment Works and grease trap waste treatment occurs at the Richmond Waste/Summerland Environmental Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and is disposed of to the West Ballina Sewage Treatment Works.

A further 236 properties have a permit to discharge trade waste to Council’s sewerage facilities. These include the food industry, automotive industry, catering and hospitality, service stations, panel shops and the like. Annually these industries generate approximately 1.5 megalitres of non-domestic waste (or 1,500000 litres per annum (with a mass of approximately 2,000 tonnes)).

There are currently 3 licensed contractors permitted to transport and dispose of trade waste in Ballina Shire.

How is our waste managed?

Waste is, by definition, a resource in the wrong place and at the wrong time. In fact, what is waste to one person may be a resource to another.

The site on which waste is managed is as important as the techniques for management of the waste itself. This is particularly so in Ballina, as it is located adjacent to the Ballina-Byron Airport as well as a sensitive wetland system.

What is a LEMP?

The LEMP is the Landfill Environmental Management Plan which provides a framework to guide Council’s managerial and operational staff on how to undertake the various waste management operations in a safe and environmentally sensitive manner. The LEMP forms part of the Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly Environment Protection Authority) licence requirements for a Solid Waste Class 1 Landfill.

The LEMP designates which areas of the site may be used for landfill, how sediment and erosion control leachate is to be managed (it is irrigated back onto the landfill), and what types of waste can be accepted. There are a number of significant upgrades currently taking place with regard to the Landfill Leachate Management System, the Revolve shop operations and facilities, and the MRF design and operations.

Each of these upgrades will be reflected in the LEMP, and their contributions towards improving the environmental performance of the Ballina Waste Management Facility are assessed quarterly by an independent external auditor. A compliance audit is also undertaken annually. Results from both the quarterly and annual audits are independently reported to the Department of Environment and Conservation.

Are things changing in the way waste is managed?

Evolving ways in which waste has been managed over the past few years makes it difficult to place exact figures on the amounts recycled, reused or disposed of to landfill on a per capita basis. However, it appears that the total volume of materials managed at the Ballina Waste Management Facility is increasing but that the proportion of material going to landfill is decreasing.

Rigorous efforts in resource recovery and separation (for recyclables and green waste) have created a number of full-time jobs which previously did not exist. The Ballina Materials Recovery Facility and Ballina Revolve staff rely

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report on the recycling and reuse of waste items and material for their ongoing employment. The amount of material recycled is slowly increasing each year.

The landfill operations staff are, conversely, faced with a reduction in material to bury in landfill on a daily basis. They also manage dramatic increases in the total amount of materials recovered and reprocessed. As residents reduce even further the “real” waste they generate, and as the community expands their expectation for greater resource recovery, then landfill based staff will become better known as resource re-users or materials managers.

It is expected the total amount of materials managed will continue to escalate into the distant future whilst residual waste disposal will continue to be reduced. However, there will always be a need for waste to be safely disposed of, regardless of the efforts of the community to reduce waste to landfill.

The table below provides some indication of the changes to waste accepted at the Ballina Waste Facility between 1999/2000 and 2003/2004.

Table 3.3 Waste Types & Proportions-Comparison 2000 to 2004

Waste type Year ended 30 June 2000 (%) Year ended 30 June 2004 (%) Domestic waste 32 21 Commercial and Industrial waste 13 12 Construction and Demolition waste 7 16 Garden and vegetation waste 18 8 Clean fill 19 28 Recyclables - Ballina Shire 9 12 residents Recyclables processed from other 2 3 Council areas

The main changes are the reduction in domestic waste as a proportion of total waste reported, and the increase in construction and demolition waste. Clean fill has also significantly increased. Recyclables have increased slightly as a proportion of total waste.

2. Litter

Litter is a significant problem in public areas, in schools and along our roadways. Thoughtlessness about disposing of rubbish in any form means that someone else must clean it up. This might not always be someone who is paid to tidy up after a litterer – the community gets involved in Clean Up Australia Day each year. Communities in Ballina Shire have participated in Clean Up Australia Day since 1991.

What sorts of litter gets thrown away?

The top ten items found during Clean Up Australia Day 2003 are shown below. It seems people are most likely to litter whilst smoking, drinking alcohol or soft drinks and eating lollies and chips.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Figure 3.3 Litter collected on Clean Up Australia Day

Metal/Aluminium Foil Confectionary Wrappers Metal/Aluminium Soft Drink Cans Cigarette Butts Plastic Water/Soft drink Bottles

Bottle Caps/Lids

Plastic Chips and Glass Pieces Confectionary Bags

Metal/Aluminium Glass Alcoholic Alcoholic Beverage Beverage Bottles Cans Small Paper Pieces

3 Waste collection

Ballina Shire Council currently provides the following waste and recycling management services:

Table 3.4 Ballina Shire Council Waste Management Services 2004

Number of Service Description Specification Cost services Rural Waste Service Weekly 240 litre Waste bin only* $137 pa 2657

Urban Waste Service Weekly 240 litre Waste $166 12831 Fortnightly 240 litre Recycle (120 litre containers/ 120 litre paper and cardboard) Commercial Waste Service 240 litre Mixed Waste $137 1350 (annual fee) (Charged on flat fee basis of $137/pa/bin serviced) Commercial recycling 240 litre Paper and Cardboard $68 213 service (annual fee) (Charged on flat fee basis of $68/pa/bin serviced) Commercial Waste or Various services with front lift ‘Bulk Bins’ Prices vary according to > 50 Recycling services ranging from 1.5m3 to 4.8m3 frequency and location market *Previously a ‘split bin’ for recyclables and waste was provided, but this was discontinued in September 2004.

When recycling is available, urban areas are more likely to recycle than rural areas (Connell Wagner, 2004).

The costs of providing these services are generally below the industry benchmarks, indicating an efficient and value for money service. Council’s Waste Management Service Charge is average for the size and type of council(NSW Department of Local Government 2002-03).

3 Recycling and re-use

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Council’s Integrated Waste Strategy focuses on waste reduction at the source, and resource recovery, as the first actions to reduce waste. The Strategy sets ambitious targets for recycling to comply with the NSW State Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy (NSW WARRS). These targets are shown below:-

Table 3.5 NSW WARRS Compariosn with Ballina Shire Council Resource Recovery Rates

NSW WARRS resource Current Ballina Shire Current NSW State recovery and waste Waste Stream resource recovery average (%) reduction rate (%reduction rate (%) by 2014) Municipal 28 26 66 Commercial 28 28 63 Construction 71 65 76

There has been a significant increase in the volume of materials recovered for recycling through the Ballina Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), which means that more of our waste is being recycled. In 2004 a total of 8,318 tonne of recyclables were sent to market for reprocessing from the Ballina Waste Facility. An additional 19,863 tonnes of materials was diverted from the waste stream for reuse. The majority of this was construction and demolition waste including soil, concrete and road construction residues.

Recycling participation rates in urban areas continues to be at a high level (>75% of all recycling bins are presented fortnightly). The level of contamination in the presented bins is low meaning the community is sorting their recyclables thoroughly. Problems with collection trucks and existing (now becoming dated) MRF technology present difficulties at the point of sorting recyclables from waste. This issue is now being addressed in the Waste Minimisation and Management Strategy. Council has adopted a market best practice approach to processing recyclables at the MRF. This approach has required a thorough review of the cost effectiveness of the MRF and identification and costing of improvements necessary to achieve best possible practice. These improvements will be progressively implemented over the next few years.

Rural recycling participation has historically been at a very low level (less than 15% of rural recycling bins presented fortnightly) and yields were also very low from the service (<0.7 kg per bin). The rural recycling services will be comprehensively reviewed in the 2004 / 2005 financial year.

Ballina Shire Council continues to process recyclable materials for Lismore City and Richmond Valley Councils. Additionally, a number of large generators of commercial recyclable materials have also been secured for processing through the Ballina MRF. This provides an outlet for those commercial businesses wishing to recycle as well as increasing the profitability of the MRF.

Council undertook audits of the rural waste stream in August 2003, and of the commercial and industrial waste streams and the construction and demolition waste streams in June 2004. Data from these audits shows there are substantial reserves of recoverable materials in bins destined for disposal to landfill.

To assist with greater awareness about what can be recycled and what has to go to landfill, Council has set out to develop an Education and Awareness Programme for Waste Services. Whilst this programme is not yet finalised, Council staff continue to provide ‘walks and talks’ at the Waste Facility and MRF as well as information visits to community groups, clubs and associations. A part-time Education Officer is employed by Council to assist with these activities and this function may be expanded in the future.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

3.5 Response To These Pressures

1 Integrated Waste Management Strategy

The Integrated Waste Minimisation and Management Strategy was presented to Council in draft form in June 2004, for consideration. The preferred option for implementation includes waste reduction, resource recovery and reprocessing, community education and organic resource management. Environmentally and economically sound treatment and disposal of residual waste (that is, to landfill) is also addressed.

In the long term, Council is examining a move to another site due to the environmental sensitivity of the existing site and the relatively short time before the landfill is full. A new site will allow an innovative approach to waste management, including use of new technologies such as gase collection and use, and achieving greater economies of scale and therefore greater profitability in waste management and recycling.

2 NorthEast Waste Forum

The North East Waste Forum grew from a desire by the Councils of the Northern Region Organisation of Councils (NOROC) to more effectively manage waste across the region. It was thought that there was a genuine need to look at the broader issues of waste management and minimisation whilst maintaining a local focus and developing locally based solutions.

In 1997 councils entered into a written agreement to co-operate on issues relating to waste minimisation and waste management. The agreement was in the form of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) constructed to facilitate the development of the North East Waste Forum. In metropolitan areas, Regional Waste Boards were set up with the ability to require Councils to undertake particular works to ensure waste management was undertaken efficiently and well. The MOA for the North East Waste Forum (commonly referred to as the NEWF) did not constitute the NEWF as a Waste Board within the meaning of the Waste Minimisation and Management Act 1995, but provided member councils with the opportunity to voluntarily set out to achieve the same outcomes as formal Waste Boards.

The NEWF co-ordinates many activities relating to waste management across the region. Some of the regional milestones in place for the 2003/04 financial year included:

1. Full structural review of the NEWF (to improve operations and management). 2. Waste Planning Process for Northern Rivers Councils. 3. Landfill Operator Training (offered on an annual basis). 4. Construction and Demolition, and Commercial and Industrial Data Collection Projects. 5. Glass Cullet Reuse Project (beneficial reuse of reject glass). 6. Greenwaste Contract (diverting green waste across region from landfill). 7. Recycling issues and options (underway). 8. Waste Data Analysis. 9. Local Government Buy Recycled Program.

Additionally, NEWF has a number of projects which member Council’s are working towards implementing. These include:-

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Hazardous Waste Stores

Two hazardous waste stores were constructed in the region, one at the Grafton Regional Landfill and a second at the Lismore Waste Management Facility. More information on this project can be found under the ‘Pressures’ section of this chapter.

Hazardous Waste Training

A two day workshop was held for Council landfill operator and education staff about handling hazardous waste, assessing potential risk, the requirements of handling dangerous goods and practical assessment of a hazardous waste store.

3 Regional Organics Management Plan

An inventory of organic waste across the region has been prepared, which has determined what is available, and existing management and disposal practices.

SharpSafe Program

This project aims to provide the community with options for disposal of sharps in an environmentally sensitive and safe way.

Regional Waste Facility

A tender has been prepared and exhibited to environmental consultants to provide a fee estimate to undertake an investigation into the feasibility of developing a regional waste disposal and recycling facility to service the needs of the Ballina, Byron, Lismore City and Richmond Valley local government areas.

4 Clean Up Australia Day

Each year, residents and organizations in Ballina Shire participate in Clean Up Australia Day, focussing on areas that seem to attract more than their share of rubbish. In 2003, the community ‘cleaned up’ the following sites:-

Lennox Head Public School Alstonville High School Pimlico Hall and surrounds Wardell Village Southern Cross School Fishery Creek Boat Ramp and Park Captain Cook Park (next to Ballina RSL) Skennars Headland Pop Denison Park Richmond Christian College Cabbage Tree Island Public School

Outdoor transport areas, school grounds, beach and coastal areas and roadways are the areas most likely to attract rubbish (Clean Up Australia, 2003). The average number of rubbish items in any one area is 486, and 10% of these items are cigarette butts.

5 GreenWaste Management

Ballina Council’s Waste Management Centre and staff continue to recover and reprocess greenwaste. These resources are wind-rowed on site and mulched on a regular basis. The material is mulched into three products – coarse mulch (a mixture of branches, timber, tree prunings and grass clippings), fine mulch (the fines left after trommelling the course mulch), and a fine mulch made entirely from large stumps. These products are used on Council’s own landscaping jobs and in rehabilitation works on site. Mulch is also available for purchase by the public.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Ballina Shire continues close liaison with Lismore City on the development of the Tryton Waste Services vermiculture facility located in Lismore. Ballina Shire Council staff have actively participated in composting trials and discussions on the subject of establishing satellite composting operations in partnership with Tryton Waste Services, Lismore City Council and other individuals and companies. The North East Waste Forum has conducted a comprehensive region wide audit of potential sources of organic waste which may be able to be recovered for reprocessing.

6 Recycling

In 2001, Council introduced kerb side recycling collection in the urban and rural areas of the Shire to maximise the volume of recyclables collected. 10 333 tonnes of paper, plastic, aluminium, steel (tins) and glass was collected and processed for Ballina Shire residents as well as for Lismore City, Byron and Casino Shire Council residents in 2003. This represented a 230% increase on material process for the year ended 2002.

A review of the Materials Recovery Facility (that is, the recycling and re-use part of the Waste Management Centre) has been undertaken as part of Council’s Integrated Waste Minimisation and Management Strategy. The options for action are still under review.

7 ‘Revolve’ program

Council operates a ‘”Revolve” centre, which is a second hand sales yard for the sale of any products which are suitable for re-use. Scavenging rights are awarded to designated persons to retrieve items/ materials (e.g. used furniture, bikes, construction materials) that are then sold to the public through the sales yard located in the Waste Management Centre.

The Revolve centre will be substantially upgraded, relocated and expanded in the 2004/05 financial year.

Additionally, all clean fill accepted at the landfill is re-used as either daily cover or for the construction of landfill cells. Concrete, brick, tiles and rocks are crushed and used on internal roads for the site. Green waste and timber is separated and shredded to form a mulch product that is used on Council reserves and for resale to the public.

8 Liquid Trade Waste

Council employs a full time Liquid Trade Waste Officer to ensure liquid trade waste is managed in accordance with best practice principles and to ensure that the system is fair and equitable to all sewerage system users. Approximately 2.7 megalitres of liquid trade waste is treated each year. See the Trade Waste section in Pressures for more detail on what sort of waste is treated.

Council’s Trade Waste Policy was reviewed in 2001 and adopted in June 2002. An audit of all trade waste approved premises was undertaken to ensure that the trade waste pre-treatment systems were working and to determine how much waste was actually being discharged. As part of the audit, premises that might be expected to produce trade waste and did not have a permit were also inspected.

Council is also currently implementing an electronic tracking system for trade waste. A company called WasteWatch Systems has been contracted by Council to use GPS and satellite technology to record the collection and disposal of waste. This system became operational in September 2004 and will provide much greater certainty about the treatment of trade waste in Ballina Shire.

Other general strategies used to ensure waste is treated correctly include the ongoing compliance for those who already have a licence to discharge. In 2003, 20% of the existing customers were monitored and there was a very

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report high non-compliance rate. This is partly due to very high standards in the guidelines for waste that may be discharged (to the sewer system) and partly due to poor waste management practices by operators and their staff.

9 Financial incentives to reduce waste

Commercial waste service users have a financial incentive to reduce their disposal of waste to landfill. This happens by differential pricing between the cost of waste collection and disposal services, and their recyclable component. Essentially, waste to landfill is priced on a ‘Pay As You Throw’ basis. The cost of waste and recyclable product disposal at the Ballina Waste Facility is also staggered to provide maximum incentive for resource separation from the waste stream destined for landfill.

10 Industry awareness

A new initiative in the Integrated Waste Minimisation and Management Plan is for the creation and delivery of an Industry Cleaner Production Advisory Service. This service will aim to provide information, guidance and advice to industry on methods of waste avoidance, reduction and materials reuse and recycling. The proposed Cleaner Production Advisory Service will run parallel with work being undertaken by the State Government through implementation of the NSW WARRS.

In partnership with Lismore City Council, a number of case study industries have been examined under a regional Cleaner Production initiative. For example, Ballina Hospital undertook an assessment of their waste practices in conjunction with Council staff. Recommendations which would potentially deliver over 70% reduction in hospital waste to landfill were made.

3.6 More Information

More information on ‘Waste Issues’ can be sourced from Council Waste Officer on 6686 4444 or from the North East Waste Forum on www.northeastwasteforum.org.au

3.7 References

Ballina Shire Council – State of the Environment Update Report 2001. Also 2002, 2003.

Implementing Sustainable Development – Key Results 2001-2004, Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development. www.oecd.org/dataoecd/25/35/31683750.pdf. accessed 28/8/04.

Connell Wagner, June 2004. Ballina Waste Minimisation Management and Strategy Report. In Draft.

Personal communication – Mick Lacey

North East Waste Forum – Report on Milestones 2003/04. 1 July 2004.

Clean Up Australia Limited. 2003. Rubbish Report 2003.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report 4 Biodiversity

4.1 Introduction

The Northern Rivers falls within what is known as the Macleay-Mcpherson overlap, which incorporates sub-tropical and temperate climates. The region is therefore fortunate to have a diverse range of ecosystems with a great variety of plants and animals. It is the most biologically diverse region in New South Wales and the third most diverse in Australia, exceeded only by south-western Western Australia and the wet tropics of Queensland. In particular, the region has the richest fauna in Australia for birds, bats, amphibians and snakes.

This diversity is well evidenced by the range of ecosystems found in Ballina Shire, from coastal heath to littoral rainforest and mangroves on the floodplain to the sub-tropical rainforest remnants of the Big Scrub on the Alstonville Plateau.

Soils derived from basalts support sub-tropical and warm temperate rainforests, or wet sclerophyll forests. In the coastal dunes, the vegetation sequence includes coast tea tree and coastal wattle near the beach, with some areas of beach she-oak, snappy gum, blackbutt, dwarf red bloodwood and bastard mahogany. Banksia and bangalow palms are found in the dunes and heath and paperbark swamps occur behind the dunes and near the lagoons. Rare patches of the endangered ecological community - littoral rainforest species can be found where sufficient nutrients have accumulated.

Rainfall is high, particularly on elevated land close to the ocean. Spring is usually the driest season, with maximum rainfall during summer and autumn. Flooding is a naturally recurring event on the wide river floodplains of the Tweed and Richmond.

Some of our ecosystems are under threat from urban development, agriculture, clearing and predators. The impacts of human occupation must be carefully managed to minimise the future risks to the biodiversity of our Shire.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

4.2 Trends at a Glance

Table 4.1 Trends

Indicator 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Endangered Flora Species* 7 7 8 8 12 - Endangered Fauna Species* 10 10 11 13 13 - Endangered Ecological 1 1 1 1 1 3 Communities* Hours spent by volunteers - - - 12 034 8 891 7 757 working on Landcare sites^ Area under ‘Land for Wildlife’ properties:- 95 95 95 - - Scheme hectares:- 924 924 924 Area zoned for Environmental 13 427 13 556 13558 13558 13 597 13 597 Protection No. of companion animal - - - 1 333 1 231 5248 registrations in Ballina Shire * As listed in the Threatened Species Act, 1995 ^ Does not include hours spent on rehabilitation projects on private lands and non-council trustee Crown Lands.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

4.3 Pressures On Our Biodiversity

Overview of pressures

The changing nature of Ballina Shire to accommodate new residents, visitors, changes in landuse and agriculture means that inevitably the pressure on our ecosystems is steadily increasing. Easily identifiable pressures include stormwater and agricultural runoff impacts potentially lead to a decline in the numbers and types of fish living in our waterways; clearing of native vegetation that destroys pathways for native animals to forage and move around; and weeds that often successfully outcompete native vegetation. This section provides information on some of the pressures on our biodiversity.

Regional indicators

Area cleared of (a) native vegetation and (b) marine habitat types (mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses) Number of introduced species as a total of known number of species and number of declared noxious weeds. Area and type of vegetation burnt by fire and the cause of the fire.

1 Land clearing and development

Any land use that involves or has involved clearing of native vegetation will have an effect on the biodiversity of that area. This includes clearing for industrial, residential and rural landuses. Clearing of ANY native vegetation within the Ballina Shire Council area requires development consent, even where clearing is for agricultural purposes.

Unfortunately, sometimes clearing is undertaken without permission. In the past four years, ten incidents of unauthorised clearing have been investigated by Council. Six have subsequently proceeded to the Land and Environment Court. Only one has so far been determined, requiring a rehabilitation plan be prepared and implemented. The cost of implementating the program set out by the rehabilitation plan is estimated to be in excess of $67 000. In addition to this cost, the landowners were ordered to pay Council’s legal expenses.

One further case is currently awaiting legal advice as to whether to proceed to the Land and Environment Court.

Clearing of native vegetation approved by the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources was 0.47Ha in 2004. In 2003, 0.713 Ha was authorised for clearing mainly to remove exotic (weed) species.

2 Degradation and Clearing of Marine Vegetation

Where works require dredging of waterways or disturbance of estuarine or marine vegetation, a permit from NSW Fisheries is required.

Over the past four years, 16 “permits to harm” more than 6000m2 of vegetation have been approved. Permits for dredging and reclamation have also been issued for varying purposes; from dredging to retain navigability to building of wharves for public use.

Not everyone waits for an approval however, and NSW Fisheries issue fines for unauthorised harming of estuarine vegetation. A North Coast property owner was fined $10,000 in the NSW Land and Environment Court for illegally removing more than 3000 mangroves from land adjacent to the Richmond River near Ballina. This was one of the heaviest penalties ever imposed in NSW for damage to fish habitats.

3 Weeds – introduced plants

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Most people recognise Bitou Bush and Lantana as weeds, as they colonise our favourite bushland and dunal areas – as we see them every day at the beach or in a local bush park. However, they aren’t the only introduced plants to cause a significant problem in our local bushlands and threaten the long-term viability of native areas. Some of these plants increase the likelihood of vermin, bushfire and may even be toxic to our health.

Camphor Laurel is another introduced species that enjoys the North Coast climate and fertile soils. In many areas Camphor Laurel will outcompete native trees due to their fast growing and hardy nature. This weed is very difficult to control, but has been declared noxious south of the Bruxner Highway.

Following is a list of weeds that are declared noxious according to the Noxious Weeds Act (1993). Depending on the location of each weed, action must be taken to restrict its distribution.

Table 4.2 Declared Noxious Weeds In Ballina Shire

W1 weeds = "The presence of the weed on land must be notified to the local control authority and the weed must be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed"

Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) Black Knapweed Hawkweeds Horsetail (Equisetum spp.) Karoo Thorn (Acacia karoo) Kochia (a) (Kochia scoparia) (other than sub species Tricophylla which is exempt) Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major) Alligator Weed Miconia Parthenium Weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) Senegal Tea Plant (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides) Siam Weed (Chromolaena odorata) Spotted Knapweed Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)

W2 weeds = "The weed must be fully and continuosly suppressed and destroyed"

Blackberry (Rubus fructicosus) Burrs - Bathurst, Californian, Cockle & Noogoora Columbus Grass (Sorghum x almum) Giant Rat's Tail Grass (Sporobulus indicus va. major) Giant Parramatta Grass (Sporobolus fertilis) Green Cestrum (Cestrum parqui) Groundsel Bush (Baccharis halimifolia) Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense) Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans) Pampas Grass (Cortaderia spp.) Rhus Tree (Toxicodendron succedaneum) Salvinia (Salvinia molesta) Scotch/English Broom (Cytisus scoparius) Spiny Burrgrass (Cenchrus incertus & longispinus) St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Giant Parramatta Grass

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

W3 weeds = "The weed must be prevented from spreading and its numbers and distribution reduced"

Bitou Bush (Chrysanthemoides monolifera subsp. rotundata) Crofton Weed (Ageratina adenophora) Lantana - except pink lantana Mistflower (Ageratina riparia) Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Water Hyacinth

W4(d) = The weed must not be sold, propagated or knowingly distributed and the weed must be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed if it is:

* three (3) metres in height or less; or * within half a kilometre of remnant urban bushland, as defined by SEPP 19, and is not deemed by a Local Control Authority as having historical or heritage significance, or * over three (3) metres in height and not included in a Management Plan approved by the Local Control Authority

Camphor Laurel (c) (Cinnamomum camphora) (sth of Bruxner Highway only) Camphor Laurel W4(f) = Shall not be sold, propagated or knowingly distributed. Occupier must implement biological control or other program directed by the Local Control Authority

Harrisia Cactus (Harrisia spp.) Prickly Pears (d) (Opuntia spp.) ((d) = Opuntia spp. except Opuntia ficus indica (Indian Fig))

W4(g) = The weed must not be sold, propagated or knowingly distributed

Cabomba - except pink cabomba (Cabomba spp.) Willows (Salix spp.)

A list of environmental weeds, as classified under the Bushland Friendly Nursery Scheme, is included as Appendix E to this chapter.

4 Companion animals

For many people, their pet is an important part of their family. Cats and dogs, birds and fish are the most common types of pet although of course there are always those who keep more unusual pets.

Approximately 73 cats and 374 dogs were microchipped in Ballina Shire in the 2003 - 2004 financial year. There are a total of 741 microchipped cats and 4507 microchipped dogs living in Ballina Shire. This doesn't represent all domestic cats and dogs, as not all pet owners act responsibly by microchipping and registering their pets.

In fact, 404 microchipped cats and 1403 microchipped dogs are not registered. Once an animal is six months old, it must be registered with Council under the Companion Animals Act. The fine for an unregistered animal is $110.

Unfortunately, for every responsible pet owner, there are a number of feral animals, unsupervised pets or escapees who have the potential to affect our native wildlife. Ballina Shire is fortunate to have many areas of native

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report vegetation located close to homes where we can appreciate its natural values, but this brings its responsibilities also. Domestic cats and dogs may prey on native animals, killing or harassing them.

5 Stormwater runoff

Stormwater runoff is an environmental issue more commonly discussed in relation to water quality for receiving waters. However it can affect both flora and fauna if it is allowed to impact on natural systems.

Lennox Head Moat

Stormwater runoff in this area is discussed in the Water Chapter under Urban Stormwater in the Pressures Section.

Chickiba wetland

During late 2003 and early 2004, the Chickiba wetlands were assessed according to the North Coast Wetlands Technique developed by Southern Cross University. Many in the community were commenting on the dieback of the Melaleuca spp which could easily be seen from Angels Beach Drive.

The assessment found that the northeastern part of the wetland was in very poor conditions due to changes in the hydrological regime. Stormwater was flowing into the wetland and this had led to a change in species found in the wetland. This nutrient rich water promoted excessive reed growth. Typha spp. and Phragmites spp. (both wetland reed species) were found to be growing throughout the wetland, and were choking the culverts and drains that were constructed to allow water to flow out of the wetland. The Phragmites spp is an Australian species, but here it is a nuisance weed because it would not normally grow in this wetland.

Excessive ponding and nutrients are thought to be the cause of the trees experiencing dieback.

In March 2004, after preparation of a Review of Environmental Factors and approval from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, part of the drain was able to be carefully cleared of some of the reeds. Monitoring of water levels and vegetation condition is undertaken on a monthly basis to assess the success of the drain clearing in restoring the wetland.

6 Bushfires

Bushland areas, including the sensitive Tuckean Swamp Area, are still recovering from the 2001/2002 fires which burnt approximately 650 ha of bushland in the Wardell and Bagotville areas. For that year, about 800 hectares of land in Ballina Shire and approximately 700 hectares in Lismore City burnt in bushfires.

There were no major fires in Ballina Shire during the year ended 30 June 2004, although the Rural Fire Service still responded to 24 fires during that time. These included 10 grass fires, 8 grass and scrub fires and 2 forest fires greater than 1 hectare in area.

7 Key Threatening Processes

A number of processes have been identified as being a particular threat to the ongoing viability of flora or fauna species on the North Coast. These processes are shown in Box 1 and are listed either under Federal legislation - the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act (1999) or the NSW Threatened Species Act 1995) Box 1 shows all processes identified as key threatening processes under either of these Acts.

Under the EPBC Act (1999), a process is defined as a key threatening process if it “threatens or may threaten the survival, abundance or evolutionary development of a native species or ecological community”. An example might

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report be removal of native riparian vegetation from watercourses which not only removes the plants themselves from the area but can also affect water quality, fish habitat, movement of native animals and birds.

A process can be listed as a key threatening process if it could:

cause a native species or ecological community to become eligible for adding to a threatened list (other than conservation dependent), or cause an already listed threatened species or threatened ecological community to become more endangered, or if it adversely affects two or more listed threatened species or threatened ecological communities.

Therefore, each of the processes listed is seen as being very serious for our native flora and fauna.

Table 4.3 Key threatening processes

Alteration to the natural flow of rivers and streams and Introduction of the large earth bumblebee their floodplains and wetlands Anthropogenic Climate Change Loss and/or degradation of sites used for hill-topping by butterflies Bushrock removal Predation by Gambusia holbrooki (Plague Minnow or Mosquito Fish) Clearing of native vegetation Predation by the European Red Fox Competition and grazing by the Feral Rabbit Predation by the Feral Cat Competition by Feral Honeybees Predation by the ship rat on Lord Howe island Death to marine species following capture in shark Removal of dead wood, dead trees and logs control programs on ocean beaches Entanglement in or ingestion of anthropogenic debris in The introduction of fish to fresh water within a river marine or estuarine environments catchment outside their natural range High frequency fire resulting in the disruption of life The removal of large woody debris cycle processes in plants and animal and loss of vegetation structure and composition Importation of Red Fire Ants The degradation of native riparian vegetation along New South Wales water courses Infection by Psittacine Circoviral (beak and feather) The installation and operation of instream structures and disease other mechanisms that alter natural flow regimes of rivers and streams Infection by amphibian chytrid causing the disease Invasion of native plant communities by exotic perennial chytridiomycosis grasses Infection of native plants by Phytophera cinnamomi Invasion of native plant communities by Chrysanthemoides monilifera Source: EPBC (1999) NSW TSPA (1995)

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

4.4 State Of Our Biodiversity

Overview of State

Ballina Shire is part of the North Coast Bioregion, an area stretching from the Tweed River in the north to the Manning River in the south. For the Bioregion as a whole, there are significant numbers of plants and animals identified as threatened or extinct. One hundred and eight plant species are endangered, 89 are vulnerable and 5 are considered extinct. Thirty six animals are listed as endangered and 121 are listed as vulnerable.

Regional Indicators

Number and size of remnant vegetation fragments Extent and condition of native vegetation Extent and condition of marine habitat types (mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses) Area (ha) and % of LGA that is used (and zoned) for different land uses (specifically environmental protection for this chapter) Number and distribution of endangered and threatened species, populations and ecological communities.

1. Remnant Vegetation

Key Habitats and Corridors

The Department of Environment and Conservation (National Parks) have identified as Key Habitats and Corridors areas of a series of areas that currently exist, for the reference of councils and other land managers in preparing plans for those areas. Potential corridors have also been identified to link these areas with each other to maintain viability for flora and fauna species occurring within them. An example of this mapping for the northern part of the Ballina area, including Lennox Head is shown overpage in Figure 4.1. The yellow areas are those mapped as Key Habitat, the most obvious being the Ballina Nature Reserve. The green areas are strategic linkages between these Key Habitats, and are mapped as being Key Corridors.

Council has used this mapping in its planning activities to identify areas for which the desirable primary objective is habitat. An example of such a review is the recent zoning review from Coolgardie to Uralba which utilised the Key Habitats and Corridors mapping, aerial photograph interpretation, contour mapping and information supplied by the local community to form the basis for reviewing the existing 1(b) – Rural (Secondary Agriculture) and 7(d) – Environmental Protection (Scenic/Escarpment) zones.

Council intends to continue the review of the Local Environmental Plan as resources permit.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Figure 4.1 Sample NPWS Key Habitats and Corridors Mapping

The Big Scrub

Less than 0.13% of the Big Scrub remains from its estimated original extent of 73 000 Ha, the greatest single stand of subtropical rainforest in the world. About one-third of the Big Scrub remnants still remaining are in the Ballina Shire.

These remnants are described in a number of different ways, and generally occur on what was known as the Lismore Basalt. Many of the remnants have been nominated for the Register of the National Estate under the names of the Coolgardie Scrub, Dalwood Scrub, Davis Scrub, Duck Creek Scrub, Maguires Creek Scrub, Meerschaum Vale Scrub, Uralba Scrub and Victoria Park Scrub.

Some of these areas are ‘officially’ protected in National Parks, Nature Reserves or with Environmental Protection Zones under the Ballina Local Environmental Plan. A number of these sites also have landcare groups working to protect the natural values of these important links to the past.

The maps overpage, Figure 4.2 show the extent of the Big Scrub prior to European arrival and the extent of remnants today. Although, the figure for vegetation remaining varies according to the source of information, our figure of 0.13% has been taken from the National Parks Big Scrub Reserves Plan of Management (2001).

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Figure 4.2 The Big Scrub, Past and Present

2 Extent and condition of marine habitat types (mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses)

The Department of Primary Industries (NSW Fisheries) have advised that there is no information is available on this indicator at present.

3 Land protected by an environmental protection zone

Council’s Environmental Protection Zones, under the Ballina Local Environmental Plan, serve a number of purposes, from protecting vital habitat to ensuring our water supply is free from pollution.

About 15% of the land in Ballina Shire is zoned so that the primary objective is to protect the natural values of the land. 2,795 ha of the Shire is zoned for wetland protection, 1530 ha is zoned to protect habitat and 1,462 ha is zoned to protect and enhance areas of scenic value. A further 1,326 ha is zoned to protect environmentally sensitive coastal lands and ensure development does not adversely affect coastal processes.

A further 10% of Ballina Shire is zoned for Environmental Protection (Water Catchment) purposes. Although the provisions of this zone are currently under review, the primary objective of the zone is to ‘prevent development which would adversely affect the quantity or quality of the urban water supply’. Generally these areas are suitable for rural land uses within certain guidelines. Rous Water liaises with landholders in these areas (Emigrant Creek and Marom Creek) to ensure that best management practice is implemented where possible.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

4 Species in danger

Although Ballina boasts an abundant and diverse natural community, there are still a number of species listed as threatened or vulnerable in Ballina Shire. These include aquatic fish and plants as well as terrestrial species. There are a number of different mechanisms which identify ecosystems, plants or animals. In addition to species identified as threatened, many native animals and plants are protected and cannot be caught or damaged.

Endangered Ecological Communities

During 2004, two new vegetation communities were listed as Endangered Ecological Communities for the North Coast. These are Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Saltmarsh. Maps do not accompany the determinations so that communities must be identified by their component plant species.

Coastal Saltmarsh occurs in the intertidal zone on the shores of estuaries and lagoons along the NSW Coast. Characteristic vascular plant species of the Coastal Saltmarsh are:

Baumea juncea Isolepis nodosa Juncus kraussii Samolus repens Sarcocornia quinqueflora Selliera radicans Sporobolus virginicus Suaeda australis Triglochin striata Zoysia macrantha

The total list of species is larger, but these species are used to identify Coastal Saltmarsh communities.

Many of the larger remnants of the Littoral Rainforest referred to as Endangered Ecological Community have already been identified in the State Environmental Planning Policy No. 26 mapping. This determination encompasses regrowth, regeneration and smaller areas as well as the mapped SEPP 26 areas.

Dominant species forming ‘alliances’ are used to identify Littoral Rainforest. On the North Coast, Littoral Rainforest is commonly accepted to comprise an alliance between the Riberry (Syzygium leuhmannii) and Blush Satinash (Acmena hemilampra). However at Lennox Head and Ballina, Littoral Rainforest comprises an alliance between Guioa (Guioa semiglauca) and Tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis anacardiodes). Many other tree species also occur, including species which are also identified as threatened themselves. These include Scented Acronychia (Acronychia littoralis), Coastal Fontainea (Fontainea oraria), and Rough-leaved Queensland Nut (Macadamia tetraphyalla).

Other characteristic species of Littoral Rainforest in Ballina Shire include:

Cryptocarya triplinervis; Arytera divaricata; Neolitsea australiensis; Aphananthe philippinensis; Alectryon coriaceus; Cassine australis; Cryptocarya laevigata; Jagera pseudorhus; Mallotus philippensis; Pittosporum undulatum; and Synoum glandulosum.

These two communities have been added to Lowland Forest on Floodplain which was previously the only Endangered Ecological Community identified for the North Coast.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

This is in addition to the Emu which is listed as an Endangered Population on the North Coast.

Species protected or listed as threatened or vulnerable and occurring in Ballina Shire are listed in the following Table.

Table 3.4 Species identified under various Acts as Endangered, Threatened or Vulnerable Fisheries Management Act, 1994

Grey Nurse Shark Eastern Freshwater Cod (no natural populations left in Richmond Threatened River) Oxleyan Pygmy Perch (last sighting on Richmond River, pre 1960)

Great White Shark Vulnerable Black Cod Ballina angelfish Eastern blue devil fish (or Bleekers devil fish) Elegant wrasse Protected Estuary cod Giant Queensland groper Herbsts nurse shark Weedy seadragon All seagrass, seaweed and mangrove species are protected

Endangered Fauna (Threatened Species Act, 1995) Bush Stone-Curlew Swift Parrot Loggerhead Turtle Beetle (Nurus atlas) Wandering Albatross Hastings River Mouse Dugong Goulds Petrel Blacknecked Stork Little Tern Red Goshawk Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail Beach Stone-Curlew Giant Dragonfly Endangered Flora (Threatened Species Act, 1995)

Scented acronychia Green leaved Rose Walnut Southern Ochrosia Sweet Myrtle Coast Fontainea Southern Swamp Orchid Smooth Davidson’s Plum Axe-Breaker Xylosma terrae-reginae Small-leaved Tamarind

Threatened Flora (Threatened Species Act, 1995)

White Laceflower Rusty Rose Walnut Brush Sophora

Arthraxon hispidus Ball Nut Red LillyPilly Rough-leaved Queensland Jointed Baloghia Durroby, Coolamon Nut Stinking Cryptocarya Bog Onion, Onionwood Arrow-head Vine

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Vulnerable Fauna (Threatened Species Act, 1995) Australasian Bittern Albert’s Lyrebird Black Flying-fox Barred (Yellow-eyed) Cuckoo Beccari’s Mastiff-bat Black-winged Petrel Black Bittern Black-tailed Godwit Collared Kingfisher Brolga Broad-billed Sandpiper Common Blossom-bat Bush-hen Brush-tailed Phascogale Flesh-footed Shearwater Comb-crested Jacana Common Bent-wing Bat Freckled Duck Glossy Black Cockatoo Common Planigale Grass Owl Great Knot Eastern Long-eared Bat Greater broad-nosed bat Greater Sand Plover Eastern Tube-Nosed Bat Grey Ternlet Leathery Turte Grey-crowned Babbler Grey-headed Flying-fox Lesser Sand Plover Ground Parrot Little Shearwater Magpie Goose Humpback Whale Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo Marbled Frogmouth Koala Masked Booby Pied Oystercatcher Little Bent-wing Bat Painted Snipe Pouched Frog Long-nosed Potoroo Providence Petrel Red tailed Black-Cockatoo Mangrove Honeyeater Red-legged Pademelon Sanderling Masked Owl Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove Shy Albatross Olongburra Frog Rufous Scrub-bird Sooty Oystercatcher Osprey Sooty Owl Speckled Warbler Powerful Owl Sooty Tern Spotted-tailed Quoll Red-tailed Tropicbird Superb Fruit-Dove Three-toes Snake Tooth Skink Sooty Albatross Terek Sandpiper Wallum Froglet Sperm Whale Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat White Tern Squirrel Glider Wompoo Fruit Dove White-crowned Snake White-eared Monarch

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

4.5 Response To These Pressures

Overview of response

The response to the pressures identified in this report are varied, and range from private landholders taking action on their own land to large government backed projects aimed at regional or statewide initiatives.

The value of work undertaken by landholders cannot be underestimated as 95% of land is owned privately. Enhancing biodiversity therefore needs a partnership approach between public and private time, effort and resources. It also requires recognition that it is no one person or organization’s responsibility.

Regional indicators

Effectiveness of the formal reserve system in accordance with its comprehensiveness, adequacy and representativeness within the system. Area of land revegetated or being regenerated with (a) native vegetation and (b) plantation timbers. Annual expenditure on noxious weed eradication programs. Recovery plans for threatened species and ecological communities, and the number of plans being implemented.

1 Revegetation or Regeneration

Landcare, Dunecare and Coastcare

Landcare, including Dunecare and Coastcare, is a way for the community to become involved in managing areas of biodiversity for the future in their local area. This may occur either on public land or private land.

In more urban areas, Landcare usually operates on public land. Volunteers undertake a myriad of tasks by being involved in this management and achieve much more than Council could on its own. These tasks include hand weeding, spraying, development of management plans, application for grant funding and monitoring. Other activities include native seed collection, propagation, planting and maintenance, educational field days and fundraising and sponsorship activities.

There are two Landcare groups in Ballina Shire that include a partnership of landholders working together to improve environmental management on their group of properties.

This year, groups worked a total of 6,284 hours which is equivalent to approximately $95,000 of labour.

Some of the work these groups undertake is highlighted in the next few pages.

Lennox Head Landcare

The group currently works in four areas covered by existing management plans. These are Williams Reserve, Seven Mile Beach, Boulder Beach Littoral Rainforest and Boulder Beach Wetlands. They also visit the Envite nursery at Byron Bay to propagate plant stock for future use.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Williams Reserve

After an interval of 18 months during 2004, progressively work was halted due to public liability insurance issues, the group recommenced activity in August, weeding, mulching and planting through the natural areas of the Reserve. The area attracts large numbers of volunteers, many who water and tend plants between scheduled working bees.

Major changes have been made during the year with large areas now under the Callitris spp weeded and mulched. Approximately 200 trees and shrubs were planted during a number of organised activity days including; working bees, National Tree Day 2003, Pre-school Mitre 10 program and a planting by Wollongbar TAFE students. Employment program teams have also removed considerable quantities of Fishbone Fern from the northern section.

Future work will concentrate on the northern 'natural' section to eradicate the Fishbone Fern and Asparagus Fern. Additional planting of Lomandra will be undertaken to define and protect boundaries.

Figure 4.3 Lennox Head Landcare and Lennox Head Lions club planting trees and shrubs in Williams Reserve

Seven Mile Beach

The group largely concentrated its activities in the area between the Surf Club and the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation site. Controlling major problem weeds such as Mile-A-Minute, Turkey Rhubarb, and Painted Splurge has occupied a large amount of working time. Significant amounts of Lantana and Bitou have also been removed from some areas.

Only 20 trees were planted this year because of dry conditions and lack of stock of certain species. Future planting will concentrate on Lomandra and understorey plants to minimise access and facilitate the eventual removal of fencing that is in poor condition.

It is also planned to rehabilitate the area opposite William Street and the Lake Ainsworth Store by weeding, mulching and planting Acacias and Banksias to protect the stands of Tuckeroos and Beach Birds Eye.

Boulder Beach Littoral Rainforest

Two working bees a month were carried out from the beginning of 2004. The main activities involved maintaining the hind dune, planting along the top and base of the dune and maintaining areas east and

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

north of the core area that had been cleared earlier by Green Corp Teams. Areas of bitou along the front of the dune were mulched and sprayed and Acacias and other species planted along the track.

Along the dune area, work continued to eliminate bitou from the top section but still leaving some vegetation to provide wind protection for trees on the hind dune area. Some supplementary planting took place along both the ridge and the base of the dune. Difficulty in maintaining water to plants impacted on the success of these efforts but most plants are holding on.

Areas cleared by Green Corp Teams were all maintained with some rapidly restoring themselves while others have been planted out with approximately 200 trees to assist earlier closure of open areas. An area previously used as a garden waste dumping ground required a large amount of attention to manage Hairy Commelina and Madeira Vine outbreaks. Spraying of Guinea Grass and Molasses Grass that were moving into the cleared areas has also been undertaken recently.

Remerging Lantana and other weeds were regularly removed around the core area.

Boulder Beach Wetland

Only limited time was spent following the Green Corp work in this area but this is expected to increase in 2005 with one working bee a month devoted to maintaining the rainforest remnants. A planting plan was obtained from Wetland Australia for the areas immediately adjacent to the wetland.

Eden Valley Landcare Group

The Eden Valley Landcare Group in Chilcotts Creek catchment at Alstonville undertook an Envirofund project between March 2003 and March 2004. As a result 3,100 trees were planted, and 1,500 metres of protective fencing was installed. Five hectares of bushland underwent bush regeneration and environmental repair.

However, although Envirofund supplied some funding, landholders and volunteer labour contributed 1,100 volunteer hours worth approximately $19 000.

Lighthouse Beach Dunecare

Lighthouse Beach Dunecare was initiated in the early 1990’s caring for the dunal areas. Its main tasks are protecting and encouraging the growth of native vegetation appropriate to the site, removal and control of weeds and maintaining safe walkways to the beach.

The dunal area formed as a result of the building of North Wall, and since then an entire ecosystem has developed. Thanks to the efforts of the Lighthouse Beach Dunecare group, this vegetation supports the local and migratory birds that regularly use the area.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Figure 4.4 Lighthouse Beach, looking North East from the hind dune area.

Angels Beach Dunecare

Angels Beach Dunecare worked very hard during the year ended 30 June 2004, clocking up 3 100 hours of volunteer labour. These volunteers cleared large areas of weed, planted heath and headland species and worked to keep the dunal system and headland vegetation in good condition.

With support from Ballina Shire Council, many Dunecare schools, Dorroughby Environmental Education Centre and assorted labour teams, Angels Beach Dunecare has continued to win awards and grants and look forward to continuing its activities in beach beautification, community education and heritage recognition.

Little Fishery Creek

Little Fishery Creek is a new landcare group who are working in the Council reserve adjoining Little Fishery Creek on the north-western edge of Ballina. They have about 8 members and have had assistance from an Envite ‘Work for the Dole’ crew in regenerating the riparian zone adjoining the creek. This area is very special as it is protected as a Coastal Wetlands under State Legislation.

The group intend to remove weeds along the banks and allow natural regeneration to occur. They will also have supplementary plantings where needed.

Tuckombil Landcare Group

The Tuckombil Landcare Group aims to share in the knowledge, skills and actions which will keep their homes, farms and locality healthy, productive and harmonious into the future. They are involved in the “Good Soil Project”, looking at soil health Figure 4.5 with NSW Agriculture and the “Good Worm Project” which Tuckombil Landcare promotes earthworm friendly agricultural practices. These Group Member at projects are important in maintaining good soil structure. work

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Duck Creek

Duck Creek Landcare Group has undertaken 416 hours of work during the year ended 30 June 2004. Lantana and tobacco plant are common plants occurring on the periphery of the rainforest vegetation managed by the group, and asparagus fern, privet and mistflower occur within the rainforest itself, thriving beneath the canopy.

The group has formulated a management plan that provides guidance in achieving its outcomes.

Patches Beach Community Dunecare

Patches Beach Community Dunecare Group worked, on average, about 10 hours per week for the ten months they were active this year. In total, this is 417 hours and doesn’t include time spent by “Work for the Dole”, ”Green Corps” or “Envite Bush Regenerators”

The group meets the first Sunday of every month and contact details are posted at the entrance to the beach walkway for interested volunteers.

Figure 4.6 Revegetation planting at Patch’s Beach

East Ballina Landcare

Whilst growing in membership, support and community acceptance, this year has been marked by steadily adding to the number of East Ballina sites under its care and oversight in partnership with Ballina Shire Council. These include Shelly Beach, Shaws Bay Escarpment Rainforest, Mercer Park, Central Avenue (Reservoir) park and Fred Stoker Park. The group are also working with Southern Cross K-12 School.

The group is awaiting the gazetting of the East Ballina Crown Lands as a Crown Reserve but in the meantime has been involved in numerous smaller restoration projects in the area and has been the recipient of a Mitre-10 Junior Landcare Grant and an NHT Envirofund Wetland Assessment Grant.

Skennars Head Coastcare

This is a new group working on the sensitive coastal strip at Skennars Head and the Boulders Beach Iron Peg carpark, between the Coast Road and the ocean. They have many new members and have received a grant through the Federal Government's Envirofund to restore the area. A vegetation management plan is being

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report prepared for the group to guide its restoration and rehabilitation efforts. It also received a small tools grant from the Department of Family and Community Services.

Rainforest Way Landcare

Rainforest Way Landcare is another new group with a handful of local residents as members. It operates in the public reserve off Montwood Drive and Rainforest Way in the Pacific Pines estate at Lennox Head. It also received an Envirofund grant and use a vegetation management plan as guidance in restoration efforts. The group aims to convert the weeds into littoral rainforest and expand the rainforest areas.

Other organisations managing bushland in Ballina Shire

The Northern Rivers Region is quite unique in that non-government organizations undertake a significant amount of conservation work themselves which contributes to conserving our biodiversity.

EnviTE (Environmental Training and Employment) operates throughout the North Coast region from Tweed Heads to Nambucca Heads. It was established in 1993 and is a not-for-profit community organisation. EnviTE provides assistance with community projects in environmental restoration, provides training and offers professional environmental services. It not only provides environmental services, but is a Community Work Coordinator, contracted by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) to manage Work for the Dole projects and Green Corps projects.

Rainforest Rescue is another not for profit organisation committed to conserving our rainforests for current and future generations. Projects involve rainforest restoration, research aimed at improving rainforest restoration and conservation, and the purchase and ongoing management of high conservation value rainforests However, it does not directly manage these projects but funds those projects that meet its strict criteria. In Ballina Shire, Rainforest Rescue funds work on the Big Scrub.

Private landholders and voluntary conservation agreements

In addition to Landcare work on public or private lands, there are other ways in which the community recognises bushland and looks to conserve it. These include voluntary conservation agreements, where landholders agree to conserve bushland for biodiversity reasons on their properties. 25.3 hectares of bushland on 4 properties is conserved in this way in Ballina Shire.

95 properties representing 924 hectares are also committed to the Land for Wildlife program. Property holders agree to retain bushland on their properties to enhance the environment for native wildlife. This program has been extremely popular in Ballina Shire. Field days providing information about various aspects of vegetation management and native wildlife are held each year for landholders who have signed up.

The importance of conserving vegetation and habitat on private lands is highlighted by the fact that less than 5% of land is held in public ownership and much of this is held for reasons other than conservation. Therefore, the 5% of Ballina Shire subject to a voluntary conservation agreement or enrolled in Land for Wildlife exceeds the total lands held publicly for conservation purposes.

The Bushland Friendly Nursery Scheme provides another way in which individual people can make a difference to biodiversity in Ballina Shire. It encourages local nurseries to stock plants friendly to our local environment. This also means NOT stocking plants known to be environmental or nuisance weeds, as well as suggesting native alternatives to gardener’s favourites that will add beauty to the garden as well as providing a friendly environment for our local wildlife.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Currently, the Bushland Friendly Nursery Scheme has only one retail nursery and two wholesale nurseries signed up to the scheme, although all nurseries have been invited to join. It is hoped that more nurseries will join during the coming year.

2. Weeds And How To Manage Them

Council is involved with a number of initiatives to control weeds on both public and private lands. The Far North Coast Weeds Authority undertake most of the work to do with listed noxious weeds (these are listed in the Pressures on our Biodiversity section). As a landholder and manager, Council removes or controls all noxious weeds according to its responsibilities.

Residents and visitors may also have noticed that many of our public plantings in parks,

gardens and public places have changed over the last two years as nuisance plants or environmental weeds are also removed. These include plants which are not listed as noxious or environmental weeds, but which create a problem in our bushland areas or may cause irritation to sensitive people. Often they were planted in local gardens as ornamental species, or in the case of camphor laurel, for shade in urban and rural landscapes.

Some prominent public plantings which have changed dramatically include Wardell Community Access Space and several roundabout plantings throughout the shire.

A monthly “weed alert” is also part of this campaign to reduce the number of environmental weeds in our local environment. Council uses this “Weed Alert!” to provide the community with more information about these plants.

Plants profiled so far include, but are not limited to:- Asparagus Fern - Protoasparagus aethiopicus; Yellow Bells (also known as Golden Bells) – Tecoma stans; Duranta (also known as Geisha Girl, Sky Flower, Golden Dewdrop or Pigeon Berry) - Duranta repens, Duranta erecta, Duranta plumeri; Mother of Millions (also known as Resurrection Plant) - Bryophyllum delagoense/ pinnatum/ daigremontianum x tubiflorum/ proliferum; Orange Jessamine - Murraya paniculate Glory Lily – Gloriosa superba Cocos Palm – Syagros romcuzoffanum/Arecastrum romanzoffiana Singapore Daisy – Wedelia trilobata

Figure 4.7: Weeds profiled in the “weed alerts” in order of mention

3. Recovery Plans for threatened species

As part of the NSW Government’s support for local conservation initiatives, recovery plans for species that are endangered or vulnerable are prepared. Recovery plans outline a number of actions that are the responsibility of local and state government and the community to try and provide opportunities for the species in question to ‘recover’.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Recovery plans for species identified in the Ballina Shire include:-

Barking Owl Bush Stone-Curlew (draft) Coxen’s Fig Parrot Davidsonia johnsonii Diploglottis campbelli Endiandra Muelleri subsp. Bracteata and Eleocharis tetraquetra Endiandra hayesii Goulds Petrel (draft) Koala (draft) Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail Hastings River Mouse (draft) Rapanea spp. A – Richmond River (draft) Randia moorei Yellow bellied glider Red Goshawk

Recovery actions are varied but as an example – the Bush Stone-Curlew recovery plan, includes the management of fox numbers (and the reduction of potential predators, generally), conservation of remaining lowland woodland habitat, retention of fallen timber and maintaining low intensity landuse adjacent to potential breeding sites. National Parks have taken on the responsibility of providing information about the Bush Stone-curlew to landholders and local government in the expectation that more information will assist land managers to make decisions that will facilitate the recovery of Bush Stone-Curlew populations.

The Eastern Freshwater Cod is another exampleof a recovery plan where the objective of the plan is to ensure the recovery and natural viability of eastern cod populations in their former range in the Clarence and Richmond rivers.

Actions will include establishment of new populations through stocking of rivers and tributaries and working with environmental flow rules to mimic natural flows in rivers at critical times for breeding.

4. Threat Abatement Plans

Threat Abatement Plans are similar in intent to Recovery Plans, but are prepared by the Federal Government under its EPBC Act (1999). Threat Abatement Plans address some of the key threatening processes identified in the Pressures section of this chapter.

To date, Plans prepared which may affect Ballina Shire include:

Competition and Land Degradation by Feral Goats; Competition and Land Degradation by Feral Rabbits; Predation by Feral Cats; Predation by European Red Fox; Psittacine Circoviral (beak and feather) Disease affecting endangered psittacine species (in draft); and Predation, Habitat Degradation, Competition and Disease Transmission by Feral Pigs (in draft).

Actions to address the threat from foxes in our local area include a fox control program implemented between Ballina and Iluka in an attempt to provide Pied Oystercatchers with some respite from foxes stealing eggs, attacking chicks and adult birds. There are only 250 Pied Oystercatchers left in NSW, and 25 breeding pairs inhabit the coastline in this area, so the programme is extremely important.

Foxes are also implicated in spreading bitou bush and attacking medium size native animals, at times jeopardising recovery plans for threatened fauna species.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

5. Planning Responses – Lennox Head, Wardell, Cumbalum

Council’s ongoing review of its Local Environmental Plan has allowed the community to provide input regarding conservation of special areas that can be translated into the legal planning provisions for these areas. Specific examples include the review of land use planning zones between Coolgardie and Uralba to promote habitat and corridor areas, and the review of Lennox Head land use zones to provide buffers to Ballina Nature Reserve.

6. Far North Coast Weeds Authority

Environmental and nuisance weeds (also called noxious weeds) in Ballina Shire are managed by the Far North Coast Weeds Authority. Each year the Authority undertake approximately 800 inspections of properties held both privately and publicly.

The main weed treated in Ballina Shire is groundsel bush, with broadleafed pepper tree and bitou bush also being treated in lesser numbers.

Council also undertakes regular aerial spraying of Bitou Bush to complement Landcare activities and try and control this invasive coastal dune weed.

4.6 More information

For more information on local weeds, visit the Far North Coast Weeds website www.fncw.nsw.gov.au which has information on noxious weeds. The Bushland Friendly Nursery Scheme website www.bfns.org.au has information about environmental or nuisance weeds, and which native plants can be used to replace them in your garden.

More information about stormwater runoff is also found in the Water Chapter of this report. The Smith and James report referred to in this section can be found on the Marine Parks Authority website at www.mpa.gov.au.

Key threatening processes and which species are covered by a Threat Abatement Plan under Federal legislation are at www.ea.gov.au. Threatened species and recovery planning under NSW legislation is found at www.npws.nsw.gov.au. The Big Scrub Landcare Group has its own website dealing with Big Scrub Rainforest issues at www.bigscrubrainforest.org.au.

If you would like to join an existing Landcare, Dunecare or Coastcare group, contact Council's Natural Resource Extension Officer on telephone (02) 6686 4444. You can also start your own group working on publicly or privately owned land. Many groups also advertise their working bees locally.

Council's NREO also advertises a "Weed of the Month" to look out for in the Ballina Advocate in the council pages.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

4.7 References

Angels Beach Dunecare Group. (2004). Information supplied by Lee Andresen, Co-ordinator, for the Ballina State of the Environment Report 2004.

BFNS (2004) Bushland Friendly Nursery Scheme website. Available online: http://www.bfns.org.au. Accessed 24/8/04.

BSC (1999) Ballina Shire Council Supplementary State of the Environment Report 1999. Ballina Shire Council.

BSC (2000) Ballina Shire Council Comprehensive State of the Environment Report 2000. Ballina Shire Council.

BSC (2001) Ballina Shire Council Supplementary State of the Environment Report 2001. Ballina Shire Council.

BSC (2002) Ballina Shire Council Supplementary State of the Environment Report 2002. Ballina Shire Council.

BSC (2003) Ballina Shire Council Supplementary State of the Environment Report 2003. Ballina Shire Council.

Department of Environment and Conservation (National Parks) Website (2004). Available online: http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au. Accessed: 15/1/04.

Department of Environment and Conservation (Environment Protection Authority) Website (2004). Available online: http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au. Accessed: 15/7/04.

Department of Environment and Heritage website (2004). Available online: http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/tap. Accessed 14/4/04 and 10/9/04.

Duck Creek Landcare Group (2004). Information supplied by the Co-ordinator for the Ballina State of the Environment Report 2004.

East Ballina Landcare Group (2004). Information supplied by Lee Andresen, Co-ordinator, for the Ballina State of the Environment Report 2004.

Far North Coast Weeds Authority (2004). Information supplied by Des Boorman, Chief Weeds Officer for the Ballina State of the Environment Report 2004.

Lighthouse Beach Dunecare Group (2004). Information supplied by Jane Hunt, Co-ordinator, for the Ballina State of the Environment Report 2004.

Little Fishery Creek Landcare Group (2004). Information supplied by the Co-ordinator for the Ballina State of the Environment Report 2004.

Lismore City Council Website (2004). Available online: http://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au.

Lennox Head Landcare Group (2004). Information supplied by Malcolm Milner, Co-ordinator for the Ballina State of the Environment Report 2004.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

NSW Fisheries (2002, 2003, 2004). Information supplied by Patrick Dwyer and Marcus Riches, for the Ballina State of the Environment Report 2002, 2003, 2004.

NSW Fisheries (2004). Eastern Freshwater Cod Recovery Plan. www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/thr/pdf/efc-plan.pdf. Accessed 10/9/04.

Patchs Beach Dunecare Group (2004). Information supplied by Peter Lacey, Co-ordinator, for the Ballina State of the Environment Report 2004.

Smith, Stephen D A and James, Kathryn A. (2003). Rapid Assessment of Rocky Shore Diversity – Byron Bay Region. Report prepared for the Marine Parks Authority. Website http://www.mpa.nsw.gov.au/cbmp/cbmp.htm. Accessed 16 January 2004.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report Appendix C Supplementary National Parks and Wildlife Information .

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Supplementary National Parks and Wildlife Information

Bird Species listed under the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA) and the China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA)

Scientific name No. of sightings Common name Stercorarius parasiticus 19 Arctic Jaeger Limosa lapponica 231 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 19 Black-tailed Godwit Limicola falcinellus 9 Broad-billed Sandpiper Sula leucogaster 3 Brown Booby Sterna caspia 33 Caspian Tern Ardea ibis 1655 Cattle Egret Tringa nebularia 100 Common Greenshank Anous stolidus 8 Common Noddy Actitis hypoleucos 43 Common Sandpiper Sterna hirundo 102 Common Tern Sterna bergii 306 Crested Tern Calidris ferruginea 149 Curlew Sandpiper Numenius madagascariensis 221 Eastern Curlew Egretta sacra 35 Eastern Reef Egret Puffinus carneipes 13 Flesh-footed Shearwater Apus pacificus 11 Fork-tailed Swift Plegadis falcinellus 18 Glossy Ibis Ardea alba 133 Great Egret Fregata minor 1 Great Frigatebird Calidris tenuirostris 81 Great Knot Catharacta skua 1 Great Skua Charadrius leschenaultii 52 Greater Sand Plover Pluvialis squatarola 9 Grey Plover Heteroscelus brevipes 69 Grey-tailed Tattler Gallinago hardwickii 72 Latham's Snipe Fregata ariel 4 Lesser Frigatebird Pluvialis dominica 114 Lesser Golden Plover Charadrius mongolus 97 Lesser Sand Plover Numenius minutus 2 Little Curlew Sterna albifrons 184 Little Tern Calidris subminuta 2 Long-toed Stint Tringa stagnatilis 7 Marsh Sandpiper Sula dactylatra 12 Masked Booby Cuculus saturatus 18 Oriental Cuckoo Acrocephalus orientalis 11 Oriental Reed-Warbler Rostratula benghalensis 1 Painted Snipe Calidris melanotos 13 Pectoral Sandpiper Stercorarius pomarinus 7 Pomarine Jaeger Calidris canutus 68 Red Knot Sula sula 1 Red-footed Booby Calidris ruficollis 175 Red-necked Stint Arenaria interpres 124 Ruddy Turnstone Philomachus pugnax 3 Ruff

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Scientific name No. of sightings Common name Calidris alba 47 Sanderling Calidris acuminata 100 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Puffinus tenuirostris 28 Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus griseus 3 Sooty Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas 1 Streaked Shearwater Xenus cinereus 103 Terek Sandpiper Heteroscelus incanus 17 Wandering Tattler Puffinus pacificus 31 Wedge-tailed Shearwater Numenius phaeopus 208 Whimbrel Haliaeetus leucogaster 144 White-bellied Sea-Eagle Phaethon lepturus 7 White-tailed Tropicbird Hirundapus caudacutus 378 White-throated Needletail Chlidonias leucopterus 5 White-winged Black Tern Oceanites oceanicus 1 Wilson's Storm-Petrel Tringa glareola 1 Wood Sandpiper

Note: These records have been extracted from The Atlas of NSW Wildlife. The Atlas is a database containing fauna and flora records, including threatened species, for New South Wales. The data is not comprehensive and should not be considered a complete inventory. The Atlas is based chiefly on incidental sightings, but also includes some systematic survey results.

Introduced and Weed Species in National Park Estate

Weed Reserve Weed Reserve Bathurst/Noogoora Burr Ballina NR Mist Flower Ballina Nature Reserve Davis Scrub NR Uralba NR Victoria Park NR Bitou Bush All coastal reserves Prickly Pear Lennox Head AA Richmond River NR Camphor Laurel Ballina NR Privet Davis Scrub NR Davis Scrub NR Richmond River NR Richmond River NR Victoria Park NR Tuckean NR Uralba NR Victoria Park NR Cassia Ballina NR Wandering Jew Uralba NR Davis Scrub NR Victoria Park NR Uralba NR Victoria Park NR Crofton Weed Ballina NR Other Ballina NR Davis Scrub NR Trees/Shrubs/Ground Davis Scrub NR Uralba NR Covers Richmond River NR Victoria Park NR Uralba NR Victoria Park NR Giant Parramatta Grass Lennox Head AA Other Vines Ballina NR Groundsel Bush Ballina NR Davis Scrub NR Lennox Head AA Lennox Head AA Richmond River NR Little Pimlico Island NR Victoria Park NR Richmond River NR

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Weed Reserve Weed Reserve Lantana Ballina NR Tuckean NR Davis Scrub NR Uralba NR Lennox Head AA Victoria Park NR Little Pimlico Island NR Richmond River NR Tuckean NR

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report Appendix D Supplementary information supplied by NSW Fisheries

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Supplementary information supplied by NSW Fisheries

Some of the fish species likely to occur in waterways in the Ballina Shire are included in the table below.

Common Name Scientific Name Australian Bass Macquaria novemaculeata Australian Smelt Retropinna semoni Black Cod * Epinephelus daemelii * Bleekers Devil Fish ** Paraplesiops bleekeri ** Blue-Spot Goby Pseudogobius olorum Bony-snouted Gudgeon / Crimson-Tipped Butis butis Gudgeon Bream Acanthopagrus australis Brown Sabretooth Blenny Petroscirtes lupus Bullrout Notesthes robusta Carp # Cyprinus carpio # Common Jollytail Galaxias maculatus Common Sea Dragon ** Phyllopteryx taeniolatus ** Common Toadfish Tetractenos hamiltoni Cox's Gudgeon Gobiomorphus coxii Doboulay's Rainbowfish Melanotaenia duboulayi Dusky Flathead Platycephalus fuscus Dwarf Flathead Gudgeon Philypnodon sp. Eastern Freshwater Cod * Maccullochella ikei * Eastern Gambusia # Gambusia holbrooki * Eastern Striped Trumpeter Pelates sexlineatus Elegant Wrasse ** Anampses elegans Empire Gudgeon Hypseleotris compressa Estuary Cod Epinephelus coioides Exquisite Sand Goby Favonigobius exquisites Firetailed Gudgeon Hyoseleotris galii Flathead Gudgeon Philypnodon grandiceps Flag-Tail Flathead Platycephalus arenarius Flat-Tail Mullet Liza argentea Freshwater Catfish Tandanus tandanus Freshwater Fork-tailed Catfish Arius graeffei Freshwater Herring Potamalosa richmondia Freshwater mullet Myxus petardi Glass Goby Gobiopterus semivestita Goby Arenigobius sp. Goby Parkraemeria ornata Goldfish # Carassius auratus # Great White Shark * Carcharodon carcharias * Grey Nurse Shark * Carcharias taurus * Half-Bridled Goby Arenigobius frenatus Herbsts Nurse Shark ** Odontaspis ferox ** Large-Mouth Goby Redigobius macrostoma Long- Finned Goby Favonigobius lateralis Longfinned Eel Anguilla reinhardtii Luderick Girella tricuspidata

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Common Name Scientific Name Mangrove Goby Mugilogobius paludes Marjorie’s Hardyhead Craterocephalus marjoriae Milkfish Chanos chanos Mouth Almighty Glossamia aprion Olive Perchlet Ambassis agassizii Olive Perchlet Ambassis marianus Oxeye Herring / Tarpon Megalops cyprinoides Oxleyan Pygmy Perch * Nannoperca oxleyana * Port Jackson Glassfish Ambassis jacksoniensis Queensland Groper ** Epinephelus lanceolatus ** Sand Whiting Sillago ciliata Sea Mullet Mugil cephalus Shortfinned Eel Anguilla australis Soft-Spined Rainbowfish Rhadinocentrus ornatus Southern (Pacific) Blue Eye Pseudomugil mellis Striped Gudgeon Gobiomorphus australis Striped Mullet Myxus elongatus Stripey Microcanthus strigatus Tamar River Goby Favonigobius tamarensis Tarwine Rhabdosargus sarba Yellow-Finned Leatherjacket Meuschenia trachylepis Western Carp Gudgeon Hypseleotris klunzingeri

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report Appendix E Bushland Friendly Nursery Scheme – List of Environmental Weeds

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Bushland Friendly Nursery Scheme – List of Environmental Weeds

Note: Species marked * have been nominated for declaration as either W4(d) or W2 noxious weeds in either all or some LGAs. Species marked # are already currently declared noxious in some LGAs.

Common -name Latin - name Aerial Yam Dioscorea bulbifera African Olive Olea africana *Asparagus aethiopicus, africanus, asparagoides & Asparagus Ferns plumosus Balloon Vine * Cardiospermum grandiflorum Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia Black-eyed Susan & Blue Trumpet Thunbergia alata & grandiflora Vine Blue Billygoat Weed Ageratum houstonianum Brazilian Cherry Eugenia uniflora Broad-leaved Pepper Tree # Schinus terebinthifolia Bulbil Watsonia Watsonia meriana Butterfly Bush Buddleja davidii & madagascariensis Cadaghi Eucalyptus torelliana Camphor Laurel # Cinnamomum camphora Canna Lily Canna indica Cape Ivy Delairea odorata Cassia * Senna pendula var. glabrata & Senna X floribunda Cat’s Claw Creeper * Macfadyena unguis-cati Cherry Guava and Guava Psidium cattleianum & guajava Chinese Celtis # Celtis sinensis Chinese Golden Rain Tree Koelreuteria paniculata Chinese Tallow * Triadica sebifera (Sapium sebiferum) Climbing Nightshade Solanum seaforthianum Cocos Is. Palm Syagrus romanzoffianum Coffee Coffea arabica Coral Berry Ardisia crenata Cotoneaster Cotoneaster glaucophyllus, pannosus & franchetii Crabs-eye Creeper Abrus precatorius Cuphea Cuphea carthagenensis Duranta Duranta repens Dutchmans Pipe Aristolochia littoralis & elegans Fishbone Fern Nephrolepis cordifolia Fountain Grass Pennisetum setaceum Glory Lily * Gloriosa superba Glush Weed * Hygrophila costata Golden Willow Wattle Acacia saligna Hairy Commelina Commelina benghalensis Honey Locust * Gleditsia triacanthos Ice Cream Bean Inga edulis Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Kahili Ginger Hedychium gardnerianum & coronarium Kudzu * Pueraria lobata Lantana & Creeping / Mauve Lantana Lantana camara (except red) & montevidensis Leucaena Leucaena leucocephala

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

Common -name Latin - name Loquat Eriobotrya japonica Madeira Vine * Anredera cordifolia Mickey Mouse Plant Ochna serrulata Morning Glory’s * Ipomoea alba, cairica, indica & purpurea Moth Vine Araujia sericifera Mother of Millions/Resurrection Plant # Bryophyllum, delagoense, pinnatum & proliferum Mysore Thorn * Caesalpinia decapetala Narrow Leaf and Large Leaf Privet *# Ligustrum sinense & lucidum Orange Firethorn Pyracantha fortuneana Orange Jessamine Murraya paniculata (seeding forms) Parrot’s Feather Myriophyllum aquaticum Passionflowers Passiflora suberosa & subpeltata Paulownia * Paulownia tomentosa & fortunei Singapore Daisy Wedelia trilobata Slash and Radiata Pine Pinus elliotti & radiata Trad * Tradescantia fluminensis & zebrina Umbrella Tree Schefflera actinophylla Yellow Bells * Tecoma stans Handout – effectiveness of formal reserve system – see npws infromaton

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report 5 Land

5.1 Introduction

The geology of the Ballina Shire is dominated by the volcanic history of the region, the Richmond River system and proximity to the coastal zone. These relate, respectively, to the Alstonville Plateau, the alluvial plain (upstream floodplain) areas and the coastal and dunal systems north of the Richmond River.

The Alstonville Plateau consists of rolling low hills and hills predominantly on the Lismore Basalts. Much of the area we think of as the Alstonville Plateau is on the Wollongbar Soil Landscape, previously vegetated by the Big Scrub. The Wollongbar Soil Landscape is good quality agricultural land with only minor issues in soil management. These include issues such as difficulty in sealing dams due to the nature of the soil, a tendency to induced acidity of the soil under particular crops and a localised mass movement hazard.

The concerns raised by the then NSW Conservation and Land Management Department with regard to the taking up of ‘good agricultural land’ by urban areas have largely been addressed in Ballina Shire by the decision of Council not to pursue the 3rd Village option for the Plateau and the removal of the ‘rural-residential’ provisions within the Ballina Local Environmental Plan (1987).

Atlhough the Richmond River Alluvial Plain is a very important landform on the Richmond River, it occupies only a small area within Ballina Shire. This is to the west and northwest of Wardell. Generally soils here are clays and earthy sands illustrating the alluvial nature of the soil-forming environment.

The third major physiographic region in Ballina Shire is identified as the Tweed-Byron Coast. The Richmond River estuary processes dominate the southern part of this region with Ballina Shire, resulting in what is known as a deltaic floodplain. Much of the lowlying sugarcane land on each side of the River is grown on the Empire Vale Soil Landscape. The Empire Vale Soil Landscape is moderately fertile underlain by potential acid sulfate soils. This area is subject to high water tables, which is why cane drains were introduced originally.

North of the Richmond River, soil-forming processes are generally coastal in influence. Many of the soils are sedimentary and have been formed by wind (aeolian) processes. With the exception of the Ballina Nature Reserve and some outlying basalt remnants (East Ballina and Lennox Head), the area is dominated by former sand dunes and is quite young in geological terms (within the last 40,000 years).

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

5.2 Trends At A Glance

Table 5.1 Trends indicator 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 36,287 36,831 38,236 39,036 39,836 40,636 Population (ERP*) (est) (est) (est) (est) (est) (est) Residential density (area of land per 480 m2 473 m2 456m2 447m2 441m2 432m2 person within residential zoning) New home approvals (houses or 369 254 246 472 341 554 apartments) Portion of coastline publicly owned - - - 64.85% 64.85% 64.85% Percentage of Shire zoned for - - - 63% 66% 66% agricultural purposes Percentage of Shire zoned for urban - 4.08% - 4.09% - 4.1% purposes.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

5.3 Pressures On Our Land

Overview of pressures

Although urbanisation forms only a small part of the land area in Ballina, it is a growing and significant pressure on certain parts of the Shire. Historical aspects of development, that is, past land use also has an effect on how we are able to use land today. Old service station sites and cattle tick dip sites provide special challenges in remediation and ensuring that these are suitable for their present and intended future use.

Land clearing and acid sulfate soil disturbance in the rural areas of our Shire, where not properly managed, can have immediate and longer term affects on the local and wider environment. The effect of erosion sedimentation and acidic water on waterways and fish populations are examples of some of the negative consequences of these actions.

Coastal areas have also been mapped as being potentially subject to storm surge and erosion, over the next 50 to 100 years.

Regional indicators

Number of known contaminated sites (including the number of cattle tick dip sites); Extent and location of land identified as possessing potential acid sulfate soils; Area cleared of native vegetation; and Population growth rates and population numbers.

1. Contaminated Sites

Contamination is defined by the Contaminated Land Act (1997) as “the presence in, on or under the land of a substance at a concentration above the concentration at which the substance is normally present in, on or under (respectively) land in the same locality, being a presence that presents a risk of harm to human health or any other aspect of the environment.”

Sites that pose a ‘significant risk of harm’, which is generally accepted as being harm to human health, are managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly the Environment Protection Authority). Council manages sites of lesser significance. Sites managed by Council include old service stations, sites of polluting industries and cattle tick dip sites (these are discussed further in Point 2).

Where a site may impact on surrounding land uses, this potential is noted on Section 149(2) certificates issued on the sale of a property under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979).

2. Cattle Tick Dip Sites

There are 83 cattle tick dip sites across the Shire, which were once used to ‘dip’ cattle and sheep, to prevent tick infestations. A variety of chemicals were used in the dip sites including arsenic, DDT and dioxathion.

Some years ago, sites across Ballina Shire were assessed as to their location, the chemicals used and the hazard the sites currently pose to humans and animals. 43 sites have been decommissioned since that time. Generally, this has involved demolition of the structures around the dip site and, prior to the introduction of the Scheduled Waste Chemical Control Order, may also have resulted in soil adjacent to the dip bath itself being removed and replaced with clean fill. Other techniques for management include capping of the dip-site particularly where public access is likely.

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

A further 26 sites have been demolished, so that there are only 14 remaining dip sites in which the dip bath itself still exists. These are progressively being decommissioned by NSW Agriculture.

Studies undertaken on the behaviour of arsenic and DDT indicated that generally the chemicals will remain bound to the soil and not move offsite. For more information on specific sites, the NSW Department of Primary Industries website hosts a database at www.agric.nsw.gov.au/tools/dipsite-locator.

3. Acid Sulfate Soils

Acid sulfate soils are common in areas of mangroves and salt marsh as well as underlying large areas of rivers and deltas, levees, backswamps and other formerly brackish seasonal or permanent freshwater swamps, and their coastal flats. They form under anaerobic conditions whilst covered with water and are only a problem when exposed to air. Soils rich in iron sulfide oxidise on exposure to air to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and this reaction may continue for many years, yielding the soil effectively sterile for plant growth.

The following diagram gives an explanation of why they may become an issue under current land management practices. It is reproduced from the Acid Sulfate Soils Management Advisory Committee’s brochure “How to recognise acid sulfate soils”.

Figure No 5.1 Acid Sulfate Soil Formation*

*Note: Sulfate and sulphate are interchangeable terms with the same meaning.

Acid forming from this process may find its way into adjacent waterway from these soils, causing sickness and sometimes death to aquatic life.

Common activities that disturb acid sulfate soils are drainage works and some agricultural activities where soils may be disturbed; dredging, laying of utilities, roads and railways, urban development and extractive industries. Maps, identifying the risk of potential acid sulfate soils on certain lands, are available from the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Natural Resources, and advice on management is available from officers of both that department and the Department of Primary Industries.

100

Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report

The area of land mapped as high risk for acid sulfate soils in Ballina Shire is 13,765 hectares. For comparison, the total area of the Shire is approximately 48,000 hectares in total. Area with a low risk (but still some risk) is approximately 5,734 hectares.

The location of hotspot areas, that is, areas with high risk acid sulfate soils close to the soil surface, including acid sulfate soil scalds, are generally wetlands, degraded wetlands, or were previously wetlands. In their natural (pre- drainage or disturbance) range of hydrologic states, the native vegetation of backswamp (extending to backplain) sites would have varied from woodland around swamp margins, through to sedgeland or rushland in the generally wettest sites where trees are generally excluded. These areas were often drained and have been cropped, in Ballina Shire this often relates to current sugar cane cropping areas.

Hotspots occur in Maguires and Emigrant Creeks, the Tuckean Swamp and the Newrybar-North Creek systems. Total hotspot areas add up to 6,887 hectares in Ballina Shire (DIPNR, 2004) and it is in these areas that programs to address the effects of acid sulfate soils are concentrated.

4. Percentage of land cleared in Ballina Shire

Unfortunately there is no information available on this indicator at this time

5. Population Growth

Population growth has been steady in Ballina Shire over the past fifteen years or so, although it hasn’t reached the levels forecast in Council’s 1988 Facts and Figures booklet. At medium growth levels, a resident population in Ballina Shire of approximately 51 000 people in 2001 was assumed. Low predicted growth levels of about 800 people per year moving to the area resulted in a population of approximately 40 000 in 2001 which is equivalent to our estimated current population in 2004. Although the actual growth rate has slowed dramatically from 4.3% in 1991 to 1.4% in 2001, about 800 extra people come to Ballina Shire each year to live.

At the same time, the occupancy rate for homes has fallen from 2.68 people per home in 1991 to 2.42 people per home in 2001. This trend has been even more dramatically illustrated on Ballina Island where only 2.02 people, on average, occupy each home. This is because of the number of ‘empty-nesters’ and single people living alone. In contrast, Wollongbar and Skennars Head have occupancy rates of 2.73 and 2.76 respectively – highlighting the ‘family’ nature of these areas.

There are numerous ways to accommodate new people moving to the area. Cumbalum Ridge is a large new area currently being planned for by Council. It is anticipated that this area will accommodate 12,000 people once completed. However, some people will wish to live closer to existing town centres. Increasing the density of development in areas close to these areas is another option that preserves our existing towns and villages in their current ‘footprint’.

Table 5.2 Development statistics for the four years to 30 June 2004

Commercial & Year ended Houses/Duplexes/Dual Residential Flat Total Value of Industrial 30 June Occupancies Buildings Development Buildings 2001 176 25 (70 units) 25 $63,548,940 2002 351 32 (121 units) 25 $117,211,850 2003 341 7 (78 units) 44 $129,895,138 2004 554 29 (90 units) 33 $167,67,886

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Although urban areas account for only a small portion of total landuse in the Shire, there is significantly more development occurring each year, which intensifies urbanisation in existing areas and creates new subdivisions on previously undeveloped sites.

6. Onsite Sewerage Systems

Almost one in four homes in Ballina Shire use either an onsite sewerage management system or a septic system to treat wastewater. This means there are almost 4,000 such systems in the rural areas of the shire. Poorly maintained or failing onsite systems have been implicated as one source of pollution of ground and surface waters, for the generation of odour, and for posing risks to human health.

After Council adopted its On-site Sewage Management Strategy/Policy in early 2001, approximately 2,300 households contacted Council to apply for an “Approval to Operate”. Each of these systems must now be inspected to ensure they are in good working order. Additionally, about 30 new systems are approved each year, and these must also be inspected to ensure they remain in working order and do not present a public health risk or a pollution hazard either to groundwater or surface water.

7. Coastal Hazards Study

In response to community concern about potential coastal hazards and the impact of storm activity particularly at Lennox Head, Council commissioned WMB Oceanics to undertake the Ballina Shire Coastline Hazard Definition Study. The study defined the potential hazards that impact along the coastline and determined ‘the projected landward limit of backbeach erosion escarpments due to the cumulative effects of these hazards for various planning periods’(WBM, 2003).

For the Ballina coastal region it has been calculated that for each 10cm of sea level rise, a shoreline recession of 5 metres can be expected, due to changes in the wave dynamics and their interaction with the sediments on the beach and dunal areas. However, the modelling used to predict these changes cannot fully account for changes to storm frequencies, intensities and distributions that might occur as a result of climate change. These figures should therefore be treated with caution(WBM et.al) 2003.

Sea level rise is not the only potential hazard the coastline faces. Sand movement along the coast north of the Clarence River mouth, is generally in a northerly direction and this is a long term trend. There is, therefore the potential for recession of the shoreline due to sand movement, particularly at Lennox Head, as a result of a complex mix of factors. These factors include long term erosion from beaches north of the training wall at the mouth of the Richmond River. It appears smaller or ‘pocket’ beaches gain equilibrium more quickly and are more stable due to the rocky outcrops and headlands acting as a control point. Therefore, whilst recession rates have been calculated for Lighthouse, Shelly, Angels, Sharps and Boulders Beach, these beaches are more likely to remain stable under current climatic conditions. Seven Mile Beach at Lennox Head is the first relatively long sandy beach north of the Richmond River and as such Seven Mile Beach is more likely to experience the impacts of the movement of longitunal drift resulting in the movement northwards of significant volumes of sand.

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5.4 State Of Our Land

Regional indicators

Area and % of each LGA occupied for different land uses; and No. and size of remnant vegetation fragments.

1. Land use Zones in Ballina Shire

Although the population of Ballina Shire has grown rapidly over the past fifteen to twenty years (from 24 410 in 1987 to 38 236 in 2001), the majority of land in our Shire is zoned for either rural or environmental protection purposes. The Table below shows the land use zoning for 2002 in comparison with that for 1998.

Table 5.3 Land Use Zonings

Total Area Total Area % of Shire Zone Trend 1998 (Ha) 2004 (Ha) to Zone 1(a1) Rural (Plateau Ag. Land) 4320 4327 9.1 Increase 1(a2) Rural (Coastal Land Agriculture) 8410 8422 17.8 Increase 1(b) Rural (Secondary Ag. Land) 16410 16430 34.7 Increase 1(d) Rural (Urban Investigation) 2475 1909 4.0 Decrease 1(e) Rural (Extractive and Mineral Resources) 200 200 0.4 Stable 2(a) Living Area 1175 1235 2.6 Increase 2(b) Village Area 300 560 1.1 Increase 2(t) Tourist Area 2 2 - Stable 3 Business 48 55 0.1 Increase 4 Industrial 152 155 0.3 Stable 6(a) Open Space 300 353 0.7 Increase 7(a) Environmental Protection (Wetlands) 2790 2795 5.9 Increase 7(c) Environmental Protection (Water Catchment) 4731 4738 10 Increase 7(d) Environmental Protection Scenic/Escarpment) Increase 1 441 1 462 3.1 (incorporates 7(d1) zone also) 7(f) Environmental Protection (Coastal Lands) 1324 1326 2.8 Increase 7(i) Environmental Protection (Urban Buffer) 625 626 1.3 Increase 7(l) Environmental Protection (Habitat) 1400 1530 3.2 Increase 8(a) National Parks and Nature Reserves 1116 1118 2.4 Increase 9(a) Roads (proposed, in total) (est)92 66 0.1 Decrease Total 47312 47 312 - -

It is not always accurate to make assumptions from land use zoning about the pressures that may be present from different land uses. Urban centres impact heavily on the land but take up a relatively small land area. Agricultural activities may have a lesser impact per hectare, but due to relative size may actually have a much larger impact on the environment. Within each zone, there may be different permissible uses having quite different environmental impacts. For example, in a Village Area Zone a retail shop selling clothing would have a smaller localised impact than a takeaway shop requiring the disposal of used oils and foodscraps.

The impact of population growth over the period 1998 – 2004 can be clearly seen from the changes to the land use zonings. The 1(d) – Rural (Urban Investigation) Zone has shrunk from 2,475 ha to 1,909 ha over that time, whilst the residential zonings have increased in total from 1,475 ha to 1,795 ha, representing 3.7% of our Shire’s area. The area of land with an environmental protection zoning has increased from 13,427 ha to 13,597 ha, totalling 28.7% of the Shire.

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2. Remnant vegetation

Council utilises vegetation mapping information from a number of different sources and progressively adds to its information as inspections are undertaken for rezoning and development proposals, or as part of other work. There are a number of areas reserved by the Department of Environment and Conservation (National Parks) which conserve different styles of vegetation within Ballina Shire. These reserves can be found in the following locations:-

Table 5.4 Remnant vegetation in Conservation Reserves

Reserve Name Vegetation type (Common Name) Ballina Wetland and Melaleuca forest Davis Scrub Big Scrub Richmond River Coastal Heath/Mangrove Uralba Big Scrub Victoria Park Big Scrub Little Pimlico Island Littoral Rainforest Tuckean Wetland

However, as these reserves are only 2,059 hectares in area, vegetation held on private land is very important in retaining habitat and vegetation corridors. The map overpage shows an extract from the data layer held by Council and used to assist in decision-making.

Further information on vegetation may also be found in the Biodiversity Chapter of this report.

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Figure 5.2 Vegetation Mapping Layers held by Ballina Shire Council

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Figure 5.3 Vegetation Mapping Layers held by Ballina Shire Council

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3. Land capability

Land capability is a term used to describe broadly what a parcel/type of land is best suited for, in terms of its environmental attributes. In this instance, it relates specifically to mapping undertaken by the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (the former Soil Conservation Service and Department of Land and Water Conservation), to map the soils occurring across the Northern Rivers area. This mapping uses geology, topography and soil forming processes together with field work and soil sampling (known as ground-truthing) to produce the Soil Landscapes of the Lismore-Ballina 1:100 000 Sheet.

Due to the geological diversity of the region, there are quite a few soil landscapes occurring in the region, as show in the figure below. Soil landscapes do not refer to areas of exactly the same soil type, but rather areas with common soil forming processes and common geology. Within each landscape you may find localised differences depending on slope and drainage at that point. However, for example, the Wollongbar soils found on the Alstonville Plateau have generally formed from remnant volcanic (basalt) deposits, occur on gently undulating country with rolling rises and hills, but on the Plateau surface. Previously this soil type supported Big Scrub vegetation. It can generally be described as well drained soils that are red to reddish brown in colour. For those with a soils background, this soil may also be described as a Krasnozem.

The main degradation issue for this type of soil is induced acidity due to leaching (from excess irrigation) and over- application of fertilisation. Where urban areas have built up around Alstonville and Wollongbar, significant erosion in the early stages of development has been a problem.

Figure 5.4 Soil Landscapes of the Lismore-Ballina 1:100 000 Map Sheet

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A derivation of this mapping is the assessment of urban and rural capability for each soil. One of the applications of Soil Landscapes mapping is to provide an indication, based on soil attributes alone, of the suitability of particular soils to potential land use. The table below illustrates those soils mapped as being suitable either for rural or urban development.

Table 5.5 Soil capability related to soil characteristics (after Morand (1994))

Ability to support a particular intensity of Soil Type development without serious erosion or long term drainage problems. Ewingsdale High capability for urban development Wollongbar Bagotville Low to medium capability for urban development Bangalow Billinudgel Bangalow High capability for rural uses Eltham Empire Vale Ewingsdale Tuckean Wollongbar

As this table illustrates, a particular soil landscape may be suitable for either rural or urban land uses. Using the Wollongbar Soil Landscape once again as an example, it is physically capable of supporting either rural or urban development. It is important to note that Council and State Government Agencies must consider a number of planning and social and economic instruments in addition to soil capability mapping when considering development applications. With regard to the discussions with the local community as part of the community consultation process, it is very clear that the community valued its highly productive agricultural land and did not want to see this land become urban.

Many of our decisions about locating villages and towns were made long before this type of mapping was available. Decisions focussed on the accessibility of the area by water when the area was first settled, which is why so many large towns in the Northern Rivers are located on the Richmond River. These areas are not always located on those Soil Landscapes thought to be best suited for urban development.

Further information on Soil Landscapes, their characteristics and potential limitations are available from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources publication “Soil Landscapes of the Lismore-Ballina 1:100 000 Sheet” Report and Map.

4. Landuse

Land use zonings do not tell the full story about what actually occurs on land in our Shire. The following provides a little more information the types of activities occurring in the Shire on land zoned for different uses.

Ballina Shire has a rapidly growing population and the focus of land management is changing from a predominantly rural Shire to a highly urbanised one.

Farming Areas

20% of Ballina Shire’s population live in rural areas, either on a property supporting an agricultural enterprise or on a rural residential subdivision. Some of the major agricultural activities in the Ballina LGA are sugar cane, macadamias, avocadoes and dairy farms. Farming is a very important part of the local economy and the history of Ballina Shire.

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Farming contributes over $45 million to our economy every year (NSW Agriculture, 2004) and provides just over 1000 jobs (2001 Census). It is important, not only to Ballina Shire residents but also to those for whom we provide agricultural products, that farming land is protected and does not come under threat from urban development pressures.

In recognition of this importance, the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) is undertaking, in conjunction with other NSW Government agencies, investigations into areas that will be identified as valuable farmland for retention for that purpose. The project is known as the Northern Rivers Farmland Protection Project.

As part of this project, a Section 117(2) Direction under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act was issued in January 2004 to the effect that lands identified as State Significant Farmland Protection or Regionally Significant Farmland Protection cannot have their use changed to an urban or rural residential land use. An “urban use” includes residential housing, retailing, and other uses normally located within towns.

At the time of writing, the mapping associated with the Farmland Protection Project was on exhibition. More detailed information is available from DIPNR and Department of Primary Industries.

Although a number of rural-residential subdivisions have been developed in Ballina Shire, in 1995 the provisions allowing this style of development were removed from the LEP. This was for a number of reasons, including cost of infrastructure to service such developments, the loss of agricultural land and impacts on flora and fauna due to fragmentation of habitat. The potential for conflicts between adjoining agricultural uses and more intensive urban use of the land was also a significant factor in the removal of the provisions allowing rural-residential subdivision from the LEP.

Coastline

58% of the population of the Shire lives on the coastal fringe, close to either beaches or estuaries. This creates pressure on fragile coastal dunal systems and near-shore mangrove and aquatic vegetation. High usage of beach and estuary areas, large numbers of visitors (1.8 million in 2001) and demand for urban development create pressures on a relatively small land area.

Coastal areas face particular challenges also in terms of managing coastal hazards as they currently exist. There is a layer of uncertainty regarding climate change and the potential effects this might have for future management of coastal areas. One possible effect of an increase in temperature as a result of climate change is a sea level rise. These could have serious implications for Ballina Shire. “Although the magnitudes of future sea-level rise may be relatively small, in combination with a severe storm, it may be enough to expose more vulnerable regions of the coastline to attack by storm surge and waves” (WBM Coastal Hazards Study Report 2004). For more information on coastal hazards, see the Pressures section of this chapter.

Urban

Although it sometimes seems that Ballina Shire is becoming more and more urban, still only 3.7% of our land area is zoned for residential purposes. A further 0.4% is either industrial or business in nature and 0.7% is zoned for public open space (such as sporting fields). So, less than 5% of our land is used for urban purposes.

However, 80% of our population squeezes into this 5% of land and this creates land management issues in itself. Water, gas and electricity services are provided to our homes while garbage and sewage services take away our waste products. Stormwater from urban areas can contain a number of pollutants from household use of chemical fertilisers and herbicides, as well as runoff from roads and carparks. Industrial activities may create land use conflicts when close to residential areas or may impact directly on the land itself.

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5. Bioregions – NSW North Coast

Environment Australia has classified all of Australia into 85 bioregions – based largely on climate, but also on vegetation, soils and other factors. Ballina Shire is located within the NSW North Coast Bioregion which is described using the following descriptors:-

Humid; hills, coastal plains and sand dunes; Eucalyptus – Lophostemon confertus, tall open forests, Eucalyptus open forests and woodlands, rainforest often with Araucaria cunninghamii (complex notophyll and microphyll vine forest), Melaleuca quinquinervia, wetlands and heaths.

Its condition generally is described as there being natural systems present but co-existing with pastoral and timber industries. Dominant limiting factors are agriculture, clearing, cropping, ferals, wildfire, forest timber production/harvesting, grazing, pastoral, horticulture, mining, tourism, urbanisation and weeds. Please note that these factors and condition are for the North Coast Region as a whole and not just for Ballina Shire.

Figure 5.5 Bioregions in NSW

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5.5 Response To These Pressures

Regional indicators

Area of land revegetated or regenerated with (a) native vegetation or (b) plantation timbers

1. Area of land revegetated

Unfortunately, there is no information specific to Ballina Shire about the area of land revegetated or regenerated with native vegetation or plantation timbers. Information available from the DIPNR website suggests that there is a little over 6200 hectares of plantation forest in the North Coast Region but this would largely occur outside Ballina Shire. Some private forestry is undertaken in Ballina Shire and a public register is held by the Grafton Regional Office of DIPNR. However, this information was not available to Council for the purposes of this report.

2. Planning response to communities

Lennox Head Community Aspirations Strategic Plan

The Lennox Head Community Aspirations Strategic Plan (the Strategy) was adopted by Council in November 2002. The Strategy aims to balance the environmental, economic and social pressures facing the popular seaside village, and was prepared following significant community interest about how the Lennox Head area should be planned and developed in the future, and the provision of appropriate services and amenities. It applies to the broader Lennox Head District from Fig Tree Hill Estate to the north to Headlands Estate to the south.

The Strategic Plan is an umbrella document which provides guidance for future Council activities by establishing a series of actions to be implemented by Council over a ten year time frame. It also establishes a set of development principles to be applied as these actions are progressed. The Strategic Plan also prioritises each of the identified actions from very high to low.

The Strategic Plan Actions are divided into the following categories:

Action Area 1 - Urban Growth Action Area 2 - Community Infrastructure Action Area 3 - Environment Action Area 4 - Housing and Development Form Action Area 5 - Transport and Accessibility

Since its adoption by Council, a number of the actions identified in the Strategic Plan have commenced and / or been completed. Actions relating to the environment undertaken in the past 12 months, include:

Introduction of a Tree Preservation Order / Vegetation Management Plan for Lennox Head - adopted in October 2003, and effective from December 2003; Preparation of a Plan of Management for Lennox Headland - the Draft Plan of Management in line with the Coastal Reserve Plan of Management has been prepared and will be considered by Council shortly; Preparation of an Environmental Restoration Plan for Lennox Head – Stage 1 comprising a review of the existing environmental protection zones, identification of buffers to high conservation value areas, and identification of wildlife corridors has been completed on Council’s behalf by consultants Environmental Resource Management Pty. Ltd; Landscape Study of Prominent Areas in Lennox Head - Completed on Council’s behalf by consultants Environmental Resource Management Pty. Ltd;

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Council involvement in Environmental Restoration in Lennox Head, including more active involvement with volunteer community groups - Work progressing on schedule. Assistance provided to undertake dune rehabilitation works along Seven Mile Beach, restoration around Lake Ainsworth, and Williams Reserve. Bitou bush spraying and aerial native seeding is ongoing along Seven Mile Beach; and Improved management of stormwater in existing urban areas and Improved stormwater management for new subdivisions - Council adopted an interim stormwater infiltration strategy for laneways in Lennox Head in September 2003. This strategy implements the requirements of Development Control Plan No.13 - Stormwater Management, which was adopted on 11 March 2004. Funding sources for the upgrade of existing stormwater outlets is now being explored.

New development is subject to a set of performance criteria which must be met before consent can be granted.

Enhanced provision of native fauna habitat on public land – The majority of Council plantings now exhibit local endemic species aligned with the Bushland Friendly Nursery Scheme. The preparation of Roadside Vegetation Management Policy is underway and funding options are being pursued.

Regular weeding of public plantings is also undertaken, to provide natives planted by the community the best chance of survival. Council regularly removes weeds from Lennox Headland and Pat Morton Lookout as well as other locations such as Williams Reserve.

Enhanced provision of native fauna habitat on private land – A number of landholders continue to be involved in the Land for Wildlife scheme which is now managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation. Other work includes a review of the landscaping provisions of Ballina Development Control Plan No.1 – Urban Land which has recently commenced and preparation of a Gardening Guide with funding “Backyard Buddies” Program; Review of Council’s Plant Nursery operations - Council has joined the “Bushland Friendly Nursery Scheme” and is now planning its own nursery for propagation of local species for use by Council. The nursery will also provide propagation and storage facilities for local Landcare groups; Provision of buffers to key mosquito habitats – Council’s recently adopted Development Control Plan No.10 - Mosquito Management identifies planning and assessment criteria for new release areas to reduce the effects of mosquitos on nearby new development; and Improved access to, and interpretation of, the natural environment - Planning has commenced in the coastal area with the completion of the Draft Precinct Plans. These address issues such as access to and interpretation of the Coastal areas.

Wardell Strategic and Land Use Plan

The Wardell Strategic and Land Use Plan was adopted by Council in August 2003. The Plan addresses a range of issues identified by the community including the need to preserve the area’s environmental values, and the identification of natural hazards, and nature of desirable future development.

Council has recently initiated an amendment to the Ballina Local Environmental Plan 1987 to implement changes in desired land use. Land identified by the Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly NPWS) as Key Habitats and Corridors will largely be rezoned as 7(l) - Environmental Protection (Habitat). Other lands, identified as having potential for future urban development, will be rezoned as 1(d) Rural (Urban Investigation).

The Wardell Community Access Space, foreshadowed in the Draft Strategic Plan, has been successfully operating since May 2003.

Other initiatives for which work has been undertaken include the resurfacing of the Pacific Highwa at Wardell n response to noise concerns of local residents.

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Newrybar Escarpment Local Environment Plan Amendment

In response to community concern about the provisions of Ballina’s Local Environmental Plan (LEP) as it applies to the Newrybar area, Council recently adopted an amendment to the LEP. The amendment seeks to preserve existing desirable landuses and introduce planning controls to enhance the area’s natural amenity.

The amendment strengthens the provisions of the LEP at Newrybar by emphasising the rural nature of the zone and reinforcing its importance as a productive agricultural area. Agriculture is the only activity that can be undertaken within the Newrybar escarpment area that does not need consent, although buildings and intensive agriculture do need development consent.

The provisions of Zone No. 7(d1) apply in the following areas.

Figure 5.6 Hatched area represents 7(d1) – Environmental Protection (Newrybar Scenic/Escarpment) Zone

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3. Onsite Sewage Management Officer

Council employed an OnSite Sewage Management officer in 2003 to begin the very large task of improving the performance of approximately 3500 premises reliant upon on-site sewage treatment and disposal (i.e. septic tanks).

Amendments to the Local Government Act and Regulations introduced in 1998 required Councils to provide improved supervision of on-site sewage management systems (generally septic tank systems, aerated wastewater treatment systems and sullage disposal). The legislation was introduced following the Wallis Lake Hepatitis A incident where 400 people became ill as a result of consuming contaminated oysters.

Council adopted its On-site Sewage Management Strategy/Policy in 2001. The Policy and risk maps were prepared with the assistance of grant monies administered through the Department of Local Government. Affected residents were informed and property owners required to apply for an “approval to operate” their system of on-site sewage management. Over 2300 applications were received and will be determined over the next few years as the inspection phase of the program proceeds.

The inspection program commenced in 2003 by focussing on areas where septic tanks still exist but where sewer was available. Efforts were concentrated on Wardell, but unsewered properties were also detected at Ballina (Clarke Street Industrial Estate), and Lennox Head.

Areas so far surveyed include Rous Mill (groupings of small allotments), North Creek Road Ballina (close to estuary and commercial oyster beds), Smith Drive (small allotments with heavier use close to estuarine environment), Tintenbar (small allotments near tidal waterway) parts of South Ballina and Martins Lane.

Areas to be surveyed in the near future include Newrybar Village and areas within the water catchment areas.

Council’s officer has responded to many inquiries for advice and investigated numerous complaints relating to illegal or defective on-site systems or alleged pollution incidents. Regulatory action has resulted from a number of these inspections and penalty infringement notices have been issued to a limited number of property owners.

Grossly defective systems have been detected including a limited number where the absorption system has been deliberately provided with an overflow direct to waterways. These systems pollute waters with potentially pathogenic micro-organisms and nutrients impacting on filter feeding shellfish, which include oysters, and promoting undesirable aquatic weeds and algaes.

A protocol was prepared and is utilised to guide regulatory actions so that Council can maintain a reasonable level of consistency in application. Actions range from the service of notices and warnings through to the service of Orders and Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) or a recommendation to Council for court action.

In respect to new development the Council Officer carries out inspections on properties where development or subdivision is proposed in un-sewered areas to ensure that on-site disposal is practical by conventional methods or is not compromised as a result of new boundaries being formed.

Research on emerging new technologies and innovation are monitored and research trials of tertiary treatment systems in conjunction with Southern Cross University researchers are under way in the Shire. The latest project being a first for Northern NSW, is a ‘Wisconsins’ Mound plus horizontal and vertical flow filters, installed at the new Seabird Rescue Headquarters in North Creek Road, Ballina.

A limited number of pre-purchase inspections were also conducted.

Some relevant statistics to June 2004 are as follows:

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245 inspections have been carried out 54% were deemed satisfactory 46% unsatisfactory 66 letters were sent requesting rectification works 48 Notices of Proposed Order were forwarded under the Local Government Act 1993 23 formal Orders were issued under the Local Government Act 1993 36 Notices were issued under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (for more serious matters) 4 Penalty Infringement Notices have been issued for pollution offences.

The obligation placed on the Council under the Local Government Act and the Local Government (Approvals) Amendment (Sewage Management) Regulation 1998 is unpopular but necessary in the interest of public health and the environment.

4. Northern Rivers Farmland Protection Project

Facilitated by PlanningNSW (now Department Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources), the project aims to protect the state’s important agricultural lands from urban encroachment.

The project involves delineating agricultural areas of state, regional and local significance and imposing restrictions on what development may occur there. Council staff expressed concerns within the process about the transparency and accountability of the methodology employed to produced the mapping. These concerns still stand, although final exhibition of the mapping took place in August and September 2004. Gazettal of the mapping to implement it as a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) is expected to occur in due course.

The provisions of the Farmland Protection Project have been effectively in place since January 2004, when the NSW Government applied an interim planning tool known as a Section 117(2) direction. This direction meant that Councils are unable to rezone land identified within the interim mapping as either State Significant or Regionally Significant agricultural lands for urban purposes. This is the ultimate intent of the mapping within a SEPP.

5. Single Coastal Reserve Plan of Management

The vacant crown land along the Ballina Coastline, north of the Richmond River, has recently been gazetted as a single reserve to be known as the Ballina Coastal Reserve. The reserve is to be managed by a Trust with Ballina Shire Council as the Reserve Trust Manager. As Trust Manager, Council is required to play an increasing role in the administration and management of coastal Crown land north of the Richmond River.

A Plan of Management has been prepared as part of this gazettal into a single Coastal Reserve. The objectives of the Plan are to facilitate integrated management of the coastal reserves, to enhance coastal environmental protection and provide opportunities for appropriate public recreation.

Council has commissioned the preparation of precinct plans for discrete areas within the Coastal Reserve. The Precinct Plans are action plans developed at a local scale to address social, recreational and environmental issues. The content of Precinct Plans are based on extensive community consultation, from weekend and weekday evening meetings with interested residents. These meetings identified the community's priorities and desired outcomes for the Coastal Reserve. Each Precinct Plan contains a series of actions to be undertaken within the Coastal Reserve over the next 5 years that balance environmental protection with opportunities for appropriate recreational activities.

6. Acid Sulfate Soils

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NSW Agriculture and Richmond River County Council (RRCC) are the two agencies with primary responsibility for management of acid sulfate soils in Ballina Shire. NSW Agriculture have an acid sulfate soil project officer promoting best management practice through extension activities such as farm visits, field days and newsletters. Ballina Shire Council is also a member of RRCC's Richmond Floodplain Committee which is a natural resource management coordinating body for the Richmond floodplain and estuary. Acid sulfate soil management is a primary issue for the RFC. Many on-ground works, projects and funding are co-ordinated through this forum. Council is also contributing to improved estuary and ASS management through the development of the Richmond River Estuary Management Plan.

Awareness of acid sulfate soils and their impact on- and off-farm has increased dramatically in the past six years. A report commissioned by RRCC called “Acid Sulfate Soils 4 years On – What Changed?” showed that 96% of farmers in the Richmond River catchment have a high awareness of acid sulfate soil issues. This awareness of acid sulfate soils has lead to positive changes in behaviour including 57% of cane farmers filling in some of their drains, and 35% modifying drains. Members of the sugar cane co-operative are self-regulating in their management of acid sulfate soils and drains, and the NSW Sugar Industry has commissioned a regular independent audit of this process. All farms audited within Ballina Shire have been fully compliant with industry best management practice guidelines to date.

Bagotville Barrage

RRCC have fitted mini-sluice windows to three new aluminium floodgates as a trial allowing in-drain tidal flushing and faster removal of surface waters from the catchment. During particular parts of the year, tidal flushing treats acid sulfate soil runoff. The aim of the project is to rehabilitate the upper Tuckean Broadwater and allow fish and bird species to return.

Floodgate Management Trials

In Ballina Shire, the Empire Vale Creek and Duck Creek West drains (along with the Bagotville Barrage) are actively managed to allow tidal flushing at appropriate times. The drains hold acid water from oxidising acid sulfate soils which is neutralised by the tidal flushing, before drain water enters the river system. This trial is conducted in full partnership with farmers so that flushing does not affect unduly affect farming operations.

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General Management Tools

The Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources produces maps showing the actual and potential acid sulfate soils occurring in coastal areas, as well as an accompanying booklet (shown below) “Guidelines for the Use of Acid Sulfate Soil Risk Maps”. They are used by farmers, developers, state and local government and the community. ,It should be noted that only Second Edition maps should be used as there are differences in the areas mapped as being at risk from acid sulfate soils.

5.6 More Information

For the latest information on acid sulfate soil management and identification of particular issues, the Department of Primary Industries website at www.agric.nsw.gov.au can provide information. The Richmond River County Council website (www.rrcc.nsw.gov.au) also has valuable information about projects happening locally on the Richmond River floodplain to address acid sulfate soils in partnership with local farmers and landholders.

Council's Facts and Figures booklet is available from Council's website at www.ballina.nsw.gov.au or in hardcopy form from Council. There is a small fee charged for all Council strategies and publications of this nature to cover production costs. This includes both the Lennox Head Community Aspirations Strategic Plan and the Wardell Strategic and Land Use Plan.

Council's Local Environmental Plan, also available on the web, gives up to date information about permissible land uses in each area and what types of development (or otherwise) can be undertaken in each land use zone. Where changes are proposed, Council's Business Paper is publicly available before the Council meeting on the last Thursday of each month, also from the above website.

The "Soil Landscapes of the Lismore-Ballina 1:100 000 Sheet" map and report is available from DIPNR offices at Alstonville and Grafton. General information regarding the maps and reports is availabe on the website at www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au, but there is a small fee for both the map and the report themselves.

Finally, the Northern Rivers Farmland Protection project is managed by DIPNR and further information should be available on the above website regarding this process.

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5.7 References

Acid Sulfate Soils Management Advisory Committee (date unknown). How to recognise acid sulfate soils. Brochure.

Ballina Shire Council (2003). Facts and Figures.

Ballina Shire Council (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003). State of the Environment Report 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003.

Ballina Shire Council (2002). Lennox Head Community Aspirations Strategic Plan.

Ballina Shire Council (2003). Wardell Strategic and Land Use Plan.

Department of Environment and Conservation (2004). Management of Contaminated Land. Available online. http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/clm/index.htm. Accessed 22/9/04.

Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (2004) – Northern Rivers Farmland Protection Project – Proposals for protection farmland. August 2004. Information accompanying exhibition of Maps showing proposed State and Regionally Significant Farmland.

Naylor, SD; Chapman, GA; Atkinson, G; Murphy, CL; Tulau, MJ; Flewin, TC; Milford, HB; Morand, DT. (1998). Guidelines for the Use of Acid Sulfate Soil Risk Maps, 2nd edition. Department of Land and Water Conservation.

Morand, D.T. (1994) Soil Landscapes of the Lismore-Ballina 1:100 000 Sheet Report, Soil Conservation Service of NSW, Sydney. (Now Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources). Morand, D.T. (1994) Soil Landscapes of the Lismore-Ballina 1:100 000 Sheet Map, Soil Conservation Service of NSW, Sydney. (Now Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources).

NSW Agriculture. Information provided for the Ballina Shire Council 2004 State of the Environment Report.

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Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report 6 Atmosphere

6.1 Introduction

The clean atmosphere, lack of heavy industry and rural outlook are just some of the aspects of our Shire valued by residents. Generally, the air is clean and noise complaints are limited to local issues. However, we should also consider issues that affect us from outside Ballina Shire. Surfers would be well acquainted with El Nino phenomenon bringing favourable swells off Lennox Point. But climate change is beginning to become much more immediate to the whole community in its impact. Scientists expect sea level rise, more extreme rainfall events and higher temperatures over the next 70 years.

Increases in population also bring challenges in managing the industry and services required to support this population, as well as managing noise impacts on new development from existing land uses. Higher densities in some areas will also create some challenges to ensure privacy is maintained and quality of life is retained for those residents choosing to live in these areas.

In a regional context noise generated along the Pacific Highway, especially in Ballina, has been the subject of intense community scrutiny since the opening of the Yelgun-Chinderah bypass in early 2003. State agencies and Council are exploring options to address this issue.

6.2 Trends At A Glance

Table 6.1 Trends

Indicator 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 No. of air quality 35 40 72 29 19 21 complaints No. of EPA licensed - - - - 21 19 premises

34 182 177 47 46 67 Noise complaints Barking dog complaints (Figures to 2001 are 101 - - 91 125 77 usually included in Noise Complaints) Medium density housing - - - - - 76 applications

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6.3 Pressures On Our Atmosphere

Overview of pressures

In comparison to many metropolitan Councils, Ballina Shire is relatively undeveloped and our Shire does not support a great deal of heavy industry. We don’t, therefore, have some of the major air quality or noise pollution issues that large numbers of people living together generate.

However, we do have some issues that provide challenges for the community and for Council.

Regional indicators

Number of air quality complaints to Council and EPA and issues raised; and Number of noise complaints to Council and the EPA and issues raised.

1. Air quality

As Ballina Shire does not have major polluting industry or heavy manufacturing, air quality is generally good. The most significant adverse impacts to air quality in Ballina Shire are those caused by open burning in the sugar cane industry and other agricultural activities such as land clearing and disposal of macadamia waste product. The sugar cane industry has been proactive in investigating and implementing strategies to minimise and possibly eradicate the need for open burning in the future.

There are also less noticeable impacts from other activities such as odours from piggeries, crop-spraying operations, dust generation from quarries and light industrial activities.

Aside from educating specific groups that adversely affect air quality, there is a need to ensure the community is also aware of how their activities impact air quality. These activities include back yard burning and motor vehicle emissions.

Council does receive complaints from people within the community about a variety of activities that impact on air quality. These complaints are investigated by Council’s Environmental Health Officers and are reflected in Figure 6.1 below.

Figure 6.1 Complaints, Air Quality

Figure 2- Complaints - Air Quality Sew age odour Decaying organic Rural Burnof f 10% mater ial 14% 5% Building/ Construction Urban Burnoff 5% 13% Rubbish Odour 5% Miscellaneous 5%

Animal (rural) Commer c ial/ 5% Animal (urban) Industrial 10% 28%

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There are, however, a number of complaints that are made to Council that Council does not investigate. Council does not investigate air quality complaints that generate from industries that are scheduled under the POEO Act, 1997 and therefore regulated by the NSW EPA, nor does it regulate complaints with respect to sugar cane firing. All such complaints are referred to the NSW Sugar Milling Co-Op Ltd at Broadwater. The Broadwater Mill processes a certain amount of green cane each year, usually around 9% of the total cane processed, in an effort to reduce problems experienced with cane burning. Where processing the cane in a green form, the cane is not ‘fired’ prior to harvesting.

2. Noise in general

Noise is an issue confronted by most people at some time. The increasing urbanisation of Ballina Shire has the potential to generate situations where the noise generated by an activity has a negative impact on certain individuals or communities in Ballina Shire.

Historically the greatest number of complaints received by Council for noise in urban environments has come from barking dogs. Barking dog complaints accounted for about 54% of all noise complaints in 2002 and 2003.

Council Rangers have reviewed the management procedures for investigating ‘barking dog’ complaints. As of 1 July 2003, two separate complaints from different sources must be made regarding the same animal or address before it can be investigated. This change was developed to avoid frivolous and/or malicious complaints resulting in Council Rangers becoming involved in investigations that were time consuming, difficult to verify and often baseless. This change in management has resulted in a reduction in the number of barking dog complaints to 77 in the year to 30 June 2004.

Most general noise complaints originate from urban areas and have a number of different causes. Figure 6.2illustrates some of these causes. Only 9 of the 67 noise complaints received by Council relate to rural issues. Rural noise complaints generally relate to the operation of farm machinery and associated activities.

Figure 6.2 Complaints, Noise Figure 2.1 - Complaints, Noise Mus ic /Par ties Commercial/Industrial 6% 11% Vehicles/Motor bikes 3% Animals/Poultry Building/Construction 4% 2% Pumps - Airconditioners, w ater heaters, pools 7% Alarms 1% Miscellaneous - Urban 6%

Agricultural Mac hiner y 6% Barking Dogs 54%

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As the urban areas within the Shire become larger and more densely populated, it could be assumed that the total number of complaints will increase.

Aircraft Noise

Generally, aircraft noise is a minor issue as Ballina Airport has relatively light aircraft traffic. The following shows the location of the area identified, as defined by noise contour modelling, in Development Control Plan No. 4 – Airport Aircraft Noise Footprint as being potentially impacted by noise generated from aircraft activities.

Figure 6.3 Ballina Airport Noise Footprint

Highway noise and pollution – Alstonville and Ballina

Residents of both Alstonville and Ballina have expressed concern regarding the increasing levels of traffic congestion and associated noise from vehicles on the Bruxner and Pacific Highways for an extended period. These concerns have increased with the opening of the Yelgun to Chinderah upgrade of the Pacific Highway. These concerns have resulted in requests for a bypass at Alstonville and Ballina.

On the Pacific Highway itself, Council figures showed an 18-fold increase in (B-double) traffic using the highway following the northern upgrade. This upgrade has resulted in faster travelling times between Sydney and Brisbane. A 20% increase in the overall number of heavy vehicles travelling on the Pacific Highway has been recorded (pers.com.P.O’Keefe 2004). For further information on this issue, see the Environmental Snapshot.

A final issue is the increase in traffic during holiday season, travelling to and through Ballina Shire. Extended traffic delays and congestion are experienced by residents and visitors to Ballina and Alstonville during school holidays which impacts on noise and air quality in the respective locales.

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Industries licensed to pollute air and noise

The Environment Protection Authority (now part of the Department of Environment and Conservation) licenses industries that are deemed to cause pollution, to ensure that this occurs within acceptable limits under the POEO Act 1997. An example of an industry that may cause air or noise issues is a quarry where blasting or excavation can be noisy, and truck movements to and from the site can cause disruption to local residents. There are five quarries licensed by the EPA in Ballina Shire, and they are able to operate within strict time parameters, to limit noise to nearby residents. Other factors such as runoff and disposal of wastes are also included in the licence.

The potential for disturbance to residential neighbourhoods is one reason that Industrial Zones are used as a planning instrument. Constant traffic movements, goods loading and noise cause nuisance in residential areas. Industrial zones allow these activities to take place within an area where like activities are taking place.

Building and construction of homes in residential areas are also regulated to limit noise pollution to neighbours, particularly during times when it might be expected that the neighbourhood would be quiet. Certain noise activities cannot occur before 7am in the morning or after 6pm in the evening or on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, where they are audible in neighbouring homes.

3. Method of travel to work

Although not all travel is for work purposes in Ballina Shire, a review of how people get to work can provide an indication of the reliance on private motor vehicle transport and what affect this might have on air quality as the population grows.

Table 6.2 Transport Methods

Method of travel to work Total Persons Proportion of those who travelled to work Public transport 102 0.8% Motor vehicle (as driver) 8893 73.1% Motor vehicle (as passenger) 986 8.1% Bicycle 245 2% Walked 574 4.7% Other 242 1.9% Worked from home 1118 9.1% Total 12160 (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Census Data, 2001).

Most people travel to work via motor vehicle, and some travel significant distances to work as shown below. It is likely that where the population remains heavily reliant on motor vehicles as the primary means of travel, whether to work or for pleasure, that air pollution will become a more significant issue particularly for those living adjacent to transport routes.

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Source: (Northern Rivers Regional Profile, 2001)

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6.4 State Of Our Atmosphere

1. Climate

Our climate is classified as subtropical with no distinctive dry season although we do have fewer rainy days in winter (Koeppen Classification System). The subtropical summer is very humid and very warm.

Our average annual daily temperature is 23.3 degrees Celsius. The warmest summer month is January with an average daily temperature of 27.1 degrees Celsius, whereas the coldest month, July, has a mild daily temperature of 18.5 degrees, with relatively cool nights (9.7oC). The hottest recorded temperature of 40.7oC was recorded in the month of November and the lowest recorded temperature was recorded in July at 2.7oC (BOM 2002).

Relative humidity ranges from a high of 81 per cent in February to a low of 63 per cent in September. Rainfall is strongly seasonal with approximately 60 per cent of the annual average rainfall (of 1860.9mm) falling in the months of January to May. March is traditionally the wettest month with 283.7mm and September the driest with 52.4mm. The average annual evaporation is 1574.5mm (BOM 2002).

Figure 6.4 Climate Averages in Ballina Shire

30 300

25 250

20 200

15 150

10 100 Temperature (Deg. C) Mean Monthly Rainfall (mm) 5 50

0 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Mean mont hly rainf all - mm 177.6 234.3 283.7 196.8 198.6 151.5 91.9 73 52.4 108.3 132.2 160.6

Mean daily max t emperat ure - deg 27.1 26.4 25.8 23.9 21.2 18.7 18.5 19.9 22.2 23.9 25.3 26.7 C

Mean daily min t emperat ure - deg 19.4 19.2 18.2 15.8 13.4 10.6 9.7 10.5 12.5 14.7 16.4 18.2 C

(Source: BOM 2003)

2. Climate Change

CSIRO have estimated that the earth as warmed by up to 0.8°C since 1900, and it is thought that this is largely due to the increase in emissions contributing to greenhouse gases. They also consider that Australia as a continent will be getting drier over the next seventy years.

Most of this change has been human-induced (anthropogenic) in nature, and it is generally accepted in scientific communities that greenhouse gas and sulfate aerosol emissions are the cause for the accelerated changes that are

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Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report being experienced. Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are among the highest per capita within the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). countries. Since 1990, energy emissions from power stations and transport increased markedly. Waste and agriculture also experienced some increase in emissions, although this was not as significant.

Across Australia, industry has worked hard to reduce its emissions as a whole, with a decline of over 14% in greenhouse gases to 2000, relative to 1990 emissions. This is mainly due to a large fall in harmful emissions from aluminium smelting as a result of technological improvements in that industry. Land use change and forestry emissions declined over 55% to the year 2000, relative to 1990 emissions. This may be partly due to a change of accounting for emissions, however it also reflects forestry plantings and efforts to regenerate native bushland.

However, for society as a whole, emissions have increased since 1990. As a result of these increases in greenhouse gases, the phenomenon known as global warming is expected to increase average temperatures in our region by about 2°C by 2030 and by about 6°C in 2070. Across Australia, this will be accompanied by sea level rise of approximately 8cm per decade. It is uncertain whether rainfall will increase or decrease, but rainfall events are expected to be more extreme in nature.

Globally, during the 20th century, global mean surface temperatures increased by around 0.6° C, while the global mean sea level rose at an average rate of 1-2mm per year. There have been more hot days and fewer cold days during this time, heavy rainfall has become more common, and the frequency and severity of droughts has increased. In places, snow cover and ice extent have decreased, growing seasons have lengthened, and plants and animals have changed their patterns of breeding, migration and habitat.

These trends are likely to continue during the 21st century. The globally averaged surface temperature is projected to increase by 1.4 to 5.8°C, with the rate of warming very likely to be without precedent during at least the last 10,000 years. Increased carbon dioxide concentrations and sea level rise are also projected, as are increases in climate variability and extreme weather events.

These changes to the climate will have both beneficial and adverse impacts, but the aggregate picture is negative, and the greater the level of greenhouse gas emissions, the more severe the adverse effects will be. Climate change will increase threats to human health for example, through heat stress, loss of life in floods and storms, deterioration of air quality and increased spread of disease. Water shortages will be exacerbated in many of parts of the world, and the quality of fresh water degraded. Food production will be impacted, with food prices likely to rise while availability and quality falls.

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6.5 Response To These Pressures

1. Backyard Burning Policy

Council has a Backyard Burning policy that is applied in order to protect our urban air quality. It is designed to protect residents from pollution resulting from backyard burning, such as smoke and odour. It is particularly relevant in urban areas due to the closely settled nature of these areas.

For garden waste, residents are instead encouraged to dispose of garden waste at the Ballina Waste Recovery Facility, where the material is mulched and sold in various grades as a landscaping product.

2. Responding to Noise and Air Complaints

Council responds to all noise and air complaints received, except for those related to cane burning and EPA Scheduled Premises, and attempts to find a timely and workable solution. Where agreement cannot be reached, Council authorised officers will take regulatory action utilising powers under the Protection of the Environment (Operations) Act (1997). This may take the form of serving of notices or, as a last resort, issuing of fines.

In order to avoid conflicts arising in the first instance, Council’s Environmental Health Officers comment on proposed development applications on a range of issues. For developments likely to be affected by or generate noise in excess of nominated noise guidelines a noise impact assessment is required to be contacted by trained and accredited acoustic consultants. These are in turn reviewed, with the aim of providing an outcome where noise does not become the subject of conflict.

In 2004, 91 development applications were reviewed for potential noise or other environmental impacts not related to flora and fauna by Environmental Health Officers. Forty of these applications required further information so that any potential impacts could be fully assessed and appropriate conditions imposed on development consent.

3. Northern Rivers Farmland Protection Project (NRFP)

Originally facilitated by the former PlanningNSW, the NRFP project aims to protect the state’s important agricultural lands from urban encroachment.

The project comprises delineating agricultural areas of state, regional and local significance and imposing restrictions on what development may occur there. A key component of the project is the provision of a mapping system that identifies and protects key agricultural land, providing certainty to farmers and agricultural producers. Urban development will be restricted in or adjacent to these areas, therefore reducing the potential for rural and urban interface conflicts.

The mapping was recently on exhibition and comments are currently being compiled.

Council staff have expressed concerns relating to the consistency and transparency of the application of planning principles used within the process.

4. Amount of Green Power purchased by the Community

Unfortunately Country Energy was unable to supply information on the amount of green power purchased by Ballina Shire residents except at a considerable cost. It is hoped to be able to provide this information to the community in future.

5. Alternative Transport Methods

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Cycleways and Shared Footpaths

Across Ballina Shire, there is about 22 kilometres of cycleways and shared footpaths within towns and villages. Generally there is reasonable pedestrian and bicycle access to the main shopping centres and recreational facilities in each urban centre, although linkages between these facilities and Ballina and other centres such as Lennox Head and Alstonville are yet to be finalised.

Public Transport

Public transport in the form of buses and taxis is available. However, only 100 people in Ballina Shire use public transport to get to work. Whether this reflects a preference for more flexibility in travel times or difficulties in accessing workplaces or home from public transport is unknown.

However, it appears that public transport is more widely used amongst those who do not work and utilise buses and taxis for shopping and recreational activities.

Transport has been identified in community consultations for Council’s Social and Community Plan as requiring more attention in terms of its affordability. At the time of writing, the full bus fare to Lismore from Ballina was $11.10 for a one way trip.

6. Mitigation of Traffic and Highway Noise

North Pacific Highway Noise Taskforce

The taskforce was established in February 2003, by the Minister for Roads, in response to the community concerns regarding the substantial increase in traffic noise on the Pacific Highway.

The taskforce, made up of representatives from local councils, industry and community groups, and government agencies, met to develop strategies to address the problem and make recommendations to the Minister.

As at October 2003, the strategies for areas affected by noise in Ballina Shire are categorised as follows:-

Table 6.3 North Pacific Highway Noise Taskforce Strategy

Location Short-term Strategy Long-term Strategy Newrybar/Knockrow/Tintenbar Noise monitoring and consultation with community. Investigate design and effectiveness of noise wall to protect Newrybar village and school, as requested by local community. Sunnycrest Lane Rest Area Limit usage to light vehicles only and Review location and facilities as part of investigate cost effectiveness of a noise the Pacific Highway Rest Area strategy. wall. Ballina (north) Review speed limit/placement of signs. Pacific Highway bypass of Ballina. Ballina (central) Work with local traffic committee on Pacific Highway bypass of Ballina. short-term traffic management options.

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Ballina (south) Speed limit/placement of signs. Pacific Highway bypass of Ballina. Wardell Investigate advisory signs for engine brake noise. Further investigation of mechanical solutions for reducing noise from older bridge joints. Investigate measures to reduce noise from vehicle rest area.

Alstonville Bypass

The NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is proposing to construct a 6.6 kilometre bypass of the Bruxner Highway at Alstonville. The bypass will commence at Sneaths Road, Wollongbar and rejoin the highway near the Tropical Fruit Research Station at Perrys Hill, east of Alstonville.

The project was approved by the Minister for Planning on 27 February 2003 and funding has recently been committed.

Ballina Bypass

The approved Ballina Bypass is currently in the detailed planning stages. It is anticipated that a 12.4km dual carriageway will bypass the Ballina township. There are significant environmental issues to be addressed in the construction of the Bypass including the close proximity of SEPP 14 wetlands to the preferred route.

7. Co-generation Plant – Broadwater Mill

Sunshine Electricity, a joint venture between Delta Electricity and the NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative, are proposing to develop a co-generation plant adjacent to the Broadwater Sugar Mill. The proposed co-generation plant will run on a continuous basis using biomass fuels comprising bagasse and cane leaves. Currently, bagasse is burned as a fuel in the sugar mill boilers and cane leaves are burnt in the fields.

There will be air quality gains for Ballina and surrounding Shires as cane burning is progressively reduced and ultimately eliminated. Cane ash is a common sight during the cane firing season in Ballina Shire. Since the biomass fuels will be burnt to produce electricity, there will be a net reduction in greenhouse gas production from cane burning and a reduction in the amount of traditional fuels usually burnt to produce energy.

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6.6 More Information

The Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly the Environment Protection Authority) publishes air and noise complaints made to that department on its SOEdirect website. This can be accessed at http://soedirect.nsw.gov.au/app/index.jsp. Information about other local government areas and their State of the Environment reports can also be accessed from this site.

The DEC also holds licensing information about industries 'licensed to pollute' at the Public Register at http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/prpoeo/index.htm. Searches can be made by industry, by local government area, and by license number. Information about any breaches of the license conditions are publicly available here also.

Council documents are available from www.ballina.nsw.gov.au by following the links to Forms and Publications.

More detailed information about weather and climate, as well as potential for climate change, was obtained for this report from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) at http://www.csiro.gov.au/index.asp?type=division&id=Atmospheric%20Research&st yle=division.

The Northern Rivers Farmland Protection project details are available at www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au.

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6.7 References

Australian Greenhouse Office (2000). National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1999-2000. Fact Sheets 1 to 6.

Australian Greenhouse Office (2001). Greenhouse News Summer 2001. Available online. http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/ago/newsletter/summer2001/climate_change.html. Accessed 12/4/04 . Ballina Shire Council (2003). Facts and Figures.

Ballina Shire Council (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003). State of the Environment Report 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003.

Ballina Shire Council – Environmental Health Team. Statistics and information prepared for the 2004 State of the Environment Report.

Bureau of Meterology (2002). The Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change. Available online. http://www.bom.gov.au/info/GreenhouseEffectAndClimateChange.pdf. Accessed 22/4/04.

CSIRO (2001). Climate Change – Projections for Australia. Climate Impact Group, CSIRO Atmospheric Research, Melbourne, 8pp. Brochure available on website. www.dar.csiro.au/publications/projections2001.pdf. Accessed online 6/4/04.

CSIRO (2001). Climate Change – Impacts for Australia. Climate Impact Group, CSIRO Atmospheric Research, Melbourne, 8pp. Brochure available on website. www.marine.csiro.au/iawg/impacts2001.pdf. Accessed online 6/4/04.

Morand, D.T. (1994) Soil Landscapes of the Lismore-Ballina 1:100 000 Sheet Report, Soil Conservation Service of NSW, Sydney. (Now Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources).

Morand, D.T. (1994) Soil Landscapes of the Lismore-Ballina 1:100 000 Sheet Map, Soil Conservation Service of NSW, Sydney. (Now Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources).

NSW EPA (2004) Noise Guide for Local Government. http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/noise/nglg.htm.

NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative Limited. Letter dated 7 July 2004 providing information on SoE.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2004). Key Environmental Indicators 2004. Available online. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/32/20/31558547.pdf. Accessed 13/7/04 . Roads and Traffic Authority (2003). Northern Pacific Highway Noise Taskforce Report. Table reproduced from Executive Summary.

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Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report Appendix F Climate according to the Koeppen classification system

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Climate according to the Koeppen classification system

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Ballina Shire Council State of Environment Report 7 Natural and Cultural Heritage

7.1 Introduction

Immediately prior to European settlement the Ballina area was originally inhabited by the Bundjalung tribe, whose territory extended from Broken Head in the north to Jerusalem Creek in the south and inland to the former edge of the rainforest. Relics and places of significance are important cultural assets to the Aborigine people. They reveal a great deal of information regarding the history of Aboriginal occupation, their traditions and the general characteristics of the area. Since European settlement, land use activities and settlement patterns have further contributed to the cultural landscape of the Shire.

The distinct landforms within the Shire, these being the coastline, lowlands, escarpment and plateau provide an attractive natural setting. The Ballina to Lennox Head coastal strip and the red soil plateau, in particular, have unique qualities of landscape and cultural value.

Generally, discussion about natural heritage issues has occurred in the Biodiversity chapter. If you would like more information about natural heritage, the Biodiversity chapter of this Report will provide that information. For consistency with the State of the Environment report for other Northern Rivers local government areas, the natural heritage indicator “area and percent of land protection for conservation purposes” is reported here.

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7.2 Trends At A Glance

Table 7.1 Trends

Indicator 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Hectares under conservation 1441 1441 1441 2058 2058 2058 management Hectares zoned Environmental 12311 12440 12442 12442 12478 12478 Protection Aboriginal Sites Known - - - 87 169 173

Local Heritage Significance– no. of 52 54 54 54 56 56 items listed

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7.3 Pressures On Our Heritage

Overview of pressures

Heritage, both natural and cultural, can be a difficult concept to quantify. It is not always a simple matter to assess the importance of an item or stand of vegetation in a way that is equally appreciated by the whole community.

Demolition or damage of heritage items is the most obvious manner in which cultural heritage is affected, but unsympathetic redevelopment or adjoining development can be just as devastating over time.

The community’s concept of heritage changes over time also, so that items must be continuously assessed against a contemporary viewpoint.

Regional indicators

Number of heritage items demolished

1. Number of Heritage Items Demolished

In the four years to 30 June 2004, Council did not receive any applications to demolish an item listed on Schedule 1 of the Ballina Local Environmental Plan 1987 (the LEP). An application to demolish an item proposed for listing at Wardell was received and at the time of writing this application was still being assessed.

2. Unsympathetic development adjacent to heritage items

The items listed on Schedule 1 of our LEP (as well as many others) help all residents of the Shire, both old and new, to appreciate the history and heritage of the area.

Unsympathetic development adjacent to a heritage item or redevelopment of an existing item may compromise the long-term ability of the community to appreciate the place of that item in the history of the Shire. A number of developments have occurred in Ballina which could be considered by some to be unsympathetic to adjacent heritage items. These include the shopfronts on the corner of River and Martin Streets, opposite the Courthouse and associated buildings. The scale and colour of the development are a stark contrast to the heritage listed Courthouse complex.

Clause 19 of Council’s LEP requires that any development within 60 metres of an Item of Environmental Heritage (or heritage item) must consider the effect of the proposed development on the heritage item. This clause is designed to provide for Council with the opportunity to consider the potential affect of such development on a heritage item. The development need not necessarily be in a ‘heritage style’, but should not detract from the setting of the heritage item.

3. Feral plants and animals

Invasion of weeds and feral animals changes the natural balance of a system, and may generally be said, over time, to lower its diversity as many weed species are favoured by the changes in moisture and nutrient regimes that have occurred especially in urbanised areas. Others, such as camphor laurel, will quite happily exist as a monoculture.

These plants and animals prevent us from fully appreciating an area for its natural qualities. Many of our weeds and feral animals have become ‘naturalised’, and are therefore very difficult to eradicate. This issue is discussed in more detail in the Biodiversity Section 4 of this Report.

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4. Clearing of vegetation

Five of the forest ecosystem types occurring in Ballina Shire and which mainly occur on the Upper North Coast have been greater than 60% cleared. This includes the Big Scrub, which has been more than 99% cleared. Approximately one-third of the remaining area of the Big Scrub occurs in Ballina Shire in nature reserves or in Lumley Park at Alstonville.

Many examples of rare and endangered forest ecosystems occur on privately held land, which increases the complexity of management. Clearing of native vegetation is not permitted anywhere within Ballina Shire without development consent and approval may also be required from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources under the Native Vegetation Act (2003).

Any clearing in areas zoned Environmental Protection under Council’s LEP require development consent, even where a Weeds Order or similar exists. Clearing of weeds should be undertaken appropriately as there may be other environmental considerations which need to be taken into account. These include the possibility for increased erosion and sedimentation,negative impacts on visual amenity and the habitat of rare and endangered species.

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7.4 State Of Our Heritage

Regional indicators

Number and nature of listed heritage sites, structures and landscapes

1. Number and nature of listed heritage sites, structures and landscapes

There are many different mechanisms for which items may be listed as being of heritage value. These may vary due to the significance of the item, that is whether the item is locally or regionally significant or of State significance. Buildings and man-made items may be listed differently to natural heritage items.

The following presents those items or landscapes listed on the various registers holding details of items of heritage significance.

The Australian Heritage Commission compiles this Register. It contains more than 13 000 places that have been nominated as culturally or naturally important, and worth keeping for the future.

The following items have been listed on the Register of the National Estate.

Alstonville Post Office Ballina Courthouse Ballina Nature Reserve (1977 Boundary) Ballina Post Office (and group of buildings) Brockley Scrub No. 2 (Bruxner Highway, W’bar) Brundah, including surrounds Buckombil Scrub (Meerschaum Vale) Coolgardie Scrub Dalwood Scrub Davis Scrub Nature Reserve Duck Creek Scrub Indigenous Place , Ballina x 2, and Lennox Head Killen Falls Lennox Head Littoral Rainforest Lumley Park Scrub Maguires Creek Scrub Meerschaum Vale Scrub Richmond River Lighthouse Tuckean Nature Reserve Uralba Nature Reserve and Uralba Scrub Victoria Park Nature Reserve Willowbank Scrub Wollongbar Scrub

A number of items have also been nominated but not processed as yet. These include:-

Broken Head and adjacent areas CBC Bank, Alstonville Federal Hotel, Alstonville Government Official’s residence, Wardell House, 13 Perry Street, Alstonville House, 54 Richmond Street, Wardell House, 54 Swift Street, Ballina Royal Hotel, Wardell Shaws Bay Hotel, Ballina St Barnabas Anglican Church, Wardell St Bartholomews Anglican Church, Alstonville St Patricks Catholic Church group, Wardell

Not of all of the items above are reflected in the NSW Heritage Register or included as an Item of Environmental Heritage listed on Ballina Shire’s Local Environmental Plan. The nomination process for these items is via a nomination form which can be completed by anyone in the community. The former Australian Heritage Commission then undertakes an assessment and public exhibition process before the item is finally listed on the Register.

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Listing on the Register places a responsibility on the Commonwealth Government to consider its action in relation to an item. It has no implications for owners of items, and it is not a statutory listing in the same way that a local or state heritage listing is. Where a state heritage listed item requires consultation with the NSW Heritage Office when submitting a development application, there is no such requirement for items listed on the Register of the National Estate.

NSW State Heritage Register

The State Heritage Register is a register of places and items of particular importance to the people of NSW. The State Heritage Register lists a diverse range of places, buildings and objects including Aboriginal places, buildings, gardens and natural landscapes.

Listing on the State Heritage Register means that the heritage item:

is of particular importance to the people of NSW and enriches our understanding of our history and identity; is legally protected as a heritage item under the NSW Heritage Act; requires approval from the Heritage Council of NSW for major changes; and is eligible for financial incentives.

There are only two items in Ballina Shire on the State Heritage Register at present. They are:

Brundah

Built in 1908, Brundah is a federation style home with the originally established garden largely intact. It is located in Norton Street, Ballina and is currently used as four-star Bed and Breakfast.

High Conservation Value Old Growth Forest

This vegetation community is listed for fifteen local government areas on the North Coast. In Ballina it refers to vegetation found in Uralba Nature Reserve. The old growth forest is “ecologically mature eucalypt forest showing few signs of human disturbance. The upper canopy trees are no longer growing in height or spreading their crowns and show signs of old age.”

Items of Regional Significance

These items are listed on the North Coast Regional Environmental Plan as items that are significant to the history and development of the North Coast region. The two items listed as being of regional significance within Ballina Shire are:

Richmond River Lighthouse

The Richmond River Lighthouse was built in 1879, to replace a temporary light was first established in 1866 to guide ships into the river port at the mouth of the river which is now East Ballina. It was designed by James Barnet and built by Alison and Perry.

Fenwick House, Shaws Bay

Fenwick House is a large, privately-owned, two-storey late Victorian house built in 1886. The overall form of the house, which overlooks Shaw's Bay and the mouth of the Richmond River, is still apparent although much of the veranda roof and detailing has been replaced. Semi-detached outbuildings have been substantially altered. Some interiors are very intact and have elaborately detailed joinery. The gardens no longer exist.

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The villa is important for its association with the early development of the area and a prominent businessman, Captain Tom Fenwick. It is a good example of a large Victorian residence of the period.

Brundah is also listed as being of regional importance but it has previously been described under the areas of State significance.

Items of Local Significance

The following Table provides a breakdown on the number and nature of items of environmental heritage identified in Schedule 1 of the Ballina Local Environmental Plan, 1987.

Table 7.2 Items of Environmental Heritage Identified in the Ballina LEP, 1987

NATURE OF ITEM NO. OF ITEMS Item of Aboriginal origin/significance 23 Items of built heritage significance 21 Items of social significance 4 Items of maritime significance 3 Items of natural significance 1 Total Items Of Environmental Heritage 52

There are currently 52 items of environmental heritage listed in Schedule 1 of the Ballina LEP. Twenty-three of these items are of Aboriginal origin or significance. Twenty-one items listed are of built heritage significance. Most of these items are of local significance generally linked to the growth and development of the Ballina Shire, and the activities and industries that were once important parts of the community, its economy, its recreation and its spiritual life.

The recently completed Wardell Heritage Study nominated a number of new sites for inclusion on Schedule 1 as Items of Environmental Heritage. Subject to owner’s permission, these will be included in early 2005.

National Trust

In 2001, the National Trust listed Fenwick House as an Endangered Place. Overpage is the entry made on the website for the listing.

Shaws Bay, by virtue of its location, has a long history in the story of how Ballina was settled and subsequently developed. Documentation of this long history may be found in the Shaws Bay Heritage Study, which was compiled by Council in 2002. Captain Tom Fenwick built Fenwick House in 1886 on the shores of the Bay. The area in which it was built is a desirable location today, for living, for recreation and for tourism. Inevitably this brings some conflict between the different landuses that have developed over time in the area, such as the Shaws Bay Caravan Park. Consultation with the owners of Fenwick House as well as Council’s Heritage Advisor have been a feature of mooted changes to the Caravan Park in the vicinity of Fenwick House itself.

The example below illustrates the management issues that can arise when different landuses are present in close proximity.

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Fenwick House, Ballina

The following is an excerpt from the National Trust website as at 8 July 2004.

The villa is important for its association with the early development of the area and a prominent businessman, Captain Tom Fenwick. It is a good example of a large Victorian residence of the period.

In recent times the curtilage of Fenwick House has been compromised by the building of a hotel and units which have both been constructed within the Council approved limit. The house's curtilage is further threatened by the Ballina Council's proposal to upgrade the nearby caravan park.

Threat: Nominated by the Shaw's Bay Heritage Group, and supported by the National Trust of New South Wales, the nomination raises several concerns about public access to the heritage place being curtailed (by virtue of the caravan park upgrading), and the importance of maintaining curtilage to ensure that the heritage values and the aesthetics of a place are not compromised

Outcome: Remains under threat

Although Ballina Council has commissioned a heritage survey of the whole Shaw's Bay area, including the disputed curtilage, the Shaw's Bay Heritage Group continues to advocate strongly for the curtilage to be preserved for public use.

2 Land protected for conservation purposes

Although a large percentage of Ballina Shire is zoned for Environmental Protection purposes, this indicator relates to the way in which land is actually managed. Area under conservation management are managed differently to land that is thought of as Open Space or Crown Land.

Areas managed privately for conservation purposes are discussed in the Biodiversity Chapter of this Report under Land for Wildlife and Landcare.

The Department of Environment and Conservation (National Parks) manage approximately 1221.9 Ha of land for conservation purposes in the following nature reserves:

Tuckean Nature Reserve Little Pimlico Island Victoria Park Nature Reserve Uralba Nature Reserve Richmond River Nature Reserve South Ballina Beach Nature Reserve Davis Scrub Nature Reserve Ballina Nature Reserve

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3 Aboriginal Heritage

The following information is held by the Department of Environment and Conservation (National Parks) as part of that departments’ responsibilities in assisting Aboriginal communities to manage spiritual, cultural and natural heritage sites.

Table 7.3 Listed Aboriginal Sites under Schedule 1, Ballina LEP

Site Feature Number Aboriginal Resource and Gathering - Aboriginal Ceremony and Dreaming 1 Art (Pigment or Engraved) - Artefact 81 Burial 6 Ceremonial Ring (Stone or Earth) 3 Conflict - Earth Mound 38 Fish Trap - Grinding Groove - Habitation Structure - Hearth - Non-Human Bone and Organic Material - Ochre Quarry - Potential Archaeological Deposit (PAD) - Shell 43 Stone Arrangement - Stone Quarry 1 Modified Tree (Carved or Scarred) - Water Hole - Total 173

Only 29 sites important to Aboriginal people are listed on the Schedule 1 of the LEP as Items of Environmental Heritage. Information as the location and importance of sites is not necessarily readily available either to Council or the general community due to the sensitive nature of many of these sites.

During the year ended 30 June 2004, one licence was issued to alter, destroy or damage an Aboriginal site under the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974). These licences are required for works which could impact on Aboriginal Heritage either positively or negatively. Licences are required not only for activities which may destroy or damage objects or places, but for conservation works or relocation of Aboriginal heritage objects.

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7.5 Response To These Pressures

1. Wardell Community Based Heritage Study

During 2003, the Wardell community in partnership with Council, undertook the Wardell Community Based Heritage Study. This study is the first of its kind in Ballina Shire, although it is not the first time that the community has taken a lead role in identifying Items of Environmental Heritage.

The study drew on a small number of committed people in the Wardell and district area who had an interest in heritage. They held a public meeting in May in the Wardell and District War Memorial Hall to explain the process and ask for feedback. The list of items nominated were then carefully researched and the draft Heritage Study exhibited.

After the final document was completed, the nominated items were exhibited for formal inclusion in Council’s Local Environmental Plan as Items of Environmental Heritage.

2. Federal Hotel Interim Heritage Order

An Interim Heritage Order (IHO) was placed on the Federal Hotel in Alstonville in 2002 by the NSW Heritage Office in response to community concerns about a development application that was with Council at that time. The IHO provides a twelve month period for an assessment to be made of the cultural heritage significance of a site, as well as time for the NSW Heritage Office to negotiate a different outcome.

The order has since lapsed, and the NSW Heritage Office has been unable to advise on the current situation with the Hotel.

3. Heritage Week

Heritage Week is an annual celebration of heritage in Australia endorsed by the National Trust. Council and the community formed partnerships in 2003 to present a range of events for Heritage Week that would encompass the natural and cultural heritage of Ballina Shire.

2003 saw a week long calendar of events. The Norton Street Heritage Trail brochure was launched at Riversleigh restaurant and guided walks of Norton Street, Ballina held for most of the day. Heritage walks were also held in Alstonville. Tours of Father Mac’s Heavenly Puddings were available for those keen to inspect.

Natural heritage was also highlighted with an early morning birdwatching walk held at East Ballina and a guided walk around Black Head. A tour of Lumley Park, featuring a Big Scrub remnant was also held.

The final event for 2003 was the community launch of the book “Ringing the Bell Backwards – Memories of Early North Creek and Lennox Head” compiled by Hilary Wilson.

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Each of these events was organised and run with community volunteers, and each was very well attended. The book launch for Lennox Head was attended by approximately 150 people who stayed for afternoon tea and general discussion.

Again in 2004, community efforts saw the very successful “A Stone upon a Stone” drystone walls exhibition come to Ballina. The Lennox Head Heritage Sub-Committee applied for a grant for this nationally touring exhibition to visit to Ballina for Heritage Week, and a local business consortium representing the Ramada Apartment Hotel kindly hosted the exhibition in a vacant shopfront space.

Waiting for the presentation to begin The panel produced for the Richmond River District featuring Mr Joe Henderson

4. BuNSEP Project

The Bundjalung Nation Stormwater Education Project (BuNSEP) worked collaboratively with Bundjalung communities to develop and deliver culturally appropriate stormwater awareness and education over eighteen months in 2002 and 2003.

The project worked with Aboriginal Elders in communities across the Bundjalung Nation to identify ways in which to increase awareness about stormwater issues in those communities. The project team used a number of ways to promote stormwater issues, including the Bundjalung River Rap, a school education kit, a young people’s video project and drain and gutter stenciling.

Posters, caps and t-shirts developed by Aboriginal people were handed out at various events – such as the Cabbage Tree Island Rugby League Football Club Memorial Dick Roberts and Tim Rhodes Rugby League Knockout Competition in 2002.

The program had great success in involving young Aboriginal people and Elders in working together to discuss and address stormwater awareness in their communities.

5. Weeds

The Far North Coast Weeds Authority (FNCW) conducted 754 inspections in Ballina Shire in 2001/2002and 532 inspections in Ballina Shire in 2002/2003.

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In 2002 six new plants were proposed for declaration as W2 noxious weeds. These plants were Broadleafed Pepper, Chinese Elm, Yellow Bells (or Tecoma), Honey Locust, Thorny Poinciana and Chinese Tallow. Thorny Poinciana is particularly a problem around Uralba.

During 2003, the Broadleafed Pepper and Chinese Elm (also known as Chinese Celtis) were declared W2 noxious weeds.

The FNCW Authority has developed the NSW North Coast Weeds Strategy, to combat the spread of environmental weeds in the region. For more information on the effect of weeds, see the Biodiversity Section 4 of this Report.

6. Prosecuting Illegal Land Clearing

Council has, on a number of recent occasions, taken legal action against landholders, where there has been clear evidence of illegal land clearing having occurred.

It is hoped that such actions will reduce illegal land clearing activities, and promote better understanding of Council’s role in development assessment and protection of the environment.

7. Recreational Fishing Haven Declared

NSW Fisheries declared a Recreational Fishing Haven during the year ending 30 June 2002, downstream of the Burns Point Ferry. This process was achieved through the buy-out of commercial fishing licenses operating in the Richmond Estuary. The estuary is now open only to recreational fishers.

Penalties are severe for those caught breaching the Recreational Fishing Haven rules. NSW Fisheries advise that a North Coast commercial fisher caught fishing in the new recreational fishing haven on the Tweed River was fined $6000. This is the first case of illegal commercial fishing in a haven since 30 were created along the NSW coast.

8. Environmental Expertise in Council

Ballina Shire Council increased its expertise in management of natural areas by the employment of two new specialist positions during 2001/2002 as well as employing a co-ordinator for the Land for Wildlife program.

Council also has an informal staff Environment Network that meets on an as needs basis to discuss environmental issues and make cross department connections.

9. Heritage Committee

The role of Council’s former Heritage Committee is “to identify, preserve and conserve, and promote the natural indigenous, cultural and built heritage of Ballina Shire Council.”

The role of the committee included assisting Council to develop policies and strategies, identify and advise Council regarding opportunities for heritage funding, and advise Council on matters referred to the Heritage Committee by Council.

Action taken and matters discussed by the Heritage Committee since 2000 include:

Funding obtained for a Heritage Advisor and Local Heritage Fund for Ballina Shire; Develop Heritage Week programs for 2003 and 2004; Support development of interpretative signage for various cultural heritage sites; Identify areas of historical importance for attention by Council staff;

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Development of the Norton Street Heritage Trail; Support for a regional approach to heritage matters in the Northern Rivers; and Support for the development of a display panel for the Drystone Walls exhibition.

Following a review of Council Committee structures (as required by the Local Government Act, 1993, after each local government election), three Committees now replace the previously existing 33 Committees. These three Committees now deal with Community Planning, Works and Services and Finance and Business. Heritage issues will fall within the jurisdiction of the Community Planning Committee which is able to appoint short-term working parties on particular issues or alternatively, where a need is identified, appoint a Special Interest Group to address a particular aspect of planning.

10. Appointment of a Heritage Advisor

Council retains the services of a Heritage Advisor on a monthly basis to provide Council and community with advice and support in heritage matters.

This role includes assisting with development applications by providing advice both to the applicant and to Council staff. More strategic initiatives include the assessment of applicants for the Local Heritage Fund and helping community groups with restoration projects (such as Crawford House).

In the 2004/05 financial year, Council voted to expand this position to two days per week to provide a greater focus on natural and cultural heritage issues.

11. Aboriginal Community Development and Liaison Officer

The Aboriginal Community Development and Liaison Officer (ACLO) assists to facilitate and improve relationships between the Aboriginal community and the general community and assists the Aboriginal community to access available services.

The ACLO consults with the JALI LALC Heritage and Culture Committee, the Aboriginal Interagency and the Native Title Claimant Group regarding Aboriginal Heritage. He also works with young Aboriginal people to increase access to recreational and educational opportunities.

In 2002, Ballina hosted the Local Government Aboriginal Network conference “Delivering Solutions – The Road Ahead”.

The ACLO has encouraged Aboriginal representation on the Coastal Committee, Rural Bush Fire Committee and the Local Government Aboriginal Network Conference Committee.

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7.6 References

Australian Heritage Database. http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl. Accessed 8 July 2004.

Ballina Shire Council (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003). State of the Environment Report 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003.

Ballina Shire Council Local Environmental Plan, November 2003.

Bundjalung Stormwater Education Program (2003). Final Report.

Department of Environment and Conservation (2004). Information supplied for State of the Environment Report.

Far North Coast Weeds Authority (2002, 2003). Information supplied for the State of the Environment Report.

NSW Heritage Office website. www.heritage.nsw.gov.au. Accessed 8 July 2004.

NSW Fisheries (2004). Information supplied for the State of the Environment Report.

National Trust (2001). Endangered Places Listing. Available online. http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/nattrustweb/ep%20report01nsw.htm. Accessed 14 April 2004.

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8.1 Conclusion

The 2004 State of the Environment Report for Ballina Shire highlights the sheer volume of work that has been undertaken on environmental issues over the past four years.

This work is undertaken by the local community, by Ballina Shire Council and by State and Federal Government. Local people, either as volunteers or as paid workers, undertake much of the on-ground work. They may be farmers implementing new drainage management schemes, volunteers removing weeds from local bushland or environmental health officers enforcing erosion and sediment control on building sites. They may be extension officers with State government agencies providing information about acid sulfate soils, landholders planting corridors of native species or planners delineating new environmental protection zones.

The expertise that is available locally is invaluable in managing issues as diverse as water quality, vegetation or beach erosion. The mechanisms by which this local expertise and effort is applied may change from year to year, but it is the concerted effort of community and government working together that has achieved so much already. Where these efforts continue, we can be sure to see even greater environmental outcomes in the next Comprehensive State of the Environment Report for Ballina Shire.

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