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LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY
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DUNGOG SHIRE COUNCIL AREA
December, 2001 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council
For many years, this Shire has been struggling with inadequate planning regulations that have been overtaken by increased development pressures and legislation. This situation has created difficulties for Council and the community, and there is an urgent need for a new Shire Wide Local Environment Plan (LEP) to control development in this Shire for many years to come.
Negotiations with the NSW Department of Urban Affairs and Planning endorsed Council intentions to produce an Issues Paper and a Local Environment Study before developing a Draft LEP. To begin this process, rural planning workshops were held throughout the Shire to seek input from the community before producing the Issues Paper, which was widely circulated.
This Draft Local Environmental Study, which has been compiled by Council Staff and Consultants, is an extensive analysis of existing information regarding natural resources, land use patterns and development pressures within the Shire. It will be placed on exhibition for public cormnent and will be followed up by another round of public workshops.
The Issues Paper and the Local Environment Study will assist Council in forming the basis for a Draft LEP, which will also be subject to a process of public consultation. Council is seeking the maximum community participation in this process and welcomes your input.
S.T.Low AM MAYOR
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Acknowledgements
The Dungog Local Environmental Study has been prepared by Dungog Shire Council and provides clear links to its 2000 State of the Environment Report. Council extends its appreciation to the many community members and Government Departments, for their co- operation and input into the workshops and the provision of data and information, as well as to Hunter Development Brokerage Pty Ltd (Kerry Nichols, Monica Gibson and Jennifer Nichols) for their valued work. All mapping has been produced from information supplied by Dungog Shire Council and Government Departments. Jt& I anager - Planning DUNGOG SHIRE COUNCII 14th December, 2001
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1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 13
1.1 Location and Description...... 14
1.2 History ...... 15
1.2.1 Indigenous History...... 15 1.2.2 Settlement History ...... 16 1.2.2.1 Dungog ...... 16 1.2.2.2 Clarence Town ...... 17 1.2.2.3 Paterson ...... 18 1.2.2.4 Gresford ...... 18 1.2.2.5 Vacy...... 19 1.2.2.6 Martins Creek ...... 20 1.2.2.7 Gostwyck...... 20
2.0 STUDY OBJECTIVES ...... 21
3.0 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ...... 22
3.1. Climate...... 22 3.1.1. Temperature ...... 22 3.1.2. Rainfall and Evaporation...... 22 3.1.3. Wind...... 24 3.1.4. Severe Weather Conditions ...... 24
3.2. Topography...... 25
3.3. Geology...... 26 3.3.1. General Geology...... 26 3.3.2. Mineral Resources ...... 26 3.3.2.1. Metallic Minerals ...... 27 3.3.2.2. Coal and Petroleum Resources ...... 27 3.3.2.3. Construction Materials...... 28 3.3.2.3.1. Construction Sand ...... 28 3.3.2.3.2. Hard Rock...... 29 3.3.2.4. Zeolifes ...... 29
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3.3.2.5. Sapphires ...... 29 3.3.2.6. Limestone ...... 30
3.4. Soils ...... 30
3.5. Hydrology ...... 31 3.5.1. Water Quality...... 33 3.5.1.1. Williams River...... 33 3.5.1.2. Allyn River ...... 35 3.5.1.3. Paterson River ...... 35 3.5.2. Water Usage...... 36
3.5.2.1. Potable Water Supply...... 37 3.5.2.2. Agricultural Water Usage...... 39 3.5.2.3. Recreational Usage ...... 40 3.5.2.4. Environmental Flows ...... 40 3.5.3. Groundwater Resources ...... 41
3.6. Land Usage ...... 42 3.6.1. Agricultural Land Suitability ...... 44 3.6.2. Riparian Quality ...... 46. 3.6.3. Existing Land Zonings ...... 47
3.7. Environment Protection Areas...... 47 3.7.1. Protected Wetlands ...... 48 3.7.2. Water Catchment Areas ...... 48 3.7.3. State Environmental Planning Policy No. 44- Koala Habitat ...... 49 3.7.4. National Parks, State Forests and Reserves...... 50
3.8. Flora...... 51 3.8.1. Riparian Flora ...... 54 3.8.2. Noxious Flora...... 56
3.9. Fauna...... 57 3.9.1. Threatened Fauna ...... 57 3.9.2. Introduced Fauna...... 59
3.10. Atmospheric Environment ...... 59 3.10.1. Noise ...... 59 3.10.2. Odour ...... 61
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3.10.3. Dust...... 61 3.10.4. Air Quality...... 61
3.11. Economic Environment...... 62 3.11.1. Agricultural Economy ...... 63 3.11.1.1. Dairy Industry...... 66 3.11.1.2. Poultry Industry ...... 67 3.11.1.3. Beef Industry ...... 68 3.11.2. Industrial Development ...... 69 3.11.3. Tourism Industry ...... 70 3.11.3.1. Activities and attractions ...... 71 3.11.3.2. Accommodation ...... 72
3.12. Heritage...... 73 3.12.1. European Heritage...... 73 3.12.2. Aboriginal Heritage...... 74
4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS...... 75
4.1. Land Degradation...... 75 4.1.1. Soil Erosion...... 75 4.1.2. Soil Salinity ...... 77 4.1.3. Land Stability ...... 77 4.1.4. Land Contamination...... 78 4.1.5. Acid Sulfate Soils...... 78
4.2. Flooding ...... 80
4.3. Buhfl,- ...... 81
4.4. Waste Disposal...... 82
4.5. Loss of Biodiversity ...... 84
5.0 DEMOGRApHICS ...... 86
5.1. Population ...... 86
5.2. Age Structure ...... 89
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5.3. Household and Family Structure ...... 91 5.3.1. Vehicle Summary...... 92
5.4. Workforce Structure ...... 92 5.4.1. Education structure...... 95
5.5. Social Structure...... 96
6.0 LAND USE DEMAND ...... 98
6.1. Real Estate Trends...... 98
6.2. Demand for land within the towns and villages of Dungog Shire ...... 98
6.3. Demand for Rural Residential land...... 99
6.4. Industrial land...... 100
6.5. Commercial/and ...... 101
7.0 INFRASTRUCTURE ...... 102
7.1. Water Supply...... 102 7.1.1. Tillegra Dam proposal...... 103
7.2. Storm water Infrastructure...... 104
7.3. Sewerage Infrastructure...... 105 7.3.1. On-Site Sewerage Management ...... 105
7.4. Rail Infrastructure...... 107
7.5. Road Network ...... 107
7.6. Recreational Facilities ...... 109
7.7. Community Facilities ...... 11-i 7.7.1. Disabled Facilities...... 112
7.8. Health and Aged Care Facilities...... 113
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8.0 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK ...... 114
8.1. Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 ...... 114 8.1.1. State Environmental Planning Policies ...... 115
8.2. Regional Environmental Plans...... 115 8.2.1. Hunter Regional Environmental Plan...... 115 8.2.2. Hunter Regional Environmental Plan (Heritage) ...... 116 8.2.3. Williams River Catchment Regional Environmental Plan ...... 116
8.3. Dungog Local Environmental Plan, 1990...... 118 8.3.1. Dungog Council Development Control Plans ...... 118
8.4. Dungog Council Strategic Planning Documents...... 120
8.5. Proposed Changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 120
9.0 PUBLIC CONSULTATION ...... 122
9.1. Dungog Local Environmental Study Workshops...... 122
10.0 FINDINGS ...... 124
11.0 RURAL SETTLEMENT STRATEGY ...... 132
11.1. introduction ...... 132 11.1.1. Aims Of The Strategies ...... 133 11.1.2. Community Involvement...... 133
11.2. Supply And Demand...... 134 11.2.1. Adjoining Council Areas ...... 135 11.2.2. Type of Land ...... 136
11.3. Issues Summaty ...... 137 11.3.1. Environmental Issues ...... 137 11.3.2. Social Issues ...... 138 11.3.3. Economic Issues For Further Development...... 140 11.3.4. Road Infrastructures - Roads and Transports...... 140
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11.3.5. InfrastructureCosts ...... 141 11.3.6. Agriculture ...... 142
11.4. Strategy...... 142
12.0 REFERENCES...... 145
Appendix A Wind Roses Appendix B Quarries in Dungog Shire Appendix C Williams River Catchment Regional Planning Strategy- Environmental Planning BMP
Appendix D Williams River Catchment Regional Planning Strategy- Land Use Action Implementation Appendix E Water Quality Testing Results Appendix F Declared Noxious Weeds for Dungog Shire Council Appendix G Current Heritage Items Appendix H Revised Heritage Items Appendix I State Environmental Planning Policies Applicable to Dungog Shire Appendix J Issues Paper; Dungog Local Environmental Study
Plan1 Shire Location ...... 14
Plan 2 Mineral Resources and Exploration Titles...... 27
Plan3 Paterson Water Supply...... 38
Plan 4 Clarence Town Water Supply...... 38
Plan 5 Gresford/ East Gresford Water Supply ...... 38
Plan 6 Dungog Service Supply...... 38
Plan 7 Chichester Catchment Area...... 48
Plan 8 Williams River Catchment Area ...... 48
Plan 9 State Forests and National Parks...... 51
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Plan 10 Clarence Town Acid Sulfate Soils ...... 79
Plan 11 Potential Acid Sulfate Soils...... 79
Plan 12 Flooding in the Williams River...... 81
Plan13 Bushfjre Potential ...... 81
Plan 14 Tillegra Dam Proposal Site...... 103
Plan 15 Proposed Clarence Town Sewerage Scheme ...... 105
Figure 1. Average daily temperature, Dungog Shire 22 Figure 2. Monthly rainfall- Dungog Shire 23 Figure 3. Mean daily evaporation Dungog Shire, Tocal College 24 Figure 4. Age Pyramid for Dungog LGA and NSW, 1996 89
Table 1. Water extraction licensing, Dungog Shire 39 Table 2. State Forests, Dungog Shire 50 Table 3. Vegetation cover, Dungog Shire 53 Table 4. Threatened flora species, Dungog Shire 54 Table 5. Threatened fauna species, Dungog Shire 57 Table 6. Agricultural statistics, Dungog Shire, 1990- 1996 64 Table 7. Tourism statistics, Dungog Shire, 1994-1995 70 Table 8. Aboriginal sites within the Dungog Shire 74 Table 9. Number of bushflres by type, Dungog Shire 1999-2000 82 Table 10. Area affected by bushfire by type of land, Dungog Shire 1999-2000 82 Table 11. Dungog projected population 1996- 2011 86 Table 12. Population change, Dungog Shire 1995-1 996 86 Table 13. Population change, Hunter Region 1993-1 999 87 Table 14. Population distribution, Dungog Shire planning districts, 1971 -1 996 87 Table 15. Population age structure, planning districts, 1991 90 Table 16. Population age structure, planning districts, 1996 90 Table 17. Population age structure change, planning districts, 1991-1996 91 Table 18. Vehicle registrations, Dungog Shire, 1997 and 1999 92 Table 19. Unemployment rates, Dungog Shire and NSW total, 1996 93 Table 20. Employment by occupation, Dungog Shire and NSW 94
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Table 21. Employment by industry, Dungog Shire
Table 22. Enrolment figures, Dungog Shire, 1996-2001 96 Table 23. Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, Dungog Shire, 1986-1996 97 Table 24. Drinking water supplied from Chichester Dam, 1997-2000 102 Table 25. AADT for main roads in Dungog Shire, 1984- 1998 109
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ANACRONyMS
AADT Annual Average Daily Traffic ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics AEP Annual Exceedance Probability AHD Australian Height Datum BMP Best Management Principles BREP Business Retention and Employment Program DA development application DCP development control plan DLWC NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation DUAP NSW Department of Urban Affairs and Planning EPA NSW Environment Protection Authority EPA Act Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ESD Ecologically Sustainable Development ha hectares HWC Hunter Water Corporation km kilometres LEP Local Environmental Plan LES Local Environmental Study LGA Local Government Area Ml megalitre NP National Park NPWS NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service PS Public School REP Regional Environmental Plan RTA NSW Roads and Traffic Authority SEPP State Environmental Planning Policy SoE State of the Environment Report TCM Total Catchment Management TSC Act Threatened Species Conservation Act 1997 tS/ cm micro Siemens per centimeter (at 25°C)
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Shire of Dungog is part of the Lower Hunter Sub-Region. It adjoins Great Lakes Shire to the east, Singleton Shire to the west, Scone Shire to the northwest, Gloucester Shire to the north and Port Stephens Shire and the City of Maitland to the south.
Dungog Local Government Area is 2,265.33km2 and extends from alluvial flats and undulating country in the south, to mountainous and rugged terrain in the north, where the Great Dividing Range, and the Barrington Tops border the LGA.
The Shire has two main rivers, the Williams on the east and the Paterson on the west. Both traverse the Shire in a general northwest to southeast direction. The Shire is mostly delineated to the east and west by the catchment limits of the Williams and Paterson Rivers. Other rivers having their catchment areas in the shire include the Allyn River in the west and Chichester and Wangat Rivers in the east.
Road access within the Shire is largely determined by topography with linkages to the New England Highway and the Pacific Highway through Gresford, Dungog and the Bucketts Way. The main North Coast rail line runs north- south through the Shire.
Approximately 45% of the Shire's area comprises forest and woodland with only 0.1% being urban land. Within the wooded areas of the Shire, 22% is State Forest or National Park property.
Dungog Shire is predominately an agricultural area. The Paterson and Allyn River valleys and the Clarence Town and Dungog Hills have been extensively cleared and are used for dairy farming along the lower reaches and for beef production in steeper areas. Forestry operations are concentrated to the north but are not as widespread throughout the Shire as they once were. Increasingly, rural residential and rural farmiets are encroaching into traditional grazing areas. Tourism as an alternative economic base to agriculture is increasing, with features such as the natural mountain topography and wilderness areas attracting many tourists.
Over recent years the Dungog Shire has experienced a steady increase in population in the southern part of the Shire. This is considered in part, to be due to its proximity to Newcastle and Maitland and also because of the quality and range of rural allotments available. The villages of Paterson and Clarence Town provide the focus for much of this recent growth, which is in part due to the availability of small rural lots. The supply of rural residential lots in
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these areas has been restricted by the need to investigate the overall impact of this type of development, before approving further subdivision or rezoning applications.
The demand for rural residential lifestyle lots has a significant impact on service provision and the use of resources. Rural residential lots can use valuable agricultural land, reducing the amount of productive crop and grazing land from the Shire. The residents of rural residential lots often expect a similar provision of services to the urban counterparts, using more water resources and creating the need for sewerage servicing at high cost to Council.
The Dungog Local Environmental Plan has served the Shire since 1990 and is in urgent need of review. The following document examines the existing environment, development trends and pressures, which will underpin a review of the local planning instrument.
Future choices and directions can be best examined with a full understanding of the present position and an awareness of the opportunities and constraints. Through this informed decision-making process, a more achievable and ultimately more beneficial and prosperous sustainable future can be planned.
1.1 Location and Description
The Shire of Dungog is part of the Hunter Region, located in central east New South Wales. Within the Hunter Region, Dungog Shire classed within Lower Hunter Sub-
Region. The Shire covers an area of 2,265 km2 and adjoins the Local Government Areas of Great Lakes Shire to the east, Singleton Shire to the west, Scone Shire to the northwest, Gloucester Shire to the north and Port Stephen Shire and the City of
Maitland to the south. The location of the shire and its neighbours are detailed in Plan 1.
The administration centre for the Shire is located in Dungog, which is approximately 50km by road from Maitland, 80km from Newcastle and 230km from Sydney.
For planning purposes, the Local Government Area (LGA) is divided into two planning districts created by the catchments of the Paterson and Williams Rivers. Previously there were four planning districts centred on the major villages of Dungog, Clarence Town, Gresford and Paterson. These areas were reduced in number with the advent of the Section 94 Contributions Plan 2001.
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Each planning district includes a town and villages together with the surrounding rural localities, which look to the town centre for basic services. It is notable that all settlements are located in the southern half of the LGA. In the north of the shire settlements are sparse, as the terrain becomes mountainous. Many areas in the north are therefore comparatively isolated. Throughout the LGA there are numerous farming communities distributed between the flat fertile plains and the rugged mountains. The location of the two planning districts and major villages and towns in the shire are shown in Plan 1.
1.2 History
1.2.1 Indigenous Histoty
Aboriginal people occupied Dungog Shire about 40,000 years before European settlement. Historians indicate that at the time of white settlement Aboriginal people were present in 'relatively large' numbers in the Paterson and Williams River valleys. Dungog is an aboriginal name, meaning place of thinly wooded hills.
It is believed that the people inhabiting the Paterson and Williams River valleys belonged to the Gringai Tribe. The Gringai people formed part of the Wanaruah Tribe, who were the original inhabitants of the Allyn River district near Dungog.
The earliest anecdotal reports of the Shire's indigenous population date from 1801 and are supplied by the early explorers on the rivers. Subsequent observations of settlers referring to indigenous hunting practices, customs and corrobores can be found as late as the 1840's. The Gringai people traditionally migrated to Barrington Tops in the summertime. It is apparent that close habitation and bartering relationships existed between the indigenous people and white settlers, however, European diseases, punitive action and the effects of dispossession led to a rapid breakdown of the indigenous society. The influx of white people had a devastating effect on the local indigenous population and the last of the Gringai Tribe died in 1905 (Dungog Shire Council, Community Profile, 1999).
Aboriginal history for the Dungog area is generally sparse and incomplete.
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Catchment Boundary SCALE 1 :250000 Gloucester 3000 0 3000 6000 9000 12000 Metres
Maps prepared by Hunter Development Brokerage Pty. Ltd. Maps compiled from information supplied by Dungog Shire Council
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1.2.2 Settlement Histoty
Settlement of the Shire occurred around the four main towns of Dungog, Gresford, Paterson and Clarence Town and is examined as follows.
1.2.2.1 Dungog
European settlement of the Dungog area occurred in the early 1800's. The first white men in the area were thought to be searching for lost stock. Timber getters attracted by the magnificent cedar trees in the area's hills followed.
The settlement, which grew up on the banks of the Williams River, was originally called Upper Williams and was situated 14 miles upstream from Clarence Town, which was the head of navigation.
The first land grant in the Dungog area was to Mr. Mackay in 1824. A parcel of land was granted to Mr. James Dowling, north of Dungog in 1828. This was followed by grants to the Hook's, Chapman's, Wyndier's and Verge's. In 1934 Captain Thomas Cook JP was invested as magistrate and suggested that the village be given a distinctive name: Dungog.
After a short period of white settlement, various crops were grown in the area including wheat, corn and tobacco and the Dungog district became well known for its timber and dairy products. This reflected the Hunter Valley's broad trend toward livestock and fodder production in the late 1800's to the early 1900's. Before 1888 Dungog was a very poor settlement. The Census of 1857 indicated that Dungog village had 25 houses and a population of 126 people. By 1861 the population had grown to 458 people.
Dungog's prosperity increased and the Dungog Coop Dairy Company was formed in 1905. By the year 1909, the Dungog area was serviced with a telephone network. Electricity followed in 1917. The railway reached Dungog in 1911.
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During the late 1920's depression period, many people worked on roads and other civic projects. A high level of road development and public infrastructure works resulted and the Chichester Dam was completed in 1923. In 1958, the Shire of Dungog was formed and the municipality amalgamated with Wallarobba Shire. Since then, Dungog has continued as the major service centre for the LGA and is the base for a large number of local government area-wide services.
1.2.2.2 Clarence Town
The area which became known, as Clarence Town was first settled by white settlers following the visit of Lieutenant Colonel Paterson, who traveled up the river now known as the Williams from its junction with the Hunter River at Raymond Terrance in 1801. The area was originally known as Erringhi however the name was changed to Clarence Town in 1826.
The first settlement was around the area where the Depiford Shipyard was established. The Clarence Town ship building industry quickly began to grow as timber in the area was plentiful and of good quality. The first ocean-going steamship to be built in Australia was built at Clarence Town. This was the William IV (Dungog Shire Council, Community Profile, 1999).
Even though life centred on the river in many ways, the undulating country and abundance of flat land along the river proved ideal for dairy farming, fodder production and grazing. The earliest economic activity in the Clarence Town area was cedar cutting, performed with convict labour from 1801. In 1826, a tobacco factory and tannery were operating and by early 1830 the boat-building yard had commenced operation. Clarence Town post office opened in 1838 and in 1839 the town had 18 houses and a population of 93 people. By 1863 the village boasted a population of 300.
The importance of Clarence Town as a transport centre declined once the railway was established in the early 1900's. Dairy and
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livestock production became the main economic activities and through the 1900's Clarence Town retained this focus boosted by timber cutting in the surrounding forests.
1.2.2.3 Paterson
In 1801, Lieutenant Colonel William Paterson first surveyed the area along what is now known as the Paterson River. First settlers to the area were cedar cutters, who started settlement along the Paterson in 1812. The settlement was built and then mainly inhabited by convicts. In 1821, free settlers moved into the area and paved the way for further development. Paterson soon became a port and service centre.
Although Paterson was the Hunter Region's third town site to be surveyed (after Newcastle and Maitland) it was not proclaimed until 1823. Paterson developed rapidly due to its importance as a port. Produce was transported from the fertile Paterson Valley to Newcastle, mostly in form of citrus fruits, tobacco, grains, grapes and wine.
Shipbuilding became prominent with two yards being established, however, river trade declined in the 1850's as the road to Maitland was improved. The town continued to develop in spite of this, outgrowing it original surveyed site. Timber mills were established in the Paterson area in the 1870's. In the 1890's the building of the North Coast Railway further reduced the importance of the river trade and even though the railway eventually linked Paterson with Dungog, it brought few benefits to the town. Throughout the 1900's, agriculture became the major economic activity in the Paterson area. In 1914, the nearby village of Martins Creek grew with the advent of the railway and the opening of the blue metal quarry nearby.
1.2.2.4 Gresford
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It is likely that Gresford came into being as a result of further exploration along the Paterson River upstream from where the township of Paterson had been established.
Early settlers to receive large land grants in the area included such well-known names as Boydell, Townsend and Park.
Some of the early crops were wheat, corn, turnips, tobacco, grapes and other fruit. A jam factory was established in Trevallyn. The layouts of the towns of Gresford and East Gresford have been substantially preserved and little development has occurred outside their original boundaries.
1.2.2.5 Vacy
Vacy became a private town when the Cory family estate was constructed in 1824. It existed in this fashion until its subdivision and sale in 1927.
Vacy was a convement stop- over point for travelers between Gresford and Paterson and an Inn operated in 1859. The Coiy family established the first church, school and post office.
The population of Vacy continued to expand from 1850 - 1900. During this time a blacksmith, bakery, butcher, general store, cattle sale yard, slaughter yard, tobacco factory, arrowroot factory and creamery was established.
The town's only hotel was established on the old road leading to the low-level bridge on the Gresford side, prior to the new bridge being constructed in 1898. In 1927 the town was sold in 50 lots, including homes, shops, the hotel, dairy farms and orchards.
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1.2.2.6 Martins Creek
The village of Martins Creek was named after Edward Martin who settled on the Paterson River near its junction with Martins Creek in 1851. Other settlers, who soon filled the surrounding land, followed Martin. Most settlers were on smaller allotments and were of modest means. Settlers engaged in a variety of agricultural pursuits. The railway passed through Martins Creek in 1908, considerably altering the fortunes of the village. State and private acite (blue metal) quarries opened in 1913 to provide ballast for the railway and later for roads and other construction. At their peak of production the quarry employed 100 men.
1.2.2.7 Gostwyck
The locality now known as Gostwyck was one of the earliest estate developments in the Paterson District, taken up by Edward Gostwyck Cory in 1823. Cory established vineyards, tobacco, wheat plantations, a flourmill and bloodstock on the property, with the river being used to transport grains and flour to Raymond Terrace and Morpeth. A timber mill replaced the flourmill in the late 1820's and the estate was subdivided in 1902, after which a butter and ice cream factory were established. By 1927, after the factory's closure, Gostwyck vanished from road maps.
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20 STUDY OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are to prepare a document based on available information to: -
Enable the assessment of physical, social and economic characteristics of urban and rural environments of the Shire;
Assist Council to formulate appropriate aim, objectives and strategies for a Draft Local Environmental Plan;
Identify areas for further investigation to service residential and rural residential demand that reduces conflict between adjoining land uses; and + Provide a reference document for use by Council and others.
The study will form the basis for the preparation of the Draft Local Environmental Plan to guide future development of the Shire.
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3.0 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT
3.1. Climate
3.1.1. Temperature
Due to the range of altitudes, climates and topographies within the Shire, an average shire-wide set of data cannot be produced to accurately show the daily temperatures within the Shire.
Instead, mean daily maximum and minimum temperatures for Lostock Dam (near Gresford) and Tocal Agricultural College is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Average daily temperature, Dungog Shire Generally, Dungog Shire has the highest maximum daily temperatures in December and January, with the coldest daily minimum in July and August.
3.1.2. Rainfall and Evaporation
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Rainfall in the Shire is variable, with an annual average rainfall of 1500mm being recorded in the northern portions of the Barrington Tops. At Lostock Dam, the average annual precipitation is 961.4mm. At Tocal, annual rainfall is 91 7.5mm. Generally the lowest annual rainfall occurs in the central valley around Dungog where the influences of the coast and the highlands are absent (Williams River Total Catchment Management Study, 1996).
Figure 2. Monthly rainfall- Dungog Shire
There is no marked seasonal rainfall pattern in the Shire although maximum falls occur in summer with a secondary peak in June as detailed in Figure 2. Winter rains are produced by temperate weather patterns while summer and autumn rains are the result of tropical low- pressure cells moving south. Storms are most likely to occur on summer afternoons, thus increasing the summer rainfall and the intensity of this precipitation (Williams River TOM Study- Water Quality, 1996).
Evaporation recorded at Tocal Agricultural College shows an average daily pan evaporation of 4.4mm, with the highest evaporation occurring between November- February and the lowest evaporation between May- August.
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E 8 57 >E 7 6 . '-4
c1 > w J F M A M J JASON D Month
Figure 3. Mean daily evaporation Dungog Shire, Tocal College.
3.1.3. Wind
Records for Tocal Agricultural College indicate that the area experiences calm breezes in the morning from variable directions. In the afternoon the winds are much stronger and come from the southeast, except in winter when the winds are more gentle and generally come from the west.
The shire infrequently experiences strong winds of 40-50 km/h (average 23.5 days/ yr.) or gales of 630 75 km/h (average 4.8 days! yr.). These weather conditions are most likely to occur between June and September.
Wind roses showing the average wind speed and direction are included in Appendix A.
3.1.4. Severe Weather Conditions
Snow and sleet annually affect a small area of the Shire. These forms of precipitation are limited to high altitude areas in the Barrington Tops National Park and surrounds, in areas above 915 metres AHO. The amount of precipitation in the form of snow is negligible in these areas due to the high rainfall experienced.
The definition of drought depends upon individual perception and the local environment. A drought exists when rainfall is insufficient for normal farming practices to be conducted (NSW Agriculture, 2001).
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Droughts in the Dungog area generally occur for periods of several years. The most severe droughts have occurred in 1980/91, 1965/66 and 1940/42, with other significant dry spells in 1932, 1936, 1983 and 1987 (Williams River Total Catchmcnt Managcmcnt Study, 1993).
3.2. Topography
The Dungog LGA extends from alluvial flats and undulating country in the south to mountainous and rugged terrain in the north where it is bordered by the Great Dividing Range via the Barrington Top Ranges and escarpment.
Three river valleys; the Williams, Allyn and Paterson control the topography of the Shire. The Williams and Paterson Rivers are major tributaries of the Hunter River. In its upper reaches the Williams River splits into the Upper Williams, the Chichester and the Wangat Rivers, while the Paterson River meets the Allyn River at the village of Vacy.
The land rises from rolling to hilly country at an altitude of about 1OmAHD in the south, to the rugged Barrington Tops at an altitude of about 1 ,500m in the north. The western border of the Shire is defined by the Mount Royal Range, which runs south from the Barrington Tops and the Moonibung Range in the far south. To the east, the Black Bulga Range and Iron Stone Mountain define the border.
An extensive spur line to the Barrington Tops, the Williams and the Wallarobba Ranges form a major barrier between the Williams and Paterson River valleys. The Williams River widens more than the Paterson River in its lower reaches into a broad valley stretching from Dungog to Clarence Town.
HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 25 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council
3.3. Geology
3.3.1. General Geology
Dungog Council area falls within what has been classed as the northeastern mountain sub-region of the Hunter Valley. The geology of the Dungog area is extremely complex mainly due to the structural complexity of the area (Henderson, 2000).
The northeastern mountains consist of tertiary basalt with some inter-bedding sediments overlaying undifferentiated carboniferous sediments which consists predominately of silt stone, sandstone and chert, interspersed with tuffs, conglomerate and limestone. The rocks are strongly folded and faults are frequent. Much of the country has extremely thin, stony soils (Dungog Shire Council, State of the Environment Report 2000).
The tertiary basalts are now restricted to the Barrington Tops area, as erosion has reduced the capping which was thought to have once spread across the northern half of the Hunter Valley area. Some of the basalt erosion was drained into the Williams and Chichester Rivers and deposited as riverbed sediments (Roberts eta!, 1991).
No areas within the Dungog Shire are within a proclaimed Mine Subsidence District, as confirmed by the Mine Subsidence Board.
3.3.2. Mineral Resources
Dungog LGA has a relatively diverse assemblage of mineral occurrences, including gold, zeolites, limestone and sapphires. It also has a significant resource of hard rock aggregate at Martins Creek and extensive occurrences of rock, including the limestone occurrences that are suitable for use as unprocessed construction materials.
Dungog LGA appears to be devoid of coal or petroleum resources, and there is no known potential for gold and sapphire deposits of commercial significance. Although rocks in the area are known to contain zeolite, the commercial occurrences of this material in Dungog LGA have yet to be found.
H DB\\Master\c\Myoocumenfs\oungog Local Environmental Plan 26 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council
However, the promotion of fossicking for gold and sapphires as a tourist activity along streams in the northern part of Dungog LGA, towards the Barrington Tops National Park, should be considered.
Three petroleum exploration titles exist in the Dungog Shire. The locations of these are detailed on Plan 2. The exploration titles extend over a broad area, to allow for regional variation that may affect the investigation of the presence of any petroleum resources. Exploration titles have very limited effects on the land to which they apply. They generally do not restrict development.
Plan 2 also shows an area affected by section 117 directions under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The areas affected by the directions extend over the Martins Creek quarry and protects the mineral resources within the quarry from other land uses. The protection afforded by Section 117 of the EPA Act is required as some land uses may render the resource unviable to extract. These land uses include residential development (noise, traffic complaints), some agricultural activities or environment protection areas.
3.3.2.1. Metallic Minerals
Dungog LGA has moderate potential in the eastern half for small deposits of vein-hosted gold, which represent the southern portion of more extensive gold occurrences to the north. They occur along bedding planes between rock or as discordant veins located along prominent faults or shear zones. Minor amounts of silver in association with base metals have been reported at the Mt Nelson deposit. Much of the area of potential for small occurrences of gold is now in the Barrington Tops National Park, though there may be some opportunity for gold panning by visitors along streams in the area.
Reported occurrences of ironstone in the southeastern part of Dungog LGA have no known economic potential.
3.3.2.2. Coal and Petroleum Resources
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152 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council
Although the southern part of Dungog LGA is partly cover by petroleum exploration licences, the potential for petroleum as well as coal resources of commercial interest in Dungog LGA is considered to be negligible.
3.3.2.3. Construction Materials
The locations of construction minerals within the Dungog Shire are shown in Plan 2. Appendix B lists all known quarries in the Dungog Shire in 1995. Further research is required to establish if these quarries comply with current planning instruments. These quarries mostly operate to service the local market, providing road construction material or other gravels for local construction works.
3.3.2.3.1. Construction Sand
There is no recorded production of construction sand currently occurring in the area covered by Dungog LGA. Moderately large amounts of river sand of unknown suitability for construction purposes such as concrete manufacture and as fill material are associated with the major rivers draining the area. The potential of these rivers to supply gravel is unknown.
There may be some potential for the extraction of small amounts of sand from these locations, however there are large amounts of construction sand at Stockton Bight in Port Stephens and in nearby local government areas that would be closer to markets and have lower prices.
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3.3.2.3.2. Hard Rock
State Rail Authority operates the only hard rock quarry in Dungog LGA. At Martins Creek, almost 400,000 tonnes of ignimbrite rock of high strength and high durability has been extracted annually in recent years for use as railway ballast. Although reserves available to this quarry are unknown, sufficient quantities of rock appear to be available for at least five to ten years at current production rates. Large resources of the type of hard rock extracted at this quarry occur in this part of Dungog LGA.
Therefore, there is significant potential for the long-term extraction of hard rock in this area to remain viable.
3.3.2.4. Zeolites
Zeolites are crystalline hard hydrated alumino-silicates that can be used in agricultural applications and water treatment, owing to their unique mixture of properties that include cation exchange and the ability to absorb gases and water. Reconnaissance sampling of carboniferous ashfall tuffs in the area towards Clarence Town has confirmed their potential to host zeolite deposits, though commercial occurrences have yet to be found.
3.3.2.5. Sapphires
Good-quality sapphires have been found in alluvial deposits in the creeks draining Barrington Tops and Gloucester Tops. The southern part of these areas occurs in the Dungog LGA. The sapphires are generally only several millimeters across, which reduces the potential for large-scale mining. Though the Barrington Tops National Park covers much of the area of the potential, sapphire fossicking could be promoted as tourist activity.
HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\Duflgog Local Environmental Plan 29 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council
3.3.2.6. Limestone
Many deposits of limestone occur in the Dungog-Gloucester area. Limestone is used as an aggregate in construction and building and as a primary raw material in cement manufacture, agriculture, metal refining, quicklime production and in glass manufacture. In Dungog LGA, limestone deposits range in size from the large Bingleburra deposits to smaller occurrences of little commercial interest. One deposit, the Lewinsbrook Limestone Deposit, is a minor source of road base. The Bingleburra Limestone deposits contain about 12 million tonnes of limestone of variable quality. The large thickness of overburden, the thinly bedded nature of the limestone and the variable and generally impure nature of the limestone render it uneconomic at present, except for use perhaps as road base or as fill material.
3.4. Soils
The soils of the Dungog area are generally derived from their carboniferous sedimentary parent material. Throughout the area, the soils have a frequent occurrence of high-level acidity and low fertility. Soil landscapes in the mountainous and hilly areas generally tend to be highly erodible. There are several areas where the soils present a high level of limitation to regular cultivation, urban development and grazing. The Wangat soil landscape in the Clarence Town Hills, Gresford Hills and
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Barrington-Chichester Mountains is highly unsuitable for grazing, urban development and regular cultivation.
Mass movement of soil triggered by wet weather has been observed particularly on steep lands to the west of the Williams River catchment and to the east between Seaham and Bandon Grove. Erodible soils contribute to the turbidity of streams by adding sediments to the water. They are also not suitable for onsite effluent disposal, due to their relatively low permeability rates.
F5 Era dibility, high level acidity, low permeability and low fertility are common features of soil landscapes in the Shire.These features constrain grazing, urban development and regular cultivation.
3.5. Hydrology
There are two main water catchments in the Dungog Shire Area; the Williams River Catchment dominated by the Williams River and the Paterson/Allyn Catchment dominated by two rivers, the Paterson and the Allyn Rivers as detailed in Plan 1.
Rising in the Barrington Tops National Park and flowing south to meet the Hunter River estuary at Raymond Terrance, the Williams River together with its major tributary, the Chichester River, drains a catchment approximately 131,200 hectares in size. The Williams River catchment is one of the most studied catchments in NSW and there is an extensive planning framework in place. This catchment is the major source of drinkable water for the urban centers of the Lower Hunter, including Maitland, Cessnock, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and part of Port Stephens. Water is supplied from Chichester Dam in the upper catchment and from Grahamstown Storage Reservoir (Williams River Catchment Regional Environmental Study, 1996).
Under the provisions of the Clean Waters Regulation 1972 administered by the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, the Williams River is classified as Class P- Protected Waters. This restricts the wastes that can be discharged into the Williams River, limiting the level of physical and chemical pollutants.
The Shire of Dungog makes up a significant proportion of the Williams River Catchment. Total Catchment Management (TCM) is very significant to the residents of
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the Dungog Shire, with the Williams River TOM committee formed in 1990 as a subcommittee of the Hunter Oatchment Management Trust. Dungog Shire Oouncil continues to participate in the Williams River TOM Oommittee. The Williams River TOM Strategy and the Williams River Oatchmerit REP provide the principles, goals and objectives to guide the implementation of strategies and actions in the Williams River catchment.
The aims and objectives of the strategy are to:
Halt and reverse the decline in water quality in the Williams River catchment, Develop procedures for sustainable long-term management of the catchment, Develop policies and actions to better manage the impacts of existing development and land management practices, Establish principles to guide future development, 000rdinate programs and actions including community-based action, Oomplement the Williams River Catchment REP.
In order to implement the aims and objectives of the Williams River catchment regional planning strategy, the Best Management Principles should be complied with, to ensure the development of best practice notes for the Williams River catchment. The BMPs applicable to environmental planning, which are to be considered during the preparation of any local environmental plan and during assessment of a development application are reproduced in Appendix C.
Actions to implement the land use improvements for the Williams River catchment are detailed in Appendix D. These actions consider land use planning issues such as on- site effluent disposal, rural residential development, sediment and erosion control, and catchment-based planning.
The Paterson River, together with the Williams River, is a significant estuarine tributary of the Hunter River. Lostock Dam is situated on the Paterson River near the village ot Salisbury. Below Lostock Dam, the Paterson River is a major regulated river, until its confluence with the Hunter River (EPA, 2001).
Rivers are affected to some degree by land-use practices along the catchment. The impact of flooding on Dungog Shire forms a constraint to its future development.
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A proposed major water supply facility to service Newcastle and the Lower Hunter has been proposed for the Tillegra district, north of Dungog. This facility is unlikely to be constructed within the next thirty years, however land purchases by the Hunter Water Corporation are currently underway.
The proposed scheme calls for a major dam to be constructed on the Williams River about 5 kms upstream of its junction with the Chichester River. The dam site at Tillegra has been identified since at least the 1940s. However the need for the dam is dependent on the demand for water and advances in treatment and reuse technology.
3.5.1. Water Quality 3.5.1.1. Williams River
The Hunter Water Corporation and the Department of Land and Water Conservation have conducted long-term water quality monitoring at three key sites along the main channel of the Williams River for a number of years. These sites are the Tillegra Dam site, Glen William Bridge and Boags Hill at Seaham. According to the Dungog Shire Council's State of the Environment Report 2000, conclusions can be drawn that the water quality of the Williams River is generally good. Elevated phosphorus and nitrogen levels, particularly during runoff events continue however to provide favourable nutrient conditions in the lower river for the development of algal blooms (including cyanobacteria) occurring when other environmental conditions are favourable (i.e. low flow, warm and calm conditions).
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Bacteriological quality of the river is typically suitable for most purposes, except for direct human consumption. Periodic high levels tend to be recorded after rain, presumably arising from catchment runoff into the river. Direct human consumption is not recommended without some form of treatment including filtration and disinfection. Infrequent detection of giardia and cryptosporidium was also recorded during 1999/2000.
While phosphorus and nitrogen no longer show statistically significant improvement since 1987, coliform levels show a slight improvement. This trend is associated with higher flows in the Williams River over the past couple of years. Higher flows have also prevented any significant algal blooms (Hunter Water Corporation, Water Quality of the Williams River Report 1999/2000).
In order to reduce the input of nutrients into the Williams River catchment and improve water quality, the following actions, as noted in the Williams River Catchment Regional Environmental Plan, are required;
Ensure the appropriate use of fertilisers used in agriculture Control streambank erosion Restrict cattle access to streams Manage point sources of pollution Utilize artificial wetlands to trap run-off Upgrade the Dungog Sewage Treatment Works Control septic tank installation Improve flow management
Undertake appropriate water monitoring, not only for regulatory purposes but to assist in understanding the processes affecting water quality and to predict changes in water conditions Possibly treat water prior to storage in Grahamstown Dam.
HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Duflgog Local Environmental Plan 34 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council
3.5.1.2. Allyn River
The Paterson and Allyn River Landcare Group and the Gresford Landcare Group have conducted extensive monitoring of the Allyn River at a number of sites.
In general turbidity levels in the Allyn are below the maximum level of turbidity in raw drinking water (5ntu). Low levels of salinity were recorded, though they increased downstream. Phosphorus levels were generally low (<0.01mg per litre) but increased with rain events as sediment is washed into the river. Other sources of phosphorus include livestock faeces. Low levels of nitrate (<0.1mg per litre) are recorded, but increase gradually downstream. Levels of fecal coliforms at the two monitored sites have been high, especially in the warmer months, indicating that water is not suitable for drinking or swimming in the warmer months, possibly due to agricultural practices and stock access to the river.
3.5.1.3. Paterson River
The Paterson and Allyn River Landcare Group and the Gresford Landcare Group have conducted extensive monitoring of this river system at a number of sites.
Turbidity is a minor problem with levels usually greater than the maximum level allowed for drinking water as reported in the Dungog Shire Council 2000 State of the Environment Report. Turbidity increases in times of high rainfall and distance downstream with the highest levels near the confluence of the Hunter River. In relation to electrical conductivity, most sites are low to moderate with levels increasing in times of low rainfall and warmer months when there is low flow. Phosphorus levels regularly exceed the lowest level know to cause algal growth with the highest levels recorded near the confluence of the Hunter River. Low nitrate levels were recorded at all sites (<0.1 mg per litre) and increased only during rainfall events. Faecal coliforms are generally higher than that of the Allyn River. The
HO B\\Master\c\Myoocum ents\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 35 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council
water is not suitable for raw drinking purposes or swimming during the summer months.
The levels of faecal coliforms in the Paterson! Allyn Catchment are of particular concern. The main source appears to be livestock, but since livestock numbers are likely to remain static, the most likely source of an increase in fecal colifornis is new residential development.
The levels of phosphorus and nitrates were generally below the minimum level known to cause algal blooms. High nutrient levels are of concerns because of the threat of toxic blue/green algae. Future residential developments in the catchment will need to be carefully managed to ensure that the capacity of catchment soils for septic tank absorption is not exceeded (Dungog Shire Council, State of the Environment Report, 2000).
Appendix E includes some water quality testing to the Williams, Paterson and Allyn Rivers.
3.5.2. Water Usage
The waterways in the Dungog area are used for potable water supply, agriculture and recreation. These uses and the increasing development throughout the catchment have increased the pressure on the river systems.
In general, unsympathetic water management has led to the lowering of water quality, which has increased salinity in all major rivers in NSW. It has also led to larger and more frequent bluegreen algal blooms and the loss of biological communities in the river systems (Hancock, 2000).
HDB\\Master\c\Myoocumeflts\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 36 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council
In August 1995, the NSW State Government placed an embargo under Section 22BA of the Water Act 1912 on the approval of licences to extract water on unregulated streams in the State. The aim of the embargo is to ensure that no additional stress or water shortage occurs in the unregulated river systems within the Hunter Valley. The embargo basically applies to irrigation supply, though it severely restricts industrial water supply. Stock and domestic supply and construction of catchment dams is not primarily affected by this restriction, nor is the holding of current riparian rights.
The new Water Management Act 2000 secures water for the basic needs of rural landholders, Water can be extracted from a river or an aquifer without an access licence to meet basic stock and domestic water needs. Rural land owners will be permitted to construct a dam to capture up to 10% of the average regional rainfall-runoff, as previously permitted by the Water Act 1919. The Water Management Act also requires the development of water management plans for sharing of water resources within catchments and industries.
The Department of Land and Water Conservation are protecting the riparian right that exists under the Water Act 1912 for all rural properties with a river frontage. The department does not support the subdivision of river frontages to create more riparian rights, and requests that the riparian right be viewed as an existing entitlement and not be extended to subdivided lands.
3.5.2.1. Potable Water Supply
The Williams River provides an average of 90 megalitres a day or 40% of the potable water required for the 400,000 residents of the Newcastle Region. This water is discharged from Chichester Dam and the Hunter Water Corporation's Chichester Pipe Line.
Dungog Shire Council draws water from the Hunter Water Corporation's Chichester Pipeline below the Dungog Water Treatment Plant to supply water to approximately 2,000 tenements connected to the reticulated supply in these areas. The water from the pipeline at Dungog and below is fully treated and satisfies the
HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 37 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council
1996 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (Dungog Shire Council, Statement of the Environment Report 2000).
There are four water schemes in the shire, Dungog, Clarence Town, Paterson/Martins Creek! Vacy and Gresford. The Dungog, Clarence Town and Paterson district water schemes are supplied by the Hunter Water Corporation supply, while the town of Gresford is supplied with water through a Council operated reticulated system that draws water from the Paterson and Allyn River. Micro-filtration and chlorination treat water in this system. The township has a population of around 300, with 140 services.
In Paterson, the water services extend to the main villages limits of Court Street, Johnstone/King Streets, Queen Street. High Street and William Street, as detailed in Plan 3. The water supply in Clarence Town extends to Earl Street, Russell Street, King Street Marshall and Sheriff Streets, as noted in Plan 4. Water supply servicing in Gresford and East Gresford is detailed in Plan 5. In Dungog, most of the town is serviced by reticulated water and sewer, including the area to the northeast of the town. The limit of the service provision is detailed in Plan 6.
The water supply in the Paterson district is reaching a critical situation as an increasing number of applications are sought from the Black Rock Road areas for connections to the Paterson District Water supply delivery mains (G. McDonald, pers. comm.). The existing supply delivery mains are not capable of supplying continuous potable water to the increasing number of residential dwellings. This may lead to a restriction on the system, reduced water pressure or even total water loss.
It is unlikely that further connections to the Paterson District Water supply delivery mains in the vicinity of Black Rock Road will be permitted until upgrading works are carried out. There are detailed in the Council's Strategic Business Plan- Water Supply Schemes.
HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 38 Dungog Shire Council ,\ '1 Paterson - Services 4956 \
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3.5.2.2. Agricultural Water Usage
Licences for small scale extraction on unregulated rivers are issued for town water supply, irrigation, industrial use, stock watering, domestic use and farm use, e.g. dairy wash down, etc. The following table indicates the number of surface water licences in 1999 on unregulated streams and the total area authorized for irrigation along the streams.
The Department of Land and Water Conservation may grant licences for stock purposes, subject to rigorous environmental assessment and with the imposition of strict rules as to their use. Restrictions includes volumetric limits (5 megalitresl year), metering and river flow limits.
The water stored in the 20,000 megalitre Lostock Dam on the Paterson River is allocated for various downstream uses, particularly irrigation and town water supply and is controlled by the Department of Land and Water Conservation.
The current trend to rural residential subdivision represents a major threat to low flows because of the result of potential increase water use under increasing riparian rights. The largest increase in riparian extraction is on streams close to residential areas, which includes the lowest sections of the Williams and Paterson Rivers.
Table 1. Water extraction licensing, Dungog Shire Sub- Total number of water Number of irrigation Area authorized for catchment licences licences irrigative (ha) Ailyn f 82 77 797 Paterson- 2 0 0 residual Williams L 163 150 1693 1-lirnf,r -,.-,,.l r,i...-.;...... , u i i..i IvIl UI IIIlIlL r-port .UUU)
HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 39 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council
3.5.2.3. Recreational Usage
The allocation of water for recreational requirements has no specific water management issues. This is despite the fact that the Dungog Shire is a popular area for primary contact including swimming, secondary contact including boating and passive contact including bush walking and recreational pursuits.
As with the environmental values of the river, recreational values relate to the water required to maintain those values. This not only affects the depth and flows at a particular time of the year, but also helps preserve the aesthetic criteria and includes such things as risk from infection, the presence of submerged objects, and physical appearance of the water body. Future management of the water resources of the catchment needs to consider recreational requirements.
3.5.2.4. Environmental Flows
Following the occurence of blue-green algal blooms in late 1991, the requirement for river systems to have a minimum flow has risen to prominence.
A recent initiative was a commitment by Hunter Water to increase environmental releases from Chichester Dam. This was an outcome of the Health Rivers Commission Report into the Williams River and a requirement of the licence to extract water issues by the DLWC (Hunter Water Corporation, 2001). The release pattern should enhance the aquatic and riparian environments of the Williams River (Dungog Shire Council State of the Environment Report, 2000). Historically, Hunter Water has released 2.5 Ml a day during the 60% of the time when the dam did not overflow its spillway. Under the new initiative this dry weather release has been increased from 2.5 to 14 Ml per day when inflow exceeds this level. When the inflow into the dam is less than 14Ml, outflow will be matched to the inflow level.
HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 40 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council
A hydroelectric generator at the dam outlet controls the flow and harnesses rather than wastes the energy in the flowing water. In December 2000, the Minister for Energy officially opened the hydro- generation unit at Chichester Dam. The amount of electricity generated will be equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 70 homes.
The environmental flows released will assist in maintaining the natural ecosystems in the Chichester River. This is important as the damming of a river impacts on the natural flows below the dam and affects the quantity of downstream flow and the pattern of flow (Hunter Water Corporation, 2001).
3.5.3. Groundwater Resources
There is little detailed information available on the occurrence of underground water within the Dungog area. A number of licensed small-scale groundwater extractions, in the form of wells, bores and spearpoints occur in the Shire for agricultural uses (Williams River Total Catchment Management Study- Water Quality, 1993).
The occurrence of groundwater is controlled by the nature of the underlying rock that controls the rate groundwater can be pumped from a bore and influences the quality of the water. The underlying rock strata in the Shire are variable, however, the strata uniformly operates as a fractured rock aquifer (Williams River Total Catchment Management Study- Hydrology, 1993).
HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\tjuflgOg Local Environmental Plan 41 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council
Within the Shire, the conductivity of the groundwater, which measures salinity, ranges from 2 000 to 8 000 pSI cm, although it is generally less than 4 000 pSI cm. This compares to an average value of 200 pSI cm in the Paterson River at Gresford. Water with salinity levels greater than 700 pSI cm are unsuitable for irrigation of most crops. Salinity levels greater than 800 p.5/ cm are unsuitable for potable purposes.
F14 Groundwater in the Shire is generally saline and mostly used for agricultural purposes.
3.6. Land Usage
The major forms of land use within the Dungog Shire are Agriculture Catchments for water supply Forestry Nature conservation Recreation Extractive industries Rural! Residential Subdivision Urban
The raising of beef cattle is currently the main industry for the area, even in the steepest of country in the Williams and Allyn River valleys. Rolling and undulating hills may be seasonally sown to pasture. Spring and autumn firing of pasture, particularly in steep country, was once widespread, but is now a less common management practice.
Dairying occupies the alluvial plains and gently inclined slopes. Minor areas of cropping include lucerne, maize and sorghum occurs on the more fertile alluvial soils of the Allyn, Paterson and upper Williams. Some poultry farming occurs on higher- level terraces adjacent to floodplains. More rural residential subdivisions and hobby farms exist in the traditional grazing areas of Dungog Shire (NSW Agriculture, 2001).
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Logging of native timber is undertaken on private properties, particularly within the steeper country of the Clarence Town Hills region. Forestry operations are concentrated in the north, but have reduced in size and distribution in recent years.
The Boral timber mill at Maxwells Creek currently employs 33 people, however in recent years there were more than 40 staff and the reduction in employees is a result of a downturn in the timber products market.
Chichester, Avon River, Dungog, Fosterton and Trevor State Forests occur in the center and north of the area; Craven State Forest occurs in the east; Copeland Tops State Forest occurs in the north (Henderson, 2000).
Barrington- Gloucester plateau, the headwaters of Chichester River and part of the Williams River form the Barrington Tops National Park. The national park contains one of the five original cores of rainforest present in NSW before European settlement (National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1989). The Barrington Tops National Park is included in the World Heritage Listing of the Sub-tropical and Temperate Rainforest Parks of Eastern Australia, with part of the National Park being recently declared a Wilderness Area. The Gloucester Tops was used for summer grazing until 1969 when the National Park was established. Further additions were proposed in 1983 by a joint submission from the National Trust and five conservation organizations (McDougall, 1983). Certain additions occurred in 1984 and included the Chichester River Catchment (Department of Environment and Planning, 1984).
In total NPWS and State Forests control approximately 22% of the Shire's land and do not pay any rates to Council. The Hunter Water Corporation also utilizes a large area of the Shire as water catchment areas, however the Council does not receive any rates for the land that collects the water and generates an income of $28 million (Low, 2001).
The National Parks and Wildlife Service and Hunter Water Corporation jointly manage the Chichester Dam catchment, which extends from the Barrington Tops National Park, through the Chichester State Forest to the confluence of the Wangat and Chichester Rivers that form the dam. The catch ment for the Chichester Dam has an area of 197km2.
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Small quarries, mostly used for road base, occur throughout the shire, often in the highly fractured Carboniferous beds and in the Permian conglomerates near Dingadee, Bingleburra, Martins Creek and the Upper Allyn.
Tourism has been an important industry for the region since the 1920s (Hartley, 1993), with national parks, state forests and Chichester Dam within an easy drive of Newcastle and Sydney.
Small areas of Crown Land occur in the area. Those areas within the upper Chichester catchment are likely to be retained for conservation. Dungog Common occupies one of the largest parcels of Reserve Crown Land, immediately to the west of Dungog (Crown Lands Office, 1986).
A number of aboriginal land claims have been granted in the Dungog Shire. The Worimi Land Council mostly holds the land claims in the Clarence Town locality.
3.6.1. Agricultural Land Suitability
The Shire of Dungog was mapped by the Department of Agriculture in the 1980's to determine the agricultural land suitability of land within the Shire. This land was classified according to the agricultural land suitability class system. The five-class system identifies land as follows;
Class I Land capable of regular cultivation for cropping (cereals, oilseeds, fodder, etc) or intensive horticulture (vegetables, orchards) Class 2 Land suitable for cultivation for cropping but not suited to continuous cropping or intensive horticulture
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Class 3 Land suitable for grazing; well suited to pasture improvement and can be cultivated for an occasional cash crop or forage crop in conjunction with pasture management. Class 4 Land suitable for grazing and not suitable for cultivation Class 5 Land suitable only for rough grazing or land not suitable for agriculture.
The aim of the classification and mapping is to identify those lands that should be protected from further subdivision. Desirably, a prime agricultural zone should be identified and protected by planning controls.
The Shire of Dungog comprises lands classified as Class 2 to Class 5, with the most predominant class of land being Class 4 (51% of Shire area). The approximate breakdown of agricultural land suitability classes for the Shire is as follows;
Class 2 17% of Shire area Class 3 24% of Shire area Class 4 51% of Shire area Class 5 8% of Shire area
The relatively limited areas of Class 2 land comprise the alluvial flats adjacent to the Paterson and Williams Rivers and are affected by flooding.
Classes 3, 4 and 5 form the remainder of land within the Shire and these land classes are dispersed within the shire.
NSW Agriculture has advised that due to the operation of extensive grazing and dairying enterprises, much of the Shire's Class 3 and 4 lands are capable of significant agricultural production.
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3.6.2. Riparian Quality
The riparian zone is identified as the area on and immediately adjacent to the riverbank or flowline of a river. Vegetation in this zone ensures bank stability, reduces erosion, provides habitat and food and acts as a buffer zone to reduce contaminants entering the river system.
In Dungog Shire, continued development such as construction activities, subdivision and land clearing is having a major impact on riparian zones.
Clearing and erosion in the riparian zone, together with the invasion of weeds has reduced the quality of the riparian zone. Deliberate clearing in these areas for subdivision and other developments has ceased, but major pressure exists on remaining vegetation as a result of introduced weeds, grazing and erosion. Stock access to the riparian zone impacts heavily on the vegetation by reducing the regeneration of native species due to grazing or trampling.
Previous removal of vegetation in the riparian zones and the failure of native species to regenerate in the areas have increased the erosion and undercutting of streambanks, particularly during periods of high flow.
As noted in Chapter 3.5.2, the Department of Land and Water Conservation, Hunter Catchment Management Trust and the Williams River TCM Committee are actively attempting to protect and maintain the riparian zones in the Dungog area. As part of this program, they do not support the subdivision of riparian rights and are encouraging the maintenance of the existing riparian right as an entitlement.
The Williams River Catchment TCM Committee recommends that riparian areas should be fenced and rehabilitated when large properties are subdivided.
F20i Construction, subdivisions and land clearing have major impacts on riparian zones, possibly causing erosion of streambanks, increased sediment loads and changes to waterways.
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3.6.3. Existing Land Zonings
The intentions and types of zones contained in the Dungog Local Environmental Plan 1990 are as follows; 1(b) General Rural Zone 1(c) Rural Residential zone 1(d) Rural Farmiets zone 1 (f) Rural (forests) zone 2(a) Residential A zone 3(a) Local Business zone 4(a) General industrial zone 4(b) fight industrial zone 5(a) special uses A zone 5(b) special uses B zone 5(c) Special Uses (limited building area) zone 6(a) open space (existing recreation) zone 6(b) open space (private recreation) zone 7(a) rural environmental protection (flood liable land) zone 7(b) rural environmental protection (water catchment area) zone 7(c) rural environmental protection (habitat) zone 8 national parks and nature reserve zone
There is obviously a proliferation of land zonings in the current LEP, many with similar aims and objectives. A review of the zoning provisions is required and will be conducted as part of the preparation of a new Shire-wide Local Environmental Plan, It is Council's intention in the new LEP to review, simplify and reduce the number of zones in the Dungog Local Environmental Plan 1990 and to make the process controlling development in the Shire less confusing and complicated.
3.7. Environment Protection Areas
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There are a Jariety of areas in the Shire that require protection due to significant environmental characteristics. The current Dungog LEP provides for three rural environmental protection zones, however, these need revision to maintain a greater level of protection to significant environmental features.
3.7.1. Protected Wetlands
No State Environmental Planning Policy No. 14 Coastal Wetlands exist in the Dungog Shire, although the adjoining local government areas of Port Stephens and Maitland have SEPP 14 wetlands near to the boundaries of the Dungog Shire.
The Hunter Regional Environmental Plan 1989 lists protected wetlands under Schedule 2: Hunter Region Wetlands. There are three Schedule 2 wetlands in the Dungog Shire, located in Paterson (grid reference 698912 & 691900) and Boggy Swamp at Cobark (grid reference 595717). The provisions relating to wetlands note that any development needs to consider the environmental impacts of such development, especially in relation to the National Conservation Strategy for Australia (Hunter REP, 1989).
3.7.2. Water Catchment Areas
The Hunter Water Corporation Limited (Special Areas) Regulation 1997 provides for restricted land uses within the special areas maintained for water supply. Two special areas, namely Chichester Catchment Area and the Williams River Catchment Area, affect Dungog Shire. Restrictions in these areas include some agricultural activities and sewage disposal.
The location and extent of the two special water catchment areas are detailed in Plan 7and Plan 8.
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3.7.3. State Environmental Planning Policy No. 44- Koala Habitat
The Dungog LGA is included under Schedule 1 of State Environmental Planning Policy No. 44- Koala Habitat Protection. SEPP 44 aims to encourage the conservation and management of areas of natural vegetation that provide habitat for koalas. This is to ensure a permanent free-living population of koalas over their present range and reserve the current trend of koala population decline. As part of the provisions of this policy, plans of management must be prepared before development consent can be granted in areas of core koala habitat. Core koala habitat within Dungog LGA has not yet been identified (Dungog Shire Council State of the Environment Report, 2000).
The adjoining Port Stephens Shire LGA has extensive areas of core koala habitat and a Comprehensive Koala Management Plan has been prepared for the Shire.
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CETCHMEUT AREA PROCLAI}SED GAZETTE S th DEDETIREE ;t(2Gr 1 IRRALONG PARISH OF / / P A R I S 7 / TILLEG A N : -- DUNGOG SHIRE PLAN 8 Catchrnent Boundary SCAII I Th001) Gloucester 4111 ) LIII lIfli 1013 lXOMoo... Scone Mop, plep.,ed by HiioIe Oevekpn,er,I o4eoaq Ply Liii Map,, co,np.Ie.i tom Iii IolmaIIon st'pØi,d by DmIOIJO,J Shoe C,x,npl 1/ ) z. Great Lakes LAK HICHES R Singleton RE5FrJ?tY l rIE I! - I3 AT$ON Port Maitland Stephens Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 3.7.4. National Parks1 State Forests and Reserves State Forests comprise approximately 6.2% of the Shire. These form part of the Barrington Tops and the dry coastal forests near Clarence Town. They provide a scenic backdrop to the cleared and semi-cleared valley floors and contains a significant proportion of the timbered lands in the Shire. The total area of about 13 972ha is segregated into the following State Forest units. Table 2. State Forests, Dun gog Shire State Forest Area (ha) Chichester 7682 Fosterton 850 Masseys Creek 3269 Trevor 849 Uffington 1133 llaroo 190 The National Park Estate makes up approximately 16% of the Shire area (32,670ha) and includes most of the Barrington Tops area that fall within the LGA. Approximately 89% of the Barrington Tops National Park has been classified as a wilderness area. Wilderness areas are defined as large areas of land that, together with its native plant and animal communities and the ecosystems of which they are a part, are in an essentially natural state. Wilderness areas are those lands that have been least modified by modern technological society that represent the most intact and undisturbed expanses of our remaining natural landscapes. As a conservation landuse protecting whole ecosystems, wilderness also provides a way of comparing these less modified natural landscape with those areas that have been changed by modern technological land uses and the myriad of other demands placed on the landscape. As such they have significant scientific value. Cultural values are also protected, and wilderness HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 50 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council areas can provide a reminder of the Aboriginal landscape of Australia that retains immense cultural significance to the present day. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service manages these areas so that native plant and animal communities are disturbed as little as possible. Pest animal control, weed control, and bushfire management are all important parts of this management. Where possible, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service uses management strategies that do not change the natural environment. The core area of Barrington, covering over 30,700 hectares, was declared as a wilderness in April 1996. An additional 1333 hectares were added in 1996, with a further 22,850 hectares added, as a result of the IFA, in 1997. On 31 March 2000, the Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife identified 1355 hectares as additions to the Barrington Wilderness under the Wilderness Act. Plan 9 shows the location of state and national forest in the Shire. 3.8. Flora There are ten main vegetation communities within Dungog Shire. This extensive diversity in vegetation communities is a result of the range of micro-climates and soil types within the Shire. The ten vegetation communities are: Sub-alpine woodland Cool temperate rainforest Warm temperate rainforest Wet scferophyll forest Sub-tropical rainforest Dry sclerophyll forest HDS\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 51 DUNGOG SHIRE P LAN 9 Catchment Boundary Great Lakes L Singleton F- Maitland it:Tib Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Dry rainforest Riverbank and creek bank communities Grasslands Wetlands Sub-alpine woodlands occupy a very small proportion of the Shire and occur on the plateaux and upper escarpments of the Barrington Tops. These areas are characterized by Eucalyptus species with an understorey of grass, with a few shrubs (Tasmannia sp.). Cool temperate rainforests within the Dungog Shire exist between elevations of 800m and 1 ,500m AHD, within the Barrington Tops. This is an ancient vegetation community type and is characterized by equally ancient flora such a Nothofagus mooref. The few identified Tasmannia purpurascens, are vulnerable species proclaimed by TSC Act, are located within the cool temperate rainforest areas of the Shire. In areas below 1 ,000m AHD, warm temperate rainforest occurs between the cool temperate rainforest and the sub-tropical rainforest. This type contains typical sub- tropical rainforest species. Wet sclerophyll forests form tall open forest areas, which comprises the majority of the northern half of the Shire in areas of high rainfall (up to 2,000mm/annum). The soils in these areas are relatively fertile. Flora in this forest type includes Eucalyptus species. The understorey density within wet sclerophyll forests is affected by the presence of fires. Although previously widespread throughout the upper reaches of the Shire, sub- tropical rainforest is now mostly confined to the reserved areas of State Forest and National Parks. This type of vegetation community occurs on fertile soils especially on the rich alluvial flats, however clearing for agriculture has removed almost all of the alluvial rainforest. The understoreys are generally open within sub-tropical rainforests in the Dungog Shire. Dry Scierophyll vegetation covers the majority of the Shire's bushland, particularly on the lower altitude sites and well-drained, exposed ridges where soils are shallower. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 52 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council The tree species within the dry scierophyll forest include a variety of Eucalyptus species. Most of the dry rainforest stands within the Shire are small (<15ha), with low average rainfalls (910mm/annum) and low altitude (245m AHD). These forests are rich in woody species and have significant numbers of shrubs, herbs, epiphytes and litrophytes. The majority of the dry rainforest stands are infested with Lantana camara but remained intact due to a buffer of Eucalyptus Forest. Erosion protection reeds (Phragmites australis) are being planted along the Williams River in a trial conducted by NSW Waterways to protect the riverbank from erosion caused by powerboat wakes. Further north, where there has been less clearing, the riverbank vegetation is dominated by Acacia (wattle) species, Grey Myrtle (Backhousja myrtifolia), Snow- wood (Pararchidendron pruinosum), Black Apple (Planchonella australis) and River Oaks (Casuarina cunninghamiana) (Williams River Catchment Regional Environmental Study, 1996). Other species include Casuarina (she-oak) species, Callistemon (bottle-brush) species and Lomandra longifolia (Mat Rush). There are some native grassland species remaining with the Shire, however these have mostly been replaced by introduced species that are more suited to grazing. Areas of linked tree corridors within the Dungog Shire are defined as having high environmental quality and play an important role in plant distribution and native animal movement. There are almost continuous linkages of bushland from Raymond Terrance (south of Dungog Shire) to east of Dungog, then through to the State Forest and Barrington Tops National Park. Due to development and poor land management practices in the past, much of the native vegetation within the Shire has been removed or disturbed to a varying degree. The majority of natural vegetation cover exists in the north, where National Parks and State Forests cover 22% of the Shire, including much of the Barrington Tops area. The following table indicates the vegetation cover for Dungog Shire. Table 3. Vegetation cover, Dungog Shire Hectares % of Shire area Cleared land-20% canopy cover 121 118 53.5% HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 53 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Forest and woodland - >20% canopy cover E139 46.4% Urban areas E27 0.1% There are eight species of plants in the Shire, which are listed as threatened on the National Parks and Wildlife Atlas (Dungog Shire Council, State of the Environment Report, 2001). Details of the threatened and rare plant species within the Shire are as follows: Table 4. Threatened flora species, Dungog Shire Species Common Legal No. of Location Name Status Sightings Marsdenia longiloba El 1 Barrington Tops NP Senecio squarrosus El 1 Barrington Tops NP Senna accllnis El 1 Barrington Tops NP Eucalyptus glaucina Slaty Red Gum V 33 Halten, Allynbrook, Vacy, Martins Creek Syzygium paniculatum V 2 Paterson, Wallarobba 0/uris peduncu/afa Small Snake E! 1 Orchid Tetratheca juncea V 1 Allworth Tasmannia Broad-leaved V 9 Barrington Tops NP purpurascens Pepperbush ... iwnce: 'ii-vv, I\tlas of NSW Wildlife El = Endangered Species V = Vulnerable Species 3.8.1. Riparian Flora On a scale of missing, sparse and good, the majority of the riparian zone flora within the Shire is in good condition (Dungog Shire Council, State of the HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 54 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Environment Report 2000). Most of the riparian flora is located in the upper reaches of the Shire, which is generally within the conservation areas such as the Barrington Top National Park. This assists in protecting the vegetation from clearing, weed invasion and other damaging activities. The Williams River TOM Committee notes that the riparian vegetation in the upper part of the Williams River catchment is relatively intact, but there are areas in the mid and lower catchment that have been cleared and other areas infested with weeds. Records form Department of Land & Water Conservation on riparian vegetation within the Shire indicated that there is 6,724km of good riparian vegetation (51% of total), 2,106km of sparse riparian vegetative (16%) and 4,333km of missing riparian vegetation (33%). ERM Mitchell McCotter conducted a Biological Diversity Study in the Paterson and Clarencetown Planning Districts in 1998, which considered riparian vegetation within these areas. An extract from this study is as follows. Paterson Planning District Located along the major tributaries of the Paterson River, the riparian community is discontinuous and ribbon like, rarely more than 50m wide. In heavily cleared and grazed areas along the Paterson River and the major tributaries including Allyn River and Webbers Creek the canopy has been reduced or removed. In these areas dense growths of rushes exist, or the pasture extends to the river. Along the Paterson River the riparian vegetation is floristically poor and consists of tall River Oak (Casuarina cunninghamiana) and a relatively spare understorey often dominated by Spiny-headed Mat Rush and pasture species. In areas where grazing is less sever, an understorey of Cheese Tree (Glochidion ferdinand/i), Creek Sandpaper Fig (Ficus coronata), Whalebone Tree (Streblus brunonianis) and Grey Myrtle (Blackhousia myrtifolia) exists. (ERM Michtell McCotter, 1998) HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 55 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council This community has been greatly reduced in the Paterson district due to agricultural pressures and is generally in poor condition over much of its distribution. (ERM Mitchell McCotter, 1998) Clarence Town Planning District The riparian forest in this district is found on moist to well drained soils with a low degree of fire severity, some grazing and weed invasion. The community consists of a canopy with some emergents, and is rarefy more than 50 metres wide. Along the Williams River it/s almost continuous and ribbon like. The community has a diverse array of species due to the wide range of soil landscapes it occupies. Along the Williams River the vegetation consists of tall Weeping LillyPilly and a dense understorey often dominated by typical rain forest understorey species such as Cheese Tree (Glochidior, ferdinand/i), Creek Sandpaper Fig (Ficus coronata), Whalebone Tree (Streblus brunonianis) and Grey Myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia). Along the open edges of the community dense clumps of Spiny-headed Mat Rush and Weeping Bottlebrush (Callistemon vimina/is) exist. The riparian forest, which is found along the Williams River, is considered to be adequately conserved in NSW, but its distribution in the Dungog Shire is limited and it is not adequately conserved in the district due to its stabilizing, habitat and aesthetic values in the district. (ERM Mitchell McCotter, 1998) F30 Some riparian flora is in good condition as it is protected within co nseivation areas, however approximately 50% of the riparian vegetation is missing or sparse. 3.8.2. Noxious Flora Thirty-seven noxious flora species have been identified and declared within the Dungog Shire. These are listed in Appendix F. Other weeds of particular significance in the Shire that are not declared noxious weeds are Lantana, Camphor Laurel and Privet. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 56 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 3.9. Fauna Biodiversity is an important strength of the Dungog Shire. It occurs due to the extensive areas of conserved forest (Both State Forest and National Park) within the shire, together with the range of fauna habitats created by varying topography, climate and soils. Recent flora and fauna assessments undertaken within the Dungog Shire have identified numerous fauna species in the forested and partly cleared areas of the shire. A few of the fauna species found in the Shire as migratory bird species (Dollarbird Eurpstomus or/entails), birds of prey (Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax), amphibians (Green Tree Frog Liltoria caerulea), snakes (Eastern Tiger Snake Notechis scutatus), monotremes (Platypus Ornythorhynvhus annatinus), marsupials (Feathertailed Glider Acrobates pygamaeus) and bats (Large Forest Bat Vespadelus darlingtonT). 3.9.1. Threatened Fauna - Details of the thirty-six threatened fauna species in Dungog as described in the National Parks and Wildlife Atlas are as follows: Table 5. Threatened fauna species, Dungog Shire Species Common Name Legal No. of Location Status Sightings Litoria subglandiosa V 1 Barrington Tops NP, Bandon Grove Phi/or/a sphagnico/us Sphagnum Frog V 1 Barrington Tops NP, Salisbury s Australian Bittern V 1 Paterson, NE Seaham /s Black Bittern V 4 Paterson 7Antrichomnisns7 rufescens Rufous Scrub-Bird V 2 Barrington Tops NP Bush Stone-Curlew El 1 Paterson Glossy Black- V 7 Barrington Tops NP, Bandon Cockatoo Grove, Martins Creek Pti/inopus s Wompoo Fruit-Dove V 1 Barrington Tops NP, Wards River Fa/co hypo/eucos Grey Falcon V 2 Barrington Tops NP Xanthomyza phnjgia Regent Honeyeater El 4 Martins Creek, Paterson Pachycephala Olive Whistler V 2 Barrington Tops NP, Mount L0hjea Rivers HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 57 Local Environmental Study - Oungog Shire Council Neophema pu/che/la Turquoise Par7::: 4 Wallarobba, Paterson, ______Woodville Ninox connivens Barking Owl 2 Barrington Tops NP, Martins Creek Ninox strenua Powerful Owl V 11 - Barrington Tops NP, Weismantels, Wallarobba, Paterson, Clarence Town Tyto novaehollandjae Masked Owl V 6 Tyto tenebricosa - Sooty Owl V 6 Barrington Tops NP, Carrow Brook, Wallarobba, Brandon Grove, Paterson Dasyurus macu/atus Spotted-tailed Quoll V 44 Barrington Tops NP, Halton Dasyurus riverrinus Eastern Quoll El 1 Barrington Tops NP Phascogale tapoatafa Brush-tailed V ii Barrington Tops NP, Paterson, Phascogale Brandon Grove, Martins Creek Macropus parma Parma Wallaby V 10 Carsonville Petrogale penic/Ilata Brush-tailed Rock V 2 Barrington Tops NP Wallaby Thylogale st/gmat/ca Red-Legged V 3 Barrington Tops NP Pademelon Mormopterus East Coast Freetail V 1 Barrington Tops NP norfolensjs Bat Petaurus austra/js Yellow Bellied V 1 Barrington Tops NP, Stroud Glider Road Phasco/arctos Koala V 22 Barrington Tops NP, Craven cinereus Brook, Paterson, Eccieston, Bandon Grove, Clarence Town Aepyprymnus Rufous Bettong V 2 Barrington Tops NP, Salisbury rufescens s tndacty/jEasterong-nosed Potoroo V 1 Barrington Tops NP, Wards River, Bandon Grove lobus dwy arge-eared Pied V 1 Wallarobba at FFalsiistrellus False V 2 Salisbury, Carrow Brook tasmaniensjs ipistrelle kerivou/a papvensjs fl Golden-tipped Bat V 1 Salisbury, Seaham Miniopterus australjs fl Little Bent-wing Bat V 4 Martins Creek, Paterson V 1 3 1 Barrington Tops NP, schreibers/j Bat Wallarobba, Clarence Town Y0ti5 advFsus L Large Foot Myotis V 1 Barrington Tops NP, Seaham H DB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 58 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Scoteanax rueppellii Broad nosed Bat V 2 I Barrington lops NP, Carrow Brook, Salisbury, Clarence Town Hoplocephalus Pale-headed Snake V 1 Paterson bitorquatus Hoplocepha/us Stephens Banded V 3 Barrington Tops NP, Bandon stephens/i Snake Grove KIC% ,,__ VVIIUjII El = Endangered V =Vulnerable 3.9.2. Introduced Fauna Many feral and introduced fauna species are present in Dungog Shire. These introduced species exist in urban and rural areas, which create problems for farmers and graziers, as well as conservationists. Some of the introduced and feral species include: Red Fox Vulpes vu/pes Dingo Can/s familiaris dingo Cat Fe/is catus Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Feral Pig Suc scrofa Goat Capra hircus Feral Donkey Equus asinus Black Rat Rattus rattus House Mouse Mus musculus P31 There are thirty-six species of threatened fauna known in the Dungog Shire. They are located In urban, rural and consen/ation areas. Introduced species compete with the threatened fauna for habitat and food. 3.10. Atmospheric Environment 3.10.1. Noise HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 59 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Noise emissions within the Dungog Shire are limited to low-level emissions from a concentration of light industry in Common Road Estate, Dungog (Dungog Shire Council, State of the Environment Report, 2000). Few major roads pass through the townships and villages of Dungog Shire. This further reduces the potential for noise generation. The rail corridor through the Dungog Shire has the potential to generate offensive noise, should residential development expand without adequate land buffers (Rail Infrastructure Corporation, 2001). Noise complaints received by Dungog Council mostly relate to amplified music and musical instruments in residential areas inappropriate use of machinery and vehicles barking dogs noise generated at entertainment venues and licensed premises. (Dungog Shire Council, State of the Environment Report, 2001) Conflicting land uses is the major factor creating pressures on the acoustic environments of Dungog Shire (Dungog Shire Council, State of the Environment Report, 2001). An example is that of agricultural activities generating noise levels, which are acceptable in the rural environment but less acceptable in residential environment. The interface between such uses is a source of dispute. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 60 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 3.10.2. Odour Dairy farming, fertiliser application and poultry farming operations in the Shire potentially generate odour emissions. The Council operated landfill site at Dungog has previously been the subject of odour complaints. Previous gas level monitoring does however indicate that there are very low levels of methane emission from the sites (Dungog Shire Council, State of the Environment Report, 2000). 3.10.3. Dust There are no measurement of dust in the Dungog environment, however agricultural practices and unsealed roads have the potential to generate dust. Approximately 267km of public road is not sealed in the Dungog Shire. In addition some farming roads and other access roads are also not sealed, potentially generating dust. Council regularly dampens the unsealed roads in the Shire to reduce dust generation. Cropping and other agricultural activities create dust, which may adversely impact on the local environment. Measures to mitigate dust generation on farms include undertaking certain activities in favourable atmospheric conditions, maintaining groundcovers and reducing speeds on unsealed farm roads. 3.10.4. Air Quality No data is available for air quality in the Dungog Shire. Anecdotal evidence suggests that air quality in the Shire is very high. This is the result of little heavy industry in the area, with most impacts on air quality resulting from vehicle emissions and rural burning. The use of domestic wood heaters in the colder months, producing localised air pollution is the major source of air quality complaints (Dungog Shire Council, State of the Environment Report, 2001). HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 61 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Few air quality complaints occur in the. Shire dueto the rural. atmosphere Most complaints relate to residential activities such as amplified music, combustion heatersand vehicle:mövemehts, : 3.11. Economic Environment Dungog Shire is situated within close proximity to major markets and offers a rural and peaceful lifestyle environment. The conclusions of the Dungog Shire Business Retention and Expansion Program detail that businesses are confident in the future of local business growth, but believe there are some measures that could assist business growth and economic development through local improvements. Businesses in the Dungog Shire are mostly independently owned (82%), established in the shire for more than ten years (47%), sell the majority of their products locally (62%) and expect some increases in demand for their product or service within the next two years (61%). There is generally a positive attitude in the local economy, with local business employment increasing by 151 employees (16.9%) in the two years to 2001 and more than half of the businesses rating the Shire as a good place to conduct business (Dungog Shire BREP, 2001). Business owners have indicated some inadequacies that have impacted on the development and expansion of their business. These inadequacies include highways/ roads, street repair, telecommunications, street signage, recycling and electricity. There is also an unmet demand for industrial land in proximity to Clarence Town, based on the anecdotal evidence from Council officers. Home-based occupations have the potential to increase in the Dungog Shire, adding to the local economy. The provisions of the Dungog Local Environmental Plan, which restricts economic activities in the home to the employment of the residents only and prohibits displaying goods or advertising, are restricting home based businesses in the shire. Other economic issues that exist in the Dungog Shire include the growth of tourism and radical changes to the traditional agricultural economy. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungcg Local Environmental Plan 62 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 3.11.1. Agricultural Economy The dominant agricultural enterprises within Dungog Shire are dairying, poultry for meat production and beef cattle (NSW Agriculture, 2001). Other established and developing enterprises in the Shire include nurseries, hay production, horse studs, mandarins, corn, oats, bee keeping for honey, viticulture, olives, farm forestry, pigs, sheep and organic meat and vegetable production. A winery has recently started production in the Gresford locality. While milk production and poultry growing are the most economically significant agricultural enterprises in the Shire, beef producers are the most numerous (321 producers in the 1996/97 ABS survey). The following table details the changes to the agricultural economy in the Dungog Shire between 1990/91 to 1995/1996. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 63 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Table 6. Agricultural statistics, Dungog Shire, 1990- 1996 1990/91 1994/95 1995/96 Number of agricultural holdings 292 408 416 area of agricultural holdings (ha) 101 783 120 905 125 387 Oats (ha) 16 80 2 Maize (ha) 35 8 Number of Vegetable farms i 1 Vegetables (ha) 1 1 Number of fruit farms 2 1 Fruit(ha) 11 9 11 Number of Dairy Cattle holdings 108 108 Number of cows in milkl dry 9202 9 263 total number of cows 14 393 14 735 14 236 Number of beef cattle holdings 251 306 Number of cattle 44 193 52 363 54 807 Number of sheep holdings 3 5 Number of sheep 393 2 297 393 Number of pig holdings 7 4 Number of pigs 613 464 67 Number of horse studs 34 25 Number of horses 287 195 301 value of hay production ($ '000) 306 397 value of fruit production ($ '000) 4 52 80 value of wool production ($ '000) 9 64 value of milk production ($ '000) 12958 17521 value of pig production ($ '000) 152 127 value of poultry production ($ '000) 7308 9833 value of beef production ($ '000) 11801 8722 value of all agricultural production ($ '000) 37717 39466 ererence: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional Profiles Dungog LGA 1998 There are inherent limitations with agricultural statistics, due to surveying errors, the estimation of agricultural production and survey exclusions. This results in inaccuracies, especially underestin-iation of the true-value of agriculture to the Shire. H DB\\Master\c\Myoocumeflt$\Dng0g Local Environmental Plan 64 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council The contribution from intensive agricultural enterprises, especially dairy and poultry is a key factor in the high economic contribution in Dungog Shire relative to the area of farmland in the Shire. Beef cattle, lucerne hay and horticultural production within Dungog is also regionally significant (NSW Agriculture, 2001). NSW Agriculture has advised that farm size have a critical correlation to productivity and sustainability. For a given standard of management and quality of land, larger grazing properties enable better economies of scale and return on capital. Larger grazing properties with more reliable and productive pastures justify higher levels of management, have more options as to the type of product produced and can yield significantly higher returns, especially with increasing cattle prices. They also typically includes a greater diversity of agricultural land (i.e. grazing pastures, fertile fields, hilly areas), enabling vital matching of livestock needs, pasture production and seasonal variability (e.g. flood, droughts). Even for more intensive enterprises, larger holdings have larger buffer capacity and greater opportunity to protect environmental values. The average size of properties producing more than $600,000/ yr in 1993/94 was over 1 ,500ha, whereas the average size of the least productive farms was 1 74ha (ABS, 1993/94). This is a pattern of significantly larger properties generating significantly higher incomes and is consistent across all local government areas in the Hunter. NSW Agriculture has identified new opportunities for agriculture in the Dungog Shire. The continued fragmentation of larger holdings into smaller lots has the potential to provide capital injection and create opportunities for new forms of agriculture or residential lifestyles. NSW Agriculture and other organisations question the sustainability and continued need for this within Dungog Shire. Almost all properties within the Hunter and Dungog areas rely on some external income. Further subdivision does not consequently introduce this option, but incrementally reduces the resource base on which potential property investment can build, particularly for rural lands that are already fragmented. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 65 ocal Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council While the rationale for subdivision is to create an additional rural retreat or hobby farm lot, capital investment is primarily directed to the duplication of existing infrastructure (houses, sheds, access and machinery). Even where investment in fencing or pastures is undertaken, for small grazing properties on marginal land the result is a significantly increased ratio of capital expenditure to productive capacity. Subdividing a larger holding into multiple smaller lots also increases the level of overheads (e.g. management costs, roads) compared to returns, unless significant production gains are achieved. To improve and maintain their sustainability, agricultural enterprises need to be efficient and competitive. This requires access to critical resources which are finite (e.g. irrigable, low flood risk pastures for dairying or remote but accessible and relatively level sites for poultry) surety for capital investment and ongoing improvement (especially for intensive enterprises) the minimisation of additional cost pressures and land use conflict (NSW Agriculture, 2001). Dungog Shire's location on the fringe of expanding urban and industrial centre is a significant influence of agricultural production and opportunities. Despite considerable pressure from dispersed residential development and rural fragmentation, agriculture remains a significant economic contributor in Dungog. Intensive agricultural industries are a significant component, particularly dairying that contributes approximately $31 million to the local economy each year. Local poultry and beef cattle production is also regionally significant (NSW Agriculture, 2001). Agriculture also has important social and economic values for other sectors by helping to maintain rural landscapes and sustain rural communities. 3.11.1.1. Dairy Industry The ABARE study (2001) into the impact of dairy deregulation identified Dungog and adjoining Gloucester as an area likely to be highly affected by deregulation. This is due to the significant focus on HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 66 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council dairying (limited diversity) and the district's focus on producing market milk pre-deregulation rather than the more conservatively priced manufactured milk (NSW Agriculture, 2001). In the face of significantly reduced margins, approximately 20 producers (20%) within Dungog have left the industry since deregulation. Others may be biding time, watching the milk price. Dairy deregulation has markedly reduced the payment received by farmers for fresh milk and several farmers have left the industry in the Dungog area. The extent of the impact of deregulation is not truly represented in the statistics as the remaining farmers have improved their productivity, resulting in approximately the same regional volume of milk production. Deregulation requires a focus on efficiency and increased productivity. The key factors to met the higher efficiencies include good management, reliable high quality pastures (high quality agricultural land with irrigation opportunities) and sufficient land to maintain larger herds. Accessibility and road infrastructure are also important as farmers compete with each other for market share. 3.11.1.2. Poultry Industry There were 18 broiler producers in the Dungog Shire in 1999. Most of these were located in the Paterson area near to the processing centre in Beresfield, outside of the Shire. Dungog Shire is one of the top four local government areas in the Hunter for poultry meat production (NSW Agriculture, 2001). A significant current trend is the modernisation of current broiler enterprises and relocation to areas with a strong agricultural focus and less risk of being intruded on by residential sprawl. Compatible adjoining land uses determined by zoning regulations is an important consideration for poultry farmers. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 67 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council There is a synergy between the poultry industry and grazing enterprises, as the broiler industry provides cost-effective fertiliser for pasture improvement. There is potential for traditional broiler farms to be converted to egg production. 3.11.1.3. Beef Industry Grazing lands within Dungog generally benefit from relatively high and reliably distributed rainfall. However, production levels are limited by the dominance of native and naturalised grasses with highly seasonal feed value and shallow soils with poor water holding capacity and low soil phosphate. These constraints can be offset by relatively large areas, which include a diversity of land types, but the Dungog area continues to be fragmented into increasingly smaller and more uniform holdings. There isa nexus between property size of beef cattle producers and non-agricultural development pressures in the Dungog Shire. The size of beef cattle holdings in Dungog are significantly smaller than holdings in Gloucester and Taree (NSW Agriculture, 2001). Despite the past fragmentation, properties within Dungog Shire contribute to overall cattle production in the region and beef cattle remains a significant rural industry. High land values within Dungog Shire constrain the expansion of beef properties. The risk of conflict with neighbouring land uses and longer-term land use prospects are key factors in investor surety, which are influenced by land use planning (NSW Agriculture, 2001). HOB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Duflgog Local Environmental Plan 68 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 3.11.2. Industrial Development Dungog Local Environmental Plan 1990 has provisions for two industrial zones; 4(a) General Industrial Zone and 4(b) Light Industrial Zone. The industrial zoned land in the Shire is located in Paterson (4b), Clarence Town (4b), southwest of Alison (4a) and in Dungog (4b and 4a). There is no industrial zoned land in Vacy, Martins Creek or Gresford. Anecdotal evidence from Council officers is that there are increasing inquiries regarding industrial land in the Shire. Most inquiries are for industrial sites greater than 20 acres (8ha), flat topography and proximate to services and infrastructure. Due to the limited areas of industrial land within the shire, and the restrictive provisions of other zones to prohibit industrial-type activities, there are several industrial operations conducted on other-zoned land, operating in an illegal manner. Some activities, which would usually be permitted in a commercial zone, are restricted by the provisions in the Local Environmental Plan, creating implications for the provision of services in the Clarence Town, Paterson, Vacy and Gresford area. Further examination of the zoning provisions to permit industrial development and investigation areas for rezoning to industrial land is required. Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 3.11.3. Tourism Industry Tourism as an industry is increasing in the Dungog Shire as areas such as Barrington Tops and wflderness areas are promoted intrastate and interstate. Cultural and recreational services have increased their number of employed 100%, between 1986-1996. The accommodation, café and restaurant industry also swelled nearly 90% in employees during the same period. Ecotourism is a growing industry in Dungog Shire and is mostly focused on smaller tourist operators located in or near the forested areas of the Shire or other rural locations. Accreditation with the National Ecotourism Accreditation Program (NEAP) is required for an operator to claim ecotourism status. Ecotourism is a nature-based tourism, which is managed to be ecologically sustainable (Regional Ecotourism Plan, 1996). The Dungog Visitor Information Centre, Dowling Street, Dungog, is an accredited visitor information network member. Tourist information shopfronts operate in Paterson, Clarence Town and Gresford, providing brochures and assistance to tourists. Between 1997-2000, there were approximately 13,000 inquires to the Dungog Visitors Information Centre. The table below details tourism statistics for Dungog Shire in 1994-1995. Table 7. Tourism statistics, Dungog Shire, 1994-1995 1994-1995 Visitors (000) 59 tor nights ('000) 170 F Expenditure ($ million) 11 (Estimates of visitation and visitor expenditure to Local Government areas in NSW 1994-1995). As part of the Hunter Highlands Tourism and Dungog Visitor Information Centre Business Plan 2000-2003, a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), analysis of the Dungog area was conducted. The results from this analysis is compiled below: HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 70 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Strengths: main strengths include natural environments such as Barrington Tops, annual events such as rodeos/Dungog show, quality accommodation, proximity to tourist markets and local people. Weaknesses: weaknesses include limited mid-week visits, perceived lack of activities and attractions, limited funding and resources and poor roads. Qpportunities: opportunities were identified as caravan and restaurant developments, joint activities with neighbouring areas (Gloucester, Great Lakes), and possible conference facilities. Threats: main threats were increased competition from adjacent tourist markets, reduced funding and inadequate infrastructure. 3.11 .3.1. Activities and attractions The major tourist attractions in Dungog Shire are natural features such as Barrington Tops National Park State Forests and the rural landscapes of the Shire. Their natural features encodrage activities such as bush walking scenic drives swimming photography, horse riding, camping and canoeing. These features attract ecotourists. Currently, no direct access is possible to the Barrington Tops National Park from the Dungog Shire. Tourists are required to travel north beyond the National Park and enter from the Gloucester Shire. Other attractions in Dungog Shire include Chichester Dam, via Gresford, craft and art festivals, local museums, golf courses and furniture making. Activities in the Dungog Shire include carnpdrafts, the Dungog and Gresford Shows and monthly markets. All these attractions are dispersed across the Shire, within the mountainous areas and the urban areas providing tourist incentives. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 71 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 3.11.3.2. Accommodation Tourist accommodation in Dungog Shire is varied, ranging from resort-style accommodation, cabins and cottages, bed and breakfast houses, camping grounds and caravan parks and motels and hotels. Their accommodation facilities are distributed through the towns and villages of the Shire, with the rural areas also housing accommodation facilities. Anecdotal evidence suggests that further development of bed and breakfast accommodation is unwarranted in the Dungog Shire, as visitors are not demanding this form of accommodation. Further examination of the provisions permitting tourism facilities and accommodation within the Dungog Shire and demand for services needs to be undertaken. HDB\\Master\c\My000uments\Duflgog Local Environmental Plan 72 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 3.12. Heritage All heritage areas, structures and items can be threatened by development and resource use activities including agricultural, forestry, mining and extraction industries, road works and urban construction and development. 3.12.1. European Heritage Items of heritage significance in the Dungog Shire are currently protected by the Dungog Local Environmental Plan 1990, Division 9 Heritage provisions. This document lists all heritage items in Schedule 2- Heritage Items, including 108 significant heritage items from all parts of the shire. This schedule is reproduced in Appendix G Current Heritage Items. A draft Development Control Plan for heritage items in the Dungog Shire has recently been prepared. This document aims to support the objectives of Dungog Shire Council's planning instruments, having regard for the principles of the Burra Charter and the recommendations from the Dungog Shire Heritage Study 1988 and the Dungog Main Street Heritage Study 1995. This document lists potential heritage items together with five heritage conservation areas, namely Clarence Town Grey Street precinct, Dungog Commercial precinct, Dungog Residential precinct, East Gresford village and Paterson village. Each heritage conservation area has unique characteristics, which are to be considered when new development is proposed within the precinct. The revised and updated list of 151 heritage items (draft Schedule 2 of Dungog LEP) is reproduced as Appendix H Revised Heritage Items. This list documents the level of heritage significance for each item i.e. state, regional or local. F47 Dun gog Shire has a large number of heritage items, together with five proposed heritage conservation, areas. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 73 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 3.12.2. Aboriginal Heritage A number of Aboriginal archaeological sites have been recorded in the Dungog Shire. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service maintain a record of all aboriginal sites encourage the protection and preservation of these significant sites. The small number of recorded sites may indicate destruction of many more Aboriginal sites through agricultural pursuits, natural processes of erosion and deposition of land, bushfires, flooding or purposeful ruin. Many other sites may not have been detected to date. A description of the pressures on Aboriginal heritage items is included in the Dungog State of the Environment Report 2000. Thirty Aboriginal sites have been recorded in the Dungog Shire, as noted in the Dungog Shire Council State of the Environment Report 2000. The following table categorises the currently known Aboriginal sites. Table 8. Aboriginal sites within the Dungog Shire Source: Dungog Shire Council State of the Environment Report 2000 F48 There are thirty Aboriginal heritage sites within the Shire, with the potenti more to be discovered due to incomplete sua'veying. H DB\\Master\c\MyiJocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 74 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS 4.1. Land Degradation 4.1.1. Soil Erosion Soil erosion is a naturally occurring land degradation process that affects all areas to some degree. The rate of soil erosion creates the degradation of land. Natural rates in the Williams River Catchment are approximately 500m2 per year, which has small but significant impact on the environment. Soil erosion becomes a major problem in the Williams River catchment when this rate is increased. In the whole of the Dungog Shire, soil erosion was a significant problem in the past. The consequences of soil erosion included a loss of agricultural production, nutrient pollution of water supplies, siltation of water storages and stream and land degradation. Potentially the most significant sources of erosion and sediment production are those activities associated with a change in land use, the destruction of protective ground cover or disturbance of the ground surface, including bushfires, droughts, cropping, overgrazing, land clearing, destruction of streambank vegetation, urban and industrial development road and trick construction, rural residential and hobby farm subdivision, recreational uses and timber harvesting. Soil erosion by water and the resultant soil loss is thought to occur throughout the Shire. Factors influencing soil erosion and soil loss are soil type, topography, rainfall occurrence and intensity, groundcover and in particular land use and associated land use management practices. Due to the seasonality of erosive rainfall in the Dungog area, adequate ground cover is essential (particularly on steeper slopes) to avoid high rates of soil erosion during high intensity summer storms. Rainfall erosivity is the ability of rainfall to cause erosion. The rainfall erosivity calculated for Chichester Dam shows a greater likelihood of high erosivity in the summer months, with 71% of the annual erosive rainfall occurring in this period. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Loca' Environmental Plan 75 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council The ruggedness of both the upper catchments of the Williams and Paterson Valleys has ensured that the majority of these areas remain under native forest. Even so, the removal of trees and the disturbance of groundcover through clearing or forestry operations without adequate erosion control measures can lead to extensive soil loss. The effects of logging and clearing on freehold land is seen to be as a major problem in regard to soil erosion and resultant soil loss as logging and clearing operations on freehold land are not as tightly controlled or managed as areas cinder NSW Forest control. Soil erosion from areas adjacent to roads and tracks, both sealed and unsealed, is a problem throughout the Shire. New roads and tracks, particularly those associated with rural residential development, farm tracks and logging access tracks are seen as particular problems due to the level of disturbance caused in their construction. Temporary snigging tracks constructed during logging operations can also be a problem. Roads can be a point of erosion and a source of sediment, as water tends to run on or adjacent to them. Areas of the Shire that are particularly affected by erosion include the Dungog Hills, which have widespread minor to moderate sheet erosion and gully erosion. Other areas with steep slopes, particularly in sheltered southeasterly locations, are prone to mass movement. Strean-ibank erosion occurs along the Williams River to varying degrees. The Williams River TOM Committee note that this year sever riverbank erosion occurred during flooding in the Williams River. Much of the area was declared a disaster area, with funding being made available through the DLWC to address the priority sites. Given the level of rural residential development within the Shire, it is clear that this issue requires considerable attention by Council to elevate the profile of the issue with those directly involved. In this regard, Council has adopted the Regional Erosion and Sediment Control Policy in 2001. It is important that this policy be enforced on all contractors and that Council's own construction workers maintain best practice to control soil erosion. HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 76 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 4.1.2. Soil Salinity Excessive salt is toxic to most plants. Saline surface soils are usually bare of have sparse plant cover. These soils have a high erosion hazard and are often poorly drained. Treatment of saline soils often involves removal of saline water by drainage and deep-ripping as well as establishment of salt-tolerant species. Cover crops and mulches as well as the application of fertilisers and gypsum are often required for successful vegetation establishment. Strategic measures that further reduce concentration of salts within the plant root zone should be planned to ensure long-term rehabilitation. Saline soils may be corrosive to untreated underground services Dryland salinity has been identified at a number of locations in the Dungog area but is not currently considered to be a major problem. The most localised dryland salinity occurs in the Gresford soil landscape in the Gresford Hills and near to the village of Gresford. Seasonal dryland salinity occurs in localised areas on the lower slopes and in drainage lines (Henderson, 2000). 4.1.3. Land Stability There are no areas of mine subsidence in the Dungog Shire The geology of the Shire is complex with many faults and folding in the substrata and there is evidence of instability in the landscape, especially in mass movement, causing environmental hazards for the Shire. The major HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 77 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council areas of mass movement occur in the steep hilly and mountainous regions, including the Dungog, Gresford and Clarence Town Hills (Henderson, 2000). F53 Some mass movement occurs in the steep hills and mountainous regions near Dungog, Gres ford and Clarence Town. 4.1.4. Land Contamination A contaminated site is broadly defined as one where hazardous substances occur at concentrations above background levels and where assessment indicated it poses or is likely to pose an immediate or long-term hazard to human health or the environment. Most contaminated sites result from land use (NSW State of the Environment Report 1995). Approximately ninety-five sites have been identified as potentially contaminated in the Shire using the SEPP 55 Remediation of Land planning guidelines and index of potentially contaminating activities (Dungog Shire Council, State of the Environment Report, 2001). The majority of these sites are where there is a recent history of or ongoing use and storage of commercial quantities of fuel, oil, paint and timber preservatives. This identification does not imply that these sites are actually contaminated. They will require investigation if developed in the future. 4.1.5. Acid Suffate Soils Acid sulfate soils are acidic soil layers resulting from the aeration of soil materials that are rich in iron sulfides. In Australia, the acid sulfate soils of most concern are those that formed within the past 10,000 years after the last major sea level rise. When the land was inundated, sulfate in the seawater mixed with land sediments containing iron oxides and organic material. The resulting chemical reaction produced large quantities of iron sulfides in the waterlogged sediments. When these sulfides are exposed to the air, the iron HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 78 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council sulfides in the sediment oxidize to produce sulfuric acid, hence the name "acid sulfate soils". Under strong acid conditions, high levels of aluminium and other trace metals become mobile in the soil solution. Together with a low pH, this can have a number of detrimental effects, including Surface soil scalding, Reduced soil productivity, Increased soil toxicity as iron, aluminium, manganese and heavy metals are dissolved, Reduced animal productivity due to the discouragement of good quality pasture growth, Weakening and corrosion of concrete structure, steel fence posts, building foundations and underground pipes, Destruction of aquatic habitat and alterations to waterplant communities, and Health effects on aquatic organisms resulting in loss of native species and dominance of acid-tolerant species. Only a small area of the Dungog Shire is potentially affected by acid sulfate soils. The locations of these areas are detailed in Plan 10 and Plan 11. In early 2000 a study was carried out in the Clarence Town areas on the Williams River and Paterson areas on the Paterson River, to determine the extent and nature of acid sulfate soils. With the completion of this study, Council resolved to prepare an LEP amendment and a DCP to ensure that acid sulfate soil management controls are in place in Dungog Shire. The amendment and DCP should produce planning controls to reduce the disturbance of acid sulfate soils in the Dungog LGA and minimize impact on the local environment and infrastructure. The planning documents also provide guidelines for development consent where activities including agriculture would disturb soils or groundwater levels in localities identified as having acid sulfate sols through the study. F55 Only a small area of Dungog Shire is potentially affected by acid sulfate so/s L and these are controlled withino the LEP and DCP. HDB\\Master\c\MyJocuments\Du0gog Local EnvirormentaI Plan 79 p NGQG SHIRE COUNCIL ACiD SULFATE SOIL PLANNING APPLffl \VORKS 1UR WHICH PLANNING INSTRUMENT APPLIES I: Mv works 2: Works below ground level fl 3: Works 1 meire below surface 4WOTkS 2 metre below surface Li 5:WOrksWith1fl51I0:2,4 Local Government l3oundai3 Roads PLAN 10 DUNGOGS±illLQUiL ACID SULFAThSOILS Probability of Risk from Acid Sulfate soils 1-ugh Probability 1 ow Probability I No known occurance Local government houndaiy H Roads Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 4.2. Flooding The Paterson River has the potential to flood from a number of sources. These include high intensity rainfalls over the catchment, causing short duration floods with little warning time. This type of flooding is mainly experienced in the upper catchment areas. Flooding in the lower catchment areas is often the result of widespread rainfall in the Hunter Valley, producing elevated river levels in the Hunter River. The flooding occurs as a result of the restriction of flow of the Paterson into the Hunter River. Some flooding also occurs when localised rain falls on the low-lying areas of the catchment. Drainage is generally poor in these areas. Within the Dungog Shire, flooding of the Paterson River affects the villages of Paterson and Vacy. The villages of Woodville and Hinton in an adjoining shire are also constrained by floodwaters from the Paterson River. A floodplain from the Paterson River extends to cover many various rural residences in the Paterson! Tocal district immediately south of Martins Creek and to the northwest of Paterson. Martins Creek is also affected by flooding in the Paterson River. The largest flood recorded in the upper catchment of the Paterson River occurred in 1978 and severely affected the township of Paterson. A major flood in the lower catchment, affecting areas outside of the Dungog Shire occurred in 1955. Paterson is located about 23km upstream of the confluence of the Paterson and Hunter Rivers. The township is generally located on higher ground and approximately two houses on the outskirts of the urban area are inundated above floor level during the 1 % AEP flood event. Access into and out of the town during flood events is not possible in moderate flood events (Paterson River Floodplain Study and Plan, 2000). The Williams River is subject to periodic flooding affecting the towns of Dungog and Clarence Town. As the Williams River is a tributary of the Hunter River, flood events in the Hunter River catchment often cause flooding in the Williams, thought not exclusively. Clarence Town is particularly affected by its proximity to the Hunter River, as flooding in the town generally occurs for a longer period that flooding at Dungog. Flooding at Dungog is a short duration event, but occurs with little warning. Few buildings in Dungog or Clarence Town are affected by flooding in the Williams River, HDB\\Master\c\Myoocunlents\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 80 BUSHFIRE RISK PLAN 13 L Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Bushfires are a regular occurrence in the Shire. The following data shows the incidence and extent of bushfires in the Shire during 1999 and 2000. Table 9. Number of bush fires by type, Dungog Shire 1999-2000 Type of Fire Number r 1999 Number for 2000 Bush fires 13 68 Structural fires 7 15 Vehicle fires 1 2 Others including false alarms 43 29 TOTAL 64 131 Table 10. Area affected by bush fire by type of Dungog Shire 1999-2000 Type of area affected Hectares in 1999 Hectares in 2000 Unimproved pasture 7 926 Improved pasture 19 372 Forest 0 92 National Park 0 20 Other 0 7.5 TOTAL 26 1418.5 NSW State Forests reported that during 1999/2000 there were no significant wildfires in the State Forests of the Dungog area. In a relatively wet year, a small window of opportunity made it possible to complete 1 ,O6Oha of hazard reduction burning. Fire caused by lightening strikes is a natural phenomenon in the Shire, especially on the dry ridges. Hazard reduction burning of forested areas is carried out to reduce fuel on the forest floor, thereby reducing the damage and extent of wildfires. Wildfires can damage and destroy vegetation and animals and lead to a decline in water quality. F57 The Shire experiences bush fires on a regular basis in the summer season. F58 The most severe-bush fires occur in the western and southern regions. 4.4. Waste Disposal There is an estimated 2 500 septic tanks or similar systems in the Shire with approximately 70% of the population relying on this form of effluent treatment and HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 82 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council disposal. The increase in development outside the sewered area of the Dungog township means that these systems are increasing in numbers. Inappropriate design installation, operation and maintenance of these systems can lead to negative impacts on both land and waterways in the shire. The high nutrient levels particularly phosphates are detrimental to native vegetation and the over application of effluent can lead to loss of soil texture, boggy soils, the proliferation of introduced vegetation and a loss of amenity. On-site disposal places significant pressures on the environment with the quality and quantity of effluent disposed of via these systems remaining largely unknown. There are also recognised problems due to landowners not performing required maintenance on such systems or through illegal pumping out of liquid wastes into waterways or other areas. Of particular concern is the disposal of effluent via on-site systems within small villages and townships that remain without reticulated sewer services. The small size of many allotments within these townships and the age of some of the on-site treatment systems can lead to significant problems, particularly during times of high rainfall. Septic absorption potential is determined by the soil properties in the base and lower sides of an absorption trench. For a soil to be classified as having very low potential for septic absorption, it will generally have high dispersion (>50%), a limited ability to absorb nutrients and a rocky texture. Waste disposal in the Dungog Shire is constrained by variable soils, with some areas possessing soils unsuitable for long term acceptance of effluent. Other constraints include numerous old septic tanks that are periodically failing, older subdivision design and lot sizes unsuitable for effluent disposal (generally too small), climatic factors including high rainfalls and low temperatures in winter, variable water tables, and water protection areas for the Williams River catchment. It is a recommendation of the Williams River Regional Environmental Planning Strategy that no further intense development of Clarence Town occur unless reticulated sewerage provisions are available. Martins Creek landfill was closed during 2000/2001. This has been capped for rehabilitation. The dispersed nature of the population makes the provision of solid waste services more difficult than in areas with higher and more concentrated populations. HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 83 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Council has adopted a recycling program for the Shire and resolved to construct a Recycling Facility at the Dungog landfill (Dungog Shire Council, State of the Environment Report, 2001). 4.5. Loss of Biodiversity Biodiversity refers to the variety of life and supporting processes. It includes the native plants, animals, ecosystems and landscapes that characterise the area and make it special. Much of the biodiversity within the Dungog Shire occurs on private land and it is the responsibility of landholders to be aware of likely habitat for threatened species on their land, and to protect and appropriately manage such habitat (draft Biodiversity Development Control Plan, 2001) The Dungog Shire is located within the NSW North Coast bioregion identified in the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (Thackway & Cresswell 1995). This means that Dungog has generally similar characteristics and threatened species to the north coast of NSW, and this region provides a context for determination of the conservation status of species and ecosystems within the Council area. It is important that many plant species are at the limit of their southern distribution within the Dungog Shire area. Biodiversity within the Dungog Shire is continuing to decline in line with regional and national trends. Decline is directly associated with development and land use (draft Biodiversity DCP, 2001). Local threats to biodiversity in Dungog Shire include the clearing of large mature trees and understorey vegetation, removal of dead trees, riparian vegetation, bush fires management practices, weed invasion and forestry. Much of the original vegetation in the lower reaches of the Dungog Shire has been cleared or modified for agricultural and forestry operations in the past 200 years. HDS\\Master\c\Myoocuments\lJug0g Local Environmental Plan 84 Local Environmental Study Dungog Shire Council Native vegetation cover is greatest to the north of the shire where the terrain is steep and rugged, thus preventing many land activities that lead to significant vegetation removal or disturbance. Undulating lands to the south have been extensively cleared for agricultural activity mainly due to their reduced slope. The development of land for new urban and rural subdivisions and clearing for agricultural activities are the major contributors to the loss, modification and fragmentation of habitat in the Dungog Shire. NSW Fisheries have acknowledged that several key threatening processes are impacting on the flora and fauna diversity in the State's rivers. These key threatening processes are the removal of large woody debris from waterways, translocation of freshwater fish species outside of their natural range and the degradation of riparian vegetation. Barriers over and in rivers are also affecting spawning and migration of fish and aquatic species reducing the biodiversity of local rivers and streams. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Loca' Environmental Plan 85 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 5.0 DEMOGRAPHICS The most recent national population census was conducted in August 2001, however results from this survey will not be available for several years. Information for this section has therefore been extracted from the 1996 census data. 5.1. Population The resident population of Dungog Shire was 7,666 in 1991. There was an increase to 7,873 people by 1996. This amounts to a growth of 2.7% between 1991 and 1996. During this same period, the Hunter Statistical Division of which Dungog forms a part, had a population growth of 4.4%. The projected population for the Dungog Shire over the fifteen-year period between 1996 and 2011 is detailed in the table below. This information was based on 1991 census estimates and determined by the PlanningNSw. Table 11. Dungog projected population 1996- 2011 Projected Population 1996 2001 2006 2011 Population 8,400 9,100 9,800 10,400 % Change (8.7) 8.3 7.7 6.1 It is expected that the Hunter Region population will grow at a rate of 9.6% between 1996-2006. A population growth of 734 residents was expected between 1991 and 1996, however only 207 new residents were recorded in the 1996 census. The components of population change in the Dungog Shire in 1995 and 1996 are recorded below. Table 12. Population change, Dungog Shire 1995-1996 I 1995 1996 Births 105 100 r5 ths 54 64 Natural Increase total r 51 36 LNet Migration total -17 49 HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Duflgog Local Environmental Plan 86 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Total Population 34 1 85 I The negative net migration resulted in the low population change in 1995. Although the number of deaths had a marginal increase in 1996, the population of Dungog Shire was still growing as a result of natural forces, i.e. births minus deaths. Within the Hunter area, population growth from natural increases has been falling steadily since 1993, as detailed below. Net migration figures have been variable during the last decade, with a net migration loss in 1996, but growth from migration in all other years between 1993 and 1999. Table 13. Population change, Hunter Region 1993-1999 Hunter, per 1,000 population 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 Live Births 7.9 7.6 7.5 7.3 7.2 7.2 7.2 atural Increases 3.6 3.0 3.0 2.9 2.6 2.6 2.6 [Net Migration 1.7 4.0 4.4 -6.3 3.7 2.2 2.2 I The population of Dungog Shire was previously divided into four planning districts based on the four major urban centres of Dungog, Clarence Town, Paterson and Gresford. These divisions are useful in determining the areas of growth in the Shire and the different population structures according to location. The table below shows the distribution of population within the planning districts and the changes in population between 1971 and 1996. Table 14. Population distribution, Dungog Shire planning districts, 1971-1996 nning District 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 Growth ______1971-1996 [Dungog 3144 3187 3147 3230 3217 3223 2.5% Clarence Town 723 709 1031 1125 1633 1779 1 106.70/co Paterson 939 888 106441107 1099 1638 66.8% Gresford 1107 1127 116 1408 996 -2.1% TOTAL 5913 5911 E6325 578 7357 7636 26.6% The Gresford planning district has experienced a reduction in population between 1971 and 1996 with a major loss (-29%) of residents between 1991 and 1996. Clarence Town and Paterson planning districts have generally grown in size since the 1976 census. Clarence Town's population increases occurred between 1976 - 1981 HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 87 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council (45.4%) and 1986— 1991 (45.2%). Paterson has grown in population in 1976— 1981 (19.0%) and 1991 - 1996(49.0%). HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 88 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 5.2. Age Structure The age structure for the Dungog Shire and NSW as recorded in the 1996 census is reproduced below. Figure 4. Age Pyramid for Dungog LGA and NSW, 1996 In the Dungog LGA, the largest group of people by age and sex are female girls aged 5-9 years (4.5% of total population). The largest male group is men aged 35-39 (4.4% of total population). There are significant differences between the age pyramid of NSW and Dungog in young adults aged 20-34 years. The proportion of these people in Dungog LGA is lower than in NSW, suggesting that young adults are choosing not to live in the Shire. This is typical of many rural areas. There are however proportionally more, older males (50-74 years) in Dungog LGA than in NSW. Children aged 5-14 years have a greater representation in Dungog LGA than in NSW. There have been many significant changes in population age structure in the four planning districts of Dungog Shire between 1991 and 1996. For the Dungog planning district, there were increases in the youth population (9.8% 0-4 yrs, 21% 5-14 yrs), but significant declines in adult populations (-21.6% 15-24 yr, - HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 89 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 25.9% 25-54 yr). The most significant change occurred in the elderly population that increased 127.7% between 1991 and 1996. In the Clarence Town planning district, small population losses were experienced in the 0-4 yr and 70+ age groups. Moderate population gains were seen in the adult population, with a significant gain in children aged 5-14 years (77.7%). The Paterson planning district had population growth in all age groups except 70+ years (-2.1%). The largest population growth was in adults aged 25-54 years (61.8%). Of all the planning districts, Gresford experienced the greatest loss of population from several age groups. There was a major decline in those aged 15-24 years (-65.1%) between 1991 and 1996. Gresford did encounter a population growth in the 55 to 69 age groups (76.5%). Table 15. Population age structure, planning districts, 1991 1991 Planning 0-4 years 5-14 years 15-24 years 25-54 years 55-69 years 70~ years district Dungog 193 415 510 1620 496 188 Clarence 146 193 156 684 207 96 Town Paterson 106 181 170 456 177 105 Gresford 102 129 172 442 98 94 Table 16. Population age structure, planning districts, 1996 1996 Planning 0-4 years 5-14 years 15-24 years 25-54 years 55-69 years 70+ years district Dungog 212 502 400 1201 472 428 Clarence 142 343 190 771 235 94 Town Paterson 127 280 177 738 208 103 Gresford 73 152 60 426 173 103 HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 90 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Table 17. Population age structure change, planning districts, 1991-1996 1991-1996 0/ /0 Planning 0-4 years 5-14 years 15-24 years 25-54 years 55-69 years 70+ years - district Dungog 9.8 21.0 -21.6 -25.9 -4.8 127.7 Clarence 7.7 77.7 21.8 12.7 13.5 -2.1 Town Paterson 19.8 54.7 4.1 61.8 17.5 -1.9 Gresford -28.4 17.8 -65.1 -3.6 76.5 9.6 Shire 1.3 39.1 -18.0 -2.1 11.2 44.5 5.3. Household and Family Structure The 1996 census recorded 4878 individual households in the Dungog Shire, with most of the families being couple-only families (37%) or two-parent families (51%). These results for family structure in Dungog are representative of state figures. There are proportionally fewer one-parent families in Dungog (10%) than in NSW(15%). Over 22% of all households in Dungog comprise a single person. Most of the two-parent families in Dungog Shire have dependent children (80%). Of all the families in the shire, 52% have no dependent children, while nearly 15% have 3 or more dependent children. In NSW, about 12% of all families have 3 or more dependent children. As a general trend, the households of Dungog Shire have lower weekly incomes than the NSW average. A greater proportion of households in Dungog receive weekly incomes of less than $500 (41 .7% Dungog, 34.8% NSW). Only 16.9% of Dungog's households earn more than $1000 per week, compared to 26.5% of NSW households. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 91 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 53.1. Vehicle Surnmanj In 1999, the RTA recorded 6,393 vehicle registrations in Dungog, a decrease from 6,416 in 1997 (RTA, 2001). A recent review has indicated that 6553 vehicles were registered in the Shire for 2000 (Dungog Shire Council, State of the Environment Report, 2001). Table 18. Vehicle registrations, Dungog Shire, 1997 and 1999 1997 1999 Registered vehicles 6416 6393 Passenger vehicles 2977 2796 Utilities and vans 1080 1138 rivate vehicles 4121 4024 Business vehicles 574 620 % of vehicles using unleaded petrol 34% 52.60/. There has been a moderate increase in vehicles using unleaded petrol in the Dungog Shire between 1997 and 1999. The significant number of private vehicles registered in the Dungog Shire is a result of a reliance on motor vehicles due to the following reasons: rural nature of Shire; isolation of residential areas from regional centres and employment; and lack of public transport. 5.4. Workforce Structure H DB\\Master\c\Myoocumeflts\oungog Local Environmental Plan 92 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire council In the 1996 census, there were 3047 Dungog residents who were employed either part-time or full-time. A further 290 residents in Dungog were unemployed. The unemployment rate in the shire was similar to the NSW average (8.7% Dungog, 8.8% NSW). The 1996 unemployment rate was lower than that for 1991, when unemployment was 11.1%. From the table below it can be seen that unemployment rates for younger people are higher than the State average in Dungog Shire. For the population aged 45+ years, unemployment rates are lower in Dungog than in NSW. Table 19. Unemployment rates, Dungog Shire and NSW total. 1996 Males 15-19 20-24 25-44 45+ TOTAL Dungog 27.0 23.3 8.1 5.3 9.4 NSW 19.7 14.5 8.6 7.3 9.5 Females 15-19 20-24 25-44 45+ TOTAL Dungog 19.3 14.8 7.1 4.3 7.7 NSW 16.9 11.2 7.1 5.4 7.9 Total 15-19 20-24 25-44 45+ TOTAL Dungog 23.7 19.4 7.7 4.9 8.7 NSW 18.3 13.0 7.9 6.6 8.8 Of those employed in Dungog Shire, 17.8% are employed as a manager or administrator, as detailed in the table below. The number of administrators is also twice the state average and can be partly accounted for by the high numbers of farmers in the shire, who are classified as managers or administrators. There are also proportionally more labourers in Dungog than NSW. HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 93 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Table 20. Employment by occupation, Dungog Shire and NSW The greatest increases in occupation in Dungog Shire between 1986 and 1996 were professionals (31 .1%), associate professionals (48.6%) and intermediate clerical, sales and service workers (53.3%). The industries with the highest growth rates in terms of employment in Dungog Shire are accommodation and restaurants, property and business services and cultural and recreational services, which have all increased substantially between 1986-1996. Traditionally strong industries such as agriculture, forestry and fishing, electricity, gas and water supply and transport and storage have all suffered a reduction in employees. Table 21. Employment by industry, Dungog Shire HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 94 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Property and business services 6.0 61.4 Government administration and defense 4.3 6.1 Education 8.6 131.7 Health and community services 7.2 58.0 Cultural and recreational services 1.1 100.0 [Personal and other services 7T9 112.2 The Economic Community Strategy - Beyond 2000, produced by Dungog Shire Council, notes that the most significant industries in Dungog Shire are: Tourism; Dairying; Beef; and retail and service. Major impacts on employment in the dairying industry are expected following dairy de- regulation in 2000-2001. 5.4. 1. Education structure HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 95 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council There are seven state schools in the Dungog Shire, which includes 1 high school and 6 public schools. A catholic primary school is located in Dungog. The following enrolment figures from 1996- 2001 show the changes to population in the localities surrounding the schools. Table 22. Enrolment figures, Dungog Shire, 1996-2001 School I - 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Dungog Public School 337 311 300 304 291 287 Dungog High School 627 636 664 716 758 755 L0 ance Town Public School 190 184 191 191 183 188 Glen William Public School 11 13 22 28 66 42 jGresford Public School 87 88 88 86 91 96 Paterson public School 125 122 113 106 109 106 7acy Public School 81 84 89 94 93 85 LITALS 1458 1438 1467 1582 1558 1559 As the total number of enrollments has increased in the Shire between 1996- 2001, groh has occurred at Glen William PS, Gresford PS and Dungog HS. Decreasing enrollments have occurred at Dungog PS and Paterson PS. The decreasing enrollments at Paterson PS have occurred despite population increases in the 5-14 years age groups. This may be partly explained by the location of Paterson near the shire boundary and the location of schools in the Maitland area aifracting enrollments from the southern areas of the Dungog Shire. Paterson is also serviced by public transport, creating a mode a transport for children to journey to school. 5. 5 Social Structure According to the 1996 census, the vast majority of Dungog Shire residents were born in Australia (92.8%), with 73.3% of all NSW residents Australian born, Of these not born in Australia, the largest ethnic group was those born in UK and Ireland (2.7% of Dungog population). Not surprisingly, English is the most commonly spoken language HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 96 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council at home with 97.2% of Dungog's population only speaking English compared to 78.7% in NSW. German is the second most common language spoken at home in Dungog, with 19 residents nominating this as the main language spoken at home. Christian religions dominate the Dungog Shire, with 80.9% of the population identifying as Christian (36.5% Anglican, 19.6% Catholic). Only 26 residents of Dungog noted that they belonged to non-Christian religions. Dungog Shire has a small population of people who identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent. This population has increased significantly since 1991, as detailed below. Table 23. Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, Dungog Shire, 1986-1996 1986 EE 1991 1996 Population 37 44 141 % of population 0.6 0.6 1.8 In 1996 the largest age group in the indigenous population was 10-14 year olds who comprised 20.6% of the population. Young indigenous people form a larger proportion of the Dungog population than the NSW indigenous population, Children aged 5-14 years comprise 39% of the indigenous population in Dungog compared to 26% in NSW. HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 97 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 6.0 LAND USE DEMAND 6.1. Real Estate Trends Demand for real estate in the Dungog Shire is focused on the south and southeastern areas of the Shire in and around Paterson and Clarence Town, which are close to the Shire boundaries. This demand is generated by the attractive force of employment, schooling and services in the area outside the Shire, including Maitland, Raymond Terrace, Newcastle and Sydney. A smaller demand for real estate occurs in the centres of Dungog, Gresford and Vacy. The history of land demand in Dungog Shire indicates a long history of small lot creation in rural areas, i.e. between 1977 and 1981, 56 small rural lots were created per year which was greater than most other LGAs. This lot creation increased to approximately 72 new rural dwellings per year in 1981-1 993, of which 2/3 were in the southern areas. Subdivisions have generally occurred close to urban centres, where local bitumen road access is available and where there are existing small lots. 6.2. Demand for land within the towns and villages of Dungog Shire Demand for vacant residential land within the village areas of Dungog Shire is generally high. Demand cannot be met in Clarence Town, where a new subdivision is to be constructed. In Dungog, further residential development is restricted by limitations to the sewerage system requiring upgrades before further residential development is permissible. 79Demand is occurring for In fill development in th oundarje of the villages anc towns of the Shire, however a constraint on sen es is restricting this. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 6.3. Demand for Rural Residential land People are seeking small rural lots for a variety of purposes. Some are seeking a lifestyle opportunity, a few want are interested in intensive farming venture on a commercial basis, some are looking for a house site only and others are concerned with investment potential or recreational use. For those intending to live on the property, a better lifestyle frequently underpins the move, commonly involving desires for seclusion, attractive rural scenery, room to move and the promise of freedom through privacy. These varied motives imply the need for small lots with a range of physical, location, aesthetic and other characteristics. The level of demand must also be assessed if demand and supply are to be kept in balance. The demand for small rural allotments is difficult to determine, as there is no established basis upon which to accurately predict future demand. However, a guide towards the future demand for small rural lots can be made based upon the history of supply and take up ratios (i.e. dwelling consents) and information received from local real estate agents. An inventory of subdivision and rural dwelling approval was prepared for the period 1991 to 2000 by Council. There exists over this period, a demand for lots of all sizes, with the smaller lots (<8ha) predominating. Since the gazettal of Dungog Local Environmental Plan in April 1990, the size of lots has been limited to the provisions of the LEP. The LEP provides for flexible lot sizes dependent upon water supply and individual landowner requirements. A random survey of subdivision applications lodged since 1990 indicates that very few sought to maximise lot yields, rather the size of lots were related to topographic and service factors. As a consequence a broad range of lot sizes has occurred with the smaller lots being the most popular. There is now increasing demand to re-subdivide the larger allotments. The appropriate lot size should be a product of the location of the land market demand, and the capability of the land. In determining an appropriate land use strategy, it is important to ensure that an adequate variety of lot sizes are produced. The Dungog LEP provides for minimum and average lot sizes. This appears to have been an appropriate mechanism for achieving the variety of lot sizes required by the market and there is an argument to suggest however that rural residential lot sizes HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 99 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council should be sufficiently large to dispose of effluent however reduced in size to discourage inappropriate activities that eventually generate conflict. 6.4. Industrial land As detailed in Chapter 3.12.2, there is extremely limited available industrial zoned land in the Dungog Shire. Anecdotal evidence from Council officer's suggest that demand for industrial land is increasing, as more inquiries have been made to Council. Some inquiries have been made regarding mixed-use zones, and industrial land on smaller lots. Further study is required todetermine the extent and level of interest in various industrial zones and sites. Surveys of local real estate agents suggested that there was little or no demand for industrial land in the Shire, indicating the potential developers are aware of the lack of suitably zoned land. Previously some areas of the Shire have been identified as potential industrial sites, subject to constraints being investigated and resolved. A mixture of light and general industrial development is possible in the Dungog Shire area. Gresford is constrained by the terrain, limiting areas of flat topography suitable for floor areas of industrial sheds or parking of machinery. Light industry landuse could be positioned west of Gresford Road back to the based of the ridgeline from the unnamed laneway in East Gresford, south to Cements Road in the vicinity. Two locations have been identified as suitable for industrial zoning at Vacy. The sites are located along Gresford Road south of Summerhill Road or east to Allyn River. Paterson is significantly constrained by transport corridors, terrain, flooding and existing development. An existing 4(b) industrial zone is located adjacent to the North Coast Railway on Webbers Creek Road. Additional industrial land could be developed HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 100 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council south of Webbers Creek Road within the noise and vibration buffer zone of the railway corridor. Martins Creek has significant areas that have potential for industrial development. As an alternative to zoning more land for industrial purposes, the permitted uses within a village zone could be amended to allow light industry such as car servicing, metal fabrication or other minimally offensive industrial activities. 6.5. Commercial land Further expansion of commercial land in the Shire is limited. This is a result of the capacity of Clarence Town and Paterson commercial areas being reached. The economic development of the Dungog Shire shows significant growth in the tourism and service sectors. There is a need for services to be;located in commercial areas, however many tourist facilities can be located in non-commercial zones. This is mostly due to the location of tourist attractions in the Shire. There needs to be an examination of permissible uses in villages zones to review the potential uses in the commercial zones. ,nere are limited opportunities for commercial de and villages of the Shire. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 101 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Counci 7.0 INFRASTRUCTURE 7.1. Water Supply There are two large water storage facilities in the Shire; Lostock Dam and Chichester Dam. Lostock Dam is located approximately 19km north of Gresford, on the Paterson River. Built between 1969-1 971, this dam has a storage capacity of 20,000 megalitres and collects water from a 280km 2 catchment. In addition to releasing water to the Paterson River, fishing and boating are permitted on Lostock Dam. Chichester Dam was built between 1916 and 1923 at the junction of Chichester and Wangat River. The dam has twice been added to, to improve the safety of the dam. As Chichester Dam has a catchment mostly containing protected wilderness area (Barrington Tops National Park), the water is used to supply drinking water to Lower Hunter residents. Chichester Dam has a storage capacity of 20,300 megalitres and a - catchment of 197km2. The dam supplies approximately 40% of drinking water to the customers of the Hunter Water Corporation as noted in the following table. Table 24. Drinking water supplied from Chichester Dam, 1997-2000 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 Pe ta~geof ter initres jrcen 31340 30658 31821 Following the recommendations of the Healthy Rivers Commission, the Hunter Water Corporation modified the river outlet of Chichester Dam to provide environmental releases to protect the river's ecology. This, including a small hydroelectricity generating plant, achieves additional environmental benefits. This plant generates greenpower that is sold to the state electricity grid. Water supplies to the villages of Dungog, Clarence Town, Paterson, Martins Creek and Vacy are via bulk water purchases from the Hunter Water Corporation. All water is treated in the Dungog Water Treatment Plant located Short Street, Dungog. Water supply to Gresford is pumped through a treatment plant from the Allyn River or Paterson River. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocumeflts\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 102 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council The existing reticulated water supply infrastructure is currently reaching capacity, with augmentation required in the near future to supply new connections to the system. Increases in the system are especially required in the Paterson, Martins Creek and Vacy districts (G. McDonald, pers.comm). In areas such as Black Rock Road, Paterson, the reticulated water delivery mains are insufficient to provide a continuous supply to the residents. This situation has resulted in the restriction of further connections to the delivery mains in the Paterson District Water Supply. Works to rectify these insufficiencies are detailed in the Dungog Council Strategic Business Plan- Water Supply Schemes. 7.1.1. Tillegra Dam proposal The Tillegra Dam site is located on the Williams River about 4.5 kilometres upstream of its confluence with the Chichester River. The site has been identified for many years as a potential site for a major water supply dam for the lower Hunter Region. Plan 14 shows the location of the Tillegra Dam site and the potential upper limit of inundation (approximately 150m AHD). It is expected that the construction of a dam at Tillegra will not be required within the next 30 years, and most likely some time beyond that. Hunter Water has been able to defer the need for a new major dam because of the introduction of its User-pays tariff and other demand management initiatives. The actual timing for the construction of a dam at Tillegra would depend upon the growth of demand for water, further demand management initiatives and regional water resources issues. Approval to construct would be subject to a HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 103 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council rigorous EIS process, with consideration given to social, environmental and economic issues, and to a range of feasible alternatives. 7.2. Stormwater Infrastructure Stormwater infrastructure in the Shire is limited to the four main village centers, with a modest area in Vacy. As noted in the Dungog Shire Council State of the Environment Report 2000, smoke testing of the stormwater and drainage pipes was carried out on all buildings in the Dungog township in early 1999 to identify cross connections which when corrected will reduce wet weather flows to the Sewerage Treatment Works and also reduce the potential for sewage to escape into the stormwater system. Where problems were identified owners were required to employ licenced tradesmen to carry out rectification works and notify Council. Forty-three properties to date have had faults rectified through this program as detailed in the Dungog Shire Council State of the Environment Report 2001. As required by State Government, Dungog Shire Council has prepared an Urban Stormwater Management Plan, completed in 2000. Council is implementing the recommendations raised in this document, when funding is available. The most recent project was the construction of a Gross Pollutant Trap in Brown Street Dungog. The issues pertaining to stormwater in the Dungog Shire include decreased water quality, impacts on aquatic and terrestrial habitats, erosion, impact on community health and safety, impacts on aesthetics, insufficient community awareness, planning issues, local ised flooding and infrastructure and maintenance issues. A wide variety of causes create these stormwater issues and it is the objective of the stormwater plan to ameliorate the issues and improve the treatment and environment of stormwater in the Shire. Some of the proposed options to upgrade stormwater management in the Shire include the involvement of community groups and programs such as Landcare and Streamwatch, construction of artificial wetlands, review of management procedures related to erosion and sediment control, education programs for school groups, farmers and other community groups and some signage to instruct the community in relation to littering. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Duflgog Local Environmental Plan 104 Local Environmental Study - Cungog Shire Council 7.3. Sewerage Infrastructure Dungog Shire has a large rural area and a small, dispersed population. This has led to a high reliance on the use of onsite sewerage management systems. Currently, only the town of Dungog is connected to a reticulated sewerage system with plans nearing finalisation for a system to be built in Clarence Town. The Clarence Town sewerage system is being part funded by the State Government's program of Small Town Sewerage Schemes. The extent of the Clarence Town sewerage scheme is restricted to the village limits and is shown in Plan 15. The existing sewerage scheme in Dungog dates from the early 1930's and comprises a conventional gravity sewer reticulation system that pumps to a sewerage treatment plant east of the township of Dungog. The sewerage treatment plant is a trickling filter system, which provides secondary biological treatment of the wastewater. Following tertiary ponding of the treated waste, the effluent is irrigated on an area of 60ha adjoining the sewerage treatment plant. A 103Ml wet weather pond is also available on this site to eliminate the need to discharge treated effluent to the Williams River. Due to sustained growth in the Dungog area, the existing sewerage scheme is reaching capacity with the treatment plant reaching its peak, past which it will be unable to produce adequate quality effluent given increasing volumes of sewage. The Dungog Sewerage Augmentation Strategy Study, undertaken by the Department of Public Works in August 1997 notes that in order to continue adequate sewerage service to Dungog some duplication and other minor works to the reticulation and transport systems are required to address the current inadequacies of the scheme. Following this, it is proposed to upgrade the treatment plant. Sewerage capacity is being reached in the Dungog area, requiring upgradi, the, pumping station and treatment plant. 7.3.1. On-Site Sewerage Management H DB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 105 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council A significant number of residents and businesses in the Dungog Shire do not have connections to the reticulated sewerage system and require onsite sewerage management systems. Approximately 2400 onsite management systems have approval to operate in the Shire. Recent inspections of on-site sewerage management systems in the Gresford and East Gresford area have indicated that there are higher than expected failure rates in the existing septic systems. The reasons for these failures include lot sizes, topography and soil type and the availability of reticulated water (T. Kavanagh pers. comm). The William River Catchment Regional Environmental Study details the different forms of pollution sources affecting the quality of water in the Williams River. The use of septic tanks in the unsewered areas of Dungog Shire is noted to be inappropriate in a water catchment area for the following reasons: The tendency for settlement, particularly rural residential and closer rural settlement, to be located on poorer agricultural soil, which is usually shallow and frequently has little capacity to handle volumes of effluent; Lot sizes being too small to adequately contain on-site waste; Poor maintenance of systems which can lead to poor bacterial treatment and overflows; A variety of household chemicals not easily broken down in septic systems; The difficulty in monitoring and policing disposal systems; The cumulative impacts of the increased rate of installation and usage; Variability in rainfall and groundwater levels, which aggravate operation. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 106 L!L1NLL'((!!L / \ — - \ PuMPs Tc' CATCHMEUI 2 — - — U (JR TO IRE&TMLUI PLAN' ' - sI,lGItTOc2 (\ \ '\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ -RSING MA(N TO Cl j DES APPROX SCALE I 6000 OR TO TREATMLN1_PJJ I1GURE 3 / LAYOUT FOR PROPOSED SEWERAGE SYSTEM GRAMTY / COLLECTION SYSTEN CLARENCETOW PLAN 15. Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 7.4. Rail Infrastructure The North Coast Railway services Dungog Shire. The rail line runs through Mindaribba, Paterson, Martins Creek, Hilidale, Wallarobba, Wiragulla and Dungog. Only the Dungog train station is manned. There are five services between Newcastle and Dungog on weekdays (two morning, two afternoon and one evening) and reduced service on weekends. Some services is well used, especially by students traveling to school, university and TAFE in Maitland and Newcastle, commuters traveling to work in Maitland and Newcastle and some shoppers. In recent times, extensive rail line upgrades have occurred on the track between Maitland and Dungog, improving the safety and speed of the journey. Access to intrastate and interstate train services is also available from Dungog train station. 7.5. Road Network Access to the Shire is generally via major road links form Maitland and Newcastle, via Clarence Town and Paterson. These road links extend northward through Dungog. To the east there is a road link with Gloucester and one with Stroud. To the west there is an indirect route to Singleton, which provided access to the Upper Hunter at Gresford. Road access within the Shire is influenced by topography. As the major rivers form valleys in a north-south direction within the Shire, the major roads follow these valleys. Some west-east linkages are possible where terrain permits. Notably, there is no direct linkage between Paterson and Clarence Town. The early development of the Shire's road system was based on the convenient tracks made by settlers and their stock. These usually followed the rivers, with crossings at convenient places. Survey plans during the 1830 - 1850's resulted in some road being straightened. Above the leads of navigation a network of tracks appeared, following the spread of settlement. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 107 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Council is responsible for the maintenance of 664 km of urban and rural road. The entire regional road network is sealed (107km) with 290km of the local roads also sealed. The remaining 267km of local road is not sealed, due to the prohibitive costs. The road standard varies significantly between undulating and mountainous terrain however an all weather surface is generally maintained throughout, subject to Council's available resources. There are many bridges, culverts and causeways throughout Dungog Shire. Typically, they were constructed in the 1930's and built for the conditions of the day. Of the 113 bridges in Dungog Shire maintained by Council, 72% of the total length is timber and many are single lane bridges. It is Council policy to replace all timber bridges with concrete structures over a 20 year time frame. There is no access road to the Barrington Tops from Dungog Shire, hampering tourism efforts to encourage people to explore the National Park and its surrounds from the Dungog Shire. Presently, tourists are required to travel north to Gloucester and enter the Barrington Tops from the Gloucester Shire. Council's major expenditure is on rural roads and it is becoming increasingly expensive to maintain the roads under Council's control. At present, there are • insufficient funds to properly maintain the existing network and with increasing traffic loading, the roads are rapidly deteriorating. The Roads and Traffic Authority have recommended that new settlement and employment opportunities within the Shire should be directed to areas that are currently serviced with adequate infrastructure on order to minimise capital and maintenance expenditure. Mayor Steve Low indicated in his presentation to the public consultation meetings for the Local Environmental Study that Council would require $27.3 million to restore Dungog roads to a reasonable standard, with $4 million annually to maintain this standard. Historically, Dungog Shire Council spends $2 million on roads. It is difficult for Council to spend more than this amount as the rate base for the Shire is significantly lower than adjoining LGAs. The following table shows the traffic counts for major roads in the Dungog Shire over the period of 1984- 1998. Major increases in daily traffic movements have occurred on Paterson Road, especially in the vicinity of Paterson and Woodville Road at Clarence Town. HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 108 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Table 25. AADT for main roads in Dungog Shire, 1984- 1998 Road Location 1984 1988 1992 1995 1998 MR 101 Paterson 1798 2187 2369 2577 2711 vaterson Rd Wallarobba 610 773 774 978 845 Oungog 1000 1324 688 1359 1208 MR 128 Gresford 790 856 1098 820 932 Webbers Ck Rd North of 720 973 1136 1105 875 Paterson MR 301 Clarence 900 1438 1107 1930 1753 Woodville Town Rd Wiragulla 1020 971 1269 1 1142 1 1200 NOTE: All figures are measures of AADT- average annual daily traffic 7.6. Recreational Facilities Dungog Shire has the library, located in Mackay Street, Dungog. This library operates through Newcastle library and has fiction and non-fiction items. A limited library service is available to Paterson residents through a library deposit station. Public swimming pools are operated and maintained at Clarence Town and Dungog and are supervised on a daily basis. Clarence Town swimming pool is open Monday- Thursday 6am to 7pm, Friday 72m to 7pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm and Sunday lOam to 6pm. This pool has five lanes and is 25 metres long. Dungog swimming pool is open from 6.15am to 8pm Monday- Friday and lOam to 8pm Saturday and Sunday. Generally the pools open from the October long-weekend and close around Easter. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 109 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Other recreational facilities in the Dungog Shire include sporting facilities, parks and reserves. The location of these in the major centres of Dungog Shire is detailed below. The recreational facilities in the Dungog locality include Bennett Park and Coronation Park- sporting complex and picnic area, including playing fields, tennis courts, netball courts, cricket facilities and the Doug Walters Pavilion and BBQ facilities Dungog Showground- sporting complex, including cricket pitch and soccor nets Bruyn Park and Netball Courts Dungog Golf Club- 9 hole course Dusdie Tennis Courts Jubilee Park- includes picnic tables, BBQ facilities and playground Lions Park (Scott Avenue and Clarence Town Road) Bandon Grove Park, Bandon Grove- picnic facilities Frank Robinson Memorial Park- public facilities Dungog swimming pool Dungog cinema In the Clarence Town area, there are the following recreational amenities Clarence Town Park and Reg Ford Sporting Complex- sporting complex, including sporting ovals, amenities and spectator seating Clarence Town Tennis Courts Clarence Town Pony Sports Ground Clarence Town Bowling Club Clarence Town swimming pool Bridge Reserve and Lions Park- picnic facilities Wharf Reserve- public amenities and picnic facilities School of Arts Memorial Playground The Paterson area contains the following recreational amenities Paterson Sportsground- sporting complex, including ovals, changerooms, grandstand, tennis courts and badminton hail Vacy Park- sporting oval Martins Creek Tennis Courts HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 110 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council John Tucker Park- picnic facilities Paterson Reserve Skipline Park, Martins Creek- playground and cricket nets The recreational facilities in the Gresford area include Gresford Sporting Complex- including sporting fields, changerooms and kiosk Gresford Showgrout-id Gresford Tennis Courts Orana Park- picnic facilities Lostock Dam Reserve- picnic facilities P90 Recreational facilities are located in most areas of the Shire. Most are sporting or picnic facilities. 7.7. Community Facilities Council maintains and provides a variety of facilities for use by the general public and the communities within Dungog Shire, including cemeteries, public conveniences and community buildings. There are seven Council maintained cemeteries located at: Dungog Clarence Town Paterson Bandon Grove Salisbury Munni Eccleston Public conveniences are distributed in: Clarence Town Dungog (also have disabled access) Paterson Gresford Vacy HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 111 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Community buildings exist in al planning districts of Dungog Shire. The buildings maintained by Council include: Dungog Community Centre (James Picture Theatre) Doug Walters Pavilion Dungog Museum Clarence Town Community Centre Clarence Town Museum Clarence Town School of Arts Hall Paterson Museum Paterson School of Arts Hall Gresford School of Arts Hall Vacy School of Arts Hall Martins Creek School of Arts Hall Dungog Showground 7.7.1. Disabled Facilities Dungog Council has recently formed an Access Committee to address community concerns regarding the availability of accessible facilities for the residents and visitors of Dungog Shire. The most immediate issues examined by the Access Committee include the provision of disabled carparking on Dowling Street, Dungog. The committee also reviews Development Applications for commercial-type developments to provide comment for provision of access. Other recent additions to accessibility in Dungog Shire include a ramp to improve access to the local supermarket in Dowling Street, Dungog. Given the high percentage of disability within the population of Dungog Shire, it is felt that improving the Shire's accessibility for all people will not only improve opportunities for residents, but may also be a tourist drawcard. Many elderly people, not restricted by employment and school breaks for holiday opportunities, may be encouraged to visit the Shire in off-peak times, this boosting the tourism base. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 112 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 7.8. Health and Aged Care Facilities Health services in the Dungog Shire are mostly focused towards the Dungog and District Hospital. This is a public hospital that provides 24 hour accident and emergency services and in-patient care for the Dungog community with 15 beds. A number of health services are available through the hospital including community nursing, physiotherapy, speech therapy and radiography. The hospital kitchen prepares a proportion of the Shire's meals on wheels provisions. Community health services are available at the Dungog Hospital, Gresford Community Health Centre, Dungog Baby Health Centre, Clarence Town Community Centre and other outreach centres in the Shire. There are two doctors surgeries in Dungog, one in Gresford and a part-time facilities in Clarence Town. Dental services are available on a part-time basis in Dungog. Two chemist dispensaries are located in Dungog. In 1990, a complex comprising 20 nursing homes and 20 hostel units was opened in Dungog. The hostel has one respite unit. This was constructed to support Dungog Hospital, which previously was the only long-term care facility for aged people in the Shire. Another hostel is located at Brookfield which houses approximately 30 people of all ages who have varying levels of developmental disabilities. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 113 Local Environmental Study Dungog Shire Council 8.0 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK Dungog Shire is subject to the provisions of a number of planning instruments that provide the planning framework and guidance for development throughout the area. 8.1. Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act forms the framework for the planning system in New South Wales. This act creates the mechanism to prepare Local Environmental Plans, Development Control Plans, State Environmental Planning Policies and Regional Environmental Plans. Part 3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act is currently under review. The objectives of the act are: (a) to encourage: the proper management, development and conservation of natural and artificial resources including agricultural land, natural areas, forests, minerals, water, cities, town and villages for the purpose of promoting the social and economic welfare of the community and a better environment; the promotion and co-ordination of the orderly and economic use and development of land; the protection, provision and co-ordination of communication and utility services; the provision or land for public purposes; the provision of co-ordination of community services and facilities; and the protection of the environment, including the protection and conservation of native animals and plants, including threatened species, population and ecological communities and their habitats. (b) to promote the sharing of the responsibility for environmental planning between the different levels of government in the State; and to provide increased opportunities for public involvement and participation in environmental planning and assessment. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 114 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 8.1.1. State Environmental Planning Policies The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act has a provision for the Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning to make State Environmental Planning Policies, which are guidelines for specific issues of significance for the State. They include development standards and policies on various matters. Appendix I lists the State Environmental Planning Policies applicable to Dungog Shire, 8.2. Regional Environmental Plans The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act provides for the making of Regional Environmental Plans that covers issues such as urban growth, regional development or a specific area. Dungog Shire is subject to two shire-wide Regional Environmental Plans and one catchment Regional Environmental Plan- Williams River Catchment Regional Environmental Plan. 8.2.1. Hunter Regional Environmental Plan The Hunter Regional Environmental Plan aims to promote a balanced development of this region, including the orderly economic development and optimum use of its lands and other resources, consistent with conservation for natural and man-made features. It also aims to co-ordinate activities relating to development in the region and promote a regional planning process that serves as a framework for identifying priorities for further investigation. The plan addresses: Part 1 Preliminary Part 2 Social Development, including housing, health, education and community services Part 3 Economic Development, including industrial development, commercial development and tourism Part 4 Land Use and Settlement, dealing with rural land and urban land Part 5 Transport, deals with road, railways and public transport, ports and airports HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Duflgog Local Environmental Plan 115 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Part 6 Natural Resources, deals with mineral resources and extractive materials, soil, water and forest resources Part 7 Environmental Protection, deals with pollution control, waste disposal, environmental hazards and tall buildings Part 8 Conservation and Recreation, deals with natural areas and recreation; and Part 9 Miscellaneous. 8.2.2. Hunter Regional Environmental Plan (Heritage) This is Regional Environmental Plan specifically relates to heritage. This plan aims to conserve the environmental heritage of the Hunter Region and to promote the appreciation and understanding of the Hunter Region's distinctive variety and cultural heritage items. It also encourages the conservation of the region's historic townscapes, which contains one or more buildings or places of heritage significance. 8.2.3. Williams River Catchment Regional Environmental Plan This Regional Plan applies to part of the Dungog Shire that forms the Williams River catchment. This extends from the upper reaches of the Williams River in the Barrington Tops to the southern boundary of Dungog Shire and Port Stephens Shire, following the valley of the Williams River. The aims of the Williams River Catchment Regional Environmental Plan are to; Protect and improve water quality in the Williams River Promote sustainable use of land, water, vegetation and other natural resources Coordinate decisions- by linking the REP to a regional planning strategy incorporating TCM principles. This plan has been developed and implemented due to the importance of the Williams River catchment as a major source of drinkable water for the urban centres of the Lower Hunter, including Maitland, Cessnock, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and part of Port Stephens. The catchment also supports activities HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 116 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council such as agriculture and forestry, urban and rural settlement and recreational pursuits. The Williams River TCM Strategy, the Williams River Catchment REP and the Williams River Regional Environmental Plan and Regional Planning Strategy were released in 1996/97 as part of an innovative package to incorporate the principles of TCM into the formal planning process. The TCM Strategy and the REP and Regional Planning Strategy provide the principles, goals and objectives to guide the implementation of strategies and actions in the Williams River catchment. The REP package for the Williams River catchment is the first of its kind in NSW and is abased on a comprehensive regional environmental study commissioned by DUAP in 1996. The main environmental issues identified in the Regional Environmental Study are: Water quality and water quantity Stream bank erosion Algal blooms Land clearing and loss of native vegetation Decline on biodiversity Wetland conservation Agricultural practices including managing dairy shed effluent, fertiliser application and watering of cattle Soil structure and erosion and sediment control Stormwater runoff Sewerage treatment works and septic systems Salinity and dryland salinity The main focus of the REP package is on facilitating the direction and coordination of sustainable natural resource management to allow for a more effective and integrated process. It should effectively address those matters relevant to the planning instrument at the regional level and guide the planning process at the local level. Implementation processes at the local level undermine the planning mechanisms and strategies. The Williams River TCM Committee would HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungcg Local Environmental Plan 117 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council encourage the development of a new, streamlined LEP, which provides an integrated, planning framework consistent with the strategies outlined in the REP and Regional Planning Strategy. 8.3. Dungog Local Environmental Plan, 1990 The Dungog Local Environmental Plan was gazetted in April 1990. It is the single, Shire-wide document that controls planning decisions in the Dungog area to meet the objectives of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, the Council and local community. The Dungog LEP provides the means by which development is assessed and should reflect the values and objectives of the local community, incorporating those of the region and the state. In recent years, pressure on rural land for development has increase as people more to country areas for rural lifestyles. Due to amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, as well as a number of other legislative changes, the shortcomings of Council's current planning document has been highlighted and Dungog Shire Councils has resolved to prepare a study, leading to the preparation of a draft Local Environmental Plan. 8.3.1. Dungog Council Development Control Plans Dungog Shire Council has numerous Development Control Plans in various levels of adoption and usability. Some documents are obsolete and others are very new. With the review of Part 3 of the EPA Act, simplification of local plans, including DCPs is expected to be required of all Councils. The following is a list of DCPs in Dungog Shire. Acid sulphate Soils Development Control Plan Bush Fire Mitigation Development Control Plan 21 Development Control Plan No. 1 Clarence Town Development Control Plan No. 2 Paterson Development Control Plan No. 3 Clarence Town Development Control Plan No. 4 Poultry Farming Establishment Dungog Development Control Plan No. 5 Piggeries Dungog Development Control Plan No. 6 Holiday Cabins HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 118 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Dungog Development Control Plan No. 8 Subdivision Guidelines Dungog Development Control Plan No. 10 Gresford and East Gresford Dungog Development Control Plan No. 11 Industrial Zones Development Control Plan No. 12 Clarence Town environs Dungog Development Control Plan No. 13 Residential Flat Buildings Draft Dungog Development Control Plan No. 14 Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Development Control Plan No. 15 Guidelines for Subdivision and Development in Rural Small Holding zones Development Control Plan No. 16 Fotheringay Road Rural Residential Subdivision Draft Development Control Plan No. 17 Glen Rose Rural Residential Subdivision Draft Development Control Plan No. 18 Siting of rural buildings Draft Development Control Plan No. 19 Occupation of movable dwellings Draft Development Control Plan No.20 Community Title Development Development Control Plan No. 22 Energy Smart Homes Buffer Zones Development Control Plan Development Control Plan No. 25 Guide for building over or near sewers Erosion and Sediment Control Development Control Plan Contaminated Land Development Control Plan Local Biodiversity Development Control Plan Dungog Shire Development Control Plan- Heritage HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 119 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 8.4. Dungog Council Strategic Planning Documents Dungog Shire Council has recently adopted an Onsite Sewage Management Strategy to plan for the numerous existing and proposed onsite effluent disposal systems located in the Shire. As much of the Shire is located in a drinking water catchment, water quality and protection of water quality is a major issue. This implies that all water entering the Williams River is to be free from pollutants including nutrients, oils, chemicals, sediment and pathogens. Currently, many onsite effluent disposal systems are failing in the Shire, especially in the Gresford area. The reasons for these failures are discussed in Chapter 7.3.1. The Onsite Sewage Management Strategy is a very important strategic document that identifies constraints to further development in the Shire in terms of effluent disposal. 8.5. Proposed Changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 The review of plan making in New South Wales involves the examination of Part 3 of the EPA Act. Following the preliminary review of plan making, Plan First was initiated. Plan First proposes significant changes to the plan making system that aim to simplify the plan making system and promote economic development, job creation and ecologically sustainable futures. One plan will guide the future direction of a local area linking social, economic and environmental issues, including all development controls relevant to each parcel of land. This will result in plans that are relevant and meaningful to the community. Community participation is encouraged at all levels of decision-making and for all levels of plans. Each plan is to be written in clear, jargon-free language and will be available on the Internet. It is proposed to reduce the number of plans relating to an area so that a single local plan will apply for each council area, with a regional strategy for each region to inform local planning and state planning policies. A single plan for a local area means that information is easy to find and understand. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 120 Local Environmental Study Dungog Shire Council HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Duflgog Locai Environmental Plan 121 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 9.0 PUBLIC CONSULTATION 9.1. Dungog Local Environmental Study Workshops Due to the importance of community ownership of planning strategies, several community consultation workshops were held to examine the opportunities, constraints and issues affecting the residents of Dungog Shire. The five workshops were held in May/ June 2001 at Gresford, Dungog Vacy, Clarence Town and Paterson. During this phase of consultation, approximately 60 members of the public attended the meetings. Attendance numbers were considerable higher at meetings held in Paterson and Clarence Town as these villages, due to their proximity to other urban centres, are amongst the prime areas which appear to be most attractive to prospective development. A workshop was also conducted with government departments, which included representatives from most of the major government departments, adjacent Councils and non-government agencies such as Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council and Country Energy. The agencies represented at the government department workshop were Country Energy NSW Health Department Department of Mineral Resources Roads and Traffic Authority NSW Environment Protection Authority NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Waterways Authority State Forests of NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation Department of State and Regional Development Rail Infrastructure Corporation NSW Agriculture Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council Great Lakes Shire Council Port Stephen Council HDS\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 122 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Hunter Catchment Management Trust Maitland City Council The broad objectives and schedule of the study were discussed and a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis was conducted. The results of this analysis are included in Appendix J. The major issues, which were identified at the public and government workshops, included: ff Desire to review development controls and standards for development Maintenance of high environmental standards and appropriate servicing levels Retain rural character of area HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Envftorimental P!an 123 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 10.0 FINDINGS Fl The Dungog Shire has complex geology as a result of strong folding and frequent faulting. F2 There are a diverse range of mineral resources, however these only occur in minute amounts. Gravel and hard rock quarries are the most frequent and viable resource extractions, with a significant hard rock quarry at Martins Creek, protected from encroaching development. F3 Three petroleum exploration titles have been granted in the shire, but there is little likelthood of recovering the resource. F4 No mine subsidence occurs in the Shire. F5 Erodibility, high level acidity, low permeability and low fertility are common features of soil landscapes in the Shire. These features constrain grazing, urban development and regular cultivation. F6 The Williams River catchment is the major source of potable water for the Lower Hunter and therefore requires landuse protection. F7 Many statutory planning documents have been prepared for the Williams River catchrnent and these need to be considered in any landuse planning document. They include the Williams River TCM Strategy, Williams River Catchment Regional Environmental Plan and Regional Planning Strategy, Williams River Catchment Regional Planning Study and recommendations from the Williams River Inquiry. F8 Water quality is mostly good in the three river systems, but is not suitable for drinking without treatment. F9 There is some potential for algal blooms in the river system due to high nutrient loads, but other water quality measures are regularly achieved. FlO Limitations to Thfrastructure have resulted in no new connections permitted to the potable water delivery mains in some areas of the Shire. HDB\\Master\c\MyDocumenfs\oungog Local Environmental Plan 124 Ludl Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Fl I Legislation limits dams on private properties, placing greater pressure on reticulated flows. F12 In order to maintain the natural ecosystems of the Williams River, releases from Chichester Dam are required to continue environmental flows. F13 The DLWC do not favour subdivision of riparian frontages. F14 Groundwater in the Shire is generally saline and mostly used for agricultural purposes. F15 Dungog Shire has a strong agricultural base with beef cattle, dairying and poultnj being important industries. Some logging, cropping and orchards are present in the Shire. F16 A significant proportion of the Shire is National Park and State Forest. F17. Tourism is growing in importance as a landuse in the Shire. F18 There is no Class I land in Dungog Shire, with Class 2 lands generally flood affected. Most of the Shire is Class 3 and 4 lands (75%). F19 Prime agricultural land should be retained where practical for agricultural uses. F20 Construction, subdivisions and land clearthg have major impacts on riparian zones, possibly causing erosion of streambanks, increased sediment loads and changes to waterways. F21 There are many land zonings in Dungog Shire, especially special use, open space and environmental protection zones. Revision and simplification is necessaty. F22 There is a need to revise the current environmental protection zones. F23 A number of regionally significant wetlands occur in the Shire. F24 Restrictions apply to the water catchment areas of the Dungog Shire. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocumentsoungog Local Environmental Plan 125 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council F25 It/s expected that field research will locate areas of core koala habitat in the Dungog Shire. F26 National Park and State Forest comprise 22% of the Shire's area, which includes the World Heritage listed Barrington Tops National Park. F27 There are a variety of vegetation communities in the Dungog Shire, covering alpine, rain forest, sc/era phyll and riverbank localities. F28 Most of the native vegetation cover occurs in the National Park and State Forest F29 Eight threatened flora species have been identified in the Shire. F30 Some riparian flora is in good condition as it is protected within conseivation areas, however approximately 50% of the riparian vegetation is missing or sparse. F3 I There are thirty-six species of threatened fauna known in the Dungog Shire. They are located in urban, rural and conservation areas. Introduced species compete with the threatened fauna for habitat and food. F32 Few air quality complaints occur in the Shire due to the rural atmosphere. Most complaints relate to residential activities such as amplified music, combustion heaters and vehicle movements. F33 Businesses in Dungog Shire are mostly locally owned, established in the Shire for more than ten years, sell their products locally and expect some increase within the next two years. F34 Revision of the provisions relating to home offices is required to met the expected demand. F35 Inadequacies for business are mostly infrastructure related, but include restrictions in strategic planning. F36 Major changes to the traditional agricultural base are expected with the growth of tourism. HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\!Jungog Local Environmental Plan 126 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council F37 The dominant agricultural activities in Dungog Shire are daitying, broiler chickens and beef cattle. F38 Larger holdings have larger buffer capacity and greater opportunity to protect environmental values, F39 The fragmentation of larger holdings into smaller lots has the potential to provide capital injection and create opportunities for new forms of agricultural, but this is unilkely to be sustainable. F40 Dungog's location on the fringe of expanding urban and industrial centers is significant in terms of agricultural production and opportunities. F4 1 Agriculture is important in maintaining rural landscapes and sustaining rural communities. F42 There are limited areas zoned for industrial purposes in the Shire and these are mostly occupies, with no potential for new industries. F431 Further investigation for industrial land is required. F44. The tourism industiy is growing steadily in the Dungog Shire. F45 Barrington Tops National Park is a major attraction in the Shire, however vehicle access is not possible from Dungog. F46 Tourist accommodation needs to be examined to consider changes in tourist demand. F4 7 Dungog Shire has a large number of heritage items, together with five proposed heritage conseniation areas. F48 There are thirty Aboriginal heritage sites within the Shire, with the potential for more to be discovered due to incomplete surveying. F49 Soil erosion is a naturally occurring process in the Shire, increased by human activities. H DB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 127 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council F50 Change to groundcover is the major cause of accelerated soil erosion, especially logging in areas outside of the National Park and State Forests. F51 Streambank erosion can also be a major problem in Dungog Shire, especially following flood events. F52 Dnjland salinity is limited to the Gres ford Hills locality. F53 Some mass movement occurs in the steep hills and mountainous regions near Dungog, Gres ford and Clarence Town. F54 Further investigation of potential contaminated sites is required. F55 Only a small area of Dungog Shire is potentially affected by acid sulfate so/s and these are controlled within the LEP and DCP. F56 Flooding constrains development in several areas of the Shire. Although few houses in the towns are affected, many roads are cut during flooding events. F57 The Shire experiences bush fires on a regular basis in the summer season. F58 The most severe bush fires occur in the western and southern regions. F59 Approximately 70% of the Shire's population relies on on-site effluent disposal, which is causing concern in some areas of the Shire. Inappropriate design, installation, operation and maintenance can lead to negative impact son land and wate,ways in the Shire. F60 The decline of biodiversity in the Shire is directly associated with development and land use. F61 Much of the original vegetation in the lower reaches of the Shire has been cleared or modified for agricultural and forestiy operations in the past 200 years. F62 The development of land for new urban and rural subdivisions and clearing agricultural act/vities are the major contributors to the loss, modification and fragmentation of habitat in the Dungog Shire. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 128 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council F63 Dungog Shire's population did not grow as expected between 1991 and 1996, with an estimated increase of 734 and an actual growth of only 207 residents. F64 The population of the Shire is expected to increase at an annual rate of 7.4% between 1996-2011, while the Hunter Region is expected to increase by 9.6% per year over the same period. F65 Dungog Shire is continuing to have population growth as a result of natural forces, i.e. more births in the shire than deaths. F66 While the populations in the Dungog and Gres ford areas have remained mostly static between 1971-1996, large population increases have occurred in the Paterson and Clarence Town localities. F67 The differences between the Dungog LGA age structure and the NSW age structure include proportionally fewer young adults in Dungog, but more children aged 5-14 year and older men aged 50-79 years. F68 In the Dungog LGA, the greatest population increase between 1991-1996 occurred in the elderly population, closely followed by the population of children. Significant decreases occurred in the 15-24 years age group. F69 Households in the Dungog Shire are generally comparable to the NSW state average. F70 Household incomes in the Dungog Shire are typically lower than the NSW state average. F71 There is an increasing number of motor vehicles in the Dungog Shire, possibly related to the rural nature of the area and the lack of public transport. F72 Total unemployment rates in the Dungog Shire are similar to NSW, however, there are more youths unemployed in Dungog than the NSW average with fewer older unemployed. F73 Of those employed in Dungog Shire, 17.8% are employed as a manager or administrator. The number of administrators is also twice the state average and can be partly accounted for by the high numbers of farmers in the shire, who are HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 129 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council classified as managers or administrators. There are also proportionally more labourers in Dungog than NSW. F74 The industries with the highest growth rates in terms of employment in Dungog Shire are accommodation and restaurants, property and business services and cultural and recreational sen/ices, which have all increased substantially between 1986-1996. Traditionally strong industries such as agriculture, forestry and fishing, electricity, gas and water supply and transport and storage have all suffered a reduction in employees. F75 The Dungog Shire is adequately serviced by educational facilities with seven state schools and one catholic primary school. General enrollment figures are increasing. F76 Dungog Shire has a small ethnic community, with the vast majority of residents born in Australia or Great Britain. F77 Less than 2% of the population identifies as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait islander. F78 Trends in real estate show a demand for rural and urban lots in the southern boundary areas of the Shire. F79 Demand is occurring for in fill development in the boundaries of the villages and towns of the Shire, however a constraint on sen/ices is restricting this. F80 There is an increasing demand for rural residential lots in the Shire, particularly around Clarence Town and Paterson. F81 The existing provisions in the Dungog LEP are not appropriate for further rural residential subdivision and development. F82 Demand for industrial land in the Shire is outpacing the supply and some areas have no available industrial land. F83 Zoning provisions for industrial developments needs to be reviewed to amend permissible uses. HO B\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 130 Local Envjronmentai Study - Dungog Shire Council F84 There are limited opportunities for commercial developments within the towns and villages of the Shire. F85 Water catchments in the Dungog Shire provide supplies for the Lower Hunter Region. F86 Existing reticulated water supplies in Dungog Shire are reaching capacity. Some areas are already facing restrictions to further connection. F87 Storm water projects are being undertaken as recommended in the Urban Storm water Management Plan. F88 Sewerage capacity is being reached in the Dungog area, requiring upgrading of the pumping station and treatment plant. F89 Council has an extensive road network, of which approximately 40% is not sealed. This is due to the high cost to maintain roads and low rate base of the Shire. F90 Recreational facilities are located in most areas of the Shire. Most are sporting or picnic facilities. F91 Community facilities are distributed throughout the Shire, with disabled services being proposed in many areas. F92 Various health facilities are provided in the Dungog Shire, including aged care units. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 131 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 11.0 RURAL SETTLEMENT STRATEGY 11.1. Introduction This strategy is intended to provide a basis for sustainable and desirable rural residential growth throughout the Shire. Rural residential development has the potential to conflict with other established land uses throughout the Shire including agricultural and urban residential uses. It is therefore important that rural residential land is appropriately sited so that it does not impact upon, and so in turn is not impacted upon by, non-compatible land uses. It was noted in public meetings during the preparation of the Local Environmental Study that the desire for and the expectations of rural residential development in the various settlements throughout the Shire, varied. In turn, it is therefore important to acknowledge and reflect the views of the local community. The Local Environmental Study of which this is part, examines the forces acting on this Shire as a whole. One of these forces is Rural Residential Development and therefore it was considered appropriate that rural residential development be examined within the envelope of the Local Environmental Study. The actual detailed analysis and detailed design in respect to each of the local village areas, will take place during the preparation of the Local Environmental Plan. At this stage further workshops will be carried out in the Local Government Area and the communities will have the opportunities to further examine the suitability of various lands for Rural Residential development. This document therefore generally examines rural residential development and provides guidelines for future consideration in identifying suitable areas. It should also be noted that the Local Government Areas surrounding Dungog, which include Great Lakes, Maitland and Port Stephens, are currently completing or have completed the preparation of Rural Residential Strategies for their rural areas. There is also a need to remove the existing candidate areas from the Dungog Local Environmental Plan, as they do no comply with the objectives of further rural residential development in the Dungog Shire. The provisions for concessional lots are also to be removed from the LEP. HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 132 Lueui envIronmental Study Dungog Shire Council 11.1.1. Aims Of The Strategies The aim of this rural residential strategy is to identify suitable rural smallholding opportunities, which provide a lifestyle choice for the residents within the Shire, whilst protecting prime agriculture land, environmentally sensitive land, water resources and areas of significance that will not compromise the rural character of the area or sterilize mineral resources. There is also a requirement to reduce conflict between adjoining land uses. This rural residential strategy is designed to promote appropriate guidelines for the land use decision making process for rural residential development which will be utilized by both the Council, as part of its Rural Planning and Development Control functions in the wider community. The Rural Residential Strategy within this Local Environmental Study, provides the first step in achieving the ultimate aims of the strategy. These aims being: To minimise land use conflict To determine guidelines for selected future rural settlement land uses To determine and provide for a range of needs and community expectations To protect the integrity of prime agricultural land and the right of farmers to farm To identify criteria for rural residential developments To provide for lifestyle choices of residents in rural residential areas To provide for sustainable rural residential development To protect the environment 11.1.2. Community Involvement It is essential that the local community is an active part of the preparation of the ultimate strategy and the identification of land that is suitable for rural residential development. In this regard Council has sought public involvement, with the first being a round of public workshops at Dungog, Paterson, Clarence Town, Vacy and Gresford. These workshops sought to HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 133 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council identify the issues of concern to the local residents and to explore the opportunities and the constraints that affect the development of their area. The findings of these workshops are attached in the Appendices of the Local Environmental Study for reference. The issues raised at the public workshops have been drawn on to form this Rural Residential Strategy. The next step in public consultation will be a further round of meetings, possible in the form of a charette where each of the community members are invited to take part in identifying suitable opportunities for land uses, including rural residential, within the local area. It is envisaged at this stage that these workshops will be conducted at the same venues as previously held. From these workshops, Council can then fully appreciate the local communities concerns and wishes, prior to formulating that into a draft planning document. When the draft Local Environmental Plan has been produced together with mapping, it will be placed on public exhibition for comment. If required, further meetings may take place prior to finalising a document that has the community and Council's support. 2' Workshop required to further examine potential for rural residential opportunities in each area. 11.2. Supply And Demand Dungog Shire is a diverse area with lower population levels in the more rugged northern sections of the Shire, leading to a higher population density along the south and south-eastern borders. It is at these borders with the major employment generating areas of Newcastle, Maitland and Port Stephens and the larger population base of these areas where the demand for additional lots, is the highest. In the series of workshops and in discussions with Real Estate Agents and Government authorities, it became clear that major demands for rural residential lifestyle lots are in the areas of Paterson and Clarence Town. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 134 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Paterson is located on the border with Maitland City Council and it would be fair to say that Paterson is orientated towards Maitland services and facilities. A high majority of the people commute to Newcastle and Maitland for work and use the facilities of Maitland for their shopping and service needs. On the other hand, Clarence Town, is orientated towards Raymond Terrace and Newcastle. It is within driving distance of Newcastle and again a high proportion of residents of this area work in Raymond Terrace or the Newcastle area and rely on Raymond Terrace for their service needs. It would therefore be reasonable to identify the Paterson and Clarence Town areas as dormitory suburbs for the Lower Hunter. Gresford is situated in the north-western section of the Shire. The forces acting upon this area and the demand for rural residential lots are different to that at Paterson and Clarence Town. There is a high degree of absentee ownership within this area, which are properties purchased as weekend retreats or hobby farms. There are a number of residential lots still available within the town, however, the general demand seems to be for larger rural residential lots that afford a lifestyle choice. Vacy does not have a high demand for rural residential lots, although there are some lots developed and approved on the southern side. Vacy has a history of 25 acre subdivisions within the locality along the Horns Crossing Road. The majority of these owners still travel, by vehicle, to work outside of the area. Dungog is the major service centre for the Shire. While there may be a demand for rural residential blocks within the Dungog area, it is not envisaged that this demand would be as great as it is in Paterson or Clarence Town. Rural residential lots within the Dungog area would provide a choice for future residents and may prove popular. Demand for rural residential lots are highest in the vicinity of Paterson and Clarence Town. 11.2.1. Adjoining Council Areas HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 135 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council The shire with the main impact on the Dungog area is Maitland, which has identified areas around Paterson as potential rural residential areas nearby to Maitland. As Paterson is more closely linked to Maitland than it is to Dungog, this may be a reasonable assumption. Maitland has constrained rural residential development throughout its Local Government Area, which in turn may increase the pressures on the likes of Paterson and Clarence Town. Port Stephens Council has completed its Rural Residential Strategy and has extinguished some forms of rural subdivision in the western parts of the Shire. This contraction in the supply of rural residential lots in the adjoining areas has created an increased demand in the Shire of Dungog. The supply and demand for rural residential lots is further complicated by the moratorium on the rezoning of land for the rural residential purposes imposed by the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning. There is an unsatisfied demand building at present and once land is identified and released for rural residential use, there may be a rush of newly created lots to satisfy this pent- up demand in the initial months. After the build up demand has been satisfied, the demand would fall back to a more achievable level. Need to recognise established linkages to Maitland and Raymond Terrace 11.2.2. Type of Land A clear distinction may be drawn between those who wish to have a rural residential lifestyle and those who wish to have a hobby farm in some way. Rural residential lifestyle is favoured more by those who wish to maintain a close link with the urban area, whether for work or the needs of children or both and those who prefer to live further away on a larger allotment. Their choice may well be influenced by a desire to farm, all be it in a small way, either for pleasure or to supplement their income. This distinction in needs requires the creation of a land development pattern, which can accommodate lots of varying sizes. HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 136 Luedl Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council The opportunity will also exist for Council to create within these small holding zones, cluster-housing alternatives, that promote a sense of community management. These also advocate autonomy for each piece of land occupied, and encouraged different lot sizes that reflect land capability, neighbouring land uses and environmental constraints. This is the concept of community management and community title legislation. In general, it is envisaged that the demand for rural residential lots is being generated by skilled labour, which generates higher incomes and expenditure. Variety in type of rural residential lots required to satisfy varied demand. 11.3. Issues Summary The suitability of land for rural residential subdivision is based on three areas: Environmental issues Social issues Economic issues 11.3.1. Environmental Issues Development should not unduly impact on the area in terms of environmental factors. This would include soil types and geology, slope terrain and vegetation, impact on flora and fauna, impact on drainage, the ability for the area to adequately cope with onsite effluent disposal and waste generation, impact on ground water movements and vegetation loss. Environmental issues are an important consideration to ensure the long term protection and sustainability of the unique factors which contribute to the desire to live in the Dungog Shire. If these are not appropriately addressed and accounted for then the ongoing vitality of the area could be put in doubt, which would affect the benefits for future generations. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 137 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Rural residential development should compliment and enhance the rural and natural scenic character of the location. Rural residential areas should not be prominent in the landscape and should not occupy ridge tops or escarpments. Rural residential developments should include treed wildlife corridors and linkages to introduce texture and break-up the visual aspect. Rural residential developments should not impact on threatened species, populations and ecological communities. Rural residential development should blend into the environment and therefore predominately earthtone on non-reflected surfaces should be used on all construction. Rural residential development shall be designed to ensure that Lot sizes are adequate to accept onsite effluent disposal and do not impact on catchment quality and include appropriate water management controls. Rural residential development should not result in the clearing of remnant vegetation and shall include adequate landscaping to increase the coverage. Rural residential development should avoid further riparian rights. Rural residential development shall not be located in areas affected by the 1:100 year flood. 11.3.2. Soc/a/Issues Increased population and growth within the rural areas of a Shire, has benefits and problems in respect to social issues. It has the ability to increase population, which has the potential to increase the support and the usage of HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 138 Locd EI!vjronmental Study - Dungog Shire Council public facilities, and can underpin the justification for retention of services in some areas. If these services are not available or inadequate however, therc is also the potential to overload the existing service network and create a negative impact. Increased population can also underpin the stability of local schools, shopping centres, commercial and industrial uses. It is further important to look at the provision of services within the local area. In this regard, rural residential development should be located in close proximity to existing settlements, which would assist the social cohesion of the existing town. If further residential developments are permitted to be developed in other areas, then they in turn may create a competing need for social infrastructure, which would fragment the existing system. In this regard the location of schools is a focal point for residential development. The development ring would depend on the size of the centre and its potential for growth, however, a two kilometre radius for Gresford and Vacy, may be acceptable, while a five kilometre radius for Paterson, Clarence Town and Dungog, may be appropriate. This is further emphasized by the growing proportion of younger children and older people in the Dungog Shire, which are major users of the social infrastructure support network. Both Paterson and Clarence Town are located on the boundaries of the Shire, near to the employment centres Maitland and Raymond Terrace respectively. As Paterson and Clarence Town grow as dormitory suburbs of the employment centres, issues arise in relation to transport linkages, service provision and residential availability. The Belmore Bridge, which provides road access over the Hunter River to Maitland is currently reaching capacity, and further residential growth at Paterson, the additional traffic movements over the bridge will quickly exceed capacity. Rural residential development to be within 5km of Paterson, Clarence Town and Dungog and within 2km within of Vacy and G resford. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 139 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Rural residential development should form part of a logical urban settlement paftern. 11.3.3. Economic Issues For Further Development Of prime importance, particularly in Dungog with its dispersed settlement patterns, is the increased costs of providing infrastructure including roads, electricity, sewage, water, telecommunications, mail deliveries, waste disposal etc. It is generally taken that any future extension of these facilities to service rural residential developments or any new developments should not be subsidized by a reduced service to the wider community or at additional costs to the wider community. A section 94 Plan should be prepared for future residential release areas. 11.3.4. Road Infrastructures Roads and Transports At present, Dungog Council does not have sufficient funds to adequately maintain the existing road networks given the dispersed residential nature. Development that has the potential to increase traffic movement such as rural residential development has to provide its own road upgrading network, to a standard that will not add to Council's maintenance budget. In this instance, it is desirable that the areas be close to the existing transport infrastructure including buses and trains and to the main road network. Road networks should be of an adequate standard to accept the additional traffic flows without detrimental impact. Rural residential development should be serviced with adequate road networks of a standard that would ensure an adequate maintenance-free life. Rural residential development shall not be undertaken in isolation from adjoining land parcels in respect to this servicing and on an area- wide basis shall be investigated as a whole and not in part. HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 140 LueI invironmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 11.3.5. Infrastructure Costs At present, Dungog's water supply scheme is reaching capacity. Any additional connections to the scheme only shortens the ultimate life of the scheme before major upgrading are required. Onsite effluent disposal is often the proposed means of disposing household sewage, due to the limitations of centralized systems. It is therefore essential that such systems are adequately constructed as inefficient and under maintained systems are creating significant harm to the environment through run-off into the water systems. In many cases people moving onto rural residential land, have had little experience in rural life and expect similar level of servicing as they would in an urban environment. The main area of concern is water usage. With the recent changes to the dams legislation it is not possible to put in adequately sized dams on small rural residential blocks that would meet the yard and gray water usage requirements of the site. It is further not possible to put in adequate tanks on the site to drought-proof a small residential block with an average size house. There is a desire to have town water connected and while this is preferred, for a number of reasons, it increases water usage on the site and therefore infiltration and run-off. It is still desirable however, to have rural residential development connected to a water supply and it should therefore be located in an appropriate area to do so. Rural residential development should be located in close proximity to service areas to maxamise servicing efficiency and to ensure appropriate management of land resources. • Rural residential Lot sizes should be varied with smaller Lots more closely concentrated to the local village radiating outward to larger lots, at the interface with rural land use. Lots under 10 hectares should be provided with reticulated water supply. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\ougog Local Environmental Plan 141 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 11.3.6. Agriculture It is essential that agricultural production be maintained and therefore rural residential development should not adversely impact on agricultural uses. The potential for impact exists through the use of land, which is suited for agricultural activities and the introduction of an activity which in some areas, is not compatible with agriculture, therefore placing pressures on agricultural activities. There should therefore, be adequate buffers created for agricultural usage areas and prime agricultural land should not be alienated by rural residential development. Rural residential developments shall generally not occupy prime agricultural land. Rural residential development shall be located so it is not impacted upon or jeopardize agricultural or horticultural activities. 11.4. Strategy The Lower Hunter Settlement Strategy, for instance, has objectives that target more efficient use of the land in established and new release areas, use of existing services, conservation of the environment and natural resources in development of tourist potential through sustainable land use policies. Use of agricultural land for dispersed rural residential living is not favoured due to its impact on future sustainability options. As examined previously rural residential settlement has issues of accessibility and sustainable, settlement structure with long term effects on travel demand, energy consumption and cumulative effects of onsite effluent disposal, greenhouse gas emissions and the lack of community and social services. The cost of servicing rural residential development in relation to the density of population, is high and there are often expectations of the level of servicing equal to urban residents. There are many costs associated with rural residential development including garbage services, road maintenance, sport facilities, weed control, limited social services such as a library, loss of viable agricultural land mitigation conflicts between rural land HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\Dungog Local Environmental Plan 142 Local Environmentaj Study - Dungog Shire Council uses and the effects on the environment from the loss of vegetation, habitat, degradation of soil and water and the loss of rural character. While these are negative impacts, there are positive impacts of rural residential development if appropriately sited and developed. These include the potential to grow rural populations, which are currently in decline and the provision, with that increase in population, of greater access to infrastructure services and the like. The above points should however, be taken into consideration in identifying appropriate areas for rural residential development. in so doing the following issues need to be taken into consideration: To minimise land use conflict To determine guidelines for selected future rural settlement land uses To determine and provide for a range of needs and community expectations To protect the integrity of prime agricultural land and the right of farmers to farm To identify criteria for rural residential developments To provide for lifestyle choices of residents in rural residential areas To provide for sustainable rural residential development To protect the environment • nd 2 Workshop required to further examine potential for rural residential opportunities in each area Demand for rural residential lots are highest in the vicinity of Paterson and Clarence Town. Need to recognise established linkages to Maitland and Raymond Terrace Variety in type of rural residential lots required to satisfy varied demand. Rural residential development should compliment and enhance the rural and natural scenic character of the location. Rural residential areas should not be prominent in the landscape and should not occupy ridge tops or escarpments Rural residential developments should include treed wildlife corridors and linkages to introduce texture and break-up the visual aspect. Rural residential development should not impact on threatened species, populations or ecological communities. HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 143 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Rural residential development should blend into the environment and therefore predominately earthtone on non-reflected surfaces should be used on all construction Rural residential development shall be designed to ensure that Lot sizes are adequate to accept onsite effluent disposal and do not impact on catchment quality and include appropriate water management controls. Rural residential development should not result in the clearing of remnant vegetation and shall include adequate landscaping to increase the coverage. Rural residential development shall not be located in areas affected by the 1:100 year flood. Rural residential development to be within 5km of Paterson , Clarence Town and Dungog and within 2km within of Vacy and Gresford. Rural residential development should form part of a logical urban settlement pattern. A section 94 Plan should be prepared for future residential release areas Rural residential development should be serviced with adequate road networks of a standard that would ensure an adequate maintenance-free life. Rural residential development shall not be undertaken in isolation from adjoining land parcels in respect to this servicing and on an area-wide basis shall be investigated as a whole and not in part Rural residential development should be located in close proximity to service areas to maxamise servicing efficiency and to ensure appropriate management of land resources Rural residential Lot sizes should be varied with smaller Lots more closely concentrated to the local village radiating outward to larger lots, at the interface with rural land use. Lots under 10 hectares should be provided with reticulated water supply. Rural residential developments shall generally not occupy prime agricultural land. Rural residential development shall be located so it is not impacted upon or jeopardize agricultural or horticultural activities. HDB\\Master\c\MyDocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 144 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council 120 REFERENCES Allan, J. 1997, The Real Estate Year Book; 1997 Edition Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1998, Regional Profiles; Dungog LGA Crown Lands Office 1986, A Study of Crown Land in the Shire of Dungog, Department of Lands, NSW Department of Environment and Planning 1984, New South Wales Government Rain forest Policy- Further Progress 1984, Department of Environment and Planning, Sydney, NSW Department of Planning, 1989, Hunter Regional Environmental Plan Department of Public Works and Services, 1997, Dungog Sewerage Augmentation Report No. PW 97048 Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, 1995, Rural Settlement; Guidelines on Rural Settlement of the North Coast of NSW Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, 1996, Williams River Catchment Regional Environmental Study Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, 1997, Williams River Catchment Regional Environmental Plan and Regional Planning Strategy Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, 2001, http://www.duap.nswgovau Dungog Shire Council, 1999, Community Profile of Dungog Local Government Area Dungog Shire Council, 2000, Economic Community Strategy; Beyond 2000 Dungog Shire Council, 2000, State of the Environment Report 2000 Dungog Shire Council, 2001, Draft Management Plan 2001-2004 HDB\\Master\c\Myoocuments\oungog Local Environmental Plan 145 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Dungog Shire Council, 2001, State of the Environment Report 2001 Dungog Shire Council, Strategic Business Plan- Water Supply Scheme Gilligan, LB., Browniow, J.W., and Cameron, R.G., 1987, Tamworth- Hastings 1:250000 Metallogenic Map New South Wales Geological Survey, Sydney Great Lakes Council, 2001, Great Lakes Rural Living Strategy Draft Background Data Report Hartley, D. 1993, 'Barrington Tops- Tourist Repost or National Park?", National Parks Journal, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney, NSW Healthy Rivers Commission of NSW, 1996 Independent lnqui,y into the Williams River: Final Report, Sydney, NSW Henderson, L.E. 2000, Soil Landscapes of the Dungog 1:100 000 Sheet, Department of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney Hill Top Planners, 1994, Dungog Rural Strategy Review- Working Paper Hunter Water Australia Strategic Services, 1999, Dungog Shire Urban Stormwater Management Plan Hunter Water Corporation, 2000 Water Quality of the Williams River: Annual Report 1999/00, Hunter Water Corporation, Newcastle, NSW Kavanagh, T. 21 November 2001, pers. comm., Dungog Shire Council Koetting, M. 1986, Assessment of Aboriginal Archaeological Sites in the Dungog Shire Low, S. 2001 "Council Happenings by Mayor Steve Low AM" (Editorial) May 23 1001, The Dungog Chronical, p2 Low, S. 2001. Presentation to Community Workshops for Dungog Local Environmental Study, unpublished McDonald, G. 21 November 2001, pers. comm., Dungog Shire Council HDB\\Master\c\Myoocumenfs\oungog Local Environmental Plan 146 Local Environmental Study - Dungug Shire Council McDougall, R. 1983, "The Future of Barrington's Rainforest", National Trust Magazine: pplO- 12 Narrabri Shire Council, 2001, Settlement Rural "Small Holdings" Strategy National Land and Water Resources Audit, 2001, Australian Diyland Salinity Assessment 2000. Extent, impacts, processes, monitoring and management options, Corn monwealth of Australia National Parks and Wildlife Service of NSW 1989, Barrington Tops National Park- Draft Plan of Management, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstvijfe, NSW NSW Agriculture, 2001, Agriculture in Dungog Shire, unpublished NSW Agriculture, 2001, http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au NSW Environment Protection Authority, 1995, NSW State of the Environment Report NSW Environment Protection Authority, 2001, http:J/www.epa.nswgovau NSW Environment Protection Authority, 2001, NSW State of the Environment Report NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2000, Hunter, Karuah and Manning State of the Environment Report 2000 NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2001, Atlas of NSW Wildlife, http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au Port Stephens Council, 2000, Rural Land Use Seminar papers Port Stephens Shire Council, 1996, Regional Ecotourism Plan Port Stephens Council and Dungog Council, 2000, Paterson River Floodplain Management Study and Plan, Draft Report, Volume 1- Management Assessment and Plan, Bewsher Consulting Pty Ltd HDB\\Master\c\Myoocumeflts\Dungog Local Enviroi,mental Plan 147 Local Environmental Study - Dungog Shire Council Port Stephens Council and Dungog Council, 2000, Paterson River Floodplain Management Study and Plan, Draft Report (revised), Volume 2- Town Planning Context and Strategy, Don Fox Planning Pty Ltd Fort Stephens Council and Dungog Council, 2000, Paterson River Floodplain Management Study and Plan, Draft Report, Volume 3- Extension of Flood Study and Hydraulic Investigations, WBM Oceanics Australia Rail Infrastructure Corporation, 2001, unpublished Roberts J., Engel B., and Chapman J. 1991. Geology of the Camberwell, Dungog and Bulahdetah 1:100,000 Sheets 9133, 9233, 9333. New South Wales Geological Survey, Sydney Robinson, L. 1994, Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, Kangaroo Press, Roseville Williams River Total Catchment Management Committee, 1996, Williams River Total Catchment Study- Ecosystems, Hydrology, Land use, Water Quality and Catchment Erosion Williams River Total Catchment Management Committee, Submission on the development of a Local Environmental Study Dungog Shire Council, 5 July 2001, unpublished HDB\\Master\c\MyDocumenes\oungog Local Environmental Plan 148 Appendices in Volume 2 Environmental Study DUNGOG SHIRE COUNCIL Appendix A Wind Roses Q nuiu.tu OLr NalionalCirgilo C TEE: (03) 669 4032 FAX: (03) 669l5 ID BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY - SURFACE 111MB ANALYSIS PERCENTAGE OCCURRENCE OF SPEED VERSUS DIRECTION BASED ON 22 YEARS OF RECORDS FIRST YEAR : 1967 LAST YEAR : 1993 NUMBER OF HISSING OBSERVATIONS (AS PERCENTAGE OF MAXIMUM POSSIBLE) 33.00 '. STATION : 061250 PATERSON TOCAL AGRIC COLLEGE 32 30 S. 151 35 E 36.0 11 ELEV 11 JANUARY 0900 HOURS LST FEDGUARY 0900 HOURS LST MARCH 0900 HOURS LST APRIL 0900 HOURS LST I SPEED (KHIHR) SPEED (KM/HR) SPEED CALM $ CALM I (KM/IIR) I SPEED (Ktt/HR) III I I 6 H 21 31 CAL Ml CALM I 41 51 A ID I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 I T0TOTOTOTOJog A 16 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A $6 I L I TO TO TO TO TO TO & L I 6 II 21 3$ 41 51 A DIR N I_ 5_10 20. 30_ 40 _50 UP I TO TO TO TO TO TO & L I L DI FlU I _5.10_ 20 _30.. 40 _5U.. UP - - L TO 10 TO TO TO TO & L DIRUJ__5_16_20_30_050upL MI 74 1 x 12 H I 10 2 I * NE 13 13 H I 12 2 I W I 5 I x * IS MEl 03 m IS NI14 4. I 13 ME I 0 4 2 * 19 El 432 10 El 621 m w 14 NE I 12 3 * * 16 SEt 8 El 53 I * 9 7041 20 SE I 7 7 4 I 20 El 32W 5 515331 SE I 5 6 3 I W 15 12 SI 65 I SEI 431 0 SIll 31 13 SI 542 I 1 5 SIll 3 I I *12 SI 431 * 9 III 2 I 5 SIll 32 I * * 7 I I 5 Ml 3 I I * SW I 3 3 3 I * 10 NH I I 6 III 3 I I I * I 1 NK w 4 MIII 4 * 7 Il I 3 3 2 2 I * * I 5 NM! 3 I I * * 12 5 MIII 321 i *6 ALL I 37 26 14 3 I w * ALL I 47 23 10 2 ALL I 43 24 W W 12 3 2 ALL 1 47 22 8 4 3'w NO. OF OIlS. 557 NO. OF ODS. 479 NO. OF OBS. 557 NO. OF OIlS. 540 JANUARY 1500 HOURS LST FEBRUARY 1500 HOURS LST MARCH 1500 HOURS LST APRIL 1500 HOURS LST I SPEED (KH/IIR) SPEED (KM/lIR) SPEED CALM I CALM I (Ktl/IIR) I SPEED (KFI/IIR) 6 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 CALM I CALM I A 5 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 I TO TO 10 TO TO TO & A 6 I I 6 II 21 31 Al 51 A L I TOTOTQTOTOTO& L 7 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A I TOTOTOTOTOTO & L DIETUI _.S_I0_20_30.40_50UP__L I TO TO 10 TO TO TO & L DIRNI --S_lO..20_306_50_Up._L DIRMI __5 1!Q_2o_3cL UI 40 50_UP_.L 131 5 NI I 2 I 4 NI I I W NE I 3 4 3 I 12 MEl 3 I 2* 3 NI 21* 6 MEl 23 W 4 E 1 2 5 5 4 .1 10 El I I 8 MEl 521 • SE I 56641 21 El 8 3 10 13 9 2 37 SE I 4 II 61354 23 El 13 6 I 36 SEI 713 9 6432W IS SI 2222 m B SI 5 I *34 SEI 50931 Sill 3532W 13 513332 26 WI I I • 3 Sill I r *11 SI I I 3 Sill I 3431W II II I I I I 5 III 2* 2 I I 5 Sill 231 I 21 • 5 UI 1* 13 NIl I I I I I 6 I I 2 I I • 6 II I MIII 3 I I I I *7 NW I 2 4 I 2 I I $2 ! I I I I I W 4 NW I I * ALL I 2 3 I I • 8 13 27 27 113 6 ALL 1.21 27 28 15 4 ALL 1 22 32 22 W W 14 3 ALL I 26 27 24 II 5 NO. OF ORS 527 NO. OF OIlS. 400 HO. OF OIlS. 558 $10. OF OIlS. 539 ItCrhIPPrn fill I ccc riJ*ii LI .JI L.JI. Li LI I. t'(CJllOflCJl L-OiiUo V AlIffnWROLOGY TEL: (03) 6<92 402 FAX; (03) 6694515 BUREAU OF tLTEOROLOGY - SURFACE RIND ANALYSIS PERCENTAGE OCCURRENCE OF SPEED VERSUS DIRECTION BASED ON 22 YEARS OF TECORDS FIRST YEAR : 1961 LAS1 YEAR 1993 NUtIBEI1 OF 111551MG OBSERVATIONS (AS PERCENTAGE OF IIAXItIU1I 1USSIDLE) : 33.00 STATION 061250 PATERSON TOCAL AGRIC COLLEGE 32 30 S. 151 35 E 30.0 (1 ELEV NAY 6900 HOURS LST JUNE 0900 HOURS LST JULY 0900 HOURS LST AUGUST 6900 HOURS LST SPEED (KR/HR. I SPEED (KM/HO) I SPEED (KM/HO) SPEED (KR/HR CALt4 I CALU I CALM I CALM I 15 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A IS I I 6 II 21 31 4151 A 12 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A 10 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 I TO TO TO TO TO TO A & L I TO TO TO TO TO TO & L I TO 10 10 TO TO TO & L I TO TO TO TO TO TO & L DI E?U1 _5... 10_20_30_ 40.50_UP_ .1 DIR UI - _5_1G 2030 4 0_ 50_ UP - L DIIU!510_20_30_4050u[?.L D1RU1 _5_1&2G_3O_0_5Q_UC__L * * UII6 7 I • 25 N I 14 3 I 10 (1 I 16 5 I 22 N113 4 *18 ((El 851 * 14 REI 62 I 9 MEl 621 * 9 MEl 85 I 14 El 2 m 2 El 2* 2 El I * * 2 El 21 SEI 31 * * * 3 5 SEI I I 3 SE! I II • 3 SEI 21 * 3 SI 221 5 SI I * * * • 2 SI I I * 2 SI 1* SR I • 3 3 3 * I • * 9 SR I 2 3 5 2 I * 12 SRI 2121 * • 7 Sli I I 2 2 U I I I 8 2 4 2 3 2 I 115 11 I 4 5 6 2 3 I 2 25 U I 4 4 6 4 4 I 2 24 UI 2 3 6 4 5 3 RU I 3 3 2 I w 326 I * 10 NH I 3 3 4 I 2 I I 14 MU I 7 3 2 2 3 I 2 19 till I 4 4 3 2 2 2 I ID ALL I 39 25 10 5 4 2 2 ALL I 33 Ii Ii 7 6 2 4 ALL I 38 10 12 6 7 2 4 ALL I 32 20 13 0 7 6 5 NO. OF OBS 555 NO. OF DOS. 539 NO. OF OBS. 580 NO. OF DOS. 618 lAY 1500 HOURS LST JUNE 1560 HOURS LST JULY 1500 HOURS LST AUGUST 1500 HOURS LST I SPEED (KR/HO) I SPEED ( KR/lilT SPEED (KM/HR) SPEED (KR/lilT) CALM[ CAL Ill CALM I CALM I 12 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A 12 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A 8 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A 6 I I 6 II I TO TO TO TO TO TO 21 31 41 51 A & L I TO TO TO TO TOTU& L I TO TO TO TO TO TO a L I TO TO TO TO TO TO D1I_ 5 1O_20 a L 30050.UL_L DI[WI __1020_3040..5OJJP..i DIRN I _.5_ 10..2G_3040.50.ue...... L NI 4 I • * 6 * * NI 2 2 NI 3! • * 4 MI 2! I * * 5 NEI 312 • 7 NEI I I I * 4 MEl 21 I I 5 NE! * * El 5421 • 212 • 6 • 13 El 2 I 3 El 22 * 5 El 331 I 7 SE! 4541 • 14 SE I 5 3 2 I *. • II SEI 333 * * 9 SE! SI 3341w II 332 9 SI 56 2 I I •15 51421 I 9 SI 221 * * SR I 3 4 5 2 I * 10 SW I 3 3 4 I * * I? SW I 2 4 3 I w • * 10 SW I 2 3 I I I I • q U I 3 3 4 3 2 I 2 ID U I 3 1 5 4 4 2 2 27 U I 4 6 7 4 4 3 2 30 U I 3 4 5 6 5 3 4 30 NW I 2 3 2 I I I I 12 NW I 3 3 2 2 2 2 I 14 NW! 3 3 4 3 4 I 220 NW I 2 3 4 3 3 2 2 21 ALL I 26 24 19 9 4 2 4 ALL 1 23 24 16 9 8 4 4 ALL I 24 22 19 10 8 4 5 ALL I 19 20 19 12 10 6 7 NO. OF OIlS. 556 NO. OF DOS. 539 NO. OF DOS. 580 NO OF OIlS. 619 OCCURRED BUT LESS lOAN 0.5 FERCEN1 PRODUCED FlY H I S S 30/ 3/94 \Wf J\J7 4t IL IIV\, IUU) OUYk) JO BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY -. SURFACE lUND ANALYSIS PERCENTAGE OCCURRENCE OF SPEED VERSUS DIRECT ION BASED ON 22 YEARS OF JECOI3DS FIRST YEAR : 1967 LAST YEAR : 1993 NUMBER OF MISSING OBSERVATIONS (AS PERCENTAGE OF MAXIMUM POSSIBLE) 33.00 STATION : 061250 PATERSON lOCAL AGRIC COLLEGE 32 38 S. 151 35 E 30.0 11 ELEV EPTEIIBER 0900 IIOUF1S LST OCTOBER 0900 HOURS LST NOVEMBER 0900 hOURS LST DECEMBER 6900 IIOURS LST I SPEED (KM/HR) SPEED (K(IIIIR) ALM I SPEED (KM/lIFT) I SPEED (Kit/lIFT) CALM CALM! 9 I I 6 II 21 31 4151 A CALM I II I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A 13 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A I TO TO TO TO TO TO F L 16 I I 6 II 21 31 4! 51 A I TO TO TO TO TO TO g L I TO TO TO TO TO TO & 11P131__5_1O_20_30_40_50_Up_.L L ITOTOTOTOToTo & L 0 I 13191510_2030_40_50jjpL D1IThI1 - _5_ I&2cL30_ 40_5O_UF?_L DI 1W 1 5 10_ 2030 40_SO_UP L 14 I 6 3 I I w w w ii U I 9 3 1 13 K K NI 92 I I? NI KK NE! 66 I K 14 K K 73 I II NE I 9 5 2 I Ii NEt 643K K N K K 13 MEl 74 19 El 4 I 5 El 322K I 14 7 El 432K 9 El SEI 43 I * B K 432 I 10 SEI 352 I II SEI 553! SI 23 N w 14 SE I 6 7 4 I w 17 5 SI 332 I w10 SI 3422 SM I 3 3 3 I I N K 12 II SI 34 2 I 9 SW I 2 2 3 2 I K * 10 Sill 2321 w 13 II I I 4 4 4 5 2 3 22 U SUI 322w N K 7 I I 3 3 2 3 I I 13 lit I 2 3 I I I w 181 1 2 2 2 2 2 I I I? 9 II I 2 2 3 I 2 I II 1111 I 2 I I I 2 K K 13 NW I 3 2 3 I I wI 10 MIII 2 I I I I 5 'IL I 29 24 12 9 9 4 4 ALL I 32 23 17 13 6 2 ALL I 33 24 lB 6 3 ALL I 33 27 16 4 3 I I NO. OF 09S. 564 NO. OF OIlS. 557 NO. OF OIlS. 519 NO. OF OHS. 587 EPTEIIBER 1500 ((OURS LST OCTOBER 1500 ((OURS LST NOVENDER 1500 hOURS LST DECEMBER 1500 IIOURS LST SPEED (KUIIIR) SPEED (KIl/IIR) SPEED (KU/IIR A F ill CALM I SPEED (Kit/UN) CALM! CALM I 5 I I 6 II 21 31 Al 51 A 4 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A 5 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A I TO TO TO TO TO TO & L I TO TO TO TO TO TO 9 5 I I 6 Il 21 3! II 51 A L ITOTOTOTIJTOTOg L 1 RUI _.5 IcL2O_30. 40_50_UP_ _L DIRU!5_I0_20_30_40_50_ueL I TO TO TO TO TO TO & L DIEWI 5_ lO2O_30_405Q_UpL Ill I 2 I K K 4 Ill I I I I * 5 (II 1Kw lIE? 2! 4 N I K K N K K K 222w 7 NFl I 12w * I 6 NEI 2331w 13 El 342 I KIG El 2552 1w MEl 231 I 7 16 El 35521 16 SE I 3 5 5 3 I w K 17 SF13786 E I 3 5 4 3 I w I? I I 26 SE I 2 8 K SI 131 (w 8 7 2 213 SE I 4 13 II 10 2 SI 1 24 I *w 9 SI 35 511 I I K K' 1241 1* 9 SI I 3 3 I I 13 SW I 2 * K 3321 110 2 3 I 1 13 SW I I 2 2 I K K II I 2 4 5 3 4 I 4 22 U I I w 7 SW I I 2 I K I K K 6 2 2 3 2 I I 12 U I I 2 2 IIU I I 3 5 3 3 2 2 20 2 3 I I 13 U I I I 2 2 2 I 2 10 MU I I 4 3 2 3 I I IS NW I I 3 2 2 2 I I 12 MU I I I 2 I 2 I I 9 FL I 13 27 24 12 13 4 6 ALL I 13 25 213 17 8 3 2 ALL I 13 25 27 16 9 3 3 ALL I 14 24 25 18 8 3 3 NO. OF OBS. 542 NO. OF OIlS. 541 NO. OF OIlS. 510 NO. OF BBS. 557 OCCURRED OUT LESS THAN 0.5 PERCENT I, IBODUCED BY (1. I .S.S. 30/ 3/94 Appendix B Quarries in Dungog Shire ALL KNOWN CUAR!ES Dun gog Shire Council 1995 - Map 900 metres north of nterseczicn of Glen Martin Road anc meoumers Creek Roac ICiarence Town} 1 .25000 series mao - Reference 909431 7 r Bennecs Strouc ,HH Roac. Dincacee 000cse the Of Stroud Hill RCac anc Rosteon Roac East ererence 57e5t 9 bums Strouc Hill Rcac Dincacee 15 CamyrAllyn Lewinsorook Roac, Camvr.Uyn. acout j.no tr es C2SZ Or the ntersec:icn or -iiyn -r;ver Road and Lewinsorook RoacO-resrcr :2:00O series mao - Reference 54.21121. north of Otarence Town fOlarence Town 1:25000 series mao - Reference 2509431. 3 Darts QuartDot Road Quarroot 28 Docieys Lamos Valley Roac Summemlil 1 Dcwiincs off Dalingsw Roac Eancon Grove 18 Eyos Dungoc Road. Hlllaaie aoout 2.1 k5 generally south from the intersection of Dunccc Road and Hifldale Road [?aterson 1:25000 series mac - Reference 7230041, 11 Fartells Raclan Road, Raaian acout 2.2 K rns generally north- west from the intersection of Eack Camp Road and Raclan Road [Dungoc 1:25000 series mac - Reference S290771. 21 Frasei- Surrimera ill Roac Summernill 22 Frasers Surnmernull Road Summernull 32 Harris Off Ucoer Chicnester rcac acout ??km generally ncrth-west from the intersection of Upper Ohichester Road and Salisburi Road Qust north of the bhdge over the Ohicnester River at that ocint]. [Chicriester 1:25000 series mao - Reference 5754011. 13 Hoffmans Gresfor Road, Trevallvn accut 200 metres generally south from the intersection of, :resford and Olements Roac roresford 1 .25000 series mao - Reference 5Q.S4.1 -- .- ---. 12 Jones . iat acs Roac Camora . a n s . Fcsterton Roac -cs-,erion 2 Vanris Hill Sai:soury Road Munni 23 Martir.s Creek SRA . Off Station Street Marrns r< irtins reeK rio . Martins Creek Foac Mains Creek 33 MicdierooKs Mvail Creek Road UIeora -. 29 Fansns Pansns Road Hilicale 10 Ram Station r Strauc Hill Roac. Dincacee aoaut 5 krns generally east from the intersection of Stroud Hill Road and Monkerai Road [Dungoc 1.25000 series mao - ...,-.• .. -. --. .. 8 s . O rt trouc -iil -oac .iinoacee -2- ALL KNOWN QUARRIES fccntthuedl Durigog Shire Council 1995 16 Ricnarcsor.s Off Parks Creek Road, singleburra aoout 2 kms generally north from the intersection of ingleburra Road and Parks Creek Road - (Gresford 1:25000 senes mao - Reference 7051631. 4 oyston ::"arx, Sausou' Gap Road, Upper Allyn aoout 4.8 kms generally south-west from the intersection of Salisounj Road and Salisburap Road [Chichester 1:25000 senes mac - Reference 6023301. 20 Sommeniles Gresford Road, Elms Hall, about 3.1 kms gener7 nah from the intersection of Gresford Road and • Sumrnernifl Road. [Paterson 1:25000 sehes map - Reference 6580141. 19 Ulimby Dungag Road, TUlimoy about 1.4 kms generauy south • from the intersection of Gresford Road and Dungog Road [Paterson 1:25000 senes map - Reference 665 9431. 34 Wallarobba Airatho off Wallarooba Road WaIlaroba 17 Wallers Wallannga Road Waliannga [See NSW State Forests Quarries Over] Appendix C Williams River Catchment Regional Planning Strategy - Environmental Planning BMP AND REGIONAL PLANNING SThATEGy alsturcaice should be :esz::c:ed :0 a ni:nu 4.1.5 Tourism and Recreation a::d 3ziou.c avoid steep siooes, watercors and Tour:srn andrecreation ;c:s ara:naze iincs. For 5h0ud nole, roads, houses and be based on the rural character and na:ura orher struc:u:es should be Located :o ensure :ha: a::r:bu:es of the area areas :ecu:r:n snao:ig are rn:nrseu. not detract front the dozeanan: :a use of agr:cul:urai ac::v::y, arid avoid creaz:og For mare adv:ce, refer to relevant des:ç anuais confi:c:s wt:h Cx:sz: a::cui:ura a:u best 'crac::ce notes an eroston and sed:nien ac:iv:v coo ::o I. nor be de:r:en:ai to the water ouaj::y of the 4.1.4 intensive Agriculture :eioorce and add to the natural landscape and Agricultural Land sceo:c cuai:::es or the ca:chert: use exlst:ng v:_:ages as serv:ca Cen:res, eveiopen: of cr:nie crop and ?astre and class: Cd by NSW Agr:cui:u:e as be: "and 4.1.6 Landfill and Etrac:±ve Industry w::har. Classes 1, 2 and 31 for rion-agr:cu!:urai Land±il and ex:rac:ive industry should: PurPOses snoula cc avoided oc ::tea :n site area so :nar agr:cu!tur! land resources are not 'anreasonao:v reoucea When 000-agr:cui:ural ac::ves are a:roved on no: be de:r:nten:ai to the water 'aa:::y of the agricultural land, the Poteri:aj itn:ac: or :ose ma v em ac::v:::cs art :e cuan:::v and c.aii:v of 'va:er for n:nt:se any necessary :o:rus:ort on toe agr:cul:u:ai curnoses should be cortstde:ed, and rta:uraj landscape and scen:c c'aai:t:cs of the :u:ure capao:::y or :ne Lana to cc usea mar catcornen: agr:cui:urai purPoses should be praservec when assibie. cc contpa::oe w::o nearby Land uses 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING InteMsive -riczz]tairaJ P'arsujts in add:::on :0 :ae best nianagenacn: r:nc:plcs, agr:cai:urai the roiiowtng szra:cg:es and cors:derattoris aoiy iV!' ,i-p5 .jVC C c1rrter2r Re:ojorr! when a counc:j rearcs a local cnvlroncn:a: Eoy::orm P!en, should: o!an 21, or a consent aa:hor::v ac:0r:ncs a a'/oia the r:vcnnc corr:hor and other oc:::crts development aoo::cat:ort, pursuant to the wri:co couja acverse:y aztec: wa: ruaz::-r :rovisons of the E?&A Ac:. con:roj :nc d:scharge or l:cuia coo so::a .vas:as :0 :nimase trio :mnpac: on too envirortoteri: 4.2.1 General Strategies for Making Ptans and a'iod sites w:l riaparapr'a:c Controlling Development ma c r:s :: Cs dciccmncn: C. Forestry OP'ration ::'. :oc ca:chrricnt 5touLd be :rcaroa ai:cr cortsu::ng Fjrcszrv oPcra:o-'s srou:d- :ctd! d ::a ore! , avoid anneccssarv c:tariog ana sur:ace ob:oc::vcs of the V/j- a: s: mc an a R:ver :neo: Eov::corieo:c Plan anc :n:s s:ra:cgy The ? :e Prorec::'e measures van SO. :ns sOou!C cons:der: are exrosed :9 eros:or. Z. l:icLi sed:cn:zt:or. or :ncrcascs :n rehab:i::a:e stu:ced areas to ievo:s of the r:ver assoa::d aaverse e::ec:. v to nc'v op men: '01 ote - r:al cumriuia::vc :napacts D. Cultivcidou for Cropping or the water cua:::v of Cmoco:z should be carr:ed out: in iccordatice .v::b land carac:v arta 21 When corts:dcrin g a dev!opntcn: application appropr:a:e contour canl.z:og an •dra:oa;e svs:ens :ar any eurpose, toe consent autnor::y u3in coriscrva::or ::iiao jr:oc:pjes SOOUO consiner toe su::aclj::v anc ooccn::al impact aceroortate filter scrios be:'.vc-an cul::va:ed or the orocosed devejoonen: rcla::vc to: areas and strcancars its 7_Io:(; :M-'_'7 _0 _:IC as: proor:.j:e crop ro:a::)rts rlvcr:ne corr:dor :°o su: s:bance and the n: :n:sa:tcn or 4,2.2 SDeeific Strategies for Making Plans and scucn:a::on :tn:ac:s ocvonc :ne SitO Controlling Development :nc sizn:::cance of na::vr :ora and :aiina The owng o'oiec::vcs and Stt0teiCS will guide oaot:a: :r:Pa:a::on of :i?s and constacra::on of :sox:m::v:o: % A? :n 100 deveiopnen: altca::ons rcia::nz to sec:fc flood 1ev anc lanc cscs. These Polcjes must be s:ortn water and was:c'.vazcr rnagtten: cons:dered :n addition, and relation, :0 other easurcs rerevan: r:nc:es and ctc:es or niS Strategy to wrierc a Pro?oscO vng wtIj no: be caancod cec:sion-rnak:ng. serv:coc cv re::c..la:eri sewage - cia:ac:er:s::cs or :ne o: aita :nc ac:::v a: Dcvecpnen: control :ians prepared by :he For: :zc Cwe:n :0 cc se:v:ccc. cy a uontes::c Stehens Counc:i or Dunzog C0 U:1 C'- In :eia::on was:ca:er systeni aesignec anc construc:cc :0 these lanc uses should also be a0007ca7cc v::nAus:raj:a- St ada:. :ons:sten: w::h :he relevant ohjcc::vcs and - D:sposaj Sysen-s for Eeo: Pr:nc::ies of :n:s section. fr-orn Dornes:c Prerztises. 4.2.3 Closer Rural Settlement 3 Devoien: consent should only be granted o bjecive wnen :c consent au:rior::y is sa:is::ec To ensure that detnand for Pouia::on se::eer: a an adecua:c bu::c: Wjj be ntaiz:a:nec :sanaged :n a way wh:ch :s consistent w::h the between the ProDosed develocinen: or obiect:ves for sus:a:nadie mnanagenen: of the and ex:s::ng wa:crcourses b an adec'da:e vegc:a::on cove: w:il be a:n:aincd or re:nsza:ed to m:tnni:sc soi Strategies for LEP Precartion erosion A draft L? for closer rural se::iemen: should c adecuate nieasu:os w:il be ai:ed :o only be rea:ed accordance w::h a strategy n1ntise acc:e::oc or nutrients an d whtch has been agreed to by the counc:i and the ?0!dt:0r ::'. tne r:ver Dear:nen: or rcaz A::ars and Planning. An d' ozen::ai afvcrsc imac:s on :her:-:er:ne cnvirorez:a! study may be recutred to establish corr:dar and I in 100 yea: f].00dja:n Will be :he stra:aglc env::oneztal, ecor.oic and soC:aj Sec context for :hc reara::on of the se::ienent 21 acecua:e provisiofl wi l l be made :0 mi:iga:o strategy. the Po:en::aI ror long-term adverse :pacts on :te cnv::onmenr arising trom :r:e in rear:ng a strategy for cioser rural se:tlenetit, Ge 're : OD en: rae cou-'c i sOL C. oe "e T1 77 a-'s R ye- Ce:;fen: egzon '::oncec:eiSr-dv, the L For the u:osc of a t 3l above, the obec::ves of the cY:iemc ve: Co::en: consent au:no:::v snouc constder the ricec for Rec:onc Er:v:: et:c. 7cn and strategy an v::oncn:ai rnanageen: clan to acconiPany :ne ceveioprnen: aoi1ca::on. An A. closer rural settlement strategy should: v:ronen:ai rnanage=ent clan nav a encourage deveiopnien: whtch creates new or :ncorpora:e one or mare of the foiiow:ng: expanded vIllages and dscou:ages d:sersed l a~ a and caab:::v study which establishes :ura suoCtv'.son the sei::ab:l::v of ;he site for the proposed b reduce average si:es as far as is consistent oeveocrnen: w::h on-Site disposal standards: : m:n:m:se a water caabilt:y study for those uses land tate, poilu::on pressures and other wntch the water resource, anc a envtronen:al :npaczs. and :ncrease the total water cycle managcnen: clan rov:sion of va::ous se:v:ces a vege:a::on rnar.age.en: pian c a'oc _DG o i' c' CC. es aLO ora an erosion and sed:en: control clan r:caran rights which nav rely soielv on c a :omes::c waS:ewa:er management plan. sur:ace water access ,h4 1._., - ..... AND REGIONAL PLANNING STRATEGy d) avoid develouen: or dis :ance of areas of c; avoids ocuer locations '.vnjch could result in sod:c or dsoerseve soils acvcrse :noac:s on :o-e ::ver and the el avoid areas or oozen::aj dry-Land sa:n::v. env:ronmen: of the czzchcnen:. A dral: P for c!oser rural se::i ren: sdouid de Development Consent Considerations consiscen: w::n :ne agreea st:a:egy :or c_oser t,Vheo- consder:ng a de'.'eiacrnen: 00LLCO:LOo- for se::senien: ano ;v:z_-i :ne Oro VIsLOflS or :nas s:aregv intensive agr:c'u:'a:a! ?ursu::s, : Conseo- au:lo-or::v should cons:der :ze bes: nanage_'_: Development Consent Considerotions ono-c::les con:asned in sec::oo- a.• of :n.s consen: au:iior::v sl-ioajd only cons: :0 an strategy and ensure :fra: the deveioptnen: apLca::cn for subdivson or develop men: of c0o-i:es w: rele'ran: orac::ce Land for closer rura ::ieen: wl-cen sausi:ed :iaa: :e deveiopen: w:i: 4.2.6 Tourism and Recreation a) avoid creat:ng addi::onal r:par:an afloten:s Objective ensure cha: no new domes::c wastewae: To ensure :ha: v:s:br acconoda::oo-, courts: ::eazmen: or C.isposai sires are eszacsne0 :n develoomnen: and rec:ea::onaj fac:a:::cs mlie 1% A.E.? 1. in 1.00 yea: fiocdiaz comolemnen: :1ccor::nary ag::cui:u:ai func::ons of cl c:ea:e allo en:s wiici'. avoid :ne neec :1cc vai:ev and o-aan:ain water cuai:v wi:1cin :1cc Locate dwelhngs wi:n:n zInc r:ver:ne corr:dor. W:l.L:sons R:ver ca:cnen:. 1.2.4 Rural Buildings. Dams and Clearing Straregies for LEP Preparation Objective A d:af: .EP wrnc:. rrov:des for :ourisnc. v:si:or To ensure :na: deveiopmen: in rural areas :s accomno-oda::on or :ec:ea:±onal faciis::es should ca:::ed out co nnse ±e adverse e::ec:s on :ne recutre :nose uses :0 ac developed w::h environment of :lcc Wifljans ?cver ca:cd en:. cevela nez: consen:) :n loca::ans '.vh:ch: a) have ie oo:en::a! conf:c: w::n adiacen: Strategies for LEP Preparation rurai agr:cui:arai uses A draft LEP sinoald sza:c :da:: '31 arc si:ua:cd wt:1c:n or cy cx:s::ng i:iiages a v 'e IC e corco a a: e cC) can ic connected to a me:iculo:cc sewerage Located w:znin 30 nie::es of :de r:ver ni'as: s Y ste save devejoo.cn: consent a are si:eo on areas or ow azrcca::ura oo:en::aI b cleoring, L:arm dants, and new or ropiaconLen: e 1 avoid loca::ons which would :o-voivc rural uiidngs :nc!ad:ng a new dwei!:ng, disturbance or sod:c or d:soersic sc'.Ls rcpiaccnien: o in Cx:s::ng dwcli:ng or a corr:cicjr oat a shad) locazad '.v: :n:- : m:';cr: - . cornaor mas: c m:oam:an navc the 000sen: :f :na ccanscn: au:ior::- 4.2.7 Londt±1l and Ex:rcc:ive tndus:r'; 4.2.5 Intensive Aricujrure Objective Objective To ensur: co-a: londf:l, and sx:rac::vc to- dus:r:es 13 ensure :n.i: :n:ensvc ag::cui:urai a:su::s are cornea cut ana accass :0 ross:c is adverse eoc:s on :ns ex:racn"e resources :s :na:n:a:ne±. to- a manner Tronn1en: or:nc 'V:: R:vcr ca:cnen:. :n:z:o-csses :a:ez::ai con:l..c: 'v::u og::cu::ural cic::v:c:cs and :o-:a:ns.va:ar Strategies for LEP Preparation eual:y -v:din :1-ic Williams Purer ca:cdncen:. tn:cnsivc agr:cu!:a:c should on" ba Strategies for LEP Preparation .1 ivoLas S n:::can: advarse:rzipac:s on A draf: E2 or Landi:l and sx::ac::ve ndus cr:., ;er:nc corr:dcr :nclud:ng dcstgna:sd de,eiccr.cn: w::ntn the ::rnis :s Loca:ed on Lans most suitable for of Schedule 3 of tIne EPSA Puguia::cn :99. so-ould Par-rose, navtng rogard to rocem Lao-cs recu:re :da: Londi:il and sx::ac::'re :ndas:ry: coo abl::',- 05303.5 men: c1 be developed only ',vi:h coo-son: 'andar :he EPdA Ac: WILLIAMS RIVER CATCH MENT REP AND REGIONAL PLANNING STRATEGY bI c situated outside the r:verjc carr:dor arid located above the 1 % AEP 1 in 100 vc The TCIvI Corin:-: wlI flood Con::nue to Play a ic j vc a vm:al roic :n nlon::or:ng works Progra5 and s far as poss:bie and COriSj- wi:h flood olain manual rcvlcw'n; ca:ch err PriorIties cvo:ds aT:a: as ooss:bjc land of h:gh acr:cu:ura ?Oten::a 4.3.2 Communj. ActIon This strategy is Pzr::cu!ar!v cocerried w::l ::ames5i Develoom e t Colaser1 t Consideratjos :ne etter;v and skills of the v:0 OOtrintun::v and ac-znowiedz OOns:cer:ng a deveioprc-.- a:pkca:o'- for a tng the iripor:an: or role the conu-:-;- od:fted landfill s::c or an cx:rac:ve w:li CLay or :5 currenty piay:ng cansc au:nor::v Snout recues: an cat:hnien: anagemen- Collectively v:ronc_:a; ria gemen: Plan to be rcpared :andowners and corrinlun::y groups have :he nios: sign:ficant role to play :o the r u:rri_:s of scc:fo w::I :he ca:chmen: .2.2 of :h:s strategy, deals with: a Compl:ance with relevant indus:- and Dmrcc: coznnlun::y ac::on :nciudes: zovcrnmen: standards and guldeilnes, and in re:ainng na::ve vege:ap and fauna habitats Par:Lcuiar uow to: adoo::ng a whole oronercy and catcen: :ncaroora-e sec:hc measures to avoid aPproach to roper:y nanagement using wa:Cr wlse:v acc;e::op of sedimen t :he river avc:d or COnse:'v:ng energy :n:ri'js dis:-..irbanc to native veg-a-'or and flora - - -ev'- -' appiy sedine:i:at:or and soil erosion chang:ng purchasing habt:s for example controls to englneerg Works, and to where buy:ng low ohosohate de:e:gen:s sous are Dere:: of vege:z::on or suscepz:oje conse:va:on far:ng Practices :0 erosion nieciansms erosion and sed:nent control b :hc and ?oren::ai impact of the nod:fying leisure ac::v::es for exanpje, Proposed deveiopen. -e-. ye to: using ony designated areas for boating, • scormwa:er and wastewa:er Mlanale- d::ving, hiking and other ac::vt:ies). nleasures lcacria:e Indirect az run-off nianagenlent crl:er:a cornn'r-v actIon ncjudes' contaIned withIn any relevant Practice lobbying dec:son :nakers for better Practices gu: dci: es and assistance the ab:!::y of the site :o be adecuately enibe:shjp of cominunc:v grosup (for rehabl:_a:ed a: :he cessa::or of :bc use. exantpie, Landcare R:verca re attending rneeunzs and other foruri's for puoilc 42 :HE TOTAL CATCHMT MANAGEtENT discusstor for exantpie, the TCM Co:t:ee (TCMI LINK AND OTHER APPROACHES con:r:but:ng tune or funs :o develop and 4.3.1 The TCM Conoiec:jon :ntpiemen: ca:chnen: s::ate;:es. h:s s::a:ogv recognlses the TCM Process and :n:ezra:es 4.3.3 Agency Action and Suppor forai ?iann:ng S'Sterii. The t W'5s The p!azn:ng and imPleenta-:on R: ver TCM CammI--ec has bull: links of and and :he rural coun: :v and groups such as water.re!ateu nanage:nen: st:ateg:es within the catchnien t Lanocare and R:ve:ca- researched ca:chrien: w:1 recutre ongoing C0nitnlent and :ssues, and developed a draft TCM strategy. This support from all levels of gove:nme w0r1 and the d COni wor< fro. the TCM are v::a resources for the State Government ac::on :ncjudeS Much of adot:nga s work ms contatned :n :ne approach o iicnis catchmen: nanageen Reg:oria] : and plann:ng and the ac::on 2an iz chapter 5 of this strategy sUP?ornng the role of the Hunter Catchen: wor of :he TCM Coinnuttee is central :o Managenten: TrustHCMT as the appropria t e :ne onzoing env:ronmen:aI prog:ari for :hc peak body wtth:p. the ca:chent ensurIng in:erdepar:menai coordination of and Li1 be incorporated ifltO the local 'and and water resource programs P:ann:ng and developri-0 approva1 processes, :nd:vidual agency endo7sc07- and Appendix D Williams River Catchment Regional Planning Strategy - Environmental Planning BMP 5.3 LAND USE Policy Objectives for Actions and Tasks Sea: Prac::cas Ln :nc rnanagcrtienz o s:ormwa:er and waszcwa:cr run-off snou ho : cncn:ed wt:h:n zoo oatcnrncn: * Erosion d so men:a::or. con::ol measures aziouad oc oncourage as a oa::cr or or:or::y The m:par:an cone should me conserved and mc biizz:cd to :rse tb-a adverse aEcc:s of uncontrolled access on :uc szab:li:y of strut and rtver banks and vcga:a:±on zrow:o. A whole of property' a::roach to lanc managetnen: should oc aaotcc uy annownors. llcveiopnen: of -or:nc cr0: or Pasture land for non-acr:cuituraj :uruosas is no: ccns:s:en: w::o man:cnancc or a:r:c :ama :o:cnt:ai and should be avoided. Ser:. mcs:acn::al and :u:al .:vznz devejopc0: no: conncc:td :o re::cuiaten sewazc :roa:mcn: sou.d ac able :0 cispose of a of ucn: wast on-sito Su:c:-- tson c: an: ou:s:cc cx:s::nz urban areas snou:: 30 case: on asree: mura. Rccrea::onaj c:ann:n; should :ao :0:9 account :a::nntent :npac:s. in:cns:ve uses coni:rzsing :ndus:nal dcvclopment and designated devoiopmen: as per Schedule 3 of :nc EP&A Ac:: snou:: onlY be erm:tcd when the developme; can demonstrate both tIle a::rc:ria:cncss or necess::v for the use to be located w:tIl:n the caac en:. and toe ability of :he lcvc:opObcO: :o o:cra:c :n a :nanner whtch :s consisten: w:th tIlts strategy The resui:s of curron: an: future research and surveys soouidbe:ncorccra:e: :n:c nianavcmcn: sos and taken :n:c accoun: :n land nlanagemcn: dec:sons when aP:ror:ate. Other Stakehoide: Stakeholders Action Aims Tasks Accountable Involved A ..icvalOc mu:a To cottcent:ate rural Prenare rurai se::ienient Local :ouncs DUAP 5c:::runen: rcsdcnuaj b'.'cio:tnen: stra:cg:es and atnend LEPs i-. :hc Dunzog, Clarence Town Adopt development conarol Local councis anc Seariarn arms plans Prepare rural Lv:ng SitriZ Local councis DUAP 0:Donunaues are arid design gu.ideiaries a::ropnateiv located to proven: ad hoc dise:sal and Develop rural subdivision Local councs DUAP protect the water resources controls wnco take into of the catclunent account catchment :ssues To mestrtc: :nar:ra:rtatc and unproduc::ve sucd:vtsicn of mum:. :an:s S ort:roi and: To mm:ase :npu: of Ensure all new lots are Loca councis YSW l-ieaith Ofl-iitC nutr:ents and other capable of contoanang and cusposa! pollutants to :hc over systerit oasPosmg of all eflucnt v :ents To achaeve sustazoabie wastes on-site. All new servtc:ng prac:tces on-sato eisosai systems should be locatod away hunt To cnsure on-stte eniuen: dcuanage Lines, shallow sails syszons are not located an or impervious soils. flood :rone land Minum lot sires shouic not be robed upon whco assessing a subdivision: Continued Other Scakeholder Action Airs Scakaholders Tasks Accountable Involved Aacpt ASl54. - ocai counc:is EPA. P-fU 1wosai Systems ror fluent n'otri Dornesete Pre uscs as a oasis enthng further rennement of ;uicciincs 5v uie EPA ?rrrroare effluent cesosa od DL',VC mnas :or :ne Ensurc regular ntam:orinz or oca C3LtnCu en-sue effiucn: casposal systems C Ucgade Dungog . To c±nmacc thscarg.cs of ,nvesto;ate and desien Dungog Council PWS. a Sewage Tmea:ntcnc fluen: :9 the river imProved/enlarged sewage Works DLWC. NEW Ta :ncmcase the czOSc::v z:en: fac±z:cs Fisheries. treatment or nutm:ents ana - a:i-iogcns Prcparc submrsszcns far Dunsog Council EPA DLWC grants/ace ass:s:aace ia'eszegate water re-use Dungog Council cpt:ons D ?:ovide sewage To cemenese discharges ci invesugate and eeszn NC eatent for Local councils, effluen: to the river sewage carinea: works Clarence Towr. PWS, EPA. To rovide for the ane Seanarn catcnt DLWC. S:atc of sewage wastes, :omests parucuamv nutrients Pmeare submissions for Local councils and Patnogens grants funding assistance Control and To nienemase :npu: of Preoare urban storinwatem Local councils EPA, D L W C :nanage nu:t-lents and other pollutants rianagemenz plans for waszewazcr run-off :o the aver svse Durigog, Clarence Town and To procccz and eni-tance water Seahoni cuajt:v ELraeraze effluent front datr' Farmers EPA. DLWC sheds carec: to wa:cmcou:ses NSW NEW Dau-v Asscc:ancn. NSW Dairy Corooranon Prepare envtronnienuj Deveiopers, EPA. D L W C. zrianagenien: ians car Iocai Councils all new 5ubvps aeoPt:ng a total water cycle aroacu:ncudeng Secenien: sad erosion control nicn:imsanon of run-off: Pcten::ai for water reuse, - and dcscgn of aPmo:r:a:c :reatnent fadlle::cs Continued Other Scakehoider Staehoide:s Action Aims Tasks Accountable Involved n:roduce a To achieve consistent Rcvtew Dun;og and Par: Local councils DUAP acr:orma000 -basc pianaiI zorroLs for Stcphcns LEPs aeeroacn :0 tistiinabic residential Prepare urban development Local councils DUAP deveiop.ent strategy tar Durgog, To encourage higher dcns:zccs Clarence Town and Seahan'. in Ducigog to ensure antc:cn: use of and To rovide :or h:gher rm densities in Clarence Town and Seahain fcilowng ProvISlon at sewage rea:men: wart-is In cac- locaticr o Pronioce a whole To achieve sustainable Prepare whale-of-farm clans Fartme:s DLWC, NSW :arin.PLarrti2g acuizurai land addressing where Agriculture. To reduce erosion aperaona:e: EPA, NSW rura ropert:es sedimentation and numen: - cry shed anagcmen: Dairy Farmers w::h ilic input - stack movement Association, NSW Daj.rv To assist farmers im - drainage lines Corcoraz:ati :demmivmg rabieins anc - access to watercourses aPLvmg simie but effective - on-farm water storage solutions - fercaiiser application - rver bamk management - piamnng of appropriate Plants on eiuent disoosal areas Adopt conservation farm'.ing Farmers NSW Aaricui:ure, DLWC Prepare or distiibute best Relevant HCMT practice notes on: agencIes craooir.ghornculture - livestock management - asture management - fertiitscr use iden:ily and mao areas of: DLWC - ?otez::ai dr;land sani:y - ac:d suiphate sods Precare a To reduce ree:eat:ona: Relevant factors to be 1-ICMT Local councils, conilec: rescived include inc need :0: NSW State To :denzz aPropr:ate - nia±nzain a range oi Forests, NPWS, arazenien: ano iecations and :ontroi recreationai ocootcucuties MSB, DLWC, nove:opricn: ean inc cotenmient measures :or recreational = make dec:sioris on power Relevant landowners, acvitees oca: acnvuv consistent agencIes tour:sm and To protect natural resource w::h government recreaz:onai values and nice: acccn:abie response to groups recrea::cn Rivers Comm:ss:on con::nttec over, Continued - - AND REGIONAL PLANNING STRATEGY Othcr Acijoii Aims Scakehoide: Scakehoiders Tasks Accounable Invoived aciicvc SUS:auiiIb1C -. ic and conL:cj Ccrcc:L3ria aC::vzLes rccrca::cnai v -ucjcc 0 :asc - cocict cit:cs a'..arcncss of th i::hnacns wctn troc: rc:ona. resources and asosa: ror ccstgz:cc or atropr:a: es 2rCZS - o.ri anc con:ro r:arar:an rccrcaz:oriaj use - devciop and prcniotc coacs O r CnaV:0ur :0 encourage rCSOOsLd1C recreattonal USC of land and water resources vojvc kcy reercanonal zrous in - Scent: ccii: rccreancna. resources - :nii:ae:s :na.t nay arise ron -, Sc o: :raesc resources - iiianzgenic Oiii:ons to reduce tmpac:s Prcare :c:inncn .0n:n:nuse sccnccnzaucn Fucalise a1: oicv for erosion and HC'ViT local DLWC ercsoii uran OCVCLOC senen: Co::3 counc:s T: nu:r:cn: :nu: otaris Precare croston and HCMT. Local :n:o :ne rver svs councjs scdenie: ccnoj cicv on LWC ?rcarc and imjencn: Landowners Loca cc enciis scdaunen: ians relevant ncnacu::azaor. plans :or: agene:cs - :andiIl sites - cuarr:cs. zravc and oOrrOw r::s - :nns:r'.c:urc rc::son - S cvrsan on s1:e'Nc7:s - ra:t'Aav ea5ee5 :ccn:in.• areas of erosion anc DLWC crconnsc rccda ac::cn rac::ce Ta reduce toe :nac: o Manage recreatLona: ve::cie and rocecures State Forests EPA, TLWC :crcs-crv on water ,uai:;v use w:zun State Foresas o:cte : OOSt rac:es are rcres Ensure :orest—.' OC -'Q State Fores- aactec EPA, DLWC mc roccdurcs do not :ncrczso eroston a:c 07 nutrient AU R EGQAL P LANNG STRATE3'f Other Stak(eh&der Staxenooers Acoan Aims TSSI L intpicnicn: To iunasc :neu: of Consider matters :a:scc ::: Localcoumicija DtJAP apropr:atc nutrIents. sedoinents and scenon 1.2 wriert doa±ztng ccvc:oprncn: contOi other Pollutants to the nvar relevant LPs and DCPs and sys to::: when assessing deveiopmcn: To prov:de 'or t'e orderv aiica::ons for land located cff:ccn: use or land tnc cateninent To cnsure sansiaczor: itp:cncn: REF Local counc:is DUAP, :oca:ton 0: .eveopnc::: To achieve oons:stent P:ainc::g :ort::ois cr sustainable development M Cort::oi dcvc:cpmcn: To :nain:z:n and rotec: Rw.re deveioprncn: Local councils wotch has a water cuaL:v levels consent Icr all land uses potcotcal to reduce To work :owa:as sustarnabie WZtcC can recuca water water land usc Prac::ccs quauzy ?:chtht: ccveiopnen: where Local councüs ::noac:s car_no: je reasonably n:zagated against P:ohibi: mse:ezm ex::ac:ton Local councils of sand or gavei exce?t for r:vcr nain:enance \ otcc: cultural To de:cr: oj - or iaces a: signalicance Appendix E Water Quality Testing Results Wilt WAS UlVk Al IJUAUS HILL IIWC Sltt flu. lSCltiüu DATA StJ Jut 99 to P1IOI) tltflf[R - ..---. ---.-. ------.--.-MAIM(JM MlHIjtJ .-.----.--- —.--- .------25%jIu HIDIAII 15%ILo MEA II UIcICwjIi1 S t95 (L/ 25C) J(Jt9!j) _ 75 ------__J!? _too ! 49 _o2 is 21() 2( if 1! c1 110 040 7.3 ------....Jill ? 1501 050 1)5 054 - 113 020 44 J? Ch,1 lcd! 60 121 264.6 220 230 AIkdiInlIy ('t .i CCO) 4 1100, il - iou (X) - Told 411 6/.20 Jul 9Y I 41 ------ ------.jog IX) 3065 3665 <2 42 1 3/.13 .. __2.i 2 2 1281 --.--. 4(y) 6 16 2 6LO ------640 iSco ------240 - 1oiI CaCO) -L'Q . Jiil/ Jiagi(XL ---- - 21 III) Ii !'!------• . 1/21 3lI( r99:i4 fli,Utm1 420 SL.9J !fl 002 -- ---.- 4161 1354 59IL1 iul1 - . ii wn _ooi 020 ow ow IllIIOUcn . TttIl ...... DMA SIJMM Jul '99 lo Jut lip (J)JMljp MAXIMUM ElltllMUl --.--.----. 25Il MEDIA)) lS%IIü MEAH .55.-..- - S t95%C( •-- ---.- .------. 5CwLM1 TL_ ---..--- 20 - 9luutXl 2/6 _. -- 90 - ------1 JillLHI . -.__.__!? ___2 ---...... • •_245 _. witpwIc :!'' ..? ._ .- ±..... ------.--..------.------.- -..------12--- . - - ...... ---.---- 02 ------_.?L ( 140 Ji ill u .io _.._. ! .'L ._.. _i - IlIICU! ---.-. ..------.---. ------.------.- . ----_ ...... -_31 - -. flI;;y (tii( Jul99- .Juii(X; lJ0D. 1u(( (119/I) 'I 9(16(1 (ó(( Jul99. Jun (8) 5428 59(X) 695:1 <2 6.) 0(1 (108 -- ...... ------2 2 11 ------n : 2 ------. . ___..__..; ------.------. ----- --- lialdiless - rot( (tIl9/t a CC0,) .oio 2 - Jul99- JuutXJ Oil Oil 99(11 . 5(21; o ii 5201 6251 0(8) ...... __ ...?Ix 1692 6886 -- -JutA) _o ons 2226 - 218 'f90LflliP9iUl) ___Jvc-ill UII ooi ..noi oo Lj j ------_0O? ------1(05-- J -. -.-.------)() . 00 00? _o . ------U ...-. ------' --__.! ---.. ow 01 - --..-- 1) 26 -. H? - -. 04 --- l . JJuH 3i --- ----__LL1' -- ( ...... _(L0 _053 ------. ------._ ------__! ----_1 _2O ?'------. 046 -. 0 I9 ---- 423 ------.. .!P _i -. ?Jsi.-ss! ------8J 0025 ------._ .. -.____ ---- -__..'1I------.- -...... ? .._i? 12 ------___ - 40 --- -.---.. . .. ------_.1?? ..._._.iflu -...-.-.------ - - J?. _i2o 20. 280 ow --- —J ------. ?! .. 603 It - ...... Jill ...... --... fl..-- ...... iJIIw hO ---._.l? 05211 •_ oag -- -- . (12 (Jolt .__._ .. ----_? WATER QuALFry DATA FOR WILLIAMS RIVER Data assessed against relevant guidelines for Glen William Site (1999/00 data) ndjcator Median Result I Maximum Result Turoidity Medium Medium Conductivy Low Low Thermctorant coliform Low Hich otal nitrogen Medium ------Medium ODflVfla IoW L ow Cvancbactcr2 Nc reors No reDor-rs Data assessed against relevant guidelines for Boags Hill Site (1999/00 data) Indicator LMedian Result urDcity LMaximum Result I Medium High Conductivity Low Medium Therrnotolerant coiiforrn Low Medium Total rutrogen Medium High Total phosphorus Hich I Hich Chlorophyll a Low Hich yancbactera Low Data assessed against relevant guidelines for TiIIegra Dam site (1999/00) Indicator Median Result Turbidity Maximum Result Medium "Hich Conductivtv Low Low I nermotolerant coftrorrn - .. High Hich I otal nitrocen ..-- . Medium riicn I cta( pnosOnorus Hign Hign Chlorophyll a Low Low Cyanocactera Noreoorts - No reoor- s TOLTIO SOURCE Water Qua1i of the WiI1ia ver AnuaI Reoo j999i00 The Hunter Water Cooratjon Gresford Site 3A - AlIvn River, Gresford Water Suo i , Eastjn 363750,Northing 641187 Date i Time I EC Turbidity Nitrate Phosphate / Faecal Cot iforms 13 <1.1 I3 <0.1 ------0.14 " 14/10/98 I2 /0ig I 4/1 1/98 <0.1 <-0,i 230 130 1 'b oc 0 120 4A - AlIyn River at Torryburn Rd Easting 364625, Nor downstream of Gresford. -thing 6406825, D t Turbidity mIg.e ph ae mg '9 1.0 299 /3 < 1i /a8 9.00 3;26 ;0 7/10/98 O1 I /Q9i20J33 2 <0.0i 8P - Paterson River downstream of Gresford, easting 361375, nor -thing 6409650 Date I Time i EC i Turbidity Nitrate I PhosphaJ 1 us/cm NTLJ 1 mgIL 1 mg/L 02'98 1 11.30 191 1.2 <0.4 0.03 03/98 8.00 I 207 <1 I <0.1 0.02 7/04/98 9.50 1 202 1.4 i 0.24 5/05/98 <0.01 195 42 <0.1 0.09 998 1 9.30 1 234 13 <0.1 0.022 97/98 8.00 171 7 I <0.1 <0.001 4/08/98 8.00 I 1 180 14.1 <0.1 0.015 9/98 10.00 218 1 20 I <0.1 0.013 6/10/98 1.30 251 9.7 I <0.1 0.02 3/11/98 I 8.00 1 271 3.3 <0.1 1 0.011 5/01/99 10.00 229 1.6 <0.1 1 0.016 014 7/QC9 3o i70 2 0.01 0 0O22 0.031 14 4/0 .198 - rciver at ai Briage. easting 370175 nohing 6392225 NTU 3/0219 8 6.00 255 4.7 3/03/98 0.15 278 3 7/04/98 0.04 6.00 328 1 i05/98 2.8 002 196 3 12106/98 <0.1 0.11 6.30 298 iQ 7/07/98 6.30 221 5.4 4 /08/98 <0.1 0.013 6.45 213 13.9 2109/98 <01 002 6.00 271 16.8 6/10/98 <0.1 0.025 5.30 321 5.6 14/10/98 I too21 21/10/98 95 I 98 6.00 374 / 680 3.8 <0.1 i5/i2!98 I 5.30 0.014 I 67 5/01/ 99 5•45 377 / 860 5.45 ; 208 I 4 5I<0i L19/01,99 I 545 350 L16/cz'gg I 00 I 6.00 1 100 205 -r-m-- 13P - Paterson River downstream of Paterson Tu rb Id I ty N itrate COHforms Org/j IL/Q IJ)8 31 i 01 017 71(17- 0 19 0.024 IlJJ(j 67 <0.11 0.017 - :...,.,. 0029 210°/98 • 10 0 it 6 <0.1 0027 - <0.1 IO6R hi !. -/C /°8 i 1 '7o I / 4 1 / 2j9a iflJOC . . .H INFORMATION SOURCE: The Dungog Shire Draft Urban Stormwater Menagement Plan 2000. Appendix F Declared Noxious Weeds for Dungog Shire Council Dungog Home Weeds page The following weeds are declared noxious in the Dungog control Noxious weeds area. The 'details' link on each listing provides further information on the legal requirements of the weed's listing and any variation in status within the local control area. A comclete list of all weeds in all control areas is also available as a POF document. Common name Scientific name Category African boxthom Lyciurn ferocissimum W2 details Alligator weed Altemanthera Wi details philoxemides Bathurst Xanthium spp. W3 details Noogoora Calffomian Cockle burrs Black knapweed Centaurea nigra Wi details Blackberry Rubus fruticosus (agg. W3 details spp.) Broomrape Orobanche spp. Wi details Cabomba Cabomba spp. W4g details Cape tulips Homena spp. W3 details Columbus grass Sorghum x a/mum W2 details Dodder Cuscuta cam pestris W2 details Giant Parramatta grass Sporobolus fort//is syn. W2 details Sporo bc/us indicus var. m Green cestrum Cestrum parqui W3 details Harilsia cactus Harris/a spp. W4f details Hawkweed Hieracium spp. Wi details Horsetail Equisetum spp. Wi details Johnson grass Sorghum halepense W2 details Karroo thorn Acacia karroc Wi details Kcchia Koch/a sccpaha WI details Lagarosiphon Lagarosiphon major Wi details Mexican feather grass Nassella tenuissima syn Wi details 26-11-01 PNf -)L1/.i a L c,' 1LAjilhJ Miconia Micania .spp Wi details Mother-cf-millions B,'yophyflum delagoense W2 - details Nodding thistle Carduu.s riutans W2 details Pampas grass Cortaderia spp. W2 details Parthenium weed Parthenium hysterophows Wi details Paterson's Echium spp. W3 details curse, Vipers Italian bugloss Prickly pears Opuntia spp. W4f details Rhus tree Toxiccdendron W2 details succ.edaneum Salvinia Salvinia molesta W2 details Scotch Cytisus scoparius W2 details English broom Senegal tea plant Gymnocoronis Wi details spilanthoides Serrated tusscck Nassella trichotoma W2 details Siam weed Chromclaena odorata Wi details Spiny burrgrass Cenchrus incertus W2 details Spiny burrgrass Cenchrus Iongispinu.s W2 details Spiny ernex Emex australis W3 details Spotted knapweed Centaurea maculosa WI details St John's wort Hypericum perforatum W2 details Water hyadnth Eichhomia crassipe.s W3 details Water lettuce P!stia .stratiotes Wi details Willows Salix spp. W4g details The information contained in this web page is based on knowledge and understanding of Order(s) under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 at the time of wnting or at the time of last review. However, because: there may be changes to the Order(s) users are reminded of the need to ensure that information on which they rely is up to date, and some weed dedarations of particular weeds have explanatory or qualifying notes and users should check the accuracy, completeness and currency of information by: reading the Order(s), inquiring with the appropriate officer of the Local Govemment Authority for the user's locality, and/or ° consulting with an independant advisor. of2 26-11-01 14:571 Appendix G Current Heritage Items SCHEDULE 2 - HERITAGE lTE3IS (CL. 5) Town/locality Item and localiti.' Map ref. Clarence Towu "E:nght" Hotel. 21 Grey Street Fomier Court House. -9 Grey Street Post Ofice. 32 Grey Street .1 Residence "Hua Tsa'. 1:2 King Street Residence "Roseneath". Kinc Street St. Davd Church. Marshall Street Fortner Comrnerctai Inn . 662 Pane Street S. Residence 'HoUvdene". 40 Rssei1 Street ngog Residence. 112 Abeiard Street Showtnound Pavilions. Abelard Street Ii. "Court House" Hotel. 45 Brown Street Residence. .8 Brown Street Residence, 88 Hoake Street Residence. 29 Dowling Street School of Aris. 106 Dowling Street Hiram Lodge, Dowling Street 7. Christ Church. Dowling and Chapman Streets is. St. Andre'.vs Church. Dowiing and Chapman Streets "WestDac" Bank, 115 Dowling Street Residence, 137 Dowling Street Former Inn, 211 Dowiing Street "National Australia Bank" and former Stables. 249 Dowling Street Obelisk with direction sicns at intersection of Dowling and Hooke Streets Residence. 20 Dowling Street Residence. "Coimbra". 72 Dowling Street "l.A. Rose" Building. 1t61.50 Dov!ing Street "H.C. Dark:s" Building. I SO- I $8 Dowiing Street 2S. Siioos. 22-i_232 Dowljng Street Unitin" Church. 238 Dov1in Street "Bank" Hotel. 268 Dowling Street Residence "Oomabah". 26 Lord Street Court House. Lord Street Police Residence, Lord Street 3-i. Police Lock-us Lord Street co. Resicence. 10 Lord treet Residence, 55 Mar' Street Residence. 57 1oni Street Residence. 68 larv Street Q. Residence. 57 Rens Street Paterson 40. Residonce "Yoorina". 23 Alben Sircet "Oddic! lows' l'lal I. 10 Church Sreei St. PnuVs Church ond Ceiuctc:. Duo Street St. Anne's Church. Johnstone Street Former Court House. Johnstone Street Former CBC Bank. Corner King and Duke Streets Post office. corner King and Duke Streets "Court House' Hotel, King Street Residence "Annandale", 2 King Street Former "Royal Oak Arms" Hotel King Street Residence, 35 Maitland Road Cornszaddle, Maitland Road Paterson Tavern. 25 Prince Street Former Rectory, 20 Prince Street War Memorial at intersectton of Railway. Main and Victoria Streets East Gresford Residence. 15 Durham Road Residence. 21 Durham Road St. Helens Church and Cemetery. Park Street "Hotel Beatrv", 52 Park Street Residence. 54 Park Street Residence. 7S Park Street Gresford St. Anne's Church. Church Street Suspension footbridge west of Church Street Pansh Hall. Church Street Martins Creek St. James Anglican Church, Cook Street Vacv St. John's Church Gresford Road Ailvabrook St. Mar's-on-Allvn. Church Allvnbrook 629183 Residence 'Mariville" Al1ibrook 63 1177 63. Residence "Orange Grove' Ailynbrook 634175 69. Residence "Caergrvle" and Allvnb rook outbuildings 619139 Bandon Grove 70. Former Public School Alivobrocic 737259 General Cenetery Allynbrook 795254 "Conninenlia" All vu brook - 7S1246 Residence 'vli1rov Ailvubrook 79124 Bendolba 74. St. Peter's Anelican Church Allvnbrook 799232 Cliichcstcr 75. River Footbricgc Chichester 704359 Clarence Town 76. Residence "Fothenuav Clarence Town S47914 T. Marshall and Lowe Clarence Town Deptford Shipyard site 552929 S. Clarence Town Bridce. Clarence Town Yjjliams River 3c94 79. General Cemeteri Clarence Town 836935 30. Waiba Park. Clarence Town Clarence Town Road - Slaughterhouse 329929 Dungog Si. Residence Cangon' and Gresford outbuildings 822103 32. Residence Dingadee Dunog $43171 Residence Figtree" Stroud Road 831207 Residence 'Meibee' and Dungog outbuildings 338125 Residence 'Nulla Nulla' Dungog 331153 General Cemeteri. Cemetei-r Gresford Road 812122 East Gresford 37 Ciements Road Timber Gresford B ri dze 65i0S Eccieston SIS. Suspension Bhdge over Allyn Caowbrook River 636303 Gresford $9. Residence 'A.rd-Na-Hane' Gresford 613110 Residence Cawaa' Gresford 601 15 Residence "Le'.vinsbrooi,i" Grcs ford ó30°6 Lostock St. Johns .c!jcan Church Caow5rook and Cemete 55 122 Munni Residence ' Munni' A11vnbroo1 75 265 Upper Allvn Lister Villa CaaboMa Paterson Residence 'Bonn Vista Paterson 659 9( o Residence "Gostwvck" Paterson 69295$ Gostwvck Bridge. Paterson River Paterson 639953 Paterson Bridge. Paterson Road Paterson 696905 Residence "Tocal' Paterson 676396 Salisbury ioo. Bangton Guest House Chichester 606417 10 1. Church, Salisburi Road Chichester 6L33 Residence 'Melburi' Chichester ó5339 Williams Pjver footbridge Chichester General Cemeteri Chichester 647336 Vacv 105. Vacy Bridge, Paterson Fjver Paterson 662989 Wirragulla 106. Residence "Crooks Park" Gresford 323085 Pumping Station Gresford 818081 Hooke Family Cemete' Gresford 823091 Appendix H Revised Heritage Items SCHEDULE TWO: HERITAGE ITEIS AND HERITAGE CO.N.SERVATION AREAS 2.1 HERITAGE COSERVAT1ON AREAS S i n i tica n C C A Ciarencetown Grey Street Prectnct B Dungog Commerc:al Prec:nct regional C Dungoc Residential Prec:nct D East Gresz'ord Village regional E Paterson Village regional 2.2 HERITAGE ITEMS Locality Item number and street address Sianiflcance Ailvnbrook 1 House Orange Grove. 757 Ailvn River Road 2 MariiZZe. 797 AI1'rn River Road state 3 Old post office .338 Ailvn River Road 4 Former Allynbrook public school. 340 Allyn River Road 5 C'aegrvie and outbuildings. 933 Allvn River Road) regional 6 Sc Maxyon-Al1va church and church yard. Ailvn River Road regional Bandon Grove 7 House )vlilrov, 108 IChichester Dam Road 3 Uniting church, 1212 Chichester Dam Road 9 Former public school. 1230 Chichester Dam Road 10 G'annzngalla 135 Dowlings Road regional 11 General cemetery. v[ulconda lane regional Bendojba Sc Peters .g!ican church & cemeter, Chichester Dam Road regional Bingleburra 13 Bmg!ebur7-a and ruins. 1462 Bingleburta Road Chichester 14 Williams River footbridge. off. Salisbury Road 15 Barttngton Tops National Park (in Dungog Shire) state C1arenceto%vn 16 Ciarencetown general cemeter'. Cerneteri Road regional IT Rooards slaughterhouse. Vaibu ?aric. 2495 Ciarencetown Road 13 i-ocflerzngave, Fotherngave Road regional 19 Errrnghi hotel. I Grey Street 20 Former post office. 32 Gre" Street (corner Queen Street 21 Former court house. L9 Gre', Street (Corner Prince Street) regional 2 Hw Tsa. 132 King Street regional House Rosenearit, King Street corner Durham Street') 24 Williams River road bridge, Limebuniers Creek Road (Br:go'Johnson) . state 25 Sc Davids church, 32 Marshall Street 26 Police station and residence. 113 Prince Street Park memorial gates, Queen Street Hc'il'ileny, 40 Russeil Street Dungog LE? 1990 ;\incndmi No XX Flcricau) :001 paCe 10 of 13 Duiigo 29 S\'iuuLi :\ regionaJ 30 lwc. 1 12 Ahelaid L1eer 31 Duneoc picture theatre. 6 Brown Sti'et regional 32 HOUSO. S Brown Street 33 Conic House hoteL - B ruvn S creei 34 Dutuoe neral eicterv. Cemetery Road regional 35 Early brick public school buildings. 59 Chapman Street 36 Cain'on & outbuildings. 4723 Cirirencetown Road 37 Shop & residence. 20 Dowling Stre re2ional 33 Former Presbyterian manse. 23 5 Dovhing Steet regional 39 House. 29 Dowhing Street regional 40 Ho'u,n Lodee & Hall. 51 Dowling Street region al 41 Christ Church. 53 Dowhing Street (corner Chapman Street) 42 St .Andrews Church & Hall. 63 Dowling Street (corner Chapman Screet 43 House Kirra/eg, 72 Dowling Street 44 School of Arts building, 105 Dowling Street region al 45 Former \Vestoac bank. 115 Dowling Street (corner Mackay Screet 46 Shop & residence. 137 Dowling Street 47 LA Rose building, 146-150 Dowling Street regional 48 Wades building. 15 2-4 Dowling Street 49 HC Dark building. 180-138 Dowling Street regional 50 Former Stephe'nsons Inn. 2 11 Dowling Street 51 Shops. 224-232 Dowling Street regional 52 Uniting church. 238 Dowling Street 53 Former CEC bank. 257 Dowling Street (corner Hook-c Street) regional 54 Bank hotel, 270 Dowling Street regional 55 Obelisk. Dowlin(z Street"Hooke Street intersection regional 56 Former CBC Bank stables. 8 Hooke Street 57 House. 38 Hooke Street 53 House. Oomabah, 26 Lord Street (corner Mary Street) 59 Police residence. 36 Lord Street) regional 60 Police lockup. 86 Lord Street) regional 61 Former Councti chambers, 96-100 Lord Street regional 62 Court house. 100 Lord Street 63 House, 108 Lord Street 64 House, 55 Mar'i Street 65 House. 57 Man Street 66 House. 68 Mar' Street 67 House Vernon, 57 Rens Street (corner Canton Avenue) 68 Cooreei road bridge (Williams Rdver) Stroud Road state 69 We/bee and outbuildings. Verge Street East Gresford 70 Former buner factor,. Ailvn River Road 71 Fonner courthouse and residence, 14 Durham Street 72 House. 15 Durham Road 73 House. 21 Durham Road 74 St. Helen' s church & cemetery, Park Street regional 75 Beatr,r hotel 52 Park Street regional 76 House. 54 Park Street 77 House. 78 Park Street Eccieston Suspension footbridge (Allyn River). 1.5 km N of Eccleston Fosterton 79 'vhL!aVii11, 58 Fosterton Road 30 Fgrreg, 1222 Fosterton Road regional 31 Diiivaes'. 340 Stroud Hill Road Gresford - 82 Sc Anne's church & cemetery, Glebe Road 33 Sc Anne's parish hall. 12 Church Street 84 Suspension footbridge (Paterson River). west of Church Street Duneoc LEP 99() .-.mendnem No <\ Hcrivee) 2001 page 11 of 13 85 1,f—'cu—H iiD1lai1 R'cJ 86 C Lewinsbrook SO L'vc/zsh/?oJ- 398 Cleinents Road regional Lostock 90 Sc Johns church & cemeter., 34 Losrock School Road regional lartins Creek 91 Sc James church. 95 Con, Street (corner Cook Street) 92 Ntartins Creek railway buildings and quarry Munni 93 House .[uniü XX Salisbun, Road Paterson 94 House Yoorjngct 23 Albert Street 95 Former Oddfellows hall. 10 Church Street 96 Former public school. 11 Church Street 97 House. [2-14 Church Street 98 Paterson railway bridge (Paterson Pjver), Church Street 99 Former court house. 33 Church Street regional 100 Hcnvard Cottage 12-14 Commercial Road 101 House Gosrvck, Dungog Road 102 Gosick road bridge (Paterson Pdver), Duagag Road 103 St. Paul's church, hail & cemetery, Duke Street regional 104 Corner's tlourrnjll. Gresford Road [05 House Annandde, 2 King Street (corner Queen Street) 106 Hatharlelgit, 5 King Street regional 107 Union shed, S King Street regional 108 Former butcher, 16 King Street [09 Former Royal QakArms hotel. 18 King Street 110 Former CEC Bank, 19 King Street (corner Duke Street) 111 Post Office. 21 King Street (corner Duke Street 112 C'ourr House hotel. 21-3 King Street 113 School of Arts, 25 King Street 114 St Ann's church & cemetery, King Street 115 Former bakery. 39 King Street 116 House Glen .-jvr, 35 Maitland Road 117 Cottage, 12 Marquis Street regional 118 Errresriille, 3 Prince Street 119 Former rectory. 20 Prince Street (corner Duke Street) 120 Former Commercial hoteL 25 Prince Street 121 Voumea, 28 Prince Street 122 War memorial, intersection of RajlwaviMajaivictoria Streets 123 Cornsradd[e. Tucker Park, Tocal Road regional 124 House Bona Visca. Tocal Road regional 125 Tocal homestead, Tocal Road state 126 Paterson River road bridge. Woodville Road regional 127 Paterson railway station oroup. Railway Street 128 Rail Motor Societ'; collection, Webbers Creek Road stare Salisbur' 129 House .fethui-'.', 2205 Salisbury Road 30 Congregational church. 2248 Salisbury Road 13 1 Bacngron guest house. 2940 Salisbury Road 132 Williams River oocbridge. off Salisbuni Road 133 General cemeten;. Sal isbun; Road regional Torrvburn - 134 .Alivn River timber road bridge. Clements Road Underbank 135 Fumier L'nderbank congregational church. 1522 Salisbury Road 136 C cac'rbcink Housc. Sal isburi Road Dunvoc LEP 1901) Amendmc:ct No X( Ficrirayc) 2901 pace 12 of 13 L'pper .Allvn 137 Lister timber mill villaue. 330o Alivn River Road [3 Nlount Royal National Park state 139 Mount All in tiora resere regional \acv 140 Sc Johns ohurch. 733 Grestrd Road regional [41 Paterson River road brdue. Gresford Road state [42 .l[oilo,-czi, 103 Homs Crossinu Road \\ irrigulla 143 GooksPork. Clarencerown Road 144 Pumping station. Clarencerovn Road 145 Hooke Family cetnecer'. Ciarencetown Road regional 2.3 POTENTIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL ITEMS Clarence town 146 Foer Commercial Inn. 62 Rifle Street 147 Marshall z Lowe De iorc shrovard scte, Fotheringave Road Paterson l43 Queens 57iarj Tucker Park, Tocal Road 2.4 SIGNIFICANT TREES Glen William 149 Camphor laurel trees Glen William Public School, Glen William Road Paterson 150 Fig trees at former entrance to Tucker Park, Tocal Road 151 Fig tree beside Paterson rail bridge, Church Street Duaoo LEP 1990 \mendmerct No XX F-[eritaoe) 2001 pae [3 of 13 Appendix I State Environment Planning Policies Applicable to Dungog Shire State Environmental Planning Polides Applicable to the Dungog LGA SEPP 1- Development Standards SEPP 4- Development without Consent and Miscellaneous Complying Development SEPP 5- Housing for Older People or People with a Disability SEPP 6- Number of Storeys in a Building SEPP 8- SurpRJs Public Land SEPP 9- Group Homes SEPP 11- Traffic Generating Developments SEPP 15- Rural LandSharing Communities SEPP 21- Caravan Parks SEFP 22- Shops and Commercial Premises SEPP 30- Intensive Agriculture SEPP 32- Urban Consolidation (Redevelopment of Urban Land) SEPP 33- Hazardous and Offensive Development SEPP 34- Major Employment Generating Industrial Development SEPP 36- Manufactured Home Estate SEPP37- Continued Mines and Extractive Industry SEFP 44- Koala Habitat Protection SEPP 45- Permissibility of Mining SEPP 48- Major Putrescible Landfill Sites SEPP 50- Canal Estate Development SEPP 55- Remediation of Land SEPP 60- Exempt and Complying Development SEPP 64- Adveffising and Signage Appendix J Issues Paper ]Jungog Local Environmental Study INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The Shire of Dungog is part of the Hunter Region and the Lower Hunter Sub-Region. Its boundaries are Great Lakes Shire to the east. Singleton Shire to the west, Scone Shire to the northwest, Gloucester Shire to the north and Port Stephens Shire and the Citij of Maitland to the south. The administration centre for the Shire is located in Dungog, which is 50km by road from Maitland. 80km from Newcastie and 230km from Sydney. Dungog Local Government area has an area of some 2265 .33sqm and extends from alluvial flats and undulating country in the south to mountainous and rugged terrain in the north, where the LGA is bordered by the Great Dividing Range via the Barrington Tops Ranges and Escarpment. Topography of the Shire is controlled by three river valleys, these bring the Williams River to the east and the Allyn and Paterson Rivers to the west. The Williams and Paterson Rivers are major tnbutaries of the Hunter River. The land rises from roiling to hilly country at an aWtude of about 30metres in the south, to rugged Barrington Tops at an altitude of about 1500 metres in the north. The rainfall in the Shire is variable with an annual average rainfall of 2500mmiir, being recorded in the northern area of the Barrington Tops. The more populated areas of the Shire generally receive a much lower average of 900 to 1000mm/yr. The steep rugged nature of much of the countryside lends itself to heavy flooding. The temperature within the Shire ranges from a Mean Maximum Temperature of 29.4degrees C in January to a Mean Minimum Temperature of 3.4degreesC in July. Roaa access within the Shire is largely determined by topography. with linkages to the New England Highway and the Pacc Highway through Gresford, Dungcg and the Bucketts Way. The main north coast railway line runs north-south through the Shire, through the towns of Dungog, Marns Creek and Paterson and the localities of Wirragulla. Wallarobba and Hilldale. According to th1 996 Census, the Dungog Local Government Area had a population of 7363, wrth concentrations in the four majcr settlements of Dungog, Clarencetown, Paterson and Gresford (inducing East Gresfora). These figures show that from 1986 - 1991 to 1991-1996, the Shire experienced an average growth of 3.3%, with Paterson and Clarencetown recording Increases of 9.0% and 3.9% respectively. Grefcrd however, experienced a decline in growth of CC PYR Gi-tT This cccument csr, cnly be reprcducs n full end wfth he wnnen permission of Hunter Develocmer,t Crckerage Pty Ld -29.%. while the township of Dungog remained static at a growth of 0.13%. According to Census data and Hunter Valley Research Foundation projections, it is anticipated that although previous population predictions have fallen short, the 1996 Census indicates that the population growth rate in the Dungog Shire is slightly above that of the Hunter, the Shire has the fifth highest growth rate of the in Hunter local government areas. The percentage of the labourforce recorded as unemployed in the Shire is 8.4%, according to 1996 Census and Hunter Valley Research Foundation Statistics. 1996 Census figures indicate that the following represents the breakup of occupations of those employed and accounts for people who work both within and out of the Shire. 16% of the workforce is involved in agriculture, forestry and mining, with 14.6% employed in the wholesale/retail trade. The next most significant employer is manufacturing at 8.6%, finance, property and business seniices at 6.8% and construction at 6.7%. The Paterson/Ailyn Valleys and the Ciarencetown/Dungog hills have been extensively cleared and are used for dairy farming along the lower reaches and for beef production in steeper areas. Forestry operations are concentrated in the north, however, are not as widespread throughcutthe Shire as they once were. Increasingly, rural residential and hobby farms are occupying traditional grazing areas. Tourism is also increasing, Dungog LGA is predominantly an agricultural area, however, State Forests and National Parks make up a total of 22.1% of the Shire. A small area of the Shire is potentially affected by acid sulphate soils. There is an estimated 250a septic tank or smiiar systems in the Shire, with approximately 709/o of the population relying on this form of effluent treatment and disposal. The increase in development outside the sewered area of Dungog township means that these systems are increasing in use. Nauve vegetaticn ,over is the greatest to the north of the shire where the terrain is steep and rugged, thus preventing many activities that lead to significant removal/disturbance Undulating lands to the south have been extensively cleared for agricultural activPj mainly due to their reduced slope that is more suited to agricultural use. In recent years, ncreased pressure on rural land far develoornent, has increased as people move to country areasjor Tural lifestyle'. Continued urban development can have a major impact on natural ecosystems and the overall health of the development and whilst Council cannot afford to restrict all development, a balance must be obtained between development and environmental crcrection. COPYRIGHT This ccurnent :sri cny be ecrcduce in fuil sri wCh he written ermiss,cn of Hunter OC'/ecCrr, ertt Srckersge Pty Ld Due to amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act as well as a number of other Legislative changes, the shortcomings of Councirs current planning document has been highlighted and Dungog Shire Council has resolved to prepare a Study, leading to the preparation of a draft Local Environmental Plan. Under Secon 62 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. Government Department and adjoining Council comments as well as those of key stakeholders and the general public are taken Into account in the preparation of the Local Environmental Study. The series of workshops held recently at throughout the Dungog Shire, was very productive and the input from these workshops has now been compiled in this Issues Document. The issues raised in this document and the written comments of government department's, as well as an extensive analysis of the esting research documentation currently available from Council, will assist us in forming the basis for the future direction of our Shire. CONSULTATiON REQUIRED UNDER S62 PUBLIC CONSULTATION Meetings held: Monday 14 May. 2001 GRESFORD Thursday 17m May, 2001 DUNGOG Monday 21 sc May, 2001 VACY Thursday 30 May, 2001 CLARENCETOWN Tuesday 5 June, 2001 PATERSON During this phase of the consultation, approximately 60 members of the public attended the meetings. Attendance numbers were considerable higher at meetings held in Paterson and Clarencetown as these villages, due to their proximity to other urban centres, and are amongst the prime areas which appear to be most attractive to prospective development. GO'/ERNMENT DEPARTMENT CONSULTATION Meetings held: Thursday 5' July, 2001 DUN GOG The following Government Departments were represented at this meeting: COPYRIGHT This document can cnty be reproduced in full and with the written permission of Hunter. Development Crokersge Ptt Ltd Country Energy NSW Health Department Department of Mineral Resources Roads and Traffic Authority Environment Protection Authority National Parks and Wildlife Service Waterways Authority ate -orests of NS1V Department of Land and Water Conservation Department of State and Regional Development Rail Infrastructure Corporabon NSW Agriculture Wonmi Local Aboriginal Land Council Great Lakes Council Port Stephens Council Hunter Catchment Trust Maitland Cfty Council OVERVIEW OF WORKSHOP 1. INTRODUCTION BY MAYOR - Copy attached as Appendix A VVelcome ,All SET THE SCENE Discuss Council's Goals Outline major forces acting in Shire Waterways Catchrnent Management Competing Agendas e.g. Rural Res \is Agriculture Environmental Issues Senitcing costs Conflicting Landuse Planning Reform - DUAP Hold on Rural Residential White Paper Council's need to be pro-active - took to the future' Past attempts failed due to Too narrow a focus Public Involvement? HAND OVER TO HUNTER DEVELOPMENT BROKERAGE PTY LTD TO COORDINATE THE WORKSHOP COPYRIGHT This dccmenr can cniy be reproduced n uI end with Ihe written permission of Hunter Devecpmenr Crckerage Phj Ld WHY ARE YOU HERE 157 Stage a Information gathering Public participation Communities Plan and need for Community involvement early in process This is to gather "your thoughts" "Your wish es" "Ycurdesires" a ."/-' 2 Stage Gather all available Environmental and Social information in the area Identij any gaps in knowledge and if we need to look further 3 Stage Revie',v information and produce draft document for comment Public meeting Adverzisng Make amendments were required and look at recommendations, 4' Stage Depending on findings and community responses and inputs, it may result in full or partial review of Dungogs Planning Controls. We have divided the Shire into 4 parts and will hold workshops in each area over the next two weeks. Workshops are designed to allow everyone a chance to participate. It will also give us an indication of the planning issues of most importance to you. WORKSHOP Introduction and overiiew of the worksho p Hunter Development Brokerage are facilitators only and it is our job to work with you to review Dungog Shire Council's Planning Instruments Gve expected time Workshop SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats) Anaiysis ISSUES Identification - RANKING ISSUES 3. BREAK Tea and Coffee and refreshments to be supplied CONCLUSION REVIEW FINDINGS OF WORKSHOP LOOK AT SOLUTIONS FOR MAJOR ISSUES WRAP UP CLOSING Mayor tank audience for participation $ Invrtes them to meet again when we have put all the information tcgether. THE FOLLOWING TABLES SUMMARIZE THE OUTCOMES OF THESE WORKSHOPS (Full workshop outcomes are appendixed to this Issues Paper) COPYRiGHT 'Ths occum :arl niy e rerccucec in full arc ','irth :he .trcten cermsscn & Hunter Oeveccrnert 3rokerage Pty Ud DISCUSSION it s obvious from the meetings that the community held similar views in relation to the deveiccmentaf their respective areas. Of importance in all of the areas, was a desire to review devecprnent controls and standards in respect to development. Lnkec to :this is the des;re to maintain high environmental standards and appropriate seniicing levels. There is a need expressed to maintain thc rural characters of the areas through appropriate balanc:ng of the above. To achieve this there is a need to review the current planning instruments and set development cojecoves ana aims throughout the Shire. Aithougn eacn orthe meenngs related to a segment of the Shire, the desired issues and desired goals expressed by the community, were common and therefore shirewide, It Was mportant to note that the workshop held with government departments reiterated the issues and gcais expressed by the community. The issues icentified range beyond rural residential, however, this alone appears to be one of the main development forces placing pressure on the shire. To adequately achieve a desired outcome, in terms of addressing the community issues, there would be a need to look at the overall shire and the forces acting within and on the shire. This will provide for informed decision making and a platform to move fonNard with apprcpriate alterations to existing planning nszrument, scecficaily in the areas of development control, environmental and community. The preparation of a Local Environmental Study would provide this platform in addition to providing a valuable reference document on which to base informed decisicns. It is considered that a rural strategy alone, would not adequately adaress the breadth of issues raised in an accectacie manner ana further t may not provide the platform to examine amendments required to the current planninginstruments. CC T' -cc,.rrert :n e -ecr.-axecin. fuI arcw.Vi :-e ,irrter ermTss;on of Hurter Ceveccmert Crcke"açe y L:d COPY OF PRESENTATION BY DUNGOG SHIRE COUNCIL MAYOR - MR STEVE LOW CCPYGHT ms jccumer-tt can nl',:e Drtducj ri fu 2nd ',ith the '.irttten 2errrtsston f -tttrter De'ieon-tent roiere t'i INTRODUCTION We edirure and sccrec:are the Shire of ungcc for rs many secluded valleys and charming little communities flCSZICO fl a stunning :ancscace or unsurpassed oeautv and rural cflaracter . Our ccrnrnurrr'es are a rucc ing o s.n/ive ir, cenance or mocern TCICS for amalgamadon and ciosures asscc:areo with economic rationansm. CQuality or ire is important. there is a sense or community. and many cticcse to five in this oeacefui rural atmosphere ana commute to work in the cr. The stroke of a pen in the big smoke can hit small communides very hard indeed - like dereguladon of the dairy industry, which has devastated this S17 million industry in our Shire. Ironically, consumers are now paying more for milk while producers are receiving much less and local jobs and seniices are affectea. About 4091a of our dairj farms have left the industry in 12 months. Our economy was once dominated by tradidonal rural industries. In recent years tourism has reached S20 million annual turnover, but for many reasons we cant write agriculture off. \Jiticulture is a re emerging rural industry showing great promise for farmers and tourism. There will be others. Tourism relies on farming. Industries are imDortant for our local econcmy —we need to protect them from encroaching development, and vice versa. Nobody wants to live too close to a glue factory, pig farm or Landfill. Within Its resources. council acdvely encourages appropriate new enterprises and indus -ies. The telephone. Fax machine and Internet allow many businesses and professionals to work from home or anywhere. I wonder what will the future bring? Whether we like it or not, the cides are moving ever closer to us, peocle are moving out seeking cheaper land or trying to get away from it all" on a few acres or in a peaceful village. By so doing they are in a way destroying that verj peace in a process that has continued throughout time. They also bring (-:ty values and expectations of better senilces than we can afford. Yet we have all seen benefits from newcomers who assimilate into the community and contribute. Either way. we need to be prepared for develorment pressure and control It. SO WHAT ARE THE ISSUES FOR DUNGOG SHIRE? Population Density. Dungog Shire presents a large tract of rural land adjoining more populated areas offering employment and business opperzundes. With a population of aporoimately 8500 Oungog is about the same area as the combined municipalities of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and Port Stephens with their total population of 427640. Some 22% of this Shire 1,494 sq km) comchses areas controlled by State Forest and NFWS - larger than the entire of ilaidand (396 sq About S45% of this Shire comprises forest and woodland and only 1% is urban land. OOPYR GHT Ths cccurnent cn only Ce renroduced in full and with i- e written ermissicn of Hurter evelccrnent Crckerge ?ty Ld Oan we ignore pressures for this situation to change? Nilaitland and Port Stephens are exhausting their supplies of land suitable for development. We can obviously accommodate a few extra people, but how many? Where do we want them to settle and how would we meet their needs for sen/ices? Would population increase solve more problems than it creates? Transport Infrastructure Councl's annual reports assess the condition of our roads as unsatisfactcrj and we are concerned about litigation trends and rising premiums for public liabUity insurance. Our roads are suffering from decades of under funding. We are not alone - all Councils in regional areas have similar problems. But our reactive clay soils and wet conditions make things even worsei We raise about $3.8 million annually through rates and charges and everybody expects a high level of seniice for that money. But we need more than this to fix and maintain our roads. Without increasing the coverage of our sealed nebvork, according to AAS 27 we would need S27.3 Million to restore our roads to a reasonable standard, and about S4 Million annually to maintain that standard. Historically we have only spent about 32 Million. This year, through a concerted effort, we will spend about $3.75 million from all sources in our budget of Si 1 million, Itwill make a difference, but it's still not enough. This is more than (S2.6 million ) the City of Newcastle will spend from their budget of S109 Million. The deputy Prime Minister recently acknowledged that many rural roads are beyond repair and that small rural councils cannot be expected to maintain and upgrade local roads from their rate base alone. His 'Roads to Recovery' program will provide a 72% increase in FAGs for local roads over four years. Sounds good, but in real terms this most welcome extra" money merely restores road funding to 1990 levels and does nothing to addressl0 years of neglect and increases in ttaffic and payload. We have also received significant extra money from the NSW Government. Through our local State member John Pnce we received about 5800K extra last year for roads and bridges, and have alreacy received promises of S750000 for this year. Some of our worst roads are the heavily trafficked regional roads, which we maintain for the State. They have been significantly under funded by State Governments over a period of many years. Last month, Council presented three submissions on this matter seeking assistance. The political climate ensures we remain beggars but roads need 10 year programmes. We need secure long term funding increases from both Federal and State sources to enable proper planning and maintenance and consider needs for more plant, more jobs? Our roads are worn out and were never built to cope with present traffic, so how will they cope with increases assocated with deveioprnent? But are these issues necessarily related? COPYRiGHT his dccurnent oon oniy de reproduced in fui end iith he written permissicn of Hunter De'ieopment Crokerege P/ Ltd Last year the Federal Government coUectee about 512 Bifflon in fuel excises and spent only 51.6 Bililon on local roads from a budget of 5160 Blilion. Mind you they spent 350 billion on weftare. Railway We should not overtook the rail linkages through Paterson. Martins Creek and Hilldate to Dungog to reduce the dependence on road transport and enhance viabift' of existing services. Council Services Council has many responsibilities besides roads, we need to consider the impact of development upon: Waste management. water supplies, sewerage, on site effluent management. public health. noxious weeds, building and development controls etc. What capacity is there to expand seniices and accept increases in population, or provide new seriices? Let alone continue existing Services? Impact of new State & Federal Government Policies Threatens Council Services: Tightening laws escalate compliance costs. We are Continually being asked to do more with less and forced to accept increasing mandates with inadequate ñnancial compensation, for significant workload and budget impact. Last year: GST, NCR (competition), F!FPA (privacy laws) Child Protection, Companion Animals, Construction Induction Training requirements, Acid Sulphate Soils, and Trimming trees under power lines- urban areas. Forcing Councils to find efficiencies and economies which is not all bad, but there are limits to this process. Unfunded legislation cannot be enacted properly and places unrealistic requirements upon rural Councils. Other legislation creates significant pressures: EPA POECA cost of landfill management versus Container Deposit Legislation? RTA Quality Assurance huge affect on tendering processes for questionable benefit. DLAWC Native vegetation conservation Act - compliance? Council Finances Rates Income. DSC has low rate base compared with our neighbours - interesting to compare counctl rating charges in the Hunter,lower, for a rural property with a valuation of Si 50,000: Dungog Shire. Sago Singleton. 5745 (subsidized by 511 million annually through coal industrj) PSSC. 5964 (140%) Maitland. 51109 (160%) These relative differences existed many years ago as a result of this council's rate freezes despite rsng costs and inflation - these questionable decsons have given us a terrible legacy - low rate base perpetuated by rate pegging policy which limits the amount of total revenue collected to OPt. However, the consumer price index hardly relates to Council costs. Local government's wages costs have exceeded the CPI by about 509.16 over many years. BePNeen May 95 and October 2000. wages rose 23.7% against 14.31/a for rates. COPYRIGHT This ccumer.t cart only be rerouced n full and with the wriefl perrrsslcfl of Hunter Develocrnent erokerge Pt'j Ltd The Minister nsists that local government is a business providing community services but charges for services must cover costs if we are to continue providing services. Cur total rates income can only be increased at the preset rate approved annually by the Minister, unless by spec:al apPlication, or automatically through subdivision of land. This year. because of the dire financ:al situation in the communij following dairj deregulation etc we have dec:ded not to apply for a rate nse above the 2.89/, maxImum recommended by the Minister. Other Income Limitations. Resuit from: State Forests & NPWS are exempt from paying council rates on the 22% of land in this Shire that is under their control. Around Clarence Town these areas have a combined bitumen road frontage of about 20 Km wnicn buraens a smail community, and now they are to be denied traditional recreaonal access to VVallaroo Nature Reserve. HWC. 'Cur largest induszrj with its S122 Million annual turnover, sources approximately 500,,; of Newcastle's water supply from this Shire and contributes little towards our local infrastructure and economy. Last year HWC paid a dividend of $28 Million to the NSW Govt. Council receives almost no rates for land occupied to generate this money, although they did sponsor our VlC to the tune of 31250 last year. The entire Williams Valley is a drinking water catchment, placing quite a burden on a smafl rural comm un thi. Dwindling Government Grants: Cur share of taxation. Last year, our Federal Assistance Grant was only increased by about 1.8% with inflation of 2.3%. This shortfall will be perpetuated in future years - we will never catch up the lost S60.000. At the same dme the Federal government achieved a record surplus of S13 Sillion. 6eveen 1990 and 2000, FAGS reduced from 2% GOP to .59%. Last year. this 300% shoall represented about 53.3 million for this Shire. NCR. This polic'j has created new costs for local government and really hurts small communities In 1999/2000 the NSW Government received S1 43.6 million in compensation from the Federal government, they received S156 million last year and expect S21million this year. Other States pass on about 9% of this money to local government, but we receive nothing. Financial Problems. Much said in the media about our bottom lines. Too complicated to explain briefly. The general fund canes a dnct orSrQO000 - arrecnng our liquidr. Prociems have been identified and we need to exercise stnct financial control. Amalgamation. Seen by some as the answer to this stuaticn- can provide advantages tnrcugn economies of scale. Minister for LG has stated that amalgamation is voluntanj and that there is 1-14 one answer for all situadons. CC P"!C-HT Ths :ccr'ert .'ntv be ercducd n fui nd .vrth he wrtten errnssicn f Hurter Oe'.'eccmert Crcke.-çe On the news: O' of Syaney seeks amalgamation with three neighbouring councils to have area of 66 sq km. pooulazicn of 250.000 and similar length of roads to us 631. A recent report by Dr Soul of Southern Cross University states that a small rural council with a population of less than 50.000 will slowly 'bleed to death' due to poculatian loss and rising costs etc and recommends amalgamation to achieve municipalities of ateastthat size. He suggested that Dungog, Great Lakes, Gloucester and Taree should amalgamate to rorm the Shire of Lakelanas. overlooking our growth potential and strong economic links with the Hunter Region. Cunously, by creating even larger municipalities. Or Soul somehow expects to gain efficiencies that overcome problems caused by low population density and large service area. In otherwords. he expects to produce a viable business by combining unviable ones without addressing the causes of that unviabulity. Sucn unreaiistic proposals provide no solution to our major concerns of maintaining roads or overcoming the financ:al pressures on local government generally which are unsustainable for any rural counc;l. regaraless of scale. Need to address causes rather than symptoms. Governments must address the cumulative affects of dwindling government grants, increasing mandates and a barrage of new and unfunded State and Federal legislation. Amalgamation could result if we were to fail economically and is more likely to split the Shire among our neighoours rather than becoming a senes or backwaters over vo hours dnve from Taree. Its only two hours dnve to Sydney... perhaps Frank Sartor would consider amalgamating with Dungog? Amalgamation threatens local identity and community ownership of future directions and priorities, and will not be entertained lightly by Council. We do not have a closed mind on this issue, and must ensure that a fair hearing is given to realistic proposals that would benefit ratepayers. Besides pressuring governments for proper funding arrangements, we must be realistic and self critical about our own situation. Council has made considerable effos to improve service deiivenj under adverse circumstances and will pursue evecj avenue for economy and efficiency. Council has addressed its management structure and finances. These measures are making a difference. HROC Initiatives. \/oluntar Structural eforrn and integrated Local Area Council or Hunter Mcdei setting the pace in NS\I\J. We achieve significant savings, but the real beneflts are regional cooperation and advocacy. The 13 caunc:Is of HRCC -larger population than Tasmania. we intend to be listened to PLANNING lNITATIVES Development Control Plans Many inrrccuce in the last year to promote tierter and use practices and declare community expectations for new developments. Sedimentation Eushflre Ada Sulphate Soiis.Contaminared Lands The SuffernesD defines 'no go' areas for new development in order to avoid confilctwith either existing or future !and uses upon adjoining propees The idea being to apply appropriate buffer zones for each type of new development, and most importantly. to require developers to COPYR GHT This dccumer.t cn be -epro ced :n full 3nd ,,%ath he wriher perrmission o Hunter Develocrnent Crckege Pty provide Lite buffer zone within the boundanes of their own and rather than to encumber neighbouring properties. Cons;szent accilcation of These buffer zones will be necessary for sustainable development and land use narmcny. as well as providing clear guideunes ror dvlopers. Can be over nocen by State legislation and cnaUenged unless we apply them consistently Best Practice Manual. Environmental initiative - DSC working with HCMT (TOM) and NSW Govt Depts to develop this important means of communicating with landholders and in particular newcomers about relevant land use practices in the Shire. State wice implications and reduced compliance costs Or counc:i LEP 1990 Requires review. Has created much land use conflict and uertainw due to difficuii of Inlerpretation & obsolescence. RURAL STRATEGY Council has resolved that this shire wide rural strategy would be based on the princloals of economic and environmentally sustainable development, i ms. To create community, * Minimise cast of road upgrades for increased traffic, Maintain accessibility to schools, seriice cenb'es, shops and employment. * Preserve scenic character and water quality, Achieve environmental repair and enhance natural systems. Provide effic:ent management of wastewater treatment and effluent disposal. New Strategy just implemented without fuss. Minimise impact upon existing and potential agriculture. * Be achievable within council resources. Objective based planning beyond us. Considerations: Local Agenda 21 Plan First. Where's the money to implement these programmes? We have already successfully conducted the first series of workshops with the public about rural planning. There has been no adverse feedback or public outcry as we saw with the Paterson Closer Rural Sebiement Strategy, because we have genuinely tnec to ncIude tte communi rather than simply present solutions. Collectively, we are attempting to acknowledge and learn from past planning mistakes. We can cii give examples of 'what not to do'. Sustainable de'lopment often involves tough decisions. For example, some farmers want to split a bit off the farm to improve lifestyle or merely to remain living in their long term home. This can result in an out of character rural residential block among commerc:al farms, with the potential to restrict their operations and limit their ability to adapt in the future. We also need to be realistic about viability and the ability of farmland to pay itself off, or even meet the cost of land rates. Without rural industries we will only have 'lifestyle blocks'. COPYRIGHT This cccument can only be reprocucad in fuiI and with ihe written permission of Hunter De'ieIcoment Crckentçs °tv Land is rarely peect and compromise is sometimes juszied for appropriate development - otherwise we would just have rrg:d nflexthle rules across the Stare and no local decision making. We 'will be applying new laws to existing parcels of old land, Rural Residential development has created significantand use conflict bath within estates and with neighbours. We have learned the hard way that buffer zones and appropriate controls regarding permissible land uses within these zones will be an important part of the Strategy. We need responsible balance - for those that oppose development for those supporting it, and for the environment. Common sense & logical outcomes must reflect communi/ vaiues CONCLUSION in this ever-changing woric the challenge is to be discerning about the changes we adopt. and to reduce the impact or those ;nevtable cnanges we must accept. Tnere are many imocrt2nt issues fac:ng this Shire requinng realistic and responsible solutions. Out here in the bush, its easy to get the impression that governments have underestimated the ability of small rural communities to aajusz to the unorchestrated bombardment of new laws and change. We have been dealt some really heavy blows over the years. which are compounding with time. The loss of our timber industryresulted in much hardship, and now deregulation of the dair1 industry is deeply affecting our economy. The chicken industry cannot hold out much longer against deregulation and we can expect the goal posts defining a viable farm to move beyond the reach of many existing farms. The new Water Act has redeflned the prospects for irrigation in this valley and created uncertainty. Many new laws affect land management and farm viability. The Barrington Tops Nationai Park occupies our northern boundarj, yet lack of a vehicle access to this area significantiy limits our tourism industry, probably costing as annually. much as S20 million Now is the time for plenty of lateral thinking if we are to lead our community through thi s difficult period. We need to be alert for opportunities that accompany change to promote business. employment, tounsm, and sustainable new rural industries / enterprises. We need to preserve the Shire's unipue rural character and lifestyle for future generations The Rural Strategy will set the direction of development for many years It must actress the specific needs of this Shire, reflect comrnunij values and be consistently applied to give certainty to residents and developers alike. COPYRIGHT This dccument Can only be reproduced in fuJI and wCh tHe wrbten permission of Hunter Oe',eiocmenr CrckeGe Ry L,,d L)UNGOG SHIRE SWOT ANALYSIS COUNCIL SUMMARY CLAREF'JCEJOWN NGOG IPATERSON GRESFORD IGOV'T DEPIS Si U1ENGTIls Coi ornuntiy - sense of People want to live he: a The land Quality of ag. Land Rural au nospt iere Water quality Itoiat catctl. Aesthetics - Visual quality I lerilage Prime country River water quality Clean environrnem:t Av quattiy Proxirruly to en rptoyi uer it Close to emptuyi net it Natural beauty Climate (most of yea:) Good spot tin(j facilities I Iicl:esteijVVittiao is River Diverse conrrnirr lily Proxinrily - closest 'cow town" Productive land Sense of co:jiiirt ii lily Village alrnosptrei e Rural h)cus/aioluerrce Clean Env, orrineni Visual quality Tile people Locations lit/elI pOstliOl red Diversr agricultural base Very little pollution River environment Community Proximity to other centres Close to Sydney Pt oximity to urban markets Public transport I. Ocalion Visual quality Visual quetliy Visual quality (la: licula, ty Ma: tins CR) Great Itace to raise kids Low chine rate independence of lesideuts Ag education - 1 ucat Rural Atmosphere Rural EIlvir oir:irentlCt,aracle: Edge of the lot est Availability of Nat. Paths Proximity to coast/moo: it The rail line Quality of life PloxInilty to infiaMiticluie Frarrspoi I links - rail lait link Blodiversity Low, crime rate Heritage values I tisloi ical aspects I telitage/Abo:igirrat/Euro Lack of heavy ind:islr y Lack 01 population Small populatior Diversity of tire population C lean to, at envti onment Cotirtitirnity Sii it Resittarlce of (ime people Close pros to Pt Stephens ho: dci Natural resources Cheaper land Diversity of land types Isolation Diversity of (11)1)011 ut rilies Llitriate : riwi: rj tour is' ii 1n1eiitiat for rec activities Netlaods -attract wildlife hudiver sity state forests/l'lat Paths tNt AKI-J ES SE S facilities acic of aged car e facilities Roads Roads/safety Pout cot rctitio:, of roads Carnpi:rg 91 Otinds Piesstires or, alit culture litriat iralusti y under threat Lack of facilities agedcare Lack of aliirosplrei e Roads/lit idges/tiniks Roads in poor COilditioll Roads I teavy transport oil loads No siraite trees Geogr aptiic isolation Infrast: ucttrre Govt cni trot of i iver/weir Lack of voice/government No orerm space pt)irllliOg I rnd ft agrnentatior I Escape spending I: avet costs Lack Of put)tic traiispo: No pIlt.tic Ii anspor It trial it idepent tar ice Lack of enniptuy:uent ops I ()cat a: :11 )lOyri tent 01) trinities 1)01 Lack of vision Decline in ag tndi 1st: y Lack of value adding P1ibtic transpo: t Lack of public I: ansport Geography of shire No nubile phone set vice Bait services Envirorneritat juessi Ii es- lack of Sewe,a:je Lack of sewerage Lack of activitimis for huits Bes material :talat,ase F ncr oachirig develop: lent Ii anspo: I facilities topography of shire Decline of ear vice banking I ack of good ilg info ti:a pr upi ialil (levetollIl ei it Lack of qi raltiy develop: nent Unscrupulous developers Poor l:latrniirg ('(11111 ots l.ilestyte choice Poo, mobile pIio:ie service Pun, i,iiit ile phone service Lack of popuiatioii Availability of proinnhinn HUNTER DE\/ELOPMENT BROKERAGE PTY LTD I)UNGOG SI lIRE SWOT ANALYSIS CO UNC IL SUMMARY Loss of accessibility floods lsolaliu Lack of clev. cant: utiiup Access to Bar:incjtons Power Supply unreliable iTonl inuity at pwei supply Lack of emp. C)ppor ltiiiities Lack of i:iobile phone Lack of facilities for kids Lack of spoiling grout ids Poor mobile phone set vice No cleat locus You: sj people roving away Variahile info: mat ion 'bet t a fuel station tnDic transl:jrt E: aqn tentatiori of the Shire Lack of :esnnrces Past chemical fat ins Likes OPPORTUNITY Pioxiiuity to mat rots 1 uuitsiii Protect wltals tell Toui:siii - Appiopilati? lotitisni Lquest: Ian I-lot tie based i dusty I leitlage Repair what Build on proxliuiity l:iciease viticulture Access to Nat Pai cs Dive: sification of : or hid. Expand :estde:ittat base been destroyed Appropuate development Convention type lacililies Alternative inctuslties Scenic qualities biitie I ased u iduslry Desire for people to live Coin: nitnily ii itrasln IC I:: e Fan ngate sates Lifestyle Innovative iurat ies. Development tltgti ecological in the area Bed and b:elrky Fai oars ma: kets S iistainahle developi :ent Vauect size tots directions tintappect ag:icriltnie Fan:: stays t:a: in slays Activities for kids building entitlements Become leading Ptoxtmily to local ntaikels Eniploy:nent iuurisoi Agricultural viability eco-l)ased Prox:i nity to sItu e boundary Con unui lily litle .1: ee pta :1st otis Rural ies:denttal lifestyle tourism in NSW App. Business dev, Diveise root ati:tosptiei e Agritoiesl:y Pi nit iol:on & branding Maximise village loft astruct. billet ertt tot sizes Pt oxim rity Ci eate an Her itily Community hank Landcat e wni I: Di anulirig - clear: ag Reiirveniturr of the area Support local business Lanidcare I. iqttt coi i::nercial/ii rdustt jai Ahoi iginal heritage Minet at resotti ces Dec. act On dams l)iti:qog Movie Tlteatie tout is: it lii tks wilt: other slut es I )evelop St I (ii rg lii 01110 Wettsile I tryilage tours F it Vii onmentat I epaii It IDEA IS Aiiialqari:alioit Au iakla:tiatioi: No ecokxjicat Charicjingvatues Uibai:sprav; EcottuMciatiooaljsnt I nappi opt We develupi iiei it Gnvi r:n:eimt legislation sustainable Over regulation Cool: ol itensities Over expnstii e-focus Inc developinetil pi essi ii ft Ecni ion tic : altonatisi ii devetottme: it Do nott:ing Chemical sprays Escape spending Nat eriv. Disk Clnsinq [rim ests Negativtty Lantttise ccaittict Foci is on boundaries Roads and set vice butt tie Apathy Unwise development Rural res. Cnntlict Petocial HUNTER DEVELOPMENT BROKERA(3E PTY LTD 1JUNGoc QI IIIE COUNCIL -9VVOT ANALYSIS SUMM, .oss of con If I It It ely fildplirupilale devtopi lent Ico I a tie:: IItoi y tItjtiitj Uns(:efai::ahte devetopnient t-O5 of liJetitity Roads need to he imploved (3td Cog III I(IIIIija tllapropnlafe ft:ral ies exp IIICI I\Ieed to 'nailittan rural 1ting 1 CrIgile rate tllcreas:td Iloise N real to viable ag land t: tie Cost of dCVelOp lent (11' ullue, due Iii devetop:iie,it Increased potI:btloii Mat ket PleSsures Shot I te: ti gait 1 EsCope Sf)linttlng S:,:allei blocits in rural lonj feint Cost Ebcajatlo,1 of Countjy overtootocl by Govt COr4 to, dev land affects ag & ainoility Amalgamation No Sewerage tàCilitje Los, of Viable fliral elitei p:la Rlparian Zones ni: asto cit ii e tJflClliploy:ne:1I Absent audI lotders .acic of AgIng Iboptltat Oil base COOIII1III1IIy - ito flute Better roads - escape spend Lack of planne j coiit1 I 6 MAJOf 1 Dvio1110111 Co:iEo Quality of L:fi ANEA I .ESD hiliciples 2 Proxin1:ty to ll1a:e 1 .Develop:iiejif Standarcis ISSUES Development Stailitards I Ruiet At::iospliere 3 Envuo, 2 Iflappiopriate (1ev 2.Agrictilture t .Ptani lii ig Ccii iti ols Rit Tape 2. nc: 3.Roads ease pop: teflon Close 2. E: 3. Envjo net )t vinCi in let it 3 I Od( Is .3 Ru: ci lesgtici hat HUNTER DEVELOPMENT BROKERAGE PlY I Tn