HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY Volume 1 The River Health Strategy comprises Volume 1 and Volume 2 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY iii This booklet is copyright under the Berne Convention Copying of this report is permitted providing that the meaning is unchanged and the source is acknowledged. Published March 2007 Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority Locked Bag 2048, Goulburn NSW Australia 2580 The River Health Strategy is available as a printed publication, on CD-Rom and on the Hawkesbury Nepean CMA’s website (www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au). The CD-Rom and website contain both Volume One and Two of the Strategy in an easily accessible format where selected sections can be printed. Printed copies are available in limited numbers only. ISBN 0 7347 5710 7 Acknowledgements The Hawkesbury Nepean River Health Strategy has been developed by the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority. The development of the Strategy would not have been possible without enormous assistance from a range of contributors including people who live and work in all areas of the catchment. Contributors included farmers, commercial and recreational fi shers, bushwalkers, environment groups, Landcare, non-government organisations, community groups, individuals, staff from Councils and state government departments. While the Strategy was an organisation-wide undertaking, the bulk of the document was developed by HNCMA Catchment Offi cers, Ruth Williams and Paul Bennett. Numerous other staff assisted with the rapid assessment and technical panels and contributed local expert knowledge. Everyone involved in the development of the Strategy share a passion for the many creeks and rivers of the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment and its environment. Some of the community members who gave their time and eff ort are profi led in the CD and website. The profi les give a taste of the valuable contribution made by many people. The Hawkesbury Nepean CMA gratefully acknowledge the wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm brought to the development of the Strategy by all who were involved. iv HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY MINISTER’S FOREWORD Hawkesbury Nepean The protection of our natural resources is a River Health Strategy responsibility that we all share and which will only be achieved if a dialogue between all sectors of The Hawkesbury the community is sustained. The Hawkesbury- Nepean River catchment Nepean CMA has consulted widely with groups is one of the most across the catchment in developing this strategy. environmentally and socially important This includes more than 20 local councils and catchments in NSW. countless interest groups and individuals from The catchment across the catchment. These dedicated people includes the Greater breathe life into the regional model of natural Blue Mountains World resource management and without them it Heritage area which would not have been achievable. protects a huge range of flora and fauna, and is a The result is an extremely sound document which major destination for recreation and the tourism has been built upon the latest science as well industry. It provides nearly all the drinking water as reflecting the wishes and aspirations of the for the people of the greater Sydney area, and Hawkesbury-Nepean community. supports an extensive agricultural sector which supplies much of Sydney’s fresh food. It is also The NSW Government is committed to a vibrant home to a variety of mining, manufacturing and and healthy Hawkesbury-Nepean river system. processing industries. One which not just sustains livelihoods and lives, but improves the quality of life for the These many and varied activities place enormous hardworking families who enjoy its wonderful pressure on the river. Without appropriate amenity. We will continue to work with the management, the health of the catchment could community to ensure that the vision becomes the be compromised. The NSW Government has reality. This strategy will ensure that we are able to recognised this by putting into place a number of achieve this goal for the catchment well into the programs to ensure the long-term health of this future. iconic waterway. The Hawkesbury-Nepean River Health Strategy is an integral part in the puzzle which the NSW Government is constructing to protect the river system, now and into the future. An integrated response is imperative if we are to confront the wide array of complex issues our environment poses. The strategy will provide us The Hon Ian Macdonald MLC with an invaluable ‘tool’ to meet these challenges Minister for Natural Resources in an intelligent, empowered and informed manner. I congratulate the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority (CMA) for its hard work in developing this strategy. It will play a critical role in delivering many of the objectives of the State Plan. The NSW Government established 13 CMAs across the State in 2003 to ensure the involvement of local people in natural resource decisions. This strategy is another example of that system working. HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY v vi HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY CHAIR’S FOREWORD It my great pleasure to Development of this strategy has been a be able to present the monumental eff ort, taking the HNCMA over 18 Hawkesbury Nepean months working with stakeholders to pull all the River Health Strategy levels of knowledge and data documented in to our catchment this strategy. This strategy was undertaken at the community and request of the Minister for Natural Resources as stakeholders. It provides an additional task refl ecting the importance of a comprehensive this catchment and the need to take a whole-of- understanding of the catchment view to the river system. Since early signifi cant natural values 2006, the HNCMA has begun to implement the and challenges facing the majority of waterways strategy. in this catchment of national signifi cance. This River Health Strategy is a product of a This is the fi rst River Health Strategy of its kind in close partnership between the HNCMA and the New South Wales and it assesses 255 river reaches community. The role of our community experts and prioritises 3600 kilometres of waterways who bought their impressive local knowledge to for restoration actions. The strategy has been the task was an essential ingredient. developed with input from local communities These community and technical experts and focuses specifi cally on the Hawkesbury undertook an assessment of the economic, social Nepean catchment. and environmental values of 150 river reaches The River Health Strategy will complement the in the catchment as well as the threats to those 2006 Metropolitan Water Plan and help achieve values. Across the catchment, these values vary the natural resource targets set out in the NSW enormously and the panel process ensured we State Plan. were able to capture what is important to the local communities and experts for the main river The strategy will also help the Hawkesbury reaches. Nepean Catchment Management Authority (HNCMA) identify priority areas for on ground This River Health Strategy is linked directly investment in river health to ensure we maximise to the HNCMA’s Catchment Action Plan (visit environmental outcomes. These priorities will www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au for a copy) which sets direct our River Health Program informing our direction for the next 10 years of investment. The ability to identify what works need to be done Catchment Action Plan will be reviewed annually where. The HNCMA has major projects that will and as such the actions of this strategy will be deliver many river health outcomes. The River kept current and updated. Restoration Project, for example, works across the catchment with landholders to better manage riverbanks, wetlands and in-stream habitat. The River Health Strategy will also help the HNCMA and our partners to better target investment. As with all environmental restoration programs, partnerships are key to improving the long-term John Klem health of the Hawkesbury Nepean River system. To this end, the HNCMA will be working with State government agencies, local governments, Chair Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management landholders, industry and community groups Authority to carry out the practical on ground actions identifi ed here and to ensure the investment is protected and enhanced. HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The rivers of the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment: • Supply drinking water for over 4 million people living in Sydney, the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains • Help generate over $1 billion annually in agriculture production (12% of all NSW’s agriculture) including much of Sydney’s fresh vegetables, fl owers and fruit. • Support a $6 million a year commercial fi shing industry • Support 43,000 recreational fi shers • Supply 80% of the sand and gravel used in Sydney’s construction industry worth an estimated $100 million a year • Attract more than 10 million visitors to the catchment each year generating over $60 million annually in tourism and recreation • Provide 23% of NSW’s electricity using water from catchment’s rivers • Supports an extensive underground coal mining industry • Help sustain the environmental values of the 1 million hectare Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area Pressures on the rivers of the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment The rivers and riparian lands of the Hawkesbury Nepean are experiencing signifi cant pressure from urban and rural residential development; extraction of water for metropolitan water supply and agriculture; nutrient input from sewage treatment plants, on-site sewage systems and run-off from agricultural and urban areas; clearing of riparian lands; and altered aquatic habitats that support fewer species. The challenge exists to balance these pressures of development and to protect the environment. The fact that nearly 50% of the catchment is protected in National Parks and drinking water catchments is providing some protection for key waterways and reduces these pressures in some areas. But the symptoms of a stressed river system are obvious across the catchment.