Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Audit 2019 – Volume 1 WaterNSW © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 1 Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Audit 2019 – Volume 1 | WaterNSW DOCUMENT TRACKING Project Name Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Audit 2019 Project Number 19SUT-12363 Project Manager Beth Medway Prepared by Beth Medway, Claire Wheeler, Brian Keogh Reviewed by Richard Cresswell Approved by Richard Cresswell Status Final Version Number 5 Last saved on 16 June 2020 This report should be cited as ‘Eco Logical Australia 2020. Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Audit 2019 – Volume 1. Prepared for WaterNSW.’ Disclaimer This document may only be used for the purpose for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the contract between Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd and WaterNSW. The scope of services was defined in consultation with WaterNSW, by time and budgetary constraints imposed by the client, and the availability of reports and other data on the subject area. Changes to available information, legislation and schedules are made on an ongoing basis and readers should obtain up to date information. Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report and its supporting material by any third party. Information provided is not intended to be a substitute for site specific assessment or legal advice in relation to any matter. Unauthorised use of this report in any form is prohibited. Template 2.8.1 © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD i Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Audit 2019 – Volume 1 | WaterNSW Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 2. Features and purpose of the Catchment ...................................................................................... 2 2.1 What is the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment? .................................................................................. 2 2.2 Purpose of the Catchment .................................................................................................................... 7 2.2.1 Multi barrier approach ...................................................................................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Special Areas ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Roles and responsibilities in the Catchment ......................................................................................... 8 2.3.1 Environment, Energy and Science .................................................................................................................... 9 2.3.2 Planning and assessment ................................................................................................................................ 10 2.3.3 Water .............................................................................................................................................................. 10 2.3.4 Regions, Industry, Agriculture and Resources ................................................................................................ 11 2.3.5 Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal ................................................................................................ 11 2.3.6 Local Councils .................................................................................................................................................. 11 3. Audit scope and process ............................................................................................................ 12 3.1 What is the scope of the Catchment Audit? ....................................................................................... 12 3.2 Key questions for the audit ................................................................................................................. 13 3.3 Evaluation framework ......................................................................................................................... 13 3.4 Consultation ....................................................................................................................................... 16 4. Response to the 2016 audit ........................................................................................................ 17 4.1 Mining in Special Areas ....................................................................................................................... 17 4.2 Land degradation ................................................................................................................................ 18 4.3 Sewerage infrastructure ..................................................................................................................... 19 4.4 Bushfire risk ........................................................................................................................................ 20 4.5 Data quality and monitoring ............................................................................................................... 21 5. Key findings and responses ........................................................................................................ 22 5.1 Historical context ................................................................................................................................ 22 5.1.1 Key findings of the 1999 audit ........................................................................................................................ 22 5.1.2 Responses since 1999 ..................................................................................................................................... 23 5.2 Key findings of the 2019 audit ............................................................................................................ 25 5.3 Recommended responses .................................................................................................................. 26 6. References ................................................................................................................................ 33 © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD ii Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Audit 2019 – Volume 1 | WaterNSW List of Figures Figure 1: Sydney Drinking Water Catchment overview ............................................................................. 3 Figure 2: Topography ................................................................................................................................. 4 Figure 3: Sub-catchments and major rivers ............................................................................................... 5 Figure 4: Pressure – State – Response model (adapted from OECD 1993) ............................................. 14 List of Tables Table 1: Major river systems, sub-catchments, and storages .................................................................... 6 Table 2: Special Areas ................................................................................................................................. 7 Table 3: Indicators of catchment health .................................................................................................. 12 Table 4: Pressure – State – Response decision matrix ............................................................................. 15 Table 5: Overview of consultation ........................................................................................................... 16 Table 6: Audit recommendations ............................................................................................................. 27 © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD iii Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Audit 2019 – Volume 1 | WaterNSW Abbreviations Abbreviation Description 4YLMP Four-year land management priorities document ASAE Australian Standards on Assurance Engagements BFMC Bushfire Management Committees DPIE Department of Planning, Industry and Environment EES Environment, Energy and Science ELA Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd EPA Environment Protection Authority IEPMC Independent Expert Panel on Mining in the Catchments IPART Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal MoU Memorandum of understanding ML Megalitres; 1 million litres (an Olympic swimming pool holds 2.5 ML) NorBE Neutral or beneficial effects on water quality NPWS National Parks and Wildlife Service OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Developments PSR Pressure-State-Response RFS Rural Fire Service ROC Rivers of Carbon SASPoM Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management SEED Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data STP Sewage Treatment Plant © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD iv Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Audit 2019 – Volume 1 | WaterNSW To the Minister for Water, Property and Housing Dear Minister The independent audit team is pleased to present the 2019 Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Audit report in three volumes. The audit report is intended for tabling in Parliament, as required under section 42 of the Water NSW Act 2014. The audit provides scientifically-based information about the health of the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment during the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2019. The audit team has assessed the state of the declared Catchment, having regard to the catchment health indicators approved under section 41 of the Water NSW Act 2014. The indicators relate to water quality, water availability, biodiversity