GREATER TAREE CITY COUNCIL MANNING RIVER ESTUARY MANAGEMENT PLAN Issue No. 2 FEBRUARY 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. Page No. 2.3.3 Commercial vs Recreational Fishing 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2.3.4 Power Boaters vs. Passive Recreation and Landholders 6 1. BACKGROUND 3. ENTRANCE CONDITION ISSUES 1.1 OVERVIEW 1 3.1 HISTORY OF ENTRANCE CONDITIONS 7 1.1.1 Long Term Strategies 1 3.1.1 Harrington Entrance 7 1.1.2 Short Term Strategies 1 3.1.1 Farquhar Inlet / Old Bar 8 1.2 PLAN LAYOUT AND DESCRIPTION 1 3.2 ENTRANCE OPENING INVESTIGATIONS 8 1.3 THE ESTUARY MANAGEMENT PROCESS 1 4. ESTUARY MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES 1.4 APPLICATION OF THE ESTUARY MANAGEMENT PROCESS TO THE MANNING 4.1 OBJECTIVES 10 RIVER ESTUARY 1 5. ESTUARY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES 2. SIGNIFICANT ESTUARY FEATURES AND KEY MANAGEMENT ISSUES 5.1 PRIORITISED STRATEGIES 11 2.1 SIGNFICANT ESTUARY FEATURES 3 5.2 ESTUARY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES 11 2.2 KEY ESTUARY MANAGEMENT ISSUES 4 2.2.1 Riverbank Erosion 4 6. COSTS, TIMING AND RESPONSIBILITIES 2.2.2 Nature Conservation 4 6.1 IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE 14 2.2.3 Development Controls 4 2.2.4 Waterway Usage 5 6.2 ESTIMATED COST OF ACTIONS 14 2.2.5 Waterway Access 5 2.2.6 Sedimentation 5 7. HOW THE PLAN WILL BE IMPLEMENTED 2.2.7 The Fishery 5 7.1 INTEGRATED APPROACH 15 2.2.8 Water Quality 5 7.2 FUNDING SOURCES 15 2.2.9 Ocean Entrance Conditions 5 2.3 CONFLICTS OF WATERWAY USE 5 8. REFERENCES 2.3.1 Oyster Farmers vs Boating 5 2.3.2 Competition for Space 5 Patterson Britton & Partners page i rp5947wjh_crt080211-Manning EMP.doc ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Manning River Estuary Management Plan was prepared by MANNING RIVER ESTUARY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Patterson Britton & Partners Pty Ltd on behalf of the Manning River Estuary Management Committee. Councilllor John Byrne Greater Taree City Council Councillor Richard Wilson Greater Taree City Council The Study stems from Council’s commitment to managing the estuarine reaches of the Manning River and its major tributaries Councillor Helen Hannah Greater Taree City Council including Lansdowne River, Cattai Creek, Dawson River, Scotts Creek Greg Blaze Greater Taree City Council and South Channel. It has been funded jointly by Council and the Graham Gardner Greater Taree City Council Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) on a 50:50 subsidy basis, under the New South Wales Government’s Estuary Graham Schultz Greater Taree City Council Management Program. Omar Faruqi Greater Taree City Council The Plan is the culmination of a range of investigations and studies Robert Baker Greater Taree City Council that have been undertaken over the last 10 years. Reports detailing Karen McKeough Greater Taree City Council the outcomes of these investigations form the supporting Luke Ryan Department of Environment and Climate Change documentation on which the recommendations outlined in this Plan are based. They include: Brian Semple Department of Lands § ‘Manning River Estuary Data Compilation’ (March 1990) Kevin Carter Department of Environment and Climate Change § ‘Manning River Estuary Processes Study’ (September 1997) Bret Ryan NSW Maritime Authority § ‘Manning River Estuary Management Study’ (February 2008). Matthew Richardson Department of Primary Industries Jim Love These documents have been prepared by incorporating contributions from individuals from the broader community and a Simon Skelton Manning Coastcare range of key stakeholders. Beryl Neilsen Manning Valley Channel Committee John Sorby The Manning River Estuary Management Committee has also contributed to these studies. Its contributions have been essential to Kym Bilham Coastcare the formation of the Plan and are greatly appreciated. Trevor Burns Manning River Sustainable Recreational Fishing and Tourism Committee Members of the Estuary Management Committee are listed opposite. Their contributions to the development of this Plan and the Chris Watson Taree Fisherman’s Co-operative Society Limited studies on which it is based are greatly appreciated. Mark Polson Oyster Growers Association Peter Longworth Manning Delta Landowners Protection Committee Patterson Britton & Partners page ii rp5947wjh_crt080211-Manning EMP.doc 1 BACKGROUND 1.1 OVERVIEW 1.2 PLAN LAYOUT AND DESCRIPTION The Estuary Management Policy provides for This Manning River Estuary Management Plan The Plan is set-out in detail on the figures and in the assessment of all estuarine uses, the incorporates both long term and short term the Implementation Schedule enclosed within resolution of conflicts, and the production of strategies for managing the estuary. The Plan Section 4. It includes 49 strategies which a unified and sustainable management plan has been structured to provide a list of strategic address a mixture of short term and long term for each estuary (NSW Government, 1992). measures that can be implemented to meet objectives. It is implemented on individual estuaries objectives determined through consultation through a process which involves the with key stakeholders. The Plan also incorporates a range of establishment of an Estuary Management background information which led to the Committee. 1.1.1 Long Term Strategies formulation of the 49 strategies. This includes a These embrace broad regional issues, description of the key issues, significant and 1.4 APPLICATION OF THE ESTUARY often related to reversing or curbing valuable attributes of the estuary, and the MANAGEMENT PROCESS TO THE cumulative anthropogenic impacts. desired management objectives. MANNING RIVER ESTUARY These issues typically require either further specific study to identify appropriate A description of how the Plan will be The Manning River Estuary Management management solutions and/or time to implemented is also provided. The detailed Committee was formed in 1999 to assist Great build landowner support and Implementation Schedule lists the estimated Taree City Council in achieving integrated, commitment, such as for habitat cost of each strategy, its priority and the balanced, responsible and ecologically regeneration on privately owned land. projected timing for commencement. sustainable use of the Manning River Estuary. In effect, these strategies are targeted at 1.3 THE ESTUARY MANAGEMENT PROCESS The Committee was formed in recognition of prevention of problems that, if no action the need to protect and preserve the natural In 1992, the NSW State Government was taken, could arise in the future. state of the estuary while also planning for introduced an Estuary Management Policy future development within the lower which was aimed at managing the growing 1.1.2 Short Term Strategies catchment of Manning River. The Committee pressures on estuarine ecosystems. The consists of representatives from Greater Taree These relate to readily definable policy forms part of a suite of catchment City Council, state government authorities, and components of work or measures that can management policies, which are consistent the local community. The charter of the be implemented as soon as funds are with the Catchment Management Act, Committee is to identify the main issues available (subject to the usual 1989. affecting the river and its tributaries and then to development approvals process). proceed with preparation of a management The general goal of the Estuary plan to address identified problems or issues. As such, these strategies are typically Management Policy is to achieve an reactions to existing problems and include integrated, balanced, responsible and for example, works associated with bank ecologically sustainable use of the State’s stabilisation and reducing sediment load estuaries, which form a key component of to the estuary. coastal catchments. Patterson Britton & Partners page 1 rp5947wjh_crt080211-Manning EMP.doc Manning River Estuary Management Plan Background ESTUARY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE The primary aim of producing the Estuary Data Compilation document was to discover and appraise literature, data and anecdotal information ASSEMBLY OF EXISTING DATA related to the Manning River and its tributaries. Information was obtained Discover and assemble from libraries, consultation with local estuary users, and review of relevant data Canvass public opinion background reports on related infrastructure and through site inspections. Define issues of concern The Estuary Processes Study provides essential information on the physical ESTUARY PROCESS STUDY processes of importance to the estuary. It provides the Estuary Hydraulics: tidal, freshwater, flushing, salinity, water quality & sediment Management Committee with technical information on which informed behaviour, etc Biology: habitats, species, populations, endangered species, etc decision making can be based. The decisions that need to be made Impacts: impact of human activities on hydraulics and biology include: Define causes and extent of issues of concern § how to manage the estuary; and, ESTUARY MANAGEMENT STUDY § how to respond to issues that may confront the future sustainability of Essential Features: physical, chemical, ecological, economic, the estuary as a conservation area, tourist destination and place for social & aesthetic urban living. Current Uses: activities, land tenure & control, conflicts of use Conservation Goals: preservation, key habitats Remedial Goals: restoration of economic quality Following preparation of the Estuary Processes Study, Patterson Britton & Development: acceptable commercial & public works & activities Partners proceeded with the final stages in the estuary management Management Objectives: identification