HURSTVILLE CITY COUNCIL Comprehensive State of the Environment Report 2008 - 2009
>khijl_bb[9_jo9ekdY_b 8dbegZ]Zch^kZHiViZd[i]Z :ck^gdcbZciGZedgi '%%-"'%%. Acknowledgements
This report was compiled by Margaux Park, Acting Environmental Sustainability Coordinator and Ian Curtis, Manager Environmental Sustainability and formatted by Julie Attard, Administration Assistant. Contributions and assistance were generously given by the following Council officers:
This report was compiled by Margaux Park, Acting Environmental Sustainability Coordinator and Ian Rob Casey Curtis, Manager Environmental Sustainability and formatted by Julie Attard, Administration Assistant. ContributionsTina Christy and assistance were generously given by the following Council officers: Jason Cockayne RobOman Casey Desilva Wijayaratna TinaCarina Christy Gregory JasonRichard Cockayne Hanly OmanJessie DesilvaHeyo Wijayaratna CarinaJohn Kensett Gregory RichardJohn Scanlan Hanly JessieHeather Heyo Stolle JohnNerida Kensett Stores JohnVicki WillesScanlan Heather Stolle Nerida Stores Vicki Willes
This report has been printed on 100% recycled paper
This report has been printed on 100% recycled paper 2
2 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION ...... 4 1.1 What is a State of the Environment Report?...... 4 1.2 How to use this report...... 4 1.3 Community Consultation ...... 5 2 LAND ...... 6 2.1 Introduction...... 6 2.2 Are we moving towards our goal? ...... 7 2.3 What has Council been doing? ...... 8 2.4 What are the key issues? ...... 12 2.5 Future Actions ...... 14 3 AIR ...... 15 3.1 Introduction...... 15 3.2 Are we moving towards our goal? ...... 16 3.3 What has Council been doing? ...... 16 3.4 What are the key issues? ...... 21 3.5 Future Actions ...... 22 4 WATER ...... 23 4.1 Introduction...... 23 4.2 Are we moving towards our goal? ...... 27 4.3 What has Council been doing? ...... 28 4.4 What are the key issues? ...... 32 4.5 Future Actions ...... 34 5 BIODIVERSITY ...... 35 5.1 Introduction...... 35 5.2 Are we moving towards our goal? ...... 37 5.3 What has Council been doing? ...... 38 5.4 What are the key issues? ...... 42 5.5 Future Actions ...... 46
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2008-2009
3 6 RESOURCE RECOVERY ...... 47 6.1 Introduction...... 47 6.2 Are we moving towards our goal? ...... 48 6.3 What has Council been doing? ...... 49 6.4 What are the key issues? ...... 55 6.5 Future Actions ...... 56 7 NOISE ...... 57 7.1 Introduction...... 57 7.2 Are we moving towards our goal? ...... 57 7.3 What has Council been doing? ...... 58 7.4 What are the key issues? ...... 58 7.5 Future Actions ...... 59 8 ABORIGINAL HERITAGE ...... 60 8.1 Introduction...... 60 8.2 Are we moving towards our goal? ...... 60 8.3 What has Council been doing? ...... 60 8.4 What are the key issues? ...... 61 8.5 Future Actions ...... 61 9 NON ABORIGINAL HERITAGE ...... 62 9.1 Introduction...... 62 9.2 Are we moving towards our goal? ...... 62 9.3 What has Council been doing? ...... 62 9.4 What are the key issues? ...... 62 9.5 Future Actions ...... 63 10 ARE WE MOVING TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY? ...... 64
4
Mayor’s Message
Welcome to Hurstville City Council’s 2008/2009 State of the Environment (SoE) Report. While much of the Hurstville local government area has been urbanised, we are fortunate that it still includes natural waterways, bushland, and pristine parks and gardens. Council is committed to working with the local community to protect and enhance these natural features so that they can be enjoyed by both current and future residents of the City. For many people, environmental management is thought of as on ground projects such and bush regeneration and stormwater management. However, Hurstville City Council also recognises the importance of complimenting on ground outcomes with long term strategic initiatives, and leading by example within the local community. This year’s SoE report reflects that commitment and describes the various activities that Council has undertaken in recent years to care for the local environment. The report also identifies some of the important challenges that Council will need to address in the coming years to ensure our local environment is preserved into the future. I would encourage all members of the Hurstville community to read this year’s SoE report, not only to learn more about our local environment and what Council is doing to conserve it, but to also find out how Council and local residents can work together to build a sustainable community.
Cr Philip Sansom Mayor of Hurstville City Council
5 Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2008-2009 Introduction
1 INTRODUCTION
The role of local Government in managing the environment is clearly described in the local council’s Charter, under section 4 of the Local Government Act (1993) (LG Act). The Charter requires that all councils properly manage, develop, protect, restore, enhance and conserve the environment of the area for which it is responsible, in a manner that is consistent with and promotes the principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD). While the principles of (ESD) are described in the LG Act, in essence what they require councils to do is to make decisions and allocate resources in a way that will maintain and improve the integrity of the local environment, for current and future residents of the area. A key part in applying the principles of ESD is measuring and reporting on the condition of the local environment. Environmental reporting not only enables local councils to understand the state of its local environment, but to also describe the steps it will take to address specific issues and improve the condition of the environment in the longer term. How councils do this is by preparing an annual State of the Environment Report.
1.1 What is a State of the Environment Report?
Under the LG Act, councils are required to prepare a State of the Environment Report (SoE) that can be either a comprehensive or interim report. A comprehensive report must be prepared every 4 years or in the year following a local government election. The report must include background information that is relevant to the local environment, environmental indicators, the impact of human activities, and the steps that will be taken to address any identified issues or data gaps. During the interim years a supplementary SoE report can be prepared that simply provides an update on the trends reflected by the chosen indicators, and any environmental impacts not identified in the comprehensive report. Regardless of whether it is a comprehensive or supplementary report, an SoE must describe the condition of the environment based on 8 sectors; land, air, water, biodiversity, waste, noise, Aboriginal heritage and non-Aboriginal heritage. In addition, the assessment of each sector must be based on a pressure (factors influencing the condition of the sector), state (the current condition of the sector), response (what will be done to address the identified pressure) model.
1.2 How to use this report
This year’s SoE is a comprehensive report following the local government elections that were held in September 2008. The report updates Council’s previous comprehensive document, which was produced as the Hurstville Snapshot in 2004. The 2008/2009 report draws on the information contained in both the 2004 document, as well as the subsequent interim reports, to provide a compendium of the various activities that Council has undertaken during the last 5 years to care for the local environment. The structure of this SoE is based on the previous comprehensive report, and includes a series of indicators against which Council has monitored the condition of the local environment since 2004. Each section of the report includes:
Indicators – to monitor environmental condition within the LGA Introduction - describes the current state of the sector, Are we moving toward our goal? – describes the impact of Councils activities against environmental indicators
6
What has Council been doing? – describes Councils response to key issues and pressures What are the key issues? – describes the key pressures on the sector Future Actions – describes the actions Council will undertake in the future to address identified issues and pressures.
Are we moving toward a sustainable community? The report concludes with a brief synopsis of the current state of the local environment, based on the data that has been collected against the various environmental indicators.
1.3 Community Consultation
Community consultation is an integral component in the preparation of a comprehensive SoE, and this year Council conducted an online survey to determine if the local residents thought the condition of the local environment had improved or declined. The survey was conducted during August 2008 and received approximately one hundred responses. Some of the key outcomes of the survey are presented in Figures 1 and 2, and have been used to inform the preparation of this SoE report. Based on the survey responses depicted in Figures 1 and 2, the majority of respondents considered that the state of the local environments had declined in recent years, and that biodiversity protection was the most important environmental issue for Council to address.
Figure 1 - Change in environmental condition identified by survey respondents
Figure 2 - Environmental priorities identified by survey respondents
7
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 Land
2 LAND
Indicators: • Potential for acid sulphate soils • Bushfire prone land • Number of contaminated sites • Variety in the dwelling stock
Moving away from Community Vision No significant change Moving towards Community Vision
2.1 Introduction
The Hurstville Local Government Area (LGA) comprises a broad mix of land uses. The LGA comprises, wholly or partly, the suburbs of Allawah, Beverly Hills, Carlton, Hurstville, Kingsgrove, Lugarno, Mortdale, Narwee, Oatley, Peakhurst, Peakhurst Heights, Penshurst and Riverwood. covering 299 hectares. It also includes a thriving The LGA has an area of 22.8 square kilometres and, commercial city centre in Hurstville. at 30 June 2008, had a population of approximately 78,000 with on average 3,421 residents per square Table 1 gives an indication of the mix of land uses in kilometre. Major industrial land uses are the Hurstville LGA and how they are changing. concentrated in the suburbs of Kingsgrove and Peakhurst. The LGA contains a network of 155 parks Table 1 - Land Use Type per Area (approx.)
2005 2009 Change
Land use type % Area (m2) % 2005-2009 (%)
Residential (Zone 2) 68.7 12,690,000 68.9 0.154
Roads and Rail 1.7 320,300 1.7 0.000
Public Uses (Zones 5a, 5b) 5.2 927,800 5.0 -0.191
Commercial Uses (Zones 3a, 3b, 3c) 3.0 557,800 3.0 0.000
Industrial Uses (Zone 4) 4.8 875,200 4.8 0.000
Green Area, Open Space (Zones 6a, 6b) 16.5 3,053,000 16.6 0.037
TOTAL 100.0 18,424,100 100 0.154
2.1.1 Geology and Soils and to ensure biodiversity is also maintained. In the Land uses are influenced by landform and soil type. Hurstville LGA the predominant geological formation Hurstville Council is committed to ensuring that the is the Ashfield Shales, which belong to the natural condition of land and soil is maintained as far Wianamatta Group. as is practical for the particular land use proposed,
8
be realised within the South subregion. In this The weathering of these shales leads to the regard, one of the key directions within the formation of residual clay soil profiles and gently Subregional Strategy was to strengthen Hurstville’s undulating topography. This is overlaid by the commercial centre as a Major Centre within the Cumberland and Warumbul Soils Associations which region. A Major Centre is described in the Strategy range from one to three metres in depth in places. as major shopping and business centre serving an The southern and western parts of the LGA contain immediate subregional residential population with a outcrops of the Hawkesbury Sandstone, which full scale shopping mall, council offices, taller office underly the Ashfield Shales. In contrast to the shale, and residential buildings, central community facilities the sandstone, because of its greater resistance to and a minimum of 8000 jobs. This in turn would weathering, has formed relatively steep topography. require a civic precinct that is strongly integrated with This area is characterised by relatively thin sandy soil both rail and bus transport, and underpinned by a (Hawkesbury Association) generally shallower than coupling of high quality commercial and retail one metre. In the transition from the shale to the architecture with an engaging and safe public sandstone, the soils are of the Hammondville domain. Association. The Strategy also identified key employment land Bays and inlets, which are readily identified by their within the LGA, including employment and dwelling mangroves and saltmarsh, have been infilled by targets, as well as a hierarchy of major centres, town alluvial sands, which are soft and compressible. The centres, villages and neighbourhood centres that hydrological catchments have resulted in drainage to should be protected and strengthened. Since the the north flowing into the Cooks River and to the release of the draft Strategy, Council has undertaken south flowing down the valleys between the a range of projects that will help realise the aims and sandstone peninsulas into Salt Pan Creek and the objectives of both the draft Subregional and Georges River. Metropolitan Strategies. Two volcanic intrusions have been identified. One is underlying HV Evatt Park, forming a depression in 2.2 Are we moving towards our goal? the Hawkesbury Sandstone about 30m below the 2.2.1 Acid Sulfate Soils ridge tops, with dimensions of 400m by 200m. Another, 1.22m wide, has been identified in Lloyd Acid sulfate soils (ASS) are naturally occurring soils Street, Oatley. Man-made fill has been used in valley that contain iron sulfides. When these soils are areas, mainly in the south-western suburbs, and has exposed to air, they oxidise and generate sulfuric also been used as a capping for decommissioned acid. This acid can leach out into the surrounding landfill sites. area acidifying neighbouring drains, wetlands, creeks and estuaries causing severe environmental damage. Impacts include poor plant growth, failed 2.1.2 Metropolitan Strategy and the South West landscaping, corrosion of concrete drains, pipes and Sub Regional Strategy foundations of buildings and bridges and degradation In 2005, the NSW State government released its of water quality. When the soil remains covered or Metropolitan Strategy, City of Cities – A Plan for waterlogged and the air is excluded, acid is not Sydney’s Future (2006-2031). The document generated. In this situation the soil type does not provided a broad framework for the future present any substantial threat to the environment. development of Sydney based on a series of In 2009 Council estimates that 13.8% of land in the strategies that would not only secure Sydney’s place Hurstville LGA is potentially affected by acid sulfate as a global city, but also improve its liveability for soils. Of this, 76% is privately owned and 23% is current and future residents. public land. The suburbs potentially affected by acid The Strategy was supported by a series of sub sulfate soils include parts of Riverwood, Peakhurst, regional strategies including the South Subregion Peakhurst Heights, Lugarno, Oatley and Mortdale. Draft Subregional Strategy, which was released in late 2007. The draft Strategy included the local government areas of Hurstville, Canterbury, Kogarah, Marrickville, Rockdale and Sutherland. The purpose of the draft Strategy was to provide greater detail as to how the aims of the Metropolitan Strategy would
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 2.2.2 Bushfire prone land that are considered significantly contaminated and/or require monitoring under the Act; and Bush fire prone lands are generally those forest, woodland or grasslands that, by virtue of their bush • Management by local authorities (councils) as a fire hazard and proximity to existing and proposed component of the planning and development development, present a significant risk to life and process. property in the event of a bush fire. In this regard, Council considers contaminated land In 2003 the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire issues as a component of the development Service certified a Bush Fire Prone Lands Map for assessment and rezoning process against the the Hurstville LGA. The map identified bushfire requirements of the Act and State Environmental hazards and appropriate buffer zones to help protect Planning Policy 55 (Remediation of Land) (SEPP55). properties from fire attack. The map itself depicts Under this framework Council must consider the three vegetation classes, Forest and Woodland potential contamination of land before it can issue a (Category 1) and Remnant vegetation (Category 2). development consent or progress a rezoning Associated with each vegetation class is a buffer proposal. In addition, Council, under section 149 (2) zone that is established to reduce the likelihood of of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act ember attack and the affects of radiant heat. The (1979), must also record if land has been identified buffer for Category 1 vegetation is 100m, while for as being significantly contaminated, is subject to Category 2 vegetation the distance is reduced to management orders under the CLM Act, or has been 30m. Approximately 11.6% of the LGA has been identified as unhealthy building land under the now identified as bush fire prone land. repealed Unhealthy Building Land Act (1990). (Unhealthy building land is land that may have been In order to reduce the likelihood of bush fire attack contaminated as a result of having been used as a within the LGA, Council undertakes hazard reduction landfill site, night soil disposal site, or exposed to activities on all land under its care control and chemical, radioactivity and other potential management. This is done in accordance with the contaminants). Hurstville/Bankstown Bush Fire Risk Management Plan and the NSW Rural Fire Services’ In 2009, there were 7 identified contaminated sites Environmental Assessment Code. In addition, within the LGA, the same number as were recorded Council also requires that all new development in 2004. In this regard, the sites are all former landfill applications within designated bush fire prone areas sites that are considered unsuitable for development are prepared in accordance with specific planning given the instability of the land as a result of controls and the NSW Rural Fire Services’ Planning decomposing landfill materials. for Bushfire Protection document. 2.2.4 Diversity of the dwelling stock 2.2.3 Contaminated Sites In 2006 there were 28,791 dwellings in the Hurstville The management of contaminated land within NSW LGA. This was an increase of 942 dwellings is regulated under the Contaminated Land between 2001 and 2006. Most of the dwelling stock Management Act (1997) (CLM Act), which was is in the form of separate houses (16,769 dwellings). recently amended by the Contaminated Land Separate dwellings equate to 58.2% of the total Management Amendment Act 2008. The stock, slightly higher than the Sydney Statistical amendment Act was assented by the NSW Division (SD) average of 57.1%. The incidence of Parliament in December 2008, after which the medium and high density residences is on the rise majority of the amending provisions will commence in with 10,336 properties recorded in 2006 (1203 more July 2009. The amended Act will also be than 2001) and a higher than average proportion of complimented by the Contaminated Land flats (35.9%) compared to 34.7% for Sydney SD. Management Regulation 2008. These results reflect the ongoing urban consolidation In broad terms, there are two levels of regulation and that has been taking place within the LGA over a management of contaminated land in NSW: number of years and in particular within the Hurstville • Department of Environment, Climate Change and City Centre. Water (DECCW) regulated sites – those sites
87
2.3 What has Council been doing? Penshurst and Kingsgrove. These studies will help 2.3.1 Bush Fire Prone Land ensure the integrity and viability of these centres is maintained into the future, based on the provision of In consultation with the NSW Rural Fire Service appropriately zoned land and the preparation of (RFS), Council has prepared a Bush Fire Prone suitable planning controls. Lands Map that identifies all land within the LGA that is susceptible to bush fire attack. Against this map It is anticipated that the draft LEP will be exhibited Council has prepared a suite of planning controls to toward the end of the next reporting period and ensure that all new development proposals within gazetted in 2011. Once in place, the LEP will be one bush fire prone areas conform with the requirements of the key Council documents that will contribute to of the NSW RFS’ Planning for Bush Fire Protection. the realisation of the Metropolitan and South Moreover, to ensure all the requirements of the Subregional Strategies within the Hurstville LGA. document have been met, Council refers all relevant NSW Housing Code and Single dwelling housing applications to the RFS seeking its concurrence on controls the respective proposals. In this regard, Council has referred 32 developments applications to the RFS In November 2008, Council exhibited a range of during the current reporting period. amendments to its two Development Control Plans (DCP), DCP 1 and DCP 2 including draft controls for In adopting this approach Council has endeavoured single dwelling houses. The proposed amendments to ensure that all new developments within bush fire were related to landscaping, building heights, floor prone areas conform with the standards required by space ratio (FSR) and set backs. The draft the RFS, and are better placed to withstand bush fire document also included new sections regarding attack. ancillary structures, additions and alterations to With regard to public land, Council has continued to dwelling houses, and specific controls for implement the Hurstville/Bankstown Bush Fire Risk development within the Foreshore Scenic Protection Management Plan to ensure bush fire risk is Area. minimised within the LGA. However, in February 2009 the DoP released the NSW Housing Code with the gazettal of State 2.3.2 Planning and Development Controls Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (the Codes Comprehensive Local Environmental Plan SEPP). The Code and SEPP introduced an In 2006 the NSW government gazetted the Standard alternative path to the established development Instrument – Principal Local Environmental Plan assessment and approval process for a range of template, and required that all metropolitan councils small developments including decks, pergolas, and prepare a new consolidated Local Environmental garden sheds. Under the Code this type of Plan (LEP) based on the standard instrument. development could occur without requiring formal Moreover, the NSW Department of Planning has development approval from Council (i.e. Exempt directed Council to complete the preparation of its Development). In addition, the Code also facilitates new LEP by mid 2011. the construction of new single and two storey dwelling houses, and the alteration and addition of a Council commenced the preparation of the second storey to existing dwelling houses, provided Comprehensive LEP in 2007, and during the current they are on a minimum lot size of 450m2 and within a reporting period has developed a number of draft residential zone. discussion papers that will underpin and assist in identifying appropriate standard template zoning In this instance the development is approved with the classification to be applied within the Hurstville LGA. provision of a Complying Development Certificate The discussion papers will be released to the local (i.e. Complying Development). The code also community during the 2009/10 reporting period, and specifies a number of situations in which Complying local residents will be encouraged to contribute their Development does not apply, including development ideas to the future planning of the City. within bush fire prone land. In addition, a series of investigations will also be As a result of these changes, Council will be undertaken examining, amongst other things, the reviewing its current single dwelling house controls availability and/or need of commercial floor space and Council is expected to adopt new controls in the within the existing commercial centres of Mortdale, 2009/10 reporting period.
88
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 Mashmans Rezoning with only a few remaining dwelling houses to be constructed. In June 2006, Council resolved to prepare an amendment to the Hurstville Local Environmental Plan 1994 (LEP 1994) for the former Mashmans 2.3.3 Hurstville City Centre Pottery and Tile Works, Kingsgrove. The proposed Hurstville has been the regional centre of southern 2 amendment sought to rezone the 7,664m site from Sydney for more than 20 years. Building on its role Light industrial (Zone 4) and Residential (Zone 2) to as a major retail and commercial hub, the City Centre Business Centre (Zone 3(c)) zone/s, and provide experienced significant high-rise residential controls for height and floor space. The site, once development during the 1990s. Council adopted the rezoned would accommodate a mixed commercial, 2004 Hurstville City Centre Masterplan which retail and residential development including a provides a clear direction about the type of supermarket. The amendment was also development Hurstville wants to attract, the additional complimented by an amendment to Development infrastructure to be provided and improvements to Control Plan 1 (DCP 1), which provided further detail amenity in the City Centre. This will be achieved regarding a range of matters including built form and through a ten point strategy: landscaping. In particular, the DCP amendment also included a number of specific provisions to ensure the protection and preservation of the heritage values 1. Building our City to 6. More open space of the site. (The Mashmans site is listed as an item protect our suburbs of local significance under the Hurstville LEP). The LEP and DCP amendments were exhibited during 2. A new bus interchange 7. Greening the City September and October 2007. Centre During the exhibition period several issues were 3. A new Civic Precinct 8. Improved traffic flow raised including building setbacks, car parking, traffic and additional public movement and vehicular access. As a result, a parking number of amendments were made to the draft DCP, 4. Better railway station 9. Increased employment which were endorsed by Council in March 2009. In access addition, Council also resolved that the maximum 5. Improved north-south 10. Funding options for building height on the Mashman site be reduced from connections public facilities 5 to 4 storeys. Council has since submitted the proposed LEP amendment to the NSW DoP for formal approval and These objectives were further strengthened in 2006 publication in the NSW Government Gazette. by the release of the NSW Government’s Narwee Public School Rezoning Metropolitan and South Subregional Strategies, which identified the Hurstville City Centre as a Major In October 2006, Hurstville LEP 1994 (Amendment Centre within the region. No 64) came into force, following its publication in the NSW Government Gazette. The LEP rezoned the Furthermore, in March 2009, Council resolved to former Narwee Boys High School, Mountview update the Masterplan and to prepare a DCP that Avenue, Narwee from the General Special Uses would guide the implementation of the Plan and Zone (School) (Zone 5 (a)), to part Residential (Zone ensure its aims and objectives are realised. 2) and part Open Space (Zone 6 (a)). Approximately City Centre Development Control Plan 18% or 7,400m2 of the 4.2ha site was retained as Council is currently preparing a suite of planning public open space. Elsewhere, the rezoned land has controls for the Hurstville City Centre, which will provided in the order of 90 separately titled dwellings, include a new City Centre DCP and an amendment and a maximum of 18 loft houses and 5 studios. to the Hurstville LEP, as well as the updated The site, which had ceased operating as a school in Masterplan. The preparation of these documents will 2001 was an ideal location for residential be underpinned by a raft of additional studies that redevelopment given its proximity to Narwee train were identified in the 2004 City Centre Masterplan. station, local neighbourhood shops, and other major The structure of the DCP will be similar to that which shopping centres in Beverly Hills and Riverwood. In has been adopted by the Department of Planning 2009, the rezoned land was nearly fully developed
89
10 Cites Taskforce Group, which has prepared DCP’s the City. In particular, Council decided to complete for Parramatta, Penrith, Wollongong and Liverpool an Open Space, Recreation, Community and Library city centres. In this regard, the DCP will be based on Facilities Strategy that would identify the future open series of precincts, each having a unique long term space and recreation needs of the Hurstville character statement and a series of planning controls community. that will focus on built form, pedestrian amenity, Since that time Council has engaged a specialist access and parking, public domain and consultant to undertake a review of existing facilities, environmental sustainability. Once completed, the perform a gap analysis based on expected need, and City Centre DCP will replace DCP 2 – Hurstville City to prepare a schedule of works including detailed Centre. costings to address any of the identified infrastructure It is anticipated that the revised Masterplan and draft deficiencies. To date, Council has prepared a DCP will be exhibited in the 2009/10 reporting period. stakeholder engagement strategy and conducted a number of consultation events both with the broader Hurstville City Centre Bus Interchange and community, and with specific user groups. Pedestrian Access Ramp It is anticipated that this project will be completed A key element of the City Centre Masterplan is the during the 2009/10 reporting period and inform the construction of a new Bus Interchange that together preparation of its new S94 Plans. with Hurstville Railway Station will form a central transport hub for the City. The Interchange will be located in Woodville Lane, and will link via an at 2.3.5 Open Space Plans of Management grade pedestrian access ramp that is to be The Local Government Act (1993) requires Council to constructed from the concourse level of the station have Plans of Management (POM) for all community via the existing shopping arcade. It is expected that land within the LGA. travel times for passenger’s interchanging between the two modes of transport will also be reduced Under the Act, all land that Council owns or is (HCC, 2004). responsible for its care control and management must be classified as either community or operational Council has been working closely with the NSW land. In general, there are not any specific provisions Ministry of Transport (MoT) (which will become NSW regarding the management of operational land, other Transport and Infrastructure from 1 July 2009) in than those contained in environmental planning implementing this important Project. Indeed, in 2008 instruments (e.g. Local Environmental Plan) that Council secured $8.1M from the NSW Government to apply to the land. In contrast, community land must acquire 4 properties fronting Forest Road, east of be used and managed in accordance with the Woodville Lane where the Interchange will be requirements of a POM, and cannot be sold or located. It is anticipated that Council shall receive otherwise disposed of by Council. approval from the MoT to acquire a fifth property during the next reporting period. Plans of Management can be either generic (applies to more than one area of land) or specific (applies to Construction of the Interchange is scheduled to one area of land only). Specific POMs are prepared commence in 2010. for land that is habitat for threatened species listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 2.3.4 Open Space, Recreation, Community (1995) and the Fisheries Management Act (2006), or and Library Facilities Strategy is considered by Council to have significant natural or cultural values. Generic POMs on the other hand In May 2007, Council considered a report regarding apply to land where the management issues are less the review of its Section 94 Contributions Plans. S94 complex and can include areas such as Plans are a funding mechanism described under sportsgrounds and parks. section 94 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979), which allows Council to levy A POM must categorise the land to which it applies funds from developers to build new public facilities as either natural area, sportsground, park, culturally that are needed as a result of the development. significant, or general community use. Land that is Having considered the report, Council resolved to categorised as natural area must also be further undertake a range of studies that would inform the categorised, under a number of categories including preparation of a new suite of Contributions Plans for bushland, watercourse or wetland. Each of these
90
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 11 categories has a corresponding set of core objectives • providing space for appropriate infrastructure that must be addressed in the POM • preserving scenic and cultural sites. As a minimum a POM must include: • the category of the land 2.4.1 Clear and consistent planning controls • objectives and performance targets for the Given the fundamental role that Council’s planning management of the land instruments play in determining land use within the City, it is essential that they are not only consistent • the means by which Council proposes to achieve with the requirements of the State and Federal the objectives and performance targets, and governments, but also reflect the needs and • how the objectives and performance targets are aspirations of the local community. With this in mind, to be achieved and assessed. a key issue for Council to address in the coming In recent years Council has adopted generic POMs years is the completion of its Comprehensive LEP, as for Parks (2007) and Natural Areas (2008). These well as the suite of supporting documents including documents compliment specific Plans for Beverly the City Centre DCP and revised developer Hills Park, Heinrich Reserve, and Oatley Park, and contribution plans. This will not only assist Council in generic Plans for General Community Use Areas, its efforts to realise the various targets contained in and Sportsgrounds. the Metropolitan Strategy, but will also help ensure the adequate provision of open space, sportsgrounds and other recreation opportunities within the LGA. 2.4 What are the key issues?
The condition of land resources within the Hurstville 2.4.2 Urban Bushland LGA is subject to a range of influences including Despite the predominately urban character of the population growth, resource consumption (energy Hurstville LGA, there are a number of parks and and water), the availability and nature of employment reserves that contain significant areas of remnant opportunities, and the lifestyle expectations of the bushland. Perhaps the best example of these is local community. The primary tool that Council has Oatley Park which includes approximately 45 ha of in influencing the way land resources are used and remnant bushland, including threatened plants and managed within the LGA is its Local Environmental animals (flora and fauna) that are recognised under Plan and supporting Development Control Plans. both State and Federal legislation. However, land use within the area is also influenced by the Federal and State Government’s in the form of In all, approximately 78 ha or 4% of the LGA has long term strategies, legislation and the provision of been identified as urban bushland, however some of critical infrastructure and essential services. these areas are not under the care control and management of Council (e.g Georges River National Perhaps the best example of such an influence is the Park) or are privately owned. Again, appropriate NSW Government’s Metropolitan Strategy, which zoning and planning controls are essential to ensure describes a series of long term objectives including these important areas of vegetation are afforded employment and dwelling targets that are to be adequate protection under Council’s planning underpinned by the appropriate zoning of land within instruments and operational documents. In this the LGA. Coupled with this are far reaching regard, the provision and protection of open space environmental imperatives, such as climate change, will be an integral consideration during the which may also have a significant impact on land use preparation of Council’s Comprehensive LEP. throughout in the City. Moreover, the ongoing refinement of Council’s Undoubtedly, the management of land within the generic and specific POMs will also help ensure the Hurstville LGA is a complex and strategically based appropriate management and protection of undertaking that is driven by a number of key issues, community land within the LGA. including: While urban bushland plays an important role in • maintaining and enhancing residential areas maintaining the recreational and aesthetic amenity of • protecting biodiversity and their ecosystems the area, it is also fundamental in protecting biodiversity within the LGA. Small parks and • retaining industrial and employment lands reserves can serve as habitat for a range of plants
91
12 and animals, while also providing stepping stones transport nodes and commercial centres. This between larger areas of bushland throughout the intensification of development and density around region. Understanding how these areas are used, railway stations in particular, will have an impact on and by which species is a crucial step in Council the built form within the LGA. Most notably this will further enhancing its land use planning and continue to influence the ongoing development of the management framework. In order to address this City Centre, where residential, commercial and mixed issue Council intends to prepare a Biodiversity use activity will be most intense. Strategy for the LGA in the coming years (Section 5). Coupled with this are a number of important issues for Council to address in the coming years. In 2.4.3 Climate Change particular, it will be important for Council to ensure that its development controls facilitate the In recent years the impact of climate change has construction of a range of building types throughout emerged as a significant issue that will need to be the City that are of a high architectural and addressed by all tiers of government. Hurstville environmental standard. Similarly, it will also need to Council will not be immune to these impacts and will ensure that appropriate strategies are in place that need to address them with a combination of both will allow it to provide and maintain adequate public mitigation and adaptive measures. Indeed, given the infrastructure and facilities. LGA includes substantial foreshore areas that could be adversely impacted by sea level rise, it is crucial that Council continue to consider climate change as a fundamental element in the preparation of its land use, corporate, and financial planning documents. To date, Council has undertaken a range of mitigation measure that are discussed in more detail in Section 3 (Air). Nonetheless, during the next reporting period Council will be preparing a Climate Change Risk Assessment & Adaptation Plan for the LGA. The Plan will describe the necessary actions that Council will need to undertake in order to continue to deliver essential services as the impacts of climate change intensify. This document will also be complimented by the Comprehensive LEP and supporting DCPs which will ensure buildings and service infrastructure are appropriately located and constructed within the LGA. The DCP in particular, will include controls to help reduce the consumption of energy during the construction and operation of new buildings throughout the City.
2.4.4 Built Form Hurstville’s built environment has been subject to ongoing change because of an increasing need to provide additional housing in the City area, revitalise existing housing stock, and retain and expand commercial and employment opportunities throughout the LGA. In many ways these pressures were most clearly articulated with the release of the NSW Government’s Metropolitan Strategy. As previously discussed, the Strategy recognises Hurstville’s role as a Major Centre within the region, while also describing a broad framework for continued development around a series of identified
92
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 13 2.5 Future Actions
Issue Action Planning controls 1. Complete the Comprehensive LEP for the City, which will include: • Appropriate zoning of land to provide for future housing and employment needs. • Appropriate zoning to afford adequate protection for key environmental assets. • Completion of Contribution Plans that will assist in the provision and maintenance of community services and infrastructure.. 2. Complete the City Centre, and City Wide DCP reviews, which will include: • Planning controls to ensure appropriate architectural and environmental outcomes are achieved for all building types within the LGA. Climate Change Prepare a Climate Change Adaptation Plan, which will include: • Risk assessment to identify areas of maximum exposure. • Adaptation actions and implementation timeframes. Community Land Prepare and implement a review schedule for Council’s generic and specific Plans of Management.
14 Air
3 AIR
Indicators:
• Number of high pollution days on regional pollution index • Number of air pollution complaints to Council • Number of pollution complaints to DECCW hotline
Moving away from Community Vision No significant change Moving towards Community Vision
3.1 Introduction
Air quality issues can be addressed at the global, regional and local level. Global air quality issues include the emission of greenhouse gases and the depletion of the ozone layer. On a regional scale air quality problems include photochemical smog, fine particle pollution and nitrogen dioxide. The main local air quality issues include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead and other air toxics. Air is composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen, but the air we breathe also contains pollutants emitted from various sources. Pollutants include oxides of nitrogen, volatile organic compounds, particles, lead, carbon monoxide, ozone, lead and sulfur dioxide. Air pollution can damage the environment or affect the health of people (particularly the young, elderly and those with respiratory problems).
blanketed by these gases which significantly Within the Sydney Basin, certain conditions exist contribute to raising the average temperature of the which can result in high pollution levels. Polluted air planet. Climate change will have serious implications begins to drain north at midnight (some branches off for humans and the greater environment through more towards Liverpool and along the Nepean River) frequent and catastrophic weather events, as well as arriving at Penrith, St Marys, Richmond, Windsor and issues such as sea level rise and decreased Blacktown at around 9am. Under conditions availability of farming land for food production. conducive to smog, this air stagnates all day over Western Sydney. Night time drainage begins at 2am Under the Protection of the Environment Operations the next day, and reaching the coast about 10am. Of Act (1997) local councils are recognised as the particular interest to the Southern Sydney region are appropriate regulatory authority for all ‘unscheduled’ the air flows from around 11am until late afternoon, in commercial and industrial premises, such as which sea breezes can develop and bring already mechanics, smash repairers, spray painters etc, for polluted air (from morning peak hour and recirculated pollution. air) back onshore. The air mass arrives at This excludes public authorities and large industrial Campbelltown around 3pm where it spreads out over and waste facilities which are licensed by the the Macarthur, South Creek and Hawkesbury Basins. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Issues surrounding air quality can also be closely Water (DECCW). linked to climate change. With greater concentrations The Hurstville Local government area has two of carbon dioxide and methane (both serious industrial areas, one in Kingsgrove and the other in greenhouse gases) entering the atmosphere as a Peakhurst. The cumulative impact of these premises result of human activities, the Earth is becoming is unknown, however, the tendency of many of these
87
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2008-2009 15 premises to locate in the one area can lead to 3.3 What has Council been doing? noticeable impacts on stormwater quality and other 3.3.1 Energy Savings Action Plan environmental factors. In September 2006, Council prepared an Certain types of commercial premises can also create Energy Savings Action Plan (ESAP) in significant air quality issues, for example, the emission response to a directive of the Department of of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds Energy, Utilities and Sustainability under the can result in significant odours from fast food shops. Energy Administration Amendment (Water and It should be noted that under (Schedule 1) of the Energy Savings) Act (2005) for metropolitan POEO Act (1997), local burns are not permitted in the councils to develop and implement Energy and LGA. This relates specifically to the burning of excess Water Savings Action Plans. garden organics, household waste and other The Action Plan required Council to focus on its associated materials. top ten energy consuming sites. The NSW Department of Commerce was engaged to 3.2 Are we moving towards our goal? conduct technical audits of the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre, Hurstville House and 3.2.1 Regional Pollution Index Council’s Civic Centre. Audits on the remaining The Department of Environment, Climate Change and seven of the top ten sites were undertaken Water undertakes ambient air quality monitoring and internally by Council staff including the reporting within the Sydney airshed at 23 different Hurstville Oval, Council Works Depot, Central locations. A Regional Air Quality Index (RAQI) is Library, Branch Library, Senior Citizen’s Centre, produced for three regions (Eastern Sydney, North Olds Park Dressing Rooms and Roberts Ave Western Sydney and South Western Sydney). Tennis Courts. Hurstville City Council lies within the Eastern Sydney The ESAP identifies a number of meaningful region. The nearest monitoring stations are located energy reduction measures that will save up to outside the area, at Earlwood and Randwick. The 20% of energy consumed at these sites and RAQI was updated in 2008 from the previous reduce greenhouse gas emissions over coming Regional Pollution Index (RPI) and is based on the years. The measures encompass lighting, air five criteria pollutants (as per National standards) plus conditioning, equipment and appliances and the visibility (as per the NSW standard) at all sites across manner in which they are used. the NSW DECCW air quality monitoring network. The first ESAP report was submitted in May Nevertheless, air quality during the current reporting 2009 to the DECCW highlighting the seven cost period has remained reasonably constant with only 1 effective items that had been completed across instance where levels were exceeded of the National three Council sites. In the interim, the DECCW Environment Protection Measure guidelines during has requested that all cost effective items be 2008. In contrast, the number of high pollution days completed by December 2010. recorded under the previous RPI index was slightly higher (Table 2). Energy actions completed during 2007-2009 include: Table 2 – Number of high pollution days (2004-2007) - Replacement of low efficiency shower heads at the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre (HALC) with high efficiency low YEAR NUMBER OF HIGH POLLUTION flow heads DAYS - Provision of a 7 day timer switch to turn 2004 7 off the gymnasium air conditioning at 2005 4 night at the HALC 2006 11 - Installation of a voltage reduction unit for the basement car park at the HALC 2007 5 - Derating of the hot water heater in the Civic Centre to 60°C
70
16 - Review of air conditioning plant operation Unfortunately, the achievement of completing the final schedules to match occupancy hours and the milestone in the CCP Program coincides with the provision of after hours timers to enable short cessation of CCP Program from 30 June, 2009. This term activation where needed in the Civic means the CCP project support for councils, including Centre Hurstville Council, will no longer be available. However, ICLEI plans to continue to work with Local - Installation of a voltage reduction unit for the Government to tackle climate change issues and any basement carpark lighting in the Civic Centre new initiatives as they arise. - Installation of a voltage reduction unit for the basement carpark lighting in Hurstville House 3.3.3 Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre These measures have reduced energy consumption Sustainable Water and Energy by 1572 GJ per annum, which is equivalent to a Management Feasibility Study greenhouse gas saving of 412 tonnes of CO2. Energy and water audits undertaken in 2006 at the Council has also allocated sufficient funding that will Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre (HALC) for the enable its remaining cost effective actions to be preparation of the Energy and Water Savings Action completed by December 2010. Plans identified potential significant energy and water saving opportunities for investigation. This included 3.3.2 Cities for Climate Protection Program implementing a cogeneration plant for water heating The Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Program is an and other energy uses and a water harvesting and international program initiated by the International reuse within the site. The Department of Commerce Council for Local Environment Initiatives to reduce was engaged in 2007 to undertake a feasibility study greenhouse gas emissions at the local level. In analysing the full environmental and financial benefits, Australia the CCP Campaign was jointly run by the including the cost effectiveness of implementing these Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) and ICLEI. energy and water savings initiatives, at the Centre.
Hurstville City Council joined the CCP program in The feasibility report recommended that a August 2000 and has achieved all five of the cogeneration plant be installed at the HALC to provide Milestones in the program. In March 2003, Council electrical and thermal energy for the site. Based on adopted a goal of reducing community emissions by the preferred operating schedule, the plant would 20% of 1998 (base year) emissions by 2010. Key have a simple payback period of 9.5 years and deliver areas contributing to emissions include the industrial a reduction of 569 tonnes of greenhouse gas sector (53.6%), residential sector (19.6%) and emissions per annum (equivalent to taking 140 cars transport (18.1%) off the road permanently). Furthermore, If Council Milestone 4 was achieved in March 2007 whereby pursued this project, it would move towards its 20% Council abated emissions to the equivalent of 5% of reduction in total emissions target by an additional Council’s adopted greenhouse goal of 20% by 2010. 32%. This involved the implementation of greenhouse abatement actions previously identified in Council’s In 2009, Council submitted a Round 2 application to Greenhouse Action Plan, including lighting retrofits, the NSW Government’s Climate Change Fund which, vehicle fleet downsizing, green waste mulching and if successful, will assist in the development of the replacement of traditional computer monitors with cogeneration plant at the HALC. energy efficient ones. 3.3.4 Council’s Revolving Energy and In May 2009, Council was awarded Milestone 5 which Water Fund involved completing a reinventory of Council’s corporate and community greenhouse gas emissions Council’s Revolving Energy Fund was established in and a report was prepared which summarised the 2004 and has since been expanded to encompass progress Council had made towards achieving its water which enables both water and energy financial reduction goals. The report also described the savings from projects to be reinvested for future implementation of various abatement measures projects which conserve energy, water and reduce Council has undertaken to reduce its greenhouse gas greenhouse emissions. Council’s internal emissions and improve energy consumption. Environmental Sustainability Advisory Team (ESAT) identifies projects that would benefit from the Fund
71
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 17 and have been included in Councils Energy and 3.3.6 Energy Efficiency for Small Water Savings Action Plans. Business Program In early 2009, Council teamed up with the Department 3.3.5 Businesses for an Environmentally of Environment, Climate Change and Water in their Sustainable Tomorrow Energy Efficiency for Small Business Program to assist small businesses to lower their power bills and In 2007, the St George Councils received a grant of reduce carbon emissions. $136 500 from the Department of Environment and Climate Change for the ‘Businesses for an Fifteen local businesses ranging from food and retail Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow” program outlets, pharmacies, and manufacturers have joined (BEST). The project was funded through the Climate the Program. Businesses are set to benefit from the Action Grants Program, with an additional $13 900 energy and financial savings achieved by improving support from the St George Councils. the energy efficiency of existing equipment, or by installing new equipment that is more energy efficient. The objectives of the BEST Program were: The program offered an energy assessment, a • To raise awareness of climate change, water tailored action plan and a rebate of up to $5,000 for scarcity and waste issues. making energy efficiency improvements. • To engage, develop and increase the The rebate was available to pay for half of the costs to knowledge of local business in adopting implement improvements that have a return on environmentally sustainable practices in their investment period of more than two years. business. Rebates will also be paid for improvements to lighting • To reduce energy use (and hence (including skylights), heating, ventilation and air greenhouse gas emissions), water use and conditioning, boilers, air compressors, commercial the amount of waste produced by small refrigeration, electric motors, hot water systems and businesses in the St George region through insulation. educational and practical initiatives. • To promote businesses who are working 3.3.7 Regional Household Energy Survey towards environmental best practice to the wider community. In 2005 residents from Hurstville, Kogarah, Rockdale, Woollahra, Waverley and Canterbury LGAs were • To further develop the relationship between asked about their household’s hot water system, councils and local businesses working water use, heating/cooling, refrigeration, cooking and together to protect the environment. lighting. The survey also enquired about activities The program achievements were: such as washing/drying, transport, recycling, • The recruitment of 90 businesses within composting and use of Green Power. Penshurst, Ramsgate and Oatley precincts Over 2,300 responses were received by Hurstville • 2 Sustainability Workshops and Briefing residents alone with the results showing Hurstville Sessions residents emitted the most greenhouse gases. Transport contributed 47% which was slightly higher • A knowledge & evaluation survey of program than the regional average. This was followed by hot participants water systems (19%) and refrigeration (15%). This • Conducted a barriers to change survey data will be used to plan more effectively for community education programs by targeting those • Free BEST for assessments and retrofits for operations and behaviours that produce the most participating businesses emissions. • Savings of 74,500 litres of water and 19 tonnes of greenhouse gases for businesses within the Hurstville LGA.
72
18 lighting 3% clothes drying cooking 1% 6% refrigeration 15% transport 47%
heating&cooling 9%
hotwater 19%
Figure 3 - Household activity contributions to greenhouse gas emissions – Hurstville LGA
3.3.8 Fridge Buyback Program Council joined the Fridge Buyback Program in In total, the program has collected in excess of 4,000 August 2006 and has maintained steady levels of fridges and has secured additional funding to resident participation. The program is coordinated by continue the program into the near future. Next Energy with funding from the Federal Government. Fridge Buyback enables residents to 3.3.9 Sold Fuel Heater Buyback Program dispose of their second fridges that are greater than In 2004-2006 Council promoted the Solid Fuel Heater 10 years old. Old and inefficient fridges contribute Buyback Program which was funded by the Roads significantly to greenhouse gas emissions as they and Traffic Authority (RTA) as part of the M5 East Air contain greater levels of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Management Plan. Under the plan, certain which are now banned in new model fridges and households were eligible to receive a rebate of up to freezers. The fridges are degassed and the metal $700 to replace their old wood heater or open fire recycled. with new cleaner forms of heating. A total of 16 In June 2009, Hurstville Council was ranked twelfth heaters were replaced under the program within the out of forty participating Councils. This was the result Hurstville LGA, despite the fact that the LGA was of 296 fridges being collected in the LGA since the only partially covered by the program. Other program was launched, which is equivalent to 2,505 participating councils included Botany, Canterbury, tonnes of CO2 saved and over $420, 000 of Marrickville and Rockdale Councils. residential energy bill savings. Table 3 - Solid Fuel Heaters Bought Back under the Buy Back Program Council Area Total Fires Heaters $500 $700 Car equiv. Truck equiv. Hurstville 16 7 9 13 3 540 52.8
3.3.10 Clean Air Wood Heater Promotion 3.3.11 Cycleway Improvement Works During the past five years Council has promoted the In 2007 Council engaged a specialist consultant to importance of clean wood heating during the winter conduct a study that analysed the existing cycleways period, through articles in its community newsletter, and commuter connections in the area and where ‘Hurstville City News’. Council has also provided free missing links may exist which hinder residents from copies of the ‘Hot Tips for Cleaner Wood Heating’ to utilising bicycles as part of their daily commute. The residents requesting information on how they can study also investigated existing infrastructure for avoid wood smoke, which contains a number of bicycles and whether or not it conformed with noxious gases and fine particles. Australian Standards. The project identified several
73
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 19 corridors that could be improved for better cycle fuel option and encouraged to use the fuel where access and will be the focus of future grant available. A laminated tag was also provided and applications made by Council. displayed in each vehicle which prompted the use of the fuel. In the 08/09 year, staff used approximately The Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of 58,000L of E10 fuel compared to approximately Councils (SSROC) also submitted a grant application 113,000L of regular unleaded and approximately in 2009 to the RTA under its Metro Greenspace 112,000L of diesel. The lower usage of E10 fuel can Program to investigate regional cycleways and be attributed to the fuel type not being as readily connections to existing local bike plans. This available as other fuel types. application involves conducting a feasibility study of the Oatley Cycleway via Hurstville to Botany Bay bicycle trail and identifying any missing links that may 3.3.15 Public Transport and Bus Interchange inhibit ease of commuting for cyclists. Hurstville is a major commercial centre that provides a significant public transport link within the Sydney 3.3.12 Earth Hour Rail Network. Rail provides an efficient method of moving people (50,000 people per hour by train Council has supported and promoted Earth Hour compared to 2500 people via one freeway lane). since its inception in 2007. Households have been Hurstville Station is ranked the 14th busiest station in encouraged to turn off their lights for 60 minutes at Sydney since 2003 with over 14,000 commuters 7:30pm so that energy suppliers could measure how passing through the gates each day. Beverly Hills much energy was saved, and hence calculate the Station is becoming increasingly popular with close to greenhouse emissions abated. The Earth Hour 2,400 commuters travelling every day from the event has since gone global with over 90 countries station. Table 4 shows the change in passenger supporting the cause to show the connection numbers since 2004. between the electricity people use in their homes and offices and the climate change emissions that coal- Table 4 - Passengers Commuting Through fired power stations generate. Hurstville LGA Railway Stations
Council has participated in the event by ensuring the lights in key Council buildings (excluding those which require lighting for safety and security reasons) were turned off. Staff were also encouraged to take action both at work and at home.
3.3.13 Eco Living Workshops Since 2006, Council has provided Eco Living Workshops to the community in conjunction with Kogarah and Rockdale Councils. Residents have had the opportunity to participate in workshops that can teach them how to live more sustainably and reduce their emissions such as energy and water The Hurstville City Centre Master Plan recommended efficiency, waste minimisation, home composting and the establishment of a bus interchange at Woodville information sessions on climate change. Lane opposite a new at-grade pedestrian entrance Approximately 30 residents attend each workshop (meeting disability standards) to the railway and feedback has been extremely positive. It is concourse. anticipated that the program will continue in future Council has been working toward establishing the years with a greater diversity of interest topics Interchange (Section 2.2.3) which, once complete, covered. will facilitate efficient interchange between bus and rail modes of transport. This being the case, it is 3.3.14 Council Fleet Fuel Usage anticipated the commissioning of the facility will coincide with increased public transport patronage In 2008, Council approved the use of 10% ethanol within the LGA. based fuels for all compatible fleet vehicles. Staff were provided with a letter informing them of the new
70
20 3.3.16 Energy Monitoring 3.4.3 Domestic Sources Council engaged a specialist consultant in 2007 to The main sources of domestic air pollution include monitor energy use across Council’s facilities. direct emissions from solid fuel heaters, barbecues Quarterly reports are generated for Council’s key and lawn mowers and indirect emissions from landfill facilities and the data is used to report against the gases (methane is 21 times more potent than CO2). targets described in Council’s Energy Savings Action Smoke from open fires and wood heaters is a major Plan progress reports. cause of air pollution. In winter they cause up to three times more air pollution than cars - 40 to 50% of the The data is also useful in ascertaining why usage is air particle pollution in the Sydney region. These either decreasing or increasing and what measures particles create the brown haze that we see over can be put in place to further reduce energy use. Sydney in the winter. 3.4 What are the key issues? Wood smoke contains a number of noxious gases including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, and a 3.4.1 Local private vehicle registrations range of organic compounds some of which are toxic The total number of vehicles registered in NSW by or carcinogenic, as well as fine particles, which go the Roads and Traffic Authority in 2004 was deep into the lungs. 4,772,682 which rose significantly to 5,318,614 in These pollutants can cause breathing difficulties 2009. In the Hurstville LGA there are 53,963 licence even at relatively low levels, especially for people holders in 2009 with a substantial proportion of those suffering respiratory conditions such as asthmatics being learner permits (4,035), indicating that a spike and for very young children and the elderly. in car ownership may be seen in the next couple of years. Council is currently faced with the problem of rapidly decreasing landfill volume and increasing domestic The RTA also measures and controls emissions from waste volumes produced through the kerbside the M5 Tunnel where the monitoring locations are system. In order to meet State Government targets, reasonably close to Council boundaries. The RTA Council must investigate ways of utilising advanced has set a goal for particulate matter levels of 50 waste treatment systems to manage the >50% PM , and the tunnel is usually operating at around 10 organic content of average domestic waste loads. 20 PM . Nevertheless, there have been a few 10 Currently landfills emit significant amounts of occurrences during the reporting period that the air methane gas and while well managed landfills can quality systems have failed and hence the tunnel has capture portions of this gas for use as an energy, been closed to the public. there are many landfills that do not have this technology. Waste treatment remains a major 3.4.2 Climate Change Adaptation concern for all Councils given population surges and current consumer behaviours which generate much Greenhouse gases (water vapour, carbon dioxide, waste. methane and nitrous oxide) are a natural part of the earth’s atmosphere. The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased 3.4.4 Industry and Commercial Sources significantly mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels Hurstville LGA has two industrial areas (Kingsgrove and land clearing. The increased level of greenhouse and Peakhurst/Mortdale). Within these areas are an gas emissions trap more heat in the atmosphere array of businesses which use hazardous materials causing global warming and climate change. and operate in ways which potentially cause harm to Council has typically focussed on climate change the environment through their emissions. In the past, mitigation measures but is now looking to focus more Council has been limited by resources which has strategically on climate change adaptation plans meant these areas have not had thorough through a risk assessment process. This will help environmental assessments performed. It is raise awareness within the organisation and recognised that serious environmental harm can be throughout the greater community about climate mitigated by auditing specific businesses that change issues as well as better place the potentially pose risks under the Protection of the organisation to address climate change in a more Environment and Operations Act (1997). systematic and strategic manner.
71
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 21 During the last year, 11 air related complaints were referred a number of these on to Council for made to Council which is a decrease on the previous investigation. In addition to investigating complaints, year. The complaints generally related to backyard Council’s development process also provides an burning, odour, smoke and dust. Table 5 below opportunity to reduce impacts on air quality by shows this. In addition to this, DECCW received 1 air applying strict conditions to development consents. pollution complaint for the Hurstville LGA and
Table 5 - Air Pollution Complaints to Council and DECCW Indicator 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09
No. of air pollution complaints to Council 14 12 13 27 11
No. of air pollution complaints to the DECCW 16 14 0 2 1 pollution line
3.4.5 Energy Consumption household energy use and the decay of household waste in landfills. The Federal Government’s Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts reports Through carefully planned educational workshops that Australian households generate more than 14 and programs, residents can be informed how to tonnes of greenhouse emissions per household each reduce their energy bills at the same time year through everyday activities such as transport, dramatically reducing their greenhouse emissions.
3.5 Future Actions
Issue Action Energy Consumption Complete all cost effective actions under the Energy Savings Action Plan by December 2010 and report on the ESAP annually Public Transport Implement bus priority measures in the Hurstville CBD (Bus Interchange Project)
Climate Change Develop Climate Change Adaptation Plan Waste emissions Investigate advanced waste treatment systems which significantly reduce organic waste to landfill Environmental Health Develop an Environmental Audit program for Council’s two industrial areas Commercial developments Encourage the development of Greenstar accredited buildings within the Hurstville city Centre through appropriate planning controls Energy and Water Use at Implement a cogeneration system at the Hurstville Aquatic and Leisure Centre the HALC
72
22 Water
4 WATER
Indicators: • No. of water pollution complaints to Council • No. of water pollution complaints to DECCW pollution line • Percentage of catchment treated by stormwater pollution devices • % of time water quality passed faecal coliform pollution guidelines at Jew Fish Bay baths • % of time water quality passed enterococci pollution guidelines at Jew Fish Bay baths
Moving away from Community Vision No significant change Moving towards Community Vision
4.1 Introduction
The Hurstville LGA encompasses parts of the Georges River and Cooks River catchments. A ‘catchment’ is an area of land that collects surface water which then drains to a common river or major body of water such as a bay. Each catchment is separated by hills or ridges which direct the surface water into creeks, drains and channels. Everything which happens in a catchment is linked. Anything that happens upstream can have an impact downstream. A pollution incident in the upper part of a catchment can have a harmful impact on water quality and aquatic plants and animals further downstream. Community education has become essential in preserving water as a precious resource.
140 4.1.1 Annual Rainfall 120 The Hurstville LGA has an annual rainfall of approximately 1083 mm (Station No. 066058). The 100 summer and spring months are generally the wettest, 80
with rainfall usually peaking in March each year mm 60 (Figure 1). 40 In contrast, the transition period between winter an autumn is the driest period within the LGA. 20
0
h il n t t rc pr Jul ug ep ov ec Jan Feb A May Ju A S Oc N D Ma
Figure 4 - Rainfall data for the Hurstville LGA (1900-2008)
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2008-2009 7023 4.1.2 The Georges River Catchment 4.1.3 Cooks River Catchment The Georges River is one of Hurstville’s primary Some stormwater from the Hurstville LGA flows into natural assets due to its aesthetic, recreational and the Cooks River via a piped a drainage system that biological value. The Georges River rises 5km discharges to the Upper Wolli and Bardwell Creeks. southeast of Appin, near Campbelltown at a Hurstville’s part of the Cooks River catchment takes up approximately 9.1%. height of 350m. The river winds its way 96km to Botany Bay. It is divided into three main regions: The Cooks River originates in Bankstown and flows 23 kilometres east to discharge into Botany Bay just the upper (freshwater section from Appin to Liverpool south of Sydney airport. The catchment covers an Weir); middle reaches (Liverpool Weir to Salt Pan area of 100km2 and is highly developed. The Creek) and lower (Salt Pan Creek to Botany Bay). catchment provides a home to over 500,000 people The Georges River catchment is very large and and has a variety of land uses, ranging from 2 covers an area of 960km . It is highly urbanised and industrial to open space. Little remains of the original supports a wide range of land uses, including the landscape and vegetation, even though the river is Holsworthy Army firing range, market gardens, flanked by parkland and open space for most of its agriculture, mining, industrial manufacturing, landfill length. and a nuclear research facility. Large bushland The major tributaries of the Cooks River are Wolli areas, including remnant Cumberland Plain Creek, Bardwell Creek, Muddy Creek, Alexandra Woodland and riparian areas still remain. Canal, Sheas Creek, Cup and Saucer Creek, Cox’s The local government area of Hurstville City Council Creek and Freshwater Creek. There are 2 sub- is located on the foreshores of the lower Georges catchments within Hurstville’s Cooks River catchment River, and Salt Pan Creek forms a natural boundary area, namely Wolli Creek and Bardwell Creek. to the west. Salt Pan Creek is a major tributary of the Wolli Creek is the second biggest sub-catchment of Georges River and covers a total catchment area of 2 2 2 the Cooks River, covering a total area of 15.52km . 26km , of which 5.2 km is in Hurstville. Salt Pan Wolli Creek begins as a watercourse in Beverly Hills Creek drains the suburbs of Riverwood, and parts of adjacent to Canterbury Golf Course. In Hurstville’s Peakhurst and Lugarno. The sub-catchment is area of the catchment, Wolli Creek drains the dominated by residential properties with small areas suburbs of Beverly Hills, Kingsgrove and Hurstville, of foreshore and parkland including the CF Williams before flowing through suburbs of the Rockdale LGA. Reserve and Georges River National Park. There are three commercial shopping strips which include Bardwell Creek is the major tributary of Wolli Creek Riverwood, Lugarno and Peakhurst. There are also 3 and has a total catchment area of 6.36km2. The sub-catchments within Hurstville’s lower Georges upper reaches of Bardwell Creek rise in Hurstville River catchment area, including Lime Kiln Bay, and drains the suburb of Hurstville, before flowing in Jewfish Bay/Gungah Bay and Edith Bay. a north-easterly direction into the local government area of Rockdale, which encompasses the large majority of the catchment. The upper reaches of the Creek are a piped drainage system, which becomes an open concrete channel at Croydon Road in the Bexley Golf Course.
4.1.4 Constructed and Rehabilitated Wetlands Since 2005 Council has constructed and rehabilitated existing wetlands which have been heavily degraded due to urban development and increased stormwater pollution. This includes the Lime Kiln Bay wetland near Waterfall Road and Bay Road, Oatley and The Edith Bay wetland, in Edith Bay Reserve, Lugarno.
Figure 5 - The Georges River Wetlands are land that is inundated with water on a temporary or permanent basis. Wetlands include billabongs, marshes, swamps, lakes, mud flats and
70
24 mangrove forests. They are virtually any land which acts as a water treatment pond where sunlight is regularly or intermittently inundated with water that disinfects the water by breaking down the nutrients is static or flowing slowly and that may be fresh, which assists in preventing algal growth. brackish or saline. In previous years the wetland underwent a Unfortunately, over the years, many wetlands in rehabilitation program which involved the following urban areas have been damaged or lost through components: clearing, land filling and development. Wetlands are Installation of gross pollutant traps on the two very important because they provide the following major drainage channels entering from Seaforth functions: Avenue and Waterfall Road into the Plant and animal habitat sedimentation basin to remove rubbish and other pollutants entering the basin Breeding and nursery areas Construction of two large sedimentation ponds to Water quality and nutrient recycling trap coarse sediments and pollutants such as Flood regulation and erosion control heavy metals and nutrients and a dry sediment Recreational value pond and stormwater overflow bypass channel Education and scientific research opportunities. Establishment of a constructed wetland immediately downstream of the sedimentation The Lime Kiln Bay Wetland was rehabilitated in ponds, to further enhance water quality; and a 1999/2000 in order to enhance water quality within surcharge wetland to act as an additional filter for the wetland and receiving waters of the Georges the low flows from the constructed wetland River; to rehabilitate the wetland ecosystem; and provide increased recreational, aesthetic and The wetland was officially opened in September, educational value for the local community. The 2001. The later stage of the project was completed in project was undertaken with grants from the NSW November 2002 and involved the construction of a Stormwater Trust ($600,000) and the Federal boardwalk and bridge which completes the Oatley Government’s Federation Community Grants Heights loop. This provides pedestrians and cyclists Program ($20,000), which was matched by Council with direct access to the Lime Kiln Bay wetlands and on a dollar for dollar basis. the existing facilities in Oatley Park. The rehabilitation of the wetland area was originally In 2003/2004 Council upgraded the Edith Bay put forward in a proposal by the National Trust in foreshore area, at Lugarno with a new wetland and 1994, for the Lime Kiln Bay Society. boardwalk. A grant of over $500,000 from the NSW Government’s Georges River Foreshore The proposal was provided to Council who Improvement Program was received to undertake the commissioned the University of Western Sydney to project, which has been jointly funded on a dollar for prepare a Rehabilitation and Development Plan for dollar basis by Council. The project greatly enhances the freshwater complex at Lime Kiln Bay. the value of the local environment and adds to the The Lime Kiln Bay wetlands have become an integral passive recreational opportunities for the area. part of stormwater management as well as improving The project involved several new boardwalks and water quality in the Georges River. associated pathways from the old ferry ramp at the In 2005 a Community Water Grant was received end of Forest Road up to Edith Bay Reserve. It also which provided $50,000 for the wetland banks to be included the construction of a new wetland in the stabilised through a series of tiered rock boulders Reserve, involving the removal of all existing invasive being placed up the embankment stretching 50 weeds and replacement with native wetland metres. The boulders were planted out with sedges vegetation. and rush vegetation which provides food and habitat A Continuous Deflective Separation unit (CDS) gross for the water dragon population in the wetland. pollutant trap was installed as part of the wetland to $27,000 was also provided in 2005 by a separate capture litter, bottles, cigarette butts, garden clippings Community Water Grant to create a dispersion pond. and other rubbish which ends up in the stormwater This provided additional area for sediment removal system. The wetland also has a microphyte pond to before water entered the Georges River. This also increase the level of stormwater treatment, through
71
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 25 filtering sediments, and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous. The wetland and boardwalk was officially opened in March 2004.
4.1.5 Impacts of Urbanisation There are no creeks remaining within the LGA and limited areas of public open space remain along the foreshore. The LGA has two industrial areas in Kingsgrove and Mortdale/Peakhurst which have a range of businesses operating which pose potential risk to water pollution from their operations. The Hurstville CBD area has a large concentration of food shops and restaurants, many of which require the constant use of water to provide their services. The LGA has mostly point source risks for water pollution, mostly linked to industrial activity.
4.1.6 Sydney Metro Catchment Management Figure 6 – Water consumption still needs to Authority’s Catchment Action Plan (CAP) decrease The SMCMA has completed its draft Catchment Action Plan (CAP) in 2008. The draft CAP will guide Table 6 – Hurstville LGA Average Water the activities of the SMCMA while forming the basis Consumption vs the Sydney Average for partnerships with the community, business, industry and government. The draft CAP will also assist the SMCMA in ensuring that natural resource management projects are undertaken in priority areas within the catchment and that these projects lead to the best outcomes for the environment and the community. There are five themes: biodiversity, land use, water, community and coastal. The draft CAP is currently under review by the Natural Resources Commission, which is providing further input regarding the Catchment Targets and Management Targets. The revised targets will be incorporated into the final version of the CAP during Hurstville residents have also been eager to take up 2009. offers and rebates offered by Sydney Water in order to improve their water efficiency as shown in Table 7. However this trend has declined during the 2008/09 4.1.7 Consumption period. Sydney Water has an excellent During the reporting period, Sydney Water relaxed communication program encouraging customers to water restrictions as dam levels rose to around 60%. take advantage of their free programs and seek Current restrictions include no hosing of hard rebates. services, watering any day before 10am and after 4pm and the use of a hose on the car or garden must have a trigger nozzle. Sydney Water has reported consumption data for 2009 that shows that the LGA’s average consumption is typically significantly less than that of the Sydney average as shown in Table 6.
72
26 Table 7 – Sydney Water Residential Programs This decrease in compliance was not identified as an 2004-2009 for Hurstville Residents immediate need for concern by DECCW or Council as the results could be attributed to many factors including heavy rainfall events and stormwater run off to the Jew Fish Bay area before sampling.
4.2.2 Stormwater improvement devices During the last year there have been no new gross pollutant traps (GPTs) installed in the LGA. GPTs assist the capture of rubbish and other stormwater pollutants before entering the Georges and Cooks River, and ultimately Botany Bay. GPTs are most useful for catching large items, but smaller items like sediment and chemicals still end up in our waterways. The percentage of catchment treated by stormwater pollutant devices installed by Council has remained constant at 28.4% for the current reporting period. However, since 2000, the area screened by various GPT devices has increased by 23%. While Council has not installed further GPT devices in 4.2 Are we moving towards our goal? recent years, it has instead chosen to focus on 4.2.1 Water quality aspects of Water Sensitive Urban Design in areas where it is plausible to do so. DECCW’s Beachwatch and Harbourwatch program carries out water sampling and reporting for The total number of devices operating in the area is bacteriorological analysis in order to determine water 13. The location and type of these devices is shown quality at Sydney recreational swimming sites. in Table 8 below. Water quality samples are analysed for two bacterial species (faecal coliforms and enterococci) with the results measured against the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) water quality guidelines. Only Jew Fish Bay baths adjacent to Oatley Park on the Georges River is monitored by Harbourwatch in the Hurstville LGA. For the summer season faecal coliform and enteroccal densities complied 100% of the time for the 2005/06 and 2006/07 period. Since that time compliance with the guideline has varied.
73
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 27 Table 8 Stormwater Treatment Devices in Hurstville LGA
Device Location 1 CDS GPT William Road, Riverwood. Treats a catchment of about 48 hectares 2 Humegard GPT Ogilvy Street, Peakhurst West. Installed in road and treats a catchment of 14 hectares 3 Trash rack Shenstone Road, Riverwood. Treats a catchment of 5 hectares 4 ‘Humeceptor’ Council’s depot, Roberts Road and Depot Avenue, Peakhurst. Treats a catchment area of 2 hectares 5 Rocla Cleansall GPT Gannons Park, Boggywell Creek. Takes up the catchment up to Park Street. Catchment area of 156 hectares 6 Baramy Trap Waterfall Road, Lime Kiln Bay. Treats a catchment of 165 hectares 7 Trash Rack Bay Road, Lime Kiln Bay. Treats a catchment area of 37 hectares 8 Rocla Cleansall GPT Johnstone Street and Ogilvy Street, Peakhurst West. Located in Johnstone Street Reserve. Treats a catchment area of 120 hectares 9 CDS GPT Pearce Ave, Peakhurst. Located in Pearce Reserve. Covers a catchment of about 19ha. 10 Litter Trap Arcadia Street, Penshurst. Treats a catchment area of 1.3 hectares 11 CDS GPT Penshurst Park, near the Aquatic Centre Treats a catchment area of 12 hectares 12 CDS GPT Edith Bay, Lugarno. Treats a catchment area of 31 hectares 13 Rocla Cleansall GPT Jacques Avenue, Peakhurst. Treats a catchment area of 4 hectares
4.2.3 Water related complaints public and private property, and runoff from building During the 2008/09 period Council received 30 water sites (see Table 9 below). DECCW received 1 related complaints that were recorded through complaint from Hurstville residents, which was a Council’s Work Order System. These were mainly significant decrease from the previous year. related to water pollution, sewer overflows on both
Table 9 - Water Complaints made to Council and DECCW
04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 No. of water pollution complaints to Council 66 77 14 12 30 No. of water pollution complaints to DECCW 9 28 5 6 1
4.3 What has Council been doing? completed in 2006 and submitted to DECCW for 4.3.1 Water Savings Action Plan approval after endorsement by Council. The plan In response to the NSW Government’s 25 year targets Council’s top ten water consuming sites Metropolitan Plan, Meeting the Challenges – which include Hurstville Aquatic and Leisure Centre, Securing Sydney’s Water Future local Council’s were Civic Centre, Hurstville Golf Course, Hurstville Oval, required to prepare Water Savings Action Plans Council Works Depot, Olds Park, Oatley Park, (WSAP) by June 2006. Council’s WSAP was Gannons Park, Riverwood Park and Hurstville House
70
28 The WSAP identifies a number of meaningful water Hurstville, Marrickville, Ashfield, Bankstown, saving measures that will save up to 20% of water Canterbury, Strathfield, City of Sydney and Rockdale consumption for the top ten sites. Councils in 2007. To date, Council has implemented 29 actions which The project objectives are to: has led to an annual water savings of 15,464 kL. - examine change management and Council has also made funding available in the 09/10 governance arrangements in the Cooks River budget for the investigation of rainwater storage catchment tanks at Hurstville Oval to assist with irrigation of the - encourage a sense of place and connectivity ground. in the sub-catchments
4.3.2 Revolving Energy and Water Fund - improve ecosystem health - provide leadership in best practice catchment Council’s Revolving Energy Fund was established in management 2004 and has since been expanded to encompass water which enables both water and energy financial - develop a fit for purpose approach to the way savings from projects to be reinvested for future water is used in the catchment projects which conserve energy, water and reduce Within the Hurstville LGA, the North Beverly Hills greenhouse emissions. area has been chosen as the sub-catchment for which the study will be completed. This area drains Council’s internal Environmental Sustainability to Upper Wolli Creek. A draft Sub-Catchment Advisory Team (ESAT) identifies projects that would Management Plan is being prepared as a result of benefit from the Fund that have been included in the workshops and surveys amongst the community. Energy and Water Savings Action Plans. This Plan will guide actions and works within the sub- catchment that contribute to stormwater management and water quality improvement within the catchment. 4.3.3 Hurstville Aquatic and Leisure Centre Sustainable Water and Energy Management 4.3.5 Lower Georges River Sustainability Feasibility Study Initiative Water audits undertaken in 2006 at the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre (HALC) for the preparation of In 2008, a grant of almost $2 million from the NSW the Water Savings Action Plan identified water saving Environment Trust was received to develop a recommendations for investigation. This included strategic plan for the sustainable management of the rainwater harvesting and reuse opportunities at the Lower Georges River. This grant completes a Centre. holistic management approach to the Georges River with all sections of the river being captured and The Department of Commerce was engaged in 2007 managed by different Council groups (the Mid and to undertake a feasibility study analysing the full the Upper regions). environmental and financial benefits including cost effectiveness of implementing these initiatives in the Hurstville, Kogarah, Rockdale and Sutherland Shire Centre. Councils are collaborating on the project, which will result in the restoration of riverside vegetation and Following this, in 2009 Council submitted a funding habitats and increase community awareness about application to the NSW Government’s Climate environmental sustainability. Change Fund to assist with the implementation of the recommendation. It is anticipated that the successful A sustainability action plan will be prepared for the application will be announced during the next catchment on behalf of the councils, Georges River reporting period. If successful the project will reduce Combined Councils' Committee (GRCCC) and Council’s water consumption by nearly 4,500 kL. Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority (SMCMA).
4.3.4 Cooks River Sustainability Initiative A Project Manager was employed in early 2009 to drive the project and is based at Rockdale Council. Council commenced its involvement in a $2 million NSW Government funded project, the Cooks River Sustainability Initiative (CRSI) which involves
70
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 29 4.3.6 Sydney Water Every Drop Counts Community Water Grant to create a dispersion pond. Business Program This provided additional area for sediment removal before water entered the Georges River. This also In 2004, Council joined the Sydney Water Program to acts as a water treatment pond where sunlight measure water efficiency within Council operations disinfects the water by breaking down the nutrients and facilities. which assists in preventing algal growth. In 2008, Council achieved a 2 star rating in the In previous years the wetland underwent a program out of a possible 5 stars. Water savings rehabilitation program which involved the following were achieved through a number of measures components: including: Installation of gross pollutant traps on the two major - installing water efficient toilets and taps to drainage channels entering from Seaforth Avenue Council properties and Waterfall Road into the sedimentation basin to - improving water use practices at the remove rubbish and other pollutants entering the Hurstville Aquatic and Leisure Centre basin - development of a Water Savings Action Plan Construction of two large sedimentation ponds to trap (WSAP) coarse sediments and pollutants such as heavy Sydney Water uses the One-to-Five Water metals and nutrients and a dry sediment pond and Management Diagnostic System to help businesses stormwater overflow bypass channel measure how much water they are using so they can Establishment of a constructed wetland develop a plan of action to help improve the way they immediately downstream of the sedimentation manage water, hence showing that water savings are ponds, to further enhance water quality; and a sustainable in the long-term. surcharge wetland to act as an additional filter for With further implementation of actions in the WSAP, the low flows from the constructed wetland it is projected that Council will progress to a 3 star The wetland was officially opened in September, rating within the next year. 2001. The later stage of the project was completed in November 2002 and involved the construction of a 4.3.7 Council Works Depot Rainwater Tanks boardwalk and bridge which completes the Oatley The Council Works Depot received a Community Heights loop. This provides pedestrians and cyclists Water Grant in 2006 (funded by the Australian with direct access to the Lime Kiln Bay wetlands and Government) for the installation of four 9000L water the existing facilities in Oatley Park. tanks which are primarily used for cleaning Council’s trucks and other vehicles and filling of Council water trucks. A 3500L water tank at the Hurstville Golf Course was also installed in 2006 which captures water from the maintenance building roof. This water is used to fill the golf course water truck which assists in watering round the course.
4.3.8 Lime Kiln Bay Wetland The Lime Kiln Bay wetlands have become an integral part of stormwater management as well as improving water quality in the Georges River. In 2005 a Community Water Grant was received which provided $50,000 for the wetland banks to be stabilised through a series of tiered rock boulders being placed up the embankment stretching 50 metres. The boulders were planted out with sedges and rush vegetation which provides food and habitat for the water dragon population in the wetland. $27,000 was also provided in 2005 by a separate Figure 7 – Lime Kiln Bay Wetlands
71
30 4.3.9 Georges River Combined Councils Committee (GRCCC) The Georges River Combined Councils Committee was formed in 1979 and consists of 9 member councils, including Hurstville Council. In 2007, the GRCCC completed a Management and Implementation (M&I) Plan that will guide the activities of the Committee, and ensure that they are consistent with the key national, state, and regional natural resource management strategies. The M&I Plan describes a number of Programs that the GRCCC will implement in partnership with its member councils and other key stakeholder groups during the coming years. Some the key Programs include the Riverkeeper and the River Ecosystems Figure 8 – Rainwater tanks are part of BASIX Program, in which Council has been an active participant during the current reporting period. In this regard, the Riverkeeper Program has undertaken a 4.3.11 Catchment Management Projects number of on ground projects within the LGA, including rubbish removal at Cyprus Avenue, The Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Lugarno. Authority (SMCMA) works in partnership with stakeholders across 39 local government areas. In April 2009, Council resolved to host the GRCCC from 1 July 2009 to September 2012, further In the Hurstville LGA the projects that the CMA strengthening its commitment to the GRCCC, and coordinated over the reporting period with Council environmental management more generally within included: the Georges River catchment. • “Mapping Estuarine Vegetation outside Sydney Harbour” mapped both the current distribution of 4.3.10 BASIX Policy and Planning Controls estuarine vegetation (mangroves, seagrass and saltmarsh) in Botany Bay, Georges River and The BASIX Ongoing Monitoring Program was Cooks River, as well as the historic distribution established to evaluate and report on the outcomes of these types of vegetation for Sydney Harbour, of the BASIX policy which mandates water, energy Georges River, Botany Bay, Cooks River and and thermal comfort targets for residential the coastal lagoons. developments in NSW as directed by the Department of Planning. The first BASIX performance monitoring • “Assessing Risks of the Introduction and Spread study was conducted in 2007/2008 and found that of Marine Pests” has provided recommendations properties redeveloped under the BASIX policy are to help control existing and prospective marine achieving their water savings target with average pests. measured water savings of 40.5% (target 40%). • Project scoping has been undertaken for an 834 BASIX properties were monitored for the study education strategy on marine pests for boaters which found that the average per dwelling BASIX and recreational fishers in the Sydney Metro benchmark consumption for the sample was 324 kL CMA area. per year. From this benchmark the BASIX 40% • The “Tide to Table” project, a partnership reduction target results in an average predicted between the Sydney Metro CMA and consumption of 195 kL per year. When monitored the OceanWatch Australia, continued to work with actual consumption over the year was 192 kL. Over Bushcare and other community groups to 60% of the sample properties saved more than the maintain on-ground works to improve fish habitat BASIX target which resulted in an average of 40.5% and water quality. Such projects support total water savings being achieved for the year. sustainable seafood resources and the marine life within the Sydney Region.
72
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 31 • Guidelines entitled “Sydney Harbour Foreshore and includes excavation and re-stabilisation of and Estuarine Vegetation Mapping: existing creek-line, along with re-generative planting Assessment, Planning and Management” will be of turpentines. Stage 1 and 2 of this project have useful to many Sydney Councils to incorporate been completed successfully. Stage 3 of the project natural resource management issues into will complete the restoration process in the subject planning instruments and their own council area. works. This project involves significant improvements for the The guidelines come from two Sydney Metro riparian vegetation community adjoining the Georges CMA projects: Sydney Harbour Riverine River, where the turpentines enable filtration of the Corridor Ecology-Foreshore Vegetation Mapping sediment and prevent bank erosion. and Sydney Harbour Seagrass and other Estuarine Vegetation Planning and Management. 4.3.14 Pollution Incident Response • The Botany Bay Coastal Catchments Initiative Council takes a proactive approach to pollution predominantly funded by the Australian management and has entered into a Memorandum of Government, involves the development of an Understanding with Sydney Water in 2005 which ecological response model for Botany Bay that assists in recognising and managing pollution can be used to support the development of a incidents. Under the Protection of the Environment Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) and Operations Act (1997) (POEO), Council’s Environmental Health Officers and Law Enforcement The Sydney Metro CMA also coordinated a myriad of Officers can issue Clean Up Notices, verbal warnings other projects that benefited all 39 LGAs including and Prevention Notices of which some incur fees. projects that focussed on biodiversity, urban water Under the Local Government Act (1993), an design principles and education and community Emergency Order can also be issued for matters based projects. relating to sewers. Council’s Building Regulations Officer has also 4.3.12 Trade Waste Agreement compiled a register of all approved Development Council has had a Trade Waste Agreement (TWA) Applications since 1997, and inspects domestic and with Sydney Water for many years which involves commercial developments to ensure they are managing the leachate from the former landfill site following all the Conditions of Consent in regards to which underlies the current Hurstville Golf Course in sedimentation controls and other associated actions Peakhurst. The TWA requires Council to regularly that pose a risk to water quality. monitor and dispose of the leachate in an appropriate and responsible manner within the conditions of the 4.3.15 Water Monitoring TWA. Over the next reporting period, Council will be investigating options for possible reuse of the Council engaged a specialist consultant in 2007 to leachate for irrigation purposes at the Golf Course monitor water use across Council’s facilities. and other possible recycling initiatives around the Quarterly reports are generated for Council’s key LGA. facilities and the data is used to report against targets described in Council’s Water Savings Action Plan.
4.3.13 Endangered Turpentine and Riparian The data is also useful in ascertaining why usage is Community Restoration Project either decreasing or increasing and what measures can be put in place to further reduce water use. In 2007, Hurstville City Council received funding from Envirofund to commence Stage 1 of the Endangered 4.4 What are the key issues? Turpentine & Riparian Community Restoration 4.4.1 Stormwater pollution Project in Peakhurst. Subsequently, Council received funding for Stage 2 of the project. Stormwater is a significant source of water pollution in Hurstville. Stormwater is water which, after rainfall, The Endangered Turpentine & Riparian Community drains off surfaces like roofs, roads and driveways, Restoration Project Stage 3 was granted an directly into drains. Gutters and drains are the additional $27,000 from the Department of beginning of the stormwater system, and transport Environment, Climate Change and Water in 2008 stormwater runoff through channels and pipes before
73
32 it discharges directly into our creeks and rivers. Our shops and industries all contribute to pollution waterways become polluted when it rains because entering our waterways. A summary of major the stormwater collects cigarette butts, litter, pollutants, their sources and impacts is provided in sediment, dog droppings, grease, oil, leaves which Table 10. are in our yards and streets. Residential properties,
Table 10 - Major pollutants and their sources
Pollutant Sources Example Impact Oil, grease, petroleum road surfaces, Oil, petrol Toxic to aquatic organisms commercial and industrial processes, service stations, motor repair shops, marina activities etc Nutrients fertilisers, detergents phosphorus, nitrogen Excessive growth of aquatic and fertilisers from vegetation; algal blooms gardens and golf courses Toxic material pesticides, herbicides garden and agricultural Accumulate in food chains and products are toxic to organisms Metals discharge from industry, lead, mercury, zinc and Concentrate in sediments and vehicle emission, road copper bio-accumulate in living surfaces, anti-fouling organisms paints Bacteria and viruses sewage overflows, faecal coliforms and Sickness and infections in defective sewage faecal streptococci bathing waters; seafood unsafe systems, animal faeces Sediments building sites sand, sediment, cement Destroy habitats by smothering plants and animals living on bottom of waterway Inorganic litter roads, parks, shopping fast food packaging, Aesthetically unpleasing and can centres plastics, aluminium entangle wildlife causing death cans, paper and cigarette butts Organic litter parks, roads, bushland leaves, twigs, and Decreases sunlight penetration garden waste in water and destroys habitats
speed of runoff from urban areas is much higher than In urbanised areas like Hurstville, stormwater in a natural environment. problems are intensified because so much land has been altered and developed for human use such as Stormwater is different from sewage. Sewers collect housing and commercial/industrial purposes. Built up and carry wastewater from your bathroom, kitchen areas have many more hard and impervious surfaces and laundry to sewage treatment plants where the than natural areas which are capable of absorbing wastewater (i.e. sewage) is treated before being and storing large amounts of rainfall. Roofs, roads discharged into the ocean. Although stormwater is and footpaths can’t absorb water, so the volume and not subject to the same treatment that sewage and
74
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 33 effluent is, structural devices such as gross pollutant Program's current focus is to improve the flow of traps (GPTs) play an important role in the primary sewage in pipes and reduce the amount of sewage treatment of stormwater by removing large pieces of escaping into the local environment, through cleaning litter, sediment and bush debris before entering the and relining of pipes in priority areas around Sydney, stormwater system. Additionally Council has the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. Sydney Water constructed wetlands at Lime Kiln Bay which act to and its approved contractors are also upgrading over filter and remove nutrient loads hence somewhat half of our 650 Sewage Pumping Stations to ensure ‘polishing’ the stormwater before entering the there are no sewage overflows at these stations Georges River. during dry weather.
4.4.2 Sewer 4.4.3 Flooding The sewerage system in Sydney is operated by Modifications to the natural water flow and reduced Sydney Water, and includes pipes, pumping stations infiltration cause increased runoff and flow velocity, (SPSs) and sewage treatment plants (STPs) and the potential of localised flooding. The increase designed to transport and treat sewage flows. Sewer in urban land clearing and impervious surface overflows pose a significant impact on stormwater coverage further exacerbates this affect. Council has quality runoff and occur during heavy rain due to identified certain areas to investigate in this regard in illegal stormwater connections into the sewerage the coming years. system and infiltration of water through cracked sewer pipes. During these times the sewerage 4.4.4 Climate Change system becomes overloaded and pressure is released from the system at many points around Climate change, as explained in Section 3 (Air), is Sydney through constructed or unplanned overflow one of the greatest challenges that councils need to points. These overflows then flow into the stormwater address. In regards to water, climate change has system and receiving waterways. Additionally, the ramifications in areas of flooding, stormwater risk of an adverse effect on waterways is presented management, reduced annual rainfall (drought) and by sewage systems usually following drainage lines sea level rise. (i.e. along the path of a creek) hence if an overflow Furthermore, while drought does not directly affect occurs there is a greater level of risk of pollution due the Hurstville community, given our lack of to the positioning of the sewer line. agricultural land, pressures on the community may Sydney Water is delivering ‘SewerFix’, an extensive be felt via the supply of food and other natural program of activities that maintain and improve the provisions like wood and fibres where the cost of current operations of our sewerage systems and help living may significantly increase. protect the local environment. The SewerFix
4.5 Future Actions
Issue Action Stormwater Complete a Drainage Policy for the LGA Climate Change Develop Climate Change Adaptation Plan Water Sensitive Urban Design Develop a Water Sensitive Urban Design Action Plan Flooding Undertake flood studies where appropriate Water conservation Complete cost effective actions in the Water Savings Action Plan Pollution Develop a Pollution Response Protocol for the LGA Environmental Health Develop an Environmental Audit program for Council’s two industrial areas
70
34 Biodiversity
5 BIODIVERSITY
Indicators: • No. of threatened species listed • No. of endangered populations listed • No. of endangered ecological communities listed • Number of plant/tree giveaways • No. of active bushcare volunteers • No. of tree applications • No. of tree removals approved • No. of illegal tree activities reported • No. of noxious weed complaints to Council
Moving away from Community Vision No significant change Moving towards Community Vision
5.1 Introduction
Biodiversity (or biological diversity) is the variety of life: the different plants, animals and micro-organisms and the ecosystems of which they are a part. It is the foundation of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD). Natural areas are important for conserving biodiversity as well as providing educational and recreational opportunities. Unfortunately, the biodiversity of the Hurstville area (like most regions in Australia) has been degraded since European settlement and continues to be threatened by a range of activities. The landscapes of the Hurstville area consist of gentle slopes, with the exception of the Georges River foreshore where the terrain is characterised by steep slopes with significant natural vegetation cover. It is this area that contains virtually all that remains of the once extensive forest, which covered the Council area.
The amount of “natural” vegetation remaining in an The remaining and undisturbed bushland and area gives a rough idea of the degree of modification foreshore vegetation, although reduced in size, does of the natural environment and, by extension, the form an important wildlife corridor. The areas level of impact on biodiversity. following the edges of the Georges River and Salt Pan Creek and their sub-catchments, including The amount of remaining bushland in the Council Oatley Park, form a significant local corridor within area is now only 4% of the original. While much of the Council area, providing a habitat for remaining this is in public ownership, some areas that are native birds, mammals, reptiles and invertebrate predominantly in private ownership, are subject to species. ongoing development pressures. Impacts vary from nutrient enriched run-off, naturalisation and The main vegetation types found throughout the LGA encroachment of weeds, soil erosion, illegal plant are listed in Table 11. For a more detailed removal to “enhance” views, to dumping of waste description of the respective vegetation types, please materials. refer to Council’s Generic Plan of Management (Natural Areas).
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2008-2009 7035 Table 11 – Main Vegetation Types in the Hurstville LGA
Vegetation Type Description Estuarine Complex The Estuarine Complex occurs along tidal rivers and in shallow mudflats. Indicator species are the Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina), a small tree up to 5m high, and/or River Mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatus), a shrub to 2m high which is usually found further upstream. The mangroves are often found in association with saltmarsh, with typical species of Sarcocornia quinqueflora and Suaeda australis; rushland of Juncus krausii and Phragmites australis; or low open forest of Casuarina glauca. Turpentine Ironbark The Wianamatta Shale soils of the north-eastern suburbs of the Council area once Forest supported a vast Turpentine-Ironbark forest. The identifying canopy species are Turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera), Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus paniculata) and Broad- leaved Ironbark (Eucalyptus fibrosa). Dominant understorey species include Hop Bush (Dodonaea triquetra), Straight Wattle (Acacia stricta) and Native Elderberry (Polyscias sambucifolia), while Viola hederacea is a common ground cover species. This association is now one of the rarest of all vegetation types of the greater Sydney region, with only 0.5% of its former area remaining. It has been listed as an Endangered Ecological Community under Schedule 1 Part 3 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995). Hurstville Council plays host to a number of Turpentine Ironbark Forest remnants around Peakhurst (Caledonia Place, Samuel Street and Park Road have reserves or street vegetation containing Turpentine and Ironbark remnant vegetation). Additionally there are some remnants along Forest Road. Sydney Sandstone This Forest is one of the dominant associations of the Sandstone Complex and is the most Gully Forest common type of remnant within Hurstville. It grows in sheltered gullies and hillsides on Hawkesbury Sandstone. Open Forest/Woodland, Tall Open Forest and Closed Forest are the distinct subunits. Sydney Sandstone Sydney Sandstone Ridgetop Woodland occurs on Hawkesbury Sandstone ridges, Ridgetop Woodland plateaus and dry exposed hillsides. The dominant species are Sydney Red Gum (Angophora costata), Sydney Peppermint (Eucalyptus piperita), Red Bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera), Grey Gum (Eucalyptus punctata) and Rough-barked Apple (Angophora floribunda). The shrub layer is typically composed of Banksias and Hakeas. River-flat Forest River-flat Forest grows on alluvium of the Georges River floodplains, including major Complex tributary creeks. They often occur within or in close association with the Estuarine Complex. The only River-flat Forest within the Hurstville LGA occurs at Edith Bay, Lugarno, and the dominant species is Melaleuca linariifolia. Shale/Sandstone The geology and soils of the Shale/Sandstone Transition Complex are variable and are Transition Complex characterised by lateritized shale lenses and sandstone at the top of the Hawkesbury Group and the bottom of the Wianamatta Group. Typical species are Grey Gum (Eucalyptus punctata), Scribbly Gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma), and Red Bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera). The lower storey includes Hairpin Banksia (Banksia spinulosa), Geebungs (Persoonia spp.) and many Pea-flowers.
70
36 5.2 Are we moving towards our goal? 5.2.1 Threatened Species evolutionary development cease to operate whereas an There are several items of legislation governing the endangered listing means that a species, population or recognition and management of threatened species. ecological community that is likely to become extinct or The most relevant and prominent is the NSW is in immediate danger of extinction. Government’s Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995) (TSC Act) which is administered by the Under Commonwealth legislation, the Environment National Parks and Wildlife Service (now the Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) Department of Environment, Climate Change and also provides protection for endangered and vulnerable Water). This Act outlines the duties of the NPWS in species and communities. In this regard, applications protecting threatened species, communities and for development need to satisfy State and critical habitat in NSW. An independent Scientific Commonwealth legislation requirements. Committee determines which species, populations There are currently 12 individual species and 1 and ecological communities should be listed as endangered population which are listed under the endangered, vulnerable or extinct under the Act, and TSC Act for the Hurstville area. Although the number also determines key threatening processes that affect of species added to the threatened species list is the survival of remnant species and communities. continually growing, the species within Hurstville has Under this legislation there are numerous plants and remained static since 1999 however, since 2997 the fauna that attract either a vulnerable or endangered number of Endangered Ecological Communities conservation status listing. A vulnerable listing means within the LGA has increased from 6 to 7. The plants that the species is likely to become endangered unless and animals listed within the local government area the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or are shown in Table 12. Table 12 - Listings under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995
Name Conservation Status Flora Acacia bynoeana Endangered Acacia pubescens (Downy Wattle) Vulnerable Caladenia tesselata (Heart-shaped Spider Orchid) Vulnerable Persoonia hirsute (Hairy Geebung) Endangered Melaleuca deanei Vulnerable Fauna Cacatua leadbeateri (Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo) Vulnerable Haematopus longirostris (Pied Oystercatcher) Vulnerable Lathamus discolour (Swift Parrot) Endangered Ninox strenua (Powerful Owl) Vulnerable Ptilinopus superbus (Superb Fruit-dove) Vulnerable Callocephalan fimbriatum (Gang-Gang Cockatoo) Vulnerable Endangered Populations Acacia prominens Endangered Endangered Ecological Communities Coastal saltmarsh in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions Southern Sydney Sheltered Forest on Transitional Soils in the Sydney Basin Bioregion Sydney Coastal Estuary Swamp Forest Complex in the Sydney Basin Bioregion Sydney Coastal River-flat Forest Sydney Freshwater Wetlands in the Sydney Basin Bioregion Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion
71
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 37 5.2.2 Key Threatening Processes major change since European settlement. It is A Key Threatening Process is defined in the thought by many that excessive burning of areas Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995) as a such as Oatley Park for fire hazard reduction process that threatens, or could threaten, the survival purposes is seriously threatening the biodiversity of or evolutionary development of species, populations the area by destroying some species and also or ecological communities. Listing assists in adversely affecting the regeneration rates (which conservation by influencing the planning process and may vary from 3 - 7 years from seedling to flowering requiring the preparation and implementation of a and reseeding). threat abatement plan to abate, ameliorate or eliminate the threat. Something can be a threatening Frequent fires in the last twenty years mean that the process if it adversely affects two or more threatened fire regime has already been exceeded, and another species, populations or ecological communities, or major fire will result in a decline in biodiversity and could cause species, populations or ecological possible species loss. The bushfire risk to the communities that are not currently threatened to majority of the Council area is considered to be become threatened. minor. Four main ignition sources have been identified, namely: Some of the listed key threatening processes that • arson; could have an effect on the remnant ecosystems of • illegal burning off; Hurstville LGA are: • abandoned and torched rubbish and • Bushrock removal vehicles; and • • Clearing of native vegetation lightning. • Competition from feral honey bees 5.3 What has Council been doing? • Ecological consequences of high frequency 5.3.1 Bushcare/ Bushcare Projects fires The protection of the remaining bushland is an • Invasion of native plant communities by important priority of Council and is partly maintained exotic perennial grasses through Council’s Bushcare crew. Their work is • Predation by feral cats complemented by the Volunteer Bushcare Program, • Predation by the European red fox which commenced in 1999 and has expanded annually. Council now employs two Bushcare • Removal of dead wood and dead trees Officers and a Wetland Officer to supervise Program volunteers. 5.2.3 Weeds There are now 41 volunteer groups operating each It has been estimated that 20% to 30% of the Sydney month, including a Native Nursery group, that work at region’s flora consists of introduced species. Many of 14 sites across the LGA. The number of volunteers these species have become naturalised and able to fluctuates for a variety of reasons, however, in 2009, reproduce prolifically in the wild. The lag time the number of active volunteers in the area was between the introduction of a species and its invasion around 90 people. In 2004/2005 there were only 63. of natural areas and population explosion can be Council is consistently promoting the program decades or even over a century. Hurstville like many through community events and media publicity to regions throughout NSW has experienced the spread encourage volunteers to participate. of a number of introduced plants including Lantana Groups are currently operating in: (Lantana camara), Rhus (Toxicodendron • Oatley Park succedaneum), Pampas Grass (Cortaderia sp.) and • Gungah Bay Reserve, Oatley Pellitory or Asthma Weed (Parietaria judaica). • Peakhurst Foreshore • Johnstone Street Reserve, Riverwood • Pearce Avenue Reserve, Peakhurst 5.2.4 Fire • Lugarno Parade Reserve, Lugarno Many native plants and animals have adapted to fire • Marine Drive Reserve, Oatley • because it is so often a natural feature of Australian Jewfish Point Reserve, Oatley • ecosystems, however, the fire regime has undergone Freeman Avenue Reserve, Peakhurst • Evatt Park Lugarno
70
38 • Heinrich Reserve, Lugarno 5.3.2 Oatley Park • Myles Dunphy Reserve, Oatley • Ogilvy Reserve, Peakhurst At the end of the previous reporting period, Council repositioned an existing Bush Regeneration Officer to Volunteers can be involved in: look after Oatley Park as was recommended in the • weed identification and removal Parks Plan of Management. Oatley Park is located in • native plant identification the south west corner of the LGA on a peninsula • soil stabilisation and minor drainage works which covers approximately 50 ha in area. A large where required portion of this area is home to remnant bushland and • planting (when natural regeneration of soil- more than 350 native plant species. Significantly, it stored seed is unlikely to occur) is the largest piece of bushland in the At Council’s Nursery, volunteers assist with seed or Kogarah/Hurstville basin. cutting collection and storage of surplus seed or Work that has been undertaken during the reporting seeds of threatened and endangered species. period includes: Weed control advice and Bushcare information stalls • on going bush regeneration works are regularly held at local festivals, namely the • plant propagation Lugarno Lions Spring Festival, the Oatley Lions • revegetation Festival, the Georges River Community Service Inc • implementing conservation measures to community fair, and Council’s annual Tree Giveaway. protect flora and fauna • feral animal control Council’s Bushcare Officers also spend time with • track maintenance local residents wanting to undertake bush • removal of dumped wastes regeneration on their own property blocks. The • creating(ongoing) a database of known Officers provide advice on weeds and how to remove existing plant species and other relevant them; and suggest suitable local plants for information replacement, particularly on highly degraded land. • creating an 'Oatley Park Seedbank' Providing this type of advice is an important part of • overseeing the fire management within the Bushcare's educational activities. It encourages park (approximately 6 ha broadburnt in the residents to look after their own backyard to protect last four years both planned/unplanned) local biodiversity and provides an understanding of • hosting guided walks within the park for the special responsibilities of residents living near various community, environmental and bushland areas. cultural events. Furthermore, Padstow TAFE uses some sites, including Heinrich Reserve, Lugarno and Peakhurst Foreshore, for practical experience for the Natural Resource Management Diploma. TAFE students do primary clearing of weeds, plant and mulch designated buffer zones, and undertake drainage works or construct steps and access paths where appropriate. TAFE work is always done in conjunction and consultation with the regular Bushcare groups.
Figure 9 – Flora at Oatley Park
70
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 39 5.3.3 Grey-headed flying-fox management 5.3.4 Tree Giveaway program The Tree Giveaway is a Council initiative to In July 2007 a population of approximately 2000 encourage the planting of native trees, shrubs and Grey-headed flying-foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) groundcovers within our City. The plants have been roosted at Myles Dunphy Reserve Oatley. The grown locally from indigenous seeds and cuttings rapidly decreasing population of the vulnerable and collected in the LGA. threatened flying fox has few remaining locations in grown locally from indigenous seeds and cuttings which to roost within the region. Myles Dunphy is collected in the LGA one such location which has possibly become attractive to the species due to the regeneration The program commenced in 1996 and is held efforts of bushcare volunteers. annually. Each property owner is entitled to two plants on the presentation of a Council rate notice. The number of plant and tree giveaways provided to residents over the last five years has remained quite consistent and is shown in Table 13. In addition to the Giveaway, there are information displays on Bushcare, weeds and waste minimisation. Council works in partnership with local service groups to provide a free barbecue for participants. Any leftover plants are grown on to a larger size for the following year or are used internally for the Bushcare Program or for other tree planting projects.
Figure 10 – The grey-headed flying-fox
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Figure 11 – Tree Giveaway Day mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Table 13 – Plant and Tree Giveaways
04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09
No. of plant/tree giveaways 2000 2900 2700 3100 2850 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm
71
40 5.3.5 National Tree Day and Planting Projects Broadacre burns are done infrequently, as too frequent fires can eliminate certain species, and the National Tree Day (NTD) is an initiative of Planet Ark other methods of hazard reduction described are which aims to encourage and enable people across usually sufficient to keep fuel levels below dangerous Australia to participate in native tree planting levels. Two recent broadburns have been done in the activities in their local area to assist with reporting period at Oatley Park (from Websters revegetation. Council has participated in this project Lookout to the carpark at The Castle) and Cypruss since its inauguration in 1999. Drive, Lugarno. During the reporting period, Council has undertaken National Tree Day plantings at Riverwood Park and 5.3.7 Tree Preservation in 2009 on the traffic island and surrounds at Belmore Road, Lugarno. Approximately 3000 trees Trees and shrubs provide shade, shelter and privacy, and shrubs have been planted which have stabilised and a habitat and food source for birds and animals. banks, provided additional shelter and food for native They improve the condition and stability of soils, and fauna and revegetated the natural environment. create a screen from wind, noise and pollution. Numerous volunteers from various community Aesthetically, they form views, create style within a groups and individuals have been an integral part of landscape and bring colour, scent, and beauty. the success of NTD. Trees within a city can be used to create shade, to define important streets, to give emphasis to 5.3.6 Hazard Reduction Activities important buildings or to divide one area from another. With sufficient growing space, trees can Much work has been done, and is continuing, to effectively screen intrusive buildings and reduce the ensure the bushfire hazard is at a minimum level. It scale of large developments to a more human scale. is not feasible or reasonable to expect no hazard at all, given that fire is a natural and necessary part of Existing vegetation is protected by Council’s Tree the Australian landscape, and particularly of the dry Preservation Order. Implementation of the Order sclerophyll forest typical of the majority of Hurstville’s stipulates that for any tree permitted removal, either remnant vegetation. However the risk can be two native trees or one indigenous tree species must assessed, and fire used as a beneficial tool to keep be planted in its place. Council’s Tree Preservation the bushland healthy, instead of feared as a Order applies to all trees growing within the LGA and dangerous threat. prohibits the ringbarking, cutting down, lopping, removal, injury or destruction of any tree without prior There are several types of hazard reduction activities inspection and assessment by Council officers prior. implemented to reduce the bushfire hazard. The most common action is that of manual removal of Over the last five years the number of tree fuel, which is done on a continual basis between applications received by Council has remained fairly sites. Contractor and Council staff remove fuel constant as seen in Table 14. where loadings exceed recommended levels. Table 14 - Tree Applications and Removals Pile burns are another method of bushfire hazard 04/ 05/ 06/ 07/ 08/ control, that also serve the purpose of stimulating the 05 06 07 08 09 regeneration of native seed stored in the soil. Burns are done in most reserves where the Bushcare No. of tree 740 995 1115 697 750 Program operates. Weed material is piled and when applications sufficiently dry, the piles are referred to the NSW Fire No. of tree 424 579 657 458 529 Brigades for controlled burning under suitable removals weather conditions. approved Pile burns were undertaken following bushfire hazard reduction clearing at Heinrich Reserve (2006 and 2009) and Evatt Park in (2008 and 2009). Pile burns also took place in other strategic locations in the North and South between 2006 and 2008, which all had successful outcomes.
69
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 41 5.3.8 Plans of Management Control of foxes and feral cats is difficult. Traps have been used for many years with limited success The NSW Local Government Act (1993) provides the although they will continue to be set and monitored. legislative framework for Council's day to day Den fumigation is an alternative for foxes where operations. The Act emphasises Council's carbon monoxide gas is introduced into a den during responsibility to actively manage land and to involve the breeding season to eliminate young fox cubs, and the community in developing a strategy for thus interrupting the fox breeding cycle. This management. technique relies on the identification of the location of Council has Plans of Management specifically for fox dens, which must also have a single entrance or Beverly Hills Park, Oatley Park and the Bushland of are able to be sealed. Heinrich Reserve Lugarno. Baiting is often mentioned as an effective means of All other community land (i.e. Natural areas, Parks, fox control. However, there are strict distance Sportsgrounds and General Community Use Areas) restrictions for baiting near residential areas which is covered by Council’s Generic Plans of prohibits such a program being undertaken within Management (see Section 2.25) any of Hurstville’s bushland. Introduced bird species, in particular the Indian or 5.4 What are the key issues? Common Myna, appear to be increasing in number 5.4.1 Feral/Introduced Species and displacing other local species. The birds aggressively evict native birds from their nests and Many animals present within the bushland and wider destroy their young. This may partly be a result of the LGA are not native species. Their populations have use of hybrid native plant species (such as Grevilleas adapted to the opportunities for survival provided by and Bottlebrushes) and other non local flora which do our suburban development and bring with them not favour the endemic bird population. disturbance to the local ecosystems, including those of residential yards/properties. The presence of feral Honey bees and other introduced insect species can species is both a symptom of degraded landscapes, also displace and compete with the native fauna. and cause for further disturbance by their continued This trend can also have longer term effects on the presence. survival and condition of native plant species. The most common, and most difficult to control introduced species are the fox (Vulpes vulpes) and 5.4.2 Noxious Weeds the cat (Felis cattus). Other noted species of concern A noxious weed is any weed that is declared noxious are Indian Myna birds, Noisy Miners, and feral Honey under the Noxious Weeds Act (1993). To be declared Bees. noxious, a weed must have a detrimental effect on Foxes live, breed and hunt within the bushland and human or animal health, or cause serious economic adjoining residential areas. They are now an loss to agriculture or to the environment. Weeds are established component of suburban ecosystems and a huge environmental and economic burden, costing are frequently sighted. Foxes prey upon birds and millions per annum in control and lost production mammals, including household pets, and they within New South Wales alone. By law, noxious contribute to the spread of weeds through the weeds must be controlled according to the consumption of seeds and fruit. Construction of dens specifications of their prescribed category. creates soil disturbance, and they have contributed to Responsibility for weed control lies with the land the displacement of local populations of marsupials. owner. Weeds declared noxious in the Hurstville area are shown in Table 15. Similarly, feral cats are highly adaptable to most environments and have few limitations or threats to Weeds are often classed in broad groups depending restrict their distribution. Cats are also excellent on their characteristics and impacts. Declared weeds hunters and feed on small mammals and reptiles, must be controlled according to instructions that are birds and insects. Both foxes and cats can carry and based on their class. Weed categories can be seen transmit diseases to humans, native animals and in Table 16 below. livestock.
70
42 Table 15 - Noxious Weed List for Hurstville LGA Common name Scientific name Category Alligator weed Alternanthera philoxeroides 3
Boneseed Chrysanthemoides monilifera 3 4 Blackberry Rubus fruticosus (agg.spp.)
Bridal creeper Asparagus asparagoides 5
Castor oil plant Ricinus communis 4
Chilean needle grass Nassella neesiana 5 Fountain grass Pennisetum setaceum 5 Green cestrum Cestrum parqui 3 Horsetail Equisetum species 1 Lantana Lantana species 4 & 5
Long-leaf Ludwigia Ludwigia longifolia 3 & 5
Ludwigia Ludwigia peruviana 3 Mexican feather grass Nassella tenuissima 1
Pampas grass Cortaderia spp. 3 Pellitory/Asthma weed Parietaria judaica 4
Prickly pears Cylindropuntia spp. and Opuntia spp. 4 Privet - broadleaf Ligustrum lucidum 4
Privet - narrowleaf Ligustrum sinense 4
Rhus Toxicodendron succedaneum 4 Salvinia Salvinia molesta 2
Willows Salix spp. 5
Table 16 - Noxious Weed Categories Category Description Class 1 State Prohibited Weeds Control Objective is to prevent the introduction and establishment of those plants in NSW. Control Measure is "The plant must be eradicated from the land and the land must be kept free of the plant." Class 2 Regionally Prohibited Weeds Control Objective is to prevent the introduction and establishment of those plants in parts of NSW. Control Measure is "The plant must be eradicated from the land and the land must be kept free of the plant." Class 3 Regionally Controlled Weeds Control Objective is to reduce the area and the impact of those plants in parts of NSW.
69
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 43 Control Measure is "The plant must be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed." Class 4 Locally Controlled Weeds Control Objective is to minimise the negative impact of those plants on the economy, community or environment of NSW. Control Measure is "The growth and spread of the plant must be controlled according to the measures specified in a management plan published by the local control authority." Class 5 Restricted Plants Control Objective is to prevent the introduction of those plants into NSW, the spread of those plants within NSW or from NSW to another jurisdiction. Control Measure is "The requirements in the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 for a notifiable weed must be complied with."
concern, along with Lantana and Privet in the The most problematic species within the Hurstville bushland areas. Noxious weed complaints to LGA are Privet, Rhus and Green Cestrum on private Council over the reporting period are seen in Table property, while on Council land the aquatic species of 17. Alligator Weed and Ludwigia are of increasing
Table 17 - Noxious Weed Complaints Received by Council 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 No. of noxious weed complaints to Council 30 20 24 23 12
Like noxious weeds, they are usually easily There are also a large number of weeds that are not propagated, lack natural control mechanisms, and declared noxious but do have a detrimental effect on tolerate a wide range of growing conditions. Even local ecosystems. These are known as local native species such Pittosporum undulatum can environmental weeds, and much effort is invested become weedy due to its ability to colonise areas of through the Bushcare Program in controlling them increased moisture and nutrients, and reduced light and minimising their spread and effects on remnant levels often associated with degraded bushland sites. bushland. A list of some of the more common environmental Environmental weeds arise from a variety of sources; weeds found within Hurstville LGA is shown in Table often they may be a common garden species that 18. has escaped, either by dumping or seed spread through consumption by birds or carried by water. Table 18 - Environmental Weeds List for Hurstville LGA
BOTANICAL NAME COMMON NAME Acetosa sagittate Turkey Rhubarb Agave and Yucca Palm Grass Ageratina adenophora Crofton weed Anredera cordifolia Madeira vine
Arundo donax Bamboo Ehrharta erecta Veldt grass Eragrostis curvula African love grass Lonicera japonica Honeysuckle
70
44 Myrsiphyllum asparagoides Bridal Veil Creeper Nephrolepis cordifolia Fishbone Fern Ochna serrulate Mickey Mouse plant Pittosporum undulatum Native Daphne Protasparagus aethiopicus Asparagus Fern Protasparagus plumosus Climbing Asparagus Protasparagus scandens Asparagus Fern Thunbergia sp. Black-eyed Susan Tradescantia albiflora Wandering Jew
5.4.3 Lack of Habitat and Habitat Connectivity have an understanding of the sensitive nature of the Habitat modification and fragmentation pose the backyard/bushland interface. greatest threat to biodiversity. Historically the major However, one way in which the quality of the cause of habitat loss was due to the clearing of bushland is still regularly compromised is through the native vegetation, firstly for timber and rural lands dumping of grass clippings and plant and weed and then for urban development. Most of these materials. Dumping of garden organics into the bush changes occurred before there was any system of is thought by some to be a harmless activity that creating reserves for nature conservation or any contributes to the natural decomposition cycle. This provision for wildlife management. activity undermines the progress of the Bushcare Timber-getting was the first industry in the area. The Program and contributes to the degradation of the felled timber was used in the construction of the remnant bush by: growing city of Sydney during the 1800s, and the • encouraging weed regrowth cleared land left behind provided space for the • threatening native plant communities and development of farm lands, and later the residential wildlife habitats suburbs that now occupy most of the land in the • looking unsightly and Hurstville area. • creating a potential bushfire hazard. Fragmentation of habitat often leads to the loss of The Bushcare Officers work in conjunction with the species. This occurs where habitat remnants become Law Enforcement Officers to identify sources of too small to support viable populations or when a dumped materials. The responsible parties are then population disappears from a remnant because of a required to remove the offending materials and local event (such as a fire) and the species cannot restore the bushland to its natural state. recolonise across some human-created barrier. Remnants are often too small to be self-sustaining ecosystems or are unable to support viable populations of some species. As the habitat deteriorates species are lost,.hence the importance of preserving wildlife corridors.
5.4.4 Dumping All of the bushland is accessible to the public and much of it adjoins private property. Adjacent property owners have a special responsibility to ensure human impacts on the bushland are minimised. Most residents do value and take care of our bushland and
70
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 45 5.5 Future Actions
Issue Action
Flora and fauna Conduct a vegetation and fauna survey which will form the framework of a Biodiversity management and Strategy protection
Bushcare Continue to maintain Council’s Bushcare Program
Bushland Restoration Develop Bushland Restorations Plans for key sites including Oatley Park
Bushfire Management Review the Bushfire Management Plan for Oatley Park
69
46 Resource Recovery
6 RESOURCE RECOVERY
Indicators: • Total domestic waste stream (tonnes) • Total domestic recycling (tonnes) • Total green waste recycling (tonnes) • Total clean-up (tonnes) • Waste diversion from landfill (%) • No. of illegal dumping incidents • No. of people attending EnviroWorks • No. of recycling contamination incidents • No. of greenwaste contamination incidents
Moving away from Community Vision No significant change Moving towards Community Vision
6.1 Introduction
The waste industry has undergone many changes over the past five years. These changes have impacted heavily on local government and its community. The Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Act (2001) is the main legislation for waste minimisation and management. The WARR Act promotes waste avoidance and resource recovery, extended producer responsibility for industry and has amended the waste hierarchy to better reflect Ecological Sustainable Development (ESD). The waste hierarchy’s primary aim is now Avoidance, Resource Recovery (reuse, reprocessing, recycling and energy recovery) and lastly Disposal. The average state wide diversion target of 66% by used for on agricultural land. Both these facilities are 2014 is somewhat unrealistic if Councils do not operated by WSN Environmental Solutions. engage the use of advanced waste treatment These facilities accept waste from numerous other systems (AWTs). Most Councils currently sit just Councils in the southern Sydney region and are below the 50% mark and it is widely accepted that currently undergoing studies into how their centres the 66% target figure is unobtainable if food waste is can expand to meet the growing needs of Councils not treated and turned into energy or compost. over the next few decades as well as work towards In Hurstville, all general residual waste (red-lid bin) better resource recovery. from domestic, commercial and industrial premises All recyclable materials from domestic and was disposed of to landfill at the Lucas Heights commercial premises are disposed of at the VISY Waste Management Centre. All garden organics Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at Taren Point. (green-lid bin) from domestic premises iss disposed of to both the Lucas Heights Waste Management Centre and the Chullora Transfer Station where it is composted and on sold to be
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2008-2009 7047 6.2 Are we moving towards our goal? 6.2.1 Current waste generation rates Domestic Services Multi-unit dwellings (MUDs) are provided with a 240 Hurstville City Council currently provides domestic litre garbage bin shared between 4 units collected waste services to approximately: twice weekly, and a 240 litre recycling bin shared • 21,767 single dwellings (SUDs-houses) between 3 units collected weekly. All residential • 8,166 multi-unit dwellings (MUDs-home units, premises are provided with a twice yearly bulk waste townhouses and villas) clean up collection of general bulky household waste and garden organics. Hurstville City Council has continued waste collection services with Transpacific Cleanaway over the past 5 Over the life of the current contract, waste generation years with the current contract due to conclude on rates have increased but so have recycling and 30th May 2010. The service provides SUDs residents garden organics recovery rates as shown in Table with a weekly collection of garbage in a 120 litre 19. The increase in the amount of recycling and Mobile Garbage Bin (MGB), a fortnightly collection of green waste collected is mainly due to packaging recycling in a 240 litre MGB and a fortnightly becoming more recyclable and residents having a collection of garden organics in a 240 litre MGB. better understanding of what can be recycled. Table 19 - Domestic Waste Tonnages Year Waste (tonnes) Recycling Garden Clean Up Total (tonnes) (tonnes) Organics (tonnes) (tonnes)
2004/2005 17,324 8,781 6,307 2,061 34,473 2005/2006 17,035 7,192 5,005 2,171 31,403 2006/2007 16,158 6,823 5,206 1,718 29,905 2007/2008 17,333 6,704 6,629 2,184 36,496 2008/2009 19,757 7,791 7,405 2,037 36,990
over 42% has been consistently maintained since the The increase in the amount of recycling and green implementation of recycling and garden organics waste collected has resulted in an increased amount services, as shown in Table 20. of waste diverted from landfill. A diversion rate of Table 20 - Waste Diversion Rates Year Diversion Rate
2004/2005 43.77%
2005/2006 39%
2006/2007 42.68%
2007/2008 43.48%
2008/2009 43.48%
70
48 Commercial Services 6.2.2 Illegal dumping Hurstville City Council is one of the few Councils that There is no evident trend in illegal dumping events provides both general waste and recycling services over the reporting period as shown in Table 21. to commercial premises. Council currently provides Hurstville Council has an effective compliance the following commercial services: program that contributes to reducing the incidence of illegally dumped rubbish in the LGA. Additionally • 2,143 commercial waste services; and there have been a number of campaigns promoted • 226 commercial recycling services. that target this negative behaviour and provides There are many commercial premises that do not residents with an alternative to dumping unwanted have a waste collection service and/or a recycling materials. service, and many illegally dump waste on the street or in public litter bins.
Table 21 - Illegal Dumping Incidents 2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009
Illegal Dumping 478 516 490 440 704
6.2.3 Contamination services for repeat contamination offences during the Contamination in recycling and garden organics bins reporting period. has decreased significantly following the Contamination reporting figures have increased over implementation of the 3 warning system for the whole reporting period as shown in Table 22 but contamination. Contamination incidents are recorded this is not to say that the incidence of contamination by the driver and reported to Council’s contractor. has also increased. The residents are sent a letter each time they Council’s waste contractor, Transpacific Cleanaway contaminate their bins and on the third warning their has had additional resources to monitor more closely bin is removed. Council has not had to remove the contents of resident’s bins which has resulted in more warning letters being sent.
Table 22 - Contamination Incidents 2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009
Recycling 182 53 115 244 488 Garden Organics 35 48 95 415 111
This program has been successful in reducing 2010 with all new service information and more contamination rates in the recycling bins of houses, targeted messages. however, the contamination rate in the recycling bins of units is much higher. 6.3 What has Council been doing? A letterbox drop of waste service information packs Council is committed to encouraging residents to was done in February 2007 as well as new bin avoid waste and reduce the amount of waste sent to stickers. These information packs covered what can landfill. and can’t be placed in each of the bins, what plastics can be recycled and what can be done with As a result of the waste minimisation initiatives household items and implemented since the introduction of the new waste service, diversion rates of greater than 42% have chemicals. Completely new materials will be been consistently maintained. designed for the new contract commencing in May
70
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 49 6.3.1 Education 6.3.2 Community Information Sessions In 2007 the waste services team was restructured to Council’s Waste Project Coordinator conducts have a Waste Project Coordinator and a Waste numerous seminars covering topics such as: - waste Project Officer who are responsible for providing minimisation, recycling, composting, worm farming, community education activities and establishing detoxing your home and green cleaning. These information and database management. seminars are conducted upon request and the Waste Project Coordinator has spoken to the following Throughout the paste five years Council officers have community groups: staffed educational displays at numerous festivals and events. These events included: • Roselands Probus Club • • National Tree Day Kogarah Seniors Association • • Chinese New Year Peakhurst Garden Club • Aged Gala Day • Kingsgrove Garden Club • Safe Food Expo • St George Region Children’s Services • St George Migrant Fair • Salvation Army Hurstville Group • National Recycling Week • Department of Housing Riverwood Tenants • St George Festival Group • Kogarah Street Fair • St George Community Housing Tenants • Lugarno Lions Festival Group • Oatley Lions Festival • CASS groups (Chinese Australian Service • Riverwood Community Festival • Council’s Annual Tree Giveaway Day. Society Co-operative Pty Ltd); Following the presentation participants were provided educational materials and promotional products such as reusable bags, stickers, recycled plastic rulers and recycled paper pens to reinforce key information and assist them in incorporating more sustainable practices into their lives.
6.3.3 Clean Up Australia Day Council’s Waste Project Coordinator coordinates Clean Up Australia Day (CUAD) activities in the LGA Figure 11 – Chinese New Year Bilingual each year. CUAD is held on the first Sunday in March Educators and participation in the event has increased markedly over the past five years, as shown in Table 23. Table 23 - Clean Up Australia Day Records Year No No of No of Amount of of V’teers Schools Rubbish Sites (bags) 2005 10 200 1 100 2006 8 200 8 250 2007 13 150 2 200 2008 11 150 3 200 2009 22 300 2 300 Figure 12 – Oatley Festival Sustainability Expo 2008 The amount of rubbish collected each year is slowly decreasing due to the same sites often being cleaned. This is not to say that total litter in the LGA has decreased. With such a vast area of the LGA being on the waterfront, litter is continuously brought
70
50 in through tidal movements. Perhaps in future years, long enough to become familiar with recycling and CUAD sites could be reviewed and other waterfront waste management procedures. Other waste issues areas can be focussed on. Each year local associated with MUDs include high contamination community groups such as Oatley Lions Club, levels of recycling materials, poor household waste Lugarno Lions Club, Lugarno Progress Association, management and illegal dumping. IBAA Hurstville and Penshurst Anglican Church In response to this, Council reinvigorated a multi unit support CUAD by coordinating sites and assisting dwelling education program to work with residents on with the BBQ hosted by Council. how to better manage their waste and to recycle. A Each year, following the CUAD activities, Council has resource kit was redeveloped in February 2007 and hosted a free BBQ and prize draw for all participants aimed to better meet these challenges. The kit at The Castle in Oatley Park. consisted of: Sites over the past five years have included: An easy guide to recycling and waste • Basil St Reserve, Salt Pan Creek; management in home units, with magnets on the • Forest Rd, Hurstville; back cover • Lime Kiln Bay, Waterfall Rd, Oatley; Bin bay posters, made from tear resistant • Myles Dunphy Reserve, River Rd, Oatley; material • Oatley Park, Oatley; • Salt Pan Ck, Basil St, Riverwood; Recycling bin stickers, made from UV resistant • Salt Pan Ck, Henry Lawson Dr Bridge, vinyl Peakhurst; Due to greater than 60% of residents of MUDs • Woodville Park, Wright St, Hurstville; speaking a language other than English at home, the • Kempt Field, Hurstville; resource kit was designed to be easily understood by • Lugarno Boardwalk; residents from any cultural background and bin • Jinna Reserve, Peakhurst Heights; stickers featured captions in English, Chinese, Greek • Waterfront Reserve, Lugarno; and Arabic. The materials utilised photographs, • Riverwood Ecological Gardens; illustrations, colour association and translations to • Georges River Foreshore, Lugarno; ensure that all residents will understand the • Peter Lowe Reserve, Kingsgrove; and messages conveyed. • Morgan Street, Beverly Hills. The program was an innovative approach to education programs for residents of MUDs and had 6.3.4 “Dumping. It’s Dumb” Campaign over 400 MUD complexes request the materials to be In 2007 the St George and Sutherland Councils were distributed to them. successful in receiving $50,000 from DECCW to To further assist Council in promoting essential waste assist in funding an illegal dumping campaign within service information, Council endorsed the mandatory the region especially around MUDs. The high installation and display of waste service information visibility campaign involved newspaper, bus back, in all MUD bin storage areas to assist residents with shop-a-docket, website, radio and brochure large utilising their waste service correctly. This will come scale advertising that encouraged residents to into effect after May 2010 when the new waste consider alternatives before they dump their contract commences and all new materials will be unwanted household items so commonly seen designed and distributed to residents highlighting around MUDs and quiet laneways. Residents were important changes to the service. also provided with a handy St George Disposal and Recycling Guide that gave more environmentally Council is also part of a State Government led friendly and responsible ways to manage your waste working group that tackles the issues surrounding in an A-Z format. MUDs. The aim of the group is to devise better methods for education residents in MUDs and reducing contamination of bins. The group consists 6.3.5 Multi-Unit Dwelling Education Campaign of Councils, Department of Environment, Climate In Hurstville City, there are approximately 1017 MUD Change and Water, Strata Companies and blocks which contain approximately 8,166 individual Department of Housing. units. The high tenancy rate in units means that there is also high transience of residents who may not stay
70
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 51 6.3.6 Sustainable Schools Program 6.3.7 Enviro-Works Council has continued its successful schools Council’s Waste Project Coordinator conducts environmental education program and evolved the EnviroWorks courses for residents of the LGA. content over the reporting period to more accurately EnviroWorks is a community education program reflect easy changes that students can make to which was redeveloped by Sutherland Shire Council assist the environment. in 2007. Each course covers concepts and theories relating to the following subjects: In 2008, Transpacific Cleanaway commenced • carbon footprint; coordination and facilitation of the program and have, • waste management and recycling; with their greater resources, been able to target more • composting and worm farming; primary schools across the LGA than was possible • green cleaning; with Council Officers conducting the program. • detoxing your home; and Since Transpacific Cleanaway has taken over, 6 • sustainable living. schools have participated with 1548 students taking EnviroWorks is a fun, interactive and great way to part in the program. Since the program commenced, learn about how to minimise your impact on the all local primary schools have participated at some environment. Each course runs for 2 hours, one night stage with many teachers making it a core activity for a week, over 5 weeks. Course participants receive their class each year. reusable carry bags, course notes and a free Students are educated mainly around waste issues compost bin or worm farm should they successfully focussing on the waste hierarchy of avoid, repair, complete the whole course. reuse, recycle and dispose. The interactive program Council has committed funding to conduct the enables students to physically form a relationship program in the future. A total of 185 residents have with their waste and to act as ‘champions’ for their completed the course over the reporting period as household which gives a great sense of achievement shown in Table 24. and pride. At the end of the one hour session, students are given a reusable carry bag, a colouring Residents from across the St George region are able in booklet of the program and a pen or pencil and to attend for free and courses are run jointly by the St ruler made from recycled materials. George Councils which enables greater participation rates and more courses to be run per year. Council School education is recognised by Council as staff have received training in workshop facilitation imperative to the success of waste education which greatly benefits the outcomes of the course for initiatives. Council will continue the program in future participants. years. Table 24 - EnviroWorks Course Participants Course Date No of Participants 2004/2005 29 2005/2006 41 2006/2007 20 2007/2008 20 2008/2009 75
6.3.8 Plastic Bags Council has numerous education programs in place to address the issue of contamination and littering. However, it is believed that education is only part of the solution to reduce the quantities of plastic bags in the recycling and garden organics bins. The issue must also be addressed from the source of the problem, i.e. the generation and use of plastic bags.
71
52 Reusable bags are frequently given away at Council around the local area and brought masses of people and community events to residents which are a from varied areas across Sydney to the LGA to welcome gift. The handy size allows residents to browse for a bargain. Feedback forms indicated that, keep bags in the car glove box or in their hand bags on average, over 50% of goods were sold that would for those ‘impulse purchases’. otherwise have been presented for the scheduled clean up service. The community also reported that it Council has also assisted the Oatley Lions Festival to was a wonderful event for local morale and to meet become ‘plastic bag free’ for the last 2 years with neighbours that you may have never spoken to in 10 most stallholders enthusiastically taking up the years. challenge. In addition to this Council offers to take plastic bags 6.3.11 Electronic Waste from residents and delivers them to a reprocessing company who makes them into industrial plastic In 2006 the St George Councils were successful in sheeting for the building industry. Residents can securing $40,000 from the Southern Sydney hand them over the counter or exchange them for Regional Organisation of Council (SSROC) to environmentally friendly prizes at events. conduct a trial electronic and electric waste collection and recycling program. 6.3.9 “No Tossers at Our School” Litter A mass education and promotions campaign was Campaign embarked on throughout 2007 informing residents of the dangers of e-waste in landfill creating toxic The three St George and Sutherland Councils were leachate as well as the loss of resources and huge successful in obtaining a $30,000 grant in 2008 from amounts of energy and water that goes into the DECCW to increase awareness about the issues mining of raw materials and production of equipment. associated with littering in St George and Sutherland LGA high schools. The project was called ‘No The collection was held in November 2007 (to Tossers at Our School’ and was conducted during coincide with Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week) 2008 and 2009. at the Hurstville Council Works Depot, Mortdale, and over 600 vehicles attended dropping off 45 tonnes of The project enlisted the assistance of the Leapfish material (25 tonnes of metal, 9 tonnes of glass and group who were able to showcase the message of 7.5 tonnes of plastic). littering to students through 2 interactive and entertaining performances as well as conducting litter As a result of the collection, the three Council Mayors audits with an environmental group within 8 regional signed a letter addressed to the State and Federal high schools. Environment Ministers lobbying for the introduction of a national extended producer responsibility scheme Schools were also able to enter a digital commercial that can allow all NSW residents to dispose of their e- competition across the region where messages of waste in an environmentally sustainable manner. anti-littering behaviour were promoted. Students were creative in their submissions and videos were Additionally, a guide to conducting an e-waste forwarded to DECCW who may use them in future collection in your Council was produced and loaded to promotions for the ‘Don’t Be a Tosser’ campaign the three Council websites and distributed to over 50 message. Prizes up to the value of $2000 were Council educators across Victoria and NSW. The awarded to schools to purchase media equipment or guide was received extremely well as it answered resources to assist in further environmental recurring questions that educators had been education programs. continually raising since the advent of e-waste issues. In 2008 Council received accolades for the Electronic 6.3.10 Retail Your Rubbish Waste Project through the following events: Council commenced a mass garage sale event which • Keep Australia Beautiful Sustainable Cities was held twice in 2008 and will continue in future Awards – Winner of the Waste Management years due to its huge popularity. Sales were held in category selected areas according to approaching clean up • Local Government and Shires Association zones and up to 25 households held sales for each Excellence in Environment Awards – Winner event. Sales were advertised by Council in the of the Waste Management category newspaper, through the website and with posters
70
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 53 6.3.12 Truck Art Competition area, 100% recycled plastic garden bed edges and a 9400L water tank. To reinvigorate awareness and enthusiasm about environmental issues, Council and Transpacific The garden has been operating successfully for 2 Cleanaway coordinated a primary school’s art years and the Association regularly holds working competition entitled “Our Future Environment” to bees to maintain the communal areas of the site. coincide with World Environment Day 2007. Produce from the garden has been healthily grown without the use of pesticides and herbicides and the A winner from each education stage was chosen and gardeners have formed friendship bonds despite the overall winner had their artwork displayed on the language barriers. side of the newly painted waste collection fleet vehicles much to the recipient’s surprise. The Community Garden was successful in receiving an award in the Keep Australia Beautiful Sustainable Cities Awards in 2008 for community gardens. It was also a recipient of a $2,000 grant from the Open Gardens Scheme in 2006 which was used to provide communal tools and put towards the building of the shade structure which would feed rainwater into the tank.
6.3.14 Chemical Clean Out Council commenced hosting a collection site in 2007 for the annual Household Chemical Collection Event coordinated by the DECCW. The location of the site as well as its size enables a greater volume of participants to visit the site to drop off their Figure 13 – Truck Art Competition Winner chemicals. This program has been operating successfully over 6.3.13 Hurstville Community Garden the whole reporting period and it is planned that Council commenced work on developing a funding will continue over the next few years given community garden on the site of the old Hurstville the staggering participation rate. Bowling Club on the corner of Cross and Wright The Hurstville regional collection has become so Streets, Hurstville in 2005. The garden was popular that a full weekend has been set aside for designed and developed utilising the varied skills of the last two years which attracts up to 1400 vehicles Council Officers as well as interested members of the bringing with them up to 45 tonnes of material for community. The garden was officially opened in recycling and safe disposal. This is a fantastic June 2007 by the Mayor of Hurstville and was achievement that has prevented many materials celebrated with a traditional Aboriginal smoking being disposed of incorrectly to landfill. ceremony, traditional Chinese dancers and a sausage sizzle provided by Hurstville Lions Club. Thirty plots were randomly allocated to financial 6.3.15 Junk Mail members of the Hurstville Community Garden (Inc) In 2007, Council produced a simple ‘No Advertising under the understanding that they would tend their Material’ sticker that has been widely distributed to plot not for financial gain and abiding by the the community, especially popular with residents of Association’s bylaws. MUDs. The LGA is continuing to experience In developing the garden as community space for problems with distribution companies that do not residents of MUDs, it was also designed to act as a deliver their materials into letterboxes, rather leaving showcase site for sustainable design. The site was them in stacks on top of MUDs mail areas which has developed using recycled crushed concrete for the tendency to create litter issues. footpaths, organic soil mix for beds, a native garden border to attract native fauna to the area, mulched garden beds and paths, reused pavers in the social
71
54 6.3.16 Businesses for an Environmentally 6.4 What are the key issues? Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Program 6.4.1 Improving services to residents As part of the environmental program which involved With the current collection contract with Transpacific working with the businesses in Penshurst (see Air Cleanaway concluding in May 2010, Council is Chapter for further details), there was an overall preparing a joint regional education campaign with reduction of 4.3 tonnes of waste produced by 21 Kogarah and Rockdale Councils that better aligns businesses equating to a 14% reduction in the waste messages to match the shared collection volume of waste to landfill. As a result of the services. program 32% of the waste stream is recycled as Council will be developing all new educational opposed to 25% before the training program. materials for residents which better informs them of the importance of recycling as well as how to better 6.3.17 Domestic Waste Audit utilise their waste service. In 2005 and 2008, Council undertook a domestic The greatest change on the horizon for residents is waste audit which was a mandatory requirement of the opportunity to ‘book in’ their biannual clean up the DECCW for the waste performance improvement service as opposed to the old scheduled system. payment scheme. The main findings of the audit This new venture aims to reduce the incidence of were: illegal dumping as well as provide residents with a • In 2008 the average HCC household more convenient and efficient system for disposing of generated 24.83kg of waste (waste, recycling their unwanted household goods. and garden organics streams) per week in The cost benefits to Council given the joint nature of contrast to 19.3kg in 2005 the collection contract (shared vehicles, one depot • The waste stream still has 5.8% of recyclable located at the principal disposal location and other materials which is a decrease from 11.3% in miscellaneous savings) amount to over $12.2 million 2005 over the life of the contract. • Contamination in the recycling stream rose to Additionally, Council entered into an EOI process 10% from 4.9% in 2005 with Sutherland, Kogarah and Rockdale Councils in early 2009 to investigate the long term disposal • Contamination in the garden organics stream options for putrescible waste. The outcome of which increased slightly to 1.5% from 0.02% in 2005 is unknown at this stage but it is assumed that • Overall recovery of recyclable material was strategic planning towards the use of alternate waste 94.9% which has increased from 91.7% in treatments (AWT) is in sight within the next five years 2005 which will achieve much greater diversion rates from landfill. The report stated that “with food still contributing more than 50% of the garbage stream, its recovery in some form will be the next way in which to further 6.4.2 Commercial waste and recycling services improve the recovery of waste in Hurstville”. Council Although work has been done in the past to attract has since commenced a tender process with additional businesses to utilise the competitively Sutherland, Rockdale and Kogarah Councils for the priced Council waste and recycling services, there provision of an Advanced Waste Treatment facility remains a great deal of small to medium sized (AWT) which will exceed the DECCW’s municipal businesses that would still benefit from the service waste diversion target of 66% by 2014. that are still using private contractors. Council has engaged WSN Environmental Solutions to prepare a business plan for engaging business services that will come into effect from May 2010 once the new collection contract commences. This will also be done jointly with Kogarah and Rockdale Councils so that better financial benefits are experienced.
72
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 55 6.5 Future Actions
Issue Action Domestic waste Continue to educate community about waste minimisation and recycling Commercial waste Promote Council’s commercial and recycling service
Community education Undertake community education and awareness campaigns and continue to deliver EnviroWorks courses Policy Develop a Strategic Waste Action Plan that highlights how Council can achieve 66% diversion from landfill by the target year of 2014
Disposal Investigate an AWT process for disposal and resource recovery of organic waste (ie.food and residual)
70
56 Noise
7 NOISE
Indicators: • No. of noise complaints to Council • No. of noise complaints to EPA pollution line
Moving away from Community Vision No significant change Moving towards Community Vision
7.1 Introduction
Community concern over environmental noise is growing, particularly as a result of increasing urban density, significant shifts in inner city land use and growing residential use of rezoned industrial areas. As the population increases the issue of noise becomes magnified and of greater importance. Noise can be described as “undesirable sound”, important sources of local disturbance. Aircraft while noise pollution can be defined as “unwanted or noise, industrial and rail traffic can also have a offensive sounds that unreasonably intrude into our regional impact. daily activities. As noise levels increase so to does the potential for disruption to our work, home life and 7.2 Are we moving towards our goal? recreational activities. The responsibility for 7.2.1 Noise complaints environmental noise control in NSW is divided between the DECCW (formerly the EPA), Police A majority of the domestic complaints received by Service and local councils depending on its source Council relate to building work and construction and and the time of the day. barking dogs and the remaining relates to specific issues including animals (other than dogs), noisy air The effects of noise can manifest itself in different conditioners, parties and alarms. ways depending on its intensity, frequency, duration and time of day it occurs. Noise can disturb sleep, During 2004/2005 a total of 219 noise complaints were interfere with communication, effect performance and received by Council which rapidly decreased to 43 social behaviour. Physical effects can include complaints in 2008/2009. Similarly, the DECCW tension, stress, headache, hearing loss and fatigue. received 27 noise complaints in 2004/2005 which has also decreased to 3 in 2008/2009 as shown in Table 25. ‘Community noise’ (also known as environmental noise) is one of the most common pollutants and includes the primary sources of road, rail and air traffic, construction and public works and the neighbourhood. The main source of noise in urban areas is road traffic however, noise from domestic sources such as animals, air conditioners and music can be Table 25 - Noise Complaints to Council and DECCW 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09
No. of noise pollution complaints to Council 219 234 90 69 43
No. of noise pollution complaints to DECCW pollution line 27 10 6 3 3
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2008-2009 7157 reduce the buffer distance of an air conditioner to A summary of the types of noise complaints received neighbouring properties and it is anticipated that by Council over the last two years is shown in Table noise nuisance from domestic air conditioning units is 26. The greatest proportion of noise complaints likely to increase. comprised general noise complaints, air conditioners and music. 7.3.2 Complaints Assessment Table 26 – Types of Noise Complaints to Council Hurstville City Council follows specific procedures for for 08/09 dealing with noise nuisance from building and Noise Source Numbers construction, barking dogs and other offensive noise. Air conditioners 7 Council’s Environmental Health Officers investigate Animals other than dogs 1 noise complaints and can take action to prevent, minimise and abate noise from a wide range of Building/construction works 4 domestic and industrial noise sources by serving Motor vehicle workshops and 4 notices and directions under the Protection of the mechanical repairs Environment Operations Act (1997) and orders under the Local Government Act (1993). This often Music 7 involves the use of Council’s noise monitoring Noise general 14 equipment. Pool pumps 1 7.4 What are the key issues? Residential and neighbourhood 5 7.4.1 Commercial and Industrial Noise TOTAL 43 Noise from industry can affect nearby residential Note: Council may have received complaints for areas. There are two main industrial areas in the same noise source more than once Hurstville, located in the suburbs of Kingsgrove and Peakhurst. Businesses in these areas include motor 7.3 What has Council been doing? vehicle repair and panel beating operations, waste transporters, manufacturers of building products, 7.3.1 Development Assessment carpentry and joinery workshops and warehouses. The development assessment process allows for 7.4.2 Road and Rail Noise potential noise impacts to be considered. Council Motor vehicle ownership across NSW is steadily applies conditions on developments to impose increasing. As a consequence, the general level of restrictions on the times building and construction road usage and traffic noise has increased can occur and limits on noise levels for certain stages significantly. Roads within the Hurstville Council of construction and operations. Local Government Area which have high traffic volumes include King Georges Road, Forest Road The State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) and Stoney Creek Road. (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (effective 7 September 2009) allows domestic air Rail noise is a problem for some areas close to the conditioners to be located up to 450mm from a Illawarra line, which can be affected by the noise of property boundary without Council's consent as freight trains (which are generally noisier than apposed to 3 metres in previous years. Once the passenger trains). SEPP becomes effective, this will dramatically
69
58 7.5 Future Actions
Issue Action Domestic, commercial Continue to follow procedures for dealing with noise nuisance from building and and industrial noise construction, barking dogs and other offensive noise Continue to serve notices and directions under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act (1997) and orders under the Local Government Act, 1993 where necessary Continue to assess the potential noise impact of appliances (eg air conditioners and pool pumps) when assessing development applications Continue to provide material to the community regarding best practice for air conditioning Undertake an environmental auditing program in the Kingsgrove and Mortdale industrial areas
70
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 59 Aboriginal Heritage
8 ABORIGINAL HERITAGE
Indicators: • No. of heritage sites in the LGA
Moving away from Community Vision No significant change Moving towards Community Vision
8.1 Introduction
The National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974) ensures that all Aboriginal objects and places are protected within NSW. Aboriginal objects and artefacts are an important part of Australia's cultural heritage, and many significant places are listed on the register of the National Estate. Even more important is the significance these sites or objects have for Aboriginal communities. To Aboriginal people, sites and objects provide a direct link with their traditional culture. It is therefore important to preserve as many sites and artefacts as possible, in a manner that is sensitive to both their historic and cultural significance. The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) is responsible for the protection and preservation of all Aboriginal objects and places in NSW. It is illegal to disturb, damage, deface, or destroy an object or Aboriginal place without consent from DECCW.
8.2 Are we moving towards our goal? 8.3 What has Council been doing? 8.2.1 Aboriginal Sites within the Hurstville LGA 3.1.1 Planning controls The Minister, under the section 84 of National Parks Council has specific provisions contained in its Local and Wildlife Act (1974) can declare a location or Environmental Plan (LEP) that are focused on place an Aboriginal Place. Places that are declared ensuring adequate investigations are undertaken to under the Act are considered to have, or have had, ensure Aboriginal sites, both known and unknown, special significance to Aboriginal people and culture. are identified and afforded adequate protection within Declared Places are managed by DECCW and their the development assessment process. location is publicly available. The DECCW also Council will also be reviewing its existing controls maintains a broader register of Aboriginal sites within during the preparation of its Comprehensive LEP to NSW (Aboriginal Heritage Information Management ensure that they reflect contemporary indigenous System, AIMS), which is not readily available to the heritage planning, and are consistent with the general public in order to minimise the incidence of requirements of the Standard LEP Template. vandalism and other inappropriate behaviour. While there not any declared Aboriginal Places within the LGA, there are 66 sites recorded on the AIMS database. The majority of these sites are located in close proximity to the Georges River, and reflect the importance of the river to local Aboriginal people, as well the broader impact of urban development on the preservation of Aboriginal sites.
60 71 3.1.2 Aboriginal Advisory Committee 8.4 What are the key issues? Council has an established Aboriginal Advisory 8.4.1 Vandalism and inappropriate behaviour Committee (AAC) that has functioned for many Vandalism and either the deliberate or inadvertent years. The objectives of the ACC are to: destruction of Aboriginal sites is one of the most • provide advice and input on the development common impacts on Aboriginal Heritage. In order to and implementation of Council's programs, address this issue Council works with the DECCW to policies, services and facilities relating to the ensure all known sites, and any new sites that they local Aboriginal community may be identified are appropriately recorded and managed within the LGA. • provide a forum for raising issues of concern regarding the local Aboriginal community 8.4.2 Planning controls and land management • advance reconciliation between the practices Aboriginal community and the wider community Planning controls play an important role in assuring that Aboriginal heritage is given adequate • enhance community awareness of Aboriginal consideration during the strategic planning and culture, heritage and socio-economic issues development assessment processes. While Council (for example: health, employment, education has controls within in its planning instruments, it is and housing) important that they, in conjunction with procedural • maintain and enhance positive working matters and processes, are reviewed periodically to relationships between Council and the ensure they reflect contemporary heritage planning Aboriginal community. practices and legislation. Similarly, it also important that Councils Plans of Management are also The AAC has played an important role in assisting reviewed to ensure existing and new objects and Council refine its various activities and functions by places that are located on community land are ensuring that they are underpinned by appropriate managed and conserved in an appropriate manner. consultation with the local Aboriginal community.
8.5 Future Actions
Issue Action
Vandalism Continue to work with the Aboriginal Heritage Advisory Committee and DECCW to protect and promote the value of Aboriginal Heritage within the Hurstville community
Planning controls and 1. Review current planning controls and guidelines during the preparation of land management Council’s Comprehensive LEP practices 2. Consider Aboriginal Heritage issues during the review of Council’s Plans of Management.
70
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 61 Non Aboriginal Heritage 9 NON ABORIGINAL HERITAGE
Indicators: • No. of heritage sites in the LGA
Moving away from Community Vision No significant change Moving towards Community Vision
9.1 Introduction
Heritage is evidence of our natural and cultural history. Conserving our heritage helps us to understand our past, and to contribute to the lives of future generations. It gives us a sense of continuity and belonging to the place where we live. Local heritage items are listed in Schedule 2 of Councils Local Environment Plan (LEP) 1994. The LEP and its supporting DCPs provide controls for the protection and conservation of these items. The LEP also aims to conserve environmental heritage and ensure that archaeological sites are conserved. . 9.2 Are we moving towards our goal? existing planning controls also ensure that listed 9.2.1 Local and State Sites of Significance items are used and developed in a manner that maintains their functionality, while also preserving Identifying and listing items of heritage significance their inherent heritage values. Moreover, Councils are the first steps in protecting and managing those LEP also includes an incentive clause that enables a places and objects that we as a community want to heritage item to be used for any purpose if Council is preserve. Listing places on statutory heritage satisfied that its heritage values will be maintained. registers provides a legal framework for their on going management and conservation. 9.4 What are the key issues? Council has 140 items listed locally in its LEP, 2 9.4.1 Adaptive reuse items listed under the NSW Heritage Act (1977), and 10 items that are listed on Register of the National Adaptive reuse is the process where historic Estate. buildings and places can, through the development process, remain contemporary and useable today. In 9.3 What has Council been doing? this regard, adaptive reuse can also help address the often high maintenance costs associated with 9.3.1 Listed Heritage Sites heritage items by enabling them to be used Council owns a number of heritage properties within commercially, and in the process provide income that the LGA which ensures that they remain open to the can offset maintenance costs. public in some form. Heritage properties are often Appropriate planning controls play an important role leased out to community based organisations with in facilitating suitable adaptive reuse. In particular, the rental income used to maintain and restore the the controls while enabling an item to evolve, must at properties. Council has undertaken various the same time preserve those features that are restoration works and has an ongoing maintenance fundamental to its heritage values. program for these heritage properties. Councils
70
62 Figure 14 – The Old Bakery Museum at Hurstville
9.5 Future Actions
Issue Action
Non Aboriginal Heritage 1. Undertake a review of locally listed items during the preparation of Council’s Comprehensive LEP 2. Review Council’s current heritage planning provisions in accordance with the Standard Instrument LEP to ensure appropriate adaptive reuse opportunities are maximised
70
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 63 Are we moving toward a sustainable community?
10 ARE WE MOVING TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY?
Environmental indicators play an important role in enabling Council to monitor the Hurstville community’s progress toward sustainability. To do this, Council first identified a suite of indicators that were described in the 2004 comprehensive SoE, the Hurstville Snapshot. Since that time, Council has continued to monitor and record against those indicators to determine the sustainability performance of the organisation, and the local community (Appendix 1). The data that has been collected suggests that Council has performed reasonably well, in that for the majority of sectors, the indicators have remained static or have improved. In the context of ongoing development pressures, to which the LGA is continually exposed, this result should be viewed as a positive outcome. The data should also be considered in light of the community consultation that was undertaken during the preparation of this document. The results of the online survey indicated that some residents believe that the condition of the local environment has declined. However, based on the results presented in Appendix 1, environmental conditions within the LGA have remained reasonably constant since 2004. This suggests that the successes of Council (and the local community) in working to maintain and improve the environment should perhaps be promoted more actively within the local community. Nevertheless, Council is committed to continually improving the way in which it delivers services to the Hurstville community and improving the integrity of the local environment. In this regard, during the 2009/10 period Council will commence the preparation of a new Community Strategic Plan that will, amongst other things, provide a road map for describing how Council will continue to work with local residents to make Hurstville a more sustainable community in which to live.
70
64 10 ARE WE MOVING TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY?
Environmental indicators play an important role in enabling Council to monitor the Hurstville community’s progress toward sustainability. To do this, Council first identified a suite of indicators that were described in the 2004 comprehensive SoE, the Hurstville Snapshot. Since that time, Council has continued to monitor and record against those indicators to determine the sustainability performance of the organisation, and the local community (Appendix 1). The data that has been collected suggests that Council has performed reasonably well, in that for the majority of sectors, the indicators have remained static or have improved. In the context of ongoing development pressures, to which the LGA is continually exposed, this result should be viewed as a positive outcome. The data should also be considered in light of the community consultation that was undertaken during the preparation of this document. The results of the online survey indicated that some residents believe that the condition of the local environment has declined. However, based on the results presented in Appendix 1, environmental conditions within the LGA have remained reasonably constant since 2004. This suggests that the successes of Council (and the local community) in working to maintain and improve the environment should perhaps be promoted more actively within the local community. Nevertheless, Council is committed to continually improving the way in which it delivers services to the Hurstville community and improving the integrity of the local environment. In this regard, during the 2009/10 period Council will commence the preparation of a new Community Strategic Plan that will, amongst other things, provide a road map for describing how Council will continue to work with local residents to make Hurstville a more sustainable community in which to live.
Appendix 1 - Indicator Table 70
Sector Indicator 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 Land Potential for acid- sulphate soils (% of 13.8% 13.8% 13.8% 13.8% 13.8% LGA) Bushfire prone land 11.6% 11.6% 11.6% 11.6% 11.6% (% of LGA) No. of sites identified 7 7 7 7 7 contaminated in LGA Air No. of air pollution 14 12 13 27 11 complaints to Council No. of air pollution 16 14 0 2 1 complaints to DECCW Water No. of water pollution 66 77 14 12 30 complaints to Council No. of water pollution 9 28 5 6 1 complaints to DECCW % of catchment treated by stormwater 28.4% 28.4% 28.4% 28.4% 28.4% pollution devices % of time water quality passed faecal coliform pollution 100% 100% 100% 88% 92% guidelines at Jew Fish Bay baths % of time water quality passed enterococci pollution 94% 100% 100% 88% 75% guidelines at Jew Fish Bay baths Water consumption - - - - 522 per capita (kL) No. of rainwater tanks installed in LGA 209 340 149 165 66 (based on rebates)
Biodiversity No. of threatened species listed in LGA 11 11 11 11 12
No. of endangered populations listed in 1 1 1 1 1 LGA
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2008-2009 65
71 No. of endangered ecological 6 6 6 6 7 communities listed in LGA No. of plant/tree 2000 2900 2700 3100 2850 giveaways No. of active bushcare volunteers 65 71 75 90 94
No. of tree 740 995 1115 697 750 applications No. of tree removals approved 424 579 957 458 529
No. of illegal tree 14 33 37 3 activities reported No. of noxious weed complaints to Council 30 20 24 23 12
Resource Total domestic waste recovery stream (tonnes) 17324 17035 16158 17333 19757
Total domestic 8781 7192 6823 6704 7791 recycling (tonnes) Total garden organics 6307 5005 5206 6629 7405 (tonnes) Total clean-up 2061 2171 1718 2184 2037 (tonnes) % waste diversion 43.77% 39% 42.68% 43.48% 43.48% from landfill No. of illegal dumping 478 516 490 440 704 incidents No. of people attending 29 41 20 20 75 EnviroWorks No. of recycling contamination 182 53 115 244 488 incidents No. of garden organics 35 48 95 415 111 contamination incidents Noise No. of noise complaints to Council 219 234 90 69 43
72 66 No. of noise complaints to DECCW 27 10 6 3 3
Heritage No. of heritage listed 66 66 66 66 66 properties Aboriginal No. of Aboriginal sites 140 140 140 140 140 Heritage registered
73
Hurstville City Council State of the Environment Report 2004-2009 67 HURSTVILLE CITY COUNCIL Comprehensive State of the Environment Report 2008 - 2009
>khijl_bb[9_jo9ekdY_b 8dbegZ]Zch^kZHiViZd[i]Z :ck^gdcbZciGZedgi '%%-"'%%.