I I Caffs Harbour Department of I City Council . Infrastructure. Planning and Natural Resources I I MOONEE CREEK ESTUARY MANAGEMENT STUDY

I Draft Report

I June 2005 I I I I I I I I I I I I ( :' f!1f!f!! I I I I I DOCUMENT CONTROL SHEET WBM Oceanics Australia Document: R N0793 004 00 EMS&P doc I Newcastle Office TItle: Moonee Creek Estuary Management Study and Plan 126 Belford Street PrOject Manager: Philip Haines BROADMEADOW NSW 2292 I Australia Author- Jane Wicks Client: Coffs Harbour City Council PO Box 266 I Broadmeadow NSW 2292 Client Contact: Martin Rose ClIent Reference: Telephone (02) 4940 8882 Facsimile (02) 4940 8887 SynopsIs: This document has been prepared under I www wbmpl com au the provIsions of the NSW Estuary Policy and NSW Coastal Policy, and In ACN 010830421 accordance With the Estuary Management I Manual It outlines the management process that IS to be followed In order to achieve long-term sustalnabllity of Moonee Creek With regard to ecological, economic I and social values The Plan IS Intended to be used by Council to gUide future works I programs and policy changes REVISION/CHECKING HISTORY

I REVISION DATE CHECKED BY REVISION ISSUED BY NUMBER DESCRIPTION ~ 0 DRAFT 010605 JAW I PEH I~P4< I ~

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DESTINATION REVISION

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I CHCC 1 DlPNR 2 WBMFlle 1 I WBM Library 1 I I I I I H \f'JD793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOcs.R N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/6/05 1506 I I

I FOREWORD I

I FOREWORD I The estuanes of NSW represent a pnceless natural resource CollectIvely, they are I Immensely valuable from an ecologIcal, socIal and economIc perspectIve NSW has over 130 estuanes that vary m sIZe from small coastal creeks and lagoons to large lakes and nvers Estuanes con tam dIverse ecosystems that fonn the foundatIOn of I the coastal food cham They provIde Important habItats for a vanety of manne and terrestnal plants and anImals

I Estuanes have a speCIal place m the lIves of most AustralIans Many people want to lIve near estuanes and If they can't, they want to take then holIdays there Over 75% of the I NSW populatIOn lIve and work m towns and cItIes near estuanes A hIgh proportIon of the State's commerCIal actIvIty occurs near estuanes as they provIde an Important focus for Industry, tounsm and recreatIOnal actIvItIes ThIs hIgh level of development pressure I means that estuanes are subject to a range of dIrect and IndIrect Impacts due to land use In the catchment, changes to hydrology and tIdal processes, and the dIrect use of the estuary waterway In recognItIon of the need for future sustamable use of these I threatened resources, the NSW Government IS ImplementIng a number of key strategIc InItIatIves, one of whIch I~ the Estuary Management Program The Estuary I Management Program commenced m 1992 to assIst local government to better manage estuanes through a strategIc process outlIned In the NSW Estuary Management I Manual' An Estuary Management Plan for Moonee Creek has been prepared on behalf of Coffs Harbour CIty CouncIl and Department of Infrastructure, PlannIng and Naturdl Resources I (DIPNR), to fulfil the reqUIrements of the NSW Estuary Management PolIcy (1992) and the NSW Coastal PolIcy (1997) The Plan provIdes a program of strategIc actIons to assIst government authontIes and other stakeholder groups to sustam a healthy estuary I through appropnate waterway, foreshore and catchment management The Plan presents an Integrated sUIte of mandgement strategIes, gIVIng due consIderatIOn to the I complex mteractIons between many estuanne processes and functIons The Moonee Creek Estuary Management Plan IS deSIgned to proVIde clear dIrectIOn regardIng responSIbIlItIes for actIOns, whIch WIll help achIeve the overall goal of a I sustaInable waterway The Plan also proVIdes InfonnatlOn on who IS responsIble for ImplementatIOn of these actIons and how they can be funded The Plan IS deSIgned to be I a dynamIC document That IS, as the needs or condItIOns of the estuary change In the future, the optIons and strategIes bemg Implemented as part of thIS Plan can be adjusted to SUIt It IS Intended that progress In ImplementIng the Pldn WIll be revIewed annually I by the Estuary Management CommIttee, whIle the entIre Plan wIll be updated every 3 - 5 years I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPOO(;Sf1 N0793 004 00 EMs&P DOC m/05 1506 I I I CONTENTS I

I CONTENTS

I Foreword Contents I List of Figures IV List of Tables V I

I 1 INTRODUCTION 1-1

1.1 Moonee Creek 1·1 I 1.2 The Need for Long Term Management Plan 1·3 1.3 Estuary Management Process 1·3 I 1 31 NSW Government's Estuary Management Program 1-3 1.4 Legislation and Planning Framework 1·4 I 141 Environmental Planning Instruments 1-4 1411 Coffs Harbour Local Envlfonmental Plan 2000 1-6 I 1412 Moonee Development Control Plan 2004 1-6 142 State and Commonwealth Legislation and PoliCies 1-8 I 143 Other Relevant Planning Documentation 1-9 1.5 Structure of this Report 1·9

I 2 SUMMARY OF ESTUARY PROCESSES 2-1

2.1 Moonee Creek Estuary 2·1 I 22 Current Environmental Condition of Moonee Creek 2·1 2.3 Tides 2·1 I 2.4 Floods 2·2 2.5 Entrance Shoal Dynamics 2·2 I 26 Bank Erosion 2-4 2.7 Water Quality 2·4 I 2.8 Aquatic Ecology 2·5 2.9 Terrestnal Ecology 2·6 I 2.10 Conservation Areas 2·6 2.11 Future Development 2·6 212 Interaction between the Processes 2·7 I 2.13 Human Impacts on the Estuary 2·7 I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/6105 1506 I I CONTENTS II I 2.14 Management Recommendations based on Processes Understanding 2-8

3 ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN 3-1 I 3.1 Estuary Values 3-1 I 3 1 1 Ecological Value 3-1 3 1 2 Scenic Value 3-1 I 3 1 3 Aboriginal Heritage Value 3-2 3 1 4 Recreational Value 3-2 3 1 4 1 Active Recreation 3-3 I 3 1 4 2 PassIVe Recreation 3-3 3 1 5 Soclo-Economlc Value 3-4 I 3 1 6 Educational Values 3-4 3.2 General Issues of Concern 3-5 I 3 2 1 Issues raised through the Coastal and Estuary Management Committee 3-5 3 2 2 Issues raised through the Stakeholder Consultation 3-6 I 3 2 2 1 NSW EnVironmental Protection Agency Coastal Region 3-6 3 2 2 2 Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare Inc 3-6 3 2 2 3 Manne Parks Authonty 3-6 I 3 2 2 4 Moonee Beach Reserve Trust 3-7 3 2 3 Issues raised through the Community Consultation 3-7 I 3.3 SpeCific Issues Requiring Attention 3-8 3 3 1 Water Quality 3-9 I 3 3 1 1 Issue A Elevated Bactena and Pollutant Levels 3-9 3 3 1 2 Issue B UnsUitable Water Quality Conditions 3-9 I 3 3 2 Bank Erosion and Sedimentation 3-9 3 3 2 1 Issue C Bank ErosIOn 3-9 3 3 2 2 Issue D SedimentatIOn of the estuary 3-9 I 333 Ecology 3-10 3 3 3 1 Issue E Degradation of Estuarme Habitats 3-10 I 3 3 3 2 Issue F Regeneration of Green Bluff Reserve 3-10 3 3 3 3 Issue G Rlpanan Vegetation Actmg as Buffer 3-10 I 3 34 Future Catchment Development 3-10 3 3 4 1 Issue H Impact of Future Development 3-10 I 3 3 5 Estuarine Usage 3-11 3 3 5 1 Issue I EnVlfonmental ConSiderations by the Community 3-11 3 3 5 2 Issue J Conflict Between Users of the Estuary 3-11 I 3 3 5 3 Issue K PubliC Facilities and Access 3-11 336 Heritage 3-11 I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 1506 I I I I CONTENTS III 3361 Issue L Cultural Hentage 3-11 I 337 Estuary Management Mechanisms 3-11 3371 Issue M Management of the estuary 3-11

I 4 OBJECTIVES OF FUTURE MANAGEMENT 4-1

4.1 Water Quality Objectives 4-1 I 42 Bank Erosion and Sedimentation Objectives 4-1 4.3 Ecology I Biodiversity Objectives 4-2 I 4.4 Future Catchment Development Objectives 4-3 4.5 Estuarine Usage Objectives 4-3 I 4.6 Heritage Objectives 4-4 4.7 Estuary Management Mechanisms Objectives 4-4 I 4.8 Ranking of Objectives 4-4

5 DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISATION OF POSSIBLE I MANAGEMENT OPTIONS I STRATEGIES 5-1

5.1 Formulation of Management Options I Strategies 5-1 I 5 1 1 Strategies Addressing Water Quality Objectives (Objectives 1 & 2) 5-1 5 1 2 Strategies Addressing Bank Erosion and Sedimentation Objectives I (Objectives 3 & 4) 5-1 5 1 3 Strategies Addressing Ecology I Biodiversity Objectives (Objectives 5 to 7)5-2 5 1 4 Strategies Addressing Future Catchment Development Objectives I (Objective 8) 5-2 5 1 5 Strategies Addressing Estuarine Usage Objectives (Objectives 9 to 11) 5-3 I 51 6 Strategies Addressing Heritage Objective (Objective 12) 5-4 5 1 7 Strategies Addressmg Estuary Management Mechanism Objective I (Objective 13) 5-4 5.2 Assessment and Prioritlsation of Possible Management Options 5-4 I 5 2 1 Results of the Multi Criteria Assessment 5-5 5 2 2 Short-List of Preferred Management Options I Strategies 5-5 5 2 3 Proposed Implementation Order 5-6 I 5.3 DeSCriptions of Preferred Management Strategies 5-11 531 Strategies to be Implemented IMMEDIATELY (wlthm 6 - 12 months) 5-11 I 5 3 1 1 Strategy EM-2 (Rank 1124) 5-11 5 3 1 2 Strategy Ecol-9 (Rank 2124) 5-12 I 5 3 1 3 Strategy WQ-2 (Rank 3124) 5-14 53 1 4 Strategy EM-1 (Rank 4124) 5-16 I 53 1 5 Strategy WQ-1 (Rank 5124) 5-17 53 1 6 Strategy Ecol-10 (Rank 6124) 5-19

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMNJOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2J&I05 15 06 I I LIST OF FIGURES IV I 531 7 Strategy Hent-1 (Rank 7/24) 5-20 5 3 2 Strategies to be Implemented In the SHORT TERM (within 1 - 3 years) 5-23 I 5321 Strategy CD-1 (Rank 8/24) 5-23 5322 Strategy CD-3 (Rank 9/24) 5-24 5323 Strategy Eco/-3 (Rank 10/24) 5-25 I 5324 Strategy CD-4 (Rank 11/24) 5-27 5325 Strategy CD-6 (Rank 12124) 5-28 I 5326 Strategy CD-2 (Rank 13/24) 5-29 5327 Strategy CD-5 (Rank 14/24) 5-31 I 5328 Strategy Hent-2 (Rank 15124) 5-33 5329 Strategy Eco/-2 (Rank 16/24) 5-34 53210 Strategy 8S-1 (Rank 17/24) 5-35 I 53211 Strategy 8S-4 (Rank 18/24) 5-37 533 Strategies to be Implemented In the MEDIUM TERM (within 3 - 5 years)5-39 I 533 1 Strategy Eco/-6 (Rank 19/24) 5-39 5332 Strategy EU-4 (Rank 19/24) 5-40 I 5333 Strategy Eco/-8 (Rank 20/24) 5-41 5 3 3 4 Strategy EU-2 (Rank 22124) 5-43 5 3 4 Strategies to be Implemented In the LONG TERM (within >5 years) 5-44 I 53 4 1 Strategy WQ-4 (Rank 23/23) 5-44 5342 Strategy Eco/-11 (Rank 24/24) 5-47 I 5 3 5 Possibility for combining planning strategies 5-48 5 3 5 1 New Moonee Creek catchment DCP 5-48 I 5 3 5 2 ReView of Moonee DCP 2004 5-48

6 MOONEE CREEK ESTUARY MANAGEMENT PLAN 6-1 I

7 REFERENCES 7-1 I I APPENDIX A: LEGISLATION AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-1 I APPENDIX B: RESULT OF MULTI CRITERIA ASSESSMENT B-1 I LIST OF FIGURES I Figure 1-1 Moonee Creeks Locality and Catchment 1-2 Figure 1-2 The NSW Estuary Management Process (Source NSW Government, 1992)1-5 I Figure 1-3 Moonee Creek - Landuse Zones 1-7

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I I

I LIST OF TABLES V

Figure 1-4 Process of developing Management Strategies for the EMP 1-11 I Figure 2-1 Entrance Shoal DynamiCs' Heavily Shoaled Condition 2-2 Figure 2-2 Entrance Shoal Dynamics' Mildly Scoured Condition 2-3 Figure 2-3 Entrance Shoal DynamiCs Heavily Scoured Condition 2-3 I Figure 2-4 Moonee Creek Estuary Process Interaction 2-7 Figure 3-1 Scemc outlooks from Moonee Beach Nature Reserve 3-2 I Figure 3-2 Primary Recreational use of Moonee Creek 3-3 Figure 5-1 Relative Score for Possible Management Options 5-7 I Figure 5-2 Proposed Locations for Foreshore Revegetation 5-13 Figure 5-3 Location of EXisting and Potential On-site Sewage Systems 5-15 Figure 5-4 Water Quality Sampling Locations 5-18 I Figure 5-5 ApprOXimate locations of known Abonglnal Sites (NPWS, 2003) 5-22 Figure 5-6 Moonee Creek EXisting Vegetation, Key Habitats and Key COrridors 5-26 I Figure 5-7 Buffer between Development and Moonee Creek (see also Figure 5-8)5-30 Figure 5-8 Revegetation Areas and Wildlife COrridors 5-32 I Figure 5-9 Areas of Active ErOSion 5-36 Figure 5-10 Locations of Pacific Highway Culverts and Road Embankments 5-38 Figure 5-11 ExtenSion of Moonee Beach Nature Reserve 5-42 I Figure 5-12 Locations of Farms Dams 5-45 I Figure 5-13 Rehabilitation along Degraded Waterways 5-46 I LIST OF TABLES

Table 4-1 Pnontlsed list of Management Objectives 4-5 I Table 5-1 Short-List of Preferred Management Options I Strategies 5-8 Table 5-2 Short-listed Management Options I Strategies and Objective Matnx 5-9 I Table 5-3 Implementation Order for Preferred Management Options 5-10 I I I I I

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMP'IDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I I INTRODUCTION 1-1 I 1 INTRODUCTION I 1.1 Moonee Creek Moonee Creek IS a near pnstme estuary located 8 km north of Coffs Harbour City wlthm the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area (Figure I-I) Moonee Creek IS relatively small with a waterway I area of 0 3 km2 and a catchment area of 42 km2 and has a pennanent connection to the ocean

Due to a general lack of development around the foreshores of Moonee Creek, the estuary IS m a I relatively healthy conditIOn, with a diverse mix of habitat types and vegetatIOn cornmumtIes The habitat types found m Moonee Creek mclude mangroves, seagrasses, saltmarshes, freshwater I wetlands and frmgmg npanan vegetation The Moonee Creek entrance IS shallow, With expansive shoals exposed at low tIde Moonee Creek runs parallel the coastlme With the ocean entrance Immediately north of Green Bluff Coastal dunes I located between the creek and the coastlme are protected wlthm the Moonee Beach Nature Reserve

There are tlrree mam trIbutanes of Moonee Creek Sugar Mill Creek, Cunnmghams Creek and I Skinners Creek Cunnmghams and Skinners Creeks are frmged by undisturbed bushland, while the northern fore shores of Sugar Mill Creek contams reSidential housmg

I Moonee Creek catchment covers an area from Emerald Beach m the north to Mid Sapphire Beach m the south The maJonty of the catchment, approximately 73%, IS zoned as Rural, which mcludes I bemg used for agriculture purpose or set aSide as State Forest The Moonee Creek catchment was preViously occupied by nomadiC Abongmal tnbes of the Gumbayngur people The catchment was I first settled by Europeans m the early 1880s Urban development of the Moonee Creek catchment has been rmmmal to date, With only 12% of the catchment bemg occupied by reSidentIal dwelhngs However, the Impacts of cleanng and urban I development have still modified the estuary, through changed entrance conditIOn, estuary hydrodynamiCS, sediment transport rates and patterns, and water quahty

I Due to an mcrease m population pressure m coastal areas such as Coffs Harbour, many rural areas are startmg to expenence the pressure of development Consequently, parts of the Moonee Creek catchment are proposed to be, or are currently bemg, developed, mcludmg the Moonee Release area, I which IS located between the PaCific Highway and the Moonee Beach Nature Reserve, and the I Escapades located at the entrance to Cunnmghams Creek I I I

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,[)()CSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I INTRODUCTION 1-2 I I I I I

Catchment I ____ Boundary I I I I I I I s NORTH I o 1,000 2,000 metres I I I

Figure 1-1 Moonee Creeks Locality and Catchment I

H:W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPoDOCSIR.N0793.004.00.EMs&P.DOC 2JM)5 15:06 I I I I INTRODUCTION 1-3 1.2 The Need for Long Term Management Plan

I Coastal areas of NSW are hkely to expenence mcreasmg development pressure over the next 20-30 years Demographers project an mcrease m coastal populatIOns by 60% over the next 25 years I (Gaudry, 2003), with an additional 430,000 people hvmg on the NSW coast outside the major metropohtan centres by 2030 (DIPNR, 2004) I Areas fnngmg the larger regIOnal centres, such as Coffs Harbour, are likely to expenence the greatest development pressure m the future LocatIOns such as Moonee Beach, need long term plannmg and management tools to ensure that future development does not degrade the very values that make the I area popular

At present, the Moonee Creek estuary remams m a relatively pnstme conditIOn This IS the result of I hmlted development wlthm ItS catchment and around Its foreshores, as well as good tidal flushmg afforded by ItS permanently open entrance This near pnstme condition of the estuary can potentially be compromised when the Moonee Release Area starts to be developed A long-term management I plan for Moonee Creek IS the only way that the values of the estuary can be protected and conserved m the future The management plan can also be used to help gUide future development m the I catchment and to define development controls, such as buffers and vegetatIOn reqUirements, to mmlmlse the mevltable degradatIOn of the natural environment I 1.3 Estuary Management Process

The Moonee Creek Estuary Management Plan has been prepared under the NSW Government's I Estuary Management Program The Program IS designed to fulfil the reqUirements of the NSW Estuary Management Pohcy (1992) and the NSW Coastal Pohcy (1997)

I 1.3.1 NSW Government's Estuary Management Program

In 1992, the NSW State Government mtroduced the Estuary Management Pohcy, a1ffied at managmg I the growmg pressures on estuanne ecosystems The Pohcy IS Implemented through an Estuary Management Program, which IS co-ordmated by the Department of Infrastructure, Plannmg and I Natural Resources (DIPNR) formerly known as the Department of Land and Water ConservatIOn (DLWC), m co-operation with local government and the commumty I The process of managmg an estuary, m accordance with this Pohcy, IS mltlated by the estabhshment of an Estuary Management Committee This COmmittee IS then responSible for the development of an Estuary Processes Study, which outhnes the hydrauhc, sedimentation, water quahty and ecological I processes wlthm the estuary, and the Impacts of human activIties on these processes

The Estuary Processes Study provides the necessary understandmg of physical and bIOlogical I processes for the preparatIOn of an Estuary Management Study The Management Study Identifies the essent131 features and the current uses of the estuary, and determmes the overall objectives reqUired for management of the estuary The Management Study also Identifies optIOns for meetmg I these obJectives, and determmes hydrauhc and ecological Impacts of the proposed options

From the findmgs of the Management Study, an Estuary Management Plan IS prepared The Plan I descnbes how the estuary will be managed, gives recommended solutIOns to management problems,

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,[)OCSIR N0793 004 ()() EMS&P DOC 2/6105 15 06 I INTRODUCTION 1-4 I and details a schedule of activIties for the ImplementatIOn of the recommendations Once the Plan has been accepted by the community, Council and the relevant Government Departments, the Plan can be Implemented through plannmg controls, works programs, mOnltonng programs, and education I services The general estuary management process, as estabhshed by the NSW Government, IS shown m Figure 1-2 I CouncIl's Coastal and Estuary AdVISOry Comrmttee (CEMAC) was estabhshed by Coffs Harbour City Counctl for the purpose of prepanng and Implementmg a management plan for Moonee Creek I (along with other estuanes m the LGA) m accordance wIth the NSW Government's Estuary Management Pohcy and Coastal Pohcy The pnrnary objective of the management plan IS to address the major Issues Identified by the committee and community along with other Issues that have I become eVident through the preparation of the Estuary Processes Study The management plan IS adaptive m nature, enablmg other Issues to be addressed as they become apparent Also, the plan proVides a mechanism for Council to Implement and promote, the pnnclples of Ecologically I Sustamable Development (ESD), to ensure the long-term sustamable use of the estuary

1.4 Legislation and Planning Framework I 1.4.1 Environmental Planning Instruments I

There are three mam types of statutory environment plannmg mstruments (EPI) Local Environmental Plans (LEPs), RegIOnal Environmental Plans (REPs) and State Environmental I Plannmg Pohcles (SEPPs) Non statutory EPI mclude Development Control Plans (DCPs) and Estuary Management Plans I Key EPIs that are apphcable to Moonee Creek catchment are hsted below, and have been descnbed m detatl m AppendiX A I • Coffs Harbour City CouncIl Local Environmental Plan 2000,

• North Coast RegIOnal EnvIronmental Plan, I • SEPP 71 - Coastal ProtectIOn, I • SEPP 26 - Littoral Ramforest, • SEPP 35 - Mamtenance Dredgmg of Tidal Waterways, I • SEPP 14 - Coastal Wetlands, I • Moonee Development Control Plans 2004, and • ReSidential Tounst Lands Development Control Plan I The two documents that are hkely to have SIgnificant Impact on the future management of Moonee Creek are the Coffs Harbour LEP 2000 and the Moonee DCP 2004, which are summanse bnefly I below I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,[JOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I I I INTRODUCTION 1-5 I

I ASSEMBLY OF EXISTING DATA Discover and a""cmblc n.kvant data I

ESTUARY PROCESS STUDY I IIydrauhc, ttdaI, fre,hwater, fluslung, sahmty, water quahty & sedunent behaVIOur, etc Biology habitat.." "'pene.." population.." endangered species, etc Impact> unpact of human acttvltte' on hydrauhcs and biology I

ESTUARY MANAGEMENT STUDY Essenuai h.-aturcs phYSiCal, ChLnuCal, Lcologtcal, econonuc, soctal & acsthltlc I CurfLnt U~es acttvftle~, land tLOUf(. & control, cunfItct.. of UhL Conservanon Goal~ prc:,crvatton, key habitat:, RCffiLdtal Goal... fl..,toratlOn of LconOffilC quabty Dcvdopment acccptabk comm<..rctal & pubhc works & actlvlllC<" I ManagLmcnt ObJccttv<....., Identification & assessment Management Options tmpkmLotanon of optton<; Impact::. tmpact of propo..,cu management measure::. THIS I PROJECT

ESTUARY MANAGEMENT PLAN I ManagLffiLnt obJLcttve.., De,cnptton of how the e,tuary Will be managed RlcommLnoatlon ... I Schedule of actlvlttes to Implcm<..nt rccommcndanon&

I PLAN REVIEW Pubhc & Government I IMPLEMENTATION l.ocal GovernmLnt Planntng c..ontrols I State Government Plan rung Controls Rcmedtal Worb Morutonng Programs Education ProbJ"fam ... I Commumtv ServICes Muntt(mng I I Figure 1-2 The NSW Estuary Management Process (Source: NSW Government, 1992) I

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMNJOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 15 06 I I INTRODUCTION 1-6 I 1.4.1.1 Coffs Harbour Local EnvIronmental Plan 2000 I Only one LEP IS applicable to the Moonee Creek estuary and catchment, this bemg the Coffs Harbour LEP 2000 The Moonee Creek Estuary Management Plan needs to be consistent with, and fit mto, the eXlstmg Coffs Harbour City Council plannmg framework, which IS bUilt around the LEP I

The Moonee Creek study area mamly consist of State Forest (Rural IF), agncultural (Rural lA), and NatIOnal Parks and Reserve zonmgs The township of Moonee Beach, which compnses a small I sectIOn of the study area, IS zoned Residential 2A - Low DenSity The objective of this zonmg IS to enable housmg development and other development that IS compatible with low denSity residential I' enVironment, and IS wlthm the environmental capacity of such an environment The land use zonmgs for the Moonee Creek study are shown m I Moonee Beach Nature Reserve IS zoned as National Parks and Reserve (8) Zone, which only allows development for the purpose of any land use authonzed under the NatIOnal Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 I

Some sectIOns of the Moonee Creek estuary and catchment are protected by the EnVironmental ProtectIOn 7B Scemc Buffer Zone and Open Space Public Recreation Zone I 1.4.1.2 Moonee Development Control Plan 2004 I The objective of the Moonee DCP IS to provide an overall plan for the area and to encourage quality development whilst bemg sympathetic to the natural environment The DCP details strategies that would provide protectIOn to Moonee Creek estuary and the sUIToundmg habitat This mcludes I provldmg a buffer area around Moonee Creek and ItS tnbutanes to protect the water quality, to protect npanan vegetatIOn and proVide habitat lmkages I In order to protect the water quality of the creek, development would also be reqUired to provide • Sediment and EroSIOn Control Management Plans, I • Water quality modeUmg of subdivISIOn m order to compare the results with the Council's Urban Stormwater Management Plan, and I • Water SensItive Urban DeSign (WSUD) IS accordance with the Council's adopted policy

The DCP details that a bushfue asset protection zones would be proVided, which shall not mvolve the I cleanng of native vegetatIOn wlthm conversatIOn areas A landscape buffer IS to be proVided between the highway and reSidential areas, deSigned to mcorporate essential service cOITIdors, and assOCiated areas I I I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPJX)CSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/6105 15 06 I I I I INTRODUCTION 1-7 I I I I I I I I I I I I o 1 2 kilometres

• Business 3G - Mixed Used Zone I • Environmental Protec:1ion 7A - Habitat end Catclvnent Zone • Environmental Protection 78 - Scenic Buffer Zone D National Parks and Reserves 8 - Zone • Open Space 6A - F\bic Recreation Zone • Open Space 6C - Private Recreation Zone I • Residential 2A - Low Density Zone • Residential 2B - MedI

The planmng controls mcluded m the DCP, which are of relevance to the Moonee Creek Estuary Management Plan, mclude I • Control of the denSity ofhousmg allowed m each precmct, • Controls m respect to Impact on water quality of Moonee Creek, I • Compliance of development with the Council's Flood Prone Land Policy, • Control m order to protect natural and habitat area, and I • ReqUirement of archaeological reports, pnor to development I 1.4.2 State and Commonwealth Legislation and Policies

There are a number of NSW Parliamentary Acts that are relevant to the management of the Moonee I Creek catchment The Acts are listed below, while further details are given m Appendix A

• The Rivers and Foreshores Improvement Act, 1948, I • Threatened Species ConservatIOn Act, 1995, I • NatIOnal Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974, • Flshenes Management Act, 1994, I • ProtectIOn of the EnVironment OperatIOns Act, 1997, I • Manne Parks Act, 1997, • Catchment Management Act, 2003, I • Natllfal Resource Management Act, 2003,

• The Coastal ProtectIOn Act, 1979, I • Local Government Act, 1993, and I • Crown Lands Act 1989

The EnVironmental ProtectIOn and BlOdlVefSlty ConservatIOn Act, 1999 IS the only major I Commonwealth legislatIOn applicable to the Moonee Creek catchment The Act proVide protectIOn to flora and fauna that occurs wlthm area that are owned and controlled by the Commonwealth, or are of I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPlDOCS\R N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 215105 15 06 I I I INTRODUCTION 1-9 natIOnal sIgnIficance specIfically threatened, manne and mIgratory specIes Further detaIls of thIs act I are provIded ill AppendIx A DescnptlOn of the Estuary Management PolIcy 1992 and the NSW Coastal PolIcy 1997, whIch are I fundamentally are relevant to the management of the Moonee Creek catchment, have also been detaIled ill AppendIx A I 1.4.3 Other Relevant Planning Documentation The followillg planrung documents and reports are relevant to the Moonee Creek catchment, and are I detaIled ill AppendIx A I • Zonmg Plan for the SolItary Island Manne Park, • OperatIOnal Plan for the SolItary Island Manne Park, I • Catchment Bluepnnt, Integrated Catchment Management Plan for the Upper North Coast Catchment, I • Rural Land StrategIc Plan, • Koala Plan of Management,

I • Draft VegetatIOn Strategy, I • Sewerage Strategy, • Water Supply Development ServIce Plan,

I • Wastewater Treatment Carner System Development ServIce Plan, I • Plan of Management for Natural Areas, • Coastal Reserves Plan of Management, and

I • Healthy RIvers CommIssIOn Independent InqUlry mto the North Coast

The Moonee Beach RecreatIOn Reserve IS managed by the Moonee Beach Trust A management I strategy was prepared m 1992 to assIst m the management of the reserve DetaIls of thIs strategy are proVIded m AppendIx A

I 1.5 Structure of this Report

The Moonee Creek Estuary Management Study and Plan, presented m thIS document, proVIdes a I senes of strategIc management actIOns that, If Implemented, WIll result m the long-tenn sustamabllIty of Moonee Creek wIth regard to ecologIcal, economIc and socIal values In addItIOn to the I management actIOns, the Plan descnbes the process that was adopted m developmg and pnontIsmg the vanous actIOns and strategIes ThIS process IS descnbed m FIgure 1-4 I Presented below IS a basIc outlIne of the contents of each chapter of thIS document, as they relate to the process descnbed m FIgure 1-4 I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,[JOCSI/l N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I INTRODUCTION 1-10 I Chapter 2 presents a Summary of the Estuary Processes Study ThIs outltnes all of the fundamental physIcal, chemIcal and bIOlogIcal processes that currently occur wlthm the estuary, and how these processes need to be consIdered and managed m the future I Chapter 3 summanses the Values of the estuary, and also detaIls the Key Management Issues that I need to be addressed m order to mamtam a healthy and sustamable estuanne envIronment m the future

Chapter 4 defines Management Objectives that need to be addressed The objectives are based on I speCIfic detatls relatmg to each of the Key Management Issues I Chapter 5 provIdes a Itst of Possible Management Ophons that could be employed to address the management objectives These optIOns are then evaluated usmg a multl-cntena assessment, along WIth mput from the Comrmttee to gIve pnontlsatlon of the management options I Chapter 6 contams the Estuary Management Plan ThIS IS a stand-alone sectIOn of the document that can be extracted and dlstnbuted to everyone mvolved m the Implementation of the Plan It I proVIdes detaIls of pnontlsed management strategIes for Moonee Creek, mcludmg who IS responsIble for ImplementatIOn of the vanous strategIes, and relevant tlmeframes for ImplementatIon I Chapter 7 hsts relevant references for the study

AddItional mfonnatlOn IS also proVIded m the AppendIces to thIS document, where necessary I I I I I I I I I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMP>DOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/6I!J5 15 06 I I I I INTRODUCTION 1-11

I Determine sCientific-based values Determine community-based and needs of the estuanes values and needs of the estuanes I ------.~ I Identify key Issues of Importance

I Determine specific objectives aimed at preserving values and rectifYing problems I

Formulate options I actions that address the specific I oblectlves

I Pnontlse options I actions based on likely effectiveness and community acceptance I

Incorporate best options I actions Into a formal planning I document that can be Implemented by Council and others I

Seek community comment on the Estuary Management Plan through public exhibition of the draft document I pnor to flnalisatlon I I Figure 1-4 Process of developing Management Strategies for the EMP I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPJ)OCS'R N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/6105 15 06 I I SUMMARY OF ESTUARY PROCESSES 2-1 I 2 SUMMARY OF ESTUARY PROCESSES I This chapter presents a summaI)' of the Monee Creek Estual)' Processes Study report (WBM Oceamcs Australia, 2005) The full Estual)' Processes Study report IS aVailable for vlewmg m the I Council libral)' 2.1 Moonee Creek Estuary I

Moonee Creek estual)' IS located wlthm the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area (LGA), approximately 8 km north of Coffs Harbour City The estual)' has a catchment area of approximately I 42 km2 and a waterway area of 0 3 km2 The current populatIOn (2004) wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment IS approximately 1,176 I The Moonee Creek catchment area IS predommantly rural, With residential development confined to the Villages of Emerald Beach and Sapphire Beach located m the north and the south, respectively, as well as the Village of Moonee Beach, which IS located directly adjacent to the mouth of the estual)' I Some rural-residential development IS scattered throughout the hmterland areas, while forests dommate the upper escarpments of the coastal range The Moonee Creek catchment IS shown m I Figure I-I 2.2 Current Environmental Condition of Moonee Creek I

Moonee Creek estual)' IS considered to be m a relatively healthy and pnstme condition It does not receive excessive urban pollutants, while runoff from the agnculturallands m the catchment IS mostly I buffered by the extensive frmgmg bushland and the good natural flushmg capacity of the estual)'

The estual)' contams a diverse range of habitat types, which are considered highly valuable to a large I number of native species many of which are threatened or slgmficant The permanently open entrance would allow recruitment to the estual)', however, It can also allows the mgress of manne algae I Although currently m a good condition, Moonee Creek IS under pressure from planned future urban I development wlthm the Moonee Release Area It Will be essential that thiS development occurs m a environmentally sensItive manner to prevent the future degradatIOn of the estual)' I 2.3 Tides

Wlthm the lower tidal reaches of Moonee Creek, hydraulic processes are dommated by the seml­ I dIUrnal ocean tide, which moves mto and out of the estual)' through the heavily shoaled entrance The entrance shoals attenuate the tide, reducmg the tidal range to about 30% of that m the ocean The degree of attenuatIOn IS dependent on the condition of the shoal Followmg floodmg, when the I entrance IS scoured, tidal levels m the creek would be Similar to the ocean When the entrance IS heavily shoaled, slgmficant tidal attenuatIOn occurs I Tides proVide vel)' effective flushmg of the estual)' Dunng spnng tides, over 70% of the water m the estual)' can be exchanged With the ocean ThiS proportIOn reduces to about 40% dunng neap tides I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I I I SUMMARY OF ESTUARY PROCESSES 2-2 Ocean waters can intrude a distance of about 3-4 km inside the estuary during large spring tides. This I means that all waters downstream of Skinners Creek are essentially ocean water at high water slack. 2.4 Floods

I A number of floods have been recorded over the years. The earliest recorded flood was in 194 7, and which was apparently due to heavy rain and a coinciding king tide. The next major event was in I 1950 which caused significant damage to Moonee Beach. Long term residents believe that the most severe flood occurred in 1974, when 305 rom of rainfall was recorded with 24 hours and 580 to I 600 mrn of rainfall was recorded over a successive four day period. Flooding in the lower estuary is controlled by water levels in the ocean rather than discharges from the catchment. However, it is discharges from the catchment, which scour the entrance shoals, and I consequently increases exposure of the estuary to the ocean. Flood discharges in Moonee Creek are likely to have been mitigated to some degree by the construction of the Pacific Highway specifically the many embankments across the floodplains of Moonee Creek and it tributaries. Current I development in the catchment is unlikely to have had a significant impact of flood discharges and behaviour.

I 2.5 Entrance Shoal Dynamics

I The marine entrance shoal extends inside Moonee Creek for a distance of about 2 kilometres (or approximately to the Cunningharns Creek confluence). However, the most dynamic section of the shoal is the lower 700 metres (approximately). There are essentially three conditions or states of the I lower estuary: heavily shoaled (Figure 2-1), mildly shoaled (Figure 2-2), and heavily scoured (Figure 2-3).

I Heavily Shoaled Conditions are typified by a relatively sinuous tidal channel. which runs mostly I adjacent to the eastern (Nature Reserve) foreshore. There are expansive shoals immediately in front of Moonee Beach Recreation I Reserve. most of which are exposed at mid tide or low tide. I I I I

I Figure 2-1 Entrance Shoal Dynamics: Heavily Shoaled Condition

I H:W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPOOCIM.N0793.004.00.EMS&P.DOC 2IMJ5 15:06 I I SUMMARY OF ESTUARY PROCESSES 2-3 I Mildly Scoured Condition: differs from the heavily shoaled condition in that the main tidal channel is I enlarged and runs closer to the Moonee Beach Recreation Reserve before crossing over to the Nature Reserve foreshore. I Deeper and wider channels are generally present in the more upstream sections of the shoal. I This condition will occur due to a minor flood event, where moderately high flood velocities scour the entrance shoal, or is a I state of recovery from a heavily scoured condition . I I I Figure 2-2 Entrance Shoal Dynamics: Mildly Scoured Condition I

Heavily Scoured Condition: has wide channels that are continuous I and relatively straight through the entrance shoal. Usually the actual tidal channel is poorly defined, with I tides moving over the entire shoal on incoming and outgoing tides. This condition tends to be relatively short lived, as increased flood tides I would rapidly transport sand into the estuary from the beach and nearshore coastal compartments. I I I I

Figure 2-3 Entrance Shoal Dynamics: Heavily Scoured Condition I I

H.W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR.N0793.004.00.EMS&P.DOC 2IMl5 15.tJ6 I I I I SUMMARY OF ESTUARY PROCESSES 2-4

Washover of the entrance berm generally occurs dunng large coastal storms, which causes rapid mfill I of the mam tidal channel that IS usually located directly behmd the berm The tidal process qUIckly rework the entrance sand to reform the tidal channel at another locatIOn around the washover sediment deposit Then, over an extended penod of time, the ebb tide current slowly erodes the I washed over sand to reform the mam tidal channel behmd the entrance berm

Entrance shoals have been colonised by mangroves, over the past 30 years or so Dunng this time, I there has been a lower than average ramfall and, consequently the frequency of floods to scour the I entrance shoals has reduced, pOSSibly asslstmg colonisatIOn 2.6 Bank Erosion

I EroSIOn of the foreshore IS occumng at select locatIOns throughout the estuary, but IS concentrated m the lower reaches EroSIOn m the lower reaches would mostly be the result of attack by wmd­ generated and ocean swell waves, however, removal of natural foreshore vegetatIOn IS likely to have I mcreased the susceptibility ofthe foreshore to erosIOn under thiS action Attempts have been made to mitigate foreshore eroSIOn, particularly where It threatens pnvate properties, by dumpmg matenal along the foreshore, mcludlng constructIOn waste These attempts do little to address the foreshore I eroSIOn, and detract from the overall amenity of the estuary I 2.7 Water Quality

Key water quality processes wlthm Moonee Creek mclude

I • Dunng spnng tides, ocean water can penetrate Into Moonee Creek a distance of about 3-4 km TIdal excursIOn IS the upper reaches of the estuary would be much less than thiS, however, and I would typically be about 1 kilometre Neap tides would result m less manne water penetratIOn and less tidal excursIOn

• Salinity Within the estuary can be qUIte vanable, and dependent on the degree of antecedent I ramfall wlthm the catchment At times, even the lower estuary reaches can be freshwater Recovery of salt In the estuary IS rapid, given that large tidal exchange With the ocean I • Dissolved oxygen levels are generally lower m the upper reaches, while levels are also generally lower m summer than dunng wmter It IS pOSSible that thiS spatial and temporal vanatlon IS related to runoff of allochthonous organic matter from the catchment dunng I penods of higher rainfall, which then breaks down m the upper reaches, Imparting oxygen demand on the water column I • The processes responSible for reduced dissolved oxygen levels m the upper reaches are likely to also be responSible for the generally lower pH levels m the more upstream sectIOns of the estuary In additIOn to thiS, however, IS the potential for pH In the upper reaches to fall qUIte I low dunng and followmg penods of Significant catchment runoff ThiS additional process would be related to aCid runoff from surroundmg aCid sulfate sol1s that have been exposed by I cleanng and agncultural development • Temperature of the estuary has a strong seasonal vanatlOn, With higher temperatures In summer due to greater solar radiatIOn Waters wlthm Moonee Creek can be elevated I compared to the ocean due to the shallow nature of the estuary

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216'05 15 06 I I SUMMARY OF ESTUARY PROCESSES 2-5 I • NutrIent data for Moonee Creek IS very sparse The one-off momtonng carned out for the EPS study showed relatively low nutrIents, typical of estuanes that are permanently connected to the ocean Relatively high total phosphorus concentratIOns measured m the downstream I reaches were the result of oceamc nutrIent loadmg, possibly associated with a manne algae bloom I • Further mformatlOn regardmg algae wlthm Moonee Creek IS reqUired to fully appreciate the bIOlogical processes, however, chlorophyll-a data suggests that algae can enter the estuary from the ocean Chlorophyll-a concentratIOns can also be elevated m the upper reaches, which I may be algae-related, or may be associated with particulate orgamc matter washed off the catchment I • Bactena m Moonee Creek IS mostly low, however, there are penods when bactena numbers are relatively high Elevated bactena can be expenenced m the upper and lower reaches of Moonee Creek, both dependent and mdependent of each other, as well as wlthm the trIbutanes I Based on the bactenal results, It IS likely that catchment runoff IS a major source of bact ena to the estuary Agnculturalland use (grazmg etc) as well as the use of septic systems wlthm the I catchment could be responsible for elevated loads, particularly durmg penods of high flows As well as general catchment runoff, however, It IS likely that overflows from the local Moonee Beach reticulated sewerage system would also contrIbute to bactenal loadmg of the I estuary At tunes, the bactenallevels at Moonee Creek make It unsUitable for pnmary contact activIties (eg sWlmrmng) These times are generally dunng and followmg heavy ramfall events (exceedmg about 50 mm) Bactena levels appear to remam elevated for more than 3 I days followmg the ram events

2.8 Aquatic Ecology I Moonee Creek has a range of estuanne habitats, mcludmg seagrass, saltmarshes, mangroves, and I sedgeheath The seagrass extent m Moonee Creek tends to be highly vanable over time, although there has been no clear mcrease or decrease Seagrass tends to be restricted to the edge of the channel m the shallow waters I

For mangroves, there has been a five-fold mcrease m their extent between 1944 and 1994, mcreasmg from 0 91 to 5 7 ha A similar mcrease m mangrove area has been expenenced m many other I estuanes m NSW, which IS possibly due to an mcrease m sea level and/or ramfall over the last century which has lead to the landward expansIOn of mangroves and subsequent reductIOn m saltmarsh extent However, m Moonee Creek, there has been little change m the saltmarsh extent, I therefore the reason for the mcrease may be more due to sedimentatIOn m the Moonee Creek entrance and at the mouths of Sugar Mill and Cunnmghams Creeks I Numerous migratory and resident waders have been recorded wlthm Moonee Creek, as the area provides both feedmg and roost habitats for a vanety of species The waders feed on mtertldal flats I and reqUire nearby relatively qUiet, open area to roost above the high tide I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPoDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/6/05 1506 I I I I SUMMARY OF ESTUARY PROCESSES 2-6 2.9 Terrestrial Ecology

I Moonee Creek has a relatively pnstme catchment Approximately 63% of the total catchment area compnses bushland, which IS mamly State Forests, (Weddmg Bells and Orara State Forest) or I Moonee Beach Nature Reserve VegetatIOn wlthm the catchment, and especially around the estuary, has high conservatIOn value, and I IS Important to enable access and moblhty of fauna at regIOnal and sub-regIOnal scales Approximately 83% of the length of Moo nee Creek has npanan vegetation cover I 2.10 Conservation Areas I The followmg conservatIOn zones occur m the Moonee Creek catchment • Nature Reserve: Moonee Beach Nature Reserve IS situated on the eastern side of Moo nee Creek estuary Nature Reserves are gazetted under the NatIOnal Parks and WIldlife Act 1974

I • Solitary Island Marine Park: are declared under the Manne Parks Act 1997 The estuary IS mcluded m the Sohtary Islands Manne Park, and IS zoned Habitat ProtectIOn Zone I • State Forests: The Moonee Creek catchment mcludes large areas of State Forest Two State Forests are located m the catchment (Weddmg Bells and Orara East State Forests) I • SEPP-14 There IS one gazetted wetland m the Moonee Creek catchment (SEPP-14 wetland no 319) that IS protected by State EnVlronmental Plannmg Pohcy 14 This estuanne wetland I IS located at Sugar Mill Creek, to the south of Green Bluff headland 2.11 Future Development

I Currently there are three major developments either underway, or proposed, wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment, which may have slgmficant Impacts on Moonee Creek I • Moonee Release Area: The area hes between the PaCific Highway and the Moonee Beach Nature Reserve Skmners Creek defines the northern boundary of Stage I A ndge to the south defines the southern boundary of Stage 2 The release area IS proposed to accommodate about I 5,000 people, provldmg different types ofhousmg mciudmg perrmt dwelhng houses, dual occupancy, multl-umt housmg and aged persons housmg The release area will have a potable water supply and sewage collectIOn system Sewage will be collected and transported Via a I reticulatIOn system to the Moonee Water ReclamatIOn Plant Strategies will be Implemented m order to reduce the Impact of the development on the water quahty of Moonee Creek, mcludmg I buffer zones, on-sIte sOli and water management practices, and wlldhfe comdors • The Escapades: IS a development that IS currently under constructIOn adjacent to Moonee I Creek near Cunnmghams Creek • Upgrading the Pacific Highway: There are current plans by the Roads and Traffic Authonty I to upgrade the PaCific Highway through Coffs Harbour and the Moonee Creek catchment I

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I SUMMARY OF ESTUARY PROCESSES 2-7 I 2.12 Interaction between the Processes

Many estuanne process are mterconnected, meanIng that changes to one will have Impacts and I repercussIOn to others For example, the hydrodynamic and sediment processes wlthm Moonee Creek are mtegrally hnked The hydrodynamics defines sediment transport In the lower estuary, yet I It IS the degree of sediment bUild-up that controls the tide that dnves the hydrodynamics Inter-relatIOnships between the different estuanne processes wlthm Moonee Creek are summansed m I Figure 2-4 A descnptlOn of each of the connectmg hnks between the vanous estuanne processes IS provided m the Estuary Process Study (WBM Oceamcs Austraha, 2005) I I I I I I I Figure 2·4 Moonee Creek Estuary Process Interaction

2.13 Human Impacts on the Estuary I Development wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment has altered some of the mteractlOns between the I estuanne processes Typically, human InterventIOn has occurred at the highest level m the 'estuary processes cham', thiS bemg Catchment Inputs I Changes to the catchment of Moonee Creek have resulted m modified entrance conditions, estuary hydrodynamics, sedimentatIOn rates and patterns, and water quahty All of these changes have also had mdlrect and follow-on effects to other mter-related processes, mciudIng the lowest order I ecological processes

Human Impacts on estuanne processes m Moonee Creek mclude I • Catchment c1eanng: Approximately 50% of the Moonee Creek catchment has been cleared of native vegetatIOn and has been replaced with grasses or hard surfaces Most of the cleanng has I occurred m the hmterland between the steep upper catchment, and the flat coastal plams Cleanng of the catchment IS hkely to have mcreased the sediment and pollutant loadmg to the estuary, and has changed the overall water cycle by reducmg mfiltratlOn and evapotranspiration I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P OOC 21&'05 1506 I I I I SUMMARY OF ESTUARY PROCESSES 2-8 potential Cleanng oflow-lymg lands near the estuary has also exposed aCid sulfate sOils, which potentially deliver aCidic runoff to the estuary followmg heavy rams Cleanng of the I catchment has fragmented habitat types, leavmg few contmuous vegetated linkages between the mountam and coastal forests I • Urban development: conversIOn of a natural catchment to an urban development has widespread ImplicatIOns Urban development mcreases and concentrates runoff flows, which can exacerbate erosIOn processes Urban development can also mtroduce a new array of I pollutants to the environment, mcludmg heavy metals, petrocherrucals and orgamc compounds Urban development also mtroduces social pressures to the estuary, which can conflict with the I natural environmental values Examples of this mclude npanan vegetation removal, horse ndmg and foreshore access, mappropnate foreshore structures, recreatIOnal fishmg and litter

• Pacific Highway construction: - the Pacific Highway crosses a number of low-lymg I floodplams wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment Traditional road constructIOn has resulted m the establishment oflarge embankments across most of the floodplams, with only relatively I small culverts or bndges at the waterway Itself Dunng large floods, the embankments are likely to have a significant detammg effect on the routmg of floods through the catchment This may then have follow-on effect to the hydrodynamic processes, sedlment/shoalmg m the I entrance and mangrove colomsatlOn 2.14 Management Recommendations based on I Processes Understanding

There are a number of key Issue which need to be addressed for the effective management of Moonee I Creek Estuary, which will ensure that the Creek remam healthy and sustamable m the future These Issues mclude

I • Control on the types and extent of development that IS undertaken wlthm the catchment, ensunng the pnstme nature of Moonee Creek IS mamtamed, I • Stabilisation of banks, especially wlthm the entrance, • Enforcement of recreatIOnal uses of the estuary, mcludmg current regulatIOns concernmg dog I walkmg, and horse ndmg, • Removal of mappropnate foreshore structures and possible replacement with alternative bank I protectIOn measures, and • PreservatIOn and enhancement of eXlstmg npanan vegetation and estuanne habitats I I I I

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPlDQCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/6105 1506 I ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN 3-1 I 3 ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN I The overall aim of the Moonee Creek Estuary Management Study and Plan IS to preserve what IS good about the estuary (I e what IS valued) and rectify the problems, or Issues of concern I The values and Issues associated with Moonee Creek have been determmed by the Coastal and Estuary Management AdVISOry Committee, the commumty, the stakeholders and the outcomes of the I Estuary Processes Study (WBM Oceamcs Australia, 2005) 3.1 Estuary Values I

The values of the estuary, as Identified m the Estuary Processes Study and through consultatIOn, mc1ude ecological, aesthetic, scemc, hentage, recreatIOn, SOCIO-economlCS, and educatIOn

3.1.1 Ecological Value

Moonee Creek contams a vanety of habitat types that are highly valued by residents and migratory fauna Bemg located wlthm the transition between sub-tropical and temperate climates, Moonee Creek offers habitat to a Wide range of species Estuanne habitats contamed wlthm Moonee Creek I mc1ude mangroves, seagrass, saltmarsh, sedgelands, sandy flats, rocky platforms and deeper muddy channels I Moonee Creek catchment has a number of conservatIOn zones, which are protected by Commonwealth or State legislatIOns, or listed on vanous dlrectones, for protection, mc1udmg I • Moonee Beach Nature Reserve, I • Manne Parks Zone, • State Forests, and I • SEPP-14 Wetland

Moonee Creek IS nch m fauna, especially m the lower part of the estuary Dunng low tide the lower I estuary contams an abundance of bird life, mc1udmg pelicans, shearwater, cormorants, herons, egrets, IbiS, sandpipers, oystercatchers (pled and sooty), plovers, gulls, terns, kites, eagles, a pair of whlte­ I headed pigeons, glossy black cockatoos, yellow-tailed black cockatoos, galahs, lonkeets, lang parrots, Kmg Parrots, SWift parrots, rosellas, koels, dollar birds, kmgfishers, kookaburra, honeyeaters, and mmers (WBM Oceamcs Australia, 2005) I

The aquatic macromvertebrate fauna Identified m the study area mc1uded species of direct economic value, for example prawns (school prawn Metapenaeus maceaYI and lang prawn Penaeus plebeJUs), I mud crabs (Scylla serrata) and blue sWimmer crabs (Portunus pelaglcus)

3.1.2 Scenic Value I

Moonee Creek IS fnnged by low key development at the entrance to the creek, while further upstream there IS limIted development There are a number of vantage pomts around the entrance of the I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMP.DOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&1)5 15 06 I I I I ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN 3-2 estuary where people can appreciate the expansive waterway views, especially from the Moonee Beach Recreation Reserve and Green Bluff headland, and specific points within the creek (refer I Figure 3-1).

Currently the Moonee Creek estuary remains in a relatively pristine condition, which is a result of I limited development within the catchment and around its foreshores. Moonee Creek estuary is less developed compared to the other estuaries within the Coffs Harbour LGA, however, the area is I currently feeling the pressure of the increasing population of ColIs Harbour. I I I I I I

I Figure 3-1 Scenic outlooks from Moonee Beach Nature Reserve I 3.1.3 Aboriginal Heritage Value Moonee Creek and the wider catchment areas contains a number of sites of significance to the local I Aboriginal people. The creek is located within the Gumbayngirr land. The Gumbayngirr people were a nomadic tribe whose area extended from the Clarence River in the north to the Nambucca River in the south. It is reported that the Gumbayngirr people only stayed within the area for four to I six months of the year, although, following European settlement the Aborigines gradually stopped returning to the area.

I There are a number of sites located in the catchment, which are listed on the Aboriginal Sites Register, which include story/myths sites, initiation sites, artefacts scatters, middens, open camps and historic sites. There are middens located on the southern side of the footbridge (across Sugar Mill I Creek) and along the path leading up to Green Bluff Reserve. I 3.1.4 Recreational Value Recreational use of Moonee Creek was determined through the community consultation process, I undertaken for this project. From the consultation, it was evident that both active and passive recreation occurs in the creek.

I H:W0793 MOONE£ CREEK EMPOOCSoR.N0793.004.00.EMs&P.DOC 2/M)5 15."06 I I ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN 3-3 I Figure 3-2 shows the primary recreational uses of Moonee Creek. I 9J% I 80%

70% J!I c I .:l 60% c o i 50% a! I '0.. 40% :!'" ; 30% u I i a.. 20% 10% I 0% (ij Ii; '"c: '"c: c: '"c: iii '"c '"c c: :.c :.c 0 E :.;; :.c :.;;'" ., ., - .c ~ ::; 0 rn ., ., .c CD cr'" ~ rn D-'" CD" iii I Figure 3-2 Primary Recreational use of Moonee Creek

3.1.4.1 Active Recreation I

Popular active recreation activities within Moonee Creek include boating, four wheel driving and horse riding. According to many of the residents, high speed boat are used often and exacerbate I foreshore erosion.

There are limited boat launching facilities located around Moonee Creek. Most of the locations offer I informal boat access and located within Moonee Beach Recreation Reserve. There is one formal boat ramp, located at the Escapades, however, access to this facility is limited at present due to I construction works at The Escapades. 3.1.4.2 Passive Recreation I Moonee Creek and the surrounding areas are used by residents and visitors for a variety passive recreational pursuits, including: I • Bird watchers and bush walkers explore the entrance of Moo nee Creek, the Moonee Beach I Nature Reserve and Green Bluff Reserve; • The entrance ofthe estuary is used for swimming, snorkelling, fishing, education and dog walking. Although Moonee Creek is classified as a leashed area (requiring dogs to be kept on I leashes at all times), this is not obeyed by a number of users of the estuary, which has led to attacks of native fauna. There is a great deal of contention between dog owners and other residents regarding whether Moonee Creek should be a 'dog free' area; I

H:W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPoDOCS1R.N0793.004.00.EMS&P.DOC 2JM)5 15:06 I I I I ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN 3-4 • Moonee Beach IS used by surfers, the beach IS accessed via Moonee Creek entrance dunng low I tide The beach IS also used for, fishmg, swunmmg and walkmg (mc\udmg dog walkmg), • The whole estuary IS used for foreshore fishmg and canoemg (which IS more pronunent m the upper estuary),

I • Moonee Beach Caravan Park IS located adjacent to the Moonee Beach RecreatIOn Reserve and, accordmg to the owners of the caravan park IS the only caravan park m the area which allows I pets, and • The WaterSide bed and breakfast IS located at the confluence of Skmners Creek and Moonee I Creek The lower part of the estuary and surrounds, mc\udmg Green Bluff Reserve, Moonee Beach, Moonee Beach Nature Reserve, and Moonee Creek Entrance, are used extensively for passive recreatIOn I LocatIOns further upstream mcludmg Skmners and Cunnmghams Creeks, are not as frequently used, mamly due to Itnuted access

I Moonee Beach RecreatIOn Reserve IS uttltsed by both residents and vIsitors The reserve IS located on the western foreshore of the Moonee Creek entrance, adjacent to the caravan park The reserve I provides plcmc and BBQ faclhttes The reserve also provides sandy sheltered areas sUItable for family recreatIOn, and access to Green Bluff Reserve Via a bndge across Sugar Mill Creek The reserve IS managed by the Moonee Beach Nature Reserve Trust, who have produced a strategy called I Moonee Beach RecreatIOn Reserve, Management Strategy (Sustamable Futures Planmng and Design, 1992) to help direct future management of the area

I 3.1.5 Socio-Economic Value

There are a number of faclhttes of local economic mterest, which mdtrectly rely on the splendour of I Moonee Creek, mcludmg the Moonee Beach Caravan Park and 'The WaterSide' bed and breakfast, as well as the large number ofhohday houses located wlthm Moonee Beach

I 3.1.6 Educational Values I Moonee Creek provides opportumttes for the study and appreCiatIOn of I • The geological evolutIOn of the Coffs Harbour coast, • The bIOlogical slgmficance of coastal environment and the coastal environment and the I mteractlons between estuanes and the open coast waters, • The Impact of human acttvlttes on natural estuanne ecosystems, I • The Importance of coastal wetlands and dune environments, and • The Importance of the area to the Abongmal commumty, both m a tradlttonal context and m I relatton to contemporary use The presence of the NatIOnal Manne SCience Centre m Coffs Harbour, along With the Umverslty of I New England manne field statIOn at Arrawarra, proVides opportumty for detailed research and study of Moonee Creek, along With the other estuanes and coastal waters of SIMP

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMP>DQCS'R N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2'&V5 15 06 I I ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN 3-5 I 3.2 General Issues of Concern

3.2.1 Issues raised through the Coastal and Estuary Management I Committee I The Coastal and Estuary Management Committee (CEMAC) Identified a number of Issues It conSidered Important for the future management of the Moonee Creek Estuary

• Poor water quality, mcludmg high nutrient, bactenal, sediment, and toxm levels and low I dissolved oxygen and pH levels, • Runoff from agncultural land use actlVlt!es, mcludmg bananas and forestry, I • Impact on the ecological health and water quality of the estuary due to disturbance of aCid sulfate SOlis, I • Treatment of stormwater outlets to prevent scounng and entry of gross pollutants and fine sediment, I • Riverbank erosIOn and past erosIOn remedial measures,

• Sediment accretion m the estuary, from vanous sources, and ItS affect on fishenes habitat and water quality, I • Effects ofnver entrance shoalmg on tidal exchange, I • Declme m the area and condition of seagrass beds, mangroves, saltmarsh commumtles and other estuanne wetlands,

• Effect (short and long term) of pollutIOn mCldents on estuanne habitat, I

• Dumpmg of rubbish (domestic and mdustnal),

• Progressive loss of npanan habitat and the need for long term protectIOn and rehabilitatIOn of I the npanan zone, • ACid runoff from disturbed aCid sulfate soils m agricultural, urban and general dramage I works on lands adpcent to the estuary, • Effects of floodmg on the estuanne enVironment, particularly m the foreshore area of the I adJommg Caravan Park, • POSSibility of ocean break-outs dunng flood and/or storm conditions, I • Impacts of past flood protectIOn works, • Impact of recreatIOnal fishmg on fish stocks, other estuanne fauna and habitat, I • Increase of entrance shoaling, • Inappropnate bank protection works, I • Public access, • Conflicts between recreatIOnal uses of the estuary - boatmg, sWlmmmg, recreatIOnal fishmg, I passive recreatIOn, • Impacts ofboatmg - nverbank eroSIOn, pollutIOn, disturbance to fnngmg vegetatIOn, I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPDOCSlR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/&'05 1506 I I I I ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN 3-6 • Impacts ofunauthonsed pnvate boat ramps, I • Urban expansIOn and other forms of mfrastructure development, • Stormwater dramage from pnvate property, and I • Rights of property owners to reclaim land I 3.2.2 Issues raised through the Stakeholder Consultation In addition to the CEMAC, Government Agencies and stakeholders of Moonee Creek proVided the I followmg hst of Issues for consideratIOn m future management of the estuary 3.2.2.1 NSW EnvIronmental ProtectIon Agency Coastal RegIon

I Issues proVided by the NSW Environment Protection Agency, Coastal RegIOn, now the Department of Environment are as follows I • Stormwater discharges from Moonee Beach and Emerald Beach have had an Impact on the water quahty, flow and estuanne health of the creek It IS questIOnable as to whether the discharges have been treated m an adequate fashion before release to the environment

I • The Impacts of non-urban land uses (e g agnculture) wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment on water quahty

I • The madequacy of eXlstmg on-site sewage treatment systems (mcludmg septic tanks) for mdlvldual bUlldmgs/dwelhngs or developments, wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment and I their associated Impact on water quahty wlthm the estuary • In relatIOn to Moonee Beach Nature Reserve, engmeenng works or other actions wlthm the estuary ntay potentially affect the hydrology and geomorphology of Moonee Creek and the I nature reserve

• An mcrease m pubhc access to the Moonee Beach Nature Reserve IS not supported by EPA I (DEC), due to the potential Impacts on flora and fauna and the spread of exotlc species I 3.2.2.2 Coffs Harbour RegIonal Landcare Inc. The Coffs Harbour RegIOnal Landcare Inc raised the followmg Issues I • ImplementatIOn of stormwater management devices are reqUired to mlmmlse pollutant and sediment mput mto the creek

• Domestic ammals (dogs and cats), horse ndmg and trail bike ndmg have had an adverse I Impact on the estuary, therefore they should be banned

• Moonee Creek has a great vanety of valued habitats and ecological corrunumtles along the I creek These habitats and corrunumtIes need to be protected I 3.2.2.3 Manne Parks Authonty The Manne Parks Authonty raised the followmg Issues I • Saltrnarshes on the western Side of Moonee Creek have been destroyed by cattle, four wheel dnves and other human actIvltles (e g mowmg)

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,[JQCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN 3-7 I • Extensive seagrass beds along Moonee Creek have been affected by boat use • A number of drams m Skmners Creek have been cut to the edge of the pnvate properties, I which have blown out mto the creek causmg localIsed deep erosIOn scarps m the creek's bank

• Discarded rubbish by campers and fishers on the western side of Moonee Creek, along the I four wheel dnve access

3.2.2.4 Moonee Beach Reserve Trust I

The Moonee Beach Reserve Trust raised the followmg Issues I • There has been an mcrease m erosIOn along the foreshore • Indigenous and cultural hentage, mcludmg llliddens, has not been protected effectively I • There IS a lack of dog control m Moonee Creek • Lack of access to the estuary from Moonee Beach RecreatIOn Reserve, for pedestnans and I boat launchmg • There IS a need for Improvement m walkways, roadways, parkmg areas and PIClllC facilities, I as well as access to headlands

• There has been an mvaslOn of weeds along the foreshore and there IS a lack of native vegetatIOn I 3.2.3 Issues raised through the Community Consultation I The followmg Issues were raised by community members dunng consultatIOn undertaken for thiS proJect, either m response to the questionnaire, or via direct commUnicatIOn with the study team I • Development wlthm the catchment has had an Impact on the estuary quality, for example the constructIOn of two dams upstream of the highway, and the culverts under the highway, which have been bUilt too small, and have caused sedimentatIOn of the lower estuary I

• Increased sedimentatIOn through the lower estuary Accordmg to one reSident, 20 years ago, there was a deep channel through the lower estuary and the lower estuary was not shallow I • Increased sedimentatIOn through Sugar Mill Creek, which IS now occupied by mangroves Accordmg to reSidents, the creek was prevIOusly qUite deep I • Bank erosIOn has been caused by cleanng of vegetatIOn along the foreshore, creatIOn of man made stonnwater drams m Skmner Creek and mappropnate use of the estuary, for example power boats and horse ndmg I

• There IS a high degree of bank erosIOn along the foreshore m front of the playground (logs have been placed as a temporary measure), where horse nders access the estuary, and along I the western Side of the creek 150 m upstream on the mam access pomt at the Reserve • Lack of commUnicatIOn between key stakeholders mvolved m managmg Moonee Creek, for I example DEC, Moonee Beach Nature Reserve Trust, DIPNR, Solitary Islands Manne Park, Coffs Harbour City Council, Abongmal representative and community groups I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 211Ytl5 1506 I I 'I I ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN 3-8 • Lack of educatIOn and appreciation of abongmal values m the estuary and surroundmg I catchment • Inappropnate development and Illegal cleanng along the foreshore of Moonee Creek

• Water quality of Moo nee Creek estuary has decreased with mcreasmg sedimentatIOn m the I lower estuary There are penods of elevated bactenallevels, especially followmg heavy ramfall events, when the creek IS not sUitable for sWlmmmg I • RecreatIOnal use of the estuary, for example dog walkmg and horse ndmg, has had a detnmentallmpact on the estuary's ecosystem This mcludes dlstllrbance of bird life on the entrance shoals by unleashed dogs and bunal of dog faeces on the entrance shoal, only to be I uncovered by the next high tide

• Pressure has been placed on the large vanety of bird life as the estuary provides feedmg and I roostmg habitats for the birds • There IS only limited access to a number of locatIOns through Moonee Creek estuary, I especially Green Bluff Reserve, Moonee Beach Nature Reserve and Moonee Beach • Conflicts between users of the estuary I • RecreatIOnal facilities aVailable m the lower estuary are degraded, and only limited facilities are available m other parts of the estuary I • Concern by residents regardmg the Solitary Island Manne Park zonmg of Moonee Creek as a habitat protectIOn zone, which places limits on the types of recreatIOnal and commerCial fishmg allowed Some residents feel that over fishmg and excessive bait collectmg IS I occurrmg m Moonee Creek • PreSSllre on the health of Moo nee Creek and catchment due to an mcreasmg populatIOn I • Weeds mvadmg bush areas especially along the access path to Green Bluff Reserve, and mappropnate management of the reserve has mcreased the spread of weeds I • Dangers aSSOCiated with exposllre of ( coffee) rock and oyster shells along the eastern foreshore of the lower estuary, adjacent to the caravan park I 3.3 Specific Issues Requiring Attention

GIVIng conSideratIOn to the Wide range of Issues raised by the CEMAC, stakeholders, Government I AgenCies and general commumty, as outlmed m the precedmg Sections, as well as the SCientific aspects of the estuary, as discussed prevIOusly m Chapter 2 (and SectIOn 2 14 speCifically, m relatIOn to futllre management reqUirements from a SCientific perspective), a collated senes of m I management Issues has been Identified, and are descnbed below m further details These Issues have been separated mto the major categones of ecosystem processes, VIZ water quality, bank I eroslOnisedrrnentatlOn, ecology, future catchment development, estuanne usage, hentage and estuary management mechamsms I I

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMNJOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 1506 I I ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN 3-9 I 3.3.1 Water Quality

3.3.1.1 Issue A: Elevated Bacteria and Pollutant Levels I

Elevated bactena levels (faecal and total cohfonns and enterococcI), nutnents and other pollutants, are expenenced penodlcally throughout the estuary and m the tnbutanes The mcreased levels of I these elevated nutnents and other pollutants are likely to be due to catchment runoff (eg from agncultural land use), septic systems, stonnwater runoff and overflows from the Moonee Beach I reticulated sewerage system 3.3.1.2 Issue B: UnsUItable Water QualIty CondItIons I

There are penods when the high bactena levels m Moonee Creek make It unsUitable for pnmary contact activIties (eg sWlmmmg) These penods are generally dunng and followmg heavy ramfall I events (exceedmg about 50 mm) Bactena levels tend to remam elevated for more than 3 days

3.3.2 Bank Erosion and Sedimentation I 3.3.2.1 Issue C: Bank ErOSIon I There are a number oflocatlOns wlthm Moonee Creek that are expenencmg bank erOSIOn, particularly m the lower estuary The processes responsible for erosIOn m the lower estuary mvolves ocean swell I wave attack (which occurs along the foreshore of the RecreatIOn Reserve and wlthm the Immediate entrance of Sugar Mill Creek), wmd generated waves (which Impact the northern foreshore of the Recreation Reserve as well as areas that are open to a large wmd fetch), and flood and tidal currents I

In the upper estuary there are locahsed pockets of erosIOn, for example m Slonners Creek where artificial drams have been constructed and have resulted m large head-cuts The upper estuary IS also I subject to flood and tidal currents, which IS eVident by the narrow smuous sectIOns upstream of Skinners Creek Bank recessIOn m thiS part of the estuary has occurred slowly over time, as mdlcated by the mdurated (coffee rock) sediment and the overhangmg trees I

The removal of vegetatIOn along the foreshore of Moo nee Creek has mltlated and/or perpetuated bank erosIOn m a number of locatIOns, which has been further exacerbated by constructIOn of ad-hoc I foreshore protectIOn

3.3.2.2 Issue D: SedImentatIon of the estuary I Sediment wlthm the catchment ongmates from two sources catchment nmoff and manne sand I mflux The sediment from the catchment IS mamly deposited m the upper reaches of the estuary and on the floodplams, whereas manne sediment IS deposited m the lower estuary dependmg on the precedmg ramfall and flood conditions The sediment mgress mto the lower estuary may have been I altered due to changes m catchment hydrology associated With the constructIOn of dams and the PaCific Highway I I

H W0793 MooNEE CREEK EMADOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21005 15 06 I I ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN 3-10

3.3.3 Ecology

3.3.3.1 Issue E' DegradatIon ofEstuarme HabItats

The Moonee Creek estuary provides feedmg and roostmg habitat for a varIety of waders and other sea I birds Most of the wader species known or likely to occur wlthm the area feed on mtertldal flats and reqUlre relatively qUlet, open areas to roost above the high tide Prmclpal habitats of value to waders I mclude mangroves, saltmarshes, mtertldal and sub-tidal areas, and rocky and sandy foreshores All of these types of habitat are found throughout Moonee Creek and are home to a Wide range of speCies, I many of which are rare or threatened, mcludmg godwlts, tattlers, curlew, oyster catchers and plovers 3.3.3.2 Issue F: RegeneratIon of Green Bluff ReselVe

I Green Bluff Reserve IS located at the mouth of Moonee Creek and contams the largest area of rocky shore m the Moonee Creek catchment Access to the area IS gamed from a footbrIdge across Sugar Mill Creek from Moonee Beach RecreatIOn Reserve Informal paths have been created across the I headland, which have mtroduced a number of weeds and exotic species to the area I 3.3.3.3 Issue G: RIparian VegetatIon Actmg as Buffer FrIngmg vegetatIOn around the estuary acts as a buffer, or filter, between eXlstmg development and I valuable estuarIne habitats A large POrtion of Moonee Creek catchment (approximately 63%) IS bushland ClearIng of the land has mostly occurred for the provIsIOn of agricultural land and human I settlement It has been estimated that 83 5% of the length of Moonee Creek con tams rIparIan vegetatIOn cover Most areas with lilTIlted rIparIan cover occur on the west bank of the estuary between Moonee Beach I township and the PaCific Highway The eastern bank of the estuary IS well vegetated, bemg mostly located wlthm the Moonee Beach Nature Reserve

I 3.3.4 Future Catchment Development I 3.3.4.1 Issue H: Impact ofFuture Development Future development could have a slgntficant Impact on the eXlstmg near prIstme Moonee Creek I environment All future development needs to be controlled to ensure that It does not place further stress on the highly valued estuarIne habitat Therefore, any mcrease m pollutant/nutrient loads to the estuary IS not acceptable This would mclude mcreases to runoff volumes, pollutant loads, vegetatIOn I loss and social pressure on IDe eXlstmg environment There are currently a number of proposed developments for the Moonee Creek catchment, mc1udmg the upgradmg of the PaCific Highway and the reSidentIal constructIOn wlthm the Moonee Release Area Development IS already occumng I wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment, mc1udmg The Escapades I I

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN 3-11 I 3.3.5 Estuarine Usage

3.3.5.1 Issue I: EnvIronmental ConsIderations by the Communtty I

The lower estuary and entrance shoals of Moonee Creek are used extensively for recreatIOnal purposes Of particular concern at low lide are people walkmg their dogs on the sand-flats Owners I are reqUired to keep their dogs leashed, however, many owners do not comply with this regulatIOn A number of attacks on fauna have been witnessed by residents of Moonee Beach, as well as owners I burymg dog faeces m the sand The area IS also used by horse nders, who cause erosIOn on the foreshore when accessmg the estuary and also leave faeces on the sand Four wheel dnves travel across the entrance shoals at low lide to launch and retneve boats from the deeper channels I 3.3.5.2 Issue J: ConflIct Between Users of the Estuary I Moonee Creek estuary IS used for both passive and active recrealional purSUitS Residents have expressed concern regardmg conflict associated with some uses of the estuary, specifically horse ndmg, dog walkmg, power boats, fishmg and four wheel dnvmg I 3.3.5.3 Issue K: PUb/IC FaCIlIties and Access I There IS a high degree of pedestrian access at the entrance of Moo nee Creek, which mamly ongmates from the Moonee Beach RecreatIOn Reserve and the caravan park on the eastern side of the entrance I There are a number of mfonnal boat ramps along the foreshore and only one fonnal (concrete) boat ramp located upstream, at the 'Escapades' development site Access to other parts of Moo nee Creek and the tnbutanes IS relalively limited I

Moonee Beach RecreatIOn Reserve IS managed by the Moonee Beach RecreatIOn Reserve Trust The trust proposes to provide a wide range of low key recreatIOn and accommodatIOn facililies for I residents and visitors to the Moonee Creek area, whilst also trymg to mamtam the natural aspects of the reserve and the surroundmg environment Accordmg to a number of the residents, the facilities provided at the reserve are currently m poor condition and need to be upgraded and regularly I mamtamed

3.3.6 Heritage I 3.3.6.1 Issue L: Cultural Heritage I There are a number abongmal hentage Site, wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment mcludmg story/myth sites, ImliatlOn Sites, artefact scatters, middens, open camps and hlstonc sites There are I also European hentage sites wlthm the catchment, mcludmg the Look-At-Me-Know Headland and Shelley Beach Graves, at Emerald Beach and a house m Sapphire Beach I 3.3.7 Estuary Management Mechanisms

3.3.7.1 Issue M: Management of the estuary I

There are a number of conservatIOn areas and reservalions around Moonee Creek that fall wlthm the Jurlsdlclion of several different authonlies and management orgamsalions There IS a need for the I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPOOCS'iR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I I I ESTUARY VALUES AND ISSUES OF CONCERN 3-12 estuary to be managed holistIcally rather than sectorally by each dIfferent organIsatIOn Therefore there needs to be an Integrated strategy for management and on-goIng commUnIcatIOn and I consIstency between these authorItIes and management organIsatIOns I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPlDOCS\R N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2I&U5 1506 ~I I OBJECTIVES OF FUTURE MANAGEMENT 4-1 I 4 OBJECTIVES OF FUTURE MANAGEMENT I A set of well-targeted management objectives has been formulated based on the values of the estuary and the Issues/problems facmg the estuary, as presented m the prevIous chapters I The objectives aim to rectifY the problems facmg the estuary, whilst preservmg and enhancmg the estuary's mherent values I Management objectives have been formulated under SIX general categones, VIZ • Water Quality I • Bank ErOSIOn and SedimentatIOn • Ecology / BIOdiversity I • Future Catchment Development • Estuanne Usage I • Rentage I • Estuary Management Mechamsms 4.1 Water Quality Objectives I ObjectIve (1) Reduce the level ofpollutant and sediment loads entenng Moonee Creek I Addressmg Issue A (see Section 3 3 1 1), thiS objective IS aimed at reducmg mputs mto the estuary from catchment runoff, septic systems, stormwater runoff and overflows from the Moonee Beach reticulated sewerage system I

ThiS objective IS also aimed at addressmg the mcreased amount of sediment washed off the catchment and deposited m the estuary, as Identified by Issue D (see Section 4 3 2 2) I

Objective (2) Ensure that the water qualtty of Moonee Creek IS SUItable for a range of recreatIOnal uses I

Addressmg Issue B (see SectIOn 3 3 1 2), thiS objective IS aimed at ensurmg that followmg ramfall events the bactenallevels III Moonee Creek, particularly the lower estuary, are SUitable from pnmary I activIties The mam water activIties that are carned out m the lower estuary mclude sWlmmmg, snorkelmg, and fishmg, which reqUire high levels of water quality I 4.2 Bank Erosion and Sedimentation Objectives

Objective (3) Stablltse and rehabllttate foreshores that have become degraded due to mapproprwte I usage andforeshore development

Addressmg Issue C (see SectIOn 3 3 2 1), thiS objectIVe IS aimed a provldmg protectIOn to the I foreshore areas wlthm the lower and upper estuary that are currently expenencmg bank erosIOn Removal of vegetatIOn and bUlldmg of ad-hoc foreshore erosIOn protectIOn has exacerbated bank I erosIOn m a number of locatIOns Of mam concern IS the foreshore of the Moonee Beach RecreatIOn

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I I I OBJECTIVES OF FUTURE MANAGEMENT 4-2 Reserve near the playground, where erosion been exacerbated by residents and VIsitors usmg the I foreshore for mfonnal access Objective (4) Re-establIsh a natural hydrologlcaljlow regime mto the estuary

I Addressmg Issue D (see Section 3 3 22), this objective IS atmed at re-estabhshmg natural flows through the entrance The manne entrance shoal of Moonee Creek extends approximately I 9 krn upstream There are basically three morphological states that have been Identified m the lower I estuary heavily shoaled, mildly shoaled and heavily scoured (see Section 2 5) It IS considered that the entrance geomorphic behaVIOur may have been mfluence by the altered hydrological flow regime I m the estuary due to flood detentIOn behmd the Pacific highway embankments and/or the large number ofpnvate fann dams wlthm the upper catchment I 4.3 Ecology I Biodiversity Objectives

Objectlve (5) Prevent the degradatIOn of e:Xlstmg habitats throughout the estuary, and ensure I protectIOn and sustamabilify ofeXlstmgfauna COmmUnities, particularly threatened species

Addressmg Issue E (see SectIOn 333 I), this objective IS atmed at protectmg the diversity of habitats I wlthm Moonee Creek and ItS surroundmgs, which are used by fauna speCies, particularly waders The mangroves provide areas of feedmg and roostmg for waders, whereas the saltmarsh provide high I tide roostmg areas The sea grass beds also provide feedmg area for waders and are used by many juvemle fish species for feedmg and protectIOn The mtertldal habitats provide feedmg grounds for plovers, dotterals, sandpipers and godwlts The mtertldal and spray zone of the rock and sandy I shorelmes generally provide feedmg grounds, whereas the upper tidal areas mostly provide roostmg habitats

I Objective (6) Remove weeds and exOtiC species wlthm bushland areas around the estuary, particularly m Green BluffReserve

I Addressmg Issue F (see Section 3332), thiS objective IS auned at returnmg the bushland areas of the Moonee Creek catchment back to there ongmal status, by removmg weeds and exotic species Of particular concern IS Green Bluff Reserve, located on the southern foreshore at the entrance of I Moonee Creek

Objectlve (7) Restore an appropriate riparian vegetatIOn buffer around Moonee Creek and protect I the foreshore buffer from future degradatIOn

Addressmg Issue G (see SectIOn 3 3 3 3), thiS objective IS atmed at restonng the npanan vegetatIOn I buffer around Moonee Creek of a mmlmum of 100 metres Limited npanan vegetatIOn occurs around the west bank of the estuary between Moonee Beach and the PaCific Highway, m the vlclmty I of the proposed constructIOn the Moonee Release Area ThiS objective would ensure frmgmg vegetation IS not removed dunng future and current developments, e g The Escapades and Moonee Beach Release Area The npanan buffer should not be used to treat runoff from adjacent I development areas, and should not be cleared to proVide adequate clearance for bushfire management I

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,£)OCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 15 06 I I OBJECTIVES OF FUTURE MANAGEMENT 4-3 I 4.4 Future Catchment Development Objectives

Objective (8) Ensure that all future development consIders the envIronmental sensItIVIty of Moonee I Creek and does not place any addItIOnal stress on the exIsting natural environment, mcludlng addItIOnal pollutant loads and surface runoff I AddressIng Issue H (see SectIOn 3 3 4 1), the aim of this objective IS to proVide control over future development, so that It does not Impact the Moonee Creek estuary ThiS would Include control over I runoff volumes, pollutant loads and vegetatIOn loss Currently proposed development Includes the Moonee Beach Release Area, The Escapades and the upgradmg of the PaCific Highway I Future development should ensure that the npanan buffer and the estuary are protected, With all runoff from the development treated pnor to discharge through the buffer, and all dwellmgs setback from the buffer to aVOid bushfire nsk I 4.5 Estuarine Usage Objectives I Objective (9) Ensure that all reSIdents and vIsitors are aware of waterway usage restrictIOns, and are able to enJoy Moonee Creek WIthout comprising the ecologIcal value ofthe estuary I Addressmg Issue I (see SectIOn 3 3 5 I), the aim of thiS objective IS to ensure that reSidents and vIsitors are aware of the restrictions on usmg the estuary Of particular concern IS the use of the I lower estuary There are a number of activIties which occur m thiS area that have a negative Impact on the fauna communities and their habitats These actiVities mclude walkmg unleashed dogs and horse ndmg I

Objective (10) Ensure that recreatIOnal opportunitIes offered by Moonee Creek do not conjhct with each other, and do not conjhct WIth or compromIse the ecologIcal functIOn ofthe estuary I

Addressmg Issue J (see SectIOn 3 3 5 2), the aim of thiS objective IS to ensure that the estuary IS used by both VlSltors and reSidents Without conflict or Impact the functlOnmg of the estuary Concern has I been raised ill respect to people unleased walkIng dogs, horse ndIng dunng low tIde, usmg power boats, Illegal recreatIOnal fishmg and four wheel dnvmg m the estuary durmg low tide I ObjectIve (11) PrOVIde suffiCIent publtc facllttles at appropriate locatIOns around the estuary to allow for the full enjoyment ofMoonee Creek by tOUrist and reSIdents I Addressmg Issues K (see SectIOn 3 3 5 3), the aim of thiS objective IS to proVide appropnate publIc faCIlIties around the Moonee Creek estuary There are currently lImIted publIc faCIlIties and access pomts aVailable around the estuary Consequently, a number of locatIOns along the foreshore are I used as mformal access pomts, for pedestnans and boats, and are becommg degraded as a consequence I I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I I I OBJECTIVES OF FUTURE MANAGEMENT 4-4 I 4.6 Heritage Objectives Objective (12) Ensure that cultural hentage sites In Moonee Creek are adequately protected and I that residents and tounsts can apprecwte the cultural significance ofMoonee Creek Addressmg Issues L (see Section 3 3 6 I), the aim of thIs objective IS to provIde protectIon to the I hentage sItes Identified wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment and to promote educatIOn and knowledge of Abongmal values and Moonee Creek to further the communtty apprecIation of the I natural envIronment 4.7 Estuary Management Mechanisms Objectives

I Objective (13) Ensure that all stakeholders ofMoonee Creek (both government and non-government groups) are consulted and actively Involved In the future management and conservatIOn of the I Moonee Creek environment Addressmg Issue M (see SectIon 337 I), the aIm of the objective IS to manage the Moonee Creek catchment m a more efficIent and mtegrated manner DIfferent parts of the Moonee Creek catchment I are currently managed by a number of Government AgencIes at varymg levels, mcludmg state and local management organtsatlOns At present there IS ltttle communtcatlon between these dIfferent I organtsatlOns, outSIde tlte CEMAC forum Objective (14) Fill the gaps In our eXisting knowledge regarding the environment processes of I Moonee Creek, eg nutnent interactIOns and aquatic habitats The aIm of thiS objective IS proVIde a more complete understand of the bIOlogIcal processes of the I estuary As detaIled m the Estuary Processes Study, there are a number of gaps m our understandmg of the system that should be filled m order to better apprecIate the natural envIronment and Its I management needs 4.8 Ranking of Objectives

I The objectIves of the Estuary Management Plan, as descnbed above, have been ranked m order to assIst wIth pnontlsatlOn of future management strategIes In essence, strategIes that address the most Important Issues / objectives, WIll be Implemented first so that maxImum benefit to the estuary can be I achIeved wlthm the tlmeframe of thIs Plan (I e approxImately 5 years before a complete revIew) I The objectives were presented to the Coastal and Estuary Management AdVISOry CommIttee and the Moonee Beach Communtty dunng mteractlve workshops held on 22 February 2005 IndiVIdual CommIttee and communtty members proVIded feedback on preferred obJecttve pnonttsatlOns, and I collectIvely, an overall rankmg of objectives was deterrntned I The rankIng of the speCIfic objectives IS presented m Table 4-1, m order ofpnonty I

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPDQCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 1506 r:=:. fIll!.!1! I I OBJECTIVES OF FUTURE MANAGEMENT 4-5 I

Table 4-1 Pnoritised list of Management Objectives I Rank Objective No. Category Objective description Reduce the level of pollutant and sediment loads Objective 1 Water Quality 1 enterlnQ Moonee Creek I Future Future development to not place any additional stress Objective 8 Catchment on the estuary 2 Development I Ensure that the water quality IS sUitable for recreational Objective 2 Water Quality 3 uses and ecoloQlcal function Ecology I Restore and protect an appropriate riparian vegetation I Objective 7 4 BiodiverSity buffer Ecology I Ensure protection of eXisting habitats and fauna Objective 5 I 5 BiodiverSity commUnities Estuary Fill gaps In our eXisting knowledge regarding the Objective 14 Management environmental processes of Moonee Creek, eg nutrient I 6 Mechanisms Interactions and aquatic habitats Estuary Ensure on-going consultation With all stakeholders of Objective 13 Management Moonee Creek I 7 Mechanisms 8 Objective 12 Heritage Cultural heritage sites to be protected and appreciated I Bank ErOSion Stabilise and rehabilitate foreshores Objective 3 and 9 Sedimentation I Ecology I Remove weeds and exotic species Within bushland Objective 6 10 BiodiverSity areas PrOVide sufficient and appropriate public access and Objective 11 Estuarine Usage I 11 faCIlities at appropriate locations Ensure adequate strategies and awareness of Objective 9 Estuarine Usage 12 waterway usaQe restrictions I Bank EroSion Re-establish a natural hydrological flow regime Objective 4 and 13 Sedimentation I Ensure recreational opportunities do not conflict With Objective 10 Estuarine Usage 14 each other or the environment I I I I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,[)()CSlR N0793 004 00 EMS&P OOC 21005 1506 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS I STRA TEGIES 5-1 I 5 DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISATION OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS I STRATEGIES

I 5.1 Formulation of Management Options I Strategies

A total of 42 potential management optIOns were formulated and considered In order to address the I 14 Management Objectives descnbed In SectIOn 4 These management optIOns were developed In consultatIOn with the Coastal and Estuary Management AdvIsory Committee, the commumty, and I the stakeholders The potentIal management optIons are presented below under the same categorIes as the I management objectIves I e Water Quality, Bank EroSIOn and SedimentatIOn, Ecology I Biodiversity, Future Catchment Development, Estuanne Usage, HerItage, and Estuary Management I Mechanisms 5.1.1 Strategies Addressing Water Quality Objectives (Objectives 1 &. 2)

I WQ-I Regular water quality momtorIng program throughout the estuary and tnbutarIes, and at Moonee Beach, to determIne environmental health and nsks to human health

I WQ-2 Undertake audits and Improve management of septic tanks and on-site sewage systems, With Inadequate systems upgraded or replaced, as necessary

I WQ-3 Improve management of stormwater runoff from Moonee Creek catchment by divertIng stormwater nmoff through retrofitted detention baSinS and wetlands, or treated via other I best aVaIlable technology and management practIces WQ-4 Education of rural land holders and Improvement of agricultural land management practIces, as necessary, throughout the catchment, IncludIng restoratIOn and revegetatIon I of upper catchment slopes, along creeks and natural draInage lInes, and Within key wildlife comdors

I WQ-5 Prepare a SUitable emergency response plan IS prepared to protect Moonee Creek In the I event of spills and aCCidents on the PaCific Highway 5.1.2 Strategies Addressing Bank Erosion and Sedimentation Objectives (Objectives 3 &. 4)

I BS-l ConstructIOn of physical structures (adaptIng 'hard' or 'soft' engineerIng methods, as appropnate) to stabilise the foreshore In areas that are actively erodIng I BS-2 RevegetatIOn of foreshore areas, which are susceptible to bank eroSIOn, USIng a combInatIOn of aquatIc macrophytes and terrestrIal species, as approprIate I BS-3 Infill InapproprIate artifiCial drainS that have concentrated flows and caused localised erosIOn scarps (e g In Skinners Creek)

BS-4 DISCUSS With RT A opportumtIes for IncreaSing flood flow conveyance under the PaCific I Highway

I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMNJOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21MJ5 15 06 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISATION OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS I STRATEGIES 5-2 I BS-5 Ensure compliance with sedlIllent and erosIOn control reqUIrements dunng constructIOn of new developments, redevelopment of eXisting Sites, and any other works carned out along the foreshore (e g revegetatIon) I

5.1.3 Strategies Addressing Ecology I Biodiversity Objectives (Objectives 5 to 7) I

Ecol-l Continue to linut and paSSively discourage public access to Moonee Beach Nature Reserve I

Ecol-2 RegeneratIOn of habitats Within Green Bluff Reserve, including eradicatIon of weeds and exotic species I Ecol-3 Modify eXisting planning Instruments to protect Important habitats and eXisting vegetatIOn stands that are not currently protected Within the estuary and to offer protection to I foreshores Via designated buffer zone around all waterways All buffers should be a minimum of 100 m

Ecol-4 Ban all commercial fishing and trapping Within Moonee Creek I

Ecol-5 Rezoning of Moonee Creek to a SIMP sanctuary area, With no bait collectIOn and no disturbance of bird life I Ecol-6 Raise awareness about the conditIOn of Moo nee Creek, the Importance ofSlMP and the fraglilty of estuanne habitats through public educatIOn, targeting both tOuriStS and I permanent reSidents, including slgnage, brochures and on-site diSCUSSIOn/displays, as approprIate

Ecol-7 ExpanSIOn of eXisting SEPP-14 wetland boundarIes and/or inclUSIOn of new wetland areas I In SEPP-14

Ecol-8 ExtenSIOn of Moo nee Beach Nature Reserve to western Side of creek and other Important I habitat areas Ecol-9 Revegetate foreshores and other degraded areas around the estuary that have been partly I or totally cleared of natural vegetatIOn Foreshore buffers should be revegetated to a minimum of 100 m back from the waterway I Ecol-lO Momtor bIOlogical indicators to help assess environmental health of the estuary, including benthiC fauna, mobile aquatIc fauna (eg fish and prawns), aquatIc vegetatIOn distributIon and conditions, and seagrass depth linuts I Ecol-ll Encourage pnvate landholders Within the catchment, and partIcularly around the estuary, to enter Into conservatIOn agreements With DEC (NPWS) or the CMA, and receive incentIve and rebates, as appropnate I

5.1.4 Strategies Addressing Future Catchment Development Objectives (Objective 8) I CD-I Ensure that all new subdiVISIOns are fully sewered I CD-2 Modify planning Instruments to restrict the proXlIlllty of development to Moonee Creek foreshores In order to maintain fully vegetated buffers between future development and I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-3 the sensitive estuanne environments (mlmmum of lOa m), and to ensure that buffers are I not used to help treat development runoff, or are cleared for bushfrre nsk Ill1ttgatlOn CD-3 Modify plannmg mstruments to reqUire all new developments m the catchment to have no net mcrease of surface runoff discharge rates and pollutant loads to Moonee Creek for I flows up to the I m 5 year ramfall event CD-4 Ensure all new developments wlthm the catchment are compassIOnate to the I environmental sensItiVity of the area, and positive steps are taken to foster a connectIOn between future residents and the natural environment (I e eco-fnendly developments I only), mcludmg appropnate fire, weed and wtldhfe management CD-5 Ensure there are sUitable provIsions wlthm futtrre development proposals for vegetated wIidhfe comdors to faclhtate the movement of fauna across the landscape, and not Just I hlll1ted to the npanan buffer zones CD-6 Implementation ofWSUD pnnclples and best practice stormwater management I approaches for all new development works 5.1.5 Strategies Addressing Estuarine Usage Objectives I (Objectives 9 to 11) EU-l Discourage horse nders from accessmg the lower estuary and foreshore through slgnage I and education EU-2 Provide a s hmlted number of formal access pomts along the creek to discourage mformal I access (and associated foreshore degradation) EU-3 EducatIOn and enforcement of compamon ammalleglslatlOn (e g dogs must be kept on the leash) or completely prohibit dogs and other domestic ammals for the natural I environment around Moonee Creek, mcludmg Green Bluff Reserve Alternattve off leash dog exercise areas should be conSidered for more appropnated recreatIOn areas I EU-4 Ban or discourage acttve recreatIOn m Moonee Creek mcludmg power boats and horses EU-5 Promote passive recreation actiVities, for example canoemg, bird watchmg, walkmg etc

I EU-6 Improve amemtles m Moonee Beach RecreatlOn Reserve I EU-7 Increase pohcmg of fishmg regulatIOns and other SIMP regulatlOns wlthm the estuary EU-8 Create formal walkIng trails and boardwalks around the estuary to hmlt mformal access trials

I EU-9 PrOVide appropnate slgnage at popular recreatlOn areas to mform pubhc of water quahty nsks (especially followmg ramfall) Risks to be confirmed through mltial stages of water I quahty momtonng program (see OptlOn WQ-l) EU-1O Increase enforcement of waterway usage restnctlOns, particularly m respect to unleashed I dogs I I H W0793 MOONEE GREEK EMPoDOGSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P OOG 21MJ5 15 06 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISATION OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS I STRATEGIES 5-4 I S.1.6 Strategies Addressing Heritage Objective (Objective 12)

Hent-l IdentificatIOn and protectIOn of significant Abongmal and European cultural hentage I sites Hent-2 Provide mfonnatlOn regardmg slgmficance and traditIonal use of the Moonee Creek Area I S.1.7 Strategies Addressing Estuary Management Mechanism Objective (Objective 13) I EM-I Mamtam an active estuary management committee, with representatIOn from all relevant stakeholders and government agencies, mcludmg commumty mterest groups and local I Abongmal representatIves, to oversee ImplementatIOn of this plan and to proVide guidance to CouncIl on future plannmg deCISIons regardmg Moonee Creek EM-2 UtIlIse commumty-based volunteers to carry out labour mtenslve on-ground works, such I as weed removal, revegetatIon and general foreshore clean-ups (I e workmg bees), which would also foster greater appreciatIOn of the natural environment by participants This I could be fonnalIsed through a Landcare Program, a commumty group (e g "Fnends of Moonee Creek") or Similar I 5.2 Assessment and Prioritisation of Possible Management Options I A total of 42 pOSSible management optIOns have been conSidered to help achieve the objectIves of this Estuary Management Plan The greatest benefits to the estuary Will be gamed If the most effectIve optIOns are Implemented first Consequently, m order to detennme the most effective I optIOns, a multi cntena deCISIon makmg process has been adopted to compare and pnontIse the 42 management optIOns I Preferred management optIOns have been detennmed by conSideratIon of the followmg cntena

EffectIveness of the optIOn m addressmg speCific management obJectIves, I 2 Acceptance of the optIOn by commumty and stakeholders, I 3 Cost of ImplementatIOn of the optIOn,

4 Number and pnonty of objectIves that the optIOn meets, I 5 ReqUirements for completion of other management optIons, I 6 OptIOns should have a range of different ImplementatIOn approaches, and

7 OptIons should have a range of different ImplementatIOn tImeframes I For cntena No 6, 'different ImplementatIOn approaches' mclude I • AdmmlstratlOn,

• EducatIOn, I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSlR N0793 004 {)() EMS&P DOC 21&tl5 15 06 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRATEGIES 5-5 • InvestigatIOn and Review,

I • Planmng and controls, I • On-ground Works, and • Momtonng

I For cntena No 7, the different tlmeframes considered, mclude I • Immediately (next 6 - 12 months), • Short Term (I - 3 years),

I • MedIUm term (3-5 years), and I • Long term (>5 years) Most of the mformatlOn used m the deCISion makmg process was obtamed from the commumty and stakeholders groups via feedback from questIOnnaires and workshop diSCUSSIOns, particularly m I regards to the first two cntena

The preferred order of Implementation baSically represents the most efficient and effective approach I to management of the estuary from an outcomes vlewpomt I 5.2.1 Results of the Multi Criteria Assessment The results of the multi cntena assessment are shown m Appendix B Figure 5-1 shows a graphical representatIOn of the relative score for the 42 management strategies, from the highest sconng I management optIOn to the lowest score management option These scores take mto consideratIOn the number of objectives addressed by each optIOn, the relative Importance (score) of each objective addressed (refer SectIOn 4 8), the relative cost of ImplementatIOn, and the relative effectiveness and I acceptability of each optIOn From Figure 5-1 It can be seen that management strategy Ecol-6, which IS ralsmg awareness about the condltlon of Moonee Creek, the Importance of SIMP and the I fragility of estuanne habitats through public educatIOn, has been given the highest relative score of 82 The next two management optIOns (CD-I and CD-3) were given the same relative score of 78 A further twelve optIOns were given a score above 30, while the remammg 26 optIOns were given a I score below 30 I 5.2.2 Short-List of Preferred Management Options I Strategies A short list of twenty four (24) management optIOns has been Identified based on the results of the multi cntena assessment, (refer Table 5-2) It IS conSidered that 24 management optIOns would be a I senSible number to develop mto mdlvldual estuary management optIOns to be mcluded m the Estuary Management Plan, given the reality of fundmg and resourcmg difficulties wlthm the State I and Local Government The short-listed optIOns represent those options that have scored the highest m the assessment I process, and also represent a range of ImplementatIOn approaches and time frames A number of lower sconng optIOns were also short-listed, m order to ensure that all the management objectives I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMNJOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-6 I were addressed by at least one management optIOn, or If a higher scormg optIOn was dependent upon the pnor completion of another lower-sconng optIOn Options associated with environment momtonng have also been Illcluded to proVide a mechamsm for assessment of Estuary Management I Plan performance m the future

Eighteen (18) potential management optIOns were not short-listed, however, these optIOns should I still be conSidered, as well as the 24 short-listed strategies, dunng future reviews of the Estuary Management Plan Future reviews of the document Will be very Important to ensure that the Plan I remaills relevant, and IS conSiderate of new technologies, approaches and methods for environmental management (I e achieves adaptive management) I An options and objectives matrix IS shown III Table 5-2 ThiS matnx shows the connectIOn between the defined management objectives and the short-listed management optIOns, as outlined III Table 5-1 From Table 5-2 It can be seen that all objectives are addressed by at least one management I optIOn, while most objectives are addressed by multiple options (maximum of 12 options III respect of Objective 2) OptIOn Ecol-6 addresses a total of SIX (6) separate objectives Most optIOns address two or more objectives I 5.2.3 Proposed Implementation Order I The proposed management strategies cover a range of different ImplementatIOn tlmeframes Some management strategies reqUire the pnor ImplementatIOn of other strategies, and therefore these pnor I strategies need to camed out relatIVely early, to prevent unnecessary delays III ImplementatIOn of later strategies I

A recommended order of ImplementatIOn for the preferred management strategies has been developed, as shown ill Table 5-3 I I I I I I I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPDOCSlR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/&'05 15 06 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND P RIORITISA TlON OF P OSSIBLE M ANAGEMENT O PTIONS / $ TRA TEGIES 5-7 I ! v-S8 B-n3 I - 9-n 3 - ~-S8 - L-1003 - v-1003 1 I Z-1003

~-lJSH I I Z-S8 O~-100 3

I ~ -OM 1 I £-OM I ~ - n3 S-1003 I £-S8 6-n3 I I z-n3 ell .!! ~-V'l3 CI 1 I !!l... £-n3 "- L-n3 -til c s-sa -GI E I GI Z-lJ9H ...C) S-OM c... I O ~- n3 ~ s-n3

~ -1003

, B-1003 I ~ ~ - IOO 3 Z-OM v-n3 I I 6-1003 v-OM

S-a~

1 z-a~ 1 9-m I I , Z-V'l3 v-a~ I £-1003 I I, , , £-a~ ~ -m I 1 9-1003 o o o o o o (X) ,... 1 M N

I Figure 5-1 Relative Score for Possible Management Options I

I H.W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPoDQCSoR,N0793.004.00.EM5&P.DOC 2/Ml5 IS.tJ6 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-8 I Table 5-1 Short-List of Preferred Management Options I Strategies I Option Option Description Relative Management Relative No. Score Approach Tlmeframe Ecol-6 Raise awareness about the condition of estuary 82 Education Medium I CD-1 Ensure new development IS fully sewered 78 Planning and controls Short CD-3 Modify planning Instruments - surface runoff and 78 Planning and controls Short pollutant loads I Ecol-3 Modify planning Instruments - protecllon of habitats 75 Planning and controls Short and foreshores CD-4 New development should consider environmental 68 Planning and controls Short sensitivity of area I EM-2 Utilise community-based volunteers 66 Admlnlstralion Immed CD-6 Implementation of WSUD and best praclise 52 Planning and controls Short stormwater management I CD-2 Modify planning Instrument restricting foreshore 51 Planning and controls Short development CD-5 Future development proposals for Wildlife corndors 49 Planning and controls Short I WQ-4 Educalion of rural landholders 42 Education Long Ecol-9 Revegetation of areas around the foreshore 40 On-grounds works Immed EU-4 Ban active recreation In Moonee Creek 37 Administration Medium I WQ-2 Undertake audits and Improve management of septic 35 Invest and Review Immed tanks and on-site sewage systems Ecol-11 Pnvate landholders to enter conservation 33 Administration Long agreements With DEC and CMA I Ecol-8 Extension of Moonee Beach Nature Reserve 33 Planning and controls Medium Hent -2 Informalion regarding tradllional use 25 Educalion Short EM-1 Maintain an active management committee including 23 Administration Immed I a range of representalives EU-2 Provide formal access pOints to the creek 22 On-ground works Medium WQ-1 Water quality monltonng program 16 Monltonng Immed I Ecol-10 Biological indicators monitor program 16 MOnltonng Immed Hent-1 Idenliflcalion and protection of cultural hentage 13 Invest and Review Immed Ecol-2 Regeneration Within Green Bluff Reserve 12 On-ground works Short I BS-1 Construct appropnate bank stabilisation measures 6 On-ground works Short BS-4 DIscuss With RT A increasing flood flow capacity 5 Administration Short under hlQhway I I I I I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 15 06 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-9 I Table 5-2 Short-listed Management Options I Strategies and Objective Matrix

Management Objectives I Strategies 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 WQ-1 ./ ./ I WQ-2 ./ ./ WQ-4 ./ ./ ./ ./ B8-1 ./ I BS-4 ./ Ecol-2 ./ I Ecol-3 ./ ./ ./ Ecol-6 ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ Ecol-8 ./ ./ I Ecol-9 ./ ./ ./ ./ Ecol-10 ./ ./ Ecol-11 ./ ./ ./ ./ I CD-1 ./ ./ ./ CD-2 ./ ./ ./ I CD-3 ./ ./ ./ CD-4 ./ ./ ./ ./ CD-5 ./ ./ I CD-6 ./ ./ ./ EU-2 ./ ./ EU-4 ./ ./ ./ I Hen!-1 ./ Hen! -2 ./ ./ ./ I EM-1 ./ EM-2 ./ ./ ./ I I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPDOCS'R N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&1)5 15 06 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA T/ON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPT/ONS / $TRA TEGIES 5-10 I Table 5-3 Implementation Order for Preferred Management Options I To be Implemented Immediately (within 6 - 12 months) Implementation Rank EM-2 Utilise community-based volunteers 1/24 I Ecol-9 Revegetation of areas around the foreshore 2/24 WQ-2 Undertake audits and Improve management of septic tanks and on-site sewage 3/24 I systems EM-1 Maintain an active management committee Including a range of representabves 4/24 I WQ-1 Water quality mOnltonng program 5/24 Ecol-10 Biological Indicators mOnitor program 6/24 I Hent-1 Identlficalion and protection of cultural hentage 7/24

To be Implemented In the short term (Within 3 years) I CD-1 Ensure new development IS fully sewered 8/24 CD-3 Modify planning Instruments - surface runoff and pollutant loads 9/24 I Ecol-3 Modify planning Instruments - protection of habitats and foreshores 10/24

CD-4 New development should conSider environmental sensrtlvlty of area 11/24 I

CD-6 Implementation of WSUD and best practise stormwater management 12/24

CD-2 Modify planning Instrument restnctlng foreshore development 13/24 I

CD-5 Future development proposals for Wildlife comdors 14/24

Hent-2 Information regarding traditional Abonglnal use 15/24 I

Ecol-2 Regeneration Within Green Bluff Reserve 16/24

BS-1 Construct appropnate bank stabilisation measures 17/24 I BS-4 DISCUSS With RTA Increasing flood flow capacity under highway 18/24 I To be Implemented In the medium term (Within 3 - 5 years) Ecol-6 Raise awareness about the condition of estuary 19/24 I EU-4 Ban active recreation In Moonee Creek 20/24 Ecol-8 ExtenSion of Moonee Beach Nature Reserve 21/24 I EU-2 PrOVide formal access points to the creek 22/24

To be Implemented In the long term ( within> 5 years) I

WQ-4 Educalion of rural landholders regarding Improved management practices 23/24

Ecol-11 Pnvate landholders to enter conservation a reements With DEC or CMA 24/24 I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 15 06 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TION OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-11 5.3 Descriptions of Preferred Management Strategies

I 5.3.1 Strategies to be implemented IMMEDIATELY (within 6 - I 12 months) 5.3.1.1 Strategy EM-2 (Rank 1/24)

I Utilise community-based volunteers to carry out labour intensive on-ground works, such as weed removal, revegetation and general foreshore clean-ups (I e working bees), which would also foster greater appreciation of the natural environment by I participants This could be formalised through a Landcare Program, a community group (e g "Friends of Moonee Creek") or Similar

I Addressmg ObJectives 6,7, and 13

The aim of this strategy IS to proVide a communtty base volunteer group that would help foster a I greater appreCiatIOn of the natural enVironment, by the reSidents of Moo nee Creek

Currently a committee 'workmg bee' carnes out work m Green Bluff reserve, however, this work IS I completely voluntary With no profeSSIOnal gUidance There IS a need for management of volunteers and formal mstructlons to ensure works are carned out appropnately and With appropnate financial I and resource support by CounCil There IS currently a communtty group called Stmgray Creek Bushcare which IS managed by Carolyn Woods, Coffs Harbour Landcare Support and Development I Officer (CHCC) The communtty group formed under thiS management strategy could either be created a separate group and would cover the entire Moonee Creek catchment, or could expand on the eXlstmg I Stmgray Creek Bushcare group

The group would be mvolved m a number of activIties mcludmg weed removal, revegetatIOn and I general foreshore clean-ups Other works wlthm the Estuary Management Plan that could be carned out by the group would mclude Strategies Ecol-9 and Ecol-2

I Responsibility ThiS work could be formalised through the Coffs Harbour's Landcare Support and Development Officer, Coffs Harbour City CounCil

I Relative Cost Involved Low I Expected Communtty Acceptance of Strategy High InteractIOns With other strategies Ecol-9, Ecol-2, and EM-I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPOOCS'R N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRATEGIES 5-12 I 5.3.1.2 Strategy Eco/-9 (Rank 2/24) I Revegetate foreshores and other degraded areas around the estuary that have been partly or totally cleared of natural vegetation Foreshore buffers should be revegetated to a minimum of 100 m back from the waterway I AddressIng ObJectives 1,2,3,5, and 7 I Rlpanan vegetatIOn has been removed from some foreshores of the lower Moonee Creek estuary as well as adjacent to the Escapades development and around SkInner and CunnInghams Creeks I Removal of npanan vegetatIOn has prompted foreshore erosIOn Rlpanan vegetatIOn proVides an Important lInk between terrestnal and aquatic environments and IS utlhsed by umque faunal assemblages, as It contaInS umque and diverse habitats I

Areas that reqUire foreshore revegetation are detailed In Figure 5-2 Rlpanan vegetation should be re-estabhshed to near natltral conditions, m order to maximise the ecological benefits and values of I the estltary

RevegetatIOn and mcreasmg bIOdiverSity IS a major objectIVe of the Catchment Management I Authonty (CMA) Therefore It IS hkely that fundmg would be available through the CMA for undertakmg these revegetatIOn works I Responslblhtv Coffs Harbour City CounCil and NRCMA

Relative Cost Involved High I Expected Commumtv Acceptance of Strategy High I InteractIOns With other strategies EM-2, Ecol-2, Ecol-3, CD-2, and CD-5 I I I I I I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 215105 15 06 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-13 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Figure 5-2 Proposed Locations for Foreshore Revegetation I

I H:W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCS'R.N0793.004.00.EMs&P.DOC 2/M)5 15:06 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-14 I 5.3.1.3 Strategy WQ-2 (Rank 3/24) I Undertake audits and Improve management of septic tanks and on-site sewage systems, with Inadequate systems upgraded or replaced, as necessary I AddreSSing Oblectlves 1,2,6, and 7

Up until 1999, the urban areas of Moonee Beach were serviced by individual on-site sewage I systems These sewage systems presumably represented a major source of bact ena, pathogens and nutrients to the lower reaches of Moonee Creek Septic tanks and on-site sewage systems are still used Within the catchment, pnmanly on the western Side of the highway Many of these on-site I sewage systems and septic tanks would be old and dysfunctIOnal

On-site sewage treatInent systems and septic tanks have the capacity to pollute groundwater and I surface water environments If they are mappropnately deSigned, constructed or maintained Therefore, It IS recommended that every on-site sewage treatInent system IS assessed / audited, I along With the surroundmg SOli conditIOns (eg penneablhty), to determIne the hkely potential of the system to pollute the environment I Systems that are found to be Inappropnate should be repaIred or replaced by landholders Alternatives may Include aerated holdmg tanks and regular pump-out, or surface disposal and evaporatIOn, or a combmatlOn of treatments Given the relatively close proximity of sites to the I Moonee Beach reticulated sewerage system, consideration could also be given to connecting some rural residentIal lots to the sewerage system I ApproXimate locatIOns of eXlstmg on-site sewage systems are shown In Figure 5-3 There are In the order to 400 indiVidual on-site sewage systems located Within the Moonee Creek catchment, most of which service the rural reSidentIal lots on the western Side of the PaCific Highway Based on I eXisting undeveloped lots In the catchment, there IS the potentIal for a further 200 on-site systems or more, which would pnmanly dram to Skinners Creek and the upper reaches of the estuary I Responslblhtv Coffs Harbour City CounCil

Relative Cost Involved MedIUm I Expected Commumtv Acceptance of Strategy High I InteractIOn With other strategies WQ-I, CD-I, and WQ-4 I I I I

H W0793 MOQNEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISATION OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-15 I I I I Orara State Forest I I I I I I I I °1""""""'~i!i!iiiiiiiiii1~~~~2 I kilometres * Potiential On-Site Sewage System I o Existing On-Site Sewage System ----, I L___ l Catchment Boundary I Figure 5-3 Location of Existing and Potential On-site Sewage Systems I

I H:W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,[)()CSIR.N0793.004.0iJ.EMS&P.DOC 2IMJ5 15:06 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISATION OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-16 I 5.3.1. 4 Strategy EM-J (Rank 4/24) I Maintain an active estuary management committee. with representation from all relevant stakeholders and government agencies, including community Interest groups and local Aboriginal representatives, to oversee Implementation of this plan and to I prOVide gUidance to Council on future planning decIsions regarding Moonee Creek

Addressmg Oblectlves 13 I The followmg stakeholders, Government Agencies and community groups are currently represented I on the Coast and Estuary Management AdvIsory Committee DIPNR, NSW MarJtIme Authonty, DEC (NPWS), DEC (EPA), Coffs Harbour RegIOnal Landcare, SLSC, Coastcare, MPA, representative from CHCC, and mdlvldual community members I

A number of key mterest groups are not represented on this COmmIttee mcludmg, Abongmal representatIves, the Moonee Beach Nature Reserve Trust, Moonee Beach Caravan Park, agricultural I users and the RTA Consequently there IS a need to recruit additIOnal people to the COmmIttee m order to ensure all relevant stakeholders are consulted on a regular baSIS It IS pOSSible that the representative from the RTA would only be reqUired dunng the plannmg and constructIOn works for I the PaCific Highway upgrades

The aim of thiS strategy would be to ensure that the plan IS Implemented effiCIently and to resolve I Issues that may anse and Impmge on the ImplementatIOn or progress of the plan The COmmIttee members would be committed to the Moonee Creek Estuary Management Plan, and would be held accountable m achlevmg the goals and strategies outlmed m the Plan I The COmmIttee would be responsible for dnvmg the ImplementatIOn of the document, and If the I strategies are not bemg Implemented the COmmIttee would be responsible to determme why, Similarly, If the goals are not bemg achieved despite ImplementatIOn of the strategIes, the COmmIttee would once agam be responsible m determmmg why I Responsibility Coffs Harbour City CounCil and DIPNR I Relative Cost Involved Low Expected Commumty Acceptance of Strategy High I InteractIOns With other strategies All strategies I I I I

H W0793 MOONEE GREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-17 I 5.3.1.5 Strategy WQ-l (Rank 5/24) Regular water quality mOnitoring program throughout the estuary and tributaries, and I at Moonee Beach, to determine environmental health and risks to human health Addressmg OblectIves 2 and 14

I The Moonee Creek Estuary Processes Study (WBM Oceallics Austraha, 2005) hlghhghted a dearth of water quahty data Consequently the aim of this strategy would be to mOllitor the water quahty wlthm Moonee Creek at penodlc and CrItical times throughout the year, m order to determme the I chemical condition of the estuary, and hence ItS acceptablhty from an ecological and human usage I perspective MOnItonng should be carned out at a range of temporal and spatial scales, and should mcorporate a range of water quahty constituents, reflectmg the full spectrum of phYSical, chemical, geocherrucal I and bIOlogical processes occurnng wlthm the estuary A detailed water quality momtorIng program should be developed after conSideration of aVailable fundmg, human resourcmg, laboratory constramts and physical/environmental hmltatlOns of the estuary A 12 month pilot program I should be Implemented mitially to determme the sUitablhty and robustness of the program, and to recommend modifications pnor to Implementation of the water quality mOnItorIng program proper

I It IS antiCipated that the water quality mOnItorIng program for Moonee Creek would cover at least 6 sites (lower, mid and upper Moonee Creek, Sugar Mill Creek, Cunnmghams Creek, and SkInners Creek, refer Figure 5-4) Oependmg on the outcomes of the pilot study, further mOnItorIng sites I may need to be conSidered for the program MOllitonng sites should also be estabhshed With the objective of assessment of future development wlthm the Moonee Release Area

I Water quality constituents to be mcluded m the mOllitormg program would be targeted towards the expected catchment mputs and mtemal processes occurnng wlthm the estuary As such, momtorIng I would mclude a range of nutrIent components (TN, NO" NH4, TKN, TP, FRP, SI, TOC), phYSical components (~O, sahnIty, temperature, pH, turbidity, TSS), bIOlogical components (algal counts and compOSitIOn, chlorophyll-a, COOM), and bactenal components (faecal cohforms, enterococcI, I faecal sterols, 815N Isotopes) Not all constituents would need to be assessed for every momtormg epIsode

I SpeCific mOnItonng episodes may also target multiple samplmg through the water depth, to proVide snap-shot mdlcatlOns of varIations m water quahty from the bed to the surface Whilst It IS expected that the downstream sites would be relatively well mixed, stratification of the upper reaches may be I pOSSible, which would be targeted by such mOnItonng

Any mOllitonng carned out prIor to development of the Moonee Release Area would serve as a I good baSIS for background comprIses once development starts to proceed I ResponSibility Coffs Harbour City CounCil Relative Cost Involved High

I Expected Commumty Acceptance of Strategy High I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21005 15 06 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND P RIORITISA TION OF P OSSIBLE MANAGEMENT O PTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-18 I Interaction with other strategies: WQ-2, Ecol-IO, CD-6, CD-I, CD-3, WQ-4, and Ecol-Il. I I I I I I I I I I I I I

600 I

----., I :____ JI Catchment Boundary

Water Quality Mon~oring * Location I S~e I

Figure 5-4 Water Quality Sampling Locations I

H:W0793 MooNEE CREEK EMPOOCS\R.N0793.004.()().EMS4P.DOC 2'MJ5 15:06 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITfSA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-19 I 5.3.1.6 Strategy Eco/-10 (Rank 6/24) MOnitor biological indicators to help assess environmental health of the estuary, including benthic fauna, mobile aquatic fauna (eg fish and prawns), aquatic vegetation I distribution and conditions, and seagrass depth limits I Addressmg ObJectives 2 and 5 In addition to water qualIty mOnItonng It IS Important to measure the condition of the actual I ecological commumtles Ecological commUnIties respond to change m the environment over longer timescale than water qualIty, and as such are more reflective of 'overall' changes and trends, rather I than short tenn fluctuatIOns due to event-based loads This strategy mvolves penodlc assessment of bIOlogical mdlcators mcludmg benthiC fauna, mobile aquatic fauna (eg fish and prawns), aquatic vegetatIOn dlstnbutlon and conditIOns and seagrass I depth hmlts It IS expected that different bIOlogical mdlcators could be mOnItored on different tlmescales and by different organIsations MOnItonng would mvolve repeat survey at mtervals m the order of every two to five years At least two surveys should be carned out pnor to I development with the Moonee Release Area I ResponsibilIty MPA and DEC (NPWS) would be responsible for fauna and flora assessments Relative Cost Involved High

I Expected Commumty Acceptance of Strategy High I InteractIOn with other strategies WQ-I, Ecol-6, CD-4, WQ-4, and Ecol-ll I I I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPiDOCSIR N0793 004 Of) EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-28 I 5.3.2.5 Strategy CD-6 (Rank 12/24) I Implementation of WSUD principles and best practice stormwater management approaches for all new development works I Addressmg Oblectlves 1,2 and 8

To ensure that future development wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment has no Impact on the I condition of the estuary, It Will be necessary that all future developments Implement a ngorous total water cycle management system, mcorporatmg the capture and reuse of stormwater The most effective way to ensure that 'best practice' stormwater management IS Implemented as part of all I future developments IS to mtroduce a formal plannmg mstrument

A formal plannmg mstrument has been set up for areas ImmedIately surroundmg Moonee Creek, I the Moonee DCP ThiS plan would need to be assessed to ensure that It effectively addresses the reqUIrements for WSUD and best practice stormwater management approaches For the remammg I Moonee Creek catchment, a separate Development Control Plan (DCP) would need to be developed that Imposes a snrular level of total water cycle management I Best practice would mclude ImplementatIOn of Water SensItive Urban Design and Integrated Water Cycle Management (mcludmg stormwater harvestmg and reuse), which are mmed at reducmg stormwater runoff from urban areas by adoptmg a range of options mcludmg ramwater tanks (With I reuse for garden and lawn watermg, tOIlet flush, laundry, hot water services, etc), mfiltratlon systems, grass swales (mstead of kerb and guttenng) and blO-retention basms I Council could also encourage the adoption of WSUD and other on-site stormwater controls for eXlstmg developments through a range of financIal mcentlves (mcludmg discounted ramwater tanks, rate reductIOns etc), or other market-based mcentlves Other urban centres, such as Bnsbane, have I proVided rebates to urban landholders who purchase and mstall ramwater tanks, m an effort to reduce volumetriC runoff and pollutant loads, which also corresponds to reduced demand on I eXlstmg potable water resources Responsibility Coffs Harbour City Counctl I Relative Cost Involved Low

Expected Community Acceptance of Strategy MedIUm I Interactions With other strategies WQ-I, CD-3, Ecol-3 and CD-4 I I I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/6/05 15 06 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-29 I 5.3.2.6 Strategy CD-2 (Rank 13/24) Modify planning Instruments to restrict the proximity of development to Moonee I Creek foreshores In order to maintain fully vegetated buffers between future development and the sensitive estuarine environments (minimum of 100 m), and to ensure that buffers are not used to help treat development runoff, or are cleared I for bushflre risk mitigation I Addressmg ObJectives 2,7 and 8 ThiS strategy mvolves amendmg the eXlstmg Moonee DCP m the first mstance and then the preparatIOn of a slITlllar new DCP for the areas further upstream The DCPs would define an area I sUIToundmg Moonee Creek that IS considered mappropnate for future urban development

The area would represent a buffer between the development and the estuary to ensure that the I development does not Impact on the estuary values and to achieve long term sustamabllity of the development and the environment Development affected by the plannmg mstrument would mclude all future reSldenl1al development (excludmg smgle dwellmg on rural holdmgs), as well as I tounst and commercial faCilities and mfrastructure

Figure 5-7 presents the suggested buffer area around the estuary ThiS buffer has been deterrnmed I based on the 4 m AHD contour, plus a nummum offset of 100 m from the estuary and all tnbutanes The 4 m AHD contour was chosen to reflect the area that IS mfluenced by estuanne processes, I mcludmg mfrequent floodmg, and IS generally charactensed by a change m vegetal10n commumtIes The 100 m offset was chosen to allow for a substanl1al habitat corndor and SUitable I ul1hsatlOn of the foreshore buffer by native Wildlife (see also Strategy CD-5) Responslblhty Coffs Harbour Cily CounCil I Relalive Cost Involved Low Expected Communllv Acceptance of Strategy MedIUm

I InteractIOns With other Strategies Ecol-9, Ecol-3, CD-5, and CD-4 I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMF"lX)CSIFI N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 15 06 I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRATEGIES 5-30 I I I I I I I I I I I I 0.5 kilometres I ----, L___ l Catchment Boundary ___ Recommended Estuary I Buffer I I I Figure 5-7 Buffer between Development and Moonee Creek (see also Figure 5-8) I

H:W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCS\R.N0793.004.00.EMS&P.DOC 2JM)5 15:06 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORtTlSA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-31

I 5.3.2.7 Strategy CD-5 (Rank 14/24)

Ensure there are sUitable provIsions within future development proposals for vegetated wildlife corridors to facilitate the movement of fauna across the I landscape, and not Just limited to the riparian buffer zones I Addressmg Oblectlves 5 and 7 The DEC (NPWS) has Identified a senes of slgmficant wildlife corndors througb the Moonee Creek I catchment Some of these corndors have been degraded througb past land cleanng activIties, while others encompass areas proposed for future development wlthm Moonee Release Area I Long term planrung of the urban environment m and around the Moonee Creek catchment should conSider the reqUirements for Wildlife 1ll1gratlon along formal vegetated corndors Under the provIsions of SEPP-71, formal Masterplans are reqUired to be sub1ll1tted when applymg for I rezomng and larger scale developments Council should ensure that sufficient provIsions for vegetated Wildlife corndors have been mcluded m future developments at the Imtlal Masterplan I stage Broad-scale urban planmng should be reqUired to conSider hnkmg the estuanne habitats with the I terrestnal habitats located wlthm the catchment and other nearby areas Figure 5-8 shows areas Wlthm the catchment that should be revegetated and dedicated for environmental purposes RevegetatIOn and dedicatIOn should be a reqUirement of any land I development process (I e through the Moonee DCP) For other pnvately owned lands, landholders should be encouraged to revegetate cntlcal Wildlife corndor areas that have been cleared preVIOusly I Incentives should be offered to landholders to carry out the revegetatIOn works, conditioned on estabhshmg formal conservation agreements with DEC or the CMA over the entire corndor areas, (see Strategy Ecol-ll) Fundmg for the revegetation works IS hkely to be aVailable through the I CMA based on achlevmg mcreased bIOdIVersity at regIOnal and sub-regIOnal levels

This strategy would also mvolve holdmg diSCUSSion with the RTA regardmg provISions of adequate I wIldhfe crossmgs, m the vlcmlty of the Wildlife corndors between the hills and the coast, as part of any proposed upgradmg of the Pacific Highway through the Moonee Creek catchment Wildlife crossmgs could be underpasses wlthm the raised embankments which allow for free and safe I passage of fauna from one Side of the highway to the other Similar Wildlife crossmg provlSlons have been mcorporated mto other sectIOns of Pacific Highway upgraded on the NSW North Coast

I Responsibility Coffs Harbour City Council and CMA I Relative Cost Involved High Expected Commumty Acceptance of Strategy High

I InteractIOn with other Strategies Ecol-9, Ecol-8, Ecol-3, CD-2, CD-4, WQ-4, and Ecol-ll I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPJX)CSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 1506 I I

DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TION OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-32 I I I I Priority 2 • I Orara State Forest I I I I I I I

1 2 I kilometres I

Revegetation required I Existing Vegetation C= __ J Catchment Boundary I I Figure 5-8 Revegetation Areas and Wildlife Corridors I I H:1N0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPOOCSIFI.ND793.004.00.EMS&P.DOC 2IMl5 15:06 I I

I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRATEGIES 5-33 I 5.3.2.8 Strategy Hent-2 (Rank 15/24) Provide information regarding significance and traditIOnal use of the Moonee Creek I Area AddressIng ObJectIves 12

I ThIS strategy IS dependent on the findIngs of the archaeologIcal and cultural assessment from Strategy Hent-l (SectIOn 532) A communIty educatIOn program would be set up targetIng the I resIdents and vIsItIng communIty, fOCUSIng on AborIgInal herItage EducatIon would Involve brochures, and slgnage, bush tucker talks and demonstratIOns of past AborIgInal practIces, etc I ResponslbllItv Coffs Harbour CIty CouncIl and Local AborIgInal Lands CouncIl RelatIve Cost Involved MedIUm

I Expected CommunIty Acceptance of Strategy MedIUm I InteractIOn wIth other strategIes HerIt-l, Ecol-6 and CD-4 I I I I I I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMP'U)OCSIFI N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/6105 15 06 I I

DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA T/ON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPT/ONS / STRA TEGIES 5-34 I 5.3.2.9 Strategy Eco/-2 (Rank 16/24) I Regeneration of habitats within Green Bluff Reserve, including eradication of weeds and exotic species I Addressmg ObJectives 6

Green Bluff Reserve IS a Crown reserve located on the southern foreshore at the entrance of I Moonee Creek Currently, Crown reserves ill the Coffs Harbour LGA are bemg renamed regIOnal parks, and will be Jomtly managed by Coffs Harbour City Council and DEC (National Parks and I Wildlife Services) It IS unsure whether Green Bluff Reserve would be mcluded m this plan Regardless, this strategy would still be Implemented, pnmanly through volunteer labour, to rehabilitate the area and thus to maximise the value of rocky shore and headland habitats I

The strategy would mvolve cleanng of weeds and exotic species (such as Lantana and Bltou Bush) and plantmg of appropnate endemiC species The rehablhtatlon works could be carned out by the I commumty group established under Strategy EM-2 (SectIOn 5 3 1 1)

Responslblhty ThiS work could be forrnaltsed through the Coffs Harbour's Landcare Support and I Development Officer

Relative Cost Involved MedIUm I Expected Commumty Acceptance of Strategy High I InteractIOns with other strategies EM-2 and Ecol-9 I I I I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,[)()CSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / $TRA TEGIES 5-35 I 5.3.2.10 Strategy 8S-1 (Rank 17/24) Construction of physical structures (adapting 'hard' or 'soft' engineering methods, as I appropriate) to stabilise the foreshore In areas that are actively eroding Addressmg Oblectlves 4

I ThIS strategy mvolves the constructIOn of physIcal structures to control bank erosIOn at a number of locatIOns around Moonee Creek, as shown m FIgure 5-9 A combmatlOn of 'soft' and 'hard' I engmeenng optIons would be consIdered to stop further erosIOn of the shorelme EnvIronmentally sensItIve methods for bank stabIlIsatIon would be mvestlgated to mmlmlse Impact I of works on the envIronment, and potentIally proVIde new habItats for aquatIc specIes A through mvestIgatlon of all bank erosIOn sItes wIthm the estuary would be reqUIred m order to I pnontlse works and establIsh SUItable desIgn concept PnontIsatlOn of sItes would be dependent on the value of the land behmd and the presence of assets that are III ImmedIate nsk from the erosIOn I (mcludmg assets of cultural or hentage sIgnIficance) ResponsIbIlIty Coffs Harbour CIty CouncIl I RelatIve Cost Involved HIgh Expected CommunIty Acceptance of Strategy HIgh

I InteractIons wIth other strategIes EM-2, Ecol-9 and Hent-l I I I I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMP.f)OCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-36 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Figure 5-9 Areas of Active Erosion I

H:W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPOOCS'R.N0793.004.00.EMS&P.OOC 2iMJ5 15.M I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-37 I 5.3.2.11 Strategy 8S-4 (Rank 18/24) DISCUSS with RT A opportunities for mcreasmg flood flow conveyance under the I Pacific Highway Addressmg ObJectives 4

I The Pacific Highway mtersects all major tnbutanes of Moonee Creek, mcludmg Skmners Creek and C11llllmghams Creek (two tnbutanes of Moonee Creek) The highway embankments and I culverts have caused a reduction m flow capacity wlthm the tnbutanes, which has had a flood detention effect on the downstream estuanne environment ThiS, m tum, may have contributed to the build up of sediment m the lower estuary A raised embankment IS present for approximately I 4 km of the 9 km stretch of the PaCific Highway that IS located wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment, With flows directed under the highway via 19 sets of culverts Figure 5-10 shows the locations of these culverts along With the road embankments and the major dramage lines that are affected by I the highway structures

Currently, the RTA IS planrung on upgradmg the highway m the Moonee Creek catchment to a dual I camageway, which may further Impact the Moonee Creek estuary This strategy would mvolve holdmg diSCUSSions With the RTA regardmg provIsion of greater flow conveyance under the PaCific Highway ThiS could be achieved by mcreasmg the size of the culverts and small bndges at the I mtersectlOllS wlthm the creeks or replacement With larger bndge spans DISCUSSions should also cover the provIsions of Wildlife access pathways, under the highway, as descnbed further by I Strategy CD-5 (see SectIOn 5 3 27) I Responsibility CoITs Harbour City CounCil Relative Cost Involved Low I Expected Commumty Acceptance of Strategy MedIUm I InteractIOn With other strategies ml I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 15 06 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT O PTIONS / 5 TRA TEGIES 5-38 I I I I

Orara State Forest I I I I I I I

2 I NORTH 1 2 I kilometres I ® Pacific Highway Culverts

--- Subcatchment Creeks

--- Road Embankments ----.., I L___ l Catchment Boundary I I Figure 5-10 Locations of Pacific Highway Culverts and Road Embankments I

H:W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPoDOCSIR.N0793.004.00. EMS&P.DOC 2fM)5 15:06 I r:::. f!!fIJl! I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA T/ON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPT/ONS / STRA TEGIES 5-39

5.3.3 Strategies to be implemented in the MEDIUM TERM I (within 3 - 5 years) I 5.3.3.1 Strategy Eco/-6 (Rank 19/24) Raise awareness about the condition of Moonee Creek, the Importance of SIMP and I the fragility of estuarine habitats through public education, targeting both tourists and permanent residents, including slgnage, brochures and on-site I discussion/displays, as appropriate Addressing ObJectIves 2,5,9, 10, 12 and 13

I This strategy mvolves community educatlOn targeting the current natural values and the uniqueness of Moonee Creek and the environmental senSItIVIty and fraglhty of the area The program would hlghhght the framework for management of Moonee Creek, speCifically the role of the Sohtary I Island Manne Park (I e "Its eqUIvalent of a NatlOnal Park, but for a waterway, and It has to be treated and respected the same as a NatIonal Park ")

I Community based educatIon could Involve educatlOnal brochures, slgnage, medIa coverage and partICipatory on-sIte workshops In additIon dIrect consultatIon could be camed out with reSIdents I wIthin Moonee Beach Village EducatIon programs could be set up dunng school hohdays for children and adults at the Moonee Beach Caravan Park, proVIding actIvlttes m whIch the community can learn about the dIVerse range I of species and habitats In the estuary and the Wider catchment I ThiS strategy would also mvolve a MPA representatIVe vlsltmg Moonee Creek dunng the hohdays The role of the representatIve would be to talk to the community, educate them about the system and the Importance of the estuary to the SIMP, and to show the Importance of the SIMP to the long I term management of the estuary as well as gIVIng guIded tours of the estuary hlghhghtlng the SignIficant and diverse habitats and communitIes The MPA representatIve could also VISIt other estuanes wIthin m Sohtary Island Manne Park, including Wooh Wooh RIver, Woolgoolga Lake, I Arrawarra Creek, Hearns Lake and Coffs Creek

Responslblhty It IS expected that DEC (NPWS) and MPA would be mvolved In runnmg educatlOn I programs DPI (AgrIculture) could be Involved In the consultatlOn and dlscusslOns wIth rural­ resIdentIal landholders Coffs Harbour City CounCIl would be responsible for proViding educatIonal I brochures slgnage, and medIa coverage RelatIve Cost Involved MedIUm

I Expected Commumty Acceptance of Strategy HIgh I InteractlOn with other strategJes WQ-l, Ecol-IO and WQ-4 I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,[)()CSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-40 I 5.3.3.2 Strategy EU-4 (Rank 19/24) I Ban or discourage active recreation In Moonee Creek including power boats and horses I Addressmg ObJectives 5, 9 and 10

Commumty and Government orgamsatlOn are concerned about mappropnate use of Moo nee Creek, I specifically m the lower estuary These uses, mc1udmg power boatmg and horse ndmg, have exacerbated bank erosIOn and have degraded habitat areas I The purpose of thiS strategy IS to ban or strongly discourage active recreation m the Moonee Creek estuary that has potential to cause degradation, such as power boatmg and horses DIscussIOn I would mltlally be held with the Manne Parks Authonty concernmg the posslblhty of Implementmg a restnctlon on power boats m Moonee Creek ThiS restnctlOn could be Implemented by amendmg the current hst of activIties penmtted m SIMP zones I

To discourage the use of power boats, slgnage would need to be erected at fonnal access locatIOns and along the foreshore of Moonee Beach Recreation Reserve In addition, the boat ramp at I Escapade would reqUIre removable or locked bamcades, while other foreshore areas typically used for boat launchmg access would be vegetated or blocked I To discourage horse nders from usmg the estuary, slgnage would be erected along the Moonee Beach RecreatIOn Reserve and at access pomts to the bushland north of Moonee Beach, mfonnmg the nders that It IS mappropnate to use the estuary foreshore and mtertldal shoals for horse ndmg I

The reSident and hohdaymg commumty should also be educated concernmg the Impact that active recreation has on the estuanne ecosystem and would be discouraged from carrymg out these I activIties

Responslblhty Coffs Harbour City Council and Manne Parks Authonty I Relative Cost Involved Low I Expected Commumty Acceptance of Strategy Low to MedIUm

InteractIOns With other strategies Ecol-8, EU-2, Ecol-6 and CD-2 I I I I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-41 I 5.3.3.3 Strategy Eco/-8 (Rank 20/24) Extension of Moonee Beach Nature Reserve to western Side of creek and other I Important habitat areas Addressmg ObJectives 10 and 11

I Moonee Beach Nature Reserve IS located on the eastern foreshore of Moonee Creek The Nature Reserve IS managed by Department of EnVIronment and ConservatIOn (DEC, formerly the NPWS) I and was gazetted under the NatIOnal Parks and WildlIfe Act 1974 The area IS zoned as 'NatIOnal Parks and Reserves - 8' accordmg to the Coffs Harbour LEP (2000) ThIS zone allows development for the purpose of any land use authonzed by, or under, the National Parks and I WildlIfe Act 1974 No development IS allowed WIthout consent There IS also consIderable other land around Moonee Creek that has slgmficant habitat value Such I areas are located ImmedIately north of Moonee Beach Village, on the northern SIde of Moonee Creek (north of Skmners Creek), Green Bluff, and the wetlands areas to the south of Moonee Beach VIllage (refer to Figure 5-11) These areas should be considered for rezonmg to NatIOnal Parks and I Reserves - Zone 8, and dedIcated to the care and control of DEC (NPWS) for mciusion m the Moonee Beach Nature Reserve

I ResponSIbIlIty Coffs Harbour CIty Council I Relative Cost Involved Low Expected Commumty Acceptance of Strategy MedIUm

I InteractIOns with other strategies Ecol-9, EU-4, EU-2, Hent-l, Ecol-2, Ecol-6, CD-5, CD-4 and Ecol-ll I I I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216/05 15 06 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRATEGIES 5-42 I I I I

Orara State Forest I I I I I I I I

1 2 I kilometres I Moonee Beach Nature .. Reserve [[[Ill Possible Extension of Moonee I Beach Nature Reserve ----, L___ J Catchment Boundary I I Figure 5-11 Extension of Moonee Beach Nature Reserve I

H:W0793 MooNEE CREEK EMPDOCSlRN0793.004.00.EMS&P.DOC 21&05 15:06 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TION OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / $TRA TEGIES 5-43 I 5.3.3.4 Strategy EU-2 (Rank 22/24) Provide a limited number of formal access pOints along the creek to discourage I Informal access (and associated foreshore degradation) Addressmg ObJectives 10 and II

I There IS lImIted formal access along the Moonee Creek foreshores Only one formal boat ramp IS located m Moonee Creek at the Escapades development sIte near Cunnmghams Creek confluence, some 2 km from the entrance Pedestnan access IS gamed to the lower estl!ary through the Moonee I Beach RecreatIOn Reserve, however, most access IS mformal A small unsealed ramp proVIdes I 4WD access to the waters edge, and IS used for launchmg small powered and non-powered vessels ThIs strategy mvolves determmmg the most appropnate locatIOns for addItIonal access, If consIdered necessary, the type of access, and the matenals that would be used to provIde the access I The use of 'soft' materIals would be preferable, as well as matenals that are not mvaslve to the scemc value of Moonee Creek

I New boat ramps would not be bUIlt m the lower part of Moo nee Creek, m order to dIscourage power boatmg (refer Strategy EU-4, SectIOn 5 3 I 5) However, launchmg areas would be proVIded m order to proVIde access for passIve water users (canoes and kayaks) Pedestnan access pomts would I be formalIsed around Moonee Beach RecreatIOn Reserve Foreshore areas where access IS not deSIred would be actively revegetated

I ResponsIbIlIty Coffs Harbour CIty CouncIl I Relative Cost Involved MedIUm Expected Commumty Acceptance Strategy HIgh

I InteractIOns wIth other strategIeS Ecol-9 and CD-4 I I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,[)QCS'R N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 15 06 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-44 I 5.3.4 Strategies to be implemented in the LONG TERM (within I >5 years)

5.3.4.1 Strategy WQ-4 (Rank: 23/23) I Education of rural land holders and Improvement of agricultural land management I practices, as necessary, throughout the catchment, including restoration and revegetation of upper catchment slopes, along creeks and natural drainage lines, and Within key wildlife corridors I

AddressIng Oblectlves 1,2,6 and 7 Poor land management practices WithIn the upper catchment of Moonee Creek are likely to have I had a Significant Impact on Moonee Creek Land clearing has possibly Increased sediment nmoff and limited wildlife passage, fertiliser and pesticide use has likely contamInated estuarine sediments and waters, and construction of farm dams (and subsequent utilisatIOn of natural runoff flows) has I pOSSibly altered the hydrological regime of the estuary, thus modifyIng sediment, water quality and ecological processes Figure 5-12 shows the locatIOns of the 70+ private farms darns WithIn the Moonee Creek catchment Most of these dams are small With a typical volume of about 2 ML, I however, two darns are particularly large, With volumes In the order of200 ML and 500 ML each

This strategy Involves educatIOn of upstream rural landholders regardIng the Impacts of their I activities on Moonee Creek's receivIng water environment Education would Include the need to restore and revegetate the upper catchment slopes and along the creeks and natural dramage lines to I mInimiSe sediment runoff, and revegetatIOn of corndor areas to faCIlitate Wildlife movement through the landscape Figure 5-13 shows the locatIOn of degraded waterways WithIn Moonee Creek catchment, which could be rehabilitated through land holder and CMA mltlatlves, while areas I for Wildlife corndors revegetatIOn was shown previously In Figure 5-8

The method of delivery would be personal and customed to SUIt each mdlVldual EducatIOn should I be faCilitated through the CMA and DPI (Agnculture), as well as Council As part of the educational process, a system for on-goIng consultatIOn With the landholders should be established, IncludIng SIngle POInt contact With an appropriate representative I ResponslbllItv CMA and Coffs Harbour City Council I Relative Cost Involved MedIUm

Expected Commumtv Acceptance of Strategy MedIUm I InteractIOn With other Strategies WQ-2, Ecol-6 and Ecol-ll I I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-45 I I I

I Orara State Forest I I I I I I I

I o 1 2 I kilometres • Farm Dams ----, I I____ II Catchment Boundary I I Figure 5-12 Locations of Farms Dams I

I H:W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPoDOCSVUI0793.00'I.OO.EMS&P.DOC 2AW5 IS.tJ6 I I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-46 I ~"-, / -- / " -- """\ ,-/~ \ , I ,---' \ \ 1----, , I , I, ' ' I , " , , '" " ---, ,\ , \ I I \ , l : Orara State Forest \ I , I I \ ,-,1 \ / , r-' ""-....\ ) I I ( , } EMERALD I , t BEAOH ) \ I -~ , " ,,"--"\0.;:' ( / , / , / , / I I / " I / ,, ,,/ I I / \ I \ /' \ I 1 \ 1 \ ~ ~ Moonee,Beach I \\ _ ~ \ Naturj /{eserve ~\ CUnningham~_Creek / I

"--, I I I I , __ J Moonee Greek I 1 I , I 2 .' MOONEEBEACH / \ I NORTH , I , " 0 1 2 I / -, ~~~-~~~~~ ,I I ,~( kilometres , I I " , I / , I --- Sub catchment Creeks I I ___ Foreshore Revegetation ~ , I / Locations ~ I ----, I I I L___ l Catchment Boundaries , I , I / /) l M!,9-:SAPP~IRE I , ~L,-"- -_ BEACH. ,..... ,- ~ ----_ .. --'--~ I Figure 5-13 Rehabilitation along Degraded Waterways I

H:W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPOOCS1R.N0793.004.00.EMS&P.DOC 216105 15:06 I I I

I DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA T/ON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPT/ONS / $TRA TEGIES 5-47 I 5.3.4.2 Strategy Eco/-ll (Rank 24/24) Encourage private landholders within the catchment, and particularly around the I estuary, to enter Into conservation agreements with DEC (NPW5) or the CMA, and receive incentive and rebates, as appropriate I Addressing ObJectives 1,2 and 8 For of this strategy, diSCUSSIOns would be held with pnvate landholders around the estuary, or I within the Wider catchment, to encourage them to enter Into conservatIOn agreement with DEC (NPWS) or the CMA for all or part of their pnvate freehold titles Agreements would be based on pnvate landholders managmg this land for conservatIOn purposes, Inciudmg I • RehabilitatIOn and revegetatIOn of degraded sensItive areas and cntlcal habitat areas,

• Preventing stock access near waterway cntlcal habitat areas, I • RevegetatIOn and mamtenance of npanan zone, and I • Weed and pest management Pnvate landholders would be eligible to receive financial mcentlves and / or rebates once they enter I Into agreement with DEC (NPWS) or the CMA ResponSibility Coffs Harbour City Council, DEC (NPWS) and the CMA

I Relative Cost Involved Low I Expected Commumty Acceptance of Strategy Low InteractIOns with other Strategies Ecol-6 and WQ-4 I I I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPoiJOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I

DEVELOPMENT, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITISA TlON OF POSSIBLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS / STRA TEGIES 5-48 I 5.3.5 Possibility for combining planning strategies I 5.3.5.1 New Moonee Creek catchment DCP I As a number of strategies for the Moonee Creek Estuary Management Plan recommended a number of new planrung controls for vanous elements of future development wlthm Moonee Creek catchment, It may be more practical to prepare one new plannmg mstrument that mcorporates all of I the reqUirements ofmdlvldual controls as recommended by the mdlVldual strategies Specifically, It may be pOSSible to mcorporate Strategies CD-6, CD-I, CD-3 and CD-2 mto a smgle plannmg document This way, some of the recommendatIOns of the Estuary Management Plan, which IS I essentially an advIsory document, can become mtegrated mto the formal plannmg framework of Council, through a DCP or even a LEP format I 5.3.5.2 ReVIew of Moonee DCP 2004

A number of strategies for the Estuary Management Plan have also recommended review and I amendments to the eXlstmg Moonee DCP, which was adapted by Council m 2004 Consequently, It maybe pOSSible to mcorporate Strategies CD-6, CD-3, Ecol-2, CD-2 and CD-4 mto a smgle reVlSlon I and up-date of the Moonee DCP I I I I I I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,f)()CSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&1)5 15 06 I I I MOONEE CREEK ESTUARY MANAGEMENT PLAN 6-1 I 6 MOONEE CREEK ESTUARY MANAGEMENT PLAN To be completed following review of Estuary Management Study by the Council, DIPNR and the I CEMAR I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMP![JOCS'R N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I REFERENCES 7-1 I 7 REFERENCES I CHCC (2003), Solitary Islands Marine Park, Submission Analysis - Zoning Plan, Consultation, Coffs Harbour City Council. I CHCC (2000) State ofthe Environment Report, Coffs Harbour City Council. I Department of Environment and Conservation (2005) Department of Environment and Heritage, Solitary Island Marine Reserve (Commonwealth Waters), Online 22 March, 2005 http://www.deh.gov.au/coastsimpaisolitarv/ I

Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (2004) 'New South Wales State and Regional Population Projections 2001 - 2051 (2004 release)' Department ofInfrastructure, Planning I and Natural Resources, Transport and Population Data Centre, NSW Government, Sydney, ISBN 0 7313 2828 0, Report 2004/0 I May 2004, 78pp. I Environment Australia (2001) Solitary Islands Marine Reserve (Commonwealth Waters), Department of Environment and Conservation, Environment Australia. I Gaudry B. (2003) Keynate address 12th Annual NSW Coastal Conference, Port Macquarie 4 - 7 November 2003, Hon. Bryce Gaudry, State Member for Newcastle. I NSW Government (1992) Estuary Management Manual.

UNCCMB (2003) Catchment Blueprint, Integrated Catchment Management Plan for the Upper I North Coast Catchment 2002, Upper North Coast Catchment Management Board, Published by NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation. I Sustainable Futures Planning and Design (1002) Moonee Beach Recreation Reserve Management Plan, The Management Strategy, Prepared for The Moonee Beach Trust and The Department of Conservation and Land Management. I

WBM Oceanics Australia (2005) Moonee Creek Estuary Processes Study, Final Report, Prepared for Coffs Harbour City Council and Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, I February 2005. I I I I I

H:W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMP-DOC5'R.N0793004.00.EMS&P.DOC 2A>Il5 15:06 I I I

I LEGISLA T/ON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-J I APPENDIX A: LEGISLATION AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMP.DOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I

LEGISLA T/ON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-2 I ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT ACT 1979 I (EP&A ACT) AND ASSOCIATED PLANS

One of the key pIeces of NSW legIslatIon IS the EnvIronmental PlannIng and Assessment Act 1979 I ThIs Act provIdes a system of envIronmental plannIng and assessment for NSW, and Involves developIng plans to regulate competIng land uses, through 'envIronmental plannIng Instruments' I The Act establIshes three types of envIronment plannIng Instruments (EPI) • Local EnvIronmental Plans, I • RegIOnal EnvIronmental Plans, and • State EnvIronmental PlannIng PolICIeS I

The objectIves of the EP&A Act are as follows

• Appropnate management, development and conservatIOn of narural and artIficIal resources so as I to promote the socIal and economIc welfare of the communIty and a better envIronment

• FaCIlItatIOn of the orderly and econOIlllC use and development ofland I • Ensure appropnate provIsIon and management of commUnIcatIon and utIlIty servIces

• ProVIde land for publIc purposes I

• ProVIde for and coordInate communIty servIces and faCIlItIes

• Encourage the protectIon of the envIronment and faCIlItate ecologIcally sustaInable development I

• Enable the provIsIOn and maIntenance of affordable hOUSIng

• Share the responsIbIlIty for envIronmental plannIng and management between the State and local I government • FaCIlItate Increased OppOrtunIty for publIc Involvement and partIcIpatIOn I Local Environmental Plans I Local EnvIronment Plans (LEP) are developed by local councIls LEPs dlVlde the area they cover Into zones and each zone has a lIst of objectIve and the types of development that are penmsslble WIth consent, perrmsslble without consent and prohIbIted from the zone I

Only one LEP IS applIcable to the Moonee Creek esruary and catchment, thIS beIng the Coffs Harbour LEP2000 I

The Coffs Harbour LEP 2000 establIshes a polIcy framework for land use decIsIons throughout the Coffs Harbour LGA It proVIdes the communIty WIth rules on how land can and cannot be used The I ImplIcatIOns of the LEP Include phYSIcal structures, SOCIal, economIC, and envIronmental factors

The Moonee Creek Estuary Management Plan needs to be consIstent WIth, and fit Into, the eXlstmg I Coffs Harbour CIty CouncIl plannIng framework, whIch IS bUIlt around the LEP

The objectIve of the Coffs Harbour LEP IS to I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I I LEGISLA T/ON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-3 • To provIde a poltcy framework for the preparatIon of more detaIled Development Control I Plans (DCPs), • To IdentIfy areas for compatIble development Opportullltles, I • To protect envIronmentally sensItIve areas and herItage, and • To allow for eqUItable provIsIon of socIal servIces and faCIlItIes for the commulllty

I The Moonee Creek study area mamly consIst of State Forest (Rural IF), agrIcultural (Rural IA), and NatIonal Parks and Reserve zonmgs, refer to FIgure A-I The townshIp of Moonee Beach, whIch comprIses a small sectIOn of the study area, IS zoned ofReSldentIal2A - Low DenSIty The objectIve I of thIs zonmg IS to enable housmg development and other development that IS compatIble wIth low denSIty resIdentIal envIronment, and IS wlthm the envIronmental capacIty of such an envIronment I The land use zonmgs for the Moonee Creek study are shown m Moonee Beach Nature Reserve IS zoned as NatIOnal Parks and Reserve (8) Zone whIch only allows I development for the purpose of any land use authOrIzed by or under the NatIOnal Parks and WIldlIfe Act 1974 I Some sectIOns of the Moonee Creek estuary are protected by the EnVIronmental ProtectIOn 7B Scelllc Buffer Zone and Open Space PublIc RecreatIon Zone I Regional Environmental Plans RegIonal EnVIronmental Plans (REP) are plans drafted by the Department of Infrastructure, Plannmg I and Natural Resources (DIPNR) and apply to a specIfic regIOn REP address matters of regIonal slgntficance Only one REP IS applIcable to the Moonee Creek estuary and catchment, thIs bemg the I North Coast REP 1988 The North Coast REP 1988 detaIls regIOnal polICIes, to control and guIde the preparatIOn of LEPs, and IS to be consIdered when development control deCISIOns are made The plan applIes to the Local I Government Areas of Ballina, BellIngen, Byron, Casmo, Coffs Harbour, Copmanhurst, Grafton, Hastmgs, Kempsey, Kyogle, LIsmore, Maclean, Nambucca, Nymbolda, RIchmond RIver, Tweed and I Ulmarra The alms of the REP are

I • To protect the natural envIronment now and m the future, whIlst encouragmg an effiCIent and attractIve bUIlt enVIronment,

I • To proVIde the coordmatton of actIvItIes that WIll help m the growth of the regIOn and encourage economIc and SOCIal benefits for the local commumty and vISItors, and

I • To act as a framework to IdentIfy the need for further mvestIgatIons I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,[)()CSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 215105 15 06 I I

LEGISLA T/ON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-4 I I I I I

ACH I I I I Special Uses SA - Corrmtrity Ploposes Zone RlI'al 1 F - State Forest Zone RlI'al 1B - LIvIng Zone RlI'al 1A - AgricUtlxal zone Residerlial2E - TOlI'ist Zone I Residential 28 - Medum Density Zone Reslderlial 2A - Low Density Zone Open Space 6C - Private Recreation Zone Open Space SA - PubIc Recreation Zone National Pari

I • land wlthm 100 metres above mean high water mark of the sea, a bay or an estuary, I • land listed In Schedule 3 to the policy (no land IS currently listed), • coastal lakes, Ramsar wetlands and World Hentage areas, I • manne parks and aquatic reserves under the Flsherzes Management Act, I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 15 06 I I

LEGISLA TlON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-6 I • land wlthm 100 metres of any of the above,

• land reserved under the NatIOnal Parks and WIldlife Act, I • SEPP 14 coastal wetlands, and I • residential land wlthm 100 metres of SEPP 26 httoral ramforests

Master plans are requITed to be approves by the Mmlster before some consent can be granted I Generally a master plan IS a document conslstmg of wntten mformatlon, maps and diagrams that outhne proposals for development ofland I SEPP 26 - Littoral Rainforests

This pohcy protects and preserved natural httoral ramforests that are well sUited to harsh salt-laden I and drymg coastal wmds The pohcy was devised to provide a mechamsm for the conSideratIOn of apphcatlOn for development that could pOSSibly damage or destroy httoral ramforest areas I There IS no SEPP26 httoral ramforest wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment Nearby ramforests are located to the south of Mid Sapphire Beach, and to the north of Emerald Beach I SEPP 35 - Maintenance Dredging of Tidal WatelWays

The pohcy was developed m order to enable dredgmg of tidal waterways to be carned out by pubhc I authontles m a timely, cost effective and environmental responsible manner whilst consldenng the changmg conditIOns of the waterway Consequently, under this pohcy mamtenance dredgmg IS allowed to be carned out without development consent, however, the environmental Impacts of I mamtenance dredgmg of tidal waterway need to be Identified and appropnately assessed, and all agencies and stakeholders are to be consulted I SEPP 35 has hlstoncally been used as a mechamsm for Councils to carry out dredgmg works of tidal entrances m order to Improve tidal flushmg and to restore or Improve navigatIOn Moonee Creek has I not been dredged m the past, however, given the contemporary sedimentatIOn of the entrance close, many locals conSider dredgmg IS now necessary I SEPP 14 - Coastal Wetlands SEPP-14 has been deSigned to protect and preserve coastal wetlands for the environmental and I economic mterests of the State The pohcy provides protectIOn to speCific wetland areas that have been mapped and gazetted by DIPNR Development that mvolves the followmg activIties IS not allowed to be carned out unless consent (designated development) IS provided by local councilor the I Director General of DIPNR cleanng of land, constructIOn of levees, drammg of land, and fillmg of land If this development IS to be carned out, an EnVironmental Impact Statement first needs to be prepared I

The Director General of DIPNR must conSider a number of matters pnor to agreemg to the proposed I development mcludmg • The environmental effect of the proposed development, I • Whether adequate safeguard and rehablhtatlOn methods are proposed, I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/6/05 15 06 I 1 I LEG/SLA T/ON AND P LANNING FRAMEWORK A-7 • Whether the development is consistent with the aims of the policy; and I • Whether any feasible alternatives have been considered and if so, the reason for choosing the proposed development.

I There is one SEPP-14 wetland in the Moonee Creek catchment, located on Sugar Mill Creek, south of Green Bluff headland (refer Figure A-2). I I I I I I I I I SEPP-14 I Wetland I I Figure A-2 Moonee Creek: SEPP-14 Wetland Development Control Plans

I DCPs are normally prepared to guide specific types of development, or developments in specific areas within a Local Government Area (LGA). Generally, DCPs have been prepared to conserve I particular values and attributes of the LGA and its natural environment. I I H:W0 793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCS\R.N0793.004,()(),EMS&P,DOC 2JMJ5 15,t)6 ('0. flLljI.!!! I I LEGISLA T/ON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-8 I Moonee Development Control Plan, 2004 I The Moonee Development Control Plan came mto force on 22 September 2004 The DCP contams the general controls applymg to future subdIVISIons wlthm the Moonee Release Area (refer FIgure A- 3) The DCP detaIls the objectIves of the plan, the overall strategy for the area and the specIfic I controls for development wlthm the release area

The objectIve of the planrung strategy IS to provIde an overall plan for the area and encourage quahty I development whIlst bemg sympathetIc to the natural envIronment The plannmg strategy detaIls specIfic strategIes relatmg to economIc sustamablhty, SOCIal sustamablhty and envIronmental I sustamablhty, refer to FIgure A-4 The DCP detaIls strategIes that would provIde protectIOn to the Moonee Creek estuary and the I surroundmg habItat ThIS mcludes provldmg a buffer area around Moonee Creek and ItS trIbutanes to protect the water quahty, to protect npanan vegetatIon and provIde habItat hnkages I In order to protect the water quahty of the creek, development would also be reqUIred to provIde • SedIment and ErosIOn Control Management Plans, I • Water quahty modelhng of subdIVISIon m order to compare the results WIth the CouncIl's Urban Stormwater Management Plan, and

• Water SensItIve Urban DesIgn (WSUD) IS accordance WIth the CouncIl's adopted polIcy, I

The DCP detaIls that a bushfire asset protectIon zones would be provIded, whIch shall not mvolve the I clearmg of natIve vegetatIOn wlthm conversatIon areas A landscape buffer IS to be provIded between the hIghway and resIdentIal areas, desIgned to mcorporate essentIal servIce comdors, and assocIated areas I The DCP provIdes protectIOn to the estuary ecosystem through a number of strategIes Urban development IS to be excluded wlthm 50 m of SEPP-14 Coastal Wetlands and 100 m from an osprey I nest, however, access roads may encroach wlthm 100 m, but no closer than 70 m ProtectIOn IS to be provIded to all known Wallum Froglet habItats In addItIon, pnor to development, all potentIal areas would be mvestIgated to accurately map actual habItat Wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment, all I areas that have been IdentIfied as hIgh and very hIgh value vegetatIOn from the CouncIl's VegetatIOn Strategy, and areas that are wlthm 100 m of the Sohtary Island Manne Park would be protected, as well as lands that have been IdentIfied as regIOnally sIgnIficant I

The plannmg controls mcluded m the DCP, whIch are of relevant to the Moonee Creek Estuary Management plan, mclude I

• Control of the denSIty ofhousmg allowed m each precmct,

• Controls m respect to Impact on water quahty of Moonee Creek, I • ComplIance of development WIth the CouncIl's Flood Prone Land Pohcy, I • Control m order to protect natural and habItat area, and • ReqUIrement of archaeologIcal reports, pnor to development I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,[)()CSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21MJ5 15 06 I r=:. fill!.!!! I I I LEGISLA TION AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-9 I I I I I N Il...... fL...JI o 500 I Metres I I I I I

I Sapphire I Figure A-3 Moonee Release Area (CHCC, 2004) I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPoDOCSlR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I r- ~ :::j l: ~ ~ h ~ 13 § ~ ill Environmental SustalnabUity ~ Identified buffer areas for water quality protectfon !);! shown on the Masterplan are to be dedIcated as I Ie development occurs Penmeter roads shall be provided that separate ~ urban development from protected areas ~ Economic Sustalnabillty ~ The provision for bushflre asset protection zones A minimum dwelling YIeld of 1,686, an additional ~ ::!! shall not Involve the deartng of nattvc vcgctatlon ~ is (,Q 4,558 people wlthm conservation areas s:: water ls to be supplied by extendIng the exIStIng ~ ~ water main network Development Is to demonstrate achievement of iil water quality targets speafled In Coundl's Urban ~ Sewerage rebculatfon and pump stations are to be StDrmwater Management Plan :;;: constructed by developers, and connected to the N t Moonee Water RedamatJon Plant AcoustIC destgn wsll ensure highway traffIC nmse does not exceed acceptai>Je levels within dwellings Retail and commercial devetopment IS to prOVIde A ~ s: dtStnct business 5eMCeS A landscaped buffer IS to be provJded between the rLJLSl hrghway and I'eSIderltlai areas, destgned to o Developers are to fOfWard fund any works required o 500 g o ahead of Councd's seMOng plans Incorporate e.sentlal 5efVk;e corridors, and ::I Metres assodated access (1) ~ (1) SocIal SUstalnablllty '" OJ A new multi purpose haUls to be provided In (1) stages to reflect development progress '"g III School faa!ilJes and fire statIon are to be prcMded n In timely manner by State Government :::T PedeMrian paths and cydeways are to be "tI constructed by the developer iii A pedestrian and COfdewiYf bridge IS to be ::I constructed over the Paclflc Highway connecting 2. residential areas to the school and sports faclhtles, ::I through developer contributions (,Q The collector road system wtll be provfdecl through Key developer contributions payIng for Widening of ~ local roads @ Roundabout The northern collector road will be funded through o Traffic Calming ~ a local contribution applying to the properbes It (1) ... Boat Carry In FacIlity (,Q serves '< Bus shetter'S to be provided so that all residential areas are no further than 400m from the nearest * DIstrict Park shelter * Playground Playing fiek:ls are to be provided In Hoys Road ---- Coastal Walk adjacent to the proposed school _. Cycleway - DIstrict ~ ChIldren's playgrounds are to be provided so that ..... Shareway all re5ldenbal areas are no further than SOOm From ~ Pfotected Land the nearest facility _ Land to be Purchased A neighbourhood park to be provided adjacent to c=:l Land to be DedIcated the shoppIng precinct ~I ~ .:... U! ~ ------I I LEGISLA TlON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-JJ Residential Tourist Lands Development Control Plan

I This Development Control Plan (DCP) applies to land that IS zoned 2E Residential Tounst under the Coffs Harbour City Local EnVironment Plan 2000 The plan relates to development for tounst I accommodation and residential development The objective of this DCP IS to encourage tounst development, and ensure that the scale and mtenslty I of the residential and tounst development IS appropnate to the environmental charactenstlcs of the land and locality In additIOn It promotes ecologically sustamable development I Any touflsm development that IS located wlthm the 2£ ReSidential Tounst zone IS to retam the natural dunes and bushlands, and naturally vegetated rock headlands, when viewed from the beach or from near the water near the foreshore In addition development needs to mmlmlse potential conflict I between tounsts and the reSident populatIOn Wlthm the Moonee Creek catchment, an area and Moonee Beach, adjacent to Moonee Creek IS zoned I 2E ReSidential Touflst Specltic controls for this area are outlined m the Moonee Creek DCP (refer to the prevIous sectIOn)

I OTHER IMPORTANT NSW PARLIAMENTARY ACTS I The River and Foreshores Improvement Act, 1948 The Rivers and Foreshores Act allows for the removal or Improvement of the fiver or foreshore areas I and to prevent erosIOn caused by tidal and non tidal water The Act mcludes • the removal of vegetatIOn, sand, gravel or rocks from the bed or bank ofnver, lake or I lagoon, • the changmg of the course of the fiver, lake or lagoon, I • the prevention of erosIOn and siltatIOn, and • the deepemng, wldenmg or Improvmg of the course of a fiver I Under Part 3A of the Act, the above activIties reqUire a penmt from DIPNR If they are to be carned out wlthm 40 m of a natural watercourse I Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995

The protection of species and ecological commumtles m New South Wales are adIllillistered by the I Threatened Species ConservatIOn Act 1995, the NatIOnal Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 and the Flshenes Management Act 1994

I The Threatened Species Act IS responSible for the protectIOn of certam speCies, populatIOns and ecological commullities when they are a particular level of endangerment These species are known as 'threatened speCies, populations and ecological commumtles' and mclude, endangered, Cfltlcally I endangered, and vulnerable speCies, endangered populatIOn, endangered ecological commullities and I vulnerable ecological commumtles I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 15 06 I I LEG/SLA TlON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-12 I The Threatened Species Conservation Act has establtshed a comrmttee that IS responsible for determmmg species, populatIOn, ecological commumty or threatened process that should be mcluded m Schedules 1,2 or 3 Consequently, species, populatIOns or ecological commumtles can be ltsted by I the cormmttee or upon request by the Mmlster

National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 I The National Parks and Wlldltfe Act 1974 was responsible for the establtshment of the NSW I NatIOnal Parks and W tldltfe Services (NPWS) which IS now part of the Department of Environment and ConservatIOn I The NPWS IS responsible for the admmlstratlOn of natIOnal parks and other lands under the National Parks and Wlldltfe Act and the Wilderness Act The NPWS are also responsible for the threatened species under the Threatened Species ConservatIOn Act 1995 I

The objectives of the NatIOnal Parks and Wlldltfe Act 1974 are the

• Conservation of habitats and ecosystems, bIOlogical diversity m the commumty, I landforms of slgmficance, and landscapes and nattrral feattrres of slgmficance, and • ConservatIOn of the objects, places or feattrres of culttrral values wlthm the landscape, I which would mclude Abongmal and European hentage and places ofhlstonc, archltecttrral or sCientific slgmficances I The objectives of this Act would be achieved by applymg the pnnclples of ecologically sustamable development (ESD) I Under the National Parks and Wlldltfe Act, a management plan needs to be prepared for each natIOnal park The plan needs to address the followmg Issues I • The conservatIOn ofwlldhfe and ItS habitat,

• The preservatIOn of the natIOnal park and ItS special feattrres, mcludmg hlstonc structtrres, objects, rehcs or Abongmal places, I

• The encouragement and regulation of the appropnated use, understandmg and enjoyment of the national parks, and I

• The preservation of the national park as a water catchment area, and protectIOn agamst uncontrolled fires and SOli erosIOn I

Wlthm a natronal park, the Mmlster IS allowed to grant leases to proVide accommodatIOn and faclhtles and hcences to carry out trade or busmess actiVities, however, leases and hcences cannot be I granted over land that IS wlthm a declared Wilderness area

It IS an offenc~ to prospect or mme for mmeral m a national park, unless the mmmg activity IS I authonsed by an Act ofParhament Fisheries Management Act 1994 I

The Flshenes Management Act 1994 IS one of the most Important state laws m relatIOn to protected species The Flshenes Management Act IS responsible for the protectIOn of freshwater and saltwater I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2//iI05 1506 I I I I LEGISLA TlON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A -13 fish and mvertebrates and saltwater plants The Department of Pnmary Industnes (DPI) IS I responsIble for the protectIOn of manne specIes The mam aIm of the Act IS to conserve, develop and share the fishery resource of the State for the benefit of present and future generatIOns ConservatIOn of fish specIes and habItats, threatened I specIes, populatIOn and ecologtcal commumtles, are dealt wIth under the Flshenes Management Act 1994 In additIOn, the Act IS to promote ecologIcally sustamable development, mcludmg I conservatIOn of bIologIcal dIversIty Under the Flshenes Management Act It IS conSIdered an offence to harm any hsted manne threatened I specIes and damage a manne area declared to be cnttcal habItat The Flshenes Management Act apphes to all water IS the State except for purposes relatmg to a I fishery that IS to be managed m accordance WIth the law of the Commonwealth pursuant to an arrangement under DIvIsIOn 3 of Part 5

I The mam proVISIOns of thIs legIslatIOn that relate to Estuary Management works are

I) HabItat Protectton Plans - whIch allow for the gazettal of management plans for the protectton of I speCIfic aquattc habItats,

III) Dredgmg and ReclamatIOn Plans - whIch allows for the control and regulatIOn of dredgtng and I reclamatIOn works, whIch may be harmful to fish and fish habItat It estabhshes reqUIrements to obtam a perrrut from or to consult WIth NSW Flshenes (now known as the Department of Pnmary I IndustrIes) IV) ProtectIOn of mangroves and certam other manne vegetatIOn, whIch reqUIres perrruts to be I obtamed for the regulatIOn of damage to or removal of certam manne vegetatIOn mcludmg sea grass Of partIcular relevance to the Moonee Creek Estuary Management Plan are proVISIOns wlthm the Act relatmg to the preparatIon of HabItat ProtectIOn Plans FIsh HabItat ProtectIOn Plans descnbe I potenttal threats to fish habItat and recommend actIOns to mlttgate the effects ofpotenttally damagmg acttvltles There are three habItat protectton plans gazetted to date however only two of these plans I are relevant to thIs study These are outhned bnefly below HabItat Protectton Plan No 1 General

I ThIs IS an advIsory document summansmg vanous protecttve measures m relatIOn to dredgmg and reclamatIOn acttvltles, fish passage reqUIrements, and the protectIOn of mangroves, other manne I vegetation and snags HabItat ProtectIOn Plan No 2 Seagrasses

I The Plan deals speCIfically WIth the protectIOn of seagrasses across NSW, and dIscusses activIties whIch Impact on seagrasses, mcludmg the construction of JettIes, wharves, and bndges, dredgmg and I reclamatIOn, and the collectton of seagrasses I I H W0793 MOONEE GREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC =5 1506 I I LEGISLA TlON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-14 I Protection of the Environment Operation Act 1997 I The ProtectIOn of the Environment Operations Act regulates water pollution, air pollutIOn and nOIse pollutIOn m New South Wales The Act enables the Environment Protection Authonty, an agency wlthm the DEC, to Issue pollutIOn lIcense and notices, to take legal action to enforce the law and to I create a range of pollutIOn offences and penalties The Act also enables members of the publIc to take legal actIOn to enforce laws I Under the PEO Act It IS considered and offence to pollute water Without an environmental protection lIcence Water pollutIOn IS the placement of any matter m a posItion where pollutIOn enters or IS I lIkely to enter the water There are a number of activIties that reqUIre lIcence, which are detailed m Schedule 1 of the Act, mcludmg dredgmg works and extractive mdustry, although these activIties must remove more than 30,000 m3 per year to trIgger the Act I

PollutIOn of a waterway IS allowed If an environmental protectIOn lIcense IS held, however, there are conditions of a lIcence I Marine Parks Act, 1997 I The Manne Parks Act 1997 provides for the creatIOn of manne parks, mcludmg the SolItary Islands Manne Park Once a manne park has been created It cannot be revoked, except by an Act of ParlIament Once a manne reserve IS declared under the Act, the area can only be used for activIties I that are consistent With the Manne Park Act

The objectives of the Manne Parks Act 1997 are I

• To conserve manne biological diverSity and manne habItats by declanng and provldmg for the management of a comprehensive system of manne parks, I • To mamtam ecological processes m manne parks, • To proVide for ecologically sustamable use offish and manne vegetatIOn m manne parks, I and • To proVide opportumtles for publIc appreciatIOn, understandmg and enjoyment of manne I parks Mmmg and aquaculture IS prohibited m the manne parks, however, aquaculture IS allowed to be I carned out If the activity IS consistent With the zonmg plan and a penrut IS granted The regulatIOns may prohibIt and control other activIties wlthm the park I Consent authontles are reqUIred to consult With the Manne Parks Authonty concemmg development that IS to occur outSide the manne park but IS lIkely to Impact the plants or ammals wlthm the manne I park or their habitat

Moonee Creek fall mto the SolItary Island Manne Park, and IS zoned for Habitat ProtectIOn I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPoDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I I I LEG/SLA TION AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-15 I Catchment Management Act 2003 The purpose of the Catchment Management Act 2003 IS to establish catchment management authontles that would carry out certam natural resource management functIOns m their regIOns I There are thirteen catchment management authontles m New South Wales Moonee Creek falls m the Northern Rivers catchment area The Act repeals the Catchment Management Act 1989 and I amends vanous other Acts The objectives of the Act are I • To proVide natural resource planrung on a catchment level, • To ensure that the decIsions about natural resources take mto account appropnate I catchment Issues, • To ensure that catchment level decIsions take mto account state standards and mvolve the I Natural Resource CommissIOn m catchment planmng, • To make use of the commumtles' knowledge and expertise and to mvolved them m I deCISion makmg, • To ensure proper management of natural resources from the social, econorruc and environmental Issues, and

I • To proVide financial assistance and mcentlves to landholders m connection With natural resource management

I Under the Act each catchment authonty IS requITed to prepare a draft Catchment ActIOn Plan (CAP) as soon as possible after the commencement of this Act and submit It for approval by the Mmlster

I It IS expected that the Draft Catchment ActIOn Plan will be based on the Integrated Catchment Management Plan ("Catchment Bluepnnt") for the Upper North Coast Catchment prepared by Upper I North Coast Catchment Management Board Natural Resource Management Act 2003

I The Natural Resource Management Act 2003 IS responsible for the creation of the Natural Resources COmmJsslon The objectives of the Act are

I • To establish a sound sCientific baSIS for the mfonned management of natural resources m regards to the social, econorruc and environment mterests of the State, I • To enable the adoption of State-wide standards and targets for natural resource management Issues, and I • To adVise m the circumstance where broad-scale c1eanng IS regarded to be an Improvement or mamtenance of environmental outcomes for the purpose of the Native I Vegetation Act 2003 The Natural Resource COmmiSSIOn consists of a full trrne Commissioner and ASSistant Commissioner The role of the CommissIOn IS to proVide the government With mdependent adVice on I natural resource management, m addition to recommendmg state-wide targets for natural resource

I W0793 793 H MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR NO 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216/05 1506 I I LEGISLA T/ON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-16 I management, approval of catchment actlOn plans, and cornmentmg on the effectiveness of these plans The cormmsslon would also undertake natural resource management assessments, and would control mvestIgatIons and mqUires mto natural resource management Issues and research of the I Issues

The Coastal Protection Act 1979 I The Coastal ProtectlOn Act 1979 was amended m 1998 and extended the coastal zone to mclude I estuanes, coastal lakes and lagoons, Islands and nvers m recogmtlOn of the strong connection between estuanes and the open coast The coastal zone IS delmeated on maps approved by the Mmlster for Plannmg and Natural Resources I

The Coastal ProtectlOn Act 1979 provides general supervlslOn of the use, occupation and development of the coastal zone This mcludes a reqUirement for public authontles to gam agreement I from the Mmlster for Infrastructure, Plannmg and Natural Resources before any development IS carned out or consent IS gIVen for the use, occupatlOn or development of the coastal zone It also provides for general supervision of development wlthm the coastal zone that IS not otherwise subject I to the provlslOns of an environmental plannmg mstrurnent (other than a State Environmental Plannmg Pohcy) I The Act reqUires that the Mmlster promotes ecologically sustamable development The Mmlster may reject development or use of occupatlOn of the coastal zone, that IS mconslstent With the pnnclples of ecologically sustamable development, or that may adversely affect the behavlOur or be adversely I affected by the behavlOur of the sea or an arm of the sea or any bay, mlet, lagoon, lake, body of water, nver, stream or watercourse I Local Government Act 1993 I The Local Government Act 1993 creates local governments and grants them the power to perform their functions, which mvolve management, development, protectlOn, restoratlOn, enhancement and conservation of the environment for the local government area The functlOns of the local I government are to be performed m a manner that are consistent With and promote the pnnclples of ecologically sustamable development I The Local Government (Ecologically Sustamable Development) Act 1997 amends this Act, so that the gUldmg operational prmclples are ecologically sustamable development and sustamable use of resources I Crown Lands Act 1989 I The Crown Lands Act 1989 proVides for the admmlstratIon and management of Crown land, which mcludes most beaches, coastal reserves, nearshore waters and estuanes, mcludmg Moonee Creek I The Crown Lands Act 1989, reqUires a land assessment to be undertaken pnor to the reservatlOn, dedlcatlOn, exchange, vestmg or sale of Crown land, or the grantmg of easements, leases or hcences m respect of such land The process for land assessment IS specified by the Act and the Crown Lands I Regulatzon 2000 It reqUires the physical charactenstIcs of the land to be Identified, the land's I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMP\DOCS\R N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I I I LEG/SLA T/ON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-17 capabllttles to be assessed and SUitable uses Identified A draft land assessment IS publicly exhibited I for 28 days for comment The exhibited draft may Indicate a preferred use or uses I COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATION Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

I The EnVironment ProtectIOn and BlOdlvefSlty ConservatIOn Act 1999 (EPBC Act) IS the mam Commonwealth Law responsible for the protectIOn of flora and fauna The EPBC Act commenced on 16 July 2000 and replaced the EnVironmental ProtectIOn (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 (Cth), the I Act which formerly set out reqUirements for environmental assessment In Federal law I This Act applies to • Flora and fauna withIn areas controlled or owner by the Commonwealth, I • Flora or fauna that may be harmed by the actIOns of the Commonwealth agency, and • ActIOns that may have a slgmficant effect on species on the natIOnal threatened species I list The EPBC Act has mcreased the number of activIties that will be subject to environmental assessment and approval by the Commonwealth government, and has gIVen a more Important role I and broader powers to the Federal Mlmster for the EnVironment (the 'Mmlster') Under the EPBC Act, It IS necessary to obtaIn an approval from the MInister to carry out a 'controlled actIOn', which IS an actlVlty that IS likely to have a Significant effect on the enVironment, or likely to have a Significant I effect on a "matter of natIOnal environmental Significance" I The act proVides protectIOn to species and ecolOgical communities by • CreatIng a process for the listIng of protected species and ecological commumtIes,

• Requmng the assessment and approval of proposals that are likely to have a Significant I Impact upon threatened speCies, and ecological commumty or a rmgratory speCies, and

• Requmng perrmts for actIOns In a Commonwealth area that Involve the killIng, Injury or I takIng of a listed threatened species or ecological community

The EPBC Act prOVides protectIOn for threatened speCies, migratory species that are listed under the I JAMBA ConventIOn, the CAMBA ConventIOn or Bonn ConventIOn, and listed manne species as detailed by the Department of Environment and Hentage

I The EPBC Act proVides protectIOn to Ramsar wetland from actIOns that would result In Significant Impact on the wetlands However, an actIOn that may have Significant Impact on the ecological I character of a declared Ramsar wetland might take place outSide the boundanes of the wetland A declared Ramsar wetland IS an area that has been deSignated under Article 2 of the Ramsar ConventIOn or declared by the MInister for the EnVironment to be a declared Ramsar wetland In I accordance With sectIOn 16 the Act

The EPBC Act was amended In 2003 to mclude protectIOn of NatIOnal Hentage ThiS amendment I mvolved, mcludmg 'natIOnal hentage' as new matter of national environment Significance, and the establishment of a natIOnal hentage list I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 1506 I I LEG/SLA TlON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-iS I IMPORTANT PLANNING DOCUMENTATION I Zoning Plan for the Solitary Island Marine Park Solitary Island Manne Park covers and area of approximately 71,000 hectares, extendmg from I Muttonblrd Island m the south to Plover Island m the north and from the mean rugh water mark and upper tidal hmlts of coastal esruanes, seaward to three nautical miles The Park was declared m 1998 under the Manne Park Act 1997 It was previously a manne reserve, declared m May 1991 under the I Flshenes and Oyster Farms Act 1935 (EnVironment Australia, 200 I)

The Manne Parks Act 1997 reqUlres the preparatlOn of a zonmg plan and an operational plan for each I of the manne parks The zomng plan detmls the 10catlOn of each zone and actlVltIes that are penmtted m that zone, and It should be conSidered m conJunctlOn With the operation plan (refer to next sectlOn) I The Manne Park IS broken up mto the followmg zones, refer Figure A-5 I • Sanctuary Zones: Covers approximately 12% (8650 hectares) of the manne park ThiS zone has the highest level of environmental protection, and prohibits all fishmg, I • Habitat Protection Zone: Covers approximately 54% (38860 hectares) of the manne park ThiS zone proVides a high level of environmental protection, and prohibits high Impact commercial actiVities such as trawhng, whilst penmttmg many recreatlOnal I actiVIties, which mcludes recreatlOnal fishmg Most of the esruanne systems are protected wlthm the sancruary or habitat zone, I • Special Purpose Zone: Covers approximately 1% (57 hectares) of the manne park The areas with speCial management reqUlrements such as oyster leases, SClentlfic srudy, Sites of slgmficance to Abongmal commumtles, and I • General Zones: Covers approximately 34% (23920 hectares) of the manne park For all areas wlthm the manne park not subject to other forms of zonmg These areas are I usually found m the deeper offshore areas, generally to the east of the Islands This zone allows for a Wider range of actiVities, mcludmg recreation and commercial fishmg I The park has three dlstmct ecological reglOns northern, central and southern sectlOns, and there is a strong ecological gradient from the coast to deep water, refer Figure A-5 I I I I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPoDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I I I LEGISLA TlON AND P LANNING F RAMEWORK A -Jf} I ----....-_ ... ..-w."""...... 'oRb l\f"Jf Rodr. .. --...... Solitary Islands .;Iod ..."nII ')oIfgn' .Jobad ~--"--.- .. .. r._.____ .... _ -.~ 100lI0--...... _w.... ''''---.1 Marine Park I "'-_. .... ,...... wooll "0011 IthO' ...... -__...... __ ...... ,. Zoning Summary ... ..""-_ ...... - _ __•• _ .... __ n.. "'_~""''''_'''''<04''' .-.~-- I ...... -... ,~""'""-""'-.. - '\onb "CIt. ""Iruryl.~

~ ___Io"","'_ """-_ ...... _-'­ ..... "'-J.. ~lOOI_ ... _ ...... l'~ "ironioll Crock ...... I ,...... , ... _---- _- ',=:-

n.. __•• ___...... I _...... ---_ ...-...... - -_ _­ ...... , ...... _... _--.I"~-"'­ _ ... _-- ... ~--, ......

I Soulb Solh.... )' IAlI.nd ~-- . ---"-""­ ~-- .. "'---.I ...... __ ...... ---:aI_ -'----"" ...... _ ...... _ .._---,...... - ... -­ A._.'...... a

I t Ltc lbp rolnt n. __._ .... _ ... - ..... -_ .. _- I -_ ...... I I I I

I Figure A·5 Solitary Island Marine Park Zones

I Operation Plan for the Solitary Island Marine Park Under the Marine Parks Act 1997, an Operational Plan is required for each Marine Park, This I operational plan details the management intent of the Marine Parks Authority in providing conservation and sustainable use of the Solitary Island Marine Park in accordance with the objective I of the Marine Parks Act 1997, The document contains eleven management categories, which have a strong focus on the management of biological diversity, resource use in and adjacent to, a multiple use marine park, as I well as maritime heritage and cultural issues,

I H:W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPoDOCS1R,N0793,OO400,EMs&P,OOC ~ 1S:06 I I LEGISLA TlON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-20 I The Manne Park Authonty encourages the commulllty to become mvolved m the management of the manne park through the actIOns outilned m the document CommunIty mvolvement could mclude communIty mOllltormg programs or m the development of codes of conduct for speCific activIties I The ten management categones outlmed m the Operational Plan are I Management for ConservatIOn of BIOdiversity and Mamtenance of Ecological Processes the aIm IS to ensure mamtenance of ecological processes and the protectIOn of the diverse range of habitats wlthm the SolItary Islands Manne Park PartIcular emphaSIS IS placed on conservmg all I manne species that are susceptible to human Impacts and are categonsed as threatened, protected or endermc, I 2 Management for EcologIcal Sustamable Use the aIm IS to ensure that the values of the manne park rernam mtact for future generatIOns, wh!lst allowmg for particular activIties to be carned out The operatIOnal plan provIded management actIOns for the followmg activIties fishmg and I collectmg, aquaculture, scuba dlvmg and snorkellmg, manne mammal watch, boatmg and personal water craft, beachmg and campmg actIVIties, and vehIcle use, I 3 Management ofIndlgenous Culture thIS ensures the protectIOn of abongmal sItes of slglllficance and ecologIcally sustamable Abongmal use of resources,

4 Management of Non -IndIgenous Culture the aIm IS to provIde protectIOn to shIpwrecks and I scelllC features both above and below the surface, as well as the coastal vIews These features were ongmally deemed to be of national slglllficance and resulted m the Manne Park bemg ilsted I on the RegIster of the National Estate m 1993, and 5 Management of other Issues The aIm IS to ensure a coordmated and rapid response to mCldents I wlthm the manne parks, early detectIOn of manne pests, proVISIOn of safe moonngs and appropnate conSideratIOn of development appilcatlOns, 6 Research and mOllltormg The aIm IS to research and mOnItor dIfferent aspects of the park I mcludmg bIOdiverSity and ecological processes, Abongmal and non-Abongmal cultural and hentage, ecological sustamable use and speCific Impacts, I 7 Commulllty educatIOn and mvolvement The aim IS to encourages mteractlOn between people and manne flora and fauna Without causmg harm, I 8 Compilance programs to ensure that the zones m the Manne Park are used appropnately, compilance programs are run to ensure that users understand and comply to the zonmg scheme,

9 Permit system A permit system IS used for regulatmg actIvIties and operatIOns m the rnanne I park, ilmltmg Impacts on partIcular areas, separatmg confllctmg actIvItIes and ensurmg that the park IS used appropnately by a large number of people PermIt systems also enable data I collectIon, and lO Management arrangements WIth Commonwealth the Manne Parks Authonty works wIth a I number of Government Departments under a vanety of management arrangements

For each of these categones different management actIOns have been developed to ensure that the I Manne Park IS managed effectively I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I I I LEGISLA TlON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-21 Catchment Blueprint, Integrated Catchment Management Plan I for the Upper North Coast Catchment

An Integrated Catchment Management Plan has been prepared for the Upper Catchment Coast of I NSW, mcludmg the Clarence Catchment, Bellmger Catchment and Coffs Harbour Waterways catchment The Plan, known as the "Catchment Bluepnnt" was prepared by the Upper North Coast I Catchment Management Board (UNCCMB), which has recently been replaced by the Northern River CMA The upper north coast regIOn IS charactensed by a great diversity m land type charactenstlcs, land use patterns and SOCial demographics Natural conservatIOn IS a focus of the regIOn, with the I Solitary Island Manne Reserve and the a large portIOn of the National Parks on the World Hentage list

I The mam concerns for the area are populatIOn growth and the declme m reSilience of natural system Wlthm the area, are IS a need to repair and restore nver systems, Implement new management practices, mcrease bIOdiversity conservation measures, reduce landuse conflict, coordmate NRM I plannmg, and support catchment cornmumtles to undertake NRM

The followmg groups are mvolved m the Implementation of catchment bluepnnt NRM Cornmumty I Groups, Land Managers, Industry, ConservatIOn Orgamsatlons, Local, State and Federal Governments

I The objectives of the Integrated Catchment Management Plan for the Upper North Coast are

• Management of the Impact of the human populatIOn, through effective land-use plannmg that I mmlmlses future land-use conflict over our dlmlmshmg natural resources ThiS land-use planmng reqUires active commumty participatIOn to mcorporate the spmtual and cultural I values of the whole cornmumty, mcludmg mdlgenous people • The retentIOn and restoratIOn of wildlife habitats, to protect bIOdiversity from threatenmg I processes and to secure diverse and reSilient eco-systems, • Land managed m accordance With land capability m order to prevent further degradatIOn, to ensure appropnate land-use and to rehabilitate the environmental attributes ofland's I resources, • Achieve water quality throughout the catchments and wlthm recelvmg estuanne and manne I waters that meet both human and environmental reqUirements, and • A cornmumty With adequate resources and capacity to Implement best land management I practices and ensure the effective stewardship (care and management) of the environment Catchment and Management Targets

I There are four catchment targets, and for each of the catchment target there are relevant management targets These targets are to be achieved wlthm 10 years of Implementation I Stream and River Health: thiS catchment target IS to rehabilitate and protect the stream health (structure/npananivegetatlOniflow) of60% of stream length III all Identified streams, m pnonty I sub-catchment by 2012 The benefits of this target would be bank, bed and vegetatIOn stability as I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/6/05 15 06 ~ I LEGISLA T/ON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-22 I well as Improved habitat for all tropluc levels and Improved water qualtty over ttme The Improvements would also benefit the environment for the commumty and the natural system I The management targets are as follows • RHI Rehabllttate and protect the functtonaltty and mcrease the overall connectIVIty of I vegetatIOn commumtles along 60% of stream length m allidenttfied streams, m pnonty sub-catchments, by 2007, I • RH2 Rehabllttate and protect the stream structure of 60% of the stream length m all Identified streams, m pnonty catchments, by 2007

• RH3 Flow management Implemented across pnonty sub-catchments by 2002, and I across all remammg sub-catchments, by 2007, • RH4 Address the Identtfied gaps m the management of key water qualtty pomt-source I mdustnes/acttvlttes across the area by 2007, • RH5 Identity future pnonty sub-catchment through an assessment of stream health I and mcrease commumty capacity across the Board area to achieve nver health and mcrease commumty capacity across the Board area to achieve nver health targets by 2007, I • RH6 All Councils to have completed Integrated Urban Water Cycle Plans and 60% I of actIOns Implemented by 2012

2 Habitat and Biodiversity: The catchment target would be to achieve an mcrease m biodiverSity qualtty m 20,000 ha of Identtfied ecosystems by 2012 The north coast IS pnzed for Its I biodiverSity and many people have moved to the area to enJoy these quahttes The Board IS focusmg on establtshmg conservatIOn management through landholders, commumtles, mdustry and governments The benefit Will be a reductIOn m the threats of weeds, pests and I fragmentatIOn and Will mcrease the ecosystem robustness

The management targets are as follows I • HI A 15,000 ha mcrease m the area ofldenttfied terrestnal ecosystems under conservatIOn management by 2007, I • H2 No net loss of native vegetatton from 2002, • H3 Improve the qualtty of Identtfied ecosystems and other pubhc lands, by 2007 I through, developmg control strategies for pnonty environmental weed species Impactmg on bIOdiverSity, developmg and Implementmg strategies to manage at least vertebrate pest species Impactmg on bIOdiverSity, Implementmg relevant actions m Threatened I Species Recovery Plans, and reducmg nattve vegetatIOn fragmentatIOn and Isolatton by estabhshment of 1,800 ha of vegetation In Identified comdors I • H4 Broad-scale mventory of all aquatic and manne ecosystems wlthm Board area, and appropnate management pnonttes developed m 2004, I • H5 A 2000 ha mcrease m the area of Identified aquattc and manne ecosystems wlthm the Board area and appropnate management by 2007, I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 ,I I I LEGISLA T/ON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-23 • H6 ImplementatIOn of Plans of Management m 5 high profile pnonty aquatic and/or I manne areas by 2007 2 Landuse Planning: The target IS, 100% of planrung-related Bluepnnt actIOns are to be I mcorporated mto regIOnal strategies and local plans by 2007 The benefit of thiS target IS landuse planmng will reduce natural resource degradatIOn, which IS associated with development and land use practices Important environment areas will be purchased and brought under conservatIOn I management regimes Other Important agncultural and environmental land will be protected through local environmental plannmg

I Achievement of thiS target Will reduce environmental costs associated with development and mcrease mvestment m environmental Improvements

I The management targets are as follows • PI From 2002 and by 2007, all settlement strategies Will mclude provIsIOns addressmg I Improvement of natural resource values wlthm the sub-catchment of new settlement areas, no loss of Important habitat m new areas, and a net mcrease m reSidential density m eXlstmg sewered urban areas,

I • P2 EXlstmg zonmg m 100% of Identified areas reviewed to mcorporate Improvement of natural resource values wlthm the sub-catchment of the Identified area from 2002 I and before further development values wlthm the sub-catchment m Identified areas by 2003,

• P3 LEPs, DCPs to address Impacts from new rural activIties m Identified areas by I 2003,

• P4 Identification and protectIOn of all Important agncultural, environmentally sensItive I and cultural land mcorporated mto regIOnal or local plannmg mstruments m 100% of Board area by 2007, I • P5 Integration mto the regIOnal plannmg system coordmatlOn, faclhtatlOn and ImplementatIOn of all natural resource management plans by 2007, and

• P6 All urban and rural settlement by 2005 occumng only m accordance With the Rural I Settlement GUidehnes and Urban Settlement GUidelmes

3 Land Management: The aim of thiS catchment target IS to reduce the area affected by land I degradatIOn by 15% by 2012 The benefits of acluevmg thiS target mclude reducmg the levels of SOlI health degradatIOn, rehablhtatlOn of degraded landscapes, reductIOn m sedimentatIOn rates I and Improved water quahty The management targets mclude I • L I A 5% mcrease m the area of agricultural land m pnonty areas managed m accordance with Best Operatmg Practices to Improve soli health by 2007, I • L2 Modlty flood mitigatIOn and dramage works and Implement land management practices over 10,000 hectares of ACid Sulphate SoIls (ASS) Hot Spots by 2007, I • L3 ImplementatIOn erosIOn and sediment control plans for 10% of roads wlthm pnonty areas by 2007, I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 15 06 I LEGISLA T/ON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-24 I • L4 1260 hectares of degraded land rehabilitated m pnonty areas by 2007, and • L5 100% of coastal zones wlthm the UNCCMB area mcluded m Management Plans I by 2005 and 60% of Management Plan recommendatIOns Implemented m 2012

In order to achieve these Catchment and Management targets specific activIties have been Identified I as well as pnonty areas, cost estimates, and stakeholder responsible for ImplementatIOn

The Bluepnnt mcludes 88 actIOns which reqUired $273 million, approxlInately 31 % of the cost are I based target actions, and 67% of costs has IS Issue-based target actIOns

The Bluepnnt Will be contmual developed and Improved over the next ten years The NCCMB will I be required to produce an annual report for the Mmlster for Land and Water ConservatIOn on the progress of the bluepnnt ImplementatIOn I Every five years the bluepnnt Will be reviewed to deterrnme whether It actIOns are adequate and appropnate for meetmg the bluepnnt targets The review may mclude recommendatIOn to change the targets and/or supportmg pnontlsed management actIOns I

With the recent establIshment of the North River CMA, under the provIsion of the CMA Act 2003, the catchment blueprmt IS no longer a valId futllIe management plannmg document Under the CMA I Act, the Northern River CMA IS reqUired to prepare a Catchment Action Plan (CAP) Given the extensive efforts that have gone mto prepanng the blueprmt, It IS likely that the CAP Will be based I extenSively on the Catchment Bluepnnt, although some adjustments Will be reqUired Rural Land Strategic Plan I The Rural Land Strategic Plan has been developed m partnership With the CounCil and community The aim of the plan IS to proVide a better futllIe for rural commumtles wlthm the Coffs Harbour LGA I The environmental sustamabillty objectives of the plan are • To mamtam and Improve the biodiverSity and protect water quality, I

• To proVide for development that enhances environmental values and IS compatible With environmental constramts, and I • To ensure development IS energy effiCient and mmlmlses greenhouse gas emiSSions

The Rural Lands Strategic Plan IS supplemented by a Draft Local EnVironmental Plan (LEP) which I amends the Coffs Harbour LEP 2000

IndiVidual plans would be developed for each of the areas, and would conSider the context of the I overall strategic plan for the rural lands Moonee Creek would be conSidered wlthm the Northern Beach Placement Management Strategy The Placement Management Plans would mclude a I statement of the futllIe character of each area and a number of actIOns to achieve thiS Koala Plan of Management I The Koala Plan of Management was developed by the NSW NatIOnal Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) m consultation with the Coffs Harbour City CounCil, under the provIsion of SEPP 44 - I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/6/05 1506 I ~ I I LEGISLA T/ON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-25 Koala Habitat ProtectIOn This Plan of Management replaces the reqUirements ofSEPP 44 wlthm the I Coffs Harbour LGA The aim of this plan IS to provide a framework for the conservation and management of koala habitat and the management of threat to koalas, to ensure a permanent free-livmg populatIOn over theu I present range m CoITs Harbour LGA and reverse the current trend of koala populatIOn declme I The Plan of Management applies to all land wlthm the Coffs Harbour LGA, excludmg • Land that IS subject to an eXisting 'Individual (site speCific) Koala Plan of Management' I prepared and approve m accordance with SEPP 44, and • Land descnbed as Lot I DP 709734, Lot I and 2 DP 704273, Pt Lot 1 DP 708738 and Pt I PortIOn 227, bemg the Airport Site, Coffs Harbour The Plan of Management provides the necessary habitat mappmg and management gUidelmes for conservmg koalas at the local level The areas of koala habitats are divided mto three areas, Pnmary, I Secondary and Tertiary Koala Habitat Different plannmg controls apply to different habitat types and controls also apply to land adJommg Pnmary Koala Habitat

I Areas claSSified as Pnmary Koala Habitat are the most slgmficant habitats available to koalas m the LGA and consequently reqUire a high level of protectIOn Development IS to be mmlllllsed m areas surroundmg Pnmary Habitats, particularly those that would result m scattered preferred koala trees, I m order to mamtam opportumtles for free movement of koalas between areas of habitat Secondary Koala Habitat areas tend to support high koala populations and also provide linkage between areas of I Pnmary Koala Habitats Tertiary Koala Habitats generally occur m rural part of the LGA, west of the coastal range These areas are mamly threatened by agncultl1ral development, and therefore I development would be limited dependmg on the Impact It has on Koala Habitats The Plan makes provIsions for the followmg actIOns

• Koala habitats Will be protected through land use zonmg and development controls and I standards, m the LEP and through Council's Open Space Management Plans,

• The LEP 2000 Will gUide development adjacent to koala habitats, m koala habitat link areas I and areas of scattered habitat remnants, • Wlthm the LGA measure will be taken to reduce the threat to koala from traffic at Identified I "black spots", to reduce nsks from domestic dogs on koalas, and koala habitat values Will be conSidered m fire management strategies,

• Koala health and welfare Issues m the LGA Will contmue to be managed by the Wildlife I InformatIOn and Rescue Services (WIRES), I • A number ofpubhc educatIOn and research mltlatlves are recommended, and • A Koala AdVISOry Committee to gUide Implementation of the Plan Will be established I Draft Vegetation Strategy The aim of the vegetatIOn strategy IS to proVide a clear and consistent framework for the conservatIOn I and management of native vegetation, consistent With the pnnclples of Ecological Sustamable Development, wlthm the Coffs Harbour LGA The Vegetation Strategy proVides a gUldmg document I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I LEGISLA TlON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-26 I to the settmg of pnontJes and targets for vegetatIOn conservatIOn, rehabilitatIOn and vegetatIOn I cleanng controls The strategy links actIOns under the Native VegetatIOn Conservation Act and CouncIl's BIOdiversity ActIOn Strategy

The vegetation strategy protects natural hentage values m the long term, mmnll1ses habitat disturbances, enhances the long-term well bemg of the natural ecosystem, maXlITllSeS opportumtJes I for carbon SinkS, reduce greenhouse gas enusslOns and promotes environmental capacity to cope With pollutIOn from development I Four categones of ecological value have been Identified based on vegetation attnbute maps, which mcludes very high value, high value, medIUm value and low value The overall strategy for I vegetatIOn management IS to pnontlse the protectIOn of high and very hIgh value vegetation subject to economic and SOCial sustamabllIty limits I In order to achieve the overall strategy, targets have been set for both coastal and rural areas These targets have been dIVIded mto conservatIOn of vegetatIOn, rehabilitatIOn, and management protectIOn targets I

The Vegetation Strategy IS supplemented by a draft Local EnVironmental Plan (LEP) which amends the Coffs Harbour LEP 2000 and a RegIOnal VegetatIOn Management Plan I

In addItIOn to the VegetatIOn Strategy there IS the Vegetation ConservatIOn Development Control Plan (for the coastal areas), the RegIOnal VegetatIOn Management Plan (for the f11fal areas), which I proVided details concernmg cleanng controls, and the Local VegetatIOn Management Plan, which proVides detalis for the conservatIOn and rehabilItatIOn actIOns for the Coffs Harbour LGA I Sewerage Strategy

The Sewerage Strategy was developed by Coffs Harbour CIty CounCil, which mcluded a package of I works and actions to be completed over the next 20 years m order to proVide a modern, mtegrated sewerage system I The purpose of the Sewerage Strategy (directly related to the Moonee Creek catchment) IS to • Sewer the urban areas of Moo nee Beach, Emerald Beach, Mullaway and Arrawarra, I • Complete the sewerage system for Moonee Beach and Emerald Beach,

• Replace the three eXlstmg shorelme outfalls at Willis Creek, Coffs Harbour and Sawtell With I one properly constructed deep sea release to the south of the Solitary Island Manne Park, I 5 krn offshore and m at least 20 m of water, I • Develop a long term plan for reuse of reclaimed water, and • Develop re-use projects to mcrease commumty confidence and develop best management I practises for effluent re-use

The urban areas of Moonee Beach and Emerald beach have been connected to sewers and the deep I sea release was completed m December 2004 I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMP\DOCS1R N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 15 06 I I I I LEGISLA TlON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-27 Water Supply DSP 2003 and Wastewater Treatment Carrier I System DSP 2003 AccordIng to SectIOn 64 of the Local Government Act 1993 the local government council IS able to I charge a levy to the developer for water supply, by means of a cross-reference to SectIOn 406 of the Water Management Act 2000 Similarly, the local government IS able to charge a levy to the developer for wastewater supply, by means of a cross-reference to SectIOn 306 of the Water I Management Act 2000 The Development ServicIng Plans (DSPs) details the water and wastewater development charges are to be levied on development areas The development areas that are covered by thiS DSP are detailed on the Development Services Zone Plans Moonee Creek catchment IS I Included In the eXistIng and proposed works servlcmg the area

ThiS DSPs supersedes any other reqUirement related to water and wastewater developer charges for I the areas covered by the DSPs The DSPs take precedence over any of Council's codes or policies where there are any mconslstencles relatIng to water or wastewater developer charges

I The DSPs should be read In conjunction with the Coffs Harbour LEP 2000 I Plan of Management for Natural Areas This Plan of Management IS one of a senes Management Plans for open space lands managed by the I Coffs Harbour City Council It provides a management strategy for ongOIng mamtenance and management activIties for specified natural areas I The alms of the Plan of Management are to provide a framework for the management of the natural areas, and to meet the reqUirements of SectIOn 36 of the Local Government Act \993, to prepare I plans of management for Council owned Commumty classified lands ThiS plan of management IS supplementary to any specific plan of management which may apply to I the Identified lands The plan of management applies to a number of Council controlled lands which have been claSSified as natural areas, excludIng coastal reserves The plan of management presents a schedule of lands I and plans of lands The lands that are speCified are either Council owned Commumty classified lands or Crown Lands for which Council has care control and management or IS the appomted trustee These lands are usually zoned 6(a) Open Space - EXistIng under the Coffs Harbour Local I EnVironment Plan 1988

The only locatIOn m Moonee Creek catchment that IS relevant to the plan IS an area located m Pansh I Close adjacent to Sugar Mill Creek I Coastal Reserves Plan of Management ThiS Plan of Management has been prepared to gUide the future management, use and development I of Coastal Crown Reserves for which Coffs Harbour City Council IS the appomted Corporate Manager of the Reserve Trust The plan also covers Council owned reserves on the coastal stnp I The Plan of Management IS prepared m accordance With the Crowns Lands Act \989, Local Government Act 1993 and the NSW Coastal Policy 1997 I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPDOCS1R N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 1506 I I LEGISLA T/ON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-28 I The plan outhnes the Coastal Reserve lands, resources, values and the goals of the Plan It provides an overview and a gUide to management of beaches, natural areas and recreatIOn reserves The overview mcludes maps showmg natural areas, recreatIOnal areas and access strategies for each part I of the Coastal Reserves The plan also mcludes a management strategy which details strategies for specific aspects of management of natural areas and coastal processes, recreatIOn, access, and I ImplementatIOn (mcludmg regulatIOn of activIties, plannmg, works and fundmg) The Plan of Management mcludes Coastal Crown reserves for which Council IS the Corporate I Manager of the appomted Reserve trust The Plan does not mclude Coastal Crown Reserves which are managed by Commumty trust, which mcludes Moonee Beach Reserve Accordmg to the maps m the Plan of Management, the area south of the Moonee Creek entrance, Green Bluff IS classified as I Coastal Reserve

At present management of coastal reserves of Coffs Harbour LGA IS bemg changed The reserve will I be called regIOnal parks and will be managed jomtly by Coffs Harbour City Council and DEC (NPWS) Currently a management plan IS beglnnmg wntten for the RegIOnal Parks, and It IS unsure whether the Green Bluff Reserve would be mcluded m thiS plan I RELEVANT POLICIES I Estuary Management Policy 1992 I The NSW Estuary Management Pohcy IS one of a sUite of pohcles under the umbrella NSW State Rivers and Estuaries Pohcy The Estuary Management Pohcy was developed m response to the State Government's recogmtlOn of the SOCial and economic Importance of estuanes The specified general I goal of the pohcy IS "to achieve an mtegrated balance responsible and ecologically sustamable use of the State estuanes which fonn a key component of coastal catchments" I Specific objectives can be summansed as • ProtectIOn of estuanne habitats and eco-systems m the long tenn, I • PreparatIOn and ImplementatIOn of a balanced long term management plan for the sustamable I use of each estuary and Its catchment,

• ConservatIOn of habitats, • ConservatIOn of aesthetiC values, I • PreventIOn of further estuary degradatIOn, • Repair of damage to the estuanne environment, and I • Sustamable use of estuanne resources

The Estuary Management Pohcy IS Implemented through the State's Estuary Management Program, I as discussed preVIOusly m Section I 3 I ThiS Estuary Management Plan has been prepared m accordance with the program to help meet the objectives of the Estuary Management Pohcy, and the Coastal Pohcy, IS descnbed below I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 215105 1506 I r=:. f!!J'Jl! I I I LEGISLA TION AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-29 NSW Coastal Policy 1997

I The aim of the New South Wales Coastal Pohcy 1997 IS to promote the ecologically sustamable development of the New South Wales coastlme To achieve thiS, the pohcy sets out varIOUS goals, I objective and actIOns ThiS pohcy apphes to areas the fall mto the coastal zone The coastal zone IS defined by the area that I extends to • Three nautical miles seaward of the mamland and offshore Islands, I • One kIlometre mland of the 'open coast' High Water Mark, • One kilometre around all the bays, estuarIes, coastal lakes, lagoons and Island, and I • In relatIOn to udal rIvers, one kilometre around the tidal waters of the rIver to the hmlt of mangroves or the tidal hmlt (whichever IS closer to the sea)

I Based on the above defimtlOns, Moonee Creek and ItS foreshores Will fall wlthm the defined coastal zone, therefore the Coastal Pohcy has been considered m the preparation of the Moonee Creek I Estuary Management Plan The relevance of the PolIcy to future development IS that the councIl IS reqUired to Implement the pohcy when making local environment plans applymg to land wlthm the coastal zone and to take the I proVIsions of the polIcy mto conSideratIOn when deterrmmng development applIcatIons m the coastal zone

I As the NSW Coastal PolIcy 1997 applIes to Moonee Creek, CounCil IS reqUIred to reflect the prInCiples of ecologically sustamable development m plannmg and management deCISIOns Also, I CounCil IS committed to the prInCiples of ecologically sustamable development through the Local Government Act 1993 (amended 1997), which are embodied wlthm CouncIl's EnVironmental PolIcy I 2002 The Moonee Creek Estuary Management Plan outlInes a serIes of actIOns that are fundamentally alIgned With the ESD prmclples Therefore, the Plan proVides a framework for Implementmg these I prInCiples as they apply to the estuarIes, and their assocIated catchments I Objectives The Coastal PolIcy has nme goals, each underpinned by objectives that are to be achieved by strategic actIOns ResponsibilItIes for these actIOns have been aSSigned to approprIate agencies, counCils and I other bodies DIPNR IS wholly or partly responsible for nearly half of the strategic actIOns m the Coastal PolIcy, With many of these mvolvmg a partnership With local councIls

I The nme goals of the NSW Coastal Pohcy 1997 are To protect, rehabilItate and Improve the natural enVironment, I 2 To recognise and accommodate natural processes and chmate change, 3 To protect and enhance the aesthetic quahtles, I 4 To protect and conserve cultural herItage, I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 15 06 I I

LEGISLA TION AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-30 I 5 To promote Ecologically Sustamable Development, 6 To provide for ecologically sustamable human settlement, I 7 To provide for appropnate pubhc access and use, 8 To provide mformatlOn to enable effective management, and I 9 To provide for mtegrated plannmg and management

With regard to Moonee Creek, the Pohcy specifically recommends that detailed management plans I for estuanes be prepared and Implemented m accordance With the NSW Government's Estuary Management Manual I Ecologically Sustainable Development

The four pnnclples of Ecologically Sustamable Development (ESD) are I

The precautionary pnnclple The lack of full sCientific eVidence should not be used as a JUStificatIOn for the postponement of the mtroductlOn of measures to prevent or lllltigate I environmental degradatIOn This pnnclple IS fundamental to adaptive management Momtonng and preventIOn are central to the precautIOnary pnnclple - momtonng to measure I progress, and preventIOn to mmlmlse costs and nsks DecISIons can and should be refmed as ongomg momtonng and research provides better understandmg I 2 IntergeneratlOnal eqUity Each generatIOn should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment IS mamtamed or enhanced for future generatIOns This prmclple pomts to mstltutlonal and commumty responSlblhtles for mtegrated management, to I ensure quahty of hfe IS mamtamed and enhanced

3 ConservatIOn of bIOlogical diversity and ecological mtegrlty Measures should be taken to I prevent and protect agamst the extmctlOn or loss ofvlablhty of plant and ammal species due to human actlvltles I 4 Improved valuatIOn and pncmg of environmental resources The quahty and value of environmental resources should be mamtamed and enhanced through appropnate management and pncmg, preventmg degradatIOn and damage I

RESEARCH I REPORTS I Healthy Rivers Commission Independent Inquiry into the North Coast I

The NSW Healthy Rivers CommissIOn (HRC) released a report on the Independent InqUiry mto the North Coast Rivers (HRC, 2003) The nvers mcluded wlthm this mvestigatlOn are Tweed, I Brunswick, Richmond, Coffs coast creeks, Belhnger, Nambucca, Mac1eay, Hastmgs, Camden Haven, Mannmg and Karuah Moonee Creek IS mcluded wlthm the Coffs coast creeks I The north coast plannmg processes has looked at ways to accommodate the predicted demand for development associated With a 30% mcrease m coastal populatIOn by 2030 The InqUiry has looked I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 216105 1506 I I I LEGISLA TION AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-3J at how the North Coast Rivers will accommodate the forecast populatIOn and sustam the nvenne I ecosystem and the activIties which are dependent on the nver health Ten recommendatIOns were made m order to Improve the health of the north coast nvers These I recommendattons butld on eXlstmg processes and government programs • Joint accountabilities: The HRC recommends the formation of a North River taskforce to I estabhsh and secure a common set of goals and strategies • River Health Goals: The nver health goals need to be developed for each catchment, takmg I mto consideration the ecological values of the stream, nsk or threats to their sustamablhty, the social and economic values, current and desired future consideration, natural recovery potential, practlcablhty of protectIOn or restoration, resources available for management I responses and the deSired pnonttes The HRC has suggested that the followmg three categones of nver health goals are defined for the north coast nvers streams to be conserved, streams for which selected values are to be protected or enhanced, and streams for 'sustamable I use'

• Sustamable Agriculture: Agnculture IS the smgle largest contributor to the north coast I economy There IS potential for management practtces of some pnmary producers to Impact adversely on nver health and of the uses of the nver Consequently, It IS Important to promote and faclhtate the adoptIOn of 'sustamable agriculture' practtces by farmers Of particular I concern on the north coast are coastal floodplams subject to aCid sulphate sOils

• Sustainable Aquaculture: Promotmg sustamable aquaculture will lead to the protection of I flver health from any potentIally adverse Impacts of aquaculture and conversely areas Identified as deSirable for aquaculture would be protected agamst the adverse Impacts of other I land and water uses Oyster farrnmg IS the most well-known and developed form of aquaculture m NSW, Moonee Creek IS not used for oyster farmmg or any other form of I aquaculture • Fishenes Management: needs to be mtegrated with management of flvers and estuanes smce healthy nvers and healthy fish habitats are closely mterrelated Moonee Creek IS protected I under the Manne Parks Act 1997, which means that It IS already protected from a number of fishmg actiVIties, which mcludes commercial fishmg

I • RegIOnal Planning: The CommiSSIOn found that the natural resource management plannmg process m the North Coast River has been undertaken largely m IsolatIOn from others, and from other land use plannmg processes Slmtlar to other InqUires caITled out, the CommiSSIOn I advocated a "whole of system" approach to the management of land and water

• Connectivity of stream networks: The CommiSSion observed that there IS an opportumty to I protect stream networks m the north coast These stream networks proVide natural connectiVity, and can achieve multiple SOCIal and envlfonmental goals The CommiSSIOn I expressed that the stream networks should be recogmsed and pursued m all relevant plannmg, pohcy and fundmg programs I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 2/6105 15 06 I LEGISLA nON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-32 I • Water Cycle Management: In order to cater for an mcreasmg populatIOn, a "whole of system" approach to water cycle management Will be reqUired for adequate provIsIOn of water supply, sewerage and stormwater management services I

• Estuarine Dredgmg: The COITUlliSSlOn recommended that future mamtenance dredgmg needs to be carned out wlthm the context of ecologically sustamable development, and stnvmg to I preserve the health of the nver and estuary In additIOn, the Impacts of dredgmg for navigatIOn and other purposes need to be mvestlgated, addressmg the likely response of the estuary and I coast to the works • Navigation and River Health: The CommissIOn mdlcated that future dredgmg of estuaries I and entrances for navigatIOn purposes should be managed wlthm the context of state policy The CommissIOn has mdlcated that there IS a need for a state-wide review of the goals and ImplicatIOns of dredgmg for navigatIOn purposes and other boatmg safety measures I

The Fmal Report provides recommendatIOn for river health goals and strategies, as well as tlmeframes and the lead and key agencies that would be responsible for the ImplementatIOn of the I strategies, dependmg on the NSW Government decISIons on the Commission recommendatIOns

EXISTING INITIATIVES I Moonee Beach Recreation Reserve, Management Strategy I The Moonee Beach RecreatIOn Reserve Management Strategy was prepared m 1992 by Sustamable Future Plannmg, for the Moonee Beach Reserve Trust and the Department of ConservatIOn and Land I Management The purpose of this strategy was to help gUide the Trustees and the Wider commumty m their use and care of the Reserve The management strategy supports appropnate development, as well as enhancement of the environment The strategy promotes co-operatlve management mvolvmg I the whole cornmumty

Moonee Beach RecreatIOn Reserve IS located directly east of the Village of Moonee Beach and I adjacent to the Moonee Creek estuary mouth The Reserve proVides access to Moonee and Sugar Mill Creeks, Green Bluff and Moonee Beach I PrevIOusly there was a lack of long term plannmg or management of the reserve which lead to the detenoratlon of the quality of the natural and bUilt amemtles The Issues that affected the reserve mvolve hlstoncal and recent land uses, and alteratIOn of the ecology These problems mclude, I crabbmg and fishmg techmques, and people accessmg the water damagmg the estuary flora and bank stability I The vIsion of the strategy IS to protect and add to the recreatIOnal and environmental values of the Reserve as well as lookmg after the adjacent estuanes and their catchments so that they remam I healthy The goal of the strategy IS To provide a Wide range of low key recreatIOn and accommodatIOn opportunities I for local people and holiday accommodatIOn opportunities for local people and ViSitors to Moonee Beach, whilst protectmg the natural and scenic features of the Reserve and acljacent environments I

H W0793 MOONEE GREEK EMADOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC 21&'05 1506 I I I I LEGISLA T/ON AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK A-33 The plan has been developed III order to ensure that the Reserve IS a focal pomt for the future A number of objectives and gUidehnes have been developed m order to achIeve long term use and care I of the Reserve based on ecologIcal, hlstoncal and cultural use of the area These objectives IdentIty I the related problems and provIde strategIes that address these problems I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMp,[)()CSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P OOC 216105 15 06 I I RESUL T OF MUL TI CRITERIA ASSESSMENT B-1 I APPENDIX B: RESULT OF MULTI CRITERIA ASSESSMENT I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

H W0793 MOONEE CREEK EMPIDOCSIR N0793 004 00 EMS&P DOC V6'05 15 06 I I I H:IN0793 Moonee Creek EMPldocsIMCA_Moonee.xlsMCA_Moonee.xls I Objectives 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Relative Score 2.98 2.788 2.0938 1.8163 2.675 2.0286 2.7604 2.9 1.917 1.64 2.022 2.141 2.52 2.615 EFFECTIVENESS 1 TYPE TIMEFRAME Strategies TOTAL COST ACCEPTANCE TOTAL RANK I Regular water quality monitoring program throughout the estuary and tributaries, and at the beach, to determine environmental health and risks to MonitorinQ Imm WO-1 human health. 1 1 5.4030435 H H 16.20913 31 Undertake audits and improve management of septic tanks and on-site I Investigation and sewage syslems (especially on the eastern side of the Pacific Highway), with Review Imm WO-2 inappropriate systems upgrade or replace, as necessary. 1 1 5.7680435 M H 34.60826 13 Improve management of stormwater runoff from Moonee Creek catchment by diverting stormwater runoff through retrofitted detention basins and wetlands, On-ground works MT WO-3 or treatment via other best available technology. 1 1 5.7680435 H H 17.30413 30 I Education of rural land holders and improvement of land management practices, as necessary, through the catchment, including restoration and revegetation of upper catchment slopes and along creeks and natural I Education LT WO-4 drainage lines. 1 1 1 1 10.557032 M M 42.22813 10 Planning and Ensure a suitable emergency response plan is prepared to protect Moonee controls ST WO-5 Creek in the event of spills and accidents on the Pacific Highway. 1 1 1 8.4430435 L L 25.32913 19 Construction of appropriate structures to stabilise the foreshore in areas that I On-ground wor1

Monitor biological indicators to help assess environmental health of the I estuary, including benthic fauna, mobile aquatic fauna (eg. fish and prawns), MonitorinQ Imm Ecol-10 aquatic vegetation distribution and conditions, and seagrass depth limits. 1 1 1 8.0780435 H H 16.15609 32 Encourage private landholders within the catchment, and particularly around the estuary, to enter into conservation agreement with DEC (NPWS) or the Adminstration LT Ecol-11 CMA, and receive incentive and rebates, as appropriate. 1 1 1 1 10.963043 L L 32.88913 14 I Planning and controls MT CD-1 Ensure that all new developments are fully sewered. 1 1 1 8.6680435 L H 78.01239 2

Prepare a new planning instrument to restrict the proximity of development to I Planning and Moonee Creek foreshores in order to maintain fully vegetated buffers conlrols MT CD-2 between the development and the sensitive estuarine environments. 1 1 1 8.4484601 L M 50.69076 8 Modify planning instruments to require all new developments in the Planning and catchment to have no net increase of surface runoff and pollutant loads to I controls MT CD-3 Moonee Creek. 1 1 1 8.6680435 L H 78.01239 2 I

I 2106/2005 I I H:IN0793 Moonee Creek EMPldocsIMCA_Moonee.xlsMCA_Moonee.xls 2 I Objectives 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Relative Score 2.98 2.788 2.0938 1.8163 2.675 2.0286 2.7604 2.9 1.917 1.64 2.022 2.141 2.52 2.615 EFFECTIVENESS I TYPE TIMEFRAME Strategies TOTAl COST ACCEPTANCE TOTAl RANK I Ensure all new developments are compassionate to the environmental sensitivity of the area, and positive steps are taken to foster a connection between future residents and the natural environment (i.e. eco-friendly Planning and developments only), including appropriate fire, weed and wildlife I controls LT CD-4 management. 1 1 1 1 11 .343043 L M 68.05826 5 Ensure there are suitable provisions with future development proposals for Planning and vegetated wildlife corridors to facilitate the movement of fauna across the controls MT CD-5 landscape. 1 1 5.4354167 H H 48.91875 9 Planning and Require implementation of WSUD principles and best practice stonmwater I controls ST CD-6 management approaches for all new development works. 1 1 1 8.6680435 L M 52.00826 7 Discourage horse riders from accessing the lower estuary and foreshore Education ST EU-1 through signage and education. 1 1 1 6.2316667 L L 18.695 28 Provide a small number of formal access points along the creek to I On-ground works ST EU-2 discourage informal access (and associated foreshore degradation). 1 1 3.6616346 M H 21.96981 25 Education and enforcement of companion animal legislation (e ,g. dogs must be kept on the leash) or completely prohibit dogs and other domestic animals for the natural environment around Moonee Creek, including Green Bluff I Education ST EU-3 Reserve. 1 1 1 6.0766667 M M 24 .30667 23 Ban or discourage active recreation in Moonee Creek including power boats Adminstration Imm EU-4 and horses. 1 1 1 6.2316667 L M 37.39 12 Promotion of passive recreation activities, for example canoeing, bird I Adminstration Imm EU-5 watching, walking etc. 1 1 4,315 L M 25.89 16 On-Qround works ST EU-6 Improve amenities in Moonee Beach Recreation Reserve. 1 2.0216346 H H 6.064904 39 Increase policing of fishing regulations and other SIMP regulations within the I Adminstration ST EU-7 estuary. 1 1 1 6.2316667 M M 24.92667 22 Create formal walking trails and boardwalks around the estuary to limit On-ground works ST EU-8 informal access trials. 1 2.0216346 H H 6.064904 39 Provide appropriate signage at popular recreation areas to inform public of water quality risks (espeCially following rainfall). Risks to be confirmed I M 21 .23217 26 Education ST EU-9 through initial stages of water quality monitoring program. 1 1 5.3080435 M Increased enforcement of waterway usage restrictions, particularly in respect Adminstration ST EU-10 to unleashed dogs. 1 1 1 6.3447101 M M 25.37884 18 Investigation and Identification and protection of signifICant Aboriginal and European cultural I Review Imm Herit-1 heritage sites. 1 2.14125 M H 12.8475 34 Provide information regarding significance and traditional use of Moonee Educallon ST Herit-2 Creek Area. 1 1 1 6.30125 M M 25.205 20 Maintain an active management committee, with representation from all I relevant stakeholders and govemment agencies, including community interest groups and local Aboriginal representatives, to oversee implementation of this plan and to provide guidance to Council on future Adminstration Imm EM-1 pianninq decision reqardinq Moonee Creek. 1 2.52 L H 22.68 24 I Utilise community-based volunteers to carry out labour intensive on-ground works, such as weed removal, revegetation and general foreshore clean-ups (i.e. working bees), which would also foster greater appreciation of natural environments by participants. This could be formalised through a Landcare I Adminstration Imm EM-2 Program or similar. 1 1 1 7.3089881 L H 65.78089 6 I I I I I

I 210612005 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I