Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation...

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Transcript of Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation...

Page 1: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment
Page 2: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

Front cover:

“Inspection” of a street stormwater entry pit -Photographer David Gibbins.

Floating Litter boom trap in Styx Creek, Throsby Creek Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder.

Mangrove forest edge, Lower Hunter Estuary -

Photograph courtesy Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority.

Newcastle City Council

PO Box 489

Newcastle 2300 Australia

Tel: (02) 4974 2894

Fax: (02) 4972 2804

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au

© Newcastle City Council 2004

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i Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

NEWCASTLE

Stormwater Management Plan

A catchment based Stormwater Management Plan for Newcastle. Prepared by Newcastle City Council in conjunction with the Hunter Water Corporation, the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchments Management Authority (formerly The Hunter Catchment Management Trust) and the community. 1st edition July 2000 2nd edition March 2004 Updated Jun 2005

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Contents

Executive Summary Stormwater Management Plan Statement of Commitment

Part A - Background to the Plan

1 Preamble

NSW Government Water Reform Program Newcastle City Council Strategic Direction 2 Introduction

History Background Purpose of the Plan Guiding Principles

How the Plan was Developed Review of SMP July 2000 Edition How the Plan Works Scope of the Plan

Part B - The Stormwater Management Plan

3 Catchment Values and Management Objectives

Catchment Values Stormwater Management Objectives 4 Identified Stormwater Issues and Options

Stormwater Issues Stormwater Management Options 5 Management Approach

What is a Management Strategy Developing Effective Strategies to Manage Urban Stormwater Challenges and Opportunities Key Management Strategies to Improve Urban Stormwater Management Framework The Community Newcastle City Council The Hunter Water Corporation The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority Roads and Traffic Authority

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6 Implementation Strategy

Action Plan Cooperative Framework Implementation Strategy Performance Monitoring Mechanisms Cost Benefit Analysis and Risk Assessment

Part C - Newcastle's Catchments

7 Catchment Characteristics

Climate Soils Geology Topography Hydrology Vegetation Water Quality Land Use 8 Catchment Descriptions

Ironbark Creek Throsby Creek Cottage Creek Hunter Estuary Coastal Zone Greenways Creek / Purgatory Creek 9 Bibliography

10 Appendices

Appendix I - SMP Planning process Appendix II - RTA Stormwater Environmental Improvement Plan Appendix III - Table A: HWC Stormwater Environmental Improvement Plan Appendix IV - Abbreviations Appendix V - SMP 2000 Action Plan delivery - status report June 2003

List of Figures and Graphs

Figure 1 - Stormwater Management Hierarchy (EPA, 1997) Figure 2 - Flowchart of the six phases in the development of the Newcastle SMP process. Figure 3 - The Newcastle Local Government Area Catchment boundaries of Ironbark Creek, Throsby Creek and Cottage Creek, Greenways Creek, Purgatory Creek, the Hunter Estuary and the Coastal Zone Figure 4 - New development Stormwater performance objectives application train Figure 5 - Stormwater Management Plan Implementation Strategy Figure 6 - Newcastle LGA featuring topography Figure 7 - Flora and fauna habitat distribution in Newcastle City

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Figure 8 - Newcastle catchments drainage network system Figure 9 - Ironbark Creek catchment Figure 10 - Throsby Creek catchment Figure 11 - Throsby Creek catchment – 22 sub-catchments Figure 12 - Cottage Creek catchment Figure 13 - Coastal zone stormwater drainage outlets (source WBM Oceanics Australia P/L, 1999) Graph 1 - SMP 2000 Action Plan delivery - review outcomes June 2003

List of Photographs

Photo 1 - Construction of the Waratah-Mayfield system (Armstrong J., 1967) Photo 2 - The main channel of Throsby Creek, (Armstrong J., 1967) Photo 3 - Mangroves boardwalk, near Hannell Street, in Throsby Creek catchment Photo 4 - Floating boom at Chin Chen Street, in Throsby Creek catchment Photo 5 - Litter accumulation in the mangroves in the tidal section of Throsby Creek catchment Photo 6 - Concrete lined drainage channel at Darling Street, in Cottage Creek catchment Photo 7 - Concrete stormwater channel in Throsby Creek catchment Photo 8 - Pattern trap floating boom within the Cottage Creek catchment Photo 9 - Stockton sand spit providing valuable habitat for migratory waders Photo 10 - Highland County pond and outlet structure Photo 11 - Exposed road verges in Ironbark Creek catchment Photo 12 - Council's Creeks Alive program offers water bug monitoring Photo 13 - Local residents meet at George McGregor Park Photo 14 - Lambton Ker-rai Creek Naming ceremony, Lambton Park 2003 Photo 15 - Trash Rack in Adamstown Branch stormwater channel within Throsby Creek catchment Photo 16 - Newcastle East Public School take part in water quality monitoring for the Cottage Creek Catchment Photo 17 - Foreshore Park trash basket Photo 18 - The Kooragang Island Rehabilitation Program, staff and volunteers hard at work Photo 19 - Stockton sand spit provides a welcome refuge for Sharp-tailed and

Curlew Sandpiper Photo 20 - Merewether Beach stormwater outfall Photo 21 - Nobbys sandfilter interpretative signage Photo 22 - Merewether residents 'pledging' to use their new brooms, as part of the Merewether Clean Streets - Clean Beach Project

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Acknowledgments

Newcastle City Council would like to thank those members of the community and community groups who participated so willingly in the preparation and implementation of Newcastle’s Stormwater Management Plan and its review cycle. Council recognises the contribution made by those Councils, agencies and organisations who enthusiastically supported the development, implementation and review of the Plan, including: • Cameron Strategies

• Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (formerly Hunter Catchment Management Trust)

• Hunter Water Corporation

• NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources

• Hunter Region Organisation of Councils – Stormwater Extension Officer Program

• Lower Hunter and Central Coast Regional Environmental Strategy • The University of Newcastle

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Governments and the community now recognise that urban stormwater pollution is a major contributor to environmental degradation of many of the State’s natural waterways. In Newcastle where most of the City's catchments have been extensively modified through urbanisation, the impacts of urban stormwater pollution are well documented. The Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan identifies that concrete drains and channels have replaced extensive areas of natural creek and drainage systems in Newcastle. Tonnes of sediment and rubbish are annually transported into the lower reaches of the City's creeks, estuary system and beaches. Run off from roads and other sources contribute heavy metals, oils, bacteria, nutrients and other chemicals into the stormwater system and further pollute our waterways. Stormwater pollution in Newcastle has impacted on the natural environment and the community in many ways. Extensive areas of habitat and native species of flora and fauna have been lost to current generations. Creek systems such as Throsby Creek have become choked in the lower reaches with contaminated sediments that have poisoned marine species and impacted on the economic viability of recreational and commercial fishing. Plastics, styrene and other rubbish litter the mangrove forests of the Hunter estuaries detracting from the natural and spiritual values of these places for the community. In addition to pollutants, natural creeklines throughout the City experience erosion and sedimentation impact as a consequence of increased frequency of erosive flows due to roofs, roads, paths etc built in our City. As Newcastle strives to provide a more sustainable urban form for the benefit of future generations through its strategic planning strategies such as: the Newcastle Environmental Management Plan (Newcastle City Council, 2003); the Urban Strategy (Newcastle City Council, 1999); the Local Environment Plan (Newcastle City Council, 2000); and the total catchment management (TCM) strategies, the management of catchments and the improvement of stormwater quality and quantity become increasingly important in meeting quality of life objectives for the community. The cornerstone of this Plan is the identification by the community of catchment values and management objectives, which serve as a guide for management action. The values identified were primarily environmental in nature, though community participants also gave priority to social and economic aspects. The planning process involved an open and inclusive consultation approach enthusiastically embraced by the key stormwater managers and the community and delivering: • a set of priority community catchment values • to be protected by a set of priority stormwater management objectives • which are influenced by a set of prioritised or key issues • that are reflected in a series of stormwater management strategies, informed by an • evaluation of management options • which have generated a series of catchment-wide, as well as catchment specific, short-term

actions • to be delivered through an implementation strategy involving the Newcastle Stormwater

Forum The Plan provides a catchment-based framework for productive community and organisational partnerships, to deliver outcomes for improved stormwater quality and quantity. Seven catchment areas have been identified that cover the Newcastle LGA, namely Ironbark Creek, Throsby Creek, Cottage Creek, Purgatory Creek, Greenway Creek, the lower Hunter Estuary and a number of small Coastal catchments.

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Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment Management Trust), each have significant roles in stormwater and catchment management in Newcastle. They have made a strong commitment in the Plan to work in a cooperative manner, and to have regard to the principles of ESD and TCM in the implementation of the Plan. The collaborative efforts of these three organisations, the community and other stormwater managers in Newcastle have delivered the majority of the priority short to mid term actions in the Action Plan 2000. Some of the key actions included: • Continuation of Council commitment to leading stormwater improvement by resourcing

Stormwater Task Force process. • Implement the successful Business Pollution Prevention Program (BPPP) targeting high risk

commercial and recreational landuses in the City • Implementation of Creeks Alive program in conjunction with the Hunter – Central Rivers

CMA and Hunter Water Corporation to capture a picture of the health and extent of the City’s natural creek system.

• Implementation and ongoing evaluation of the Newcastle Urban Water Cycle Management Policy (2004) and DCP 50 for stormwater & water efficiency;

• A continued implementation of gross pollutant and sediment control devices as well as community & industry intervention programs;

• Monitoring of devices for trapping and cost effectiveness; • Implementation of priority actions for coastal catchment stormwater management based on

the Newcastle Coastal Management Program

The annual Newcastle Stormwater Forum identified in the Plan, has been a means of bringing together all participants to: • Review progress and monitoring the effectiveness of the actions • Provide the opportunity to expand the avenues for community participation in stormwater

planning and management • Identify and plan for future stormwater management actions • Celebrate stormwater and catchment management • Investigate new and emerging approaches and treatments in stormwater pollution. The State of the Environment Report provides an important community reporting mechanism on the progress of the Plan implementation with “Water on the Web” providing a “hands on” means for finding out what’s happening on the ground and how to get involved. Thus the Plan provides a process and management framework to ensure that stormwater in Newcastle is managed in a sustainable manner through the ongoing cooperation and commitment of stormwater managers and the wider community to a catchment based, whole of water cycle approach to works and policy application.

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Stormwater Management Plan Statement of Commitment, 2000

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PART A

Background to the Plan

Preamble Introduction

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PREAMBLE

Governments and communities now recognise that stormwater pollution is a major contributor to environmental degradation of many of the state's natural waterways. In 1997 the NSW Government released a Water Reform Package as a means of building a secure water future for cities and towns throughout the state. The Government recognised that a secure water future is an essential prerequisite for the health of aquatic ecosystems, productive economies and the well being of communities. The Water Reform Package included a requirement for local councils and stormwater managers throughout NSW to prepare a Stormwater Management Plan (SMP) for their urban communities (S 12 Protection Of the Environment Operations Act 1999). The primary aim of the SMP is to facilitate the coordinated management of stormwater within catchments to improve water quality and maximise the ecological sustainability of creeks and river systems. The Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan is designed to support Council's vision for the City that Newcastle will become a model sustainable city of the 21st Century. It supports the objectives of the Newcastle Urban Strategy (Newcastle City Council, 1999) by identifying the role of catchments and natural systems in informing appropriate landuse and urban design outcomes. Newcastle City Council has developed the Plan with the assistance of the Hunter Water Corporation, other stormwater managers and through active community participation. It recognises the important role that has been played by the Hunter _ Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment Management Trust) in coordinating catchment management activities in the Hunter River catchment and in particular the sub-catchments of Ironbark and Throsby Creeks. The Plan aims to complement and strengthen the existing stormwater and catchment management frameworks in the City identified in the Newcastle Environment Management Plan 2003 (NEMP). The ongoing support for the annual Newcastle Stormwater Forum will provide the opportunity for managers to continue to review their efforts, identify new management actions and enable essential community participation. The Plan continues to provide a process to improve stormwater quality and quantity to protect and enhance the natural values of the City's catchment and waterways. The Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan is a framework for action that acknowledges that effective management of stormwater within the City requires active involvement of many government agencies, adjoining councils, developers, industry, community groups and individuals and a change management perspective that identifies stormwater within an urban water cycle management context.

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Photo 1: The first stormwater drainage project undertaken by the (Water) Board itself was the construction of the Waratah- Mayfield system. (above) Excavating the main channel. (below) A branch of the channel under construction. (Armstrong), 1967.

INTRODUCTION

Stormwater Management in Newcastle – a History In 1888, Newcastle Council commended the construction of a piped system to serve the residential area. Nineteen kilometers of sewers were constructed to carry off roof water, as well as human sewage and house sullage. The Public Works Department criticised this approach, and when the Newcastle Sewerage Scheme was implemented, the drains were retained solely to discharge stormwater. In the early 1890s, Public Works began taking out estimates for the construction of stormwater drains in Newcastle West, around Cottage Creek, in Newcastle Pasturage Reserve and in Wallsend and Plattsburg. The drainage of low-lying parts of Newcastle Pasturage Reserve, which encroached upon Adamstown, New Lambton, Lambton and Hamilton was a comprehensive aspect of the project. The natural course of Throsby Creek was adjusted with the construction of a 3km channel and branches from Mitchell St, Tighes Hill to St James Rd, New Lambton. In 1898 the Public Works Department concluded that the earth banks of the channels were unable to resist erosion by the water and needed to be protected. Teatree scrub was used to construct fascines, with couch grass growing through to consolidate the banks. By 1902, every stage of the Pasturage Reserve drainage scheme was completed. The labour for the various drainage schemes came from men who had lost their jobs when local coal mines were closed down in the depression of the 1890s. The government claimed that while the work was done to appease the purchasers of crown land, it also helped to relieve the existing distress in the district. Newcastle’s growth early this century, stemming from the establishment of iron and steel works and subsidiary industries, emphasised the shortcomings of the original drainage system. In the 1920s, schemes were introduced to dispose of the larger quantity of run-off created by residential settlement and to eliminate local flooding in low-lying areas. Before 1924, the drainage system consisted mainly of earth channels of limited capacity.

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The transformation of the catchment was described by J.B Henson, the first Water Board engineer: "Originally, the catchments were flat, sandy, scrub-covered ground containing swamps and bounded by tree covered steep hills. Rainwater flowed quickly off the hills and accumulated in the swamps and on the flats, from which it flowed through natural watercourses to the Hunter River and percolated underground through the sandbeds to the same outlet. The settlement of the area has caused changes in the natural conditions, resulting in the general acceleration of the off-flow of stormwater. This is due to the clearing of trees and scrubs, formation of roads and streets, kerb and guttering, pavements, the erection of houses and the construction of surface and underground channels...The old swamps are being filled up and these areas are now no longer available for storage and so reduce the rush of water to the outlets (and) raise the flood water level." (Armstrong, J. 1967 p. 178) In the first decade of the 1900s, growth in the Cottage Creek catchment was rapid. The inefficiency of the system was highlighted in February 1908 when a storm caused flooding of Cottage Creek into Hunter and Steel Streets. By 1915, flooding had become so frequent that the Public Works Department was petitioned to prepare schemes to augment drainage in Newcastle, Hamilton, Wickham, Merewether, Lambton and Adamstown. A branch of Throsby Creek known as Houghton-Le-Springs Creek then drained the low-lying part of Mayfield. Council advised the Water Board that the creek badly needed attention. A scheme was prepared which drained the creek with an open channel stretching from Tighes Hill, under the Port Waratah railway, and then by a partly covered and partly open channel following the course of the creek, across Hanbury St to Fitzroy St. The work was undertaken by the Water Board in the 1920s to give work to unemployed men. Newcastle City Council's Engineer, J. F. Shine said of the Cottage Creek drainage system: "Its bed is an accumulation of ooze in which all debris that washes, or is thrown into the channel is caught and follows the process of decay, more or less dangerous to health, offensive and unsightly...The condition of the creek is an invitation to the large unthinking body of the public, anxious to get rid of rubbish, to throw it into the channel. The consequence is that it has become a kind of garbage dump for a great number of people who live in its vicinity." (Armstrong, J. 1967, p. 186) The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works found that it was 'expedient' for the Cottage Creek stormwater channel to be widened and extended and work was commenced in 1925. The old concrete and rubble channel at Newcastle West was widened by removing one wall and extending the width. The channel under the railway line and Hunter St was duplicated to take the increased flow of water. The main practice of the scheme was to excavate and construct new channels through National Park and Branches to Merewether, Hamilton South, Merewether East and The Glebe. Some sections were covered due to safety concerns. With the commencement of the Cottage Creek scheme, residents of the Throsby Creek catchment began to complain about insufficient drainage in their area. There was concern that the reclamation of land in the northern harbour outlet of Throsby Creek would cause serious flooding. Flooding was also a concern between Gregson Park, Hamilton and Broadmeadow Railway Station, which was drained by Styx Creek, a branch of Throsby Creek. In 1928, the Assistant Colonial Treasurer, B. S. Stevens agreed to the Throsby Creek stormwater scheme, principally to alleviate the acute unemployment situation. The Public Works Department regraded and concreted the old earth channels of the Throsby Creek system to increase the velocity of run-off. The work took the total length of the new drainage system to 42km. As part of the project, the drainage of residential areas near Broadmeadow Station, Newcastle Race Course and Adamstown West was diverted from Styx Creek to a new underground system with an outlet near the showground. In the 1930s, the Government handed the drains of the Cottage and Throsby Creek Systems over to the Water Board. Constructed sections of the Jesmond and Wallsend system were handed over in 1953. The Wallsend system had been constructed by the government around the turn of the century, while the Jesmond system was built in 1938-39.

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Photo 2: The main channel of Throsby Creek originally of earth reconstructed of concrete in the Depression. (Armstrong, J., 1967)

Background There is increasing recognition in the community that stormwater management needs to be undertaken in a safe and ecologically sustainable manner. Stormwater has traditionally been regarded as a nuisance, causing many negative social and economic impacts usually associated with flooding. The stormwater management planning process now identifies a shift toward focussing on issues that affect the health and amenity of our waterways, the quality of our open space and the well being and long term viability of communities. Proposals to manage stormwater quality will need to address quantity issues and vice-versa. The systems-based approach endorsed by the community and Council in the Newcastle Environment Management Plan 2003 (NEMP) identifies the need to consider all elements of the water cycle when management actions are considered. Newcastle’s Urban Water Cycle Management Policy (2004) and Stormwater and Water Efficiency related Development Control Plan 50 for development reflects this strategic intent. Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is being promoted as a methodology delivering a more effective sustainable outcome for urban stormwater management than more traditional approaches. WSUD employs multi-disciplinary consideration of quality and quantity stormwater improvements and in so doing often provides esthetic, financial and social benefits of wiser water management. Urban communities were first established in Newcastle in the early 1800s. The urbanisation of the city has continued from those early days to the point that now over 60% of the original landscape has been replaced by houses, commercial and industrial developments, roads and other forms of community infrastructure. The urbanisation of Newcastle has resulted in significant impacts on the natural environment. This is clearly evident through the removal of forests, the replacement of natural creek systems with concrete drains and channels and the introduction of pollutants and sediments that have destroyed fresh and salt water ecosystems and seen the accumulation of unsafe levels of toxins in some marine organisms. However, the City retains remnant wetlands and estuarine systems that are of such quality and significance that they are protected under international agreements. The Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan has provided Council, the Hunter Water Corporation, other stormwater managers and the community with the opportunity to enhance the condition of degraded catchments and creek systems and improve water quality. Its implementation can provide long-term protection for the important ecosystems of Hexham Swamp and Hunter estuary. It can provide significant economic benefits to the community, and maintain acceptable amenity and quality of life for the many residents and visitors who enjoy the attraction of Newcastle's harbour and beaches.

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Purpose of the Plan The primary purpose of the Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan is to facilitate the coordinated and integrated catchment based management of stormwater quality and quantity within the City. The focus of the Plan is environmental protection through improved understanding, awareness and cooperation, and an emphasis on developing and implementing actions. In recent years the investment in multi-disciplinary learning opportunities in water change practices identified in SMP 2000 Action Plan has produced valuable demonstration sites and excellent up-skilling outcomes for Council staff, agency partners and the community. This Plan is recognised as a valuable link in the process of mitigating existing impacts of stormwater and to provide the capability to avoid future impacts that threatens the sustainability of our aquatic, marine and riparian systems.

Guiding Principles The management of stormwater quality is acknowledged to be a complex issue requiring consideration of ecological, social, and economic issues as well as physical interactions occurring in the natural environment. The SMP is based on the principles of ecologically sustainable development, an integrated approach that recognises the interrelationship of the environment, society and the economy. The word "sustainable" is derived from the term Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) that is defined in the Local Government Act (1993) as requiring: "The effective integration of economic and environmental considerations in decision-making processes".

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ESD can be achieved through the implementation of the following principles and programs: The Precautionary Principle If there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation. Intergenerational Equity That the present generation should ensure the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations. Conservation of Biological Diversity and Ecological Integrity That conservation of biodiversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration. Improved Valuation, Pricing and Incentive Mechanisms That environmental factors should be included in the valuation of assets and services. In recognition of these principles the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly Environment Protection Authority – EPA) (1997) have proposed a compatible management hierarchy for Stormwater Management Planning, see Figure 1. The hierarchy proposes the preservation of valuable features of the water environment. It promotes cost effective stormwater management by controlling stormwater at the source and only proposing "end of pipe" techniques for residual impacts that cannot be effectively mitigated by source control. We all live, work and recreate in "catchments", a dynamic natural system that defines a water shed for our creeks and rivers, where activities in one location can not only impact locally but impact elsewhere in the catchment. The concept of "Total Catchment Management "(TCM) recognises that these internal linkages of natural systems need to be acknowledged in the development and implementation of the Plan. This “systems-based” approach has been encapsulated in Newcastle Environment Management Plan (NEMP) 2003 within the Water “theme” that provides strategic direction in the management of the water cycle issues set. As members of the community of Newcastle we need to recognise the role we all have in the determination and management of Newcastle's urban structure. In the heavily urbanised catchments of the City, stormwater management should be linked very much to the way we plan and manage urban development on the fringe, infill development within existing urban areas, and even to improving performance through retro-fitting established residential/development areas. The underlying principles of Newcastle urbanism, reflected in the Newcastle Urban Strategy (Newcastle City Council, 1999), recognises that the planning approach needs to focus on the desired outcome and appropriate land use. The long-term sustainability of stormwater systems will be interdependent on the principles of Newcastle urbanism and natural resource management outlined in NEMP 2003.

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How the Plan was developed The Plan development process consists of six phases, which include: • Phase I The production of an Issues Report to provide an understanding and awareness of

stormwater issues within the City. It summarised much of what had already been said or written about catchment values, stormwater objectives, issues and options in the City. The Report was distributed throughout the community to interested individuals, groups and stormwater managers via mailouts, as well as Council and Hunter Water Corporation outlets. Newspaper, newsletter, radio and poster advertising welcomed participation in the project.

• Phase II The Consultation phase where community submissions and workshop and stormwater

managers forums were conducted to review and prioritise catchment values and management objectives, and determine stormwater issues, management strategies and options for the city.

• Phase III Preparation of a draft SMP document incorporating all the outcomes from the consultation

phase. Council endorsement for public exhibition of the draft SMP. • Phase IV The public exhibition of the draft SMP allowed refinement of the catchment values and objectives, stormwater issues, management strategies and options. Participation in the review process was encouraged utilising submission call lines, workshop, focus group and one-on-one forums, in order to generate considered comment on the draft SMP. • Phase V Consideration and inclusion of comment into the final SMP for adoption by Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Roads and Traffic Authority and thence, to the Environmental Protection Authority. • Phase VI Monitoring review, reporting and updating the SMP. The summary of the process is presented in the following flowchart, Figure 2 below. The expanded set of steps taken in developing and implementing the plan, as adapted from the EPA (1997), is included as Figure A in Appendix I. In the development of management strategies and options for stormwater issues in the City it is critical to ensure that we fully utilise the stormwater information base and management framework that already exists, so that we are not "reinventing the wheel". A review of existing information was presented in the Issues Report, Newcastle Creating a Stormwater Management Plan (Newcastle City Council, 1999), which covered the values, objectives, issues and options as already identified through community consultation and management processes.

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Review of Stormwater Management Plan 2000 As part of the regular planning cycle for the stormwater management in the City, the Newcastle Stormwater Forum 2003 reported on the status of the SMP 2000 implementation and determined the scope of the SMP 2000 review (see Appendix V - SMP 2000 Action Plan status report as at June 2003). The review of the SMP 2000 revealed: • Majority of SMP 2000 actions have been completed (68%) • Many actions are ongoing in nature and continue to be delivered such as collaborative

waterway monitoring program • A large body of work in demonstration sites & community intervention strategies have been

developed and received best practice management recognition for stormwater innovation and effectiveness such as Nobbys Beach Project (source controls, sand filter and education)

• Policy and Development Control Plan progress has been relatively rapid. This result is attributable in large extent to the increased water management capacity of staff and community members as a result of regional LHCCREMS capacity building programs and extensive community non-structural interventions supported by NSW DEC (former EPA) Stormwater Trust grant funds and Stormwater Extension Officer program resources.

• Council’s internal management framework has been adaptive and flexible in its delivery of SMP program. Council’s Water Task Force has proven to be a very effective management framework providing ongoing implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting functions across all Councils functional units.

Figure 2: Flowchart of the six phases in the development of the Newcastle SMP process.

Phase II Have Your Say Community Consultation

Workshops

Phase V SMP Completed Stormwater Managers & EPA

Signoff

Phase 1 Compilation of an Issues Report

Phase III Prepare Draft Plan for Review

Phase IV Public Exhibition for 28 days Focussed Review

by Stormwater Managers & Community

Phase VI Monitoring, review & reporting on SMP

Implementation

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See Graph 1 & Table 1 below for summary of outcomes of the review of the SMP 2000. Graph 1: Outcomes of the 2003 review of the SMP 2000.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Number of Actions

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Counc

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Auditin

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Other S

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Con

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Stormwate

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Riparia

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Bushla

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mediat

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Monito

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stud

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Type of Action

Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan (2000): Action Plan (revised 2000) Status Report: June 2003

Actions scheduled or Planning /Design Phase

Actions Under way

Actions Done/ Ongoing

Table 1: Summary Outcomes

Actions Complete/ Ongoing Nature

Actions Under way

Actions scheduled or

Planning / Design Phase

Planning Instruments/ New Development 4 2

Education 3

Council Operations 3 1

Auditing / Enforcement 1

Other Source Controls 8 1 1

Stormwater Treatment Measures 2 1 1

Riparian Management / Bushland remediation 1 1

Monitoring / studies Investigations 7 6

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14 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

How the Plan Works The Stormwater Management Plan is a framework for the delivery of improvement in stormwater quality, based on the key stormwater issues identified in the community aspirations for the condition and characteristics of Newcastle's catchments. The plan delivers by: • identifying catchment-based stormwater issues, including obstacles to improved

management; • developing an appropriate mix of strategies, both structural and non-structural • coordination of action in the catchments by multiple managers • encouraging the community to participate in solutions that will protect its values • integration of actions within Council's management planning process. The identification of the issues set for the catchment has informed discussion and led to the determination of management strategies (Table 6), which build on existing programs and identify the information gaps in the City. Assessment of the priority issues, associated "hot spots" (Table 4) and the management strategies, produced a set of actions (Table 7). The actions incorporate the current works and programs that will be implemented by Council, Hunter Water Corporation, the Hunter- Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment Management Trust) and others over the next twelve months across the catchments, with an indication for the next three years where applicable. Definition of a stormwater management framework for the City and the commitment of those agencies with management responsibilities to the implementation of the SMP, means that a coordinated and meaningful implementation program, incorporating appropriate review and reporting mechanisms, has been established.

Scope of the Plan A catchment area is recognised as the fundamental unit for water cycle management and planning. A catchment can be defined as an area that supplies rainwater to a common river, creek or drainage system. A catchment-based approach was utilised in developing Newcastle's Stormwater Management Plan and has resulted in seven catchments being identified within the Newcastle LGA. These seven catchments are shown in Figure 3 and include: 1. Ironbark Creek catchment 2. Throsby Creek catchment 3. Cottage Creek catchment 4. The Hunter Estuary 5. Small Coastal catchments 6. Part of Purgatory Creek Catchment 7. Part of Greenways Creek Catchment Detailed descriptions of the condition of the catchments, which were used to inform the development of the Plan, appear in Part C, Section 8. Figure 3 depicts the catchments contained wholly or partly within the Newcastle LGA boundaries. The problems that arise when catchment and local government boundaries do not align was identified as an issue during the community consultation workshop and at subsequent stormwater managers meetings.

Page 22: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

15 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Figure 3: Newcastle Catchment Boundaries

Page 23: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

17 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

PART B

The Stormwater Management Plan

Catchment Values and Management Objectives Identified Stormwater Issues and Options Management Approach Management Framework Implementation Strategy Action Plan

Page 24: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

18 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

CATCHMENT VALUES & MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

Catchment Values The community consultation phase of the plan development provided opportunity to integrate the environmental, social and economic values identified in the Issues Report (Newcastle City Council, 1999). The workshop process generated additional perspectives on natural environment and recreational values, as well as the need to place Newcastle as a showcase in innovation and best management practices such as the stormwater innovation in Fig Tree Place. The prioritisation of the identified values by community workshop participants involved an aggregated individual "voting" system. The top ten prioritised values formed the basis of the further determination of priority objectives in the process. The prioritised set of values appears in Table 2 below. Table 2: Priority List of Catchment Values Catchment Values Priority

Healthy natural habitats: forested areas, wildlife corridors and urban bushland 1

Integrity of natural ecosystems and processes 2

Healthy aquatic ecosystems (freshwater, marine, estuarine & wetlands) 3

Amenity - visual, aural and odour 4

Catchment as a place for innovation in development and stormwater management

5

Protection of biodiversity regionally, in urban setting and remnant natural ecosystems

6

Passive recreation (across the catchments) 7

Land value (- including harbour values) 8

Healthy aquatic and riparian flora and fauna in the estuary and along the coastline.

(Protection of foreshore aquatic vegetation & protection of mangroves)

9

View stormwater as a resource rather than a waste 10

Ecologically Sustainable Development implemented 11

Development for urban areas confined, human sized city, reduce sprawl 11

Provision of water harvesting for human re-use 11

Healthy aquatic and riparian flora in the natural creeks and wetlands 12

Lifestyle/the quality of life afforded by the catchment 12

Reinstate more natural hydrological processes including groundwater recharge 12

Maintain hydrological processes 12

Page 25: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

19 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Catchment Values Priority

Healthy water quality (meets standards for secondary contact throughout catchment, supports ecological systems)

12

Value of stormwater 13

Protection of landforms (ridges, valleys, open plains) 13

Primary contact recreation - (eg; swimming, surfing) - coastal, estuary and lower reaches of Throsby Creek

13

Human consumption of fish, crustaceans and shell fish 13

Public awareness of ecological development 13

Acknowledge value by environment accounting of natural and built environment 13

Provision of water for industrial uses 13

Ongoing leadership in worlds best practice in TCM and stormwater management 13

Improve ecological development 14

Secondary Contact recreation - (across the catchments) 14

Fishing, harvesting marine fauna - sustainably 14

Tourism and recreation destination 14

Need for employment 14

Level of economic self sufficiency 14

Foreshore developments 14

Sustainable use 14

Development of information and expertise resource on stormwater management and urban development

14

Estuary - recreation - Kooragang Restoration Project 14

Fishing - Commercial/Private 14

Port of Newcastle 14 The prioritised list of community catchment Values was then collapsed under the themes of Environmental, Social and Economic values to produce the Summary Priority Values set below.

Summary Priority Values

1. The Environmental Values include: • Healthy terrestrial, aquatic and marine habitats which protect biodiversity regionally • Maintenance & enhancement of natural ecosystems and processes • Water quality - improve/ensure water quality meets requirements to agreed community

standards 2. The Social Values include:

• Stormwater and receiving systems that are recognised as providing lifestyle/quality of life values

• Recreation (passive and secondary across the catchments; primary in lower reaches of Throsby Creek, Coastal and Estuary catchments)

• Ensure the public is fully aware of the stormwater quality & other issues within the catchments

• Stormwater systems that are healthy and safe for appropriate community use

Page 26: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

20 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Photo 3: The natural environmental and recreational opportunities were high priority catchment values identified by the community in the SMP process. Members of the community can enjoy the boardwalk through the mangroves along the lower reaches of Throsby Creek. Community participation through the Throsby Creek TCM Committee and Landcare Group, have been instrumental in improving the amenity and ecological integrity of the lower reaches of the catchment.

3. The Economic Values include:

• Newcastle to provide innovation, best practice and showcase these initiatives within a TCM and ESD approach

• Protection of the natural and built asset base of the all the catchments (commercial and recreational fisheries, port facilities, tourism and cultural values of beaches, estuary and presentation of the Newcastle’s urban from)

• Sustainable asset management. (A stormwater system that maximises sustainability of all asset maintenance)

Stormwater Management Objectives

Priority Objectives

The priority Objectives were determined through the community workshop process and have been subject to review during the stormwater manager’s workshop and subsequent community Stormwater Forums (2001 & 2003). The full set of Objectives used by community workshop participants was generated from the Issues Report (Newcastle City Council, 1999) and NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC - formerly EPA) documentation which appears in the Outcomes Report of the Workshop (Hunter Water Corporation Management Services, 1999). The discussion of Objectives was a robust one and also helped to generate some very constructive options for action that were incorporated in the appropriate stages of the planning process. A list of priority stormwater management Objectives that would protect or enhance the identified community catchment Values appears in Table 3 below. The Table indicates the relationship between the priority Values and Objectives identified through the consultation process. The ongoing review of the Objective set in the light of DEC water quality objectives for the Hunter River catchment, proposed marine water quality objectives and community aspirations will continue to refine the Objectives.

Page 27: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

21 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Table 3: Priority Stormwater Management Objectives ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES OBJECTIVES

Healthy terrestrial, aquatic and marine habitats that protect biodiversity regionally.

1. Maximise biodiversity conservation within the stormwater and natural creek, estuarine and marine systems.

2. Rehabilitate, restore & enhance the natural features of the catchment, addressing weed management, protection of wetland, enhancing riparian vegetation, stream morphology and other systems on major creek drainage lines.

Maintenance and enhancement of natural ecosystems and processes.

3. Work towards reinstatement of natural hydraulic regimes within the catchments.

4. Maintain water balance with the system in order to minimise impacts of flooding, to control streambank erosion and maintain habitat and biodiversity.

5. Prioritise use of ‘softer’ or environmentaly compatible solutions to stormwater management that help reinstate natural values.

Water quality - improve/ensure water quality meets agreed community standards

6. Maintain and improve water quality with respect to:

Nutrients/Phosphorus, Litter, Pathogens, Heavy Metals, Silt & Sediments, Turbidity, Chemical, Oils/Greases, Organic Matter, Acid Sulphate Soils.

SOCIAL VALUES OBJECTIVES

Stormwater and receiving systems that are recognised as providing lifestyle/quality of life values.

7. Maximise and protect aesthetic and/ or visual and other amenity qualities in the catchments and waterway system.

8. Ensure the stormwater system meets appropriate safety Standards.

9. Maintain the quality of life and lifestyle in Newcastle, by developing and promoting cultural and historical values of the stormwater and natural systems.

Recreation (passive and secondary across the catchments; primary in lower reaches of Throsby Creek, Coastal and Estuary catchments)

10. Ensure that water quality meets requirements for appropriate usage.

11. Balance the environmental values and opportunities of public open space with community infrastructure needs.

Ensure the public is fully aware of the stormwater quality & other issues within the catchments.

12. Foster active and effective community participation in planning and management practices.

13. Develop community awareness of water quality, systems health and other issues.

14. Achieve intra and inter-generational equity, including ensuring that infrastructure maintenance is cost-effective and sustainable.

Page 28: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

22 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

ECONOMIC VALUES OBJECTIVES

Newcastle to provide stormwater innovation, best practice and showcase these initiatives within a TCM and ESD approach.

15. Deliver best practice for all new and proposed developments, to ensure no increase in pollutant load in the system.

16. Encourage innovation in design and application.

Protection of the natural and Built asset base of the all the catchments (commercial and recreational fisheries, port facilities, tourism and cultural values of beaches, estuary and presentation of the Newcastle’s urban form).

Sustainable asset management. (A stormwater system that maximises sustainability of asset maintenance).

17. Develop an integrated & regional approach to stormwater/catchment management, especially by integrating stormwater and flood management policies.

18. Improve the performance of the existing stormwater system.

19. Maintain and enhance the viability of commercial and recreational activities within the City’s catchments.

20. Improve and apply accounting mechanisms for catchment assets in planning and decision-making processes.

Photo 4: Shows the floating boom at Chin Chen Street on Styx Creek, in Throsby Creek catchment designed to trap floating pollutants such as litter - plastic bottles and bags, foam packaging, paper etc and organic matter such as grass clippings, leaf litter etc. This more "visual pollution” may well be associated with other "invisible" pollutants such as nutrients, bacteria/pathogens and/or chemicals and heavy metals which are not captured by such a device. A sediment trap is also located at this point in the system where approximately 20 cm3 of slit is removed monthly.

Page 29: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

23 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

New Development

In the past stormwater runoff from urban areas has not been managed with explicit operational performance standards. Treatment of stormwater in newly developed areas was approached in an ad-hoc manner with devices being designed and installed by developers as a requirement for development but without appropriate design criteria. Council’s stormwater management plan identifies the close link between higher volume runoff in common low intensity rainfall events, and associated pollution and sediment issues. Typically, these issues manifest at the outlet to the constructed drainage system and are the result of the direct connection of impervious areas at the upstream end and the removal of natural systems. The priority stormwater management objectives identified through the SMP process, highlighted the need to: • Deliver best practice for all new and proposed developments; • Ensure no increase in pollutant load in the system; • Promote an integrated catchment management approach; • Prioritise environmentaly compatible solutions across the range of stormwater issues; and • Ensure the maintenance and/ or restoration of hydraulic processes is achieved. Such objectives clearly indicate the importance placed on the control of stormwater impacts from new development by the community and stormwater managers. NSW Department of Environment & Conservation (former Environment Protection Authority) and Council recognises that “Source Control” is an appropriate and effective strategy to deal with this issue. The principal technique is to store an initial volume of rainfall on each new development site in site discharge controls, thereby emulating the runoff characteristics of the undeveloped site and thus protecting natural drainage lines. Council’s Stormwater DCP 50 takes this “source control” approach and includes initial volume storage treatments and subsequent site discharge controls that will treat water borne pollutants as well. The source control strategy also provides new opportunities to substitute part of the potable water supply for rainwater thus reflecting the systems-based urban water cycle management approach Newcastle advocated in the Newcastle Environment Management Plan 2003 (NEMP) in order to achieve a more sustainable City. The continued development of the catchment-based monitoring program will support the identification of issues and priority needs for development purposes across the City. The consideration of stormwater planning across the City’s catchments for new development is illustrated at Figure 4 where stormwater performance objectives are integrated across catchment, sub-division and lot scale as indicated.

Page 30: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

24 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Stormwater Objectives for Development Sites

Newcastle is a dynamic city with a broad range of development types. Our western sector is undergoing significant greenfield estate development while much of the eastern suburbs are experiencing high levels of redevelopment of existing residential and commercial building stock. The objectives for development are based on receiving water tolerances to pollutants stemming from the catchment values and objectives. They are reduced to performance criteria being limits on concentrations in the discharge. How each development achieves these objectives will be a design issue. However, Council provides a suite of “deemed to comply” solutions that can be applied to most development scenarios. These solutions and any other built infrastructure or control devices will provide different responses depending on the different likelihood of specific pollutants being in the upstream runoff. The different type of pollutants that we can reasonably expect from the various styles of development is well understood from local investigation (eg. Throsby Creek Catchment Gross Pollutant And Sediment Study, WBM Oceanics, 2002) and studies elsewhere. Table 3.1 provides a valuable tool in stormwater treatment assessment with the development of a ranking order for the application of stormwater pollutant objectives based on development style. The rankings are defined in order of their perceived importance from A highest to F lowest, based on the system developed and reported in Stormwater Management Plan for South Creek, NSW in 1999-2000.

Figure 4: New Development Stormwater Performance Objectives across whole scale of development.

Page 31: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

25 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Table 3.1: Ranking* of Objectives for Development Styles

Development Style

Litte

r

Coa

rse

Sedi

men

ts

Fine

Part

icle

s

Nut

rient

s

Hyd

ro-

carb

ons

Coo

king

Oils

/ Gre

ase

Low density Residential (single dwelling & residential developments > 5ha)

B C A D E F

High Density residential (medium density & residential developments > 5ha)

A D F B E C

Commercial, Shopping Malls and Retail outlets

A D F B E C

Industrial C D F A E B

Fast Food Outlets and Restaurants B C F D E A

Carparks, Service Stations and Wash Bays

C D E B A F

Objectives for development are shown below in Table 3.2. They are the result of the community consultation, desktop review and exhibition processes conducted during 2003-04. Water quality issues are now properly addressed in Council’s Development Control Plan (DCP 50) for Stormwater and Water Efficiency 2004 in comparison to previous DCP 50 drafts.

Page 32: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

26 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Table 3.2: Stormwater Treatment Objectives for New Development (Based on event mean concentration of pollutants in stormwater discharge)

Pollutant Description Treatment Performance Objectives for Development Sites

Litter All waste materials eg cans, packaging, bottles, butts etc.

Capture and remove all material in excess of 5mm diameter.

Sediment Sediment discharge during the operational phase of the development.

Event mean concentration is less than 100 milligrams/litre.

Nutrients

on is less than the following: Total nitrogen

Total phosphorus

Ammonia

Event mean concentration is less than the following:

1000 micrograms/litre

100 micrograms/litre

15 micrograms/litre

Hydrocarbons- Motor spirit, Oil & Grease

Free floating and/ or emulsified hydrocarbons.

Event mean concentration is less than 500 micrograms/litre.

Council also recognises that runoff regimes form a significant part of the stormwater quality jigsaw. Downstream riparian values, bank stability and additional pollutant mobilisation potential are all adversely affected by increased runoff in very frequent rainfall events. Accordingly Development Control Plan 50 (DCP 50) aims to Control the outflow of stormwater from new developments to replicate the natural hydrological regime. This is achieved by requiring the storage of initial rainfall volumes. It also has benefits in mitigating the effects of development on flooding. Buildings Under the guidance of the Newcastle Sustainable Urban Water Cycle Policy 2004, Council recognises that the most appropriate opportunities for coherently managing water issues occur at the lot scale where water usage, sewer generation, rainfall and stormwater discharge occur. Such issues and opportunities are equally relevant in new and redeveloping areas of the City. Accordingly, the objectives for new buildings in greenfield estates are the same as they are for redeveloped or infill areas of the City. It is anticipated that as the existing building stock turns over, the stormwater issues within our watercourses will improve over time. After stormwater quality is addressed for lots, Council recognises that there is still a significant issue to be dealt with off roads. In addition, Council is concerned that on site measures to control water quality may not be adequately maintained when in private ownership. Experience shows that poorly maintained devices are likely to contribute significantly to downstream degradation. Accordingly, publicly owned controls are required to cater for 20% of the contributing privately owned catchment. Under the terms of the Newcastle Local Environment Plan (LEP 2003), complying development (dwelling houses), must comply with the relevant provisions of DCP 50. Accordingly, all the provisions including site discharge controls apply to all new dwellings, including alterations and additions. Residential estate developments Subdivision scale controls are considered necessary to control water quality for runoff generated by roads and failed private facilities. Therefore DCP 50 requires that subdivision controls address the runoff from 50% of road reserve areas and 20% of allotment areas. This can be managed in swales on the side of the road or in public reserves as best suit the circumstances of the case.

Page 33: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

27 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Infill Areas Similarly Council will need to address the runoff generated by existing roads and 20% of the allotments draining to them in older areas of the City. Council is gearing up its infrastructure renewal program to be considerate of the water quality objectives espoused in this Stormwater Management Plan (see Action Table). Erosion & Sediment Prevention Council utilises current best practice policy, aiming to achieve the objectives for erosion and sediment control in accordance with Department of Housing’s “Managing Urban Stormwater: Soils and Construction, 1998” (the “blue book”) as well as Council documentation for target audiences in erosion and sediment control. DCP 50 stipulates that erosion and sediment control measures must be established on the site prior to the commencement of construction and they must be maintained during the course of construction and not removed until the site is fully established, including landscaping and lawn areas (if any). The implementation of the standardised regional approach, delivered through the REMS Sediment and Erosion Control program adopted by Council, also provides a context for development interests across the region. Over time Council has tried to apply a consistent standard to the performance of treatment devices at the subdivision level as well as provide industry awareness and training programs. This approach will be audited and refined over the next 12 months with a review of Newcastle’s subdivision code and as part of Councils Erosion and Sediment Prevention Program (see Action Table). Council recognises the need for a pro-active approach to the minimisation of site disturbance as a result of development that requires the implementation of Erosion and Sediment Prevention Plans at the outset. The approach to developing prevention plans has been successfully implemented in Washington State (USA) with the following “12 common sense“ elements being an edited selection from “Stormwater Management in Washington State”, Vol 11 (2000), Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention. Council will also consider this issue in developing the Newcastle Consolidated DCP and in the review the Newcastle subdivision code in 2004. The 12 elements included in Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (USA, 2000) are: • Mark Clearing Limits • Establish Construction Access • Detain Flows • Install Sediment Controls • Stabilise Soils • Protect Slopes • Protect Drain Inlets • Stabilise Channels and Outlets • Control Pollutants • Control De-watering • Maintain Best Management Practices • Manage the Project Review The effectiveness of Development Control Plan 50 will continually be investigated through an annual review process and ongoing catchment-based waterway health monitoring (See Action Plan, Table 7).

Page 34: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

28 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

IDENTIFIED STORMWATER ISSUES AND OPTIONS

Stormwater Issues A large volume of information detailing the specific nature of the Issues surrounding stormwater quality in the Newcastle City catchments was provided in the SMP Issues Report. This information was presented to stormwater managers and community workshop participants. Site inspections, existing reports and documentation, feedback from community groups/individuals, recent scientific investigations, water quality monitoring and DEC (formerly EPA) developed water quality objectives for marine and Hunter River catchments. Issues were considered to be “those things that frustrate or enhance the achievement of the identified Objectives”. Many of the Issues raised were particular to Newcastle, reflecting its history of urbanisation and concerning social, economic, environmental and managerial origins. In consultation processes with the community and stormwater managers Issues that generated the greatest levels of concern included: litter; erosion; sediment; habitat; community involvement and awareness; and management. These issues are marked with an * in the list below. Given that these Issues were most often cited as currently or potentially frustrating our Objectives, options to diminish their impacts are critical, with respect to management of stormwater in the City. The Issues and their related Objectives appear in Table 4. Site specific Issues such as: litter accumulation in the mangroves in Throsby Creek; the visual amenity of the channels in Cottage Creek; the volume of sediment deposited in the tidal region of Throsby Creek where extensive sediment removal has already taken place; as well as the extent of erosion and sourcing of sediment within Ironbark Creek were expressed throughout the consultative process. Such areas were termed "hot spots". The "hot spots" that were identified during the consultation process, appear in Table 3 along with an assessment of the cause and possible impact of the identified stormwater Issues. The identification of specific stormwater "hot spots" will be broadened as part of the catchment assessment processes identified in the Action Plan (Table 7).

Photo 5: Litter accumulation, including rubber bedding, paper and plastics, bottles trapped in the mangroves in the tidal section of Throsby Creek. Drink bottles of a foreign origin found in the mangroves indicate that they trap both Throsby Creek and Harbour litter with the movement of the tide. Given the value the community now places on this natural asset, it is not surprising that litter accumulation in the mangroves was a recurring issue identified in the consultation phase.

Page 35: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

29 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

The Stormwater Issues raised included: • Litter* • Erosion* • Sediment* • Habitat* • Community Involvement & Awareness* • Management* • On Site Rainwater Reuse • Grease, Oil & Petroleum* • Heavy Metals* • Nutrients • Bacterial & Viruses* • Acid Sulphate Soils • Organic Matter • Community Health and Safety • Other

Photo 6: Shows concrete lined stormwater channel at Darling St, in the Cottage Creek catchment. Green organic matter/algae and weed growth is noted in this section of the channel. Sediment accumulation is also an issue within this and other catchments, and other concrete lined stormwater channels.

Page 36: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

30

New

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Tabl

e 4:

Pr

iorit

y C

atch

men

t Sto

rmw

ater

Issu

es, I

mpa

cts

and

“Hot

Spo

ts”

in th

e C

ity

ISSU

E C

AU

SE/S

OU

RC

E IM

PAC

TS

“HO

T SP

OTS

Litte

r R

elat

ed

Obj

ectiv

es

1, 2

, 5, 6

, 7,

8, 9

, 10,

11,

15

, 18,

19

• S

hopp

ing

Cen

tres

• M

ajor

faci

litie

s an

d ve

nues

(e.g

. S

how

grou

nd, I

SC

T si

te)

• Fa

st F

ood

Out

lets

Sch

ools

to v

aryi

ng

degr

ee

• La

ck o

f com

mun

ity

com

plia

nce

• U

se o

f non

-bi

odeg

rada

ble

pack

ing

• La

ck o

f sou

rce

cont

rol

• P

ublic

ope

n sp

ace

• In

suffi

cien

t bi

ns/fr

eque

ncy

of

colle

ctio

n

• Ae

sthe

tics

– ac

cum

ulat

ion

is

unsi

ghtly

“End

of p

ipe”

co

ntro

l mea

sure

s su

ch a

s bo

oms

and

trash

rack

s ar

e un

sigh

tly

• Li

tter

accu

mul

atio

n in

m

angr

ove

area

Can

sm

othe

r, be

en

tang

led

with

or

inge

sted

by

flora

an

d fa

una.

Ironb

ark

Sho

ppin

g C

entre

s S

ourc

es- J

esm

ond,

Wal

lsen

d, E

lerm

ore

Val

e, M

aryl

and

Bre

aker

Sta

dium

& F

reew

ay, L

ink

Roa

d Th

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y Li

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n M

angr

oves

Tig

hes

Hill/

Car

ringt

on.

Low

er S

ectio

n O

f Cre

ek, F

ishe

rman

s C

o-O

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D

istri

ct &

Oth

er P

ark-

Cou

ncil

Bin

Pro

visi

on &

Col

lect

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No

Litte

r Bar

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Sur

roun

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Cha

nnel

s M

ayfie

ld B

ranc

h - N

o G

PT

Chi

n C

hen

St T

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Boo

m- E

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ess

Ene

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Aus

tralia

Sta

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& H

ocke

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ompl

ex/ R

est I

SC

T S

ite/ S

how

grou

nd V

enue

s S

hopp

ing

Cen

tre S

ourc

es- G

arde

n C

ity, M

ayfie

ld, B

eaum

ont S

treet

, New

Lam

bton

, War

atah

V

illage

, Bro

adm

eado

w, A

dam

stow

n Is

lingt

on/ L

ambt

on -

Ligh

t Ind

ustri

al A

reas

C

otta

ge

Sho

ppin

g C

entre

s –

Mar

keto

wn,

Jun

ctio

n Fa

ir, M

erew

ethe

r In

adeq

uate

Litt

er B

arrie

rs S

urro

undi

ng C

hann

el E

g. N

atio

nal P

ark

Estu

ary

104

Out

lets

– 4

With

Tra

sh B

aske

ts, F

ores

hore

Ope

n S

pace

Rec

reat

iona

l Use

– L

itter

C

BD

/ Hun

ter S

treet

C

oast

B

each

Out

falls

no

GP

T’s,

Bea

ch L

itter

ing

Purg

ator

y

Ber

esfie

ld, H

ighw

ay li

tterin

g

Page 37: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

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ISSU

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AU

SE/S

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PAC

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“HO

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Eros

ion

and

Sedi

men

t R

elat

ed

Obj

ectiv

es:

1, 2

, 3, 4

, 5, 6

, 7,

8, 9

, 10,

11

,18,

19

• S

tream

ban

ks &

bed

s •

Cre

ek h

eadw

ater

s •

Ero

deab

le s

oils

Incr

ease

d flo

w

velo

citie

s &

freq

uenc

y of

ero

sive

vel

ociti

es d

ue

dire

ctly

con

nect

ed

impe

rvio

us.

• N

ew u

rban

& in

fill

deve

lopm

ent

• D

enud

ed c

hann

el

bank

s •

Old

urb

an a

reas

/urb

an

rem

oval

Rem

oval

of “

hard

” tre

atm

ent”

(eg

Low

er

Thro

sby

Ck)

Floo

ding

on

soft

grou

nd

• U

tility

eas

emen

ts

• In

corr

ect g

arde

ning

te

chni

ques

eg

• S

tock

pile

s •

Gar

den

boun

darie

s •

Inte

rface

bet

wee

n co

ncre

te a

nd n

atur

al

syst

ems

• R

ecre

atio

n tra

ils in

ur

ban

bush

land

• Lo

ss o

f hab

itat

• Lo

ss o

f and

da

mag

e to

in

frast

ruct

ure

asse

ts

• R

educ

tion

in

syst

em c

apac

ity

• S

mot

herin

g of

aq

uatic

ve

geta

tion

• In

crea

sed

turb

idity

(red

uced

lig

ht p

enet

ratio

n)

• H

eavy

met

al

nutri

ent a

ttach

ed

to s

edim

ent

• V

isua

l am

enity

im

pact

s

Ironb

ark

Jesm

ond

Bus

hlan

d- b

ed, b

ank

(gul

ly e

rosi

on) +

bus

hlan

d tra

cks

& tr

ails

Jo

hn H

unte

r Hos

pita

l site

U

tility

eas

emen

ts

Ele

rmor

e V

ale/

Wal

lsen

d P

ark

- cha

nnel

ban

k er

osio

n U

rban

sed

imen

t sou

rces

eg

gutte

rs &

uns

eale

d ve

rges

S

edim

enta

tion

alon

g cr

eek

Blu

e G

um H

ills -

new

urb

an e

xpan

sion

E

rosi

on fr

om s

tream

s/ d

rain

age

lines

in u

pper

par

t of c

atch

men

t. P

lus

track

s &

trai

ls.

Cha

nnel

bed

, ban

k er

osio

n so

urce

s.

Thro

sby

Sed

imen

t acc

umul

atio

n in

low

er re

ache

s.

Cha

nnel

ban

k er

osio

n so

urce

s –

Nes

bit P

ark

Bla

mey

Ave

, Grif

fith

Rd

med

ian

strip

E

rosi

on fr

om s

tream

s/ d

rain

age

lines

in u

pper

par

t of c

atch

men

t. B

ushl

and

Res

erve

s tra

cks

&

trails

. C

otta

ge

Sed

imen

t dep

ositi

on in

cha

nnel

at P

arkw

ay, B

ar B

each

Ave

& G

lebe

Rd

brid

ge

Infil

l site

wor

ks

Estu

ary

Har

bour

bot

tom

acc

umul

atio

n C

oast

M

urde

ring

Gul

ly a

cces

s ro

ad e

rosi

on, C

liff l

ine

falls

G

reen

way

s/ P

urga

tory

E

rosi

on fr

om s

tream

s/ d

rain

age

lines

in u

pper

par

t of c

atch

men

t. P

lus

track

s &

trai

ls.

Sed

imen

tatio

n of

wet

land

s

Page 38: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

32

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

ISSU

E C

AU

SE/S

OU

RC

E IM

PAC

TS

“HO

T SP

OTS

” H

abita

t R

elat

ed

Obj

ectiv

es

1, 2

, 3, 4

, 5, 6

, 7,

9, 1

0, 1

9

• In

suffi

cien

t nat

ive

vege

tatio

n ac

ross

rip

aria

n zo

ne

• N

oxio

us a

nd

envi

ronm

enta

l wee

ds

• In

appr

opria

te z

onin

g of

bu

shla

nd

• In

appr

opria

te

man

agem

ent p

ract

ices

Exo

tic s

peci

es o

f pla

nts

and

anim

als

• Fr

agm

enta

tion

due

utilit

y/in

frast

ruct

ure/

de

velo

pmen

t

• Lo

ss o

f bi

odiv

ersi

ty

• W

eed

prop

agat

ion

(alte

rs in

tegr

ity o

f ec

osys

tem

s)

• E

rosi

on

• E

xotic

faun

a an

d flo

ra c

an ta

ke

over

an

area

Loss

ripa

rian

zone

hab

itat h

as

mul

tiple

flow

-on

effe

cts

• Lo

ss R

ipar

ian

habi

tat p

rodu

ces

wat

er q

ualit

y im

pact

s •

Vis

ual a

men

ity

impa

cts

All

Cat

chm

ents

P

rote

ctio

n of

rem

nant

veg

etat

ion

and

corri

dor l

inka

ges.

All

ripar

ian

zone

s pr

iorit

y fo

r pro

tect

ion/

re

habi

litat

ion.

Iro

nbar

k N

eed

habi

tat p

rote

ctio

n in

Jes

mon

d B

ushl

and

& o

ther

rem

nant

s, e

spec

ially

cor

ridor

s.

- H

exha

m S

wam

p - S

EP

P 1

4 w

etla

nd p

rote

ctio

n -

Larg

e bu

shla

nd a

reas

in u

pper

cat

chm

ents

eg

Jesm

ond,

Ele

rmor

e V

ale,

Ran

kin

Par

k,

Blu

e G

um H

ills.

Rip

aria

n zo

ne –

loss

of h

abita

t, w

eed

spec

ies

in u

pper

cat

chm

ent &

wet

land

W

eed

sour

ces

in u

pper

cat

chm

ent e

g E

lerm

ore

Val

e, M

aryl

and

Thro

sby

Lack

of n

atur

al v

eget

atio

n al

ong

stor

mw

ater

sys

tem

ripa

rian

strip

s.

Wee

d so

urce

s in

upp

er c

atch

men

t eg

Kot

ara,

Ada

mst

own.

C

oncr

ete

chan

nels

and

lack

of n

atur

al fo

rm.

Bla

ckbu

tt R

eser

ve -

prot

ectio

n &

sto

rmw

ater

man

agem

ent.

Cot

tage

C

oncr

ete

chan

nels

and

lack

of n

atur

al fo

rm.

Lack

of n

atur

al v

eget

atio

n al

ong

stor

mw

ater

sys

tem

ripa

rian

strip

s.

Estu

ary

Mai

nten

ance

of o

yste

r pra

wn

catc

hes

Reh

abili

tatio

n of

wet

land

are

as v

ia im

prov

emen

t of f

lood

miti

gatio

n sy

stem

man

agem

ent.

Gre

enw

ays/

Pur

gato

ry

Rip

aria

n zo

ne –

loss

of h

abita

t, w

eed

spec

ies

in u

pper

cat

chm

ent

Wet

land

hab

itat p

rote

ctio

n

Page 39: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

33

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

ISSU

E C

AU

SE/S

OU

RC

E IM

PAC

TS

“HO

T SP

OTS

” C

omm

unity

In

volv

emen

t an

d A

war

enes

s R

elat

ed

Obj

ectiv

es

1, 2

, 3, 4

, 5, 6

, 7,

8, 9

, 11,

12,

13

, 14,

15,

16,

17

, 18

• La

ck o

f aw

aren

ess

of

impa

cts

of a

ctio

ns

• U

naw

are

of u

ltim

ate

dest

inat

ion

of

stor

mw

ater

Apa

thy

• La

ck o

f inv

olve

men

t in

deci

sion

mak

ing

• La

ck o

f sup

port

mec

hani

sms

• C

onno

tatio

ns

asso

ciat

ed w

ith

“gre

enie

s”

• La

ck o

f inc

entiv

e fo

r ac

tion

• La

ck o

f ‘ea

sy” s

olut

ion/

an

swer

for i

ssue

Poo

r pro

mot

ion

of th

e sy

stem

and

its

issu

es

• S

ourc

e is

ofte

n fa

r re

mov

ed fr

om th

e po

int

of im

pact

Lack

of a

cces

s to

in

form

atio

n

• N

o fe

elin

g of

“o

wne

rshi

p” o

f th

e sy

stem

Lack

of

com

mun

ity

awar

enes

s an

d in

volv

emen

t is

ofte

n a

fund

amen

tal

caus

e of

man

y im

pact

s

All

catc

hmen

ts

Lack

of c

omm

unity

“wat

erw

ay o

wne

rshi

p” a

nd a

war

enes

s of

impa

cts

of in

appr

opria

te a

ctio

n of

in

divi

dual

s an

d re

sulti

ng c

umul

ativ

e im

pact

s.

Nee

d ta

rget

ed p

rogr

am d

eliv

ery

for “

hot s

pot”

gene

rato

rs e

g de

velo

pers

, bui

lder

s, g

arde

n su

pplie

rs, m

obile

cle

anin

g bu

sine

sses

, bus

ines

s, e

vent

s m

anag

ers

etc

acro

ss C

ity

New

cast

le c

atch

men

t For

um c

omm

unity

pro

ject

s Iro

nbar

k N

ew re

side

ntia

l are

as &

est

ablis

hed

area

s Iro

nbar

k C

reek

- W

alls

end

reha

bilit

atio

n/P

OM

requ

ires

prom

otio

n La

ck o

f edu

catio

n ac

ross

all

issu

es

Impa

cts

of o

pen

spac

e re

crea

tion

Wal

lsen

d, R

anki

n P

ark,

Geo

rge

McG

rego

r Par

k, S

hortl

and-

Birm

ingh

am g

arde

ns g

roup

s Th

rosb

y La

ck o

f edu

catio

n ac

ross

all

issu

es

Impa

cts

of o

pen

spac

e re

crea

tion

and

mai

nten

ance

La

mbt

on K

er-ra

i reh

abilit

atio

n co

ncep

t pla

n

War

atah

sub

-cat

chm

ent “

Gut

ter T

alk”

Pro

ject

C

otta

ge

Lack

of e

duca

tion

acro

ss a

ll is

sues

Im

pact

s of

ope

n sp

ace

recr

eatio

n Es

tuar

y La

ck o

f edu

catio

n fo

r rec

reat

iona

l use

rs (&

com

mun

ity a

cros

s al

l iss

ues)

C

oast

R

ecre

atio

n in

out

fall

pool

s, b

each

litte

ring

Mer

ewet

her a

nd o

ngoi

ng “C

lean

Stre

ets-

Cle

an B

each

” Pro

ject

s G

reen

way

s/ P

urga

tory

N

ew h

ome

owne

rs im

pact

s

Page 40: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

34

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

ISSU

E C

AU

SE/S

OU

RC

E IM

PAC

TS

“HO

T SP

OTS

” M

anag

emen

t (P

lann

ing,

Fu

ndin

g an

d B

est P

ract

ice)

R

elat

ed

Obj

ectiv

es

1, 2

, 3, 4

, 5, 6

, 7,

8, 9

, 10,

11,

12

, 13,

14,

15,

16

, 17,

18,

19

• N

arro

w/s

teep

cha

nnel

bu

ffers

His

toric

land

use

& pe

rcep

tions

“Har

d” e

ngin

eerin

g so

lutio

ns

• M

aint

enan

ce p

ract

ices

Inte

r-age

ncy

man

agem

ent a

nd

coop

erat

ion

• LG

A o

verla

ps in

ca

tchm

ent b

ound

arie

s •

No

allo

wan

ce fo

r di

ffere

nt u

ses

on o

pen

spac

e ar

eas

• Li

mite

d fu

ndin

g fo

r st

orm

wat

er

man

agem

ent

• H

igh

cost

of

man

agem

ent o

ptio

ns/

mai

nten

ance

cos

ts

• Pa

st p

ract

ices

lim

it op

tions

for

futu

re

man

agem

ent

• D

uplic

atio

n of

re

spon

sibi

litie

s of

ten

lead

s to

co

nfus

ion

rega

rdin

g ac

tions

Mos

t effe

ctiv

e m

easu

res

may

no

t be

inco

rpor

ated

Mai

nten

ance

cal

l fo

r priv

ate

and

Cou

ncil

asse

ts

Ironb

ark

Rec

reat

iona

l & p

ublic

use

of o

pen

spac

e C

ounc

il an

d ca

tchm

ent b

ound

arie

s no

t alig

ned

Thro

sby

Lack

of s

pace

for r

etro

fittin

g sy

stem

La

mbt

on P

ark

& o

ther

site

s po

ssib

le

Cou

ncil

& c

atch

men

t bou

ndar

ies

not a

ligne

d in

upp

er re

ache

s C

otta

ge

Lack

of s

pace

for r

etro

fittin

g sy

stem

La

ck o

f ove

rall

catc

hmen

t stra

tegi

c pl

anni

ng fr

amew

ork

to d

irect

act

ion

G

reen

way

s/ P

urga

tory

La

ck o

f ove

rall

catc

hmen

t stra

tegi

c pl

anni

ng fr

amew

ork

to d

irect

act

ion

Cou

ncil

& c

atch

men

t bou

ndar

ies

not a

ligne

d

Page 41: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

35

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

ISSU

E C

AU

SE/S

OU

RC

E IM

PAC

TS

“HO

T SP

OTS

” G

reas

e, O

il an

d Pe

trol

eum

an

d C

hem

ical

C

onta

min

ants

R

elat

ed

Obj

ectiv

es

1, 2

, 6, 7

, 8, 1

0 15

, 18

• R

oad

run-

off

• La

ck o

f bun

ding

on

mar

ine

car p

arks

Com

mer

cial

and

in

dust

rial r

un-o

ff an

d di

scha

rges

Bitu

men

from

road

re

surfa

cing

m

aint

enan

ce

• V

ehic

le e

mis

sion

s •

Illeg

al d

ispo

sal o

f use

d oi

l and

oth

er c

hem

ical

s •

Dia

ster

s su

ch a

s oi

l or

fuel

spi

lls

• La

ck o

f aw

aren

ess/

educ

atio

n/a

path

y

• To

xici

ty to

an

imal

s an

d pl

ants

(inc

ludi

ng

hum

ans)

Bio

accu

mul

atio

n in

aqu

atic

sp

ecie

s •

Ris

k of

fire

and

ex

plos

ion

• Ae

sthe

tics

Ironb

ark

Sta

te h

ighw

ay 2

3 F3

Lin

k R

d to

Wal

lsen

d, p

acifi

c H

ighw

ay, F

3 Fr

eew

ay, L

ooko

ut R

oad.

Haz

ard

spill

s Li

ght i

ndus

try a

reas

Th

rosb

y M

aitla

nd R

d, L

ooko

ut R

oad,

Indu

stria

l Driv

e Li

ght i

ndus

try a

reas

C

otta

ge

Haz

ard

spills

, Ste

war

t Ave

Li

ght i

ndus

try a

reas

Es

tuar

y H

azar

d S

pills

- P

acifi

c H

ighw

ay, I

ndus

trial

Driv

e - M

ain

Roa

d 10

8 P

ort a

ctiv

ity a

nd in

dust

rial a

reas

C

onta

min

ated

site

s -

Koo

raga

ng d

umps

P

ort a

ctiv

ity

Coa

st

Car

par

ks

Gre

enw

ays/

Pur

gato

ry

Ligh

t ind

ustry

are

as

Haz

ard

spills

, Hig

hway

Page 42: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

36

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

ISSU

E C

AU

SE/S

OU

RC

E IM

PAC

TS

“HO

T SP

OTS

” N

utrie

nts

Rel

ated

O

bjec

tives

: 1,

2, 6

, 7,

9,10

,11,

15

,18

• Fe

rtilis

er u

se in

ope

n sp

ace/

park

s •

Gar

deni

ng p

ract

ices

eg

. Fer

tilis

er/s

oil

• C

ompo

stin

g/le

acha

te

• Pe

t fae

ces

• C

ar w

ashi

ng in

stre

ets

• La

ck o

f aw

aren

ess/

ed

ucat

ion/

apat

hy

• O

rgan

ic m

atte

r in

chan

nels

Sew

age

over

flow

s •

Nut

rient

s bi

ndin

g to

fine

se

dim

ents

• A

lgae

gro

wth

May

trig

ger

outb

reak

s of

dy

nofla

gella

tes

• W

eed

grow

th

• O

dour

All

Cat

chm

ents

H

ouse

hold

inap

prop

riate

app

licat

ion

of fe

rtiliz

er/ u

se d

eter

gent

s st

reet

Ill

egal

con

nect

ions

sto

rmw

ater

to s

ewer

S

ewer

ove

rflow

s, p

artic

ular

ly a

long

wat

erw

ays

Ironb

ark

Ferti

liser

use

in o

pen

spac

es- J

esm

ond

Par

k an

d go

lf co

urse

A

roun

d re

side

ntia

l pon

ds/w

etla

nds

eg W

arab

rook

Est

ate

Thro

sby

Rac

ecou

rse

& Sh

owgr

ound

Fe

rtilis

er u

se in

ope

n sp

aces

- IS

CT

site

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Page 43: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

37

New

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Page 44: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

38

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

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Page 45: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

39

New

cast

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Page 46: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

40 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Evaluation of Stormwater Management Options

Broad ranges of structural and non-structural practices are available for stormwater management. On the basis of the Issues, Objectives and Values raised by the community, a number of potential broad management options have been identified, including: • the continued support for and implementation of the principles of Total Catchment

Management, Ecologically Sustainable Development and Water Sensitive Urban Design • the use of structural devices for the treatment of stormwater • the use of non-structural devices for the treatment of stormwater • improved control on construction activities • education of the community on how its activities impact on the quality of stormwater and the

health of receiving waters and how they can adopt more suitable practices • monitoring of the City's stormwater quality to measure the success of the Stormwater

Management Plan's implementation • community involvement and partnership program delivery Key elements of a sustainable approach to stormwater management include: • increased levels of community participation in stormwater management process • improved skills and knowledge of relevant stormwater managers • the use of integrated approaches • developing working relationships involving Council, stormwater managers and the

community • implementing an integrated outputs involving a variety of structural and non structural

management techniques. The assessment of options for stormwater management should be based on: • a systems-based, holistic approach to natural resource management • identifying source control (water quality and quantity) • an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach producing beneficial long-term results • addressing the cause of noted downstream impacts • acknowledgment that future funding will be required to achieve continuing success • monitoring, research and reporting • consideration of maintenance requirements and life-cycle costs • initiating changes in community attitudes and behaviours as a key element of environmental

improvement. A guide for the assessment of structural stormwater treatment techniques has been provided by DEC (former NSW EPA (1997)) in the draft document "Managing Urban Stormwater: Treatment Techniques". A final version of the Treatment Techniques manual as well as a number of other valuable stormwater management publications are due for release by DEC this year. Table 5 below summarises some of the treatment techniques and clearly indicates that structural techniques alone can never successfully trap all pollutants. It is therefore essential that a variety of actions be implemented to stop as much pollution as possible from entering the system in the first place. This approach is reflected in the DEC’s (former EPA) Stormwater Management Hierarchy at Figure 1.

Page 47: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

41 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Table 5: Assessment of Structural Treatment Techniques

Treatment Pollutant Trapping Efficiency Costs

Litte

r

Sedi

men

t

Nut

rient

Oxy

gen

Dem

andi

ng

Mat

eria

l

Oil

& G

reas

e

Path

ogen

Cap

ital

Mai

nten

ance

Litter Baskets M-H I I L L I L M-H

Litter Racks M-H I I L L I L H

Litter Booms M I I I M-H I L H

CDS Units H M L-M L-M L L M-H M

Catch Basins L L-M I L I I L M-H

Water Quality Inlets

L-M M L L M L M H

Filter Strips L M L-M L L L L L

Grass Swales L L-M L L L L L LM

Sediment Traps

L M-H L L L L M M

Gross Pollutant Traps

M-H M-H L L L L M M-H

Extended Detention Basins

L M L-M L I L L-M L-M

Wet Basins L M-H M-H M L M H M

Constructed Wetlands

L M-H M-H M M M M-H M

Infiltration Trenches

L M-H M L-M L L-M L H

Infiltration Basins

L M-H M L-M L L-M L H

Porous Pavements

I M-H M L-M I L-M M-H M-H

Sand Filters L M-H M L-M L-M L-M L-M M-H KEY: I = Ineffective

L = Low M = Moderate H = High

Source: EPA Draft: Managing Urban Stormwater - Treatment Techniques (1997)

Page 48: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

42 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

MANAGEMENT APPROACH

What is a Management Strategy? Management strategies are broad statements indicating a preferred group of actions to address a particular issue of concern. In identifying these strategies we have considered the impacts of a range of issues and the priority values of the Newcastle community. The management framework for this plan incorporates five potential types of action responses to understand, manage and evaluate the identified issues in each catchment. The five main potential elements in a management strategy include: 1. Investigation (Environmental Assessment And Monitoring) 2. Planning 3. Community Education And Consultation 4. Implementation (Including On Ground Activities) 5. Evaluation and Review of Performance For some issues or for particular catchments we may already have good environmental monitoring data that clearly describes the dimensions of the problems to be addressed. In these or other locations there may be good workable plans that have not been implemented due to lack of resources. The management strategies within the Plan will build on existing work wherever feasible to optimise outcomes for the community. This approach will facilitate an integrated management response and provide resource efficiencies. The development of these strategies consistently highlights the opportunity to include the community in implementation through meaningful participation in the process and effective education programs to collectively improve urban stormwater outcomes. Over the years a number of control treatment trains have been installed to manage urban stormwater in Newcastle. A priority will be to review the performance of these mechanisms with reference to our understanding of current issues, values and stormwater management objectives as well as the promotion of effective demonstration sites. The integrated nature of this management approach will enable stormwater managers to identify linkages between strategies. For example in developing the strategies it has become apparent that we need to develop an education package for residents, to provide guidance regarding the potential impacts on stormwater from a number of things they may do around their homes or neighbourhoods with suggestions to protect downstream water quality. Instead of just having a message about singular actions like washing the car on the lawn, there is an opportunity to engage the neighbourhood in monitoring their waterway health and/or providing support for environmental repairs jobs in their reach of creek, pond, wetland, river or coastline.

Developing Effective Strategies to Manage Urban Stormwater Analysis of the main issues impacting on stormwater quality in Newcastle indicate that a number of key issues frustrate improving stormwater management. There are a number of existing references to the impacts of urban stormwater in general and to particular problems and opportunities in Newcastle that have been used to inform the development of this plan.

Page 49: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

43 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Photo 7: Shows a concrete stormwater channel in Throsby Creek catchment with urban residential and industrial development abutting both sides of the channel and creating the drainage corridor referred to in the text. Note the erosion of the unvegetated channel banks.

Challenges and Opportunities A particular challenge to managing stormwater issues in Newcastle stems from the community's historical approach to stormwater management. We have a highly constructed system of "drains" along drainage and creek lines, designed primarily for the purpose of removing stormwater from urban areas as quickly as possible. Stormwater itself has been considered a waste to dispose of, rather than as a positive element for harvesting, reuse and enjoyment. This has resulted in a system of concrete channels and drains through narrow strips of land, that are efficient at conveying flow but have removed significant areas of natural creek system. This challenge is most evident in highly urbanised sub-catchments where infill development adds to already high run off profiles.

Improving stormwater quality in Newcastle will depend on the development of integrated approaches that recognises the urban water cycle and applies a systems-based approach to managing natural resources and environmental issues. In Newcastle the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA) (former Hunter Catchment Management Trust) has worked with the community and other government agencies to produce and implement Total Catchment Management strategies for Ironbark and Throsby Creek catchments that have now been incorporated within the Hunter River Catchment Blueprint. Significant improvements have been achieved through this work. The SMP process has also identified the need to prepare a management plan for the highly urbanised Cottage Creek Catchment. This is now in train as part of the joint project set of the Newcastle Catchment Management Forum (NCFM) (see Action Plan, Table 7). The NCMF is part of the new committee structure of the CMA that now covers all Newcastle’s catchments. In areas along the ocean, there are a number of smaller catchments that discharge stormwater directly to the beach. Here an integrated approach to the management of the coastal zone, through the Coastal Management Program, will provide an opportunity to incorporate stormwater management as a primary consideration in protecting our ocean foreshore and coastal beaches. Similar outcomes are envisaged for the Estuary system as part of the Estuary Process and Management Study (see Action Plan, Table 7). Adopting the Stormwater Management Plan has given all the responsible water authorities the opportunity to implement their activities in a coordinated manner and provided valuable support to successful funding applications. Government funding bodies have are more likely to give priority to coordinated projects having appropriate evaluation mechanisms. The adaptive nature of the management framework of this Plan has enabled it to be modified over time in response to changing community priorities, emerging issues and altered government policies, through the Newcastle Stormwater Forum, or to take advantage of particular management or funding opportunities.

Page 50: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

44 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Key Management Strategies to Improve Urban Stormwater During the consultation process, stormwater managers defined the existing programs and management strategies operating across the city, assessed the strategic framework required to deliver outcomes for priority stormwater issues identified by the community and reviewed the outcome for any omissions in the coverage of the strategies. The outcome of this stage of the planning process is summarised in Table 6. Over 50% of the management strategies identified address community education and consultation responses, some 40% identify planning and works, while approximately 20% involve investigation and evaluation and review. The recurrent themes that emerge from the strategies are either prerequisites and/or opportunities to: • Better understand the issues • Employ a broad range of tools • Integrate across agencies and programs • Foster better practices • Highlight the potential of community outreach • Focus stormwater management initiatives and partnerships • Rethink historical stormwater treatments.

Better understand the issues

The development of effective and efficient management techniques for stormwater management necessitates a clear understanding of the exact dimensions of the problem. Where is it worst? What are the causes? Who is responsible? How can we fix it? Some information has been gathered for a number of the issues. However better information on sedimentation and erosion, water quality parameters and pollution movement throughout the catchments and on habitats and ecosystems affected by stormwater will enable the identification of more targeted programs. Research undertaken as a result of the SMP 2000 Action Plan has made great inroads in previously identified information gap. In the longer term, setting targets that respond to water quality objectives derived from real time ecosystem measures, identified through targeted catchment based water monitoring processes and indicators of quality of life, and their promotion, will enable the community to be aware of progress in improving stormwater quality.

Employ a broad range of tools

In the past, the majority of stormwater treatments involved hard physical infrastructure. Increasingly, in stormwater as in other fields of environmental management, the opportunity to broaden the range of tools has been embraced since 2000. The management strategies for this plan include, in addition to remedial structural treatments, the development approval process, advocacy, learning and training, community outreach and incentive programs. Effective management strategies incorporate provisions for monitoring, evaluation and review to ensure implementation was undertaken properly and that the strategy was on target.

Integrate across agencies and programs

Total Catchment Management and systems-based natural resource management approaches have been identified in this Plan as key mechanisms to foster interagency cooperation and improve stormwater quality and quantity and flow regimes. Recent government policy have provided a planning framework and processes to manage the coast, estuary, floodplains, vegetation, natural resources, urban waterways and environmental management in the Hunter River catchment. There is a clear need to coordinate and integrate these planning and management processes. The Stormwater Forum organised by Council will provide the opportunity to review and plan for such cooperative efforts.

Page 51: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

45 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Major infrastructure providers such as the Hunter Water Corporation (HWC) and the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) will develop integrated Environment Improvement Plans to fulfil their Section 12 notices from DEC (the former Environment Protection Authority). The RTA's approach includes considering all road issues in an integrated way, so that road construction, resurfacing, and general usage, are all viewed collectively to reduce the impacts on stormwater from roads.

Foster better practices

Property owners, site managers, developers and utility providers require awareness, training in proper procedures and contingency plans to protect stormwater quality and improve frequency of erosive stormwater velocities. To augment current programs to reduce the erosion potential associated with construction activities, programs targeting inappropriate site maintenance will be required. Council, as a major owner of bushland reserves and with responsibility for works and maintenance of Council roads and facilities; Hunter Water Corporation, with responsibility for the sewage and stormwater channel system; and utility providers, need to ensure their land management and work practices reflect best management practice. Alterations to stormwater system maintenance schedules to align this activity with storm events is but one initiative to reduce the transfer of pollutants across the Cities catchments. Owners and managers of large industrial, commercial and institutional sites have the potential to have a relatively important impact on stormwater. For example, negotiating with high litter generators to develop and implement source controls through a "Memorandum of Understanding" is a technique that has been successfully applied with a fast food restaurant chain in Newcastle. The University of Newcastle has also recognised its responsibilities and has developed best practice water sensitive design solutions for its extensive bushland campus that serve as best practice demonstration for other practitioners.

Highlight the potential of community outreach

Review of the proposed management strategies demonstrates the pivotal role for community participation and understanding in improving stormwater quality. From appropriate litter disposal to collection of unwanted household chemicals by Hunter Water Corporation, to selection of garden species and household maintenance, the general community is involved on a daily basis in activities that have the potential to affect stormwater. Information packages for home owners, small industrial premises, commercial sites, take away food outlets and sporting clubs could raise awareness of stormwater issues related to their activity and list suggestions to improve practice. Good news stories with public interest such as the humble dung beetle and Clean Up Australia and advertisements, like the successful DEC’s "Solution to Pollution" TV commercials, raise community awareness. It is also recognised that the key to ensuring change practice is the appropriate engagement of these audiences in a sense of ownership of the problem and their valuable role in implementing solutions. Council’s “Gutter Talk” and Creeks Alive initiatives have successfully addressed this issue in a number of the Cities catchments. Learning from these activities will continue to influence the delivery of improved community understanding and the rate of uptake of stormwater positive behaviours.

Focus stormwater management initiatives

Where issues are better understood, specific remedial action plans have been developed to respond to the needs and locations identified. The 2001-02 Throsby Creek Catchment Stormwater Project utilised a Gross Pollutant Study to identify hotspot sub-catchments and options for action that where then prioirtised and jointly funded by Council, HWC and the HCR CMA, DEC and Coast & Clean Seas grant. In general this approach has seen the management of pollutants as high up in the catchments as is feasible, where they are easier to control and treat, and their impact on the broader system is minimised. High generators of pollutants and high-risk areas have, and will continue to be, the focus of initiatives to reduce pollutant load and impact. Development and redevelopment are two catalysts to improve stormwater management. Council's planning, development and approvals processes will be refined to ensure protection of stormwater throughout the development process. Although infill redevelopment is a particular challenge for stormwater management, the opportunity of land use change or intensification will be used to facilitate improvements to stormwater by the inclusion of

Page 52: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

46 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

'softer' treatment options wherever this is feasible. Research in Fig Tree Place, Nobbys Beach, Warabrook Wetlands Estate, Black Duck Creek and Kotara have demonstrated the practical application of this approach.

Rethink historical stormwater treatments

The community values and objectives give priority to innovative responses to stormwater management. They recognise the pro-active approach of the Newcastle City Council, other stormwater managers in Newcastle and the community, to environmental management and consider that this should also be demonstrated through creative stormwater management solutions. Strategies to reinstitute natural stream flow and meanders, choose 'soft' over 'hard' technologies where appropriate and develop projects ready for funding opportunities are indicative of a pro-active response. The preparation and ongoing implementation of a Stormwater Management Plan for Newcastle creates a chance to clarify the responsibility, accountability and ownership of the City's stormwater system.

Page 53: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

47

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

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t Pla

n 20

04

Tabl

e 6:

N

ewca

stle

cat

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ent b

ased

Sto

rmw

ater

Man

agem

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trat

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add

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the

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orm

wat

er Is

sues

.

Issu

es

# St

rate

gies

R

espo

nsib

ility

Investigation

Planning

Community Education & Consultation

Works/ Implement

Evaluation & Review

1.1

Lobb

y S

tate

gov

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ent t

o re

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cre

atio

n of

pot

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l lit

ter b

y w

aste

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stic

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& d

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cont

aine

rs

NC

C

X

1.2

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r con

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atch

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rosb

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ent

unde

r var

ying

flow

con

ditio

ns &

how

it is

dep

osite

d w

ithin

inst

ream

pro

file

• D

evel

op in

tegr

ated

litte

r man

agem

ent p

rogr

am

incl

udin

g m

aint

enan

ce &

dis

posa

l

NC

C, w

ith H

CR

CM

A,

HW

C, g

ener

ator

s an

d co

mm

unity

X X

1.3

Dev

elop

mor

e so

urce

agr

eem

ents

with

hig

h ge

nera

tors

su

ch a

s G

arde

n C

ity, J

esm

ond

Pla

za, M

arke

tow

n,

Mar

atho

n S

tadi

um, R

acec

ours

e, S

how

grou

nds,

etc

NC

C w

ith h

igh

gene

rato

rs

X X

X X

X

1.4

Ens

ure

appr

opria

te fa

cilit

ies

for d

ispo

sal &

col

lect

ion

(incl

udin

g lit

ter c

olle

cted

by

com

mun

ity g

roup

s)

NC

C

X

Litter

1.5

Ass

ess

the

need

to b

ette

r alig

n m

aint

enan

ce s

ched

ule

with

sto

rm e

vent

s N

CC

/HW

C

X X

Page 54: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

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Issu

es

# St

rate

gies

R

espo

nsib

ility

Investigation

Planning

Community Education & Consultation

Works/ Implement

Evaluation & Review

1.6

Faci

litat

e an

d pr

omot

e hi

gh p

rofil

e cl

ean

ups

– eg

“Cle

an

Up

Aus

tralia

Day

” N

CC

X

1.7

Enf

orce

litte

ring

legi

slat

ion

(and

pub

licis

e)

NC

C

X X

X

X

Litter

1.8

Con

duct

com

mun

ity e

duca

tion

that

follo

ws

litte

r thr

ough

th

e st

orm

wat

er s

yste

m

NC

C

X

2.1

Und

erst

and

the

eros

ion/

sedi

men

tatio

n pa

ttern

s of

the

catc

hmen

t to

targ

et a

ctio

ns to

gai

n op

timum

ben

efit

(Util

ise

L. O

rmer

od’s

thes

is in

Iron

bark

Ck

as a

mod

el)

NC

C/H

CR

C

MA

/HW

C

X X

Erosion

2.2

Und

erta

ke re

med

ial a

ctio

ns to

add

ress

info

rmat

ion

iden

tifie

d in

2.1

incl

udin

g •

Sta

bilis

atio

n an

d re

habi

litat

ion

of c

reek

ban

ks (l

inks

to

Hab

itat a

nd C

omm

unity

Invo

lvem

ent)

• M

inim

ise

cont

ribut

ion

from

bus

hlan

d (p

artic

ular

ly

NC

C re

serv

es &

priv

ate

hold

ings

) •

Targ

et lo

ng te

rm p

robl

em s

ites

& h

igh

risk

area

s •

In d

evel

opin

g pl

ans

for “

softe

r” w

orks

pay

par

ticul

ar

atte

ntio

n to

inte

rface

bet

wee

n ha

rd a

nd s

oft

treat

men

t (lit

eral

ly ‘e

nd o

f pip

e’)

• R

evie

w e

ffect

iven

ess

of p

revi

ous

wor

ks p

roce

dure

s an

d im

plem

enta

tion

to im

prov

e fu

ture

pra

ctic

e

NC

C

Com

mun

ity g

roup

s su

ch a

s La

ndca

re a

ssis

ted

by H

CR

C

MA

X

X

Page 55: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

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Issu

es

# St

rate

gies

R

espo

nsib

ility

Investigation

Planning

Community Education & Consultation

Works/ Implement

Evaluation & Review

2.3

Targ

et b

uild

ing

and

deve

lopm

ent p

roce

ss b

y:

• R

egul

atio

n &

enf

orce

men

t (pu

blic

ise)

Sur

vey

at s

tart

to p

rovi

de a

bas

elin

e •

Util

ise

entir

e ra

nge

of C

ounc

il’s

appr

oval

and

in

spec

tion

proc

edur

es a

nd p

ower

s •

Trai

ning

- tho

se in

indu

stry

, cou

ncil

staf

f & u

tility

pr

ovid

ers

• S

uppo

rt W

ater

Sen

sitiv

e U

rban

Des

ign

by

deve

lopi

ng a

ppro

pria

te N

CC

dev

elop

men

t pol

icie

s •

Ado

pt p

rinci

ple

of “n

o se

dim

ent b

eyon

d si

te” f

or n

ew

deve

lopm

ent

• In

clud

e in

fill d

evel

opm

ent

NC

C/ o

ther

util

ities

&

deve

lopm

ent i

ndus

try &

as

soci

atio

ns

X X

X X

X

Erosion

2.4

Enc

oura

ge b

ette

r man

agem

ent p

ract

ices

pos

t de

velo

pmen

t (eg

ladn

scap

ing)

thro

ugh

educ

atio

n N

CC

X

Page 56: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

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Issu

es

# St

rate

gies

R

espo

nsib

ility

Investigation

Planning

Community Education & Consultation

Works/ Implement

Evaluation & Review

3.1

Und

erst

and/

utilis

e a

suite

of c

ontro

l opt

ions

for

appl

icat

ion

to s

peci

fic c

atch

men

t pro

blem

s to

yie

ld b

est

outc

omes

incl

udin

g co

st e

ffect

iven

ess

NC

C/ H

WC

X

3.2

D

evel

op E

&S

con

trols

for a

ll de

velo

pmen

t site

s to

pr

even

t ero

sion

& s

edim

enta

tion–

use

of b

est p

ract

ice

N

CC

& d

evel

oper

s,

indu

stry

, NS

W a

genc

ies

X

X X

X

3.3

Con

side

r opt

ions

for s

edim

ent u

se (a

fter d

ewat

erin

g)

NC

C/ H

WC

N

PC

X

X

X

3.4

Trap

sed

imen

t fur

ther

up

the

catc

hmen

t to

redu

ce lo

ad

and

treat

drie

r mat

eria

l N

CC

& d

evel

oper

s

X

X

3.5

Ens

ure

com

mer

cial

and

indu

stria

l pre

mis

es w

ith h

ard

and/

or b

are

surfa

ces

are

mai

ntai

ned

prop

erly

by

• R

egul

atio

n &

enf

orce

men

t (pu

blic

ise)

Util

ise

entir

e ra

nge

of C

ounc

il’s

appr

oval

and

in

spec

tion

proc

edur

es a

nd p

ower

s •

Trai

ning

- site

ow

ners

, ten

ants

/use

rs &

cou

ncil

staf

f

NC

C w

ith in

dust

ry g

roup

s an

d la

nd o

wne

rs

X X

3.6

Dev

elop

app

ropr

iate

pro

cedu

res

for d

ispo

sal o

f sed

imen

tN

CC

/HW

C

NP

C

X

3.7

Enc

oura

ge b

ette

r man

agem

ent p

ract

ices

pos

t de

velo

pmen

t thr

ough

edu

catio

n N

CC

X

Sediment

3.8

Ens

ure

runo

ff fro

m N

CC

com

mun

ity la

nds

man

aged

to

min

imis

e se

dim

ent a

nd n

utrie

nts

NC

C

X

Page 57: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

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emen

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04

Issu

es

# St

rate

gies

R

espo

nsib

ility

Investigation

Planning

Community Education & Consultation

Works/ Implement

Evaluation & Review

4.1

Incr

ease

the

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

hab

itats

& e

cosy

stem

s af

fect

ed b

y st

orm

wat

er m

anag

emen

t to:

Iden

tify

suita

ble

spec

ies

for s

peci

fic s

ites

with

in th

e ca

tchm

ents

Pro

tect

aqu

atic

eco

syst

ems

• R

eins

tate

nat

ural

veg

etat

ion/

syst

ems

with

in th

e ex

istin

g st

orm

wat

er s

yste

m

• U

tiliti

es ri

paria

n /d

rain

age

corri

dors

as

linka

ges

betw

een

larg

er p

atch

es o

f veg

etat

ion

• Id

entif

y hi

gh h

abita

t val

ues

to ta

rget

for w

eed

&

nutri

ent

man

agem

ent

NC

C/ H

CR

CM

A, H

WC

X

X X

4.2

Pro

mot

e ap

prop

riate

gar

den

spec

ies

NC

C

X

4.

3 A

dvoc

ate

com

mun

ity a

ctio

n pa

rticu

larly

bu

shla

nd/w

ater

way

nei

ghbo

urs

re

• gr

een

was

te &

nutri

ents

impa

ct(s

) on

natu

ral h

abita

ts

NC

C/H

WC

/HC

R C

MA

X

Habitat

4.4

Con

side

r oth

er e

nviro

nmen

tal m

anag

emen

t iss

ues

such

as

fire

, flo

odin

g an

d sa

fety

in e

ncou

ragi

ng re

inst

atem

ent

of m

ore

natu

ral h

abita

ts a

long

dra

inag

e co

rrid

ors

HW

C/N

CC

X X

X

Page 58: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

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Issu

es

# St

rate

gies

R

espo

nsib

ility

Investigation

Planning

Community Education & Consultation

Works/ Implement

Evaluation & Review

5.1

Sup

port

com

mun

ity in

volv

emen

t in

activ

ities

lead

ing

to

bette

r sto

rmw

ater

man

agem

ent t

hrou

gh in

form

atio

n,

supp

ort,

dire

ct a

ssis

tanc

e an

d pa

rtner

ship

s

HC

R C

MA

/NC

C/

HW

C

X

5.2

Rec

ruit

user

gro

ups

for m

aint

enan

ce –

“use

r mai

ntai

ns”

NC

C

X X

5.

3 W

ork

with

com

mun

ity g

roup

s to

fost

er b

ette

r co

ordi

natio

n be

twee

n en

viro

nmen

tal v

alue

s an

d so

cial

va

lues

for p

ublic

ope

n sp

ace

NC

C

X X

5.4

Dev

elop

targ

eted

edu

catio

n ca

mpa

igns

for l

and

user

s eg

Li

ght i

ndus

trial

site

s, re

side

ntia

l; ta

keaw

ay fo

ods.

N

CC

/EP

A

X

5.5

Ext

end

“Cre

eks

Aliv

e” to

mor

e lo

cal n

eigh

bour

hood

s

NC

C/H

CR

CM

A

X

5.

6 E

xplo

re th

e po

tent

ial f

or c

omm

unity

–bu

sine

ss- C

ounc

il ow

ners

hips

/par

tner

ship

s w

ith P

ollu

tion

Pre

vent

ion

Prog

ram

s

NC

C/In

dust

ries

&

scho

ols/

HC

R C

MA

X

5.7

Dev

elop

mes

sage

s re

: wha

t is

rem

oved

from

sys

tem

to

heig

hten

pub

lic a

war

enes

s N

CC

/DEC

X

Community Involvement & Awareness 5.

8 D

isco

urag

e re

crea

tion

vehi

cles

in in

appr

opria

te s

ites

NC

C/ D

LWC

X

Page 59: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

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Issu

es

# St

rate

gies

R

espo

nsib

ility

Investigation

Planning

Community Education & Consultation

Works/ Implement

Evaluation & Review

6.1

Rev

iew

& im

prov

e ex

istin

g st

orm

wat

er m

anag

emen

t fra

mew

orks

to re

spon

d to

com

mun

ity v

alue

s &

obje

ctiv

es

NC

C/H

WC

X X

6.2

Faci

litat

e so

urce

con

trols

and

on

site

reus

e N

CC

/LH

CC

RE

MS

X

X

6.3

Be

awar

e an

d ta

ke a

dvan

tage

of l

abou

r mar

ket

prog

ram

s N

CC

X

6.4

Iden

tify

poss

ible

fund

ing

sour

ces;

link

to a

ctio

ns/

prog

ram

s in

clud

ing:

inve

stig

atin

g a

levy

for e

nviro

nmen

tal i

mpr

ovem

ents

; •

inco

rpor

atin

g st

orm

wat

er m

anag

emen

t stra

tegi

es in

S

ec 9

4 co

ntrib

utio

n pl

ans

• “U

ser p

ays”

eg

% o

f coa

l dus

t in

road

runo

ff se

dim

ents

Turn

ing

to a

dvan

tage

fund

ing

prog

ram

s fo

r “ha

rd”

infra

stru

ctur

e

ALL

X

X

6.5

Util

ise

wat

er q

ualit

y da

ta to

incr

ease

und

erst

andi

ng o

f th

e co

urse

s of

sto

rmw

ater

pro

blem

s to

: In

form

pub

lic

Targ

et g

ener

ator

s of

pro

blem

s (s

peci

fical

ly w

here

po

ssib

le b

ut g

ener

ical

ly a

lso)

Id

entif

y “g

ood

new

s st

orie

s”

HW

C/ H

CR

CM

A /N

CC

X

X

Management (Planning)

6.6

Sup

port

com

mun

ity in

volv

emen

t A

LL

X

Page 60: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

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Issu

es

# St

rate

gies

R

espo

nsib

ility

Investigation

Planning

Community Education & Consultation

Works/ Implement

Evaluation & Review

6.7

Iden

tify

targ

ets

to a

chie

ve s

torm

wat

er q

ualit

y im

prov

emen

ts ie

tran

slat

e w

ater

qua

lity

obje

ctiv

es in

to

mea

sura

ble

(and

repo

rtabl

e) w

ater

qua

lity

crite

ria

NC

C/H

WC

X

6.8

Fost

er o

penn

ess

of re

porti

ng th

roug

h th

e us

e of

in

dica

tors

N

CC

X

6.9

Con

side

r the

pre

para

tion

and

ongo

ing

impl

emen

tatio

n of

th

e st

orm

wat

er m

anag

emen

t pla

n as

an

oppo

rtuni

ty fo

r cl

arifi

catio

n of

resp

onsi

bilit

y, a

ccou

ntab

ility

and

ow

ners

hip

of th

e st

orm

wat

er s

yste

m

NC

C/H

WC

X

6.10

U

tilis

e C

ounc

il’s ro

le a

s an

adv

ocat

e to

iden

tify

oppo

rtuni

ties

and

to re

ques

t fun

ding

in re

spon

se to

new

go

vern

men

t req

uire

men

ts

NC

C

X

6.11

E

ncou

rage

EM

S fo

r lar

ge in

dust

rial a

nd c

omm

erci

al

site

s N

CC

X X

Management (Planning)

6.13

Fo

ster

inte

grat

ion

betw

een

coas

t, es

tuar

y, c

atch

men

t and

flo

odpl

ain

man

agem

ent p

lans

; •

TCM

and

sto

rmw

ater

man

agem

ent a

nd

• In

tera

genc

y co

oper

atio

n

ALL

X

Page 61: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

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Issu

es

# St

rate

gies

R

espo

nsib

ility

Investigation

Planning

Community Education & Consultation

Works/ Implement

Evaluation & Review

6.14

Fa

cilit

ate

TCM

as

an a

ppro

pria

te v

ehic

le to

enh

ance

st

orm

wat

er q

ualit

y by

: •

Fost

erin

g im

plem

enta

tion

of e

xist

ing

TCM

stra

tegi

es

• A

ssis

ting

in u

pdat

ing

the

Thro

sby

Ck

TCM

stra

tegy

Dev

elop

ing

an in

tegr

ated

TC

M s

trate

gy fo

r the

C

otta

ge C

reek

cat

chm

ent

HC

R C

MA

N

CC

D

LWC

H

WC

X

6.15

D

evel

op a

n in

tegr

ated

app

roac

h to

the

man

agem

ent o

f co

asta

l sys

tem

s (in

con

junc

tion

with

the

Coa

st a

nd

Est

uary

Man

agem

ent C

omm

ittee

)

HC

R C

MA

N

CC

D

LWC

H

WC

X

6.16

N

eed

to c

onsi

der r

equi

rem

ent(s

) of o

ther

util

ity p

rovi

ders

in

dra

inag

e co

rrid

or re

deve

lopm

ent

NC

C/H

WC

X

Management (Planning)

6.17

E

nsur

e th

at c

omm

unity

hea

lth a

nd s

afet

y is

sues

are

in

clud

ed in

any

sto

rmw

ater

pla

nnin

g pr

oces

ses

and

wor

ks

ALL

X

X X

X X

Page 62: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

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n 20

04

Issu

es

# St

rate

gies

R

espo

nsib

ility

Investigation

Planning

Community Education & Consultation

Works/ Implement

Evaluation & Review

7.1

Dev

elop

an

inte

grat

ed a

ppro

ach

to c

ontro

lling

st

orm

wat

er q

ualit

y im

pact

of r

oads

, car

par

ks a

nd o

ther

ve

hicu

lar s

urfa

ces

incl

udin

g R

unof

f C

onst

ruct

ion

and

inst

alla

tion

of s

ervi

ces

Re-

Surfa

cing

NC

C/R

TA &

ow

ners

of

larg

e ca

r par

ks

X

X X

X

7.2

Pub

licis

e H

WC

’s c

hem

ical

col

lect

ion

serv

ice

HW

C

X

Grease Oil and Petroleum

(Chemicals)

7.3

Con

duct

risk

ass

essm

ent t

o id

entif

y is

sues

for

man

agem

ent –

eg

capa

bilit

y of

sys

tem

N

CC

/HW

C/ R

TA

X

8.

1 C

ontin

ue c

omm

unity

edu

catio

n re

gard

ing

hous

ehol

d pr

actic

es s

uch

as c

ar w

ashi

ng, p

ets

NC

C/ E

PA

X

8.2

Nee

d to

focu

s nu

trien

t man

agem

ent o

n lo

calit

ies

with

in

the

catc

hmen

ts w

here

nut

rient

s im

pact

on

the

envi

ronm

ent –

eg

high

er u

p in

fres

hwat

er s

yste

ms

NC

C/ H

WC

X

X

8.3

Und

erst

and

and

man

age

the

impa

cts

of s

eptic

tank

s N

CC

/EP

A

X

X

8.

4 In

vest

igat

e im

plem

enta

tion

of n

ew tr

eatm

ents

in o

ther

lo

calit

ies

such

as

smal

ler a

rtific

ial w

etla

nds

X

8.5

Util

ise

inno

vativ

e tre

atm

ents

with

pub

lic a

ppea

l suc

h as

“d

ung

beet

les”

N

CC

/HC

R C

MA

X X

Nutrients

8.6

Ens

ure

runo

ff fro

m N

CC

com

mun

ity la

nds

man

aged

to

min

imis

e se

dim

ent a

nd n

utrie

nts

NC

C

X

X

Page 63: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

57

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Issu

es

# St

rate

gies

R

espo

nsib

ility

Investigation

Planning

Community Education & Consultation

Works/ Implement

Evaluation & Review

8.7

Edu

cate

the

com

mun

ity re

G

reen

was

te

Gra

ss c

lippi

ngs

Nut

rient

s an

d Th

eir i

mpa

ct(s

) on

natu

ral h

abita

ts

NC

C/H

WC

/HC

R C

MA

X

8.8

Inve

stig

ate

the

rela

tions

hip

betw

een

nutri

ents

and

dy

nofla

gella

tes

New

cast

le P

ort C

orpo

ratio

n X

Nutrients

8.9

Pro

mot

e ap

prop

riate

gar

den

spec

ies

NC

C

X

9.1

Dev

elop

an

inte

grat

ed la

ndsc

ape

plan

for t

he C

ity

incl

udin

g:

Pre

ferr

ed s

peci

es fo

r stre

et tr

ees

Edu

catio

n re

gard

ing

dom

estic

land

scap

ing

proc

edur

es

NC

C

X

9.2

Ens

ure

coun

cil w

orke

rs a

nd o

ther

s in

dire

ct c

onta

ct w

ith

the

stor

mw

ater

sys

tem

und

erta

ke p

rope

r pro

cedu

res

NC

C/H

WC

/RTA

X

9.3

Pro

mot

e ap

prop

riate

gar

den

spec

ies

NC

C

X

Organic Matter

9.4

Edu

cate

the

com

mun

ity re

G

reen

was

te

Gra

ss c

lippi

ngs

Env

ironm

enta

l wee

ds

Nut

rient

s an

d Th

eir i

mpa

ct(s

) on

natu

ral h

abita

ts

NC

C/H

CR

CM

A &

com

mun

ity g

roup

s

X

Page 64: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

58

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Issu

es

# St

rate

gies

R

espo

nsib

ility

Investigation

Planning

Community Education & Consultation

Works/ Implement

Evaluation & Review

10.1

U

nder

take

furth

er in

vest

igat

ion

into

the

pres

ence

of

faec

al c

olifo

rms

with

in th

e ca

tchm

ents

(lin

ked

to H

WC

se

wer

sur

char

ge p

rogr

am &

Sho

rtlan

d ef

fluen

t di

scha

rge)

HW

C/N

CC

X

Bacterial and

Viruses

10.2

U

nder

stan

d an

d m

anag

e th

e im

pact

s of

sep

tic ta

nks

NC

C/E

PA

X

X

11

.1

Dev

elop

an

inte

grat

ed a

ppro

ach

to c

ontro

lling

st

orm

wat

er q

ualit

y im

pact

of r

oads

, car

par

ks a

nd o

ther

ve

hicu

lar s

urfa

ces

NC

C/R

TA a

nd o

wne

rs o

f la

rge

car p

arks

X X

X X

11.2

P

ublic

ise

HW

C’s

che

mic

al c

olle

ctio

n se

rvic

e H

WC

X

Heavy Metals 11

.3

Sup

port

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C in

min

imis

ing

the

entry

of c

onta

min

ants

fro

m la

ndus

e ac

tiviti

es in

the

City

, int

o th

e H

arbo

ur

NP

C/N

CC

/HW

C/ H

CR

C

MA

X

Acid Sulphate

Soils

12.1

N

eed

to ta

ke in

to c

onsi

dera

tion

in d

evel

opin

g tre

atm

ent

optio

ns in

low

-lyin

g po

rtion

s of

the

catc

hmen

t D

KWC

/NC

C

X

Page 65: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

59 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Management Framework

The Community

Groups such as Landcare, Bushcare, community and environmental groups, service organisations and professional groups have a keen interest in stormwater and catchment issues, however, all members of the Newcastle community have a role to play in the management of stormwater issues in the City. In some cases this responsibility extends to others within adjoining local council areas that live or work in a catchment that drains to the Newcastle local government area. This responsibility also extends to the adjoining Councils of Lake Macquarie and Maitland that have management roles within Ironbark, Throsby and Greenways Creek catchments and in turn Newcastle Council, which shares a management responsibility for catchments that drain into the Maitland local government area. During the Plan development process Council has had open and productive communication with both Lake Macquarie and Maitland City Councils concerning stormwater information and management approaches. The Stormwater Management Plan needs to recognise these relationships to ensure total catchment management principles are supported. Now across all catchments in the City the Plan supports the role-played by the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (formerly Hunter Catchment Management Trust) in coordinating the activities of stormwater managers through the Newcastle Catchment Management Forum. In Newcastle the principle responsibility for stormwater management lies with Newcastle City Council and the Hunter Water Corporation, while the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority aims to coordinate the catchment activities of government and the community in regard to natural resource management which includes stormwater.

Newcastle City Council

Council, under the provisions of the Local Government Act (1993), has responsibility for the provision of a range of services including the construction and maintenance of road and drainage infrastructure and the management of community lands including drainage reserves, parks and beaches. The Local Government Act also prescribes a management planning framework for councils to ensure a structured and transparent process is provided for annual budgets and works programs. Council levies an annual property rate and obtains other sources of income to fund its activities. It has wide ranging planning functions under provisions of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979) covering strategic planning and development activities within the City. There is also a raft of environmental legislation that guides and enables Council's role in natural resource management and pollution control activities. Overlying these responsibilities councils have a charter under the Local Government Act to have regard to the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (as defined) when exercising its functions. Newcastle City Council has endorsed a vision for the City supported by a set of values shared by the community. The vision and shared values, articulated in Council's Strategic Direction Statement, are used to guide the development of Council's management programs and policies. The Strategic Direction Statement is consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development. Newcastle City Council's Management Plan, the Newcastle Environment Management Plan (2003) and the Urban Water Cycle Management Policy (2004) will be the principal vehicles for implementing the City's Stormwater Management Plan.

Page 66: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

60 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

The Hunter Water Corporation

The Hunter Water Corporation is responsible for over 80 kilometres of stormwater pipes and channels in the Newcastle Local Government Area. These assets are centred in the Cottage and Throsby Creek catchments and the Ironbark Creek sub-catchments of Dark Creek and Wallsend - Plattsburg. Hunter Water's role is to maintain the current capacity of stormwater drains within the constraints of new development, which in turn is the responsibility of Council. This is primarily achieved by maintaining the structural integrity of the channels and by ensuring that maintenance programs are in place to prevent accumulation of gross pollutants, silt and weed growth. Hunter Water levies a drainage charge for all properties within the Hunter Water gazetted stormwater catchments. The Corporation's "Statement of Corporate Intent" also identifies that Hunter Water will pursue the objective of protecting the environment by conducting it's operations in compliance with the principles of Ecological Sustainable Development contained in Section 6(2) of the Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991. The Corporation's Environmental Management Plan identifies that the overriding objective is to cooperate with other organisations and the community to improve urban stormwater catchment management in the Hunter Water Corporation's area of responsibility. This includes working with TCM committees and local councils to support environmental programs. For a number of years, Hunter Water have been discussing the transfer of ownership of stormwater infrastructure with Newcastle City Council, in the belief that such a transfer would place the management of new development and its associated downstream impacts in the hands of one body.

The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority

The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (formerly the Hunter Catchment Management Trust) fulfils its essential role of bringing together government and the community in achieving the objectives of total catchment management. The Trust’s vision was for clean, healthy and productive catchments through ecological and sustainable use and management of our natural resources for the benefit of present and future communities of the Hunter. This was best demonstrated in Newcastle by the Trust's proven record of successfully involving governments and community in Throsby and Ironbark Creek Total Catchment Management Committees, to assess environmental and natural resource issues and developing coordinated catchment management plans for best management and rehabilitation of catchments. The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority will continue to receive a catchment contribution on all rateable properties within the Hunter River catchment in order to assist in the delivery of the Hunter Catchment Blueprint for natural resource management for the region.

Roads and Traffic Authority

The Roads and Traffic Authority as part of its charter is responsible for the management of the operations, maintenance and enhancement of state roads, including the national highways in NSW. It provides funding to local councils to assist in the management of regional roads. This management includes the stormwater infrastructure of the road network. An Environmental Policy was developed in 1997-98 to guide total RTA environmental management initiatives.

Page 67: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

61 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Photo 8: Shows the Pratten Trap floating boom that was installed in June 2000 within the tidal section of the Cottage Creek catchment, at Wharf Road, by Hunter Water Corporation. The boom was designed to trap floating pollutants such as litter- plastic bottles and bags, foam packaging, paper etc and organic matter such as grass clippings, leaf litter etc.

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

Action Plan The Newcastle Stormwater Management Action Plan (see Table 7) details the variety of stormwater activities within the City’s catchments, including the new initiatives generated from the inaugural Newcastle Stormwater Forum, held in February 2000. The Action Plan has been revised and developed to address the priority stormwater issues identified in the Plan and respond to management strategies developed in consultation with the community. The actions contained within the Plan serve as a short to mid term program to address identified priority issues. The actions have been developed in consultation with stormwater managers and community stakeholders. All actions identified are currently resourced and being implemented, or are planned for commencement within the 2000/2001 financial year. Hunter Water Corporation’s Newcastle Implementation Plan is contained in Appendix III. Hunter Water Corporation’s Plan contains a progress report on their actions, including the installation of two floating trash booms within the Throsby Creek catchment and one floating trash boom in the Cottage Creek catchment, as identified in the SMP Action Plan. Hunter Water have also revised and updated their maintenance programs to maximise performance of existing control devices in Throsby Creek catchment, as well as installing a CDS gross pollutant trapping device in Lambton sub-catchment of Throsby Creek. The inaugural Newcastle Stormwater Forum (February 2000) provided the opportunity to review and evaluate issues and strategies, as well as assess the effectiveness of the delivery of the Action Plan against the priority objectives of the Plan. There was also the opportunity to workshop current treatment train approaches and innovative at-source devices. The Forum workshop stimulated great interest and media exposure, generating active community participation in project development, which has resulted in successful funding submissions.

Page 68: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

62 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Cooperative Framework The effective implementation of the Action Plan to manage stormwater in Newcastle will be dependent on the coordination of key stormwater managers in the City. The three key organisations involved in stormwater and catchment management are Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (formerly Hunter Catchment Management Trust). In each of these organisations the method of implementation will reflect corporate structures and processes, for example: • Newcastle City Council would incorporate the SMP into Council's Management Planning

Process and report its implementation in Council's Annual State of the Environment Report • Hunter Water Corporation would incorporate relevant parts of the SMP within their

environmental improvement program • The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority would continue to include

stormwater amongst the issues addressed in coordinating catchment management activities and implementation of TCM strategies.

Figure 5 shows the relationship between the internal planning processes of the stormwater managers within the City and the interactive co-operative decision making framework in which the stormwater managers group operates. Figure 5: Stormwater Management Plan Implementation Strategy

Page 69: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

63 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Implementation Strategy

Coordination and Review

The SMP - Stormwater Managers Coordination Group, representing the key stormwater managers and stakeholders, interact regularly and meet on a bi-monthly basis to review activity associated with the Plan, including site inspections of the catchments. The Stormwater Managers Coordination Group hosts the annual Newcastle Stormwater Forums, where issues such as those listed below are addressed: • review progress; • determine stormwater priorities in the City; • develop stormwater management programs; • coordinate activities/actions; • benchmark stormwater management developments; and • promote and celebrate the waterways of the City. Outcomes would feed back into the revision of the SMP, TCM programs, Coastal & Estuary and other natural resource management programs and Stormwater Managers' corporate planning processes. In addition to the Council’s monthly Stormwater Managers meeting and annual Forum review, Council will be kept informed of the implementation of the SMP through monthly reports from the Stormwater Management Plan Coordinator. Such updates will be used to prepare community newsletter items for distribution as well as publication in Council’s newspaper and newsletters. A report reviewing the SMP will be prepared following the completion of a 3-year time frame, for Council’s consideration.

Reporting Mechanisms

Newcastle City Council’s annual stormwater reporting process will report against the effectiveness of the Plan implementation, for stormwater managers and community, using a variety of vehicles including: • The Annual State of Environment (SOE) Report; • An annual SMP Report produced as a lift-out on the basis of the SOE Report; • Council reports; • Media coverage; • Community newsletter articles; • Stormwater education materials and fact sheets series; • Circulars; and • Public reports on Council’s web-site. Hunter Water Corporation would report their activities through their Annual Environment Report. The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority will report on their involvement in the stormwater management process through their annual reporting mechanisms and promotional materials. More detailed activities of the Newcastle Stormwater Forum and Trust involvement would be put in a report to be considered at their bimonthly meetings. In addition to vehicles such as the SOE reporting and regular community newsletters, it is anticipated that the water quality-monitoring program for the City will be distributed through web-site access, across all of the stormwater management agencies, to facilitate community access.

Page 70: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

64 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Performance Monitoring Mechanisms The stormwater managers of the City are committed to ensuring the implementation of the Plan. This is clearly reflected in the Statement of Commitment signed by the CEO’s and Lord Mayor of the Hunter Water Corporation, the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority and Newcastle City Council respectively. Monitoring of stormwater activities within all the catchments of the City is required to determine baseline conditions, as well as being utilised in assessing the effectiveness of implementing the SMP. The water quality-monitoring program that is identified within the SMP includes two specific areas of monitoring: • the collection of scientific water quality and biological indicator monitoring or quantitative

monitoring; and • observation assessment collected in the field that assesses broad performance criteria or

qualitative monitoring. The collation of data associated with the catchments will also be augmented by performance review monitoring to determine the effectiveness of the SMP implementation strategies, with comparison of actual project outputs compared to targets set. This will be incorporated within the Forum review process, with strategies instigated to realign projects where required.

Quantitative Monitoring

• Water quality and biological monitoring The Issues Report, prepared as a background research paper to inform the community workshop sessions of the SMP development, identified some data existed in respect to water quality in all catchments of the City. The data provided a cursory picture of the pollution loads however it was primarily haphazard, unstandardised and collected for a variety of end purposes, some without rigour in collection, analysis or reporting. Hence, the Action Plan includes a City wide monitoring program that incorporates macro-invertebrate sampling program that has been upgraded to allow for signal scoring of species reflective of Newcastle habitat. This will provide all stormwater managers with a reliable baseline for waterway health measures. In addition water quality data will generated from grab samples taken by a network of volunteers across the City under the Waterwatch banner. All outcomes will be made available to community through “water on the web” and distribution of promotional materials and group newsletters. Sampling collected by automatic samplers over the course of storm events at targeted catchment sites is also envisaged at a later date. The University of Newcastle would undertake the design, development, management and analysis of this higher order water-quality monitoring program. The core parameters will be decided after the results of the broad-scale sampling program are reviewed. Future sampling will be specific to storm events, target specific parameters in order to generate cost-effective monitoring and analysis, that will be reported in a “plain English” manner for community distribution. In addition to the water-quality monitoring program, other parameters monitored through the following programs could be incorporated into the city-wide reporting, including: • Biological indicators such as the Hunter River oyster monitoring program within the estuary; • Newcastle Port Corporation’s harbour dredge spoil monitoring program; • Hunter Water Corporation’s water quality monitoring program for the Estuary; • DIPNR’s water quality monitoring program within Ironbark Creek; and • Council’s ocean baths monitoring program.

Page 71: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

65 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

• Qualitative Monitoring Observational monitoring will be conducted across the catchments of the City by staff as well as trained community members. All projects incorporating at source controls involved an element of community participation in observational monitoring, particularly where street cleansing regimes are involved. It is essential that those closest to the project precinct, in addition to staff, are reporting on the effectiveness of the activities. Proforma report sheets will be prepared where required. In addition an extensive creek assessment program, including photo assay, riparian vegetation condition and biophysical waterway attributes is being delivered through Council’s Land & Water Program, funded through the Newcastle Environment Levy. The observations of staff and community members can be incorporated to view: • litter - quantity, composition and source (if appropriate) • oil/grease surface film • scum &/or foam on surface • odour • algal growth • turbidity or water clarity - visibility • organic matter - garden refuse/leaves/lawn clippings • Riparian zone - vegetation extent, composition – fauna • Creek condition • Aquatic plants and animals eg fish and other invertebrates • erosion - site, extent, remediation works required • sedimentation - site/source

Newcastle Sustainable Community Indicators (2003)

The Newcastle Sustainability Indicators project has identified a series of parameters that reflect the aspects of quality of life in the City where progress needs to be made if we are to be a City with a sustainable future. Such a program would provide the broad context of the role of stormwater systems and catchments/ beaches as important aspects of quality of life in the City, as well as an appropriate distribution point for data collated from the water quality-monitoring program. Indicators are widely used for measuring purposes and are typically designed to show change over time. In developing the Implementation Strategy for the Plan it was considered appropriate to develop a set of "core" indicators that would aid stakeholders to determine the effectiveness of the Plan. In addition to the qualitative and quantitative monitoring discussed, these core indicators for stormwater will require medium to long term monitoring, evaluation and review. The fourth indicator, “the annual Hunter River School Prawn catch” as below, is already incorporated within the Newcastle Sustainability Indicators project. The remainder of the indicators detailed below, will be considered in Phase II of the project: 1. The level of community participation in specified stormwater management activities 2. The depth of sediment accumulation (measured annually in centimetres) in Throsby Creek 3. The amounts of sediment (in tonnes) removed annually from the Throsby Creek system 4. The annual Hunter River School Prawn catch (in kilograms) 5. The extent (measured in metres) of stream bank stabilisation and riparian rehabilitation

completed on an annual basis 6. The trend for key pollutants (through a water quality monitoring program) in selected sites 7. The quantity of litter removed (through key GPT monitoring).

Page 72: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

66 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Cost Benefit Analysis and Risk Assessment In the development of Council’s annual management plans that include the implementation of actions contained within the SMP, a cost benefit analysis needs to be carried out in appropriate circumstances, to prove the effectiveness of actions. The potential for some control options to exacerbate local flooding or contribute negatively to other aspects of the natural environment necessitates that a risk assessment process also be undertaken as part of the design and planning process. There is a need to build on development of appropriate accounting mechanisms for natural/stormwater systems to improve the effectiveness of cost/benefit analysis.

Page 73: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

67

New

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s &

Pre

sent

atio

n (C

SP

) •

Hum

an R

esou

rces

(H

R) -

Trai

ning

LHC

CR

EM

S

NS

W D

epar

tmen

t E

nviro

nmen

t &

Con

serv

atio

n (D

EC

)

NC

C in

-kin

d 20

03 –

ong

oing

E

PA

Stra

tegi

c gr

ant &

LH

CC

REM

S co

ntrib

utio

n

2004

-06

ongo

ing

All

gros

s po

lluta

nts

Ero

sion

S

edim

ent

Hab

itat

Com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

man

agem

ent

mon

itorin

g

res

ourc

e ut

ilisat

ion

5, 6

, 8, 9

, 11,

12

, 13,

15,

16,

17

, 18

02

Con

tinue

to

parti

cipa

te in

act

iviti

es

deve

lope

d th

roug

h H

unte

r Sto

rmw

ater

E

xten

sion

Offi

cer

(SE

O) p

rogr

am

Hun

ter S

EO

has

bee

n de

liver

ing

succ

essf

ul

capa

city

bui

ldin

g op

portu

nitie

s fo

r reg

iona

l C

ounc

il of

ficer

s si

nce

June

200

2. S

EO

’s w

ill

be fu

nded

by

EP

A ti

ll A

ugus

t 200

4.

LHC

CR

EMS

will

also

del

iver

add

ition

al u

rban

w

ater

cyc

le c

apac

ity b

uild

ing

oppo

rtuni

ties

thro

ugh

gran

t fun

ds fo

r reg

iona

l Cou

ncils

in

clud

ing

esta

blis

hmen

t of u

rban

wat

er.in

fo

web

site

.

Hun

ter C

ounc

ils

NC

C:

• D

&E

CS

CS

P

• C

omm

unity

P

artn

ersh

ips

(CP

) •

HR

NC

C in

-kin

d E

PA

gra

nt fu

nds

– LH

CC

REM

S ad

min

iste

red

2004

– fo

r ter

m

of p

rogr

am

• A

ll Is

sue

set

All

obje

ctiv

es

Page 74: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

68

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 03

Im

plem

ent a

n in

tegr

ated

, tar

gete

d U

rban

Wat

er C

ycle

E

duca

tion

Pro

gram

The

New

cast

le E

nviro

nmen

t Man

agem

ent

Pla

n 20

03 id

entif

ies

the

pivo

tal r

ole

play

ed b

y en

viro

nmen

tal e

duca

tion

in th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

sus

tain

able

com

mun

ities

and

in p

artic

ular

th

e ch

ange

man

agem

ent r

equi

red

to e

nsur

e N

ewca

stle

has

a h

ealth

y ur

ban

wat

er c

ycle

. Th

e N

CC

Lan

d &

Wat

er P

rogr

am w

ill d

eliv

er

Cre

eks

Aliv

e pr

ojec

ts ta

rget

ing

reco

nnec

tion

of c

omm

uniti

es to

loca

l cre

eks

– ra

isin

g aw

aren

ess

and

beha

viou

r cha

nge

in ta

rget

ed

area

s of

the

City

in a

ssoc

iatio

n w

ith k

ey

wat

er h

ealth

mon

itorin

g si

tes

durin

g 20

04-

2007

. P

roje

ct p

artn

ers

are

NC

C, H

unte

r W

ater

Cor

pora

tion

and

New

cast

le

Cat

chm

ent M

anag

emen

t For

um (N

CM

F) -

a C

omm

ittee

of t

he H

CR

CM

A.

Dis

play

boa

rd s

yste

ms

and

succ

essf

ul

“sto

rmw

ater

cod

e of

con

duct

” and

“cre

ek/

bush

land

&/o

r wet

land

goo

d ne

ighb

our”

mat

eria

ls id

entif

ying

pos

itive

com

mun

ity

stor

mw

ater

beh

avio

ur c

hang

es c

an b

e us

ed

for:

• ev

ents

as p

art t

he d

ispl

ays

in C

ounc

il co

mm

unity

fa

cilit

ies

“sus

tain

able

sch

ools

” vis

its e

tc.

Add

ition

al fu

ndin

g op

portu

nitie

s/gr

ants

will

be

inve

stig

ated

.

NC

C

• C

S

• C

D

• D

& E

CP

Sum

mer

hill

• C

SP

All

partn

ers

• H

unte

r Wat

er

Cor

pora

tion

(HW

C)

• H

unte

r-Cen

tral

Riv

ers

Cat

chm

ent

Man

agem

ent

Auth

ority

(HC

R C

MA)

NC

C:

Land

& W

ater

P

rogr

am

$10,

000

+ su

ppor

t of

envi

ronm

enta

l ed

ucat

ion

$1

0,00

0 H

WC

S

torm

wat

er

Envi

ronm

ent

Impr

ovem

ent

Pro

gram

(SE

IP)

in-k

ind

Stre

amw

atch

W

ater

wat

ch in

-ki

nd

2004

-200

7

Ong

oing

O

ngoi

ng

Ong

oing

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s •

sedi

men

t •

eros

ion

• ha

bita

t •

com

mun

ity

awar

enes

s/

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

1, 2

, 3, 5

, 6, 7

, 10

, 11,

12,

13,

14

, 17,

18,

19

Page 75: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

69

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 04

S

uppo

rt fo

r /an

d de

velo

pmen

t of

“Car

e gr

oups

” su

ch

as B

ush,

Car

e, C

reek

C

are,

Bea

ch C

are,

D

une

and

Coa

st C

are

Rev

iew

of c

urre

nt C

ounc

ils C

omm

unity

G

reen

ing

Cen

tre (C

GC

) mod

el d

eliv

ery

for

supp

ort s

ervi

ces

for c

omm

unity

gre

enin

g in

tere

st g

roup

s an

d in

divi

dual

s is

bei

ng

unde

rtake

n. T

he re

sults

of t

he re

view

and

be

nchm

arki

ng p

roce

ss w

ill b

e us

ed to

pr

ovid

e ta

rget

ed c

ost-e

ffect

ive

outc

omes

for

New

cast

le g

reen

ing

prog

ram

del

iver

y.

Build

on

curre

nt re

sour

ce, t

rain

ing

and

grou

p de

liver

y ca

paci

ty o

f the

CG

C.

Th

is a

ctiv

ity b

ase

will

del

iver

New

cast

le

Env

ironm

ent M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

03 (N

EM

P

2003

) ini

tiativ

es &

impr

ove

Cou

ncils

abi

lity

to

resp

ond

to e

mer

ging

nat

ural

reso

urce

m

anag

emen

t im

post

s fo

r loc

al g

over

nmen

t.

NC

C:

• C

SP

Oth

er o

pera

tiona

l an

d pl

anni

ng

func

tions

H

WC

H

RO

C

HC

CR

EM

S

HC

RC

MA

NC

C $

13,0

00

cash

& in

-kin

d

2004

- o

ngoi

ng

• gr

oss

pollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

• se

dim

ent

• co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

1, 2

, 3, 4

, 5, 6

, 7,

9, 1

0, 1

1, 1

2,

13, 1

6

Page 76: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

70

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 05

P

rovi

de in

terp

reta

tive

sign

age

as p

art o

f C

ounc

ils U

rban

Wat

er

Cyc

le p

rogr

am

deliv

ery.

Cou

ncil

will

con

tinue

to e

xpan

d th

e su

ite o

f in

terp

reta

tive

envi

ronm

enta

l sig

nage

that

in

clud

es K

otar

a ba

ffle

box,

War

abro

ok, C

GC

&

Nob

bys

proj

ect s

ites.

Sig

nage

is p

lann

ed

for L

ambt

on K

er-ra

i, G

rego

ry P

arad

e P

ark

- K

otar

a R

oof t

o C

reek

Pro

ject

, Kul

laib

ah

Res

erve

reha

bilit

atio

n an

d B

lack

butt

Res

erve

. H

WC

will

ere

ct c

omm

unity

in

terp

reta

tive/

awar

enes

s an

d sa

fety

sig

ns

with

in th

e ch

anne

ls in

con

sulta

tion

with

City

st

orm

wat

er m

anag

ers.

Th

e pr

oces

s of

“cre

ek n

amin

g” &

ass

ocia

ted

sign

age

will

con

tinue

acr

oss

the

City

as

part

of th

e C

reek

s A

live

proj

ect d

eliv

ery

(see

23

.7).

NC

C

Task

For

ce

• C

S

• C

SP

CP

H

WC

H

CR

CM

A /N

CM

F R

TA

NC

C in

-kin

d an

d gr

ants

fund

s /s

pons

orsh

ip

whe

re a

vaila

ble

$800

0 ca

sh

(HW

C/C

MA

)

2004

-05

ongo

ing

2004

-05

ongo

ing

• A

ll Is

sue

set

• In

dige

nous

re

cogn

ition

6. 8

, 9,1

2, 1

3,

14, 1

7

06

Impl

emen

t Hun

ter

Cat

chm

ent B

luep

rint

Act

ion

Pla

n as

ap

prop

riate

The

Hun

ter C

atch

men

t Blu

eprin

t hig

hlig

hts

the

need

for u

rban

sto

rmw

ater

impa

ct

amel

iora

tion

with

in th

e H

unte

r cat

chm

ent a

s a

prio

rity

issu

e. C

ounc

il w

ill b

e se

ekin

g ex

tern

al fu

ndin

g op

portu

nitie

s as

they

aris

e to

ens

ure

the

sust

aina

ble

man

agem

ent o

f N

ewca

stle

’s c

atch

men

ts.

NC

C

• Ta

sk F

orce

H

WC

H

CR

CM

A /N

CM

F R

elev

ant s

tate

and

fe

dera

l age

ncie

s

NC

C in

-kin

d P

roje

ct p

artn

ers

Ong

oing

All

Issu

e se

t

1, 2

, 3, 4

, 5, 6

, 7,

9, 1

0, 1

1, 1

2,

13, 1

6

Page 77: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

71

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 07

C

ontin

ue to

mon

itor,

eval

uate

, ref

ine

and

impl

emen

t the

urb

an

wat

er re

late

d ac

tivity

lis

t con

tain

ed w

ithin

th

e N

ewca

stle

En

viro

nmen

t M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

03 (N

EM

P).

Cou

ncil’s

Wat

er T

ask

Forc

e w

ill co

ntin

ue to

pr

ovid

e m

anag

emen

t rep

rese

ntat

ion

to th

e N

EM

P A

ctio

n M

anag

ers

grou

p an

d th

roug

h th

e im

plem

enta

tion

of th

e W

ater

Tas

k Fo

rce

wor

k pl

an, d

rive

the

prog

ress

of t

he N

EM

P

2003

wat

er th

eme

obje

ctiv

es.

The

NEM

P 20

03 id

entif

ied

as a

prio

rity

the

need

to:

• de

velo

p, a

dopt

& im

plem

ent a

n U

WC

M

Polic

y an

d as

soci

ated

regu

latio

n fra

mew

ork

for N

ewca

stle

deve

lop

the

asse

ssm

ent t

ools

to e

nabl

e m

ore

effe

ctiv

e de

liver

y of

UW

CM

mea

sure

w

ithin

the

City

prov

ide

train

ing

& le

arni

ng e

nviro

nmen

t ne

cess

ary

for c

hang

e m

anag

emen

t pr

actic

es

• de

velo

p co

mm

unity

ste

war

dshi

p an

d ow

ners

hip

of p

rogr

am o

utco

mes

thro

ugh

effe

ctiv

e en

viro

nmen

tal e

duca

tion

inte

rven

tions

.

NC

C:

• Ta

sk F

orce

NE

MP

-E

nviro

nmen

tal

Man

ager

s Te

am

Cou

ncil

staf

f: •

CS

D&

E

• C

SP

CD

D

EC

DIP

NR

LH

CC

REM

S H

unte

r SE

O

NC

C in

-kin

d La

nd &

Wat

er

Pro

gram

Ong

oing

All

Issu

e se

t •

Indi

geno

us

reco

gniti

on

1, 2

, 3, 4

, 5, 6

, 7,

8, 9

, 10,

11,

12

, 13,

15,

16,

17

Page 78: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

72

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 08

D

evel

op a

nd

impl

emen

t New

cast

le

Urb

an W

ater

Cyc

le

Man

agem

ent

(UW

CM

) Pol

icy

pack

age

for

stor

mw

ater

, wat

er

effic

ienc

y &

flood

ing

as id

entif

ied

in th

e N

EM

P 2

003

Wat

er

them

e an

d pr

ogre

ss

futu

re n

atur

al a

sset

po

licy

initi

ativ

es.

The

NEM

P 20

03 id

entif

ied

as a

prio

rity

the

need

to d

evel

op, a

dopt

& im

plem

ent a

n U

WC

M P

olic

y an

d as

soci

ated

regu

latio

n fra

mew

ork

for N

ewca

stle

. In

Mar

ch 2

004

Cou

ncil

endo

rsed

the

UW

CM

P

olic

y pa

ckag

e th

at in

clud

es:

• A

sust

aina

ble

UW

CM

pol

icy

for N

ewca

stle

Floo

d Po

licy

& as

soci

ated

Dev

elop

men

t C

ontro

l Pla

n (D

CP)

55

• S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Sto

rmw

ater

& W

ater

Effi

cien

cy D

CP

50

(con

tain

ing

eros

ion

& s

edim

ent p

reve

ntio

n gu

ide)

was

end

orse

d in

Sep

tem

ber 2

004.

Fu

ture

pol

icy

wor

k ha

s be

en id

entif

ied

unde

r a

natu

ral r

esou

rces

man

agem

ent u

mbr

ella

&

inco

rpor

ates

env

ironm

enta

l flo

ws,

gro

und

wat

er, w

aste

wat

er re

use,

nat

ural

cr

eek/

ripar

ian

zone

pro

tect

ion,

gro

undw

ater

an

d na

tura

l cha

nnel

des

ign/

mai

nten

ance

gu

idel

ines

(see

Cre

eks

Aliv

e).

• A

s pa

rt of

this

pro

cess

opt

ions

for p

rogr

ess

in n

atur

al re

sour

ce m

anag

emen

t will

re

quire

thei

r inc

orpo

ratio

n w

ithin

the

revi

ew

of th

e N

ewca

stle

Loc

al E

nviro

nmen

t Pla

n 20

03 (L

EP) a

nd d

evel

opm

ent o

f the

N

ewca

stle

Con

solid

ated

DC

P.

NC

C:

Sto

rmw

ater

Tas

k Fo

rce

CS

D&

E

• C

SP

(Par

ks)

Com

mun

ity

Indu

stry

par

tner

s N

SW

Dep

t. In

frast

ruct

ure

Pla

nnin

g &

Nat

ural

Res

ourc

es

(DIP

NR

) N

SW

DE

C

HC

R C

MA

NC

C

in-k

ind

Mar

ch 2

004

- on

goin

g •

all p

ollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t •

mon

itorin

g

• re

sour

ce

utilis

atio

n

4, 5

, 11,

15,

16,

17

Page 79: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

73

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 09

D

evel

op a

sub

-di

visi

on c

ode

that

re

flect

s U

WC

M p

olic

y co

ntex

t whe

re U

WC

M

obje

ctiv

es a

re

inco

rpor

ated

into

su

bdiv

isio

n de

sign

an

d de

liver

y.

The

prin

cipl

es a

nd o

bjec

tives

of t

he

New

cast

le U

WC

M P

olic

y pa

ckag

e w

ill b

e in

corp

orat

ed in

New

cast

le’s

sub

divi

sion

cod

e to

ens

ure

that

the

desi

gn a

nd th

e pe

rform

ance

obj

ectiv

es fo

r sub

divi

sion

de

velo

pmen

t del

iver

sus

tain

able

out

com

es

for t

he C

ity. T

his

is in

clud

ed in

the

wor

k pl

an

for C

ounc

il’s W

ater

Tas

k Fo

rce.

NC

C:

Task

For

ce

• D

&E

CS

P

• C

S

Indu

stry

- M

BA

/HIA

etc

C

omm

unity

H

WC

H

CR

CM

A

DIP

NR

D

EC

Oth

er re

leva

nt

agen

cies

& re

gion

al

partn

ers

NC

C in

-kin

d 20

04 d

evel

op fo

r ex

hibi

tion

Ong

oing

im

plem

enta

tion

• al

l pol

luta

nts

• er

osio

n

• se

dim

ent

• ha

bita

t

• co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

4, 5

, 6, 7

, 8, 1

1,

15, 1

6, 1

7, 1

9

10

Inve

stig

ate

the

role

of

the

Urb

an F

ores

t as

a na

tura

l res

ourc

e m

anag

emen

t too

l in

addr

essi

ng U

WC

M

issu

es fo

r the

City

.

Con

duct

an

orga

nisa

tiona

l rev

iew

of t

ree

man

agem

ent i

n th

e C

ity w

ith a

vie

w to

de

velo

p an

Urb

an F

ores

t pol

icy

and

prog

ram

to

del

iver

sto

rmw

ater

qua

lity

and

quan

tity

impr

ovem

ents

as

one

of th

e m

ulti-

obje

ctiv

e ou

tcom

es.

NC

C

• Ta

sk F

orce

D&

E

• C

SP

CS

HW

C

HC

R C

MA

/NC

MF

Par

tner

s

NC

C in

-kin

d P

roje

ct p

artn

ers

2004

-ong

oing

all p

ollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

• co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

4, 5

, 6, 7

, 8, 1

1,

15, 1

6, 1

7, 1

9

Page 80: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

74

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 11

C

ontin

ue C

ounc

il co

mm

itmen

t &

parti

cipa

tion

in th

e

New

cast

le C

atch

men

t M

anag

emen

t For

um

(NC

MF)

The

NC

MF

has

supe

rced

ed th

e to

tal

catc

hmen

t man

agem

ent p

roce

sses

pr

evio

usly

co-

ordi

nate

d th

roug

h th

e H

CR

C

MA

(fo

rmer

HC

MT)

for I

ronb

ark

and

Thro

sby

Cre

eks.

Cou

ncil

will

con

tinue

its

com

mitm

ent a

nd p

artic

ipat

ion

as a

mem

ber

of th

e N

ewca

stle

Cat

chm

ent M

anag

emen

t Fo

rum

(N

CM

F). T

he c

onsi

dera

tion

of

New

cast

le’s

cat

chm

ents

now

ext

ends

to

incl

ude

Gre

enw

ays

and

Purg

ator

y C

reek

sy

stem

s as

wel

l as

Cot

tage

Cre

ek.

Spe

cific

ca

tchm

ent a

ctio

ns a

re ta

bled

bel

ow.

NC

C:

Task

For

ce

• C

S

• H

WC

HC

R C

MA

NC

C in

-kin

d P

roje

ct p

artn

ers

Ong

oing

all p

ollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t •

mon

itorin

g

• re

sour

ce

utilis

atio

n

2, 3

, 4, 5

, 6, 7

, 8,

9, 1

0, 1

1, 1

2,

13, 1

4, 1

5, 1

6,

17, 1

8, 1

9, 2

0

12

Dev

elop

sha

red

Cou

ncil

and

Hun

ter

Wat

er C

orpo

ratio

n st

orm

wat

er

man

agem

ent

stan

dard

s fo

r new

an

d re

deve

lopm

ent.

Cou

ncil

will

wor

k in

col

labo

ratio

n w

ith H

WC

to

dev

elop

sha

red

orga

nisa

tiona

l sta

ndar

ds/

guid

elin

es fo

r sto

rmw

ater

man

agem

ent f

or

new

and

re-d

evel

opm

ent s

ites

usin

g th

e U

WC

M p

olic

y an

d D

CP

50 –

Sto

rmw

ater

an

d W

ater

Effi

cien

cy to

gui

de p

roce

ss.

NC

C:

Task

For

ce

• C

S

• D

& E

HW

C

NC

C in

-kin

d

2004

and

on

goin

g •

all p

ollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

com

mun

ity

• in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

2, 3

, 4, 5

, 6, 7

, 8,

9, 1

0, 1

1, 1

2,

13, 1

4, 1

5, 1

6,

17, 1

8, 1

9, 2

0

Page 81: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

75

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 13

N

ewca

stle

E

nviro

nmen

t Lev

y E

rosi

on &

Sed

imen

t (E

&S

) Pre

vent

ion

Pro

gram

Ero

sion

and

Sed

imen

t (E

&S) P

reve

ntio

n is

id

entif

ied

as a

prio

rity

issu

e of

con

cern

by

Cou

ncils

Wat

er T

ask

Forc

e (2

002)

. Thi

s is

als

o su

ppor

ted

by th

e ou

tcom

es o

f the

tota

l ca

tchm

ent m

anag

emen

t stra

tegy

revi

ews

com

plet

ed in

200

2 fo

r Iro

nbar

k &

Thr

osby

C

reek

s. A

s pa

rt of

the

New

cast

le E

nviro

nmen

t Le

vy 5

yea

r ero

sion

and

sed

imen

t pre

vent

ion

prog

ram

Cou

ncil

will

: •

Site

sel

ectio

n by

pat

rol,

D.A

lodg

emen

ts

and

issu

ing

of c

onst

ruct

ion

certi

ficat

es.

• R

egul

ar s

ite in

spec

tions

ove

r the

life

of

the

cons

truct

ion

site

. •

Ass

essm

ent o

f the

sta

tus

of th

e se

dim

ent

cont

rols

and

ove

rall

envi

ronm

enta

l pe

rform

ance

of t

he s

ite.

• S

peci

fic s

ite e

duca

tion

cove

ring

both

the

tech

nica

l ins

talla

tion

of s

edim

ent c

ontro

ls

and

grea

ter e

nviro

nmen

tal a

war

enes

s.

Enf

orce

men

t act

ion

incl

udin

g w

arni

ngs

and

dire

ctio

ns fo

r cor

rect

ive

actio

n an

d fo

rmal

act

ion

unde

r the

PO

EO A

ct n

amel

y cl

ean

up n

otic

es,

prev

entio

n no

tices

, com

plia

nce

cost

not

ices

and

pe

nalty

infri

ngem

ent n

otic

es.

HW

C a

lso

prov

ide

E&S

trai

ning

for f

ield

sta

ff fo

r w

ater

& s

ewer

mai

nten

ance

. Opp

ortu

nitie

s fo

r de

liver

ing

join

t pro

gram

s to

pro

vide

eco

nom

ies

of s

cale

and

pol

icy

inte

grat

ion

will

be

inve

stig

ated

.

NC

C:

• D

&E

City

Stra

tegy

CP

Task

For

ce

Reg

iona

l LG

par

tner

s M

BA

In

dust

ry

• H

WC

NC

C:

$60,

000

pa

Com

plia

nce

prog

ram

&

enfo

rcem

ent

reve

nue

gene

rate

d $2

0,00

0 La

nd &

W

ater

Pro

gram

In

-kin

d

2003

– 2

007

ongo

ing

• co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

• er

osio

n •

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

4, 5

, 6, 7

, 8, 1

1,

15, 1

7, 1

9

Page 82: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

76

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 14

R

efin

e an

d im

prov

e N

CC

Ope

ratio

ns-

Sto

rmw

ater

Cou

ncil’s

Sto

rmw

ater

Tas

k Fo

rce

has

com

plet

ed a

n au

dit p

roce

ss fo

r all

Cou

ncils

fu

nctio

nal a

reas

in re

latio

n to

sto

rmw

ater

ac

tiviti

es th

at in

clud

es fo

r exa

mpl

e pa

rks

&

gard

ens,

stre

et c

lean

sing

, roa

d m

aint

enan

ce,

pit &

dra

in c

lean

sing

& fl

eet m

anag

emen

t, ed

ucat

ion,

com

pani

on a

nim

al p

rogr

am, D

A

proc

esse

s et

c. T

he T

ask

Forc

e id

entif

ied

E

&S

pre

vent

ion

as th

e pr

iorit

y ar

eas

for

focu

sed

atte

ntio

n an

d de

velo

ped

a th

ree-

year

prio

rity

wor

k pr

ogra

m to

add

ress

this

an

d ot

her i

ssue

s. T

he T

ask

Forc

e w

ork

plan

al

so in

clud

es C

ounc

il’s

capa

city

bui

ldin

g in

itiat

ives

aim

ed a

t gen

erat

ing

mor

e su

stai

nabl

e op

en s

pace

mai

nten

ance

pr

actic

es u

nder

the

“Sus

tain

able

Par

ks

Mai

nten

ance

Pro

gram

”. T

he S

enio

r M

anag

emen

t Tea

m h

as e

ndor

sed

the

Task

Fo

rce

wor

k pl

an fo

r im

plem

enta

tion.

NC

C

• C

SP

D

esig

n Pa

rks

and

Rec

reat

ion

Con

stru

ctio

n M

aint

ain

EM

S

• C

S

• D

&E

• H

WC

LH

CC

REM

S

NC

C in

-kin

d in

-kin

d in

-kin

d

2003

-06

ongo

ing

• al

l pol

luta

nts

• er

osio

n

• se

dim

ent

• ha

bita

t •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

1, 2

, 4, 5

, 6, 8

, 10

, 11,

14,

15,

18

15

At S

ourc

e gr

oss

pollu

tant

con

trol

prog

ram

for

com

mer

cial

are

as,

high

risk

car

par

ks

faci

litie

s an

d ot

her

“hot

spot

s” s

ourc

es

acro

ss N

ewca

stle

ca

tchm

ents

.

The

inst

alla

tion

of k

erb

prot

ecto

rs, p

it in

sert

and

stre

et c

lean

sing

regi

mes

in n

eigh

bour

hood

re

tail

prec

inct

s du

ring

2001

-200

3 ha

s pr

oduc

ed

cost

-effe

ctiv

e op

tions

for i

mpr

ovin

g st

orm

wat

er

qual

ity. T

he in

vest

igat

ion

of a

ltern

ativ

e, a

s w

ell

as m

odify

ing

curre

nt, d

esig

ns fo

r ret

rofit

ting

appr

opria

te s

ites

will

con

tinue

to b

e im

plem

ente

d ac

ross

the

City

. A

stru

ctur

al re

fit o

f pit

with

in W

arat

ah V

illage

sh

oppi

ng p

reci

nct,

in th

e W

arat

ah s

ub-

catc

hmen

t of T

hros

by C

reek

, will

be

unde

rtake

n in

200

4 as

par

t of t

he “S

treet

s to

Cre

eks”

in

itiat

ives

.

NC

C: T

ask

Forc

e •

D&

E

• C

ity S

trate

gy

• C

SP

CP

H

WC

H

CR

CM

A

Bus

ines

s/ c

omm

unity

gr

oups

NC

C in

-kin

d &

$10,

000

(HC

R

CM

A) i

n as

soci

atio

n w

ith

partn

ersh

ip

prog

ram

s

2003

-07

mon

itorin

g on

goin

g

• er

osio

n •

sedi

men

t •

gros

s po

lluta

nts

• hy

droc

arbo

ns

• he

avy

met

als

• co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

12, 1

6, 1

7, 1

8,

19

Page 83: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

77

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 16

C

ontin

ue th

e im

plem

enta

tion

of th

e S

usta

inab

le P

arks

M

aint

enan

ce p

rogr

am

acro

ss N

ewca

stle

’s

catc

hmen

ts

Cou

ncil

has

succ

essf

ully

del

iver

ed a

cap

acity

bu

ildin

g pr

ogra

m fo

r ope

ratio

nal s

taff

in

rela

tion

to a

ltern

ativ

e la

ndsc

apin

g m

etho

dolo

gies

that

inco

rpor

ate

impr

oved

bi

odiv

ersi

ty, m

aint

enan

ce a

nd w

ater

re

sour

ce u

se th

roug

h op

en s

pace

la

ndsc

apin

g pr

ojec

ts d

esig

ned

and

deliv

ered

in

mul

tidis

cipl

inar

y te

ams.

Ext

endi

ng th

e re

ach

of th

e pr

ogra

m a

cros

s th

e C

ities

wor

k cr

ews

and

loca

lity

type

s w

ill c

ontin

ue.

NC

C:

• C

SP

man

ager

s/ c

o-or

dina

tors

from

D&

E,

CS

, CD

NC

C in

-kin

d &

cas

h fo

r pl

antin

g

2003

- on

goin

g •

com

mun

ity

awar

enes

s/

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t •

all p

ollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

4, 5

, 6, 7

, 8, 1

1,

15, 1

7, 1

9

17

Con

tinue

to

impl

emen

t a B

usin

ess

Pollu

tion

Prev

entio

n P

rogr

am fo

r hig

h-ris

k co

mm

erci

al p

rem

ises

an

d re

crea

tiona

l fa

cilit

ies

\ lan

duse

s ac

ross

all

New

cast

le’s

ca

tchm

ents

Cou

ncil

has

deve

lope

d a

Busi

ness

Pol

lutio

n P

reve

ntio

n P

rogr

am (B

PP

P) b

ased

on

the

succ

essf

ul W

arab

rook

Wet

land

s P

roje

ct

outc

omes

. BP

PP

wor

k pl

ans

and

mat

eria

ls

have

bee

n pr

oduc

ed. T

he B

PPP

is n

ow

bein

g im

plem

ente

d in

oth

er p

ollu

tion

hot s

pot

area

s. T

o da

te b

oth

Wic

kham

and

Mar

ylan

d In

dust

rial a

reas

hav

e be

en a

udite

d. O

ver 1

00

audi

ts h

ave

been

com

plet

ed in

this

pro

gram

to

dat

e.

NC

C:

• D

&E

CP

NC

C in

-kin

d

2003

- on

goin

g •

all g

ross

po

lluta

nts

• se

dim

ent

• co

mm

unity

/ in

dust

ry

awar

enes

s/

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

5, 6

, 7,1

1, 1

2,

13, 1

4, 1

5, 1

8

Page 84: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

78

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 18

C

ontin

ue to

refin

e a

com

preh

ensi

ve

Sto

rmw

ater

Ass

et

regi

ster

for a

ll ca

tchm

ents

and

de

velo

p na

tura

l as

sets

regi

ster

as

para

llel p

roce

ss

On-

grou

nd d

efin

ition

incl

udin

g m

aint

enan

ce

sche

dule

s an

d m

onito

ring

outc

omes

, for

all

exis

ting

and

new

sto

rmw

ater

trea

tmen

t de

vice

s &

infra

stru

ctur

e, a

cros

s al

l ca

tchm

ents

, nee

d to

be

inco

rpor

ated

(in

case

of

new

infra

stru

ctur

e) a

nd m

aint

aine

d in

C

ounc

ils d

atab

ase.

Dra

inag

e co

nditi

on

repo

rts n

eed

to b

e pr

oduc

ed.

Nat

ural

ass

ets

in th

e fo

rm o

f urb

an c

reek

s &

rip

aria

n zo

nes

need

to b

e in

corp

orat

ed w

ithin

co

mpa

tible

map

ping

pro

gram

s an

d da

taba

se

deve

lope

d to

faci

litat

e th

e ap

prop

riate

pr

iorit

isat

ion

proc

esse

s fo

r cap

ital w

orks

pr

ojec

ts w

ithin

the

natu

ral s

yste

m.

NC

C:

• Ta

sk F

orce

CS

CS

P

NC

C in

-kin

d

Ong

oing

20

04-0

6

• co

mm

unity

aw

aren

ess/

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

• al

l pol

luta

nts

• er

osio

n

• se

dim

ent

• ha

bita

t

5, 8

, 11,

12,

14,

15

, 16,

17,

18,

19

Con

tinue

im

plem

enta

tion

of

drai

nage

m

anag

emen

t sys

tem

Use

of c

lose

circ

uit T

V to

iden

tify

prob

lem

ar

eas

and

targ

et s

torm

wat

er h

otsp

ots.

D

atab

ase

need

s to

be

avai

labl

e in

ord

er to

en

sure

opp

ortu

nitie

s fo

r sto

rmw

ater

qua

lity

impr

ovem

ents

can

be

max

imis

ed fo

r all

new

w

orks

.

NC

C:

• C

SP

CS

, ass

et

man

agem

ent

$77,

000

pa

Ong

oing

O

ngoi

ng

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s •

sedi

men

t •

heav

y m

etal

s •

man

agem

ent

8, 5

, 14,

15,

16

, 17,

18

Page 85: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

79

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 20

C

ontin

ued

mon

itorin

g an

d re

view

of t

he

stre

et c

lean

sing

pr

ogra

m a

cros

s al

l ca

tchm

ents

• C

lean

sing

Pro

gram

cov

ers

all c

atch

men

ts

com

mer

cial

/indu

stria

l lar

ge a

nd lo

cal

cent

res

– in

clud

es ro

ad &

foot

path

sw

eepi

ng a

nd p

it m

aint

enan

ce

• S

treet

cle

ansi

ng in

Cha

rlest

own

com

mer

cial

are

a at

hea

dwat

ers

Thro

sby

Cre

ek

• R

evie

w o

f ser

vice

leve

l and

man

agem

ent

prog

ram

inco

rpor

atin

g pr

oduc

t ben

chm

ark

asse

ssm

ent

• R

evie

w o

f gro

ss p

ollu

tant

s (&

ass

ocia

ted

sedi

men

t /he

avy

met

als)

col

lect

ed to

en

sure

“hot

spo

ts” i

dent

ified

in S

MP

are

ta

rget

ed.

NC

C:

• Ta

sk F

orce

CS

P

Lake

Mac

CC

&

New

cast

le C

atch

men

t M

anag

emen

t For

um

(NC

MF)

N

CC

: •

CS

P

• Ta

sk F

orce

N

CC

: •

CS

P

• C

S

• Ta

sk F

orce

NC

C :

$1.1

m

illion

pa

In-k

ind

In-k

ind

In-k

ind

ongo

ing

ongo

ing

2002

ong

oing

O

ngoi

ng

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s •

sedi

men

t •

heav

y m

etal

s •

com

mun

ity

awar

enes

s/

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

5, 6

, 7,

8, 1

0,

12, 1

3, 1

6, 1

7,

18

21

Impl

emen

tatio

n of

the

New

cast

le

Com

pani

on A

nim

als

Man

agem

ent P

lan

Cou

ncil

will

con

tinue

to id

entif

y an

d im

plem

ent n

ew “l

eash

free

” and

“dog

agi

lity”

ar

eas

acro

ss th

e C

ity. M

aint

enan

ce o

f the

ex

istin

g 15

faci

litie

s, re

spon

sibl

e pe

t ow

ners

hip

educ

atio

n op

portu

nitie

s an

d en

forc

emen

t pro

gram

s w

ill c

ontin

ue.

NC

C:

• D

& E

CS

P

NC

C

$20,

000

pa

Ong

oing

Nut

rient

s

• Pa

thog

ens

• C

omm

unity

aw

aren

ess/

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

7, 9

, 10,

12,

13,

Page 86: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

80

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 22

C

oord

inat

e an

d co

nduc

t an

annu

al

New

cast

le

Sto

rmw

ater

For

um

The

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er F

orum

s ha

ve

been

ver

y su

cces

sful

in e

ngag

ing

and

conn

ectin

g st

orm

wat

er m

anag

ers

and

the

com

mun

ity a

cros

s th

e C

ity a

s w

ell a

s re

gion

ally

. The

For

ums

will

con

tinue

to

prov

ide

the

oppo

rtuni

ty to

revi

ew p

rogr

ess

of

SM

P, r

epor

t acc

ordi

ngly

and

inve

stig

ate

optio

ns in

cha

nge

man

agem

ent.

NC

C:

• Ta

sk F

orce

CS

H

WC

R

TA

Lake

Mac

CC

& o

ther

H

unte

r Cou

ncil

partn

ers

HC

R C

MA

/NC

MF

NPC

C

omm

unity

NC

Cin

-kin

d $1

,000

Ann

ually

- on

goin

g

• co

mm

unity

aw

aren

ess/

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

5, 6

, 11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

23

The

RTA

with

as

sist

ance

from

C

ounc

il w

ill fo

rmul

ate

a st

orm

wat

er a

ctio

n pl

an

Hig

h-ris

k ar

eas

have

bee

n id

entif

ied.

RTA

ne

ed to

be

enga

ged

in a

co-

oper

ativ

e pr

ogra

m th

at w

ill de

tail

wor

ks d

esig

n an

d pr

iorit

ise

actio

ns.

Fund

ing

oppo

rtuni

ties

will

be

inve

stig

ated

.

NC

C

• Ta

sk F

orce

CS

– a

sset

s R

TA

NC

C in

-kin

d 20

04

• gr

oss

pollu

tant

s •

man

agem

ent

• oi

ls/g

reas

e •

sedi

men

t •

heav

y m

etal

s

2, 4

, 5, 6

, 7, 1

1,

13, 1

4, 1

5, 1

6,

18, 1

8

24

Del

iver

Cre

eks

Aliv

e P

rogr

am a

cros

s N

ewca

stle

’s

catc

hmen

ts

Pro

gram

incl

udes

: •

Cre

ek /R

ipar

ian

Zone

pol

icy

fram

ewor

k an

d te

chni

cal d

esig

n /m

aint

enan

ce m

anua

ls &

gu

idel

ines

Cre

ek a

sses

smen

t pro

cess

for a

ll N

ewca

stle

’s c

reek

sys

tem

s an

d w

orks

pr

ogra

m p

riorit

isat

ion

proc

ess

• C

reek

mon

itorin

g –

incl

udin

g w

ater

bug

and

w

ater

qua

lity

para

met

ers

• C

reek

map

ping

on

GIS

& d

atab

ase

• C

reek

car

e gr

oups

dev

elop

ed a

nd re

sour

ced

acro

ss a

ll ca

tchm

ents

Cre

ek n

amin

g pr

oces

s ac

ross

the

City

Com

mun

ity s

uppo

rt pr

ovid

ed fo

r wor

ks a

nd

reha

bilit

atio

n

DIP

NR

N

CC

: •

Task

For

ce

• D

&E

CS

CS

P

• C

P

• H

R

NC

C

Envi

ronm

ent

Levy

$1

00,0

00 p

a La

nd &

Wat

er

Pro

gram

ove

r ne

xt th

ree

year

s

6/03

– 6

/07

Ong

oing

all g

ross

po

lluta

nts

• se

dim

ent

• he

avy

met

als

• co

mm

unity

awar

enes

s/

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

5, 6

, 11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

Page 87: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

81

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 25

.1

Cre

eks

Aliv

e pr

ogra

m

elem

ents

incl

ude:

Dev

elop

nat

ural

ch

anne

l des

ign

guid

elin

es a

nd

mai

nten

ance

m

anua

l doc

umen

ts

for N

ewca

stle

ca

tchm

ents

.

Cha

nge

mai

nten

ance

pra

ctic

es in

exi

stin

g na

tura

l cre

ek a

sset

s an

d de

sign

of d

rain

age

wor

ks th

at re

flect

nat

ural

cha

nnel

des

ign

wou

ld s

igni

fican

tly im

prov

e th

e en

viro

nmen

tal p

erfo

rman

ce a

nd a

esth

etic

s of

th

e C

ity’s

wat

er w

ay n

etw

ork.

The

pr

epar

atio

n of

nat

ural

cha

nnel

des

ign

guid

elin

es a

nd m

aint

enan

ce m

anua

l will

be

a va

luab

le to

ol in

Cou

ncils

infra

stru

ctur

e de

sign

, ass

ets

and

oper

atio

nal a

reas

. It w

ill as

sist

in g

uidi

ng th

e de

velo

pmen

t of t

he

New

cast

le C

onso

lidat

ed D

CP

and

revi

ew o

f st

rate

gies

and

act

ions

thro

ugh

to s

ervi

ce

leve

l del

iver

y fo

r ope

ratio

nal a

reas

.

NC

C:

• Ta

sk F

orce

CS

CS

P

• D

& E

D

epar

tmen

t of

Env

ironm

ent &

C

onse

rvat

ion

(DE

C)

DIP

NR

NC

C E

Lev

y

in-k

ind

2003

-05

ongo

ing

• C

omm

unity

aw

aren

ess

• m

anag

emen

t •

habi

tat

• er

osio

n

• se

dim

ent

5, 8

, 11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

,

25.2

C

reek

s Al

ive

prog

ram

el

emen

ts in

clud

e:

• D

evel

op p

olic

y fra

mew

ork

for

envi

ronm

ent /

na

tura

l ass

ets

man

agem

ent

(cre

ek li

nes)

as

per

UW

CM

pol

icy

As id

entif

ied

in th

e Su

stai

nabl

e U

rban

Wat

er

Cyc

le P

olic

y fo

r New

cast

le 2

004,

a p

olic

y fra

mew

ork

for t

he p

rote

ctio

n an

d m

anag

emen

t of t

he c

ity’s

nat

ural

ass

et b

ase

is re

quire

d. I

ncor

pora

te n

atur

al a

sset

s m

anag

emen

t pra

ctic

es a

nd ri

paria

n zo

ne

man

agem

ent r

equi

rem

ents

and

ext

ent w

ithin

C

ounc

ils p

lann

ing

proc

ess

incl

udin

g LE

P (2

003)

revi

ew, C

onso

lidat

ed D

CP

de

velo

pmen

t and

bes

t pra

ctic

e gu

idel

ines

.

NC

C

• Ta

sk F

orce

& a

ll N

CC

gro

ups

with

H

WC

H

CR

CM

A

DIP

NR

LH

CC

REM

S H

unte

r SE

O

NC

C L

and

& W

ater

pro

gram

D

IPN

R

com

mun

ity

2004

-06

• co

mm

unity

aw

aren

ess/

in

volv

emen

t m

anag

emen

t •

all p

ollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

5, 6

, 11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

Page 88: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

82

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 25

.3

Cre

eks

Aliv

e pr

ogra

m

elem

ents

incl

ude:

Cre

ek a

sses

smen

t pr

oces

s fo

r all

New

cast

le’s

cre

ek

syst

ems

and

GIS

m

appi

ng

Cou

ncil

has

prep

ared

a c

reek

ass

essm

ent

man

ual f

or N

ewca

stle

’s c

atch

men

ts. T

he

man

ual i

s be

ing

used

in th

e fie

ld b

y C

ounc

il st

aff,

volu

ntee

rs a

nd c

omm

unity

gro

ups

to

asse

ss th

e co

nditi

on o

f cre

ek li

nes

acro

ss

the

City

. The

dat

abas

e de

velo

ped

will

be

utilis

ed to

prio

ritis

e th

e w

orks

pro

gram

re

quire

d to

impr

ove

the

perfo

rman

ce o

f the

C

reek

sys

tem

. The

dat

abas

e w

ill a

lso

be

inco

rpor

ated

ont

o C

ounc

ils G

IS m

appi

ng

proc

ess

impr

ovin

g en

viro

nmen

tal a

ccou

ntin

g fo

r Cou

ncil’s

nat

ural

ass

ets.

NC

C:

• Ta

sk F

orce

D&

E

• C

S

• C

SP

CP

HR

D

IPN

R

NC

C E

Lev

y La

nd &

Wat

er

prog

ram

and

in

kind

G

rant

fund

s C

omm

unity

and

pr

ojec

t par

tner

s

cont

ribut

ions

2004

ong

oing

all g

ross

po

lluta

nts

• se

dim

ent

• he

avy

met

als

• co

mm

unity

awar

enes

s/

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

5, 6

, 11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

Page 89: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

83

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 25

.4

Cre

eks

Aliv

e pr

ogra

m

elem

ents

incl

ude:

Dev

elop

and

im

plem

ent a

wat

er

qual

ity-m

onito

ring

/ he

alth

car

d re

porti

ng p

rogr

am

for a

ll N

ewca

stle

ca

tchm

ents

as

part

of th

e C

reek

Aliv

e P

roje

ct

As

part

of th

e C

reek

Aliv

e pr

ojec

t, co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t in

wat

er b

ug s

urve

ys b

iann

ually

an

d re

gula

r wat

er q

ualit

y te

stin

g w

ill be

co

nduc

ted

and

repo

rted

as h

ealth

mea

sure

s fo

r the

Citi

es c

atch

men

ts.

Mon

itorin

g ou

tcom

es w

ill b

e pr

omot

ed u

sing

ex

istin

g W

ater

wat

ch/ S

tream

wat

ch /

NC

C /

HW

C p

rogr

am s

uppo

rt. In

ass

ocia

tion

with

th

e S

tream

wat

ch a

nd W

ater

wat

ch p

rogr

ams

alre

ady

succ

essf

ully

und

erw

ay in

the

Hun

ter,

NC

C h

as w

orke

d w

ith H

CR

CM

A an

d D

IPN

R

staf

f to

trial

a n

umbe

r of a

ppro

pria

te w

ater

qu

ality

mon

itorin

g si

tes

and

met

hodo

logi

es.

NC

C h

as d

evel

oped

site

crit

eria

and

m

etho

dolo

gy fo

r 75

site

s ac

ross

the

city

. 25

of

the

site

s ar

e co

mm

itted

to c

omm

unity

m

onito

ring.

The

pro

gram

als

o ha

s ac

cess

to

a ro

ving

wat

er q

ualit

y sa

mpl

ing

unit

and

optio

ns fo

r mor

e rig

orou

s w

ater

qua

lity

anal

ysis

are

ava

ilabl

e w

here

def

ined

. U

tilis

ing

the

cree

k he

alth

indi

cato

rs fo

r in

clus

ion

with

in th

e N

ewca

stle

Sus

tain

able

C

omm

unity

Indi

cato

rs P

rogr

am, S

OE

re

porti

ng a

nd N

EM

P 2

003

repo

rting

will

be

inve

stig

ated

.

NC

C

HW

C

HC

R C

MA

W

ater

wat

ch/

Stre

amw

atch

D

IPN

R

NC

C E

Lev

y La

nd &

Wat

er

prog

ram

$2

0,00

0 pa

H

WC

$2

0,00

0 pa

(S

EIP

) In

-kin

d In

-kin

d

2004

– 2

007

ongo

ing

ongo

ing

Ong

oing

• co

mm

unity

aw

aren

ess/

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

acro

ss fu

ll ra

nge

of

issu

es

6, 7

, 9, 1

0, 1

2,

13, 1

5, 1

6, 1

7,

18, 1

9

Page 90: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

84

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 25

.5

Cre

eks

Aliv

e pr

ogra

m

elem

ents

incl

ude:

urba

n w

ater

cyc

le

educ

atio

n in

itiat

ives

Bui

ldin

g on

the

succ

essf

ul S

torm

wat

er in

N

ewca

stle

Cat

chm

ents

(SE

INC

) pro

gram

(ru

n in

con

junc

tion

with

HW

C a

nd H

CR

CM

A

over

the

last

4 y

ears

), C

ounc

il w

ill c

ontin

ue to

im

plem

ent t

arge

ted

stor

mw

ater

edu

catio

n ou

tcom

es u

nder

the

Cre

eks

Aliv

e ba

nner

. A

ny in

terv

entio

n w

ill a

im a

t inc

reas

ing

awar

enes

s as

wel

l as

beha

viou

ral c

hang

es,

in li

ne w

ith re

conn

ectin

g co

mm

uniti

es to

cr

eek

reac

hes

(wat

erw

ays

& re

ceiv

ing

wat

ers)

at t

he n

eigh

bour

hood

sca

le.

Com

mun

ity “C

reek

Cra

wls

” hav

e be

en a

su

cces

sful

del

iver

y to

ols

that

hav

e co

ntin

ue

to b

e de

liver

ed w

ith th

e as

sist

ance

of a

200

4 E

PA

Env

ironm

ent T

rust

(ET)

Gra

nt.

NC

C

HW

C

HC

R C

MA

D

EC

NC

C fu

nds

and

in-k

ind

in-k

ind

(see

ac

tion

03)

In-k

ind

$500

0

2005

and

on

goin

g •

all g

ross

po

lluta

nts

• se

dim

ent

• he

avy

met

als

• co

mm

unity

awar

enes

s/

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

5, 6

, 11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

25.6

C

reek

s Al

ive

prog

ram

el

emen

ts in

clud

e:

• M

aint

ain

and

upda

te C

ounc

ils

“Wat

er o

n W

eb”

site

The

Cre

eks

Aliv

e pr

ogra

m w

ill b

e re

gula

rly

upda

ting

the

info

rmat

ion

avai

labl

e to

the

com

mun

ity o

n ne

w in

itiat

ives

in u

rban

wat

er

cycl

e m

anag

emen

t, ou

tcom

es o

f New

cast

le’s

cr

eek

heal

th m

onito

ring,

Wha

t’s O

n co

lum

n an

d re

spon

ding

to th

e D

iscu

ssio

n Fo

rum

m

embe

rs.

NC

C

• C

D

• Ex

ecut

ive

Serv

ices

(E

S)

HW

C

NC

C E

Lev

y La

nd &

Wat

er

prog

ram

$5

,000

&

in-k

ind

$1

,500

2003

– 2

007

Ong

oing

20

03

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

• se

dim

ent

• co

mm

unity

aw

aren

ess/

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

5, 6

, 11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

Page 91: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

85

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 25

.7

Cre

eks

Aliv

e pr

ogra

m

elem

ents

incl

ude:

Dev

elop

and

re

sour

ce

com

mun

ity c

reek

ca

re/ s

uppo

rt gr

oups

for

asse

ssm

ent,

mon

itorin

g an

d re

habi

litat

ion

of th

e cr

eek

lines

Cre

ek n

amin

g pr

oces

s ac

ross

the

City

In a

ssoc

iatio

n w

ith th

e de

liver

y of

the

gree

ning

pro

gram

acr

oss

the

City

the

Cre

eks

Aliv

e pr

ogra

m a

nd th

e C

omm

unity

Gre

enin

g C

entre

pro

gram

del

iver

y w

ill d

evel

op

effe

ctiv

e an

d su

stai

nabl

e cr

eek

care

/ sup

port

grou

ps a

cros

s al

l cat

chm

ents

. It

is e

ssen

tial t

hat o

ngoi

ng s

usta

inab

le

outc

omes

for t

he w

ater

way

sys

tem

of t

he

City

are

em

bedd

ed in

com

mun

ity c

onne

ctio

n w

ith th

eir w

ater

way

s an

d th

eir h

ealth

. S

ucce

ssfu

l cre

ek n

amin

g pr

ojec

ts in

City

ha

ve d

eliv

ered

gre

ater

con

nect

ion

and

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

beh

avio

ural

impa

cts

on th

e st

orm

wat

er s

yste

m, i

nclu

ding

nat

ural

cre

ek

line

valu

es, w

here

pro

ject

has

bee

n de

liver

ed. T

his

expe

rienc

e w

ill b

e us

ed to

pr

ovid

e a

proc

ess

for c

omm

uniti

es to

nam

e th

eir c

reek

s ac

ross

the

City

.

NC

C:

• D

&E

CS

CS

P

• C

omm

unity

Gre

enin

g C

entre

CP

Com

mun

ity

Pro

ject

par

tner

s

NC

C E

Lev

y La

nd a

nd W

ater

pr

ogra

m a

nd

in-k

ind

Env

irotru

st

Gra

nt 2

005-

06

NC

C E

Lev

y an

d in

-kin

d

2003

– 2

007

Ong

oing

all g

ross

po

lluta

nts

• er

osio

n •

sedi

men

t •

com

mun

ity

awar

enes

s/

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

5, 6

, 11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

26

Inst

igat

e rip

aria

n co

rrido

r rev

eget

atio

n pr

actic

es a

nd

initi

ativ

es w

here

eve

r th

e op

portu

nity

aris

es

acro

ss th

e N

ewca

stle

’s

catc

hmen

ts

Sto

rmw

ater

man

agem

ent p

artn

ers

will

wor

k co

oper

ativ

ely

thro

ugh

the

NC

MF

proc

ess,

to

iden

tify

and

impl

emen

t re-

vege

tatio

n in

itiat

ives

with

in th

e rip

aria

n zo

nes

acro

ss

New

cast

le’s

cat

chm

ents

. Cou

ncil

will

be

able

to

pro

vide

a v

alua

ble

cont

ribut

ion

thro

ugh

the

info

rmat

ion

base

, exp

ert a

dvic

e an

d po

licy

fram

ewor

k de

velo

ped

as p

art o

f the

Cre

eks

Aliv

e pr

ogra

m.

NC

C

• Ta

sk F

orce

CS

P

• C

S

• D

&E

CD

H

WC

H

CR

CM

A /N

CM

F

NC

C E

Lev

y

In-k

ind

HW

C In

-kin

d

Ong

oing

all g

ross

po

lluta

nts

• se

dim

ent

• he

avy

met

als

• co

mm

unity

awar

enes

s/

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

5, 6

, 11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

Page 92: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

86

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 27

C

ontin

ue to

dev

elop

an

d m

onito

r Kot

ara

“Roo

f to

Cre

ek”

rese

arch

Pro

ject

and

flo

w o

n in

cent

ive

prog

ram

for

hous

ehol

d ta

nk

retro

fit a

cros

s th

e C

ity.

Kot

ara

Roo

f to

Cre

ek P

roje

ct is

a 4

th ro

und

EP

A S

torm

wat

er T

rust

Gra

nt re

sear

ch

proj

ect t

hat i

nvol

ves

the

mon

itorin

g of

ca

tchm

ent p

erfo

rman

ce to

det

erm

ine

the

impa

cts

of re

trofit

ting

rain

wat

er re

use

stra

tegi

es fo

r hou

seho

ld u

se a

nd o

pen

spac

e la

ndsc

apin

g re

fits.

Th

e re

sear

ch o

utco

mes

from

this

Pro

ject

will

be

fund

amen

tal t

o th

e as

sess

men

t of

catc

hmen

t per

form

ance

inte

rven

tions

and

fu

ture

pol

icy

deve

lopm

ent n

ot o

nly

at lo

cal

but r

egio

nal,

stat

e-w

ide

and

natio

nal

sign

ifica

nce.

D

eliv

er a

n in

cent

ive

prog

ram

for h

ouse

hold

us

e ta

nk re

trofit

s to

impr

ove

dow

nstre

am

impa

cts

from

sto

rmw

ater

in c

onju

nctio

n w

ith

HW

C.

NC

C

HW

C

Uni

vers

ity o

f New

cast

le

Com

mun

ity

DEC

In

dust

ry s

ecto

r

DE

C (f

orm

erly

E

PA

) S

torm

wat

er

Trus

t gra

nt

NC

C L

and

& W

ater

pro

gram

&

in-k

ind

HW

C c

ash

and

in-k

ind

Uni

vers

ity o

f N

ewca

stle

in-

kind

N

CC

e L

evy

HW

C In

-kin

d

Com

plet

e w

orks

6/

05

Mon

itor 2

005-

06

ongo

ing

2004

-05

ongo

ing

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

• se

dim

ent

• co

mm

unity

awar

enes

s/

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

5, 6

, 11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

Page 93: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

87

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 28

C

ontin

ue to

inve

st in

N

ewca

stle

Cou

ncil

Wat

er T

ask

Forc

e –

role

upd

ated

to

inco

rpor

ate

urba

n w

ater

cyc

le

cons

ider

atio

ns.

Cou

ncil’s

sto

rmw

ater

man

ager

s pa

rtici

pate

in

Cou

ncils

Wat

er T

ask

Forc

e, m

eetin

g m

onth

ly

to re

view

and

dire

ct w

ork

prog

ram

. The

ad

aptiv

e m

anag

emen

t mod

el id

entif

ied

in th

e S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04 h

as

succ

essf

ully

bee

n de

liver

ed th

roug

h th

e W

ater

Tas

k Fo

rce

proc

ess,

eng

agin

g m

anag

ers

from

acr

oss

the

orga

nisa

tion

in

mul

ti-di

scip

linar

y pl

anni

ng th

at h

as g

ener

ated

to

p va

lue

outc

omes

. The

pro

cess

was

use

d as

the

tem

plat

e fo

r del

iver

ing

the

wid

er

NE

MP

200

3 m

anag

emen

t mod

el.

Th

e ro

le o

f the

Wat

er T

ask

Forc

e ha

s no

w

form

ally

ado

pted

the

impl

emen

tatio

n of

the

NE

MP

200

3 W

ater

them

e in

itiat

ives

acr

oss

Cou

ncils

rele

vant

func

tiona

l are

as.

NC

C T

ask

Forc

e M

anag

ers

from

: •

CS

D&

E

• C

SP

CP

HR

LH

CC

REM

S H

unte

r SE

O

Hun

ter C

ounc

ils

Indu

stry

par

tner

s

NC

C in

-kin

d on

goin

g •

all g

ross

po

lluta

nts

• er

osio

n •

sedi

men

t •

com

mun

ity

awar

enes

s/

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t •

reso

urce

ut

ilisat

ion

4, 5

, 11,

15,

16,

17

29

Con

tinui

ng re

finem

ent

of M

AP

P fi

nanc

ial

mod

el fo

r sus

tain

able

bu

ilt &

nat

ural

ass

et

man

agem

ent

Cou

ncils

sto

rmw

ater

ass

ets,

bot

h na

tura

l and

co

nstru

cted

infra

stru

ctur

e re

quire

s a

flexi

ble

data

man

agem

ent p

roce

ss to

ena

ble

sust

aina

ble

man

agem

ent o

f the

se re

sour

ces.

Th

ere

are

reso

urce

impl

icat

ions

for

appr

opria

te m

anag

emen

t of a

sset

s on

ce th

ey

are

regi

ster

ed.

NC

C:

• Ta

sk F

orce

C

ounc

il st

aff:

• C

S

• D

&E

SP

NC

C in

-kin

d O

ngoi

ng

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

• se

dim

ent

• co

mm

unity

aw

aren

ess/

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

• re

sour

ce

utilis

atio

n

8, 5

, 14,

15,

16

, 17,

18

Page 94: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

88

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

ITY-

WID

E A

CTI

ON

S 30

H

WC

and

NC

C

inve

stig

ate

oppo

rtuni

ties

for

defo

rmal

isin

g ap

prop

riate

sec

tions

of

the

cons

truct

ed

stor

mw

ater

dra

inag

e sy

stem

.

Rei

nsta

ting

envi

ronm

enta

l val

ues

in

New

cast

le’s

wat

erw

ay s

yste

m to

wha

teve

r ex

tent

is fe

asib

le w

hils

t con

side

ratio

n is

gi

ven

to fl

oodi

ng im

pact

s w

ill b

e in

vest

igat

ed

by H

WC

and

NC

C o

ffice

rs a

s op

portu

nitie

s ar

ise.

(see

are

a sp

ecifi

c pr

ojec

ts u

nder

fo

llow

ing

catc

hmen

ts s

ectio

n)

NC

C

• W

ater

Tas

k Fo

rce

HW

C

HC

R C

MA

/NC

MF

NC

C in

-kin

d H

WC

in-k

ind

Ong

oing

all g

ross

po

lluta

nts

• er

osio

n •

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

• co

mm

unity

aw

aren

ess/

in

volv

emen

t

8, 5

, 14,

15,

16

, 17,

18

31

Inve

stig

atio

ns o

f st

orm

wat

er re

use

stra

tegi

es.

Cou

ncil

is im

plem

entin

g a

Par

ks W

ater

Ref

it P

rogr

am to

iden

tify

alte

rnat

ive

wat

er s

ourc

es

for o

pen

spac

e an

d fa

cilit

ies

man

agem

ent

purp

oses

acr

oss

the

City

. Site

s in

clud

ed in

th

e pr

ogra

m:

• N

o 2

Spor

tsgr

ound

– in

vest

igat

e bo

re &

/or

rain

wat

er c

aptu

re fr

om g

rand

sta

nd ro

of

via

tank

s as

wel

l as

a w

ater

and

ene

rgy

audi

t of a

ll am

eniti

es b

uild

ings

Jesm

ond

Par

k –

inve

stig

ate

harv

estin

g st

orm

wat

er fr

om o

pen,

cha

nnel

ised

sec

tion

of d

rain

age

line

with

in th

e P

ark

for r

e-us

e in

wat

erin

g ro

se g

arde

ns &

spo

rting

fiel

ds

• M

itche

ll P

ark

/ Tow

nsen

d O

val –

in

vest

igat

e al

tern

ativ

e w

ater

sou

rces

for

open

spa

ce u

ses

No

1 Sp

orts

grou

nd –

inve

stig

ate

supp

ly o

f ne

w p

ump

and

wat

er s

ourc

es a

nd

unde

rtake

wat

er a

nd e

nerg

y au

dit o

f all

amen

ities

bui

ldin

gs

NC

C

Task

For

ce

• D

&E

– A

ME

IF

• C

SP

CS

NC

C E

Lev

y

$50,

000

20

05-0

6 in

-kin

d

2003

– o

ngoi

ng

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

• se

dim

ent

• co

mm

unity

aw

aren

ess/

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

• re

sour

ce

utilis

atio

n

8, 5

, 14,

15,

16

, 17,

18

Page 95: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

89

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

IR

ON

BA

RK

CR

EEK

IC

01

Impl

emen

t Wal

lsen

d In

stre

am

Enh

ance

men

t Pro

ject

an u

rban

re

vita

lisat

ion

proj

ect

for W

alls

end

reac

h of

Iro

nbar

k C

reek

driv

en

by u

rban

wat

er c

ycle

an

d ec

osys

tem

s de

sign

det

erm

inan

ts

- Pha

se II

The

cons

ulta

ncy

invo

lvin

g pr

elim

inar

y de

sign

an

d fe

asib

ility

test

ing

for t

he W

alls

end

Inst

ream

Enh

ance

men

t Pro

ject

has

bee

n co

mpl

eted

. The

dat

a ga

ther

ed w

ill b

e us

ed to

in

form

the

prog

ress

of s

ite re

habi

litat

ion

wor

ks th

at in

clud

e la

ndsc

apin

g/ tr

ee p

lant

ing,

dr

aina

ge in

frast

ruct

ure

wor

ks a

nd w

eed

rem

oval

from

Iron

bark

Cre

ek b

ed a

nd b

anks

th

roug

hout

200

4. F

undi

ng o

ppor

tuni

ties

for

impl

emen

tatio

n of

Pha

se II

, in

addi

tion

to

NC

C E

nviro

nmen

t Lev

y fu

ndin

g w

ill b

e in

vest

igat

ed, w

hils

t the

dev

elop

men

t of a

N

CC

Pla

n O

f Man

agem

ent (

PO

M) f

or th

e co

mm

unity

land

s w

ithin

the

site

con

tinue

s.

NC

C

Inte

rnal

sta

keho

lder

gr

oup

• C

SP

CS

D&

E

• C

P

Ext

erna

l ref

eren

ce

grou

p H

CR

CM

A

NC

C in

-kin

d $7

0,00

0 In

-kin

d $5

000

(NC

MF)

2004

– o

ngoi

ng

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

• se

dim

ent

• ha

bita

t •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t •

com

mun

ity

cons

ulta

tion

• op

en s

pace

pl

anni

ng

2, 4

, 5, 6

, 7, 8

9,

11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

IC02

Iro

nbar

k C

reek

Aliv

e fo

r the

Fut

ure

– co

mm

unity

vis

ioni

ng

proc

ess

Und

er th

e W

alls

end

Inst

ream

Enh

ance

men

t P

roje

ct –

a c

omm

unity

vis

ioni

ng p

roce

ss w

ill

be la

unch

ed w

ith a

n Iro

nbar

k C

reek

co

mm

unity

cel

ebra

tion

day

in W

alls

end

Par

k in

Feb

ruar

y 20

04, w

ith a

rang

e of

fam

ily

activ

ities

and

info

rmat

ion

shar

ing

to o

ccur

. A

ppro

pria

te s

teer

ing

com

mitt

ee a

nd

refe

renc

e gr

oups

are

bei

ng e

stab

lishe

d as

pa

rt of

the

com

mun

ity o

wne

rshi

p/

cons

ulta

tion

proc

ess.

NC

C

Inte

rnal

sta

keho

lder

gr

oup

• C

SP

CS

D&

E

• C

P

Ext

erna

l ref

eren

ce

grou

p H

CR

CM

A

HW

C

NC

C in

-kin

d 20

04 –

ong

oing

all g

ross

po

lluta

nts

• er

osio

n •

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

• co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

• co

mm

unity

co

nsul

tatio

n •

open

spa

ce

plan

ning

2, 4

, 5, 6

, 7, 8

9,

11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

Page 96: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

90

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

IR

ON

BA

RK

CR

EEK

IC

03

Hex

ham

Sw

amp

Reh

abili

tatio

n P

rogr

am

Pro

gram

incl

udes

the

open

ing

of th

e flo

odga

tes

to a

llow

re-e

stab

lishm

ent o

f tid

al

zone

hab

itat a

cros

s th

e sw

amp

and

volu

ntar

y pu

rcha

ses

of e

ffect

ed p

rope

rties

. Im

prov

emen

ts to

bio

dive

rsity

, hab

itat,

fish

nurs

ery

stoc

ks e

tc e

nvis

aged

. Wat

er q

ualit

y m

onito

ring

will

be

cond

ucte

d by

HC

R C

MA

. S

uch

chan

ges

in th

e re

ceiv

ing

wat

er o

f the

Iro

nbar

k C

reek

cat

chm

ent w

ill im

pact

on

stor

mw

ater

trea

tmen

t tra

in d

ecis

ion

mak

ing

for t

he w

hole

cat

chm

ent a

nd fr

esh/

estu

arin

e ec

osys

tem

con

serv

atio

n ne

eds.

HC

R C

MA

coor

dina

tion

Com

mun

ity

NC

C

HW

C

Hun

ter W

etla

nds

N

CM

F

$5 m

illio

n ch

eck

with

Tru

st fo

r co

sts

2000

- on

goin

g •

eros

ion

• se

dim

ent

• ha

bita

t •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

1, 2

, 4, 6

, 7, 8

, 9

IC04

D

evel

op s

edim

ent

man

agem

ent s

trate

gy

for t

he Ir

onba

rk C

reek

C

atch

men

t as

iden

tifie

d th

e Iro

nbar

k C

reek

Tot

al

Cat

chm

ent

Man

agem

ent

(ICTC

M) S

trate

gy

2003

.

The

E&

S is

sue

was

add

ress

ed in

the

docu

men

tatio

n de

velo

ped

thro

ugh

the

revi

sed

ICTC

M S

trate

gy 2

003.

Cou

ncil

in

partn

ersh

ip w

ith o

ther

sta

keho

lder

s in

the

NC

MF

will

impl

emen

t the

act

ion

plan

as

outli

ned

in th

e S

trate

gy. T

he d

evel

opm

ent o

f a

gros

s po

lluta

nts

& s

edim

ent s

tudy

, alo

ng

sim

ilar l

ines

as

the

stud

y pr

oduc

ed fo

r Th

rosb

y C

reek

cat

chm

ent,

will

be

cons

ider

ed

in o

rder

to id

entif

y sp

ecifi

c w

orks

pro

gram

.

NC

C

• C

S

HC

R C

MA

NC

MF

HW

C

SR

A

othe

rs

NC

C in

-kin

d E

&S

fund

ing

sour

ce

reso

urce

s

2005

-06

• er

osio

n •

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

• gr

oss

pollu

tant

s •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

1, 5

, 6, 1

6, 1

7,

18

IC05

Th

e W

etla

nds

Cen

tre

Sto

rmw

ater

trea

tmen

t de

vice

inst

alla

tion

Cou

ncil

will

con

tinue

to w

ork

with

the

Wet

land

s C

entre

in o

rder

to a

ddre

ss e

rosi

on a

nd

asso

ciat

ed s

edim

enta

tion

issu

es im

pact

ing

on

the

Wet

land

s C

entre

pon

ds fr

om s

urro

undi

ng

road

/resi

dent

ial r

unof

f. Th

e C

entre

pla

ys a

n im

porta

nt ro

le in

the

deliv

ery

of e

nviro

nmen

tal /

ur

ban

wat

er c

ycle

edu

catio

n in

itiat

ives

in th

e C

ity. W

orks

for a

n ar

ea n

ear T

uxfo

rd P

ark

that

dr

ains

to th

e W

etla

nds

Cen

tre e

aste

rn p

ond

was

com

plet

ed in

200

5.

NC

C

• C

SP

CS

CD

Wet

land

s C

entre

(o

ngoi

ng

mai

nten

ance

)

Del

iver

ed a

s pa

rt of

W

arab

rook

W

etla

nds

Pro

ject

2004

-05

• er

osio

n •

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

• co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

5, 6

, 12

Page 97: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

91

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

IR

ON

BA

RK

CR

EEK

IC

06

Rev

iew

and

im

plem

ent W

entw

orth

C

reek

SM

P -

Per

form

ance

, M

onito

ring

& R

evie

w

Util

isin

g ex

istin

g m

onito

ring

equi

pmen

t and

da

ta s

ets,

Cou

ncil

in c

onju

nctio

n w

ith th

e U

nive

rsity

of N

ewca

stle

will

revi

ew

inst

alla

tion

outc

omes

of t

he in

itial

sta

ge o

f th

e pr

ogra

m a

nd p

repa

re fo

rwar

d w

orkp

lan

for t

he p

roje

ct. A

rem

ote

gree

n fie

ld

mon

itorin

g st

atio

n is

stil

l par

t of t

he p

roje

ct

that

will

pro

vide

val

uabl

e ba

selin

e da

ta fo

r th

e C

ity. H

owev

er, t

he lo

gist

ics

invo

lved

in

data

cap

ture

are

yet

to b

e re

solv

ed.

NC

C:

• C

S

• C

SP

D &

E

• Su

mm

erhi

ll Fa

cilit

y N

ewca

stle

Uni

vers

ity

NC

C

$18,

000

+

in-k

ind

Rev

iew

200

4 an

d on

goin

g

• er

osio

n •

sedi

men

t •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

3, 4

, 6, 7

, 14,

15

, 16

,17,

18

IC07

O

ngoi

ng

impl

emen

tatio

n of

th

e B

lue

Gum

Hills

C

atch

men

t M

anag

emen

t S

trate

gy

WB

M O

cean

ics

(200

3) c

ompl

eted

the

final

re

port

revi

ewin

g th

e im

plem

enta

tion

and

eval

uatio

n of

the

Blu

e G

um H

ills

Cat

chm

ent

Man

agem

ent S

trate

gy. T

he re

port

will

be

cons

ider

ed b

y C

ounc

il’s W

ater

Tas

k Fo

rce

and

the

com

mun

ity E

nviro

nmen

t Adv

isor

y Pa

nel i

n th

e pr

epar

atio

n of

app

ropr

iate

re

spon

se to

the

reco

mm

enda

tions

.

NC

C:

• D

&E

City

Stra

tegy

D

evel

opm

ent i

nter

ests

C

omm

unity

gro

ups

NC

C in

-kin

d Fi

nal r

epor

t 20

03

Ong

oing

• er

osio

n •

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

• co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

1, 2

, 3, 4

, 5, 6

, 7,

8, 9

, 10,

11,

12

, 13,

14,

15,

17

IC08

W

arab

rook

Wet

land

s P

roje

ct m

onito

ring

and

prom

otio

n

Con

tinue

to m

onito

r per

form

ance

of

treat

men

t dev

ices

and

wor

ksho

p ap

plic

atio

n th

roug

h C

ounc

ils c

onst

ruct

ion

proc

esse

s an

d ex

tern

al in

dust

ry p

rom

otio

n w

here

ap

prop

riate

. Pro

vide

feed

back

and

upd

ates

to

War

abro

ok C

omm

unity

For

um.

Con

tinue

to s

uppo

rt bu

sine

sses

and

sup

ply

info

rmat

ion

and

BP

PP

mat

eria

ls th

roug

h N

CC

wat

er w

eb s

ite.

NC

C in

-kin

d N

SW

DE

C

LHC

CR

EMS

NC

C in

-kin

d 20

04 -

2006

all g

ross

po

lluta

nts

• er

osio

n •

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

• co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

• co

mm

unity

co

nsul

tatio

n •

open

spa

ce

plan

ning

2, 4

, 5, 6

, 7, 8

9,

11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

Page 98: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

92

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

IR

ON

BA

RK

CR

EEK

IC

09

In

vest

igat

ion

of

War

abro

ok W

etla

nds

com

plex

Cou

ncil

in c

olla

bora

tion

with

oth

er

stak

ehol

ders

will

unde

rtake

a p

relim

inar

y in

vest

igat

ion

of th

e SE

PP 1

4 id

entif

ied

War

abro

ok w

etla

nds

syst

em to

det

erm

ine

inpu

ts, i

ssue

s, la

nd te

nure

and

pro

vide

re

com

men

datio

n on

app

ropr

iate

nat

ural

re

sour

ce m

anag

emen

t ini

tiativ

es s

uita

ble

for

the

wet

land

com

plex

.

NC

C

Uni

vers

ity N

ewca

stle

\c

onsu

ltant

s

TWC

NC

C E

Lev

y

2004

-05

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s •

eros

ion,

se

dim

ent

• ha

bita

t •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t •

com

mun

ity

cons

ulta

tion

• op

en s

pace

pl

anni

ng

2, 4

, 5, 6

, 7, 8

9,

11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

IC10

Ironb

ark

Cre

ek –

C

reek

s Al

ive

Com

mun

ity S

uppo

rt O

ffice

r

Cou

ncil

in c

olla

bora

tion

with

oth

er

stak

ehol

ders

will

prov

ide

reso

urce

s to

su

ppor

t com

mun

ity a

ctio

n w

ithin

ripa

rian

zone

s of

Iron

bark

Cre

ek c

atch

men

t. Th

e po

sitio

n w

ill b

e ta

rget

ing

esta

blis

hmen

t of 9

ne

w g

roup

s in

Sta

ge 1

of p

roje

ct.

NC

C

HW

C

HC

R C

MA

Lo

cal r

esid

ents

NC

C E

Lev

y E

nviro

trust

G

rant

200

5-06

.

2005

-06

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s •

eros

ion,

se

dim

ent

• ha

bita

t •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t •

com

mun

ity

cons

ulta

tion

• op

en s

pace

pl

anni

ng

2, 4

, 5, 6

, 7, 8

9,

11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

Page 99: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

93

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

IR

ON

BA

RK

CR

EEK

IC

11

Bl

ue G

um H

ills

“Cre

eks

Aliv

e” P

roje

ct

Cou

ncil

and

Hun

ter W

ater

Cor

pora

tion

will

cond

uct p

re-p

roje

ct s

urve

y w

ork

in th

e B

lue

Gum

Hills

are

a to

qua

ntify

the

awar

enes

s,

know

ledg

e, a

spira

tions

and

beh

avio

ur o

f re

side

nts

in re

latio

n to

ow

ners

hip

of lo

cal

catc

hmen

t and

wat

er s

mar

t hom

e is

sues

, in

orde

r to

plan

an

effe

ctiv

e in

terv

entio

n pr

ogra

m fo

r 200

6-20

07.

NC

C

HW

C

NC

C

HW

C

HC

R C

MA

NC

C E

Lev

y H

WC

$12

,000

ca

sh

NC

C E

levy

H

WC

H

CR

CM

A

2005

-06

2006

-07

Ong

oing

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s •

eros

ion,

se

dim

ent

• ha

bita

t •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t •

com

mun

ity

cons

ulta

tion

• op

en s

pace

pl

anni

ng

2, 4

, 5, 6

, 7, 8

9,

11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

Page 100: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

94

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

TH

RO

SBY

CR

EEK

CA

TCH

MEN

T TC

01

Con

tinue

to u

tilis

e in

form

atio

n fro

m

Thro

sby

Cre

ek

Cat

chm

ent S

edim

ent

and

Gro

ss P

ollu

tant

M

anag

emen

t S

trate

gy

Mon

itorin

g an

d m

aint

enan

ce o

f CD

S

gros

s po

lluta

nt d

evic

e in

stal

led

in L

ambt

on

Ker

-rai d

rain

age

line

Thro

sby

Cre

ek C

atch

men

t Sed

imen

t & G

ross

P

ollu

tant

stu

dy (2

002)

pro

vide

s gr

oss

pollu

tant

and

sed

imen

t cha

ract

eris

tics

of th

e 22

sub

-cat

chm

ents

, alo

ng w

ith re

view

of

gros

s po

lluta

nt tr

appi

ng te

chni

ques

and

po

ssib

le tr

eatm

ent o

ptio

ns. T

he S

tudy

in

conj

unct

ion

with

the

Thro

sby

Cre

ek T

CM

S

trate

gy re

view

(200

2) w

ill b

e us

ed to

info

rm

the

futu

re d

evel

opm

ent a

nd in

frast

ruct

ure

desi

gn w

ithin

the

catc

hmen

t. H

WC

has

inst

alle

d a

CD

S u

nit w

ithin

the

Lam

bton

Ker

-rai

Cre

ek s

ub-c

atch

men

t. M

onito

ring

to d

ate

indi

cate

s th

at a

n av

erag

e of

10

m3

of g

ross

pol

luta

nts

are

rem

oved

fro

m th

e sy

stem

mon

thly

. HW

C w

ill co

ntin

ue

to m

onito

r and

mai

ntai

n th

e un

it.

HW

C

HC

R C

MA

N

CC

TC

TCM

D

LWC

TL

C

CC

S H

WC

NC

C in

-kin

d $3

0,00

0 (C

CS)

$1

5,00

0 pa

m

aint

enan

ce &

m

onito

ring

2001

-03

com

plet

e O

ngoi

ng

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

• se

dim

ent

• ha

bita

t •

com

mun

ity

awar

enes

s in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

3, 5

, 8, 9

, 13,

15

, 18

TC02

C

ontin

ue to

im

plem

ent t

he

stra

tegi

c ac

tions

co

ntai

ned

with

in th

e Th

rosb

y C

reek

TC

M

Stra

tegy

revi

ew

(200

2).

As

part

of th

e N

CM

F pr

oces

s, s

edim

ent

prev

entio

n m

easu

res

and

eros

ion/

sedi

men

t co

ntro

l site

s w

ill c

ontin

ue to

be

iden

tifie

d an

d co

llabo

rativ

e w

orks

pro

gram

dev

elop

ed.

Sed

imen

t sou

rces

from

cre

ek b

ed/b

ank

eros

ion

are

iden

tifie

d as

prio

rity

site

s.

Cou

ncil

will

util

ise

the

info

rmat

ion

colla

tion

proc

ess

of th

e C

reek

s Al

ive

asse

ssm

ent

prog

ram

to in

form

reha

bilit

atio

n pr

oces

s fo

r Th

rosb

y C

reek

cat

chm

ent.

NC

C

HC

R C

MA

H

WC

D

IPN

R

NC

C in

kind

2003

ong

oing

all g

ross

po

lluta

nts

• er

osio

n •

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

• co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

1, 2

, 5, 6

, 7, 1

0,

11, 1

4, 1

6, 1

8,

19

Page 101: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

95

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

TH

RO

SBY

CR

EEK

CA

TCH

MEN

T TC

03

Mas

ter P

lan

for

Ras

pber

ry G

ully

(Sty

x C

reek

)

Com

plet

e de

sign

pla

ns fo

r the

mai

nten

ance

an

d de

velo

pmen

t of t

he n

atur

al a

ttrib

utes

of

Ras

pber

ry G

ully

, inc

ludi

ng h

erita

ge

inte

rpre

tatio

n tra

ils, t

ree

plan

ting,

wee

d co

ntro

l, dr

aina

ge a

nd s

torm

wat

er tr

eatm

ent

(upp

er re

ache

s of

Thr

osby

Cat

chm

ent)

Lake

Mac

CC

In

-kin

d 20

04-0

5 •

All i

ssue

s •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

1, 2

, 4, 5

, 6, 7

, 8,

9, 1

0, 1

1, 1

2,

13 ,

14,1

6, 1

7

TC04

Im

prov

emen

ts to

st

orm

wat

er d

rain

age

in th

e he

adw

ater

s of

S

tyx

Cre

ek

Dra

inag

e w

orks

by

Lake

Mac

CC

to p

rovi

de

impr

ovem

ents

in s

torm

wat

er v

eloc

ity a

nd

qual

ity a

s it

mov

es th

roug

h S

herb

urn

Pla

ce

resi

dent

ial a

rea

in h

eadw

ater

s of

cat

chm

ent.

Lake

Mac

CC

In

-kin

d 20

04 -

ongo

ing

3,

5, 6

, 8, 1

1,

12, 1

6, 1

7, 1

8

TC05

C

ontin

ue th

e m

aint

enan

ce a

nd

upgr

ade

prog

ram

for

the

float

ing

boom

sy

stem

s fo

r gro

ss

pollu

tant

s an

d se

dim

ent t

raps

with

in

Thro

sby

Cre

ek

catc

hmen

t.

HW

C h

as in

stal

led

a flo

atin

g tra

sh b

oom

at

Chi

n C

hen

Stre

et, I

slin

gton

boo

m a

nd w

ithin

th

e M

ayfie

ld B

ranc

h. T

he s

edim

ent t

rap

at

Islin

gton

con

tinue

s to

be

mai

ntai

ned,

ca

ptur

ing

appr

ox. 3

00 c

m3 p

a. M

onito

r co

mpo

sitio

n an

d vo

lum

e of

trap

ped

gros

s po

lluta

nts

indi

cate

s 10

and

2 c

m3

trap

ped

on

aver

age

per m

onth

resp

ectiv

ely.

Ong

oing

tra

ppin

g re

porti

ng &

eva

luat

ion

will

con

tinue

.

HW

C

Ong

oing

cos

ts

as re

quire

d

Inst

all c

ompl

ete

6/20

00 -

mai

ntai

n an

d m

onito

r ong

oing

• gr

oss

pollu

tant

s •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

6, 7

, 8, 1

3, 1

6,

17, 1

8, 1

9

TC06

A

rnol

d S

treet

R

eser

ve, C

arrin

gton

S

torm

wat

er

Impr

ovem

ent P

roje

ct

The

proj

ect i

nclu

des

bank

sta

bilis

atio

n,

drai

nage

wor

ks, l

ands

capi

ng &

infra

stru

ctur

e in

con

sulta

tion

with

loca

l com

mun

ity a

nd

Doc

ksid

e de

velo

pmen

t to

impr

ove

stor

mw

ater

impa

cts

with

in A

rnol

d S

treet

re

serv

e w

ithin

the

tidal

reac

hes

of th

e ca

tchm

ent a

t Car

ringt

on. C

ounc

il is

in th

e pr

oces

s of

lodg

ing

a D

A fo

r the

wor

ks

prog

ram

.

NC

C

HC

R C

MA

W

ater

way

s C

arrin

gton

resi

dent

s D

ocks

ide

deve

lopm

ent

Join

tly fu

nded

(c

ash

& in

-kin

d)

2003

- on

goin

g •

Sed

imen

t •

Eros

ion

• C

omm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

Man

agem

ent

2, 4

, 5, 6

, 7,

8, 9

, 11

, 12,

13,

14

, 16,

17,

18,

19

Page 102: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

96

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

TH

RO

SBY

CR

EEK

CA

TCH

MEN

T TC

07

Bla

ck D

uck

Cre

ek

Sto

rmw

ater

Tru

st

gran

t mon

itorin

g an

d pr

omot

ion

Con

tinue

to m

onito

r per

form

ance

of

treat

men

t dev

ices

and

wor

ksho

p ap

plic

atio

n of

prin

cipl

es th

roug

h C

ounc

ils c

onst

ruct

ion

proc

esse

s, c

omm

unity

con

sulta

tion,

B

lack

butt

Res

erve

PO

M a

nd e

xter

nal

prom

otio

n w

here

app

ropr

iate

.

NC

C

EP

A

LHC

CR

EMS

NC

C in

-kin

d O

ngoi

ng

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s •

eros

ion

• se

dim

ent

• ha

bita

t •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t •

com

mun

ity

cons

ulta

tion

• op

en s

pace

pl

anni

ng

2, 4

, 5, 6

, 7, 8

9,

11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

17,

18

, 19

TC08

Stre

et c

lean

sing

pr

ogra

m in

he

adw

ater

s of

the

Thro

sby

Cre

ek

catc

hmen

t

Stre

et c

lean

sing

in C

harle

stow

n co

mm

erci

al

area

at h

eadw

ater

s Th

rosb

y C

reek

is

iden

tifie

d as

a p

riorit

y is

sue

for t

he

head

wat

ers

of th

e ca

tchm

ent

Lake

Mac

CC

and

N

ewca

stle

Cat

chm

ent

Man

agem

ent F

orum

(N

CM

F)

LMC

C in

kind

O

ngoi

ng

• al

l gro

ss

pollu

tant

s (h

eavy

m

etal

s, fi

ne

sedi

men

t, lit

ter)

habi

tat

• m

anag

emen

t

5, 6

, 7,

8, 1

0,

12, 1

3, 1

6, 1

7,

18

TC09

W

arat

ah “

Cle

an

Stre

ets

Cle

an

Cre

eks”

Pro

ject

Del

iver

y of

War

atah

Pro

ject

aim

ed to

si

gnifi

cant

ly im

prov

ed s

torm

wat

er k

now

ledg

e an

d be

havi

our o

f loc

al re

side

nts

and

busi

ness

pra

ctic

es w

ithin

the

catc

hmen

t. Th

e un

ders

tand

ing

of c

atch

men

t con

nect

ions

ro

se a

mon

gst r

esid

ents

.

NC

C

HC

R C

MA

H

WC

Join

tly fu

nded

(c

ash

& in

-kin

d)

NC

C E

Lev

y H

WC

$10

,000

2004

-200

5 •

Sed

imen

t •

Eros

ion

• C

omm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

Man

agem

ent

2, 4

, 5, 6

, 7,

8, 9

, 11

, 12,

13,

14

, 16,

17,

18,

19

Page 103: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

97

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

TH

RO

SBY

CR

EEK

CA

TCH

MEN

T TC

10

Thro

sby

Cre

ek

Cre

eks

Aliv

e C

omm

unity

Sup

port

Pr

ojec

t

Cou

ncil

in c

olla

bora

tion

with

oth

er

stak

ehol

ders

will

inve

stig

ate

reso

urce

s to

su

ppor

t com

mun

ity a

ctio

n w

ithin

ripa

rian

zone

s of

Thr

osby

Cre

ek c

atch

men

t.

NC

C

HW

C

HC

R C

MA

NC

C E

levy

20

06 o

ngoi

ng

• Se

dim

ent

• Er

osio

n •

Com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• M

anag

emen

t

2, 4

, 5, 6

, 7,

8, 9

, 11

, 12,

13,

14

, 16,

17,

18,

19

TC11

La

mbt

on K

er-r

ai

Def

orm

alis

atio

n Pr

ojec

t

This

pro

ject

aim

s to

incr

ease

urb

an

habi

tat &

bio

dive

rsity

, im

prov

e w

ater

qu

ality

, rec

reat

iona

l am

enity

& a

cces

s an

d ae

sthe

tics

of th

e La

mbt

on K

er-r

ai

cree

k re

ach

with

in L

ambt

on P

ark.

The

pr

ojec

t is

a co

llabo

ratio

n be

twee

n co

mm

unity

, Cha

mbe

r of C

omm

erce

, re

crea

tiona

l use

rs, C

ounc

il, H

WC

and

C

MA

.

NC

C

HC

R C

MA

H

WC

Lo

cal r

esid

ents

R

ecre

atio

nal g

roup

s

Join

tly fu

nded

(c

ash

& in

-ki

nd)

NC

C E

Lev

y H

WC

H

CR

CM

A

2004

– 2

007

Sedi

men

t •

Eros

ion

• C

omm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

Man

agem

ent

2, 4

, 5, 6

, 7,

8, 9

, 11

, 12,

13,

14

, 16,

17,

18,

19

TC12

Lo

wer

Thr

osby

C

reek

D

efor

mal

isat

ion

Proj

ect

HC

R C

MA

has

faci

litat

ed th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

a d

efor

mal

isat

ion

stud

y of

the

low

er

reac

hes

of T

hros

by C

reek

. The

stu

dy is

be

ing

cond

ucte

d by

WB

M O

cean

ics

(200

4-05

). Th

e pr

ojec

t Ste

erin

g C

omm

ittee

co

mpr

ises

Cou

ncil,

Hun

ter W

ater

, CM

A

and

loca

l res

iden

ts. T

he p

roje

ct is

a

culm

inat

ion

of a

spira

tion

of lo

cal

resi

dent

s fo

r im

prov

emen

t wor

ks w

ithin

th

e lo

wer

reac

hes

of th

e cr

eek.

NC

C

HW

C

HC

R C

MA

Lo

cal r

esid

ents

HW

C

HC

RC

MA

N

CC

2004

ong

oing

Sedi

men

t •

Eros

ion

• C

omm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

Man

agem

ent

2, 4

, 5, 6

, 7,

8, 9

, 11

, 12,

13,

14

, 16,

17,

18,

19

Page 104: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

98

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

OTT

AG

E C

REE

K C

ATC

HM

ENT

CC

01

Dev

elop

men

t of

prio

rity

actio

ns fo

r C

otta

ge C

reek

C

atch

men

t bas

ed o

n th

e H

unte

r Est

uary

M

anag

emen

t P

rogr

am s

tudi

es

Coa

st a

nd E

stua

ry P

roje

ct O

ffice

r has

bee

n ap

poin

ted

and

as p

art o

f Hun

ter E

stua

ry

Man

agem

ent p

rogr

am w

ill in

clud

e th

e de

term

inat

ion

of p

riorit

y ac

tions

to a

ddre

ss

the

stor

mw

ater

qua

lity

in th

e ca

tchm

ent

with

in th

e w

ork

plan

. The

NC

MF

will

also

be

cons

ider

ing

the

addi

tion

of s

uch

info

rmat

ion

with

in th

e m

anag

emen

t stra

tegy

for t

he C

ity’s

ca

tchm

ents

.

NC

C

• C

S

$20,

000

subj

ect

to fu

ndin

g 20

04 o

ngoi

ng

• gr

oss

pollu

tant

s •

sedi

men

t •

habi

tat

• he

avy

met

als

• co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

1, 2

, 3, 5

, 6, 7

, 8,

9, 1

0, 1

1, 1

2,

13, 1

4, 1

5, 1

6,

17, 1

8, 1

9

CC

02

Cot

tage

Cre

ek

float

ing

trash

boo

m

HW

C in

stal

led

a flo

atin

g tra

sh b

oom

im

med

iate

ly u

pstre

am o

f Wha

rf R

oad

in

Cot

tage

Cre

ek d

urin

g 20

00. C

ontin

uing

m

onito

ring

and

mai

nten

ance

is b

eing

un

derta

ken.

Ref

inem

ents

and

mod

ifica

tions

to

impr

ove

perfo

rman

ce o

f dev

ice

are

ongo

ing.

HW

C

Ong

oing

cos

ts

as re

quire

d In

stal

l com

plet

e 6/

2000

- m

aint

ain

and

mon

itor o

ngoi

ng

• gr

oss

pollu

tant

s •

sedi

men

t •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

6, 7

, 8, 1

3, 1

7,

18, 1

9

CC

03

Tota

l Cat

chm

ent

Man

agem

ent

fram

ewor

k to

cov

er

Cot

tage

Cre

ek

catc

hmen

t.

The

HC

R C

MA

New

cast

le C

atch

men

t M

anag

emen

t For

um (f

orm

er T

CM

co

mm

ittee

) now

cov

ers

all N

ewca

stle

ca

tchm

ents

, inc

ludi

ng C

otta

ge C

reek

in it

s ar

ea o

f int

eres

t. It

is h

oped

that

new

sta

te

gove

rnm

ent N

RM

stru

ctur

es w

ill n

ow

inco

rpor

ate

this

val

uabl

e in

itiat

ive.

In th

e in

terim

NC

MF

mem

bers

will

dev

elop

a g

ross

po

lluta

nt re

port

for t

he c

atch

men

t in

a si

mila

r m

anne

r as

that

com

plet

ed fo

r Thr

osby

C

reek

.

NC

C

HW

C

HC

R C

MA

N

PC

Com

mun

ity re

ps

DIP

NR

NC

C in

-kin

d 20

03 –

ong

oing

All

issu

e se

ts

1, 2

, 3, 5

, 6, 7

, 8,

9, 1

0, 1

1, 1

2,

13, 1

4, 1

5, 1

6,

17, 1

8, 1

9

Page 105: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

99

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

OTT

AG

E C

REE

K C

ATC

HM

ENT

CC

04

Cot

tage

Cre

ek

Cat

chm

ent G

ross

Po

lluta

nt S

tudy

NC

C fa

cilit

ated

the

com

plet

ion

of th

e C

otta

ge C

reek

Cat

chm

ent G

ross

Pol

luta

nt

Stud

y du

ring

2004

-05

in a

sim

ilar m

anne

r as

that

com

plet

ed fo

r Thr

osby

Cre

ek

Cat

chm

ent.

The

reco

mm

enda

tions

from

th

e st

udy

will

be

used

to in

form

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f “C

lean

Str

eet C

lean

C

reek

” Pr

ojec

t with

in th

e ca

tchm

ent i

n 20

05-0

7.

NC

C

HW

C

HC

R C

MA

NC

C E

Lev

y H

WC

in-k

ind

HC

R C

MA

in-k

ind

2004

-05

• A

ll is

sue

sets

1,

2, 3

, 5, 6

, 7,

8, 9

, 10,

11,

12,

13

, 14,

15,

16,

17

, 18,

19

CC

05

Cot

tage

Cre

ek “

C

lean

Str

eets

Cle

an C

reek

s”

Proj

ect

The

Cot

tage

Cre

ek “

Cle

an S

tree

ts –

C

lean

Cre

eks”

Pro

ject

is a

n in

tegr

ated

on-

grou

nd w

orks

and

edu

catio

n pr

ojec

t de

liver

ed in

pol

lutio

n “h

otsp

ots”

and

pr

iorit

y C

otta

ge C

reek

sub

-cat

chm

ent/s

id

entif

ied

as p

art o

f the

Cot

tage

Cre

ek

Gro

ss P

ollu

tant

Stu

dy. T

he p

roje

ct w

ill

targ

et re

conn

ectin

g co

mm

unity

to th

eir

loca

l wat

erw

ays

as a

pre

curs

or to

cha

nge

to m

ore

posi

tive

stor

mw

ater

rela

ted

beha

viou

rs.

NC

C

HW

C

HC

R C

MA

NC

C E

levy

Pr

ojec

t offi

cer

& in

-kin

d H

WC

$15

,000

at

-sou

rce

cont

rols

$1

0,00

0 ed

ucat

ion

H

CR

CM

A

$15,

000

at-

sour

ce

cont

rols

2005

-063

ongo

ing

All

issu

e se

ts

1, 2

, 3, 5

, 6, 7

, 8,

9, 1

0, 1

1, 1

2,

13, 1

4, 1

5, 1

6,

17, 1

8, 1

9

Page 106: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

100

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

OA

STA

L A

ND

EST

UA

RY

CA

TCH

MEN

TS

CE0

1 Li

nk in

vest

igat

ions

of

stor

mw

ater

issu

es in

th

e “E

stua

ry

Cat

chm

ent”

to th

e H

unte

r Est

uary

M

anag

emen

t P

rogr

am

The

Est

uary

Pro

cess

Stu

dy a

s pa

rt of

the

Hun

ter E

stua

ry M

anag

emen

t Pro

gram

will

fe

ed in

to th

e E

stua

ry M

anag

emen

t Stu

dy a

nd

Pla

n.

NC

C

Oth

ers

$20,

000

(in-

kind

) 20

04 o

ngoi

ng

• gr

oss

pollu

tant

s •

litte

r •

sedi

men

t •

heav

y m

etal

s •

habi

tat

• m

anag

emen

t

1, 2

, 3, 5

, 6, 7

, 8,

9, 1

0, 1

1, 1

2,

13, 1

4, 1

5, 1

6,

17, 1

8, 1

9

CE0

2 Li

nk in

vest

igat

ions

of

stor

mw

ater

issu

es in

th

e “C

oast

al

Cat

chm

ents

” to

the

New

cast

le C

oast

al

Man

agem

ent

Pro

gram

The

dete

rmin

atio

n of

prio

rity

actio

ns fo

r C

oast

al C

atch

men

ts in

the

City

will

be

base

d on

the

outc

omes

of t

he C

oast

al M

anag

emen

t St

udy

and

Coa

stal

Man

agem

ent P

lan

to b

e in

itiat

ed a

s pa

rt of

the

New

cast

le C

oast

al

Man

agem

ent P

rogr

am in

200

0.

NC

C

Oth

ers

NC

C in

-kin

d 20

04 o

ngoi

ng

• gr

oss

pollu

tant

s •

habi

tat

• m

anag

emen

t

1, 2

, 3, 5

, 6, 7

, 8,

9, 1

0, 1

1, 1

2,

13, 1

4, 1

5, 1

6,

17, 1

8, 1

9

CE0

3 B

athe

rs W

ay P

roje

ct

The

exte

nsio

n of

the

Gre

at N

orth

Wal

k al

ong

the

coas

tal m

argi

n of

the

City

, inc

orpo

ratin

g st

orm

wat

er tr

eatm

ent w

orks

and

hab

itat

prot

ectio

n op

tions

alo

ng th

e le

ngth

of t

he

trail.

Rem

edia

tion

of K

ing

Edw

ard

Par

k su

rface

and

rill

eros

ion

issu

es h

as b

een

inco

rpor

ated

with

in p

roje

ct d

esig

n.

NC

C +

C

onse

rvat

ion

Volu

ntee

rs A

ustra

lia

$150

,000

20

03 –

200

4 •

gros

s po

lluta

nts

• lit

ter

• se

dim

ent

• er

osio

n •

habi

tat

• co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

1, 2

, 5, 6

, 7, 8

, 9,

11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

18

Page 107: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

101

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

OA

STA

L A

ND

EST

UA

RY

CA

TCH

MEN

TS

CE0

4 M

erew

ethe

r “C

lean

B

each

- C

lean

Stre

et”

Pro

ject

Cou

ncil

in c

olla

bora

tion

with

HW

C w

ill de

liver

co

mm

unity

inte

rven

tion

met

hodo

logi

es w

ithin

th

e ap

prox

. 1 h

a ur

ban

catc

hmen

t abo

ve th

e M

erew

ethe

r Bea

ch s

torm

wat

er o

utfa

ll, in

or

der t

o im

prov

e th

e st

orm

wat

er q

ualit

y th

at

drai

ns fo

rm th

e ca

tchm

ent.

This

cat

chm

ent s

peci

fic in

itiat

ive

is jo

intly

re

sour

ced

by H

WC

, NC

C a

nd lo

cal

busi

ness

es. T

he p

roje

ct w

on th

e N

atio

nal

Sto

rmw

ater

Indu

stry

Ass

ocia

tion

priz

e in

20

04 fo

r Sto

rmw

ater

Edu

catio

n.

NC

C

HW

C

Loca

l bus

ines

ses

Com

mun

ity

Rec

reat

iona

l st

akeh

olde

rs

$10,

000

$9,6

00

in-k

ind

2003

-04

2003

-04

• gr

oss

pollu

tant

s •

litte

r •

sedi

men

t •

eros

ion

• ha

bita

t •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

1, 2

, 5, 6

, 7, 8

, 9,

11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

18

CE0

5 N

obby

’s P

reci

nct

Sto

rmw

ater

Im

prov

emen

t P

rogr

am.

A s

erie

s of

at-s

ourc

e st

reet

inle

t tre

atm

ent

devi

ces

and

sand

filte

r now

rem

ove

all

stor

mw

ater

pol

lutio

n fro

m N

obby

s B

each

. P

rom

otio

n op

portu

nitie

s as

bes

t pra

ctic

e de

mon

stra

tion

will

con

tinue

to b

e de

liver

ed.

Mai

nten

ance

for t

he d

evic

e se

t has

bee

n in

corp

orat

ed w

ithin

exi

stin

g N

CC

par

ks,

stre

et c

lean

sing

and

faci

litie

s m

anag

emen

t op

erat

iona

l are

as. M

onito

ring,

dat

a co

llect

ion

and

asse

ssm

ent w

ill c

ontin

ue.

NC

C

Task

For

ce

• C

S

EP

A T

rust

Gra

nt

Wat

erw

ays

NPC

C

omm

unity

gro

ups

$200

0 pa

est

. (m

aint

enan

ce)

Com

plet

e O

ngoi

ng

mai

nten

ance

• gr

oss

pollu

tant

s •

habi

tat

• he

avy

met

als

• co

mm

unity

in

volv

emen

t •

man

agem

ent

1, 2

, 4, 5

, 6, 7

, 8,

9, 1

0, 1

1, 1

2,

13, 1

4, 1

5, 1

6,

17, 1

8, 1

9

Page 108: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

102

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

C

OA

STA

L A

ND

EST

UA

RY

CA

TCH

MEN

TS

CE0

6 Fo

rt S

crat

chle

y R

edev

elop

men

t and

P

lan

of M

anag

emen

t pr

oduc

tion.

A P

lan

of m

anag

emen

t for

For

t Scr

atch

ley

will

be

deve

lope

d fo

r 200

5. U

WC

M p

rinci

ples

w

ill u

nder

pin

proc

ess

to d

eliv

er im

prov

ed

outc

omes

for s

urfa

ce a

nd s

torm

wat

er

drai

nage

issu

es w

ithin

and

ass

ocia

ted

with

th

e si

te in

the

cont

ext o

f her

itage

and

on

site

co

nsid

erat

ions

.

NC

C

NC

C in

-kin

d 20

03 o

ngoi

ng

• gr

oss

pollu

tant

s •

habi

tat

• lit

ter

• se

dim

ent

• er

osio

n •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

CE0

7 D

ixon

Par

k/Ba

r B

each

“Cle

an B

each

- C

lean

Stre

et”

Pro

ject

Cou

ncil

in c

olla

bora

tion

with

HW

C d

eliv

ered

co

mm

unity

inte

rven

tion

met

hodo

logi

es w

ithin

th

e ur

ban

catc

hmen

t abo

ve th

e D

ixon

Par

k an

d B

ar b

each

sto

rmw

ater

out

falls

, in

orde

r to

impr

ove

the

stor

mw

ater

qua

lity

that

dra

ins

form

the

catc

hmen

t. Th

is c

atch

men

t spe

cific

initi

ativ

e is

join

tly

reso

urce

d by

HW

C, N

CC

and

loca

l bu

sine

sses

. Ext

ensi

on o

f pro

ject

to o

ther

co

asta

l cat

chm

ents

will

be

inve

stig

ated

.

NC

C

HW

C

Loca

l bus

ines

ses

Com

mun

ity

Rec

reat

iona

l st

akeh

olde

rs

NC

C E

levy

H

WC

$10

,000

in

-kin

d

2004

-05

• gr

oss

pollu

tant

s •

litte

r •

sedi

men

t •

eros

ion

• ha

bita

t •

com

mun

ity

invo

lvem

ent

• m

anag

emen

t

1, 2

, 5, 6

, 7, 8

, 9,

11,

12,

13,

14

, 15,

16,

18

Page 109: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

103

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

No.

A

CTI

ON

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Fu

ndin

g Ti

me

fram

e Pr

iorit

y Is

sues

Pr

iorit

y O

bjec

tives

PU

RG

ATO

RY

CR

EEK

CA

TCH

MEN

T PC

01

Inve

stig

ate

and

revi

ew th

e st

orm

wat

er

optio

ns d

efin

ed fo

r Pu

rgat

ory

Cre

ek

with

in th

e M

aitla

nd

SMP

and

inco

rpor

ate

with

in N

ewca

stle

’s

impl

emen

tatio

n pr

ogra

m

The

catc

hmen

t def

ined

by

Pur

gato

ry C

reek

w

ithin

the

New

cast

le L

GA

was

inco

rpor

ated

w

ithin

Mai

tland

CC

’s S

MP

pro

cess

. O

utco

mes

def

ined

for t

he c

atch

men

t will

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Page 110: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

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Page 111: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

105 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Action Table (2000 to date):

Abbreviations AMEIF Australian Municipal Energy Improvement Facility BPPP Business Pollution Prevention Program CGC Community Greening Centre – Newcastle City Council CP Community Partnerships (Newcastle City Council) CS City Strategy (Newcastle City Council) CSP City Services & Presentation (Newcastle City Council) DA Development Application DCP Development Control Plan D&E Development and Environment (Newcastle City Council) DEC Department of Environment and Conservation DIPNR Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources EL Environment Levy EPA Environment Protection Authority, now part of DEC ES Erosion and Sediment ES Executive Services (Newcastle City Council) ET Environment Trust HCR CMA Hunter Central-Rivers Catchment Management Authority HIA Housing Institute of Australia HR Human Resources (Newcastle City Council) HWC Hunter Water Corporation LEP Local Environment Plan LG Local Government LGA Local Government Area LHCCREMS Lower Hunter & Central Coast Regional Environmental Management

Strategy LMCC Lake Macquarie City Council MBA Master Builders Association MCC Maitland City Council NCC Newcastle City Council NEMP Newcastle Environmental Management Plan 2003 NPC Newcastle Port Corporation NCMF Newcastle Catchment Management Forum NRM Natural Resource Management NSW New South Wales POM Plan of Management (Newcastle City Council) P & R Parks and Recreation (Newcastle City Council) RTA Roads and Traffic Authority SEPP State Environmental Planing Policy SEINC Stormwater Education In Newcastle Catchments Project SEIP Stormwater Environment Improvement Program SEO Stormwater Extension Officer SMP Stormwater Management Plan SRA State Rail Authority TCM Total Catchment Management TCTCM Throsby Creek Total Catchment Management TWC The Wetland Centre UWCM Urban Water Cycle Management WSUD Water Sensitive Urban Design

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107 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

PART C

Newcastle's Catchments

Newcastle Catchment Characteristics Newcastle Catchment Descriptions Bibliography Appendix I Appendix II Appendix III Appendix IV Appendix V

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108 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

NEWCASTLE CATCHMENT CHARACTERISTICS

Climate Newcastle experiences a moderate, warm, temperate climate. Mean temperature and rainfall readings are shown in Table 8. Table 8: Temperature and Rainfall Data for the Newcastle Area (Maryville). Annual Mean Maximum Temperature 22.8˚C

Annual Mean Minimum Temperature 14.1˚C

Mean Annual Rainfall 1106.7mm/year

Mean Number of Rain Days/Year 132 days

Soils Most of the Newcastle Local Government Area lies on the Lower Hunter Plain and Awaba Hills physiographic regions. Matthei (1995) described the regions as below:

Lower Hunter Plain

The soils of the Lower Hunter Plain are predominantly Prairie Soils, some Chernozems and Brown Clays, with Humic Gleys in the lower Hunter delta. Solonchacks occur on the tidal flats. The dominant soil landscapes are Hamilton (hm), and Beresfield (be).

Awaba Hills

The soils of the Awaba Hills region are Yellow Podzolic, Soils and Soloths, with some red Podzolic Soils and Brown Podzolic Soils on upper slopes and some Lithosols and Bleached Loams on resistant parent material. In the Newcastle LGA, the dominant soil types of the Awaba Hills Region are Killingworth (ki), Cockle Creek (cc), and Cedar Hill (ce).

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109 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Table 9: Description of the dominant soil landscapes in the Lower Hunter Plain.

Hamilton (hm) Beresfield (be) Soil Landscape Group

Residual- Deep soils have formed from in situ weathering of parent material.

Residual- Deep soils have formed from in situ weathering of parent material.

Landscape Level to gently undulating well-drained plain on Quaternary deposits in the Hunter Plain Region.

Slopes are <2%, elevation is up to 12m, local relief is <1m.

Completely cleared.

Undulating low hills and rises on Permian sediments. Slope gradients 3- 15%

Local relief to 50m. Partially cleared tall- open forest.

Soils Deep, well drained weak Podzols, with some deep, well-drained Brown Podzolic Soils on fans.

Moderately deep (<120cm), moderately well to imperfectly drained. Yellow Podozolic Soils and brown Soloths occur on crests, with moderately deep, well drained Red Podozolic soils and red Soloths on upper slopes, moderately well to imperfectly drained brown Soloths and yellow Soloths on sideslopes and deep, imperfectly to poorly drained Yellow Podzolic Soils yellow Soloths and Gleyed Podozolic Soils on lower slopes.

Qualities and Limitations

Wind erosion hazard, ground water pollution hazard, strong acidity, non-cohesive soils.

High foundation hazard, water erosion hazard, Mine Subsidence District, seasonal waterlogging and high run-on on localised lower slopes, highly acidic soils with low fertility.

Table 8: Description of the dominant soil landscapes in the Lower Hunter Plain.

Residual- Deep soils have formed from in situ weathering of parent material.

Level to gently undulating well-drained plain on Quaternary deposits in the Hunter Plain Region.

Slopes are <2%, elevation is up to 12m, local relief is <1m.

Completely cleared.

Deep, well drained weak Podzols, with some deep, well-drained Brown Podzolic Soils on fans. Wind erosion hazard, ground water pollution hazard, strong acidity, non-cohesive soils.

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110 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Table 10: Description of the dominant soil landscapes of the Awaba Hills Region Killingworth (ki) Cockle Creek (cc) Cedar Hill (ce) Soil Landscape Group

Erosional- Primarily sculpted by erosive action of running water. Soil depth is usually shallow, and its origin is variable and complex. Soil is either absent, derived from in situ weathered bedrock or from water washed parent material.

Alluvial- Formed by deposition along rivers and streams. Parent material is alluvium. Landscapes include floodplains and alluvial deposit.

Colluvial- Affected by mass movement. Parent material consists of colluvial mass movement debris.

Landscape Undulating to rolling hills and low hills on the Newcastle Coal Measures. Elevation 50-160m, local relief 30-100m, slopes are 3-20%. Predominantly uncleared tall open forest.

Narrow floodplains, alluvial fan deposits and broad delta deposits. Slope gradients are 0-2%, elevation is <1-50m, local relief is <1m. Cleared open forest.

Rolling to steep rises on siltstones and sandstones. Local relief is up to 100m, elevation is up to 100m, slopes are 15-40%. Cleared tall open forest.

Soils Shallow to moderately deep, well to imperfectly drained Yellow Podozolic Soils, yellow Soloths, Gleyed Podzolic Soils and Gleyed Soloths on crests and slopes, with shallow, well drained Structured Loams, Bleached Loams and Lithosols on some crests.

Deep, imperfectly to poorly drained yellow Soloths, and Yellow Podzolic Soils on floodplains, deep moderately well to poorly drained Yellow Earths and Grey Earths on delta and fan deposits, with deep, imperfectly to well-drained Yellow Podzolic Soils.

Moderately deep to deep, well to imperfectly drained Brown Podzolic Soils, and moderately deep, well drained Structured Loams.

Quantities and Limitations

High water erosion hazard, Mine Subsidence District, foundation hazard, shallow soils (localised), seasonal waterlogging (localised), sodic, dispersible soils of low wet strength, very strongly acid soils of low fertility.

Flood hazard, water erosion hazard, localised permanently high water-tables and periodic to permanent waterlogging, high run-on, acid, infertile sodic/dispersible soils of low wet strength.

High mass movement hazard, high foundation hazard, steep slopes, Mine Subsidence District, acid soils.

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111 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Geology The geology of the Newcastle area is very complex. The most important feature is the Hunter Fault, a zone of thrust faults trending in a north westerly direction which passes beneath the deep Quaternary sediments of the coastal plain. The Hunter Fault is the boundary between the Permian sediments of the Sydney Basin and Carboniferous system that outcrops to the north-east. The Newcastle Coal Measures consist of a basal formation overlain by four subgroups; Waratah Sandstone - cross-laminated grey brown sandstone at the base; Lambton Subgroup - coal, sandstone, shale, minor conglomerate; Adamstown Subgroup - massive conglomerate, tuff, coal and shale; Boolaroo Subgroup - irregular coal seams, tuff, sandstone and shale. (Adopted from Matthei, 1995).

Topography The land form and natural drainage patterns of the City result from two major influences. Firstly, the Hunter River and associated flat, poorly drained alluvial and estuarine deposits and secondly, the outcrop of sedimentary rocks forming a series of ridges and spurs primarily along the southern sector of the LGA boundary. Notable features include: • A series of steep-sided ridges and spurs with well defined drainage lines along the southern sector;

• Undulating landform generally in the central sector, extending from Jesmond to Shortland and Waratah with defined natural drainage lines generally modified;

• Isolated hills formed by sedimentary outcrops immediately south of Newcastle Central Business District (CBD), these include Obelisk Hill and Shephard's Hill;

• Flat low-lying landforms, including reclaimed swamp areas and estuarine deposits to the west and south-west of Newcastle CBD, with extensive man-made drainage channels;

• Flat areas of Stockton Peninsula formed by levelling coastal sand dunes;

• Flat low-lying alluvial deposits forming Hexham Swamp; and

• Undulating landform on sedimentary rocks along the western sector of the LGA. The rate of soil loss through erosion is related to the length and the gradient of the slope segment within the catchments. Figure 6 shows the Newcastle Local Government Area featuring topography of the region defined by 10 metre contour intervals, within the confines of the data available. Significant waterways, the Hunter River estuary and coastline, and the major transport links are also noted.

Hydrology CEPA (1993) indicate that with the urbanisation of the catchment, major irreversible impacts on hydrology occur. This change increases with the proportion of the catchment converted to impervious surfaces such as roofs, roadways and other paved areas. Land clearing reduces the opportunity for local ponding of surface water and the installation of gutters, pipes and concrete channels also contributes to hydrological change. Compared with the run-off from a forested catchment (2%), the percentage of run-off from an urban catchment may be as high as 98 - 100%.

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112 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Figure 6: Newcastle Catchment Characteristics

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113 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Urban development can have the following effects on hydrology: • Increased run-off volume due to impervious surfaces, resulting in a higher volume of water

reaching drains and water bodies;

• Reduced flow resistance, resulting in "flash-floods" and reducing the time taken to reach peak flow by 50 - 90%;

• High velocity flows wash off and transport a higher amount of solid material into the receiving waters;

• Higher volumes and velocity of run-off can transport many more pollutants into the receiving waters; and

• The timing, quantity and quality of dry weather discharges are altered due to lower levels of groundwater recharge.

Vegetation There are four broad vegetation communities remaining in the City, covering about 40% of the LGA. They include wetlands, remnant bushland, grasslands and coastal grasses. • Terrestrial - the surface of the catchments. There are only a few pockets of remnant bushland in the City, including: • Blackbutt Reserve in the head waters of Throsby Creek catchment

• George McGregor Park and Jesmond Bushland at the headwaters of Ironbark catchment

• the Wentworth Creek sub-catchment at Fletcher, just west of Maryland, within the Ironbark Creek catchment

Glenrock State Recreation Area is also an ecologically valuable site and will be addressed in the catchment-based, stormwater management planning process by Lake Macquarie City Council. Other scattered areas exist in the western half of the City and the south west of Beresfield in the Blackhill locality. Many of these areas are known or likely to provide habitat for some rare plants and animals. Some small isolated packets of littoral and riverine rainforest still survive in these areas. Scattered grasslands are located on the fringes of Hexham Swamp and the western fringes of Kooragang Island. Scattered tree cover is common in these areas, lending to its scenic appeal and providing habitat for birds, bats and arboreal mammals. Coastal grasses are the least well represented of the four main vegetation communities found in the City. (Newcastle Land Use Strategy, 1995) Figure 7 shows the flora and fauna habitat distribution throughout Newcastle City. This map was adapted from the Newcastle Land Use Strategy (1995). • Riparian - surrounding the waterways and drainage channels The waterways that flow through the city in their lower reaches are predominantly formed concrete channels, with little if any ecological integrity or value. Proposals to de-formalise some sections of the concrete drainage channels, to reinstate vegetation and landforms of similar structure to natural riparian habitats, has been a source of discussion within the Catchment Management Committees and community groups.

Riparian Zone

Council’s Creek Assessment Process (CAP) has mapped the creek and riparian zone condition of 48 km or approx. 50% of the estimated natural waterways in the City to date The CAP is primarily a condition audit that is due to be completed in 2005. Data collated from the audit will be incorporated within Councils GIS/Asset database so that prioritization for works can be completed" (see Figure 8). Those drainage lines still in a natural condition within the LGA, often suffer from exotic weed infestation and streambed and bank erosion. Successful re-introduction of native species within the riparian zones will greatly enhance the opportunities for increased "urban biodiversity".

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114 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Wetlands

About half the natural vegetation areas of the City are covered by wetland communities, comprising mangrove forests and salt and fresh water marshes. Most of the wetlands are in Hexham Swamp, on the edge of Fullerton Cove and on Kooragang Island. Much of the wetlands are protected in Nature Reserves managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The wetlands are considered to be some of the most important in NSW, providing habitat for rare and endangered species of birds and mammals, as well as providing valuable fish breeding and feeding within the extensive mangrove forests on the southern shores of the Hunter River. Many kinds of birds visit the wetlands during trans global migration to roost and feed. Many native species are protected by agreements made by Australia with Japan and China and provisions of the National Parks and Wildlife Act. Kooragang and Hexham Wetlands are recognised as internationally significant wetlands under the United Nations Ramsar Convention. Improvements to wetlands are planned throughout Newcastle City, including Kooragang Islands Rehabilitation Project and the Ironbark and Throsby Creek TCM strategies. Perhaps the most significant area of aquatic habitat in the Newcastle area is Hexham Swamp and Ironbark Creek. The Ironbark Creek TCM Strategy included a description of aquatic fauna in the creek and much of the following is taken from that document. A 12 month study by Shephard (1992, in Ironbark TCM, 1996) found 32 species of fish and six species of prawn and shrimp. Of the fish, 11 species were freshwater, 20 saltwater and one euryhalline (sea mullet). When compared with nearby Moscheto Creek a saltwater system, Shephard (1992) classified Ironbark Creek as a freshwater system in terms of composition of fish species and numbers of each species. The mangrove areas in Ironbark Creek were dominated by non-commercial freshwater species such as gobies, gudgeons, the introduced mosquito fish and juveniles of sea mullet. The Throsby Creek TCM Strategy (1989) described the existing environment in the downstream sections of Throsby Creek as a degraded aquatic environment with a depleted fishery, subject to closures on the taking of fish and invertebrates due to a perceived risk of contamination. Water quality investigations indicated that the creek could support a richer aquatic flora and fauna and with appropriate rehabilitation and management, particularly of the inter-tidal and foreshore zones could become a viable, dynamic ecosystem with enhanced habitat qualities. The Throsby TCM Strategy stated that the re-establishment of estuarine inter-tidal flora and fauna would improve the ecosystem and benefit the long term health of the creek.

Photo 9:This shows the Stockton sand spit area that provides valuable habitat for migratory waders, located beside the northern end of Stockton Bridge.

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115 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Figure 7: Flora and Fauna Habitat

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116 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Water Quality In general terms, not enough data has been generated to give any trends, however based on various studies: erosion and sedimentation; gross pollutants; nutrients: heavy metals; litter and microbiological contamination are the major pollutants within the City's waterways. These are typical urban stormwater characteristics. Anecdotal evidence from Clean-Up day sites such as the mangrove area of Throsby Creek, also indicates a limited litter load might be washed upstream on the tide from the Harbour with the find of foreign language labels plastic bottes. Urban runoff contains a complex mixture of pollutants including hydrocarbons from roads, chemicals from tyres, detergents, animal excrement, garbage and many unknown contaminants. For example researchers from the University of Newcastle detected trace levels of abietic acid, a contaminant derived from tyres, in the tissue of the marine gastropod Austrocochlea constricta from a site within Newcastle Harbour. A study conducted by Riley (1999) indicated that the major source of alphiatic hydrocarbons (acid) and the metal cadmium, lead and iron in urbanised environments is from road stormwater runoff, where surface deposition of oil, spilled fuel and exhaust emissions allow increased loading of creeks and rivers. (Hunter Estuary Data Compilation Report, Jan 1999.) Levels of heavy metals in the tissues of oysters deployed for a 3 month period in the entrance to Newcastle Harbour were significantly higher than those found in the tissues of organisms deployed in the entrance of Port Stephens (EPA, 1995). The likely source of contamination is industrial effluent, as well as residential stormwater, discharged into the Hunter Estuary. Sewer surcharge from Hunter Water Corporation’s wastewater transportation system is the subject of performance based on the number of sewer overflow events, where private properties are affected, not exceeding 6,500/ year. The year to date result (as at February 2005) showed 2565 sewer overflow events where private properties were affected. Sewer surcharges or overflows are generally related to either tree root blockages or wet weather conditions. Dry weather surcharges are predominantly the result of tree root blockages and are generally very localised in nature, so environmental impact is usually limited. To address this problem Hunter Water adopts a number of maintenance practices including: • Use of water jetting to clear blockages. This is carried out in conjunction with a camera inspection

(by closed circuit television) to ensure the blockage has been removed;

• Where appropriate full replacement of the failed assets; and

• Where replacement is not warranted the use of chemical root treatment to minimise the opportunity for regrowth of tree roots.

Wet weather surcharges are predominantly caused by ingress of stormwater into the sewerage system. This can be caused by a number of factors with major ones being: • General surface flooding covering access points (eg manholes, shafts, yardsinks) and allowing

stormwater into the system;

• Illegal connection of stormwater (eg off roofs) into the sewerage system;

• Infiltration of groundwater into the sewerage system via cracked pipes; and faulty joints in the Corporation’s sewers and in privately owned house drains.

To address wet weather surcharges Hunter Water has embarked on a significant investigation and capital rehabilitation/upgrade program. This is geared at precisely measuring current system performance, identifying deficiencies and determining remedial actions. This is a long term program of works as the sewerage system is an integrated one. It has to be reviewed holistically or else remedial works might simply move the problem from one location to another. Hunter water’s licences for wastewater effluent discharge quality now incorporate load levels. All Newcastle wastewater plants have recently (as at February 2005) complied with their EPA license load targets for BOD, NFR, pH, Grease, Total Nitrogen, Ammonia, Total Phosphorous and Fecol Coliforms. All beaches also complied with these guidelines.

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117 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Land Use Table 11 below summarises the generic landuse within the City, as at 1998. This breakdown of land use zones has remained unchanged over the last few years. The population in Newcastle is 131,300 (ABS, 1996). The LGA covers 210 sq km comprising some 56,351 properties that attract Council rates. Table 11: Landuse Zoning in Newcastle - by Percentage and Area (State of Environment Report, NCC 1998) Land Use 1998 AREA (ha) 1998 %

Industrial 3,609 17.0

Commercial 200 1.0

Recreational 701 3.5

Urban Bushland 690 3.0

Wetlands 4,210 19.5

Future Urban 1,060 5.0

Rural 1,254 6.0

Mining 1,310 6.5

Total 21,300 100.0 The Lower Hunter Housing Market Study (1993) undertaken for the NSW Department of Planning found adequate land would be available to accommodate an additional 200,000 people in the Lower Hunter. The Government's policy document "Cities for the 21st Century" (DUAP, 1995) predicts an additional 145,000 people will move from Sydney to the Lower Hunter. Sustaining this extra growth will require over 30,000 additional dwellings and 40,000 jobs beyond current baseline projections. The predicted population growth will increase demand on potable water and increase the rate of urbanisation and development in the region. Such development can impact on the health of the catchments and their creek systems through siltation, nutrient and other contaminant loading as a result of urban runoff and sewage discharge. Newcastle's growth is mainly occurring to the west of the City within the Ironbark Creek catchment. The area between Maryland and Minmi has a forecast population of 25,000 people within 20-30 years. The clearing of land for urban development will create significant pressure on the aquatic systems within the catchments.

Photo 10: Highland County is one of the new residential subdivisions within the Wallsend - Minmi growth corridor. In-line water quality control structures such as this pond and outlet structure may provide some water quality improvement, however integrated, at-source control measures (within the lot scale) could provide more sustainable, long term outcomes for the community and the creek.

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118 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

NEWCASTLE CATCHMENT DESCRIPTIONS The following is a compilation of a variety of source documents and personal communication from community members and stormwater managers throughout the Newcastle region. The gaps in our information base are identified and provide clear indications as to where future research and data collection efforts could be considered. The Newcastle catchment contains substantial coastline and estuary regions as a consequence of our location at the mouth of the Hunter River. In the lower reaches of the City's catchment are the flood plains and wetlands of the river's estuary. To the south, a system of ridgelands drain to the estuary along creeklines and drainage channels, through the Cottage, Throsby and Ironbark Creek catchments. These creeklines form three sub-catchments of the Hunter that are nearly wholly contained within the Newcastle local government boundary. To the north Greenways and Purgatory Creeks move through valuable wetland areas in their progress to the Hunter River. For the purposes of stormwater management we have considered seven catchment areas (which can be seen in Part A Figure 3): 1. Ironbark Creek;

2. Throsby Creek;

3. Cottage Creek;

4. the Hunter Estuary;

5. Small Coastal catchments;

6. Part of Purgatory Creek Catchment; and

7. Part of Greenway Creek Catchment. The urbanisation of the City has produced a vast coverage of impervious area over the catchments including a constructed drainage network of roads, pit inlets, pipes and formed channels that have substantially modified the performance of the catchments. However, we have also been able to maintain some sections of our urban creek network in a relatively natural form. Figure 8 below is perhaps a more realistic view of the City’s catchments as it depicts natural creeklines (to the extent that they are currently mapped, see Action Plan #25), road inlets and constructed pipe drainage, concrete lined channels and wetlands. In the Plan preparation process Council has liaised closely with Lake Macquarie City Council in relation to Throsby and Ironbark Creek catchments, and with Maitland City Council in relation to Greenways and Purgatory Creek catchment.

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Figure 8: Newcastle's Catchment Drainage System

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120 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Ironbark Creek Catchment Ironbark Creek is the largest tidal creek draining to the Hunter River in the City. Its catchment covers some 12,500 hectares and has a diversity of landuse, including urban and limited rural residential, industrial and commercial, important transport and communication corridors, recreation, conservation, agriculture, mining, forested land and wetland. The Creek flows from the hills in the south of the catchment, through the suburb of Wallsend before winding its way over a large floodplain known as Hexham Swamp and entering the Hunter River at Sandgate. Hexham Swamp is a fresh water and estuarine wetland which was once the largest predominantly freshwater wetland on the near north coast of New South Wales. The sensitive nature of the wetland and its ecological importance has been recognised with its identification as a State Environment Planning Policy No 14 Coastal Wetland or as it is often referred a SEPP 14 Wetland. Given it is the receiving waters of Ironbark Creek this provides a number of challenges for the way in which we live in this catchment. Figure 9 shows the Ironbark Creek catchment boundary, major suburbs, transport network and the Hunter Water stormwater channels.

Landuse and Urban Development

Urban development since 1824 has resulted in the clearing of approximately 2,000 hectares of land, or approximately 16% of the catchment which is now categorised as urban land. The catchment also consists of 3,800 hectares of swamp land and 6,700 hectares of forests and rural lands. Mount Sugarloaf and the northern section of the Sugarloaf Range extending to Blackhill dominate the western part of the catchment. Most of this area remains forested. The area to the east of Sugarloaf Range and along the southern boundary of the catchment is generally low undulating hills. Much of these eastern and southeastern margins have been developed as residential areas, reflecting the constraints on development imposed by Hexham Swamp and the associated floodplains of the Hunter River. Some urbanised lands are affected by flooding in several localities around the wider Ironbark Creek catchment. In 1991 the population in the catchment was approaching 40,000. Ninety-two per cent of the population, live within the Newcastle City Council area and the balance live mainly in the City of Lake Macquarie Council area. A very small number live in the Cessnock City Council area of the catchment. The catchment is the principal location for new urban development of Newcastle in the Minmi-Maryland corridor. Much of Newcastle's present and future potential urban living areas are within Ironbark Creek Catchment. Urban development has put considerable quantities of sediment and nutrients into the creek and receiving wetlands. The enriched water has encouraged unwanted aquatic plants such as Alligator Weed, which now chokes large reaches of the creek. Major residential areas are expected to be established in parts of the catchment over the next 30 years. Most of this will occur in the Maryland-Minmi corridor but development is also planned at Cardiff Heights, Wallsend, Wallsend South, Glendale and Beresfield. Rural-residential development is expected for the Mt Sugarloaf, Stockrington and Minmi areas. Recreation and conservation are important landuses in the catchment. About 30 per cent of the area is dedicated specifically to these uses. Hexham Swamp Nature Reserve, Mount Sugarloaf Reserve, Jesmond Bushland, Shortland and Waratah Wetlands and the former Wallsend Brickworks constitute the main parcels of recreation and conservation land. Although agriculture is continuing to decline in the area, cattle grazing is carried out over much of the western parts of the catchment. The continuous operation of floodgates on Ironbark Creek since 1971 has prevented entry of tidal water into the swamp system and allowed a large proportion of the Hexham Swamp to also be grazed seasonally. The Hexham Swamp Rehabilitation Project will attempt to reverse these impacts. The project includes the modifying the operation of the floodgates to restore tidal flows, regeneration of wetland native flora and fauna habitats across the swamp and voluntary purchases of effected properties. Improvements to biodiversity, habitat, fish nursery stocks etc are envisaged.

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121 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Such changes in the receiving water of the Ironbark Creek catchment will impact on stormwater treatment train decision making for the whole catchment. Coal mining has been an important industry in the catchment for almost a century and a half. Gretley Colliery, immediately west of Wallsend, is the only mine now in operation. There is a proposal for a small open cut mine in the future. Jesmond and Wallsend have major commercial centres. Smaller centres are located at Elermore Vale and Warabrook. The industrial areas of Hexham, Sandgate, Wallsend and Jesmond are principally involved in local service, automotive, engineering, transport and storage activities. The Hexham dairy factory is the only processing industry. The Main Northern Railway line skirts the northeastern edge of Hexham Swamp, parallel to the Hunter River and an abandoned colliery railway crosses the swamp. The Seahampton to Minmi segment of the Sydney to Newcastle F3 Freeway and the link road between the Freeway and Wallsend traverse the catchment as do several high voltage transmission lines, two water supply lines and a natural gas pipeline. The improved accessibility afforded by the Freeway is likely to generate land use changes, which could in turn place additional pressures on the catchment.

Flood Regimes

The construction and the subsequent one way operation of floodgates over the past two decades at the confluence of Ironbark Creek and the Hunter River have resulted in major environmental and landuse changes. The floodgates at Ironbark Creek have reduced the likelihood of Hunter River floods inundating Hexham Swamp, and almost eliminated tidal exchange, allowing an increase in grazing areas within the Swamp. Simultaneously, the severely limited tidal exchange that has resulted from leaving the gates in a lowered position, even when the Hunter River is not in flood, has degraded the estuarine ecosystem associated with the Creek. A freshwater system with reduced areas of inundation has largely replaced the previous extensive mangrove and saltmarsh plant communities. This has also reduced the nursery areas for fish, prawns and other marine organisms. Previous planning practice did not allow the full consideration of the flood environment, resulting in the development of areas that today would be considered inappropriate. Many flooding problems have now been 'locked in' to the catchment, which has made the management of these problems very difficult. The nature and extent of flooding has also been altered by the process of urbanisation. Flooding from local run-off has become worse as urbanisation increases the extent of 'hard surfaces' (concrete, roads, roofs, paved areas) in upland areas, creating much greater and faster downhill flows. In more recent years many developments have been required to control their runoff to arrest this process. The Blue Gum Hills Stormwater Management Strategy (1996) has addressed the need for an integrated system of urban stormwater management in the proposed developments of the Minmi-Maryland area of the catchment. A program of review and adaptive management change is in place as a quality control process, in an attempt to improve the catchment performance post development.

Water Quality

Water quality in Ironbark Creek is characterised by high nutrient levels with consequent excess plant growth and undesirable variability in dissolved oxygen. The reduced tidal exchange has resulted in oxidation of acid sulphate soils, lowered pH levels in several tributaries and raised soluble iron levels in the local waterways. (Ironbark Creek TCM Strategy, 1996) A briefing from Louise Ormerod (pers. com., 1999) based on her PhD outcomes, as well as her experience gained within urban catchments over the last twelve years, indicated a number of sediment sources within the Ironbark Creek catchment associated with landuse and the channel. Dr Ormoerd’s PhD thesis reported on her studies of Ironbark Creek Catchment using heavy metals and caesium-137 as sediment tracers. These sediment sources included:

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122 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Photo 11: Exposed road verges provide one of many sediment sources which enables the material to make its way through the stormwater system and eventually pollutes the wetland (receiving water body) here in Ironbark Creek catchment. Sediment is also a major issue in Throsby and Cottage Creek catchments.

• Topsoil sources within remnant bushland areas eroded by sheet or rill erosion;

• Subsoil sources, or gully erosion within remnant bushland, associated with walking and bike trails. These were especially bad on steep slopes;

• Urban sources, including material found within urban gutters and drains, and from construction sites within the catchment. Urban gutters and drains were thought to combine all major sources from urban areas; and

• Channel Banks. Erosion associated with altered hydrological responses. Channel sources were found to be the major source of sediment within floodplains and the channel. The second major source tended to be from urban sources. Fine sediments from urban areas are generally flushed through the stream system and are probably deposited within the Hunter Estuary or in Hexham Swamp when overbank flooding occurs there. Because these sediments are the most highly polluted (Horowitz, 1985, Foster and Charlesworth, 1996), they may be toxic to downstream aquatic biota. Gully and topsoil sources were found to be more significant in the upstream portion of the study where drainage lines flowed through a remnant bushland area, near the John Hunter Hospital. The Ironbark Creek Ecosystem report (1993) indicated that: "Water quality in Ironbark Creek is moderate to highly eutrophic. The creek is characterised by high phosphorous levels, undesirable variability in dissolved oxygen and excessive plant growth. Poor quality is evident in tributaries where tidal exchange and salinity have been diminished. Floodplain drainage has also resulted in acid sulphate soil oxidation affecting several tributaries by lowering pH levels and contributing significant quantities of soluble iron to the waterway. In upper catchment areas most drainage channels are observed frequently trapping a substantial amount of litter." A comprehensive and integrated set of recommendations to rehabilitate and conserve the estuarine, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, manage the risks of flooding, reduce nutrient loads and other pollution and erosion were delivered in the Ironbark TCM Strategy (1996). Site visits have indicated that a number of potential pollution sources exist in the catchment including, but not limited to: • Fertiliser use in open space within the catchment;

• Erosion and subsequent sedimentation problems due to unsealed roads and tracks within bushland and urban areas;

• Grass clippings and garden waste dumping in close proximity to channels;

• Sedimentation loads from denuded stream banks, roads and median strips and landscaping stock piles; and

• Large sealed areas around shopping centres and an extensive road network sourcing sediments, litter, heavy metals, grease and oil pollution.

As part of the Hexham Swamp Rehabilitation Project a water quality monitoring program has been established by Hunter Central-Rivers Catchment Management Authority.

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123 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Ecology

Development within the catchment has had numerous impacts on the ecology of the area. A large proportion of the open forest community has been cleared in the upper reaches of the catchment. Forested areas, which remain, are mainly spotted gum - ironbark open forests with wet sclerophyll and rainforest species in protected gullies. (Ironbark TCM, 1996) An assessment of Hexham Swamp in 1992 noted a dominance by common reed, coupled with significant reduction of estuarine communities and community diversity. Between the 1970s and 1992, the aerial extent of mangroves had been reduced from 180 to 20 hectares. (Ironbark TCM, 1996) According to the Ironbark TCM Strategy (1996), a total of 207 species of birds have been recorded in the catchment including the endangered Regent Honeyeater and another eight species considered vulnerable or rare. Six migratory bird species, protected under government agreements with China and Japan inhabit wetlands in the catchment.

Photo 12: Council's Creeks Alive program offers residents the opportunity to get involved in water bug monitoring of their local creeks. All this data along with Council's creek condition assessments is collated to form a 'health report card' for Newcastle's creeks.

Photo 13: Local residents meet at George McGregor Park, Elermore Vale for a guided nature walk through the Park before commencing improvement works. This is one of many sites within Ironbark Creek catchment where active community groups are supported by Council's Creeks Alive Community Support Officer to improve their local creek riparian areas.

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Figure 9: Ironbark Creek Catchment

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125 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

There have been limited studies into the mammal and reptile species in the catchment. NPWS records indicate that 53 mammal and 14 reptile species are expected to occur in the catchment. Nine of the mammal species are listed as endangered and include terrestrial mammals and bats. Eleven frog species, including the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog, have been recorded, mainly in the freshwater communities at the western side of Hexham Swamp. A study in 1992 (in Ironbark TCM, 1996) recorded 32 species of fish and 6 species of prawn or shrimp in Ironbark Creek. 11 of the fish species were freshwater species, 20 were saltwater and 1 was euryhaline (Sea Mullet).

Total Catchment Management

The Ironbark Creek TCM Committee was a robust and active whole of government response to catchment issues that impact on natural resources, including water quality within the catchment and receiving waters. This committee has now been superseded by the Newcastle Catchment Management Forum, as a committee of the Hunter Central-Rivers Catchment Management Authority under NSW government restructure of the Department Infrastructure & Natural Resources. The Newcastle Catchment Management Forum continues to oversee the delivery of natural resources management, however it’s charter now covers all the catchments within the Newcastle LGA boundary. In line with the findings and objectives of the Ironbark Creek TCM Strategy, Council adopted the Blue Gum Hills Stormwater Management Plan covering the areas for proposed urban residential development in the Wentworth Creek sub-catchment. Council’s DCP 50 – Stormwater and Water Efficiency will also add to the enforcement suite for stormwater management design and onsite controls, using current best practice methodology. Community members, Landcare and Bushcare groups work throughout the catchment actively pursuing areas of TCM strategy.

Drainage Channels

Hunter Water controls 2.8 km of stormwater channels in the Wallsend-Plattsburg area. These channels contain the Creek through the commercial area of Wallsend, and lead into Ironbark Creek, south of Minmi Rd. They were constructed primarily in the 1930s with some works continuing in 1989. Hunter Water also controls approximately 5 km of stormwater channels in Dark Creek sub-catchment. These channels drain the more urban areas of the catchment such as Jesmond and North Lambton, and eventually feed into the lower, natural reach of Dark Creek and onto Ironbark Creek. They were also constructed primarily in the 1930’s with some works continuing in1979. Hunter Water’s responsibility also involves the maintenance of the drainage system so that there is no interruption to the flow in the system and the Corporation's assets and the public is not in any danger. The maintenance details include: • Maintenance of the grounds along the drains, in a three weeks cycle from September to April

inclusive and a five weeks cycle from May to August. This includes a minimum distance of three metres measured horizontally from the outside edge of the stormwater channel or as specified;

• Cleaning of the inside of the channels;

• All clippings are collected and removed from the site, including the clippings that have fallen into the drain; and

• Reporting on volumes of any trash and silt removed.

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126 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Throsby Creek Catchment Throsby Creek and its tributaries form a highly modified drainage network that collects stormwater from the major part of central Newcastle and conveys it to Newcastle Harbour. The catchment of the creek covers an area of approximately 3,000 hectares, the majority of which are within the boundaries of Newcastle City Council area. A small section of the upper catchment falls within the Lake Macquarie City Council area. The upper parts of the catchment are bounded in south and south-west by Lookout Road, Charlestown Road and Pacific Highway (to Merewether Heights). The lower catchment is bounded to the north-west by Waratah and Mayfield (West through to East), to the north along a drainage line generally between Maitland Road and Industrial Drive, and to the east and south-east by the suburbs of Wickham, Hamilton and across Broadmeadow Racecourse. Figure 10 shows the extent of the Throsby catchment, major suburbs, transport networks and Hunter Water's stormwater channels. Few places within Throsby catchment remain in a relatively natural state with the majority of the drainage network being channellised in concrete stormwater drains and the landuse predominantly residential. One exception to this is Blackbutt Reserve, which constitutes one of the largest remaining natural bushland pockets in the City, and forms part of the headwaters of the catchment. The area around the old mine at the top of the main channel and the Army reserve east of Brunker Road are two other areas in a relatively natural state. There are a number of active Landcare, Bushcare and community groups in the catchment who work towards achieving protection of the natural values of the catchment. However, heavy use and park infrastructure also contribute to pollution loads within the catchment. Urbanisation of the lower catchment commenced in the mid to late 1800s and continues today with infill developments and small developments in the steeper upper catchment. The majority of urbanisation of the sloping lands of the mid to upper catchment is thought to have occurred during the 1960s and early 1970s. The population of the catchment today is 67,512 - equivalent to 21.4 people per hectare (Wolfenden, 1999), which is quite high by Australian standards, being exceeded only by some densely settled inner suburbs of the main cities. Landuse in the catchment comprises predominantly built environment with only 23% of the catchment existing as bushland or open space. This will clearly influence catchment management techniques that could be constructed. Table 11: Landuse in the Throsby Creek Catchment. (Wolfenden, 1999)

Landuse Area (hectares) Percentage of Catchment

Bushland, mostly regrowth 280 9

Parks and recreational areas 420 14

Built environment (dwellings, commercial and light industrial) 2,450 77

Total 3,150 100

Although the catchment landuse is predominantly residential, the industrial and commercial areas play significant roles in the stormwater issues due to their increased areas of hard surfaces; eg car parks, roof tops and storage yards which provide little infiltration for stormwater. Downstream of Tighes Hill, the creek is tidal. The very low gradients for this part of the Creek create a depositional environment and so sediment accumulates from the catchment. This lower section of the creek flows through the inner city suburbs of Islington, Wickham, Maryville and Carrington and has been the site of major restoration works as part of the implementation of the TCM strategy. $6 million has been spent on dredging in response to the large volumes of sediments that have accumulated over time. Dredged material from the tidal stretches of the creek was estimated at 73,900 cubic meters. Dredge material analysis revealed high levels of iron. (Public Works Department, 1991). It is also in this area, among the mangrove forests along the Carrington foreshore, that litter and other forms of pollution now tend to accumulate.

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Detailed analysis of Throsby Creek catchment relevant to the identification of stormwater issues, including, erosion, sedimentation, foreshore development, hydrology, pollution, ecosystem, sub-catchment delineation and tidal inundation etc appear in: • Throsby Creek TCM Strategy Task Group Reports (1989),

• The revised Throsby Creek Strategy Action Plan (2001); and

• The Throsby Creek Catchment Gross Pollutant Study completed for Hunter Water Corporation by WBM Oceanics (2000).

The Throsby Creek TCM Strategy (1989) was successful in addressing many significant issues within the catchment. Improvement in aesthetic appeal for the tidal section of Creek between Maitland Road and Hannell Street has been spectacular, with the establishment of mangroves, bank vegetation, community access points, bike tracks and art installations. The boardwalk constructed amongst the mangroves between Hannell and Cowper Street Bridges, has added a valuable ecological and recreational asset to the community. The foreshore restoration work carried out by the Honeysuckle urban development, around the old Wool Stores site, has also increased the recreational and aethestic values of this area. Mangroves act as filters in tidal sections of natural ecosystems, so it is no surprise that they also 'filter' litter and other pollutants in an urbanised environment. The Throsby Creek TCM Committee revised the Throsby TCM Strategy (1989) and developed the Throsby Creek Strategy Action Plan (2001) to address heightened community awareness values, and take advantage of new approaches and technologies. This committee has now been superseded by the Newcastle Catchment Management Forum, as a committee of the Hunter Central-Rivers Catchment Management Authority under NSW government restructure of the Department Infrastructure & Natural Resources. The Newcastle Catchment Management Forum continues to oversee the delivery of natural resources management, however its charter now covers all the catchments within the Newcastle LGA boundary. Hunter Water controls 52.75km of stormwater infrastructure in the Throsby Creek network. The drainage network is complex, comprising some 59 branches and sub-branches, and made up of a combination of open channels, pipes and culverts. The infrastructure in Throsby Creek was completed in 1936, with some additional works conducted as late as 1978. Existing stormwater treatment devices installed by Hunter Water include: • One trash rack on the Adamstown Branch, between District Park Tennis Centre and the Westpac

Rescue Helicopter headquarters;

• One “CDS” unit or end of line pollution trap located on the Lambton Branch of the creek, between Energy Australia Stadium and the Hockey Centre, and

• One sediment trap, with a floating boom in the Throsby Creek system located in the Main Channel, between Chin Chen St and Maitland Rd, adjacent to the Tighes Hill TAFE. The floating boom efficiency has been the source of continual improvements as Hunter Water seeks to reduce the impacts of large items such as shopping trolleys and tyres snagging the boom when they reach this point in the channel.

Hunter Water's program of maintenance works in Throsby Creek catchment also includes: • Sediment trap - remove accumulated sediment every 3 months. Estimated 20 cubic metres/ month

material is collected;

• Floating boom at Tighes Hill - inspected weekly and remove accumulated floatable matter. Reinstate boom if broken as soon as practicable. Est. 10 cubic metres/ mth material collected;

• Trash Rack - inspect weekly, clearing material from the screens into the collection area, empty collection area monthly. Est. 3 cubic metres/ mth material collected;

• CDS Unit inspected and remove accumulated material bi-monthly. Est. 10 cubic metres/ mth material collected;

• Reporting on volumes of any litter (and composition) and silt removed;

• Maintenance of the grounds along the drains, in a three weeks cycle from September to April inclusive and a five weeks cycle from May to August. This includes a minimum distance of three metres measured horizontally from the outside edge of the stormwater channel or as specified. All

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128 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

clippings are to be collected and removed from the site, including the clippings that have fallen into the drain; and cleaning the inside of the channels.

Council has undertaken numerous collaborative, integrated stormwater projects, including “at-source” control device trials and education interventions, within the Throsby Creek catchment over the past years. Such projects have produced stormwater quality treatments such as: • Sediment trap device or “baffle-box” in Kotara, that removes an average of 1cubic metre of

sediment per week from system;

• “Natural channel” rehabilitation of eroded creeks & drainage lines such as Kullaibah Reserve and Black Duck Creek that stabilise bed and bank erosion, so removing sediment sources from system;

• Street pit entry covers for the Lambton Shopping Centre to prevent litter, down to cigarette butt size, from entering the drainage system;

• Creek friendly car park designs that infiltrate road runoff prior to entering creek at Community greening Centre, Kotara as well as remove oils/ grease and litter in the case of Energy Australia Stadium car park stormwater inlet devices; and

• Targeted community engagement methodologies such as “Gutter Talk” that have created improved stormwater behaviours, ownership and attitudes when delivered at a street corner or neighbourhood scale.

The delivery of such projects has been influenced by the strategic direction chartered by Council in the preparation of an Urban Water Cycle Management Policy for Newcastle (2004). In addition the outcomes of the Throsby Creek Catchment Gross Pollutant Study (WBM Oceanics, 2000) provided valuable data on the indicative gross pollutant generation across 22 distinct sub-catchments identified for Throsby Creek. See Figure 11.

Photo 14: The Lambton Ker-rai Creek naming ceremony, Lambton Park 2003. Council's stormwater education project in Lambton sub-catchment triggered an active community response that ultimately delivered a naming process for the local creek that runs through Lambton Park. (Ker-rai in Awabakal language means stream). Local residents continue to be involved in planning to improve the natural features and environmental performance of the Lambton Ker-rai.

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Figure 10: Throsby Creek Catchment

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130 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Hunter Water conducts limited stormwater sampling in Throsby Creek, at the Hannell St Bridge. Dry weather samples are taken monthly, with wet weather samples conducted during all significant rain events. This sampling frequency means that the results are skewed by wet weather samples. It is also noted that the samples would represent substantial dilution due to the tidal nature of the Hannell St bridge site. Additionally, the number of samples - around 20 - are insufficient to draw conclusions about the overall quality but can give some indication as to the quality of stormwater. Results are summarised in Table 12 below, and preliminary assessment of the data indicates that: • BOD may not be a concern in regard to stormwater management;

• Dissolved oxygen concentrations remain reasonably constant in dry and wet conditions;

• As expected, faecal coliform levels are higher during rain events;

• Suspended solids levels are of concern in Throsby Creek; and

• Phosphorous and Nitrogen levels appear high if compared to ANZECC guidelines, however ANZECC suggest site specific studies be undertaken to determine desired levels for individual waterways.

In September 1996, Hunter Water, in conjunction with the Hunter Catchment Management Trust undertook a water quality sampling program which included two sediment samples. On October 25, 1996 and March 18 1997, Hunter Water took sediment samples from Throsby Creek, on the Mayfield Branch opposite the Tighes Hill Bridge, and from the main channel near the bowling club. The results are summarised in Table 13. Despite the lack of applicable guidelines for estuarine/marine sediments, results were compared to the Draft EPA Biosolids Guidelines (1995) with respect to recommended exposure settings. All metals, with the exception of lead and zinc, complied with Grade A exposure settings - the highest standard suitable for use in playgrounds and other contact areas.

Photo 15: The Adamstown Branch stormwater channel within Throsby Creek catchment, showing the trash rack that has collected leaves, fast food wrappers, plastic bags, tyres, soft drink bottles and paper. Sediments in the form of mud and dirt also collect behind the grids of the rack. Regular cleaning is required to prevent litter load further down the catchment clogging the grids and hence, sending stormwater over, rather than through the grids, and so carrying its litter.

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Table 12: Summary of Water Quality data for Throsby Creek (Hannell St Bridge)

Unit Dates Samples Mean Max Date Rain

(mm) Min Date Rain (mm)

BOD mg/L 8/5/96 to 20/11/98 5.04 6 18/11/98 101.40 5

DO mg/L 2/7/97 to 20/11/98 6.96 9.1 18/11/98 101.40 3.62 20/11/98 15.4

FC col/ 13/12/95 to 20/11/98 6303 36000 19/11/98 52.40 4 14/1/98 0

SS mg/L 2/7/97 to 20/11/98 61 388 18/11/98 101.40 14 10/8/98 0

14/1/98 0

TON mg/LN 13/12/95 to 20/11/98 0.34 1.6 19/11/98 52.40 0.01 11/3/98 0

TP mg/L P 13/12/95 to 20/11/98 0.12 0.39 10/7/96 0.00 0.016 8/8/96 0

Table 13: Summary of sediment sampling (25-10-96 and 18-3-97) for Throsby Creek Metal Result

Arsenic (As) (mg/kg) 6.9

Chromium (Cr) (mg/kg) 74

Lead (Pb) (mg/kg) 330

Mercury (Hg) (mg/kg) 0.3

Zinc (Zn) (mg/kg) 730

Cadmium (Cd) (mg/kg) 1.3

Copper (Cu) (mg/kg) 110

Nickel (Ni) (mg/kg) 45 Both lead and zinc were somewhat elevated, being classified as Grade C exposure - suitable for use in a residential environment with a substantial vegetable garden. However, both lead and zinc concentrations had reduced slightly from a similar sampling program in 1991. Additional sampling periods are required. Site visits have indicated that a number of pollution issues exist in the catchment including, but not limited to: • Supply and collection frequency of council litter bins in open spaces and the lack of litter barriers

around some channels;

• High litter levels on the streets and in the gutters;

• Litter accumulation amongst the mangroves and tidal sections of the catchment;

• Grass clippings and garden wastes in close proximity to channels; and

• Sedimentation loads from denuded banks, roads and median strips. The responsibility for urban stormwater management within Throsby Creek Catchment is shared between Council, Hunter Water, and Lake Macquarie City Council.

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132 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Figure 11: Throsby Creek Catchment - breakdown into 22 sub-catchments

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133 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Cottage Creek Catchment Cottage Creek catchment covers an area of approximately 800 hectares of medium density residential and commercial development (Willing and Partners, 1984) in the south-eastern section of Newcastle City. It includes the suburbs of Merewether, Hamilton, The Junction and Cooks Hill. Figure 12 shows the extent of the Cottage Creek catchment, major suburbs, transport networks and Hunter Water's stormwater channels. The Merewether Flood Behaviour Study (NCC, 1995) identified that around the turn of the century settlement was primarily single dwelling housing on the lowland areas of the catchment. Some of this area, near the National Park, is reclaimed swamp for which drainage channels were constructed to control flooding. The steep upper regions of Merewether had no development at this early stage. The 1950’s characteristics of the catchment were determined for the Study, from aerial photographs as including: • Merewether Heights was sparsely developed;

• The main residential development was single house dwelling;

• Housing Commission unit blocks were built along Parkway Avenue; and

• Near Nesca Park approximately half of the current residential blocks were developed. The majority of the concrete stormwater drainage channel infrastructure had been constructed by this time. Current changes include increased sites of dual occupied blocks, increased number of unit blocks and increased amounts of impervious areas due to commercial and residential development. Hunter Water currently controls 20.5km of stormwater infrastructure in the Cottage Creek drainage system. A floating boom to trap oils and floating trash on the Cottage Creek discharge point to the Harbour at Wharf Road has been installed and maintained by Hunter Water. Hunter Water's program of maintenance works in Cottage Creek catchment includes: • Floating boom - inspected weekly and remove accumulated floatable matter. Est. 2 cubic metres/

mth material is collected;

• Reporting on volumes and composition of any litter removed;

• Maintenance of the grounds along the drains, in a three weeks cycle from September to April inclusive and a five weeks cycle from May to August. This includes a minimum distance of three metres measured horizontally from the outside edge of the stormwater channel or as specified. All clippings are to be collected and removed from the site, including the clippings that have fallen into the drain; and

• Cleaning of the inside of the channels. Hunter Water also conducts limited stormwater sampling in Cottage Creek at Wharf Rd. Dry weather samples are taken monthly, with wet weather samples conducted during all significant rain events. As is the case for Throsby Creek this sampling frequency means that the results are skewed by wet weather samples and it is also noted that the samples would represent substantial dilution due to the tidal nature of the Wharf Rd site. Additionally, the number of samples - around 20 - are insufficient to draw conclusions about the overall quality. Again, due to these factors, the sampling results should not be used to compare the stormwater quality to standards or guidelines, but can give some indication as to the quality of stormwater. Results are summarised in Table 14, and preliminary assessment of the data indicates that: • Dissolved oxygen concentrations do not appear to be an area of particular concern;

• Faecal Coliforms rise quite sharply during rainfall events;

• Suspended solids concentrations rise during rainfall events; and

• Phosphorous and Nitrogen levels appear high if compared to ANZECC guidelines, however ANZECC suggest site specific studies be undertaken to determine desired level for individual waterways.

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134 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Table 14: Summary of Water Quality Results for Cottage Creek (Wharf Rd)

Unit Dates Samples Mean Max Date Rain

(mm) Min Date Rain

(mm)

TP mg/L P 13/12/95 to 20/11/98 0.175 1.3 16/4/97 5.20 0.02 8/1/97 8.80

TON mg/LN 13/12/95 to 20/11/98 0.547 2.7 06/5/98 21.80 0.01 14/1/98 0.00

SS mg/L 2/7/97 to 20/11/98 37.85 82 11/3/98 0.00 8 20/5/98 20.20

FC col/ 100mL

13/12/95 to 20/11/98

25378.85 4800000 6/5/98 1.84 14/1/98 0.00

DO mg/L 2/7/97 to 20/11/98 7.77 13.1 24/9/97 19.20 5.1 20/11/98 15.40

BOD mg/L 8/5/96 to 20/11/98 5 5 5

The responsibility for urban stormwater management within Cottage Creek Catchment is shared between Council and Hunter Water. The lack of Total Catchment Management Studies for Cottage Creek catchment was identified as a data gap in the Hunter Estuary Data Compilation Report, (Jan, 1999) and a need for comprehensive water quality monitoring, including source point determination capability was identified as a potential future management option. The Newcastle Catchment Management Forum, as a committee of the Hunter Central-Rivers Catchment Management Authority under NSW government restructure of the Department Infrastructure & Natural Resources, now oversees the delivery of natural resources management within the Cottage Creek catchment. The preparation of a Cottage Creek Gross Pollutant Study is timetabled for 2004-05 to assist in prioritisation of target sub-catchments and associated actions.

Photo 16:Newcastle East Public School take part in regular Creeks Alive water quality monitoring for the Cottage Creek catchment as well as education initiatives such as the Cottage Creek 'Catchment Crawl'.

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135 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Figure 12: Cottage Creek Catchment

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136 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Photo 17:Shows the typical array of litter and gross pollutants removed from the trash baskets (Foreshore Park) during the regular cleaning program conducted after rain events (on average every 6 weeks).

Hunter Estuary (Including Kooragang Island, Fullerton Cove, some of City East and the suburb of Stockton.) Of the Harbour and Estuary area, 2926 ha is taken up in the Kooragang Nature Reserve with further areas also recommended for protection. The Reserve covers Fullerton Cove and the north-eastern section of Kooragang Island including, the adjacent intertidal and aquatic areas. It was listed as a RAMSAR Wetland of International Significance in 1984. The Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project was initiated in 1993 to compensate for the loss of fish and other wildlife habitat in the Hunter River Estuary. The project area covers 1560 ha on three sites: Ash Island, Tomago and near Stockton Bridge. The Kooragang Island region is predominantly sandbeds so infiltration of rainfall is significant and hence limits direct stormwater runoff to the estuary. Stormwater runoff occurs mainly from road surfaces in the area and for the purposes of this assessment, is deemed an insignificant source. However, the mangrove forests and either intertidal areas of the Island accumulate significant volumes of gross pollutants, believed to originate in urban stormwater from Hunter River catchments. Pollutants present in urban runoff across the city, represent a significant pressure to the Hunter Estuary. Newcastle City Council has indicated 104 stormwater outlets, which discharge directly to Newcastle Harbour. The vast majority of outlets discharge untreated stormwater with no sediment, nutrient or trash removal. The major outlet located on the Foreshore of the Harbour, and draining the East End Precinct of Newcastle, is screened to remove gross pollutants. Stormwater effluent is not treated at any of the other numerous outlets which discharge into the Estuary. Council has had trash baskets/pits within the stormwater drainage system discharging to the Harbour since 1992. This has been in response to the large amounts of debris i.e. bottles, plastics, paper etc found within the drainage systems and is most evident where drainage lines discharge into waterways and open space areas. There are currently four trash baskets in place, one at Foreshore Park and three in Carrington at Hargreaves and Robertson Streets. Honeysuckle has significantly changed public and residential land adjoining the harbour, bringing heightened levels of enthusiasm for protection of this tidal region of the City. Stormwater quality was one of the issues addressed in the development process with gross pollutant & oil/grease capture designed within the pit drainage for the development, as well as proprietary “CDS” units installed. There are currently three boat launching ramps (Carrington, Stockton and Horseshoe Beach) within the harbour on Crown Land and administered by The Waterways Authority, and two others at Hexham and Kooragang. Carrington and Horseshoe Beach facilities appear to have no pollution control bunding on the ramp or car park facilities for 40 and 30 trailers respectively. Information about the others was not available at time of printing. Many data gaps were identified for the estuary in the Hunter Estuary Data Compilation Report (1999). Some of those relevant to stormwater included: • The effects of stormwater pollution on aquatic biota;

• Contribution of stormwater to hydrocarbon pollution;

• Determination of pollutants present in stormwater runoff and there sources e.g. abietic acid from tyres;

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137 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Photo 18: The Kooragang Island Rehabilitation Program staff and volunteers seen here hard at work, have changed the Island over the past 10 years from degraded habitat, to offering important sites for the migratory wader populations, in these internationally significant wetland areas that surround the City.

Photo 19: Areas of the Estuary such as the sand spit at Stockton provide the Sharp-tailed and Curlew Sandpiper with welcome refuge.

• Sewage system overflows;

• Leachates from dump sites; and

• A GIS system that allows the integration of layers of physical environment with biological and social environment adjoining the estuary.

The responsibility for urban stormwater management within the estuary is shared between Council, Hunter Water, NSW Fisheries and Newcastle Port Corporation.

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138 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Photo 20: The headwall of the stormwater outfall at Merewether Beach

Coastal Catchments This region is limited to those areas of coastal runoff that drain directly to the ocean. This includes such areas as: • Cliffs and headlands including Murdering Gully;

• Beaches from north to south including Stockton, Nobby's, Newcastle, South Newcastle, Susan;

• Gilmore, Dixon Park, Bar, Merewether and Dudley;

• Ridge Street drainage; and Watt Street drainage. The Newcastle Bight is perhaps the most significant coastal resource in the Hunter Region. About 5% of Newcastle Bight is in Newcastle City and is developed as the suburb of Stockton. The coastal zone is generally fully urbanised south of the Hunter River ie; there is no dune system as such remaining. The only exception to this is the predominantly natural bushland setting of Murdering Gully and its foredune system including Burwood Beach, even though it is the site of Hunter Water's main waste water treatment works in the Newcastle area. This region having less than 1000 residents is not considered in this current urban stormwater management plan. There are 11 stormwater drainage outlets in the coastal zone discharging directly to beaches and headlands. These outlets are identified in Figure 13 (WBM Oceanics Australia, 1999). Remedial works to combat erosion problems are required at several outlets. The stormwater drain outlet at Newcastle Beach has been removed in the past year and the drainage redirected to the Hunter River at Newcastle East. The coastal stormwater discharges can form ponds when the beach is in a depositional phase with a high beach berm preventing water from flowing into the ocean. The quality of the stormwater runoff in terms of bacterial and virus counts is still not determined and has been identified as part of our data gap. However, parents often see these ponds as a safe alternative for their children to swim in, and as a result, put their children in danger of contracting water borne diseases if contaminated stormwater is an issue. Photo 12 shows the headwall of the stormwater outlet that discharges directly onto Merewether Beach. Newcastle City Council provides beach cleaning, litter collection and a foreshore maintenance program as part of its beach maintenance program. Council in conjunction with government agencies, industry and the community have recently convened a Coast and Estuary Management Committee to more clearly identify and manage those issues and pressures that impact on the natural resources within the coastal zone. Water quality sampling has been undertaken by Hunter Water in the Coastal Zone. Numerous data collection days by Streamwatch volunteers has also occurred. Preliminary results of the Streamwatch project indicate that the levels of phosphorus are routinely high in the city, while Council and Hunter Water did analysis and confirmed the impact of faecal contamination in stormwater flows, which reach the beach. Council has undertaken water quality testing at the saltwater baths for many years and results over the previous year indicate 100% compliance level against faecal coliform standards. There still remains the need for assessment by the Coastal Estuary Management Program with

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139 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Photo 21: Interpretative signage at the Nobbys Beach sandfilter.

Photo 22: Merewether Clean Streets Clean Beach Project (2003-04) was the first of the coastal catchment, stormwater education projects sponsored by Hunter Water Corporation and conducted by Newcastle City Council. Surveys revealed significant changes in positive behaviours of local residents as shown here, 'pledging' to use their new brooms to sweep their gutters, as part of the Merewether 'Gutter Talk' education day.

respect to comprehensive water quality monitoring requirements in this zone. Council has undertaken a number of stormwater initiatives jointly with Hunter Water, the community and local stakeholders in the coastal zone: • The first project the Nobbys “Street to Beach” Project developed a model for a practical approach

in integrating aging infrastructure and existing resources with a program of new technology works and education initiatives. Pollutant loads included large amounts of litter, hydrocarbons and heavy metals from roads and carparks plus bacteria and nutrients from dog droppings. Nobbys is one of the few sites in Australia to trial innovative sandfilter technology in the treatment of stormwater pollution. The outcome was an integrated works and education program that removed stormwater pollution all together from Nobbys beach. . The Project has been recognised as the NSW champion in innovative pollution controls in Clean Beach Challenge (2002).

• The work continued into 2002-03 with Merewether “Clean Streets- Clean Beach” project that adopted the “Gutter Talk methodology developed by Council staff to engage local residents in positive stormwater behaviours. The project received the Stormwater Industry Association National Community Education Award in 2004 and set the scene for continuing projects in the Dixon Park and Bar Beach areas.

The responsibility for urban stormwater management within this coastal region is shared between Council and Hunter Water.

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140 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Figure 13: Coastal Zone Stormwater Outlet Locations

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141 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Greenway and Purgatory Creek Catchments Greenways Creek enters the Hunter River estuary about 5 or 6 km upstream of Hexham Bridge. The majority of the creek’s catchment is used for rural pursuits, however there are large areas of bushland and some significant urban areas. Woodberry, Beresfield and Thornton all fall within the catchment, which extends south through bushland to Black Hill. The catchment has an area of 5340 hectares. Scotch Dairy Creek and Weakley’s Flat Creek are the major tributaries that run into Woodberry Swamp, which in turn is drained by Greenways Creek. Woodberry Swamp is a large feature at the bottom of the catchment and is listed as a SEPP 14 wetland. Land use of the catchment since 1966 is shown in table 15 below. Table 15: Landuse and Development Since 1966 Land Use 1966 (%) 1975(%) 1993(%) 1998(%)

Bushland 44% 37% 33% 31%

Poultry Sheds 0% 4% 4% 4%

Urban General 2% 7% 10% 12%

Industrial 1% 1% 1% 5%

Grazing & Rural Residential 40% 40% 40% 34%

Cropping 4% 4% 4% 4%

Wetlands 9% 7% 8% 8% The catchment that existed within Greenways, 4-Mile and Millers Forest catchments had a population of 28,000 in 1998. The main population centres in the catchment are Thornton, Beresfield and Woodberry. Large industrial areas are located at Thornton and Weakleys Flat, which is currently being expanded. The main agricultural pursuit in the catchment is grazing, however there is also a large chicken farming operation in the upper catchment. Two types of flooding occur in the catchment. Flooding from the Hunter River and local catchment flooding. The construction of levees along the Hunter River has protected the floodplain areas from nuisance flooding associated with small, frequent Hunter River floods as well as from tidal surges. The flood drains constructed in association with the levees also provide a mechanism for drainage of localised flooding / runoff from the floodplain. The agricultural productivity of the floodplain is, therefore, likely to have improved significantly as a result of the levees and drainage, however the altered hydrologic regime is likely to have had a significant effect on natural ecological processes. Anecdotal evidence suggests that since the 1960’s urbanisation of the catchment and silting of the flood drains have combined to increase the frequency and extent of inundation of low lying areas particularly in Woodberry Swamp. The Newcastle Catchments Management Forum has recently extended its area of interest to cover Purgatory and Greenways Creek Catchments. Figure 3 indicates the Purgatory and Greenways Creek Catchments boundaries in relation to the Newcastle LGA boundary. It is envisaged that projects addressing various issues will be established, as funding becomes available, in collaboration with Maitland and Cessnock City Councils. The Newcastle Catchment Management Forum is currently recruiting a local representative from the area to participate in the process.

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142 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), (1996), 1996 Census.

ANZECC & ARMCANZ, (1994), National Water Quality Management Strategy, Draft Guidelines for Urban Stormwater Management, Commonwealth of Australia.

Armstrong, J.W. (1967), Pipelines and People: The Hunter District Water Board. Halstead Press: Sydney.

CEPA, (1993), Urban Stormwater - A Resource Too Valuable to Waste.

Gippel, T. and S. Priestly (1998), Catchment Management Plan: Woodberry, Morpeth-Tenambit and Millers Forest Catchments, a report prepared for Maitland City Council and Maitland Landcare Group.

Hunter Water Corporation - Management Services, (1999), Outcomes Document of the Community Workshop for the Newcastle Urban Stormwater Management Plan for Newcastle City Council - 21/4/99.

Ironbark Creek TCM Committee, (1993), The Ironbark Creek Ecosystem Report, ed by C Copeland, NSW Fisheries, Sept 1993, pub HCMT.

Ironbark Creek TCM Committee, (1996), Ironbark Creek TCM Strategy, Volume 1, Summary Report.

Ironbark Creek TCM Committee, (1996), Ironbark Creek TCM Strategy, Volume 2, Technical Report.

Matthei, L. E.,(1995), Soil Landscapes of the Newcastle 1:100 000 Sheet.

New South Wales Environment Protection Authority, (1996), Hunter Environmental Monitoring Program 1992-1996.

New South Wales Environment Protection Authority, (1997), Managing Urban Stormwater: Treatment Techniques, EPA.

New South Wales Department of Land & Water Conservation, (1999), Hunter Estuary Data Compilation Report, compiled by E Avery & R Main, Hunter Region.

New South Wales Department of Planning, (1993), Lower Hunter Housing Market Study.

New South Wales Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP), (1995), Cities for the 21st Century.

New South Wales Public Works Department, 1991, Throsby Creek Dredging and Rehabilitation - Chemical Characteristics of Sediments.

New South Wales Government, (1993), Local Government Act.

New South Wales Government, (1979) Environment Planning and Assessment Act.

Newcastle City Council, (1995), Newcastle Environmental Management Plan.

Newcastle City Council, (1995), Newcastle Land Use Strategy.

Newcastle City Council, (1995), Merewether Flood Behaviour Study, prepared by Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation Ltd.

Newcastle City Council, (1998), Newcastle Urban Strategy.

Newcastle City Council, (1999), draft Local Environment Plan.

Omerod, L., (1999), briefing on PhD thesis concerning Sedimentation in Ironbark Creek Catchment.

Throsby Creek TCM Committee, (1989), Throsby Creek TCM Strategy, Volume II, Task Group Reports.

WBM Oceanics Australia, (1999), Newcastle Coastline Hazard Definition Study.

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143 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

WBM Oceanics Australia, (2002), Throsby Creek Catchment Gross Pollutant And Sediment Study, for Throsby Creek TCM Committee.

Willing and Partners, (1984), Cottage Creek Drainage System Final Report, for the Hunter District Water Board.

Wolfenden J. A. J.,(1999), "A Transdisciplinarian Approach to Integrated Resource Management: A Pragmatic Application of Ecological Economics", unpublished PhD dissertation, University of New England.

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144 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

General Reference Material Aebi, S., (1997), Investigation into the Removal of Gross Pollutants from an Urban Catchment.

ANZECC (1992), Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters, ANZECC, Canberra.

Bischof, H., (1998), Reinstating Feature of a natural Stream along a Channelised Tributary of Styx Creek, Newcastle, NSW, Honours Thesis to Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Newcastle.

Engineers Australia (2003), Draft Australian Runoff Quality.

Foster, I.D.L. and Charlesworth, S.M. (1996), 'Heavy metals in the hydrological cycle: trends and explanation', Hydrological Processes, 10, 227-261.

Gippel, T & Priestly, S., (1998), Catchment Management Plan: Woodberry, Morpeth-Tenambit and Millers Forest Catchments, for Maitland City Council and Millers Forest Catchments.

Heath Carney (1998), Pilot Stormwater Management Plan, unpub findings.

Horowitz, A.J. (1985), 'A primer on trace metal-sediment chemistry', US Geological Survey Water Supply Paper, 2277.

Hunter Catchment Management Trust, (1999), Draft Business Plan, 1999-2000.

Hunter Catchment Management Trust, (1999), Draft Strategic Plan, 1999-2000.

Hunter Water Corporation, (1998), Customer Survey.

Hunter Water Corporation, (1998), Environmental Annual Report.

Joint initiative of Newcastle City Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, Hunter Water Corporation, Hunter Catchment Management Trust, Environmental Protection Authority & Throsby Land Care, (1995), Pilot Throsby Creek Catchment Stormwater Management System, Stage 1, Evaluation Report.

Leeming, R. (1997), Use of Faecal Sterols and Bacterial Indicators to Discriminate Sources of Faecal Pollution Entering Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, NSW. CSIRO Division of Marine Research - Report 96 - HWC1.

Newcastle City Council, (1993, 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98), State of the Environment Reports.

Newcastle City Council, (1993/94), Clean Waters Program, community leaflet and education package.

Newcastle City Council, (1996), Wentworth Creek Stormwater Management Strategy.

Newcastle City Council, (1998), Local Companion Animals Management Plan, Draft.

Newcastle City Council, (1998), Newcastle Strategic Directions.

Newcastle City Council, (1998), Newcastle Sustainability Indicator Program.

Newcastle City Council, (1998), Streamwatch preliminary results.

Newcastle City Council, (1999), Stormwater Management for Development Sites, Draft Development Control Plan 50.

Newcastle City Council, (1999), Newcastle, Creating a Stormwater Management Plan, April.

New South Wales Department of Planning, (1993), Better Drainage.

New South Wales Department of Land & Water Conservation, (1999), Hunter Estuary Data Compilation Report, compiled by Avery E. & Main R., Hunter Region.

New South Wales Environment Protection Authority, (1993), Environment Matters - Water: Stormwater Pollution from Building Sites.

New South Wales Environment Protection Authority, (1994), Regulation of Urban Stormwater - A framework for effective co-ordination and co-operative management, Total Catchment Management Sources for the EPA.

New South Wales Environment Protection Authority, (1996), Managing Urban Stormwater: Strategic Framework, Draft, prepared by EPA for the State Stormwater Co-ordinating Committee.

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145 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

New South Wales Environment Protection Authority, (1997), Managing Urban Stormwater: Council Handbook, Draft.

New South Wales Environment Protection Authority, (1998), Managing Urban Stormwater: Source Control, Draft, EPA.

Patterson Britton & Partners, (1996), Initial appraisal of contaminant inputs to Newcastle Harbour.

Poo-Llutions Newsletter, 1998.

Six Council Steering Committee, (1995), Lower Hunter Regional Environmental Management Strategy.

Six Council Steering Committee, (1995), Lower Hunter Regional Environmental Management Strategy, Feb & March 1995, Community Consultation.

Throsby Land Care, (1998), Throsby Creek Tidal Reaches Draft Plan of Management.

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146 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Appendix I Figure A: Flowchart of the planning phase process used in producing the Newcastle

Stormwater Management Plan (adapted from EPA, 1997).

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147 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Appendix II Draft excerpt from the RTA Stormwater Environmental Improvement Plan, 1999. The following excerpt provides some detail on the process that the RTA will instigate with respect to stormwater issues across all Council's and presumably applying to the actions identified by the RTA in Table 6 for the Newcastle district. "General Options: Many SMP's received from councils identified that the RTA should contribute to a number of common identified similar actions, such as: • Development of a hazardous spill response

• Street Sweeping

• Identification of road runoff pollutants

• Continued participation in the SMP process

• In house training in stormwater management

• Review Maintenance Practices In order to address these general options raised by council and provide a uniform approach by the RTA, in addressing stormwater management, the RTA will: • Develop a work instruction for response to hazardous spills for implementation throughout the RTA.

• Further investigate the use of street sweeping as stormwater pollution control measure.

• The development of the RTA Water Quality Prioritisation and Cost Apportionment Methodology for Stormwater Management Plans has identified the road runoff pollutants and the indicative amount of those pollutants.

• Will continue to participate with councils in the SMP process by attending committee meetings and providing appropriate information.

• The Environment and Community Policy Branch of the RTA is developing a training course for RTA staff and contractors, in conjunction with Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) in management of stormwater.

• Review current maintenance practices to reduce the adverse impact on stormwater. In addition the RTA will identify what stormwater pollution control devices have been installed on State roads and develop appropriate maintenance schedules for them. The RTA will also investigate suitable options for treatment of runoff from State roads”.

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ance

.

Page 154: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

149

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

REF

A

CTI

ON

R

ESPO

NSI

BIL

ITY

FUN

DIN

G

TIM

E FR

AM

E IS

SUES

A

DD

RES

SED

PR

OG

RES

S

Exi

stin

g co

mm

itmen

t P

rovi

de C

ounc

il w

ith w

ater

qua

lity

mon

itorin

g da

ta c

olle

cted

by

Hun

ter W

ater

fo

r sew

er c

atch

men

t lic

ensi

ng

HW

C

Inco

rpor

ated

in

recu

rrent

bu

dget

Jul 9

9 –

ongo

ing

Sta

keho

lder

co

mm

itmen

t In

form

atio

n is

pro

vide

d pe

riodi

cally

an

d as

requ

este

d.

Exi

stin

g co

mm

itmen

t P

artic

ipat

e in

cat

chm

ent m

anag

emen

t co

mm

ittee

s su

ch a

s N

ewca

stle

Cat

chm

ent

Man

agem

ent F

orum

and

NC

C C

oast

al a

nd

Est

uary

Com

mitt

ees

HW

C

Inco

rpor

ated

in

recu

rrent

bu

dget

Jul 9

9 –

ongo

ing

Sta

keho

lder

an

d co

mm

unity

m

anag

emen

t of

sto

rmw

ater

is

sues

The

Cor

pora

tion

is c

omm

itted

to

cont

inue

d re

pres

enta

tion

on th

e no

min

ated

com

mitt

ees.

Exi

stin

g co

mm

itmen

t C

ontin

ue to

sup

port

com

mun

ity e

duca

tion

and

parti

cipa

tion

thro

ugh

the

Stre

amw

atch

P

rogr

am

HW

C

$8,0

00 p

er

year

Ju

l 99

– on

goin

g C

omm

unity

un

ders

tand

ing

of s

torm

wat

er

pollu

tion

issu

es

HW

C p

rovi

de fu

ndin

g to

HC

MT

tow

ards

Stre

amw

atch

offi

cer s

alar

ies

and

supp

ly o

f equ

ipm

ent.

(Bru

ce

Pet

erse

n)

Exi

stin

g co

mm

itmen

t P

rovi

de tr

aini

ng to

Hun

ter W

ater

offi

cers

in

eros

ion

and

sedi

men

t con

trol p

rinci

ples

and

m

etho

ds.

HW

C

$5,0

00 p

er

year

A

ug 9

9 -

ongo

ing

Ero

sion

and

se

dim

enta

tion

An

inte

rnal

trai

ning

cou

rse

(Cou

rse

No.

50)

is p

rovi

ded

for H

WC

em

ploy

ees.

Page 155: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

150 Newcastle Stormwater Management Plan 2004

Appendix IV Abbreviations

AMEIF Australian Municipal Energy Improvement Facility ANZECC Australian & New Zealand Environment & Conservation Council BOD Biological Oxygen Demand BPPP Business Pollution Prevention Program CEPA Commonwealth Environmental Protection Authority CGC Councils Community Greening Centre CP Community Partnerships (Newcastle City Council) CS City Strategy (Newcastle City Council) CSP City Services & Presentation (Newcastle City Council) DA Development Application DCP Development Control Plan DE Development and Environment (Newcastle City Council) DEC NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (former Environmental

Protection Authority (EPA) and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) DIPNR NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (former

Department of Land and Water Conservation, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning and Environmental Protection Authority)

EL Environment Levy EMS Environmental Management System ESD Ecologically Sustainable Development GPT Gross Pollutant Trap HIA Housing Institute of Australia HCRCMA Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter

Catchment Management Trust) HIA Housing Institute of Australia HWC Hunter Water Corporation LGA Local Government Area LHCCREMS Lower Hunter & Central Coast Regional Environmental Management

Strategy LMCC Lake Macquarie City Council MBA Master Builders Association MCC Maitland City Council NCC Newcastle City Council NEMP Newcastle Environmental Management Plan 2003 NPC Newcastle Port Corporation NSW New South Wales RTA Roads and Traffic Authority SEIP Stormwater Environment Improvement Program – Hunter Water Corporation SEO Stormwater Extension Officer – Hunter Region SMP Stormwater Management Plan SRA State Rail Authority TCM Total Catchment Management TCTCM Throsby Creek Total Catchment Management TWC The Wetland Centre UWCM Urban Water Cycle Management WSUD Water Sensitive Urban Design TAFE Technical and Further Education TCM Total Catchment Management TLC Throsby Land Care

Page 156: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

151

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

App

endi

x V

N

ewca

stle

Sto

rmw

ater

Man

agem

ent P

lan

2000

Act

ion

Plan

del

iver

y - s

tatu

s re

port

as

at J

une

2003

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

City

Wid

e A

ctio

ns

01

Con

tinue

to re

fine

and

impl

emen

t a c

apac

ity

build

ing

prog

ram

for

Cou

ncil

offic

ers

invo

lved

in

activ

ities

that

impa

ct th

e ur

ban

wat

er c

ycle

m

anag

emen

t, pa

rticu

larly

st

orm

wat

er.

LHC

CR

EM

’S E

PA

4th rn

d S

torm

wat

er T

rust

Gra

nts

will

deve

lop

and

impl

emen

t tra

inin

g pr

ogra

ms

to im

prov

e th

e ca

paci

ty o

f cou

ncil

offic

ers

to m

anag

e va

rious

as

pect

s of

urb

an w

ater

cyc

le u

tilis

ing

WS

UD

prin

cipl

es s

houl

d be

ava

ilabl

e fo

r im

plem

enta

tion

at th

e en

d of

the

2003

. Cou

ncil

will

als

o de

liver

a s

erie

s w

orks

hops

, cov

erin

g pr

iorit

y op

erat

iona

l are

as o

f Cou

ncil,

in a

dditi

on to

the

LHC

CR

EM

’s p

rogr

am. P

artic

ipat

ion

in in

dust

ry c

ompe

tenc

y pr

ogra

ms

incl

udin

g TA

FE S

torm

wat

er T

rain

ing

& S

IA w

orks

hops

is a

lso

bein

g un

derta

ken.

Com

plet

e &

on

goin

g

LHC

CR

EM

S

NC

C:

Dev

elop

men

t & E

nviro

nmen

t (D

&E

) C

ity S

trate

gy (C

S)

City

Ser

vice

s &

Pre

sent

atio

n (C

SP

) Tr

aini

ng

02

Com

mun

ity e

duca

tion

disp

lays

and

wor

ksho

ps –

ev

ents

bas

ed e

g S

umm

erhi

ll co

mm

unity

ga

rden

site

, Gre

enin

g C

entre

, Fig

tree

Pla

ce,

Eco

hom

e an

d W

ater

Wee

k.

Goo

d “s

torm

wat

er/ c

reek

, bus

hlan

d &

/or w

etla

nd n

eigh

bour

” beh

avio

ur n

ow a

ll co

vere

d in

dis

play

s th

at a

re a

vaila

ble

for C

ounc

il co

mm

unity

faci

litie

s.

Ong

oing

N

CC

: S

umm

erhi

ll fa

cilit

y D

&E

C

CS

C

omm

unity

Dev

elop

men

t (C

D)

CS

P

Page 157: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

152

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

City

Wid

e A

ctio

ns

03

Dev

elop

and

impl

emen

t the

N

ewca

stle

Urb

an C

ode

- S

torm

wat

er

The

New

cast

le U

rban

Cod

e (n

ow k

now

as

New

cast

le C

onso

lidat

ed D

CP

) is

cont

inui

ng to

evo

lve,

inco

rpor

atin

g ur

ban

wat

er c

ycle

and

sto

rmw

ater

co

nsid

erat

ions

for t

he C

ity th

at w

ill be

con

side

red

by C

ounc

il in

Nov

embe

r 20

03 in

clud

ing:

U

WC

M p

olic

y

Floo

d po

licy

and

atla

s m

appi

ng

Floo

d D

CP

55

Sto

rmw

ater

DC

P 5

0 fo

r dev

elop

men

t and

rede

velo

pmen

t inc

orpo

ratin

g E

rosi

on

& S

edim

ent P

reve

ntio

n ob

ject

ives

N

ewca

stle

Sto

rmw

ater

Man

agem

ent P

lan

2003

revi

sion

Th

e po

licy

pack

age

impl

icat

ions

for d

evel

opm

ent a

nd n

atur

al re

sour

ce

man

agem

ent w

ill al

so b

e co

nsid

ered

with

in th

e re

visi

on o

f LE

P in

Sep

tem

ber

2004

.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

: C

S

D&

E

CS

C

SP

Ta

sk F

orce

N

CC

: C

S

D&

E

CS

C

SP

Ta

sk F

orce

04

R

evie

w o

f wat

er c

ycle

co

nsid

erat

ions

C

ounc

il ha

s m

ade

a m

ajor

inve

stm

ent i

n th

e de

velo

pmen

t of a

pol

icy

set t

hat

reco

gniz

es th

e sy

stem

s ba

sed

appr

oach

requ

ired

to c

onsi

der t

he fu

ll ra

nge

of

impa

cts

acro

ss a

ll fu

nctio

nal a

reas

of C

ounc

il in

the

man

agem

ent o

f wat

er in

th

e C

ity. T

he p

olic

y pa

ckag

e to

be

cons

ider

ed b

y C

ounc

il in

Mar

ch 2

004

inco

rpor

ates

that

mile

ston

e ar

eas

of fl

ood,

sto

rmw

ater

and

wat

er e

ffici

ency

co

nsid

erat

ions

whe

re p

olic

y ha

s be

en fu

lly a

sses

sed

as w

ell a

s hi

ghlig

htin

g th

e en

viro

nmen

tal f

low

issu

es th

at re

quire

futu

re p

olic

y de

velo

pmen

t..

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

Tas

k Fo

rce

that

incl

udes

: D

&E

C

S

CS

P

Com

mun

ity P

artn

ersh

ips

(CP

) Tr

aini

ng

05

Ero

sion

and

Sed

imen

t C

ontro

l DC

P C

urre

nt d

evel

opm

ent o

f DC

P 5

0 st

orm

wat

er fo

r all

new

& re

deve

lopm

ent i

n th

e C

ity in

corp

orat

es E

rosi

on a

nd S

edim

ent p

reve

ntio

n di

rect

ion

for d

evel

opm

ent.

As

part

of th

e E

nviro

nmen

t Lev

y (E

L) a

n er

osio

n an

d se

dim

ent c

ontro

l co

mpl

ianc

e of

ficer

as

wel

l as

train

ing

and

awar

enes

s ra

isin

g fo

r ind

ustry

and

co

unci

l sta

ff w

ill b

egin

in 2

003

and

will

be

ongo

ing

for d

urat

ion

of E

L (2

007)

.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

: D

&E

C

S

Task

For

ce

Page 158: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

153

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

City

Wid

e A

ctio

ns

06

Cou

ncil

and

Hun

ter W

ater

C

orpo

ratio

n st

orm

wat

er

man

agem

ent s

tand

ards

for

new

and

rede

velo

pmen

t.

Cou

ncil

and

Hun

ter W

ater

Cor

pora

tion

have

wor

ked

coop

erat

ivel

y on

man

y de

mon

stra

tion

proj

ects

sin

ce 1

999.

Cou

ncil

have

pro

gres

ses

the

deve

lopm

ent

of D

CP

50

– st

orm

wat

er c

onta

inin

g w

ater

qua

lity

stan

dard

s an

d gu

idel

ines

that

ca

n be

use

d to

pro

gres

s th

e de

velo

pmen

t of s

hare

d or

gani

satio

nal s

tand

ards

/ gu

idel

ines

for s

torm

wat

er m

anag

emen

t at n

ew a

nd in

fill d

evel

opm

ent s

ites.

Ong

oing

N

CC

: C

S

D &

E

HW

C

07

Eco

logi

cal a

ccou

ntin

g fra

mew

ork

for n

atur

al a

sset

m

anag

emen

t

The

LHC

CR

EM

S e

colo

gica

l acc

ount

ing

fram

ewor

k fo

r nat

ural

ass

et

man

agem

ent p

roje

ct h

as n

ot p

rogr

esse

d.

Dis

cont

inue

d LH

CC

RE

MS

08

Ref

ine

and

impr

ove

NC

C

Ope

ratio

ns- S

torm

wat

er

Cou

ncil’s

Sto

rmw

ater

Tas

k Fo

rce

has

com

plet

ed a

n au

dit p

roce

ss fo

r all

Cou

ncils

func

tiona

l are

as in

rela

tion

to s

torm

wat

er a

ctiv

ities

that

incl

udes

for

exam

ple

park

s &

gard

ens,

stre

et c

lean

sing

, roa

d m

aint

enan

ce, p

it &

dra

in

clea

nsin

g &

flee

t man

agem

ent,

educ

atio

n, c

ompa

nion

ani

mal

pro

gram

, DA

pr

oces

ses

etc.

The

Sto

rmw

ater

Tas

kfor

ce id

entif

ied

E&

S p

reve

ntio

n as

the

prio

rity

area

s fo

r foc

used

atte

ntio

n an

d de

velo

ped

a th

ree-

year

prio

rity

wor

k pr

ogra

m to

add

ress

the

issu

es. T

he S

enio

r Man

agem

ent T

eam

has

end

orse

d th

e w

orkp

lan

for i

mpl

emen

tatio

n.

Com

plet

e &

on

goin

g N

CC

Ta

sk F

orce

09

Dev

elop

and

impl

emen

t a

Cat

chm

ent A

udit

Pro

gram

fo

r hig

h-ris

k co

mm

erci

al

prem

ises

& re

crea

tiona

l fa

cilit

ies

\land

uses

Cou

ncil

has

deve

lope

d a

stor

mw

ater

pol

lutio

n au

dit p

rogr

am ta

rget

ing

high

-ris

k la

ndus

e th

roug

hout

the

catc

hmen

ts. T

he G

riffit

h R

oad

light

indu

stria

l are

a of

Th

rosb

y C

k ca

tchm

ent w

as ta

rget

ed in

itial

ly. P

rogr

am w

ork

plan

s an

d m

ater

ials

w

ere

subs

eque

ntly

mod

ified

and

exp

ande

d to

cov

er a

ll po

llutio

n re

late

d is

sues

an

d ut

ilised

in th

e B

usin

ess

Pol

lutio

n P

reve

ntio

n P

rogr

am (B

PP

P) i

n th

e W

arab

rook

Wet

land

s P

roje

ct in

200

2-03

. B

PP

P w

ork

plan

s an

d m

ater

ials

hav

e be

en p

rodu

ced

for u

se c

ity-w

ide.

To

date

bot

h W

ickh

am a

nd M

aryl

and

Indu

stria

l are

as h

ave

been

aud

ited.

Ove

r 100

aud

its h

ave

been

com

plet

ed in

th

is p

rogr

am to

dat

e.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

: D

&E

C

D

CP

Page 159: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

154

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

City

Wid

e A

ctio

ns

10

Con

tinue

to re

fine

a co

mpr

ehen

sive

Sto

rmw

ater

A

sset

regi

ster

for a

ll ca

tchm

ents

Sto

rmw

ater

trea

tmen

t dev

ices

& in

frast

ruct

ure

have

bee

n au

dite

d th

roug

h on

-gr

ound

insp

ectio

n an

d in

corp

orat

ion

via

map

info

as

one

of C

ounc

ils G

IS la

yers

an

d as

par

t of t

he m

ajor

ass

et p

rese

rvat

ion

prog

ram

(MA

PP

) dat

abas

e.

Mai

nten

ance

requ

irem

ents

and

pol

luta

nt tr

appi

ng ra

tes

have

als

o be

en

reco

rded

.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

: C

S

CS

P

11

Stre

et c

lean

sing

pro

gram

ac

ross

all

catc

hmen

ts

Cle

ansi

ng P

rogr

am c

over

s al

l cat

chm

ents

com

mer

cial

/indu

stria

l lar

ge a

nd lo

cal

cent

res

- inc

lude

s ro

ad &

foot

path

sw

eepi

ng a

nd p

it m

aint

enan

ce

Stre

et c

lean

sing

in C

harle

stow

n co

mm

erci

al a

rea

at h

eadw

ater

s Th

rosb

y C

reek

requ

ires

grea

ter c

olla

bora

tion

with

LM

CC

R

evie

w o

f ser

vice

leve

l and

man

agem

ent p

rogr

am in

corp

orat

ing

prod

uct

benc

hmar

k as

sess

men

t R

evie

w o

f gro

ss p

ollu

tant

s (&

ass

ocia

ted

sedi

men

t /he

avy

met

als)

to e

nsur

e “h

ot s

pots

” ide

ntifi

ed in

SM

P a

re ta

rget

ed.

Con

tinui

ng

NC

C:

CS

P

Task

For

ce

Lake

Mac

CC

N

CC

- C

SP

N

CC

– C

SP

& C

S

12

Man

agem

ent o

f dra

inag

e m

anag

emen

t sys

tem

. U

se o

f clo

se c

ircui

t TV

to id

entif

y pr

oble

m a

reas

and

targ

et s

torm

wat

er

hots

pots

– in

corp

orat

e op

portu

nitie

s fo

r sto

rmw

ater

qua

lity

impr

ovem

ents

in a

ll w

orks

. Thi

s in

form

atio

n ha

s be

en v

ery

valu

able

in im

plem

entin

g W

SUD

dr

aina

ge w

orks

. In

addi

tion

we

have

als

o us

ed th

e vi

deo

foot

age

to p

rodu

ce

“dra

inca

m” v

ideo

s th

at a

re u

sed

in c

omm

unity

aw

aren

ess

rais

ing

even

ts. T

he

foot

age

can

“une

arth

” con

nect

ions

bet

wee

n ho

mes

& s

treet

s an

d th

e dr

aina

ge

line

and

cree

ks fo

r loc

al re

side

nts.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

: C

SP

C

S

CP

Page 160: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

155

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

City

Wid

e A

ctio

ns

13

Dev

elop

a tr

eatm

ent

tech

niqu

e do

cum

ent f

or

New

cast

le c

atch

men

ts

incl

udin

g ex

istin

g tre

atm

ents

, tar

get

pollu

tant

s, e

ffici

enci

es a

nd

guid

e to

phy

sica

l co

nstra

ints

to a

pply

ing

devi

ces.

Cou

ncil

has

docu

men

ted

all e

xist

ing

treat

men

t dev

ices

, new

infra

stru

ctur

e as

it

com

es o

n lin

e an

d m

aint

enan

ce v

isits

& is

sues

with

in C

ounc

ils G

IS a

sset

re

gist

er. D

evel

opm

ent o

f a g

uide

to d

evic

es fo

r New

cast

le c

atch

men

ts h

as n

ot

been

com

plet

ed. T

he N

SW E

nviro

nmen

t and

Con

serv

atio

n (fo

rmer

ly N

SW

E

PA

) has

con

tract

ed th

e pr

epar

atio

n of

a s

imila

r doc

umen

t for

dis

tribu

tion

to

NSW

loca

l gov

ernm

ent.

Com

plet

e N

CC

: C

S

CS

P

D &

E

14

Impl

emen

tatio

n of

the

New

cast

le C

ompa

nion

A

nim

als

Man

agem

ent P

lan.

The

prog

ram

has

del

iver

ed 1

5 “le

ash

free”

are

as a

cros

s th

e C

ity a

nd th

e in

stal

latio

n of

ass

ocia

ted

dog

poo

bag

disp

ense

rs a

nd b

ins

for d

ispo

sal o

f pet

dr

oppi

ngs.

Res

pons

ible

pet

ow

ners

hip

initi

ativ

es in

clud

ing

free

chip

ping

day

s,

dung

bee

tle re

leas

es, a

nd d

istri

butio

n of

1,

000’

s of

dog

poo

ch p

ouch

es to

dog

ow

ners

as

wel

l as

dog

tag

engr

avin

g ha

ve b

een

deliv

ered

at m

yria

ds o

f eve

nts

city

-wid

e.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

: D

& E

C

P

Page 161: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

156

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

City

Wid

e A

ctio

ns

15

Dev

elop

and

impl

emen

t an

inte

grat

ed U

rban

Wat

er

Cyc

le /S

torm

wat

er

Edu

catio

n P

rogr

am

An

inte

grat

ed c

omm

unity

sto

rmw

ater

edu

catio

n pr

ogra

m h

as b

een

deliv

ered

th

roug

h th

e re

sour

ces

of th

e S

torm

wat

er E

duca

tion

in N

ewca

stle

Cat

chm

ents

(S

EIN

C) p

roje

ct in

last

thre

e ye

ars

in c

onju

nctio

n w

ith C

ounc

ils B

lack

Duc

k an

d W

arab

rook

EP

A g

rant

s pr

ojec

ts. T

he S

EIN

C p

roje

ct fo

cuss

ed o

n ci

gare

tte b

utt

litte

r dur

ing

2002

trai

ning

enf

orce

men

t /bl

itz o

ffice

rs; d

eliv

erin

g bu

tt ou

t co

ntai

ners

to b

usin

esse

s lo

cate

d at

maj

or e

mpl

oym

ent h

ubs

thro

ugho

ut th

e C

ity; w

orki

ng w

ith o

ther

loca

l gov

ernm

ent a

t a re

gion

al le

vel t

o de

liver

in

tegr

ated

mas

s m

edia

cam

paig

ns; a

nd in

stal

ling

ciga

rette

but

t dis

pens

er

acro

ss C

ounc

ils fa

cilit

ies.

Dur

ing

2000

-01

SE

INC

del

iver

ed s

torm

wat

er

com

mun

ity a

war

enes

s ra

isin

g in

itiat

ives

incl

udin

g sh

oppi

ng c

entre

dis

play

s an

d st

uden

t “C

atch

men

t Cra

wls

” thr

ough

to c

oope

rativ

e pr

omot

ion

of a

nti-l

itter

m

essa

ge w

ith K

nigh

ts s

pons

orsh

ip p

rogr

am a

t Ene

rgy

Aus

tralia

Sta

dium

K

nigh

ts h

ome

gam

es. C

oast

& C

lean

Sea

s an

d N

HT

fund

ing

was

use

d to

pr

ovid

e a

back

drop

off

TV, r

adio

& n

ewsp

aper

com

mun

icat

ion

city

wid

e. P

roje

ct

partn

ers

are

NC

C, H

unte

r Wat

er C

orpo

ratio

n an

d N

ewca

stle

Cat

chm

ent

Man

agem

ent F

orum

(HC

MT/

TCM

C).

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

C

ity S

trate

gy

Com

mun

ity D

evel

opm

ent

D &

E

HW

C

HC

R C

MA

16

Coo

rdin

ate

and

cond

uct

annu

al N

ewca

stle

S

torm

wat

er F

orum

s

The

inau

gura

l New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er F

orum

was

hel

d 28

/2/2

000

and

repe

ated

in

200

1, 2

002

and

2003

. The

For

ums

have

bee

n us

ed a

s a

valu

able

op

portu

nity

to re

conn

ect t

hose

sto

rmw

ater

rela

ted

man

ager

s in

the

City

in

rega

rd to

the

SM

P. H

owev

er v

alue

add

ing

to th

e ga

ther

ing

has

occu

rred

th

roug

h pr

ovis

ion

of w

orks

hop

sess

ions

lear

ning

abo

ut

new

man

agem

ent t

echn

ique

s in

stru

ctur

al tr

eatm

ents

suc

h as

stre

et in

let

tech

nolo

gy w

orks

hops

thro

ugh

to n

ew th

inki

ng in

art

of c

omm

unity

beh

avio

ural

ch

ange

man

agem

ent.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

: Ta

sk F

orce

C

S

HW

C

Lake

Mac

CC

& o

ther

HR

OC

pa

rtner

s H

CR

CM

A /N

CM

F N

PC

C

omm

unity

Page 162: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

157

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

City

Wid

e A

ctio

ns

17

Dev

elop

and

impl

emen

t a

wat

er q

ualit

y-m

onito

ring

prog

ram

for

all c

atch

men

ts

In a

ssoc

iatio

n w

ith th

e S

tream

wat

ch a

nd W

ater

wat

ch p

rogr

ams

alre

ady

succ

essf

ully

und

erw

ay in

the

Hun

ter,

NC

C h

as w

orke

d w

ith H

CM

T an

d D

IPN

R

staf

f to

trial

a n

umbe

r of w

ater

qua

lity

mon

itorin

g si

tes

and

met

hodo

logi

es.

NC

C h

as u

sed

thes

e tri

als

to re

fine

site

crit

eria

and

pro

mot

ion

proc

ess

for

mon

itorin

g w

ater

way

hea

lth in

dica

tors

thro

ugh

the

bi-a

nnua

l wat

erbu

g su

rvey

s an

d re

gula

r wat

er q

ualit

y at

the

sam

e si

tes.

NC

C h

as in

itial

ly ta

rget

ed 3

0 si

tes

for t

he fi

rst y

ear o

f the

pro

gram

in 2

003-

04. T

he d

atab

ase

deve

lope

d w

ill be

lo

gged

ont

o ex

istin

g D

IPN

R w

eb fa

cilit

ies

as w

ell b

eing

util

ised

in d

evel

opm

ent

of a

City

-wid

e w

ater

way

hea

lth m

ap a

nd d

atab

ase

avai

labl

e th

roug

h th

e U

rban

W

ater

con

nect

ion

on C

ounc

il w

ebsi

te.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

H

WC

H

CR

CM

A

DIP

NR

18

Pro

vide

inte

rpre

tativ

e si

gnag

e as

par

t of C

ounc

ils

Urb

an W

ater

pro

gram

de

liver

y

Cou

ncil

has

prov

ided

inte

rpre

tativ

e si

gnag

e in

pro

ject

are

as s

uch

as: N

obby

s to

inte

rpre

t the

san

dfilt

er d

evic

e; a

t Kot

ara

to e

xpla

in th

e ca

usal

rela

tions

hips

, is

sues

and

func

tion

of th

e ba

ffle

box;

in W

arab

rook

wet

land

s to

exp

lain

the

issu

es, c

ause

s an

d so

lutio

n fo

r blu

e gr

een

alga

e pr

oble

ms

of th

e po

nds;

and

at

the

Com

mun

ity G

reen

ing

Cen

tre to

inte

rpre

t the

new

infil

tratio

n ba

sed

car p

ark

treat

men

t. N

CC

is a

lso

wor

king

with

loca

l abo

rigin

al c

omm

unity

mem

bers

to

ensu

re th

at th

e co

ntin

uing

sui

te o

f env

ironm

enta

l int

erpr

etat

ive

sign

age

incl

udes

indi

geno

us is

sues

sur

roun

ding

the

site

and

/or i

ssue

set

bei

ng

addr

esse

d.

The

suite

is p

lann

ed to

exp

and

and

incl

ude

othe

r Com

mun

ity G

reen

ing

Cen

tre

site

s, B

lack

butt

Res

erve

stre

am re

habi

litat

ion

wor

ks, L

ambt

on K

er-r

ai

rena

tura

lisat

ion

proj

ect a

nd K

ulla

ibah

Res

erve

alte

rnat

ive

drai

nage

line

tre

atm

ent.

H

WC

will

con

tinue

to e

rect

com

mun

ity a

war

enes

s an

d sa

fety

sig

ns w

ithin

the

chan

nels

in c

onsu

ltatio

n w

ith c

ity s

torm

wat

er m

anag

ers.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

H

WC

H

CR

CM

A

Page 163: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

158

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

City

Wid

e A

ctio

ns

19

The

RTA

with

ass

ista

nce

from

Cou

ncil

will

form

ulat

e a

stor

mw

ater

act

ion

plan

.

Hig

h-ris

k ar

eas

have

bee

n id

entif

ied.

Pro

gres

s on

this

act

ion

has

been

lim

ited.

Fu

ndin

g op

portu

nitie

s w

ill be

inve

stig

ated

.

Ong

oing

N

CC

R

TA

R

ef

No.

A

ctio

n St

atus

repo

rt

Stat

us

Res

pons

ibili

ty

Ironb

ark

Cre

ek C

atch

men

t 20

Im

plem

ent W

alls

end

Inst

ream

Enh

ance

men

t P

roje

ct –

Pha

se I

Pha

se II

Wal

lsen

d In

stre

am E

nhan

cem

ent P

rogr

am is

an

urba

n re

vita

lisat

ion

proj

ect

whe

re th

e P

hase

I co

nsul

tanc

y (W

BM

), in

volv

ing

prel

imin

ary

conc

ept d

esig

n an

d fe

asib

ility

test

ing

for t

he p

roje

ct h

as b

een

com

plet

ed.

An

inte

rnal

sta

keho

lder

s gr

oup,

refe

renc

e gr

oup

and

stee

ring

com

mitt

ee w

ill b

e es

tabl

ishe

d to

ens

ure

the

effe

ctiv

e de

velo

pmen

t of a

Pla

n of

Man

agem

ent

(PO

M) f

or th

is re

ach

of Ir

onba

rk C

reek

in th

e W

alls

end

prec

inct

of I

ronb

ark

Cre

ek c

atch

men

t is

com

plet

ed, u

tilis

ing

all i

nfor

mat

ion

com

pile

d to

dat

e.

Land

scap

ing/

tree

pla

ntin

g, in

frast

ruct

ure

wor

ks, w

eed

rem

oval

from

Cre

ek b

ed

and

bank

s ha

s be

en d

eliv

ered

dur

ing

2002

– 2

003.

Fun

ding

opp

ortu

nitie

s fo

r im

plem

enta

tion

of P

hase

II w

ill be

inve

stig

ated

in li

ne w

ith th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

a P

OM

for t

he s

ite. T

he P

OM

pro

cess

will

be la

unch

ed w

ith a

com

mun

ity c

reek

ce

lebr

atio

n da

y in

Wal

lsen

d P

ark

in F

ebru

ary

2004

whe

re a

rang

e of

fam

ily

activ

ities

and

info

rmat

ion

shar

ing

will

occu

r.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g R

equi

re

addi

tiona

l su

bsta

ntia

l re

sour

ce p

ost

PO

M d

eliv

ery

NC

C

Sta

keho

lder

s gr

oup

Ref

eren

ce g

roup

H

CR

CM

A /N

CM

F H

WC

R

ecre

atio

nal/r

etai

l gro

ups

Inte

rest

gro

ups

N

CC

C

SP

C

S

Page 164: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

159

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Ironb

ark

Cre

ek C

atch

men

t 21

H

exha

m S

wam

p R

ehab

ilitat

ion

Pro

gram

In

clud

es o

peni

ng o

f the

Iron

bark

Cre

ek fl

oodg

ates

to a

llow

re-e

stab

lishm

ent o

f tid

al z

one

habi

tat a

cros

s th

e S

wam

p an

d re

mov

al o

f far

min

g pr

essu

res

from

th

e sw

amp

thro

ugh

volu

ntar

y bu

y ba

ck

proc

esse

s.

Impr

ovem

ents

to b

iodi

vers

ity, h

abita

t, fis

h nu

rser

y st

ocks

etc

are

env

isag

ed fo

r th

e pr

ojec

t. W

ater

qua

lity

mon

itorin

g is

bei

ng c

ondu

cted

by

HC

MT

thro

ugh

Man

ly H

ydra

ulic

s. S

uch

chan

ges

in th

e re

ceiv

ing

wat

er o

f the

Iron

bark

Cre

ek

catc

hmen

t will

impa

ct o

n st

orm

wat

er tr

eatm

ent t

rain

dec

isio

n m

akin

g fo

r the

w

hole

cat

chm

ent.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g H

CR

CM

A c

oord

inat

ion

Com

mun

ity

Age

ncie

s

22

Dev

elop

sed

imen

t m

anag

emen

t stra

tegy

-Iro

nbar

k C

reek

A M

anag

emen

t Stra

tegy

that

add

ress

ed th

e is

sue

of e

rosi

on a

nd s

edim

ent

trans

port

with

in th

e ca

tchm

ent w

as p

repa

red

as p

art o

f the

revi

ew o

f the

Iro

nbar

k C

reek

TC

M S

trate

gy b

eing

dev

elop

ed b

y th

e TC

M c

omm

ittee

.

2004

N

CC

C

ity S

trate

gy

HC

R C

MA

- N

CM

F H

WC

, SR

A, o

ther

s 23

Th

e W

etla

nds

Cen

tre,

Sho

rtlan

d - S

torm

wat

er

treat

men

t dev

ice

inst

alla

tion

Cou

ncil

is w

orki

ng w

ith th

e W

etla

nds

Cen

tre in

ord

er to

add

ress

ero

sion

and

as

soci

ated

sed

imen

tatio

n is

sues

impa

ctin

g on

the

Wet

land

s C

entre

pon

ds fr

om

surr

ound

ing

road

/resi

dent

ial r

unof

f. W

orks

ass

ocia

ted

with

dra

inag

e ar

ound

Tu

xfor

d P

ark

shou

ld b

e co

mpl

eted

in 2

004.

Ong

oing

N

CC

C

SP

W

etla

nds

Cen

tre (o

ngoi

ng

mai

nten

ance

) 24

Im

plem

ent P

hase

II

Wen

twor

th C

reek

SM

P -

Per

form

ance

, Mon

itorin

g &

R

evie

w

New

cast

le U

nive

rsity

in a

ssoc

iatio

n w

ith C

ounc

il ha

ve d

esig

ned

and

inst

alle

d ne

w m

onito

ring

site

s th

roug

hout

the

catc

hmen

t. 3

mon

itorin

g st

atio

ns

esta

blis

hed

to a

llow

for t

he d

eter

min

atio

n of

site

con

tribu

tion

to s

torm

wat

er

load

s m

ovin

g th

roug

h th

e sy

stem

whe

re v

anda

lised

prio

r to

effe

ctiv

e da

ta

colle

ctio

n, in

spi

te o

f hig

h gr

ade

secu

rity

mea

sure

s us

ed a

t the

site

s. W

hils

t the

ro

ving

sam

pler

was

repa

ired,

all

the

data

take

rs &

pro

gram

s w

ere

stol

en. T

he

4th m

ore

rem

ote,

gre

en fi

eld

area

site

is s

till o

pera

tiona

l and

will

pro

vide

va

luab

le b

asel

ine

data

for t

he C

ity. P

roje

ct p

artn

ers

will

revi

ew in

stal

latio

n ou

tcom

es a

nd th

e lim

ited

data

col

lect

ed to

dat

e, p

repa

re a

ltern

ativ

e op

tions

an

d m

ap a

futu

re c

ours

e fo

r pro

ject

impl

emen

tatio

n.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

: D

& E

C

S

CS

P

Sum

mer

hill

Was

te M

anag

emen

t Fa

cilit

y N

ewca

stle

Uni

vers

ity

Page 165: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

160

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Ironb

ark

Cre

ek C

atch

men

t 25

O

ngoi

ng im

plem

enta

tion

of

the

Blu

e G

um H

ills

Cat

chm

ent M

anag

emen

t S

trate

gy

Ong

oing

impl

emen

tatio

n an

d ev

alua

tion

of th

e B

lue

Gum

Hills

Cat

chm

ent

Man

agem

ent S

trate

gy h

as in

clud

ed a

revi

ew o

f the

on-

grou

nd e

ffect

iven

ess

of

the

Stra

tegy

con

duct

ed b

y W

BM

Oce

anic

s. T

he fi

nal R

epor

t (20

03) i

ndic

ates

th

at th

ere

have

bee

n si

gnifi

cant

neg

ativ

e im

pact

s on

Wen

twor

th C

reek

and

the

Hex

ham

SE

PP

14

wet

land

s th

at c

onst

itute

the

rece

ivin

g w

ater

s of

the

syst

em

as a

resu

lt of

the

catc

hmen

t urb

anis

atio

n.

The

repo

rt w

ill be

con

side

red

by C

ounc

il’s T

ask

Forc

e an

d th

e co

mm

unity

E

nviro

nmen

t Adv

isor

y P

anel

in th

e pr

epar

atio

n of

app

ropr

iate

resp

onse

to th

e re

com

men

datio

ns.

In a

dditi

on to

the

Stra

tegy

revi

ew th

ere

has

been

a la

rge

volu

me

of w

ork

gene

rate

d by

Cou

ncil

and

DIP

NR

(for

mer

ly P

lann

ing

NS

W) i

n th

e re

view

of

scen

ario

s lo

cally

for t

he T

ank

Pad

dock

- M

inm

i cor

ridor

and

regi

onal

ly th

roug

h th

e Th

ornt

on to

Killi

ngw

orth

Cor

ridor

ass

essm

ents

. Th

ese

will

be v

alua

ble

tool

s in

pro

vidi

ng e

ffect

ive

revi

ew o

f fut

ure

deve

lopm

ent

scen

ario

s fo

r the

Blu

e G

um H

ills c

orrid

or.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

: D

&E

C

S

Task

For

ce

NE

AP

D

evel

opm

ent i

nter

ests

C

omm

unity

gro

ups

Page 166: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

161

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Thro

sby

Cre

ek C

atch

men

t 26

D

evel

op T

hros

by C

reek

S

edim

ent a

nd G

PT

Man

agem

ent S

trate

gy

A T

hros

by C

reek

Cat

chm

ent G

ross

Pol

luta

nt R

epor

t was

del

iver

ed a

nd u

sed

to

run

a co

st b

enef

it an

alys

is fo

r a n

umbe

r of c

onst

ruct

ed g

ross

pol

luta

nt tr

appi

ng

scen

ario

s ac

ross

the

catc

hmen

t. U

sing

the

repo

rt, P

roje

ct p

artn

ers

deci

ded

to

cons

truct

a C

DS

uni

t at t

he c

onflu

ence

of t

he L

ambt

on li

ne a

nd th

e m

ain

Sty

x C

reek

. The

Lam

bton

cat

chm

ent h

ad p

revi

ous

at-s

ourc

e co

ntro

ls a

nd e

xten

sive

co

mm

unity

con

sulta

tion

proc

esse

s ru

n th

roug

h a

Cou

ncil

Sto

rmw

ater

Tru

st

gran

t so

it w

ould

com

plet

e th

e su

ite o

f ini

tiativ

es fo

r the

cat

chm

ent.

At-s

ourc

e co

ntro

ls w

ere

also

inve

stig

ated

in th

e W

arat

ah V

illag

e sh

oppi

ng

Cen

tre w

here

Per

map

ave

prod

ucts

whe

re tr

iale

d. W

hils

t all

gros

s po

lluta

nts

whe

re p

reve

nted

from

ent

erin

g th

e st

orm

wat

er s

yste

m th

ey fa

iled

to h

old

up

unde

r car

traf

fic a

nd th

ey w

here

rem

oved

. Pro

duct

tria

ls c

ontin

ue in

the

subu

rban

sho

ppin

g ce

ntre

of G

eorg

etow

n R

oad.

Com

plet

e.

The

mod

ifica

tion

to

the

CD

S

desi

gn w

ill

cont

inue

HW

C, H

CR

CM

A ,

NC

MF,

NC

C,

DIP

NR

, TLC

, CC

S

27

28

Red

uctio

n of

gro

ss

pollu

tant

s, e

rosi

on

stab

ilisat

ion.

The

CC

S g

rant

was

com

plet

ed in

200

3 an

d in

clud

ed in

stal

latio

n of

bed

st

ruct

ures

and

ban

k er

osio

n co

ntro

l stru

ctur

es w

ithin

the

cree

k lin

e at

Kot

ara

Par

k. C

ounc

ils b

affle

box

inst

alle

d do

wns

tream

has

als

o be

en s

ucce

ssfu

l in

trapp

ing

sedi

men

t loa

ds in

stre

am.

The

gran

t als

o en

able

d C

ounc

il to

tria

l a lo

w-fl

ow b

io-re

med

iatio

n tre

atm

ent f

or

stor

mw

ater

flow

s th

at h

ad e

rode

d op

en s

pace

and

gas

line

infra

stru

ctur

es in

th

e S

tyx

Cre

ek s

ub-c

atch

men

t. Th

e ov

erla

nd ro

ck li

ned

and

land

scap

ed fl

ow

path

has

pro

ven

to b

e an

aes

thet

ic a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tally

pos

itive

out

com

e.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g H

CM

T H

WC

D

IPN

R

NC

C

HC

R C

MA

N

CC

Page 167: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

162

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Thro

sby

Cre

ek C

atch

men

t 29

A

t Sou

rce

Con

trol p

rogr

am

for c

omm

erci

al a

reas

, hig

h ris

k ca

r par

ks

faci

litie

s an

d er

osio

n/

sedi

men

tatio

n so

urce

s w

ithin

cat

chm

ent

Cou

ncil

has

succ

essf

ully

tria

led

the

use

of in

-hou

se d

esig

ned

kerb

pro

tect

ors

and

pit i

nser

ts, i

n as

soci

atio

n w

ith s

treet

cle

ansi

ng re

gim

es, t

o pr

oduc

e co

st-

effe

ctiv

e op

tions

for i

mpr

ovin

g st

orm

wat

er q

ualit

y pa

rticu

larly

in s

ubur

ban

reta

il pr

ecin

cts

and

high

vis

itatio

n ar

eas.

Lam

bton

and

Nob

bys

have

bee

n su

cces

sful

de

sign

s ho

wev

er o

ngoi

ng m

aint

enan

ce is

sues

incl

udin

g th

e re

mov

al o

f fin

es &

gr

ass

clip

ping

agg

rega

tion

from

pro

tect

or s

cree

ns, c

ontin

ues

to li

mit

the

effe

ctiv

enes

s of

the

devi

ces.

The

pit

basi

n de

sign

to tr

eat h

ydro

carb

ons,

se

dim

ent a

nd g

ross

pol

luta

nts

in h

igh

turn

ove

r car

par

ks s

uch

as th

e E

nerg

y A

ustra

lia S

tadi

um h

as a

lso

prov

en to

be

high

ly s

ucce

ssfu

l. E

ncou

ragi

ng s

imila

r ca

r par

k ow

ners

to re

tro fi

tting

suc

h de

vice

s ha

ve p

rove

n so

mew

hat s

ucce

ssfu

l in

the

War

abro

ok w

etla

nd in

dust

rial e

stat

e. N

ew d

evel

opm

ent w

ill be

requ

ired

to a

ddre

ss p

ollu

tant

load

s by

dra

ft D

CP

50 –

Sto

rmw

ater

, bei

ng c

onsi

dere

d by

C

ounc

il in

Nov

embe

r 200

3.

Sed

imen

t and

ero

sion

poi

nt s

ourc

e co

ntro

l mea

sure

s ha

ve b

een

inst

alle

d in

line

with

in K

otar

a an

d B

lack

Duc

k C

reek

sub

-cat

chm

ents

. M

onito

ring

cont

inue

s in

ass

ocia

tion

with

ong

oing

pol

icy

deve

lopm

ent a

nd

inte

rpre

tativ

e en

viro

nmen

tal e

duca

tion

sign

age.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

: C

ity S

trate

gy

City

Ser

vice

s &

Pre

sent

atio

n H

CR

CM

A

HW

C

ISC

Tru

st

DE

C (E

PA

Sto

rmw

ater

Tru

st)

30

Mas

ter P

lan

for R

aspb

erry

G

ully

(Sty

x C

reek

) C

ompl

ete

desi

gn p

lans

for t

he m

aint

enan

ce a

nd d

evel

opm

ent o

f the

nat

ural

at

tribu

tes

of R

aspb

erry

Gul

ly, i

nclu

ding

her

itage

inte

rpre

tatio

n tra

ils, t

ree

plan

ting,

wee

d co

ntro

l, dr

aina

ge a

nd s

torm

wat

er tr

eatm

ent (

uppe

r rea

ches

of

Thro

sby

Cat

chm

ent).

Ong

oing

La

ke M

ac C

C

NC

MF

31

Im

prov

emen

ts to

st

orm

wat

er d

rain

age

in th

e he

adw

ater

s of

Sty

x C

reek

Dra

inag

e w

orks

by

Lake

Mac

CC

to p

rovi

de im

prov

emen

ts in

sto

rmw

ater

ve

loci

ty a

nd q

ualit

y as

it m

oves

thro

ugh

She

rbur

n P

lace

resi

dent

ial a

rea

in

head

wat

ers

of c

atch

men

t, ha

ve b

een

com

plet

ed. P

relim

inar

y ob

serv

atio

n su

gges

ts th

e w

orks

are

per

form

ing

to s

peci

ficat

ion.

Ong

oing

La

ke M

ac C

C

NC

MF

Page 168: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

163

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Thro

sby

Cre

ek C

atch

men

t 32

Land

care

and

Bus

hcar

e gr

oup

supp

ort a

nd

deve

lopm

ent

Cou

ncil’s

Com

mun

ity G

reen

ing

Cen

tre (C

GC

) has

dev

elop

ed a

nd im

plem

ente

d vo

lunt

eer t

rain

ing

prog

ram

s. T

he C

GC

pro

vide

s th

e re

sour

ces

for g

reen

ing

New

cast

le a

nd th

e re

view

of r

esou

rcin

g le

vels

and

requ

irem

ents

for d

eliv

ery

of

New

cast

le n

atur

al re

sour

ce m

anag

emen

t pro

gram

are

cur

rent

ly b

eing

aud

ited.

Th

is b

ench

mar

king

pro

cess

sho

uld

prov

ide

the

optio

ns a

nd th

e vi

sion

for a

m

odel

in u

rban

gre

enin

g fo

r the

City

that

is re

spon

sive

to c

omm

unity

and

N

EM

P 2

003

envi

ronm

enta

l prio

ritie

s. T

he L

andc

are

offic

e in

LM

CC

has

co

ordi

nate

d gr

oups

in u

pper

reac

hes

of S

tyx

Cre

ek.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g La

ke M

ac C

C

NC

C:

City

Ser

vice

s an

d P

rese

ntat

ion

33

34

Upg

rade

Chi

n C

hen

Stre

et

boom

– T

hros

by C

reek

ca

tchm

ent.

Inst

all f

loat

ing

boom

in

May

field

Bra

nch

- Thr

osby

C

reek

cat

chm

ent

The

two

float

ing

trash

boo

ms

inst

alle

d by

HW

C in

Thr

osby

Cre

ek o

n M

ayfie

ld

side

of t

he T

AFE

and

in S

tyx

Cre

eks

in Is

lingt

on. B

oth

traps

hav

e be

en

com

mis

sion

ed a

nd a

re tr

appi

ng a

ppro

x 10

cub

ic m

etre

s an

d 2

cubi

c m

etre

s of

lit

ter a

nd o

rgan

ic d

ebris

as

a m

onth

ly a

vera

ge re

spec

tivel

y.

Com

plet

e.

Mai

nten

ance

, re

porti

ng &

ev

alua

tion

on

ongo

ing

basi

s

HW

C

35

Arn

old

Stre

et R

eser

ve

Sto

rmw

ater

impr

ovem

ent

proj

ect

A te

chni

cally

feas

ible

des

ign

outc

ome

suita

ble

to th

e lo

cal c

omm

unity

is y

et to

be

det

erm

ined

. Fur

ther

wor

k on

issu

es o

f AS

S a

nd h

eigh

t of h

igh

tide/

stor

m

inun

datio

n in

loca

l stre

ets

is c

urre

ntly

bei

ng re

solv

ed.

Ong

oing

N

CC

H

CR

CM

A

Wat

erw

ays

Page 169: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

164

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Cot

tage

Cre

ek C

atch

men

t 36

D

evel

opm

ent o

f prio

rity

actio

ns fo

r Cot

tage

Cre

ek

Cat

chm

ent b

ased

on

the

Hun

ter E

stua

ry

Man

agem

ent P

rogr

am

stud

ies

Cou

ncils

Coa

st a

nd E

stua

ry P

roje

ct O

ffice

r, as

par

t of H

unte

r Est

uary

M

anag

emen

t pro

gram

, will

incl

ude

the

dete

rmin

atio

n of

prio

rity

actio

ns to

ad

dres

s th

e st

orm

wat

er q

ualit

y in

the

catc

hmen

t with

in th

e w

ork

plan

.

ongo

ing

NC

C

CS

37

Cot

tage

Cre

ek G

PT

inst

alla

tion

HW

C in

stal

led

a flo

atin

g tra

sh b

oom

imm

edia

tely

ups

tream

of W

harf

Roa

d in

C

otta

ge C

reek

. Whi

lst t

he lo

gist

ical

con

stra

ints

of t

he s

ite a

nd th

e ef

fect

ive

trapp

ing

capa

city

of t

he b

oom

has

lim

ited

litte

r cap

ture

, HW

C h

as m

anag

ed to

re

mov

e an

ave

rage

of 2

cub

ic m

etre

s of

pol

luta

nts

on a

mon

thly

ave

rage

from

re

achi

ng N

ewca

stle

Har

bour

.

Com

plet

e &

on

goin

g H

WC

38

Link

inve

stig

atio

ns o

f st

orm

wat

er is

sues

in th

e “E

stua

ry C

atch

men

t” to

the

Hun

ter E

stua

ry

Man

agem

ent P

rogr

am

The

Hun

ter E

stua

ry P

roce

sses

Stu

dy is

par

t of t

he H

unte

r Est

uary

M

anag

emen

t Pro

gram

and

due

to b

e co

mpl

eted

in e

arly

200

4. S

torm

wat

er

man

agem

ent i

ssue

s re

latin

g to

wat

er q

ualit

y, e

rosi

on &

sed

imen

tatio

n an

d th

eir

sour

ces

have

bee

n id

entif

ied

and

will

be

inco

rpor

ated

into

the

Est

uary

M

anag

emen

t Stu

dy a

nd P

lan

to b

e co

mm

ence

d in

200

4.

Ong

oing

N

CC

O

ther

sta

keho

lder

s

39

Inco

rpor

ate

the

stor

mw

ater

in

itiat

ives

, def

ined

for

Pur

gato

ry C

reek

with

in th

e M

aitla

nd S

MP

, with

in

New

cast

le’s

im

plem

enta

tion

prog

ram

.

The

catc

hmen

t of P

urga

tory

Cre

ek h

as b

een

map

ped

and

inco

rpor

ated

with

in

the

new

tota

l cat

chm

ent m

anag

emen

t mod

el e

stab

lishe

d by

the

HC

MT

in 2

003,

in

col

labo

ratio

n w

ith C

ounc

il. T

he n

ew N

ewca

stle

Cat

chm

ent M

anag

emen

t Fo

rum

(NC

MF)

has

als

o in

corp

orat

ed th

e G

reen

way

s C

reek

cat

chm

ent i

n th

e no

rthw

est c

orne

r of t

he L

GA

so

that

all

wat

erw

ays

mov

ing

thro

ugh

Cou

ncils

ar

ea o

f res

pons

ibili

ty h

as b

een

capt

ured

und

er o

ne m

anag

emen

t um

brel

la. S

ite

insp

ectio

ns o

f cat

chm

ent i

ssue

s fo

r bot

h cr

eeks

hav

e al

read

y be

en c

ondu

cted

th

roug

h th

e N

CM

F.

Out

com

es c

onta

ined

with

in M

aitla

nd &

Ces

snoc

k C

C’s

SM

P’s

for t

he b

oth

Pur

gato

ry &

Gre

enw

ay C

reek

cat

chm

ents

will

be in

corp

orat

ed in

to N

CC

’s

impl

emen

tatio

n pr

ogra

m a

s w

ell a

s fu

ture

act

ions

iden

tifie

d by

Cou

ncil

and

the

NC

MF.

2003

and

on

goin

g M

aitla

nd C

C

Ces

snoc

k C

C

NC

C

Task

For

ce

CS

Page 170: Catchment - Photographer Garry de Redder. · Newcastle City Council, the Hunter Water Corporation and the Hunter – Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (former Hunter Catchment

165

New

cast

le S

torm

wat

er M

anag

emen

t Pla

n 20

04

Ref

N

o.

Act

ion

Stat

us re

port

St

atus

R

espo

nsib

ility

Cot

tage

Cre

ek C

atch

men

t 40

Li

nk in

vest

igat

ions

of

stor

mw

ater

issu

es in

the

“Coa

stal

Cat

chm

ents

” to

the

New

cast

le C

oast

al

Man

agem

ent P

rogr

am

Sto

rmw

ater

issu

es w

ithin

the

coas

tal z

one

wer

e in

corp

orat

ed in

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f the

Coa

stal

Man

agem

ent S

tudy

and

Coa

stal

Man

agem

ent

Pla

n w

ith p

riorit

y ac

tions

for C

oast

al C

atch

men

ts in

the

City

det

erm

ined

. Suc

h is

sues

whe

re a

lso

inco

rpor

ated

with

in th

e N

EM

P 2

003.

Im

plem

enta

tion

is

occu

rrin

g th

roug

h th

e N

ewca

stle

Coa

stal

Man

agem

ent P

rogr

am.

2002

/03

and

ongo

ing

NC

C

C&

EM

C

Task

For

ce

Oth

ers

stak

ehol

ders

as

requ

ired

41

Bat

hers

Way

Pro

ject

Th

e P

roje

ct in

volv

es e

xten

sion

of t

he G

reat

Nor

th W

alk

alon

g th

e co

asta

l m

argi

n of

the

City

, inc

orpo

ratin

g st

orm

wat

er tr

eatm

ent w

orks

and

hab

itat

prot

ectio

n op

tions

alo

ng th

e le

ngth

of t

he tr

ail.

ongo

ing

NC

C

Loca

l gro

ups

42

Nob

by’s

Pre

cinc

t S

torm

wat

er Im

prov

emen

t P

rogr

am.

This

pro

gram

has

bee

n su

cces

sful

ly im

plem

ente

d w

ith a

ll st

orm

wat

er p

ollu

tion

now

rem

oved

from

Nob

bys

Bea

ch. N

ewca

stle

eas

t res

iden

ts g

roup

s,

Dun

ecar

e, lo

cal r

ecre

atio

nal u

sers

and

faci

litie

s m

anag

emen

t are

all

extre

mel

y pl

ease

d w

ith th

e ou

tcom

es. T

he s

ucce

ss o

f the

pro

ject

has

bee

n re

flect

ed in

N

obby

s B

each

bei

ng th

e re

cipi

ent o

f Sta

te K

AB

Cle

an B

each

aw

ards

ove

r las

t tw

o ye

ars.

Pro

gram

lega

cies

incl

ude:

Dun

ecar

e gr

oups

, dog

poo

dis

posa

l fa

cilit

ies,

cle

an u

p gr

oups

, cle

anin

g re

gim

e fo

r stre

et a

nd s

andf

ilter

dev

ices

in

corp

orat

ed in

to C

ounc

il m

aint

enan

ce b

udge

ts.

Com

plet

e an

d on

goin

g N

CC

D

EC

(EP

A S

torm

wat

er T

rust

G

rant

) D

IPN

R

NP

C

com

mun

ity g

roup

s