state of the environment report 2011-2012 · 2014. 7. 14. · fauna tsc act status booroolong frog...

UPPER HUNTER SHIRE COUNCIL A Quality Rural Lifestyle in a Caring and Thriving Community

State of the Environment Report 2011-2012

(Supplementary)

November 2012

Prepared by Upper Hunter Shire Council

130 Liverpool Street Scone NSW 2337 PO Box 208 Ph: 6540 1100 Fax: 65455 2671 Email: [email protected]

1. Biodiversity Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms. This chapter reports on biodiversity in terms of ecosystem diversity and species diversity for both terrestrial and freshwater areas and for marine and estuarine areas. Terrestrial (land) and freshwater (lakes, wetlands and rivers) systems are considered together because of their overlapping and interconnected nature. Similarly, marine and estuarine areas are considered together. This chapter has particular connections to land use in the Human Settlements chapter, the Water chapter (in particular, cross-link to wetlands) and the Land chapter that are indicated where appropriate. The biodiversity chapter also links to the Aboriginal heritage section of the Heritage chapter due to issues including the spiritual value of biodiversity, totemic species, important landscapes (eg. Sugarloaf) and escarpment to coast linkages. Biodiversity is an important issue for local government in the Upper Hunter because Councils have the primary responsibility for implementing ecologically sustainable development through the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979) and the Local Government Act (1993). Further to this statutory imperative, there is also an increasing number of local, state, national and international policies requiring local governments to manage biodiversity as one element of ESD.

The Councils in the region have taken a proactive stance to this legislative responsibility, and approached the task collectively through the creation of the regional biodiversity project.

The Hunter region is a dynamically growing region. In this environment of growth, Councils are charged with managing ESD in balance with economic growth and social well being.

All development has an impact on the environment in which it is placed. The degree of impact may be managed appropriately for the specific environment or relocated if the impact is too high an impact for the ecological function of the site. The rate of development in the study area is reducing the overall biological resources. However it is also impacting on similar types of ecosystems thus reducing their resources at a greater rate than others.

Healthy ecosystems provide basic life services such as clean air, the water cycle, productive soil, mineral resources and genetic variations (amongst others). They underpin the economic prosperity that is sought by local government for the study area.

As well as being important for the economic prosperity of the region, biodiversity also plays an important role in our social prosperity. Through scenic amenity, biodiversity is actually linked to our sense of place. It distinguishes the region from Sydney and other regions. The beautiful natural assets attract new residents and visitors to the region.

The need for a biodiversity strategy underpinned by region wide data therefore became evident in order for councils to effectively manage land use patterns. In the words of Peter Dormand “if you can’t measure it you can’t manage it” apply equally to energy consumption and the consumption of biological resources.(Extract from the Lower Hunter Central Coast Regional Biodiversity Conservation

Strategy: Volume 1 Draft Dec 2002)

This chapter of the State of the Environment report provides an important, annual status report of biodiversity issues in each local government area.

The Biodiversity chapter has been structured around four areas, in terms of ecosystem and species diversity for land and freshwater systems and marine and estuarine systems. In other words, the report identifies species or communities for which we are providing habitat, and species or communities for which we are not conserving sufficient habitat. 1. Native vegetation communities (as a surrogate measure of terrestrial ecosystem

diversity due to the difficulty in examining all terrestrial ecosystem diversity) 2. Terrestrial and freshwater (land, lakes, wetlands and rivers) species diversity 3. Marine and estuarine ecosystems biodiversity 4. Marine and estuarine species diversity 1.1. At a glance

issue Summary (status) comment Terrestrial/freshwater biodiversity - Native vegetation communities or terrestrial ecosystems State

The Upper Hunter has a range of vegetation communities that reflect terrestrial biodiversity. There are three endangered ecological communities and other significant areas of vegetation, as well as fragmented patches.

It is important to ensure that significant areas and varieties of these vegetation communities are retained within the landscape.

Pressure There are a range of key threatening processes identified in the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (see Table 11).

Some of the main pressures are development of rural and rural residential subdivision that involves clearing of vegetation to establish building sites and asset protection zones.

Response Involvement in the Great Eastern Ranges Project Policy Guidelines for Flora and Fauna Assessment.

Recording Property Vegetation Plans on Council GIS – reporting on Planning Certificates (s149(2) EP&A Act). Involvement in Regional Roadside Environment Program HCCREM Greater Hunter Native Vegetation mapping – Participant with Hunter Councils Development of Terrestrial Biodiversity Map and related clause for the draft Upper Hunter Local Environmental Plan 2012

1. What are the issues for sustainability? And how are they changing? (state)

1.2. Native vegetation communities or terrestrial ecosystems Protection and enhancement of the natural environment, including the promotion of

development, which is compatible with the area’s natural environment and which will

enhance the area as a place to live and work.

Upper Hunter Shire Council Management Plan 2009/10

The Upper Hunter LGA covers sections of the Brigalow Belt South, Sydney Basin and

North Coast bioregions identified in the Bioregions of New South Wales – Their

Biodiversity, Conservation and History (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2003).

As a result a wide range of habitat types occur within the Council area, ranging from sub‐

alpine woodland, rainforests, moist forests, woodlands, riparian vegetation and aquatic

ecosystems. This range of habitats combines to give important biodiversity values.

The identified pressures on Biodiversity within the Shire are

Habitat fragmentation and vegetation clearing

Introduced species of flora and fauna

Fire

Although it is accepted that an ʹecosystemʹ is more than the sum of its many parts, it is

only possible to look at single portions of the ecosystems in assessment to gain an overall

inference to the current state. The data sources on the current state of terrestrial

ecosystems were made available through National Parks and Wildlife Service ʺProvision of

Information for State of the Environment Reportʺ.

Figure 1. Remnant Woodland

Endangered Ecological Communities

An endangered ecosystem is one where its distribution has contracted to less than 10% of

its former range or the total area has contracted to less than 10% of its former area, or

where 90% of its area is in small patches which are subject to threatening processes and

unlikely to persist.

The endangered ecological communities in the Upper Hunter LGA include (This

information has been obtained from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage

threatened species database):

White Box‐Yellow Box Woodland: White Box Yellow Box Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland (commonly

referred to as Box‐Gum Woodland) is an open woodland community (sometimes occurring as a forest

formation) in which the most obvious species are one or more of the following: White Box Eucalyptus

albens, Yellow Box E. melliodora and Blakely’s Red Gum E. blakelyi. Intact sites contain a high

diversity of plant species, including the main tree species, additional tree species, some shrub species,

several climbing plant species, many grasses and a very high diversity of herbs. The community also

includes a range of mammal, bird, reptile, frog and invertebrate fauna species. Intact stands that contain

diverse upper and mid‐storeys and ground layers are rare. Modified sites include the following:

1. areas where the main tree species are present ranging from an open woodland formation to a forest

structure, and the ground layer is predominantly composed of exotic species; and

2. sites where the trees have been removed and only the grassy ground layer and some herbs remain.

Weeping Myall Woodland: Hunter Valley Weeping Myall Woodland of the Sydney Basin

bioregion typically has a dense to open tree canopy up to about 15 m tall, depending on

disturbance and regrowth history. The most common tree is Acacia pendula (Weeping

Myall), which may occur with Eucalyptus crebra (Narrow‐leaved Ironbark), A. salicina

(Cooba) and/or trees within the A. homalophylla A. melvillei complex. Understorey shrubs

may include Canthium buxifolium (Stiff Canthium), Dodonaea viscosa (Sticky Hopbush),

Geijera parviflora (Wilga), Notelaea microphylla var. microphylla (Native Olive) and Senna

zygophylla (Silver Cassia). However, these shrubs are absent from some stands. The

groundcover varies from dense to sparse, and is comprised of grasses such as

Austrodanthonia fulva (a wallaby grass) and Themeda australis (Kangaroo Grass), and low

shrubs and herbs such as Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Common Everlasting), Einadia nutans

subsp. nutans (Climbing Saltbush), Enchylaena tomentosa (Ruby Saltbush), Maireana

microphylla (Eastern Cotton Bush) and Ptilotus semilanatus.

Semi‐evergreen Vine Thicket: The ecological community known as Semi‐evergreen Vine

Thicket is a form of dry rainforest which in New South Wales is found in the Brigalow Belt

South and Nandewar Bioregions.

The Community is made up of vines, deciduous (and/or facultative deciduous) tree

species that have affinities with species from subtropical rainforest. Characteristic canopy

dominants are Cassine australis var. angustifolia, Geijera parvifolia and Notelaea

microcarpa var. microcarpa, but with emergents typical of the surrounding woodlands

(Eucalyptus albens, Eucalyptus melanophloia and Callitris glaucophylla).These are known

to occur in the Glenbawn Dam area in small stands located within the Red Gum Narrow‐

leaved Ironbark Community,

Remnant Vegetation

Due to development, and certain land management practices in the past, much of the

native vegetation within the LGA has been removed or disturbed to a varying degree. The

majority of natural vegetation cover exists in the north and east where National Parks and

State Forests cover 22% of the LGA including much of the Barrington tops area.

Threatened Fauna and Flora

There are 49 species of animals and 10 plants that have included on the threatened species

list. Changed fire regimes in the area have been attributed the major factor in the status of

many of the flora and fauna species cited in Table 12, along with habitat reduction. Rare

and threatened flora is susceptible to fire and the resultant lack of understorey and shrub

layers leads to the decline in certain fauna species. Current listings can be seen in the table

below.

Table 1: Threatened Fauna with Status (Endangered or Vulnerable) FAUNA TSC ACT STATUS

Booroolong Frog E1 Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby E1 Bush Stone-curlew E1 Hastings River Mouse E1 Malleefowl E1 Painted Snipe (Australian subspecies) E1 Red Goshawk E1 Regent Honeyeater E1 Regent Parrot (eastern subsp.) E1 Stuttering Frog E1 Swift Parrot E1 Australasian Bittern V Barking Owl V Black-chinned Honeyeater (eastern subsp.) V Broad-toothed Rat V Brown Treecreeper V Brush-tailed Phascogale V Common Planigale V Davies' Tree Frog V Diamond Firetail V Eastern Bent-wing Bat V Eastern Cave Bat V Eastern False Pipistrelle V Eastern Freetail-bat V Gang-gang Cockatoo V Glandular Frog V Glossy Black-Cockatoo V Golden-tipped Bat V Greater Broad-nosed Bat V Greater Long-eared Bat V Grey-crowned Babbler (eastern subsp.) V Hooded Robin V Koala V Large-eared Pied Bat V Large-footed Myotis V Little Bentwing-bat V Long-haired Rat V Long-nosed Potoroo V Masked Owl V Olive Whistler V Painted Honeyeater V Parma Wallaby V Powerful Owl V Rufous Bettong V Sooty Owl V Speckled Warbler V

Spotted-tailed Quoll V Square-tailed Kite V Squirrel Glider V Stephens' Banded Snake V Turquoise Parrot V Yellow-bellied Glider V Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat V INVERTEBRATES TSC ACT Petalura gigantea E1

Table 2: Threatened Flora with Status (Endangered or Vulnerable) FLORA TSC ACT STATUS

Rupp's Boronia E1 Scant Pomaderris E1 Small Snake Orchid E1 White-flowered Wax Plant E1 Wollemi Pine E1 Austral Cornflower E4 Acacia dangarensis Pr Isotropis foliosa Pr Austral Toadflax V Barrington Tops Ant Orchid V Broad-leaved Pepperbush V Brown Pomaderris V Clandulla Geebung V Downy Wattle V Elegant Greenhood V Fragrant Pepperbush V Homoranthus darwinioides V Kennedia retrorsa V Lasiopetalum longistamineum V Ozothamnus tessellatus V Philotheca ericifolia V Polblue Eyebright V Silky Swainson-pea V Singleton Mint Bush V Small-fruited Mountain Gum V Veined Doubletail V

The primary pressures on biodiversity are habitat fragmentation and clearing, introduced

species and changes to natural fire regimes. The Threatened Species Conservation Act

1995 lists Key Threatening Processes (KTP). The ones that may be applicable in the Upper

Hunter LGA are listed in Table 14.

Table 3: Key Threatening Processes

THREATENED SPECIES CONSERVATION ACT 1995 –

Schedule 3 - Key threatening processes (Section 8) Alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers and streams and their floodplains and wetlands

(as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the threatening process)

Anthropogenic Climate Change Bushrock removal (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list

the threatening process) Clearing of native vegetation (as defined and described in the final determination of the

Scientific Committee to list the key threatening process) Competition and grazing by the feral European Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) Competition from feral honey bees, Apis mellifera L. High frequency fire resulting in the disruption of life cycle processes in plants and animals and

loss of vegetation structure and composition Importation of Red Imported Fire Ants Solenopsis invicta Buren 1972 Infection by Psittacine Circoviral (beak and feather) Disease affecting endangered psittacine

species and populations Infection of native plants by Phytophthora cinnamomi Invasion of native plant communities by Chrysanthemoides monilifera Loss or degradation (or both) of sites used for hill-topping by butterflies Predation by Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859 (Plague Minnow or Mosquito Fish) (as

described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the threatening process) Predation by the European Red Fox Vulpes Vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) Predation by the Feral Cat Felis catus (Linnaeus, 1758) Predation by the Ship Rat Rattus rattus on Lord Howe Island

Habitat Fragmentation and Clearing

The development of new land for urban, rural and rural residential subdivisions, as well

as clearing for agricultural activities is the major contributors to the loss, modification

and/or fragmentation of habitat in the Upper Hunter LGA. The Department of Natural

Resources advise that for the period 2005‐2006 approximately 760 hectares of native

vegetation were approved for clearing. However this does not account for illegal clearing

and clearing under the various exemptions of the Native Vegetation Act 2003.

2. Why is it happening? (driving forces, pressure)

3. What are the responses and how effective are they? (response)

There was at least one breach of the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997 investigated

by the Department of Natural Resources. This was associated with clearing for a rural‐

residential subdivision at Owens Gap, between Scone and Bunnan.

Introduced Species

Disturbance of native vegetation can promote the establishment of exotic weeds in areas of

natural habitat. This is a problem as weed species, particularly noxious weeds, may

dominate and exclude native vegetation. Aquatic species can choke waterways and

decrease water quality. Some weeds are poisonous to livestock and can cause economic

losses to the agricultural sector.

Weeds grow as opportunists wherever space is available and growing condition allow.

They have invaded land and waterways in rural, conservation and urban areas and can

lessen productivity and quality of life. They have co‐evolved with systems of landuse and

the methods used for their management. Weeds are often major causes of the biological

and physical degradation of land.

Noxious plants cost Australia an estimated $3 billion each year in lost production and are

a major problem for primary producers and a serious threat to the natural environment,

native plants and animal habitats are increasingly being displaced by weeds. Both noxious

plants and some of the methods used to control them are major causes of land

degradation. Noxious plants reduce prospects for sustainable agriculture by increasing

the costs of production and the risk of soil erosion and structural decline.

Feral animals and domestic pets can pose significant threats to native fauna. Feral animals

have been known to kill native fauna and destroy native vegetation.

Fire

Fire is an integral component of Australia’s Biodiversity. Many Australian ecosystems

require periodic fires to function. Changes in fire frequency and intensity however may

alter the florist structure of an ecosystem and lead to significant changes in the

composition of vegetation and animal communities.

Great Eastern Ranges Project The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative is a globally significant and internationally recognised

program that will help people, plants and animals adapt to future environmental threats

by maintaining, improving and reconnecting ʹislandsʹ of natural vegetation along the great

eastern ranges. These ranges are 2800 km long and extend from the Australian Alps north

of Melbourne, Victoria to the Atherton Tablelands to the west and north of Cairns in far

north Queensland (Department of Environment and Climate Change (2009) Great Eastern

Ranges Initiative, Available at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ger [Date Accessed:

11 September 2009]).

DECC will work with a wide range of voluntary partners to improve the conservation

management and connectivity of these natural areas.

The Upper Hunter LGA incorporates areas of the Great Dividing Range and as such there

are areas that could provide linkages. The detail of how theses linkages can be achieved at

the property scale need to be determined, however it could incorporate a combination of

Voluntary Planning Agreements, Property Vegetation Plans and other partnership

programs between landholders, government and community groups.

Endangered Ecological Communities The introduction to this report provides an overview of the vegetation communities of the

Upper Hunter. Generally large areas of the Upper Hunter LGA consists of landscapes that

have been cleared, partially cleared and fragmented for mostly agricultural land uses.

There are a number of Endangered Ecological Communities, including: White Box‐Yellow

Box – Blakeley’s Red gum Grassy Woodland (Upper Hunter White Box‐Ironbark Grassy

Woodland), Weeping Myall Woodland (Hunter Valley Weeping Myall Woodland) and

Hunter Valley Vine Thicket.

However the NSW Scientific Committee has made a preliminary determination to list the

Hunter Floodplain Red Gum Woodland in the NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin

Bioregions, as an Endangered Ecological Community.

Policy Guidelines for Flora and Fauna Assessment The Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 requires that

development applications are accompanied by an indication as to whether the

development is likely to significantly affect threatened species, populations or

ecological communities, or their habitats. The Council has developed a policy that

provides guidance as to where a Flora and Fauna Survey and Assessment Report are

required.

The Circumstances where a Flora and Fauna Survey and Assessment Report may be

required include:

The development on the property is within 200m of a natural water course,

wetland, reserve, National Park, State Forest or permanent water body

The development on the property is adjacent to or contains a parcel of

remnant native vegetation

The development involves the significant disturbance or removal of native

remnant vegetation (as defined in section 7 of the Native Vegetation Act

2003).

The development on the property implies significant disturbance to existing

or potential native habitat for fauna species such as native vegetation, caves,

dead trees, hollow bearing trees, bush rock or rocky outcrops, wetlands,

streams, lakes, ponds or dams.

Where Council identifies a potential impact following a site inspection.

Section 5A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 The Council undertakes assessment of development applications as required in accordance with Section 5A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. To facilitate this process Council has developed a Flora and Fauna Assessment Guideline and an Biodiversity Survey Checklist. The checklist once finalised will need to be lodged as supporting documentation to accompany certain development applications. Property Vegetation Plans During 2008-2009 the Council was notified of six property vegetation plans for properties in the LGA. These are recorded in the Council GIS and the information is provided on the Section 149 Certificates issued by Council.

Regional Roadside Environment Program

The Council is a participant in the HCCREMS Regional Roadside Environment Program.

This program aims to maintain and improve the important ecosystem services and environmental

values that high quality and well managed roadsides contribute to the landscape. These include

biodiversity conservation, improved catchment and ecosystem health and maintaining the

aesthetic character of the landscape (HCCREMS, 2009).

It is recognised that roadside vegetation and habitat play a key role in sustaining the long

term survival of a wide variety of native fauna. Roadsides may contain significant

remnants of native vegetation and other habitat features including fallen logs, leaf litter

and rock ledges. In some largely cleared landscapes, the vegetation and habitat located in

roadside environments may be all that remains for native fauna. Roadside vegetation also

provides an important source of local provenance seed that can be used for local habitat

restoration projects (HCCREMS, 2009). This project has established a number of tools to

assist Councils in managing roadside environments to protect their ecological values. In

2009 this project commenced Stage III which involves the identification of “Ecologically

Sensitive Sites”. This establishes a sign post system to warn council field officers of

particular issues at certain locations that will need to be considered (eg the key habitat

areas). There markers will only be identifiable by Council officer and mapped on the

Council GIS.

Council continue to implement this program through on‐going operations and the

preparation of Reviews of Environmental Factors in relation to road widening and road

re‐alignment projects.

Tree Planting Initiatives

The Council has a regular budget commitment to tree planting within each of the

townships. While the tree planting schemes are predominantly aimed at improving the

scenic entrance to towns and the visual amenity, the tree plantings also assist in re‐

establishing and connecting vegetation corridors and providing habitat for native flora

and fauna.

Greater Hunter Native Vegetation Mapping

The Greater Hunter Native Vegetation Mapping project is the culmination of a long‐term

program undertaken through the joint efforts of the Hunter Central Rivers Catchment

Management Authority (HCRCMA), the Hunter Councils’ Environment Division (HCED)

and the Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet (OEH).

This report and data was provided to the Upper Hunter Shire Council in September 2012.

It provided a comprehensive set of data on the different vegetation units that occur across

the LGA. It is anticipated that this data will be used for a range of purposes including

strategic planning and preliminary development application assessment.

Draft Upper Hunter Local Environmental Plan 2012

The Council are in the process of preparing the draft Upper Hunter Local Environmental

Plan 2012. This will incorporate a Terrestrial Biodiversity Map and associated local

provision. This will ensure greater consideration is give to the protection and conservation

of the important biodiversity values of the Upper Hunter Shire.

Figure 2. Proximity of Proposed Great Eastern Ranges Conservation Corridor and Proposed Kyoto Energy Park Wind Turbines

4. What more could be done? (future directions)

Support the Great Eastern Ranges Project Identification of important fragments/ patches of vegetation Continued participation in the Regional Roadside Environment Program Continue tree planting initiatives


2. Water 2.1. At a glance Issue Summary (status) Freshwater riverine ecosystem health State

The Upper Hunter has a range of freshwater and riverine ecosystems.

Pressure Loss of riparian vegetation Illegal Excavation or river works. Water extraction Changes stream flow patterns

Response Regulation of River works Assessment of development applications Reporting illegal works and structures to the

Department of Water and Energy (or relevant authority.

Stormwater: State

From urban surfaces. Has the potential to carry pollutants and wastes.

Pressure Development and expansion of the urban / residential areas.

Response Regulatory controls Implementation of Council’s Stormwater Management

Plan Adoption of water sensitive urban design principles.

2.2. Freshwater ecosystem health Protection and enhancement of the natural environment, including the promotion of

development, which is compatible with the area’s natural environment and which will enhance

the area as a place to live and work.


The Upper Hunter LGA is dissected by a number of rivers and streams running from west

to east. They originate predominantly in the Liverpool and Mount Royal ranges and flow

through the escarpments along well defined drainage lines.

The principle river systems situated are:

1. The Pages River

2. The Isis River

3. The Hunter River

4. The Goulburn River

However there are a number of other major stream systems that are important water

sources, including:

Dartbrook

Middle Brook

Wybong Creek

Merriwa River

Krui River

Moonan Brook

Stewarts Brook

The State of the Rivers and Estuaries Report for the Hunter Catchment (Department of Land

and Water Conservation 2000) provides a regional overview of the catchment condition, and

summarises available information on characteristics including streamflow, water quality,

channel structure, riparian vegetation, floodplains, wetlands, aquatic biota, estuaries, and

groundwater. This regional scale information focuses on the major river systems. Significant

impacts on the condition of the rivers in the LGA include:

changes to river channel structure, loss of riparian vegetation and growth of weed

species;

clearing of most of the original floodplain vegetation;

reduced frequency of medium flows and freshes along the Hunter River due to water

extraction;

changed streamflow patterns as a result of regulation of flows;

higher periods of low and zero flow in unregulated streams as a result of water

extraction;

most nutrients in the river originate from diffuse sources.

There are a number of factors that could potentially place pressure on freshwater ecosystems

in the Upper Hunter LGA, including:

Sewer overflows

Sewerage effluent disposal

On‐site sewerage management system

Stormwater Run‐off

Erosion and sedimentation from roads, construction sites and quarries

Direct livestock access to streams

2. Why is it happening? (Driving forces, pressure)


On-site Sewerage Management Systems Under the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 all landowners with on-site systems are required to obtain an approval to operate the system from Council. Landowners must also maintain and manage their on-site sewerage management systems (OSMS) in accordance with health and environmental performance standards. Councils are required to manage the cumulative impact of sewage pollution in their local government area, which includes approving the installation and operation of on-site systems. Ensuring the OSMS is installed, managed, operated serviced and maintained properly minimises the risks to public health and pollution to waterways and groundwater. The Council and the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA) have entered into a partnership to replace old septic and other on-site systems in rural areas and villages that present a high risk of pollution to surface water and/or ground water. As an incentive to landowners the program provides financial assistance up to $2,000 per household towards the upgrade of on-site sewerage management systems. Environmentally Sensitive Lands Mapping The Council has developed an environmentally sensitive lands map that identifies key watercourses, drinking water catchments and vulnerable groundwaters. This map will be used as a layer in the Upper Hunter Local Environmental Plan and will allow for a greater level of assessment of developments on land within the identified areas. Saleyards Effluent Water Re-use Scheme The Council has engaged consultants to prepare a management plan for the re-use of effluent water resulting from the use of the saleyards facility at Scone. The Plan will ensure that effluent water is properly contained and managed on-site and reused where feasible. The Plan will have the beneficial outcomes of minimising odour and improving water quality and sustainability. Urban Stormwater Management The Council has entered into a partnership with the CMA to implement an urban stormwater management plan focusing on improving urban stormwater management by revegetation of stabilisation of watercourses and the installation of gross pollutant traps and other pollution control devices. Landfill Site Management The Council ensures that its landfill areas are managed in accordance with EPA guidelines to minimise the potential for any contamination by leachate. Regular groundwater monitoring occurs to ensure the landfill sites are contained and are not contributing to adverse water quality.


Investigate the development of an environmental audit program to identify and

address sources of pollution at source.

Adopt programs developed by HCCREMS in relation to sediment and erosion

control including the Regional Sediment and Erosion Control Policy when

developed.

Continue to develop and implement Urban Stormwater Management Strategies.

Improve environmental mapping through data sharing arrangements with other

agencies.

Figure 3. Pages River


3. Atmosphere Air quality Protection and enhancement of the natural environment, including the promotion of

development, which is compatible with the area’s natural environment and which will enhance

the area as a place to live and work.


Air quality affects human health and enjoyment of the environment. Air quality in the

Upper Hunter is particularly susceptible to the adverse impacts of mining including

dust and sulphur dioxide emissions.

In October 2009, the NSW Government, in partnership with the Upper Hunter coal and

power industries, announced the establishment of an air quality monitoring network

in Upper Hunter Valley. Figure 3 is a photograph of the dust monitoring station

located at Aberdeen. The purpose of the network is to continuously measure dust

particulates in the air at up to 14 sites throughout the region. The dust sources that are

monitored by the network are likely to be from coal mining activities, agriculture, cars,

bushfire and industry. These monitoring stations are able to monitor the concentration

of dust with a particle size of 10 microns (Note: one micron is equal to one thousandth

of a millimetre). In addition three of the monitors are capable of measuring particles

sizes of 2.5 microns or less. Each station also monitors wind speed and direction.

(NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, 2009: Upper Hunter

Air Quality Monitoring Network, Fact Sheet).

Figure 3 provides air quality monitoring data from the monitoring stations at

Aberdeen and Merriwa.

Figure 4. Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network. Monitoring State at Aberdeen.

Figure 3. Air Quality Measurements from Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network at Aberdeen and Merriwa Figure 2 shows the results of the monitoring from February 2012 to September 2012. The graph represents the level of dust measured in the atmosphere at the monitoring stations in Aberdeen and Merriwa, relative to Muswellbrook LGA.

Current air quality data can be found at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/aqms/hourlydata.htm.

The Office of Environment and Heritage are continuing to develop data on air quality in the region to

allow for a range of health and other studies to be conducted. As more data become available, it will

be incorporated into the State of Environment Report.

Air quality in the Upper Hunter Shire is affected by mining activities, industry, vehicle

emissions burning of vegetation (including domestic solid wood heaters) and agricultural

related activities. Some of these activities also have the potential for odour and chemical

emissions. These include feedlots, dairy farming/effluent disposal, fertiliser application

(including poultry manure and bio solids) and other intensive animal production.

2. Why is it happening? (driving forces, pressure)



There is a major animal processing industry located in Scone (Primo) that is a source of

odour and the EPA are the regulatory authority in the event of odour complaints being

received.

While there are no active coal mines in the Upper Hunter LGA, there are major mining

activities occurring in close proximity to the southern boundaries of the shire. The

information being sourced from the Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network will

assist in determining what impacts coal mining is having on the air quality of the region.

Motor vehicle usage and emissions is also considered to be a major source of air pollution in

the Upper Hunter, particularly in the town centres with the significant volume and

frequency of heavy vehicle movements.

Landfill areas and sewerage treatment works can also be a source of complaints in relation

to nuisance odours. The Council operates landfill sites and sewerage treatment works at

Scone, Aberdeen, Murrurundi and Merriwa. Good environmental management practices

have ensured that there have been few complaints regarding odours from these sites.

The Council continues to investigate complaints from the community in relation to

dust and odour and promote education and awareness. Where necessary compliance

action is initiated in accordance with the Protection of the Environment Operations Act

1997 to address air quality complaints.

The Council is continuing with education campaigns to reduce the volume of waste

being disposed at landfill sites. A collection program has been initiated for E‐ Waste

and other recent initiatives include the Compost Revolution, increased processing of

green waste and on‐site concrete crushing and re‐use.

The Council undertakes a bushfire hazard reduction programme by slashing around

towns and villages and constructing and maintaining fire trails to minimise bushfire

threat and adverse air quality.

Continue to respond to complaints and be proactive in education and awareness

programs.

Support local and regional projects to address pollution from domestic solid wood

heaters. Support comprehensive and regional study into the health impacts of dust from

coal mining activities.

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