sydney catchment area annual catchment management report...the sydney catchment area covers almost...

Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 2

Financial Performance 2014 - 15 ............................................................................................... 4

1. Maintaining a Catchment Science and Evidence Base .................................................. 5

2. Active Communities ................................................................................................................. 7

3. Setting the Example ............................................................................................................... 11

4. Ensuring Legislation Protects Our Catchments................................................................. 16

5. Maintaining Sustainable Catchments .................................................................................. 17

6. Targeting High Risk Pollution Sources ............................................................................... 20

7. Managing Emerging Catchment Issues .............................................................................. 22

Appendix 1: 2013 Catchment Audit Recommendation Status ............................................ 23

Abbreviations

ARC Australian Research Council

AWTS Aerated Wastewater Treatment System

CMP Conservation Management Plan

CPIG Catchment Protection and Improvement Grant

CRAFT Catchment Remote Area Fire Team

CRP Current Recommended Practice

DCP Development Control Plan

DP&E Department of Planning and Environment

DPI Department of Primary Industries

EP&A Environmental Planning and Assessment

HCP Healthy Catchments Program

HCS Healthy Catchments Strategy

HSC High School Certificate

HSIE Human Society and its Environment

ILUA Indigenous Land Use Agreement

IWCM Integrated Water Cycle Management

LGRP Local Government Reference Panel

LLS Local Land Services

MUSIC Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation

NorBE Neutral or Beneficial Effect on water quality

NPWS National Parks and Wildlife Service

OEH Office of Environment and Heritage

OSSM On-Site Sewage Management

POEO Act Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997

PSAT Pollution Source Assessment Tool

RID Regional Illegal Dumping

RLP Rural Landscape Program

SCA Sydney Catchment Authority

SLA Service Level Agreement

SLWCA Strategic Land and Water Capability Assessments

SASPoM Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management

STP Sewage Treatment Plant

UV Ultraviolet

WSAA Water Services Association of Australia

WSUD Water Sensitive Urban Design

2

Introduction

The Healthy Catchments Strategy 2012-16 details WaterNSW’s actions in the Sydney declared catchment area to reduce the risk to water quality. The Healthy Catchments Strategy is an important element of WaterNSW’s Water Quality Management Framework 2012–2017, which outlines how WaterNSW can ensure a safe and reliable supply of water. The Healthy Catchments Strategy is also a key part of WaterNSW’s Corporate Strategy.

The Sydney catchment area covers almost 16,000 square kilometres and provides drinking water for around 4.5 million people in Sydney, Illawarra, Goulburn, Blue Mountains, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands regions of New South Wales.

The Healthy Catchments Strategy has seven integrated management initiatives that each addresses a catchment risk to water quality. These initiatives are implemented through a series of programs and activities with the support and collaboration of our partners, including local councils, landholders, other government agencies, industry and the community.

The seven catchment management initiatives are:

1. Maintaining a catchment science and evidence base

2. Active communities

3. Setting the example

4. Ensuring legislation protects our catchments

5. Maintaining sustainable catchments

6. Targeting high risk pollution sources

7. Managing emerging catchment issues.

Each year WaterNSW publishes a Healthy Catchments Program that details the specific work and activities from the Healthy Catchments Strategy that will be delivered in that financial year. At the end of the year, we report on our progress in our Annual Catchment Management Report.

This report outlines the planned and actual catchment activities undertaken in the Healthy Catchments Program 2014-15 and progress towards planned outcomes. Where relevant this report also identifies where actions are addressing recommendations of previous Catchment or Operating Licence audits. The highlights include:

Mapped the extent, severity and treatment of erosion gullies in 43 out of 45 priority drainage units

Completed a study that demonstrated that ultraviolet disinfection in sewage treatment plants is effective

in addressing water quality risks from cryptosporidium in sewage systems

Developed a new web-based tool to assist councils and consultants to assess the impact of new

developments on water quality and trained them in its use

A total of 6,941 students from 116 schools participated in syllabus linked lessons and hands on

activities, engaging students in water quality and quantity learning and supporting broader water

education delivery by teachers

Received over 99,000 visitors at our Warragamba Dam Visitor Centre many of whom experienced our

‘Who Cares About Catchments’ temporary exhibition

Exhibited the Draft Masterplan for the renovation of the Bendeela Recreation Area and completed the

Bendeela Recreation Area Community Consultation Report

Signed the Gundungurra Indigenous Land Use Agreement in February 2015

Completed 1,200 hectares of mechanical hazard reduction (through slashing) and six hazard reduction

burns in partnership with National Parks and Wildlife Service resulting in 11,000 hectares of land being

hazard reduced in the Special Areas

Maintained 131 kilometres of fire trails in the Special Areas

Carried out over 2780 hours of pest and weed control activities in the Special Areas in partnership with

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Installed 6.4 kilometres of new fences and barriers to protect the Special Areas

Carried out targeted inspections and surveillance with NSW Police, National Parks and Wildlife Service,

NSW Fisheries and the Regional Illegal Dumping Squad resulting in the issue of 15 notices that

addressed water quality issues

Provided 223 letters of advice to proponents and councils on high risk or state significant development

Provided advice to Department of Planning and Environment on regional growth plans and sub-regional

strategies

Awarded 52 grants in partnership with the South East Local Land Service that resulted in 4,410 hectares

of grazing land which was a high risk to water quality being protected from erosion, 2,180 hectares

3

managed to contemporary standards and 105 kilometres the water of watercourses protected from stock

impacts

Negotiated joint action plans for eight councils to respond to the study of council stormwater and

sewerage management practices

Finalised the WaterNSW Climate Change Adaption Strategy.

4

Financial Performance 2014 - 15

Operational Expenditure ($’000)

INITIATIVE / PROGRAM PLANNED EXPENDITURE

ACTUAL EXPENDITURE

1. Implementing a catchment science and evidence base 2,289 1,196

1.1 Capture key catchment information 94 172

1.2 Understanding catchment risks 2,074 988

1.3 Scientific evaluation of catchment actions 121 36

2. Active communities 2,129 1,598

2.1 Capacity building 104 16

2.2 School education 294 214

2.3 Community information and resources 1,683 1,362

2.4 Community involvement 48 6

3. Setting the example 11,290 11,301

3.1 Fire management 732 818

3.2 Unsealed roads 770 770

3.3 Pests and weeds 453 779

3.4 Soil erosion 256 212

3.5 Recreation areas 2,722 3,000

3.7 Cultural heritage 369 67

3.8 Reserve Management 5,988 5,655

4. Ensuring legislation protects our catchments 1,191 853

4.1 Targeted Inspection Program 674 218

4.2 Special Areas enforcement 517 635

5. Maintaining sustainable catchments 1,091 1,302

5.1 Development and activities 583 691

5.2 Land use planning 373 516

5.3 Mining 135 95

6. Targeting high risk pollution sources 4,738 4,006

6.1 Rural Landscape Program 2,269 2,084

6.2 Priority Pollutant Program 2,469 1,922

7. Managing emerging catchment issues - 3

TOTAL 22,729 20,258

Capital Expenditure ($’000)

Project PLANNED EXPENDITURE

ACTUAL EXPENDITURE

Bendeela camping ground upgrade 1,000 151

Fire trail upgrade 267 249

Special Areas and Braidwood lands fencing 435 485

Replacement of plant and equipment 300 164

Catchment infrastructure asset renewals 535 529

Upgrade NorBE 110 286

Upgrade works for public access to Warragamba Dam crest 400 397

Woronora Interpretive Signage 120 0

Building a demonstration raingarden at Burrawang 33 0

Spatial Software 65 67

Interactive Smart Board Warragamba School Education 35 27

TOTAL 3,200 2,355

5

1. Maintaining a Catchment Science and Evidence Base

A science and evidence base for catchment actions increases our knowledge of natural processes and human activities that impact water quality. A better understanding of the mobilisation, transport and delivery of pollutants to streams will help us prioritise risks and our catchment actions. We will continue to work with industry partners, other government agencies and the community to capture and share information about water quality and quantity data, on-ground natural resource management activities and other relevant information.

Planned Activities 2014-15 Actual Activities

1.1 Capturing Key Catchment Information

Regularly capture key catchment information in spatial and water quality databases

i,ii,iii

Key catchment spatial datasets related to operations and planning have been captured and stored in Corporate Geodatabase, including mining, fire, pollution sources and risk assessments (PSAT), land use, topographic (i.e. LiDAR), aerial photography and satellite imagery.

1.2 Understanding Catchment Risks

Map the extent, severity, and treatment of erosion gullies across 45 priority drainage units

This year we have completed the mapping of 43 of 45 high risk to water quality drainage units

Update and completion of five PSAT modules: Onsite Wastewater Management Systems, Roads, Gully Erosion, Grazing and Intensive Animal Production

A new version of the Pollution Source Assessment Tool was completed in June 2015. All modules in PSAT have been updated, with exception of the gully and stream bank erosion module.

Continue the development of a model to assess pollutant risks across the catchments during wet weather events

iv

Bayesian Project jointly funded by Water Research Australia and WaterNSW was initiated and workshops held to populate parts of the risk models for the Prospect water supply.

Determine the potential role that native marsupials, cattle and sheep play in the transmission of human-infective Cryptosporidium and Giardia over a two year period

v

Scat samples (860) were collected for analysis from selected farms this year. Analysis of the samples is underway.

Use campaign monitoring over a three year period to target river systems during rainfall and inflow periods to determine loads of Cryptosporidium and Giardia and use

genotyping to determine sources and whether Cryptosporidium is human-infective or not

vi

This year there were two wet weather events (April and June 2015) that triggered sample collection. Samples have been sent to for analysis. Sample collection continues in 2016.

Continue to assess the impacts of longwall mining on the quantity and quality of water in catchment stream

vii

A report that summarises the state of current knowledge on longwall mining in the Special Areas was completed.

WaterNSW has assessed seven reports on project approvals or assessment of mining impacts from currently operating mines this year.

6

Project PLANNED EXPENDITURE

ACTUAL EXPENDITURE

1.3 Scientific Evaluation of Catchment Actions

Improve and validate a model to estimate

pollutant loads from grazing lands viii,ix

Evaluation of our approach has concluded that at the same frequency of rain events it may take a further seven years to collect sufficient data to validate the model. Alternate approaches are being evaluated to determine whether they would yeild usable results in a shorter timeframe.

Complete evaluation study on the loading and persistence of pathogens discharged from sewage treatment plants

This study was completed in December 2014 and demonstrated that UV disinfection by STPs is effective in addressing water quality risks from cryptosporidium in the sewage systems in

drinking water catchments.

Trial the use of various environmental tracers for quantifying pollutant pathways as part of a toolbox of methodologies to identify catchment sources of faecal pollution

x

WaterNSW agreed to collaborate in a joint ARC Linkage project led by Griffith University to better identify faecal sources of pollution. This project did not get ARC funding and the work did not proceed.

Planned Outcomes Actual Outcomes

Science underpins WaterNSW decisions about prioritising water quality risks and designing and evaluating catchment actions with at least 80 percent of WaterNSW catchment management decision makers accessing science information, models, and scientific analysis to inform decisions as measured by a biennial WaterNSW staff survey

The planned outcome is being reviewed as part of the Science Strategic Plan and the survey was not completed. This planned outcome will be updated if it is included in the revised plan.

Planned Expenditure ($’000) Actual Expenditure ($’000)

2,290 1,196

Capital Expenditure

Project PLANNED EXPENDITURE ($’000)

ACTUAL EXPENDITURE ($’000)

Spatial Software 65 67

TOTAL 65 67

Variations Projects on pathogen risks from heavy rainfall events and grazing practices were underspent due to very few rainfall events of sufficient magnitude occurring. Projects to assess the impacts of longwall mining and to develop a risk assessment tool for wet weather events were postponed due to the reallocation of staff to other, higher priority projects. An application for an ARC Linkage Projects grant to investigate faecal pollution sources was unsuccessful. The combined impact was the science program being underspent.

7

2. Active Communities

More than 120,000 people live and work in the catchment and see it as a resource, as well as a source of water. Working with the community and encouraging their participation helps support the Sydney drinking water catchment and the WaterNSW’s objectives. Increasing knowledge, skills and attitudes using education and training to build capacity can help promote positive behaviour in the catchment. Active communities help to support informed decision making, and build understanding about our activities.


2.1 Capacity Building

Provide capacity building opportunities for councils and consultants on the revised NorBE tool and related current recommended practices.

Training was provided to consultants and councils on the new NorBE tool in September and October 2014. Detail about the Current Recommended Practices was incorporated into training.

Design and deliver capacity building programs, in partnership with Local Land Services, to graziers under the Rural Landscape Program.

The South East Local Land Services, in partnership with WaterNSW, delivered a number of training courses aimed at improving grazier skills in best practice land management techniques for the protection of water quality.

Design and deliver capacity building initiatives for Councils and catchment communities to address stormwater and OSSM impacts as part of the Priority Pollutants Program

A one day seminar was held with councils to discuss how to improve practices in on-site sewerage and stormwater management. A contractor was also engaged to develop erosion and sediment control training with a more ‘practical’ focus for council staff.

Support up to six Streamwatch community groups as part of the revised WaterNSW Streamwatch program

A new SLA for the delivery of Streamwatch in Greater Sydney’s drinking water catchment was signed by WaterNSW and the Australian Museum Trust in June 2015. The SLA will support WaterNSW recruiting and supporting six Streamwatch community groups undertaking water quality testing in the catchments in 2015-16.

Provide up to $60,000 in WaterNSW community grants and corporate sponsorships

WaterNSW awarded five sponsorships totalling $9,050 (excl. GST) and two Catchment Protection and Improvement Grants (CPIGs) totalling $16,450 (excl. GST).

2.2 School Education

Deliver the Warragamba Dam excursion program to approximately 5000 students

A total of 6,941 students from 116 schools participated in syllabus linked lessons and hands on activities, engaging students in water quality and quantity learning and supporting broader water education delivery by teachers.

The WaterNSW’s HSC Biology and Chemistry websites received over 25,683 unique page views.

Integrate the use of a SMART Board and mobile tablet devices in the delivery of WaterNSW school education program

Mobile tablets and an interactive whiteboard were procured and installed in the Warragamba Dam Visitor Centre. Lessons, including HSC Chemistry, are being delivered using the interactive whiteboard and lessons are being redeveloped to incorporate the mobile tablets.

8


Review our school education program to compliment the new NSW K-10 Science syllabus

We have responded to the new K-10 Science curriculum with a more hands-on emphasis. A redeveloped catchment model was piloted and evaluated by teachers and students at the Youth Eco Summit in October 2014.

Conduct a professional development day and develop a related publication for teachers on how our programs relate to the new NSW K-10 Science syllabus

A professional development event for high school science teachers was held in June 2015. The event aimed to enhance teachers understanding of the practical application of science in the management of drinking water catchments. Evaluation of this event was overwhelmingly positive with 90% of attendees reporting a ‘significant increase’ in their understanding of the role of science in drinking water catchment management and 100% reporting that were now ‘confident’ or ‘very confident’ to plan and lead lessons related to water quality and catchment protection.

2.3 Community Information

Host approximately 100,000 visitors at the Warragamba Dam Visitor Centre

Over 99,000 visitors were recorded this year at the Warragamba Dam Visitor Centre.

Design and deliver two temporary exhibitions and supporting materials: Partnerships for Healthy Catchments and Historic Warragamba

Two temporary exhibitions were displayed at the Warragamba Dam Visitor Centre this year:

‘Water in the World’ – was displayed from July 2014 to October 2014. Visitor feedback on this exhibition was very positive with 91% of survey respondents reporting that they engaged with the exhibition. Accompanying the exhibition was a ‘water diary’ (linked to the Years 8-10 Geography and Science school curriculum), taking visitors through an activity focused on water equity in a global context.

‘Who Cares about the Catchment’ (Partnerships for Healthy Catchments) – was installed in October 2014 to current. The exhibition incorporates an immersive experience where visitors photograph themselves against a catchment backdrop and make a statement about what they do to protect the catchment – then share via social media.

Develop an Interpretation Plan for Woronora Dam and recreational area

The development of 13 new interpretive signs for the reopening of the Warragamba Dam crest and lower terraced gardens to the public project delayed the progression of this project in 2014-15. The budget for this project has been carried forward into 2015-16.

Finalise and distribute the revised Rural Living Handbook through councils for catchment communities

Rewrite of the Rural Living Handbook (RLH) was finalised with participating catchment councils and other agencies (Local Land Services and NSW Office of Water) with the councils currently developing their local content sections. On completion in 2015-16, the online links to these council specific RLH documents will be incorporated into the WaterNSW website.

9


Incorporate new temporary exhibitions into the WaterNSW website

The ‘Water in the World’ temporary exhibition is available on the SCA website.

The current exhibition, Who Cares about the Catchment, will feature on the WaterNSW website when it is launched in 2015-16.

2.4 Community Involvement

Engage the community in project and policy development for the Bendeela Masterplan, Burrawang Pumping Station and Metro Dams electrical upgrade works and the Gundungurra Indigenous Land Use Agreement

We received 92 public submissions on the Draft Bendeela Masterplan. The Bendeela Recreation Area Community Consultation Report was published on the WaterNSW website. It provides an overview of the stakeholder consultations undertaken with detailed focus on the feedback provided during the public exhibition of the draft Masterplan.

Draft Stakeholder and Community Engagement Plan for the Burrawang Pumping Station and Metro Dams electrical upgrade was prepared.

WaterNSW signed the Gundungurra Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) and it has been registered with the National Native Title Tribunal during this period. WaterNSW attended the official signing ceremony in June 2015, with the initial meeting of the ILUA consultative committee taking place in July 2015.

Meet with the Local Government Reference Panel (LGRP) and conduct a review of the format for WaterNSW’s engagement with our local government stakeholders.

The LGRP met in December 2014 and May 2015. Council and WaterNSW attendees considered: capacity building initiatives for Councils as part of the WaterNSW’s Priority Pollutants Program, an update on the revised NorBE tool, key learnings from the recent National Stormwater Conference, and AWTS Policy.

In October 2014, LGRP members were invited to participate in an online survey to share their insights into the LGRP as a platform for ongoing communication and information sharing between catchment Councils and the WaterNSW.

Planned Outcomes

Surveyed participants in WaterNSW capacity building programs report increased skills and knowledge of water quality issues and best management practices to reduce water quality risks.

Participants in the NorBE tool upgrade training were surveyed about the benefits to their council of using the NorBE tool. Half of surveyed council staff rated ‘improving council staff understanding of water quality impact from development under assessment’ in their top three benefits of using the NorBE tool.

Surveyed participants are engaged and have an increased awareness of the risks to water quality and quantity.

Survey of visitors to the Warragamba Dam Visitor Centre temporary exhibition program showed high levels of engagement with the content in the exhibition, with 94% of visitors agreeing that the exhibitions have given them a better understanding of where their water comes from.

The majority of respondents to the LGRP online survey considered the LGRPs very effective in considering and discussing water quality and

10


catchment management matters.


$2,129 $1,597

Capital Expenditure

Project

PLANNED EXPENDITURE

($’000)

ACTUAL

EXPENDITURE

($’000)

Woronora Interpretive Signage 120 0

Interactive Smart Board Warragamba School 35 27

TOTAL 155 27

Variations

The Communications Team has been actively involved in the transition arrangements for the creation of WaterNSW. This change in priorities meant a reduction of $210,000 in expenditure. In addition a number of vacant positions could not be filled resulting in expenditure being $140,000 under budget.

The Woronora interpretive signage project did not proceed in 2014-15 as the resources were diverted to reinstatement of public access to Warragamba Dam crest and terrace gardens related interpretive signage project. This resulted in expenditure on this project being $120,000 under budget.

Applications for grants and sponsorships were down this year resulting in expenditure being $75,000 under budget.

11

3. Setting the Example

The Special Areas cover 365,000 hectares of the catchment. WaterNSW and the NPWS manage 86 percent of these areas by applying adaptive management to develop objectives for land management, delivered through annual work plans, in accordance with the Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM). In the Braidwood area, WaterNSW owns and manages over 22,000 hectares of the catchment. Together with the Special Areas, these lands account for around 25 percent of the catchment area and could be a substantial risk to water quality if not properly managed. WaterNSW maintains a number of public recreation areas and facilities at the major dams and reservoirs and along the Shoalhaven River. We are also responsible for managing sites listed on the State Heritage Register and other heritage items including dams, associated infrastructure, weirs, homesteads and bridges, as well as indigenous sites and artefacts.


3.1 Fire Management

Minimise risks and impacts to life and property from wildfires by: - Completing at least 400 hectares of slashing

to provide suitable fire break - Completing at least 15 hazard reduction

burns

WaterNSW and NPWS completed 1,200 hectares of mechanical hazard reduction through slashing operations. Key sites were slashed more than once during the fire season due to favourable growing conditions.

WaterNSW and NPWS completed six hazard reduction burns resulting in an area of 11,000 hectares being hazard reduced. Another seven burn plans were prepared but were unable to be completed due to unfavourable conditions. Several areas have been prepared for hazard reduction in late winter or spring subject to conditions.

Attending 80% of reported fires during the declared bushfire danger period within condition specific guidelines and containing the fires to within 10 hectares

The Catchment Remote Area Fire Teams (CRAFT) remained operational in 2014-15. The CRAFT teams attended eight fires. All fires except one were attended within the condition specific guidelines by the primary crew. The other fire was attended by the secondary crew as the primary crew was engaged elsewhere.

All fires were kept to within 10 hectares.

3.2 Unsealed Roads

Maintain the network of unsealed roads to the required standard by completing at least 40 kilometres of maintenance to unsealed roads

NPWS and WaterNSW completed a total of 131 kilometres of fire trail maintenance in the Special Areas.

In addition, works to improve condition of five causeways and river crossings were undertaken including upgrades of the approaches. The Upper Cordeaux No.2 boat ramp was completed to improve access for operational activities.

3.3 Pests And Weeds

Control priority pests and weeds including: WaterNSW prepared a new Pest and Weed

Strategy for the Sydney Declared Catchment using the NPWS approach of “threats to values”.

- At least 210 hours of rabbit, dog, deer and

fox control in the Special Areas Within the Special Areas, WaterNSW and NPWS applied over 790 hours to targeting dogs, goats, foxes and rabbits. The pest control programs resulted in the destruction of 379 feral pigs, 99 feral goats, 64 deer, 67 foxes and 43 wild dogs.

- At least 120 hours of pig/goat control on our

Braidwood lands Feral animal control continued at Braidwood with 360 hours spent controlling pigs and rabbits.

12


This included a joint aerial cull with NPWS and Local Lands Services that worked across the Shoalhaven Special Area and Braidwood lands.

- Continue the control of lantana, tree

tobacco and privet on the foreshores of Lake Yarrunga

WaterNSW continued extensive Privet, Tree Tobacco and Lantana control on the foreshore of Lake Yarrunga with 970 hours of weed control delivered by WaterNSW.

- Treat willow and blackberry across at least

50 hectares of Wingecarribee Swamp A total of 90 hectares of Wingecarribee Swamp was treated due to favourable conditions.

- Continue the control of serrated tussock and

blackberry on our Braidwood lands A total of 750 hours was spent controlling Serrated Tussock, Blackberry and broom on the Braidwood lands.

- Undertake at least two inspections for water

hyacinth on Lake Yarrunga Water Hyacinth was detected on Lake Yarrunga for the first time since 2011-12. As a result, six lake inspections were undertaken on the Kangaroo Arm of Lake Yarrunga. Water Hyacinth was found on three occasions between March and June 2015. All detections were in the same location and a total of 70 L of Hyacinth was physically removed from the site.

- Develop a control strategy for Ludwigia on

Prospect Reservoir The development of a weed management strategy for the aquatic weed Ludwigia continues. Issues regarding water quality, chemical use and the requirement to obtain a permit to access and dispose of the weed from NPWS are required to finalise the strategy.

3.4 Soil Erosion

Progressively treat active erosion on our:

- Katoomba Special Area Treatment of erosion in the Katoomba Special

Area was deferred in 2014-15 as detailed site investigations were required to protect sensitive water supply assets in close priximity to the planned works. Planning has been completed and works will proceed in 2015-16.

- Braidwood lands including targeting sites on

Tarrawarra, Illogan Park, East Marlowe. Works at Tarrawarra were delayed in 2014-15 as Aboriginal heritage items were identified and a permit was required from the Office of Environment and Heritage prior to commencing work . The permit has been obtained and work will proceed in 2015-16.

Flood damage to existing erosion control structures at two sites at Illogan Park were completed.

The last four priority erosion sites on East Marlowe were completed this year and reaches our target of repairing all the severe erosion sites on this property.

Works were also undertaken on the properties at Merrifield and River Lea to repair existing erosion control structures and a dam wall.

13


3.5 Recreation Areas

Maintain recreational facilities for individuals and families that are safe, educational and appropriate to their setting including:

- Conducting an assessment of key

recreation areas to assess fall risks and fencing / barrier adequacy

A trial program to assess fall hazards was undertaken at Woronora Dam. The trial methodology and outputs are being reviewed with the aim to roll out a safety audit across other sites.

Seventy-eight operational and hazard inspections were undertaken within the recreation areas. All defects were recorded and corrective actions undertaken within the nominated timeframe based on risk assessments.

Arboreal assessments were undertaken at all recreational sites to identify and address all public safety hazards. Tree health improvements are being undertaken to encourage good tree growth and limit ongoing tree fall hazards.

- Refurbishing toilet facilities at Woronora The Woronora Dam toilet facilities had roof

repairs, new hand basins installed, stall doors replaced and associated cosmetic works in keeping with the heritage style of the location. A new on-site sewage management system was installed to comply with council regulations.

- Progressively work towards the re-opening

of the Kangaroo Picnic Area at Cordeaux Dam

Cordeaux Dam improvements commenced with the upgrade of the Western Picnic Shelter and toilet block which included a new roof to the toilet block, new sink and barbeques in the picnic shelter and various building improvements. Landscaping was undertaken at the Ornamental Garden and water feature within the western picnic area to maintain this heritage listed asset.

Progress the Bendeela Recreation Area Masterplan and Upgrade through:

- Development of a representations report

based on feedback from public exhibition of the draft Masterplan

The Bendeela Recreation Area Community Consultation Report was published on the WaterNSW website. See section 2.4 for further detail.

- WaterNSW Board approval of the final

Masterplan The Draft Bendeela Recreation Area Masterplan was submitted for consideration. WaterNSW has determined that due to its limited role in recreational facilities across NSW, it would be preferable to establish a partner for the ongoing management of Bendeela prior to approval of the Masterplan. This process will be completed in 2015-16.

- Development and approval of the business

case – to progress detailed design and Council approval of the upgrade works based on approved final Masterplan

The business case will not be approved until the Draft Masterplan is approved.

14


3.6 Barriers and Fencing

Install and maintain appropriate barriers and fences including:

WaterNSW and NPWS continued to monitor for breaches of existing gates, fences and barriers during 2014-15.

- Repair barriers and fences that are

damaged or vandalised Repairs and reactive maintenance were undertaken on 3.5 kilometres of fences and barriers and four gates. Forty-eight signs were replaced to ensure they were clearly visible.

- Install and replace fences on priority

boundaries in the Special Areas and on our Braidwood lands.

WaterNSW installed 6.4 kilometres of new fences and barriers and three gates across Special Areas, Controlled Lands, Wingecarribee Swamp and the Braidwood properties.

3.7 Cultural Heritage

Fully comply with legal requirements and Conservation Management Plans (CMP).

WaterNSW and NPWS have engaged with local indigenous communities who assisted in scoping of conservation and protection works at Whale Cave in the Metropolitan Special Area.

NPWS has undertaken works to stabilise the Yerranderie Courthouse. NPWS also restored the internal walls of the St Senans Church at Yerranderie.

WaterNSW has updated the Windmill Hill CMP, which once endorsed by the NSW Heritage Council, will inform future conservation works.

The Maxwell’s Hut CMP has been approved and will inform future conservation works.

3.8 Reserve Management

Monitor and ensure the effective delivery of the National Parks and Wildlife Service Land Management Plan.

NPWS land management works for 2013-14 were verified in accordance with agreed procedure in July 2014. An Independant Financial Review was completed in October 2014.

Draft Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM) is finalised and processes underway

The SASPoM was been updated to reflect the formation of WaterNSW and the document has been submited to the respective Ministers for approval. Final approval has not yet been received.


Management of Special Areas and WaterNSW lands reduces the risks to water quality, ecological integrity and cultural heritage, as assessed every three years using the ’state of the parks’ assessment methodology

NPWS has collected data for the State of the Special Areas report and provided to WaterNSW in December 2014. WaterNSW has commenced analysis and presentation of the data. The initial State of the Special Areas Report will be prepared after the approval of the revised SASPoM.


11,290 11,301

15

Capital Expenditure

Project

PLANNED EXPENDITURE

($’000)

ACTUAL

EXPENDITURE

($’000)

Bendeela camping ground upgrade 1,000 151

Fire trail upgrade 267 249

Special Areas and Braidwood lands fencing 435 485

Replacement of plant and equipment 300 164

Catchment infrastructure asset renewals 535 529

Upgrade works for public access to Warragamba Dam 400 397

TOTAL 2,937 1,975

Variations

The Bendeela camping ground upgrade was delayed while WaterNSW undertakes a process of working with other parties whose core business is running and managing recreation areas, to listen to their views and ideas, before moving forward to finalising the masterplan for Bendeela. This resulted in expenditure being $849,000 under budget on this project.

The replacement of plant and equipment budget was allocated to replace two category one fire tankers. Only one

1 was delivered by the end of the year resulting in us being $136,000 under budget on this project.

1 The second tanker was delivered on 17 July 2015

16

4. Ensuring Legislation Protects Our Catchments

Water pollution events in the catchment can present a considerable risk to drinking water quality. These events can occur due to illegal activity in contravention of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.

WaterNSW uses powers under the Act to reduce the risk of water pollution in the catchment. In addition, the land around the water storages (Special Areas), that protect the drinking water supply by acting as a buffer zone to help stop pollutants entering the storages.


4.1 Targeted Inspection Program

Conduct 400 hours of targeted inspections of high risk sites

WaterNSW conducted 396 hours of targeted inspections on 39 discrete sites. Six investigations were launched as a result of these inspections.

4.2 Special Areas Enforcement

Conduct at least three joint compliance operations with our partners.

Four joint compliance operations were held with NSW Police, NPWS, NSW Fisheries and the Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) squad.

Conduct 1,500 hours of Special Areas surveillance

WaterNSW has conducted 1,937 hours of Special Area surveillance.


The number of necessary corrective actions each year involving the use of regulatory tools that result in reduced risks to water quality in the Special and Controlled Areas, and outer catchment.

WaterNSW issued five prevention notices, two clean-up notices, one catchment correction notice, four notices to provide information and records and three notices to attend and answer questions which addressed issues that were impacting on water quality or had the potential to impact on water quality. The works and improvements required by the notices all had some form of positive outcome for water quality.


1,191 853

Variations

The Compliance Team has had between one and two vacant positions over the course of the year and has been unable to successfully fill the positions. The vacancies have largely contributed to expenditure being under budget by $338,000.

17

5. Maintaining Sustainable Catchments

New residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural developments and activities can potentially impact local waterways if not managed effectively. We work with the Department of Planning and Environment (DP&E), local councils and others to influence relevant decisions in the catchment through advice on specific developments, activities and planning instruments, provision of planning tools to assist the planning process, and guidelines and endorsement of current recommended practices. WaterNSW has six principles that guide our decisions regarding the mining and coal seam gas.


5.1 Development and Activities

Provide support to councils for development assessment tools and guidelines including the NorBE Tool

WaterNSW provided ongoing support to councils and consultants in the use of the upgraded NorBE Assessment Tool, such as :

Twenty-four Help Desk support queries for technical support relating to access to the tool were logged.

Supplementary face-to-face training provided for two councils.

Phone support and, where required, face to face visits, to assist councils using the tool to undertake individual assessments.

Redevelop the NorBE Assessment Tool to make it available to consultants

The upgraded NorBE Tool was released in February 2015 for use by councils and consultants. Thirty consultants were trained in the use of the NorBE Tool, and 63 are registered to use the NorBE Tool.

Provide advice to proponents, councils and determining authorities on all high risk and state significant developments

WaterNSW provided letters of advice on 223 matters to proponents and councils in and outside the drinking water catchment and around WaterNSW’s water supply infrastructure, on high risk development that could potentially impact on water quality, catchment health and/or water supply infrastructure such as the Upper Canal or Warragamba Pipelines.

Promote awareness of WaterNSW’s current recommended practices and water quality information requirements

WaterNSW continued to promote awareness of its current recommended practices and water quality information requirements (WQIR) through consultation and correspondence with councils and consultants, and through conditions of concurrence and the development assessment process.

Prepare current recommended practices for, ‘small bio retention systems’ and ‘water sensitive urban design maintenance’

WaterNSW has prepared the draft Raingardens and Bio-retention Systems for Small-Scale developments which encompasses best practices for small bio retention systems and water sensitive urban design maintenance.

Review the current recommended practices for ‘horticulture’.

Consultation with the Department of Primary Industries (Agriculture) and Local Land Services, who co-authored the original document, has commenced.

18


5.2 Land Use Planning

Provide to councils a single GIS layer and instruction sheet of WaterNSW’s strategic land and water capability assessments (SLWCA) constraints mapping

Advice, maps and instructions on WaterNSW’s SLWCA outcomes for development in the drinking water catchment were provided to councils.

Provide advice to local councils on planning proposals, local growth strategies, rural land strategies and DCPs

Advice on planning proposals and DCPs was provided to Wingecarribee, Goulburn-Mulwaree, Palerang, Wollondilly, Oberon, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Campbelltown, Shoalhaven councils.

Provide advice to the Department of Planning and Environment (DP&E) on key changes to planning law, policies, planning instruments, regional growth plans and tools that affect the catchments and water infrastructure.

WaterNSW provided advice to DP&E on regional growth plans for – Illawarra, South East and Tablelands, Hunter, North Coast and the Sydney subregional strategies – West and South West.

5.3 Mining

Provide input into relevant mining discussions with mining companies operating in the catchment and participate in the interagency subsidence management committee

WaterNSW provided verbal and written submissions to the Planning Assessment Committee on mine expansion plans at both Springvale and Russell Vale Collieries.

WaterNSW provided updated advice to the DP&E on the Dendrobium Longwall 9 End of Panel Report and the triennial audit of Dendrobium mine. WaterNSW also raised concerns regarding impacts to WC21, a tributary of Wongawilli Creek, by inviting regulators to inspect impacts followed up with a meeting with DP&E.

WaterNSW provided draft comments to the Dams Safety Committee on the LW12-18 approval for Dendrobium Area 3B. WaterNSW attended two Technical Working Group meetings with South32 Illawarra Coal, and one with Peabody Pacific P/L.

Two Subsidence Management Plan Interagency Committee meetings were held by correspondence. One Illawarra Coal Mining Interagency Group meeting. Executive Steering Group meetings were held with South32, Peabody Energy and Wollongong Coal / Russell Vale Colliery.

Advocate WaterNSW principles for mining and coal seam gas impacts in all written advice, submissions and discussions about existing mining and proposals in the catchment and controlled areas

xi,xii

WaterNSW’s Principles have been advocated, mainly through submissions to applications or advice on issues. Submissions were made to the Dams Safety Committee, Peabody Energy and the Office of Coal Seam Gas.

19



Developments and activities in the catchment continue to have a neutral or beneficial effect (NorBE) on water quality.

Two development sites were internally referred for regulatory action.

All relevant strategic plans and policies contain provisions that help WaterNSW protect and manage water quality, catchment health and water supply infrastructure.

WaterNSW provided advice on a number of planning instruments and policies to help ensure they included provisions that addressed water quality risks and/or risks to water supply infrastructure. This included advice on the draft Guide to Environmental Assessment under Part 5 of the EP&A Act.

The WaterNSW principles for managing mining and coal seam gas impacts are considered in all decisions about mining activities and proposals in the catchment.

WaterNSW applies its principles for mining and coal seam gas impacts to all mining activities assessed by WaterNSW for proposed mining activities in the catchment. The Principles were reviewed and updated by the Board in April 2015.


1,091 1,302

Capital Expenditure

Project

PLANNED EXPENDITURE

($’000)

ACTUAL

EXPENDITURE

($’000)

Upgrade NorBE 110 286

TOTAL 110 286

Variations

WaterNSW is responsible for assessing developments as they are referred to it. In 2014-15 we received more applications for assessment than anticipated which is reflected in expenditure exceeding budget by $100,000.

WaterNSW is also responsive in commenting on state and local government planning matters with potential to impact on water quality and water supply infrastructure. This year we commented on more planning matters than a typical year. This resulted in expenditure exceeding budget by $170,000.

As reported last year (2013-14), the Upgrade of the NorBE tool was delayed and this resulted in expenditure being carried forward into 2014-15. This resulted in expenditure exceeding budget by $176,000.

20

6. Targeting High Risk Pollution Sources

This goal addresses diffuse and point sources of water pollution on privately owned lands identified as priorities for additional action by the WaterNSW’s Pollution Source Assessment Tool (PSAT). The PSAT helps us to understand the relative risk of these sources, where they are located, and the priority pollutants they contribute to waterways. Sewage, urban stormwater and rural lands, including grazing and agriculture, are high risk pollution sources identified by PSAT. Programs and projects responding to these pollution sources engage our partners to develop and deliver for WaterNSW practices, projects and skills that can reduce the risk to water quality, catchment health and public health.


6.1 Rural Landscape Program

Award 50 grants to landholders to improve grazing management

The South East Local Land Service (LLS) administered 52 WaterNSW funded grants that included practices to improve grazing management and overall these grants were matched by approximately $1.1 million of spending by graziers

750 hectares of area treated and/or protected from soil erosion

The South East LLS has awarded grants that will treat and/or protect 4,410 hectares of land from soil erosion this year.

1,000 hectares of grazing land to be managed to Best Management Practices standards as measured by our ‘area of influence’ indicator

By the end of June 2015 grants have been awarded that will ensure the management of an additional 2,180 hectares of land according to best management practice for the protection of water quality.

Install fencing to protect 25 kilometres of watercourses from stock impacts

Grants have been awarded that will install fencing that will protect 105 kilometres of watercourses from stock impacts.

6.2 Priority Pollutants Program

Existing Infrastructure Grants for Sewage and Stormwater completed by December 2015

Four sewage and stormwater improvement partnership programs are currently underway with WaterNSW contributing $1.9 million and Councils (Goulburn, Wingecarribee, Palerang and Blue Mountains) contributing $2.11 million. Goulburn Council has completed construction works. Wingecarribee and Palerang councils are on track to be completed by December 2015. Blue Mountains Council has been granted a six month extension after citing satisfactory reasons for extension.

Develop and implement a three year program to respond to recommendations from the 2013 Benchmark Study for Council Sewage and Stormwater Management Practice

xiii

WaterNSW has developed program to respond to the benchmark study and drafted Action Plans for the eight participating councils. At the end of June 2015 three councils had indicated they would be prepared to sign up to the Action Plans for 2015-16.

Maintain and strengthen networks and deliver ten workshops with industry partners

WaterNSW has delivered 29 meetings and workshops with industry partners including sixteen to develop council partnerships, three on-site sewage and stormwater networking groups, seven partnering workshops with the Stormwater Industry Association and three workshops with State Government stormwater partners.

21

6. Targeting High Risk Pollution Sources


Landholders participating in the Rural Landscape Program (RLP) manage their land, waterways and infrastructure using best management practices to minimise risks to water quality including:

- Landholders receiving grants intend to

maintain 80% or more groundcover over a ten year period

All grant recipients for sustainable grazing funding signed a contract committing to maintaining groundcover at 80% over a ten year period.

- Water quality risks are reduce to ‘low’, in

the categories of ‘groundcover’ and ‘stock access’ two years after the installation of riparian fencing as assessed by the GEM tool

Since the commencement of the Riparian Management Assistance Program, projects have been completed on 50 properties. These projects show that water quality risks have been reduced on average to ‘low’ when related to increased groundcover and ‘very low’ when stock access has been reduced.

Continuously improve management of sewage and stormwater systems towards regulatory and best management standards to reduce water quality risks as measured by:

- Evaluation against benchmark standards

in 2016 This evaluation is not due until 2016-17.

- Reductions in nutrient discharges of at

least 160kg through our PPP grants program as measured in 2016

The Infrastructure Grants Program has been implemented and four grants awarded to establish four joint projects with councils. The total reduction in nutrient discharges over 20 years is expected to be 7240kg. Measurement of actual reductions will be undertaken at the completion of the projects in 2016-17


4,738 4,006

Variations

Training dates for the delivery of erosion and sediment control training to councils were unable to be delivered in the 2014-15 financial year (scheduled for July and August 2015). This resulted in $100,000 of budget not being expended.

A planned investigation into potential pollution sources on dairy farms was postponed pending confirmation of business direction resulting in $120,000 of budget not being expended.

Two to three positions were vacant throughout the year resulting in $320,000 of budget not being expended.

22

7. Managing Emerging Catchment Issues

The drinking water catchment supports a rich variety of land uses and resources with changing demands which results in the community’s changing environmental, social and economic needs. These changes need to be managed to minimise short and long term risks to water quality and quantity. We seek to influence decisions that may affect stored water, the water supply assets, the catchments or Special Areas.


Participate in decision making about emerging catchment issues including:

- Providing written advice and input for

guidelines, agreements and decisions. Mining impacts continue to be assessed using best available science, monitoring of surface features and management through the WaterNSW Working Group, Board and the regulators.

- Sharing information with government

partners and other stakeholders. See 5.2

- Active representation at relevant

interagency committee meetings and forums and in national research programs.

The WaterNSW participated in strategic discussions with key agencies during 2014-15, including:

one meeting of the Joint Operational Group with EPA and OEH

two meetings of the Strategic Liaison Group with EPA and OEH

four meetings of the Joint Operational Group with NSW Health and Sydney Water

four meetings of the Strategic Liaison Group with NSW Health and Sydney Water

- Participating in local and regional strategic

land use planning. See 5.2

Investigate the causes and associated risks of high water colour and low turbidity

Colour has been an ongoing issue for Nepean and Warragamba due to dissolved organics, as reported by our customers. While the colour range was within the supply agreement, our customer has had difficulty in treating raw water with high colour and low turbidity. Investigations into the causes and associated risks of high water colour and low turbidity continue.


All relevant decision about emerging catchment issues apply current recommended practices, conditions and principles to reduce the risks to water quality and quantity

Finalisation of Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and approval by Board.

See also 5.1

WaterNSW position established and informed by an in-depth understanding of the risks of emerging catchment issues

Developed and presented Warragamba and Avon Catchment Assessments as examples for the WSAA Health Based Targets guidance manual. WaterNSW also updated its catchment risk matrix.


0 3

23

Appendix 1: 2013 Catchment Audit Recommendation Status

Recommendations Agency Responsible

Status at 30 June 2015

Audit Methodology

2013/1 – The SCA lead the implementation of an integrated ecosystem health database to collate and maintain information for the catchment with support from OEH and other government agencies. The spatial database should contain all data and metadata required for the assessment of the gazetted Catchment health indicators.

WaterNSW, OEH Complete

A new spatial database environment has been created and populated with data from WaterNSW and other local, state and federal government agencies that address the 'spatially-enabled' Catchment Health Indicators. This database will continue to be populated with new data as it becomes available. A register of data for catchment health indicators is available in the spatial database. Please note that the ecosystem health database is not one single database, but refers to a register of data stored in all WaterNSW spatial databases.

Land Use and Human Settlements

2013/2 - In the management of the Special Areas the SCA shall continue to make recommendations to the DP&I, which are commensurate with their Principles for Managing Mining and CSG impacts.

WaterNSW Complete

WaterNSW continues to make recommendations to the DP&E, which are commensurate with its Principles for Managing Mining and CSG Impacts. Recommendations were also made to the Planning Assessment Commission, Department of Resources and Energy and to Dams Safety Committee commensurate with its Principles for Managing Mining and CSG impacts.

2013/3 - OEH should finalise the Upland Swamp Environmental Assessment Guideline and provide clear measures of impact and clarity around the determination of the severity of such impacts.

OEH In progress

OEH and the Department of Planning and Environment are currently developing a “Policy Framework for Biodiversity Offsets for Threatened Upland Swamps and Associated Threatened Species Impacted by Longwall Mining Subsidence”. The intent of the Policy is to align the assessment of impacts on Upland Swamps and the provision of offsets consistent with the Framework for Biodiversity Assessment and the Biodiversity Offset Policy for Major Projects. OEH expects a draft of the Policy Framework to be considered by the Rural Land Use CEOs in mid 2015.

2013/4 - DP&I approval conditions should be set considering risk management zones around ecological features, such as streams and swamps that have ‘special significance status’. These risk management zones should be extended a lateral distance of 400 m on each side of the feature or, if greater, by a 40° projection angle from the vertical down to the coal seam which is proposed to be extracted, as recommended in the Strategic Review (DoP 2008a).

DP&E Complete

DP&E approval conditions always consider important ecological values, such as threatened species, endangered ecological communities, upland swamps and significant watercourses. Approval conditions to protect these ecological values are ordinarily set by using strict performance measures which control the level of allowable impact to “nil”, “negligible”, “minor” or “as predicted in the EIS”. Significant impacts are also subject to offset requirements. Risk management zones should be seen as the area around important ecological features where environmental impact assessment must consider the risks of mining in that area causing impacts to that feature. They are not a “set back” from the feature, and such “set-backs” were not recommended by the Southern Coalfield Inquiry (DoP 2008a). DP&E always considers the risks of impact to such features from mining conducted within 400 m of the feature.

24



2013/5 - DPI, SCA, OEH, NOW, DP&I and Sydney Water should collaborate to develop a risk assessment methodology to assess the impacts of mining, CSG and industrial developments on water resources in the catchment.

DP&E, WaterNSW, OEH, DPI - Water, DPI - Industries

Complete

DP&E considers that risk assessment processes are most usefully applied in the case of individual developments. This is particularly the case since there are a very limited number of mining proposals in the catchment, there are no active CSG proposals in the catchment and industrial developments in the catchment are well managed under the existing processes of the SEPP (Sydney Drinking Water Catchment) 2011 (which requires a “neutral or beneficial effect” on water quality). DP&E was not consulted on the terms of this recommendation, and does not consider that a “risk assessment methodology” is either necessary or a key priority.

2013/6 - Sydney Water reviews their Catchment to Tap risk assessments for the Blue Mountains to ensure that dry weather sewer overflow discharges are minimised.

Sydney Water Complete

Sydney Water has included a public health risk item in the Catchment to Tap risk assessment for Cascades, Warragamba, Orchard Hills and Prospect drinking water systems. These water supply systems are potentially affected by dry weather overflows occurring in the Blue Mountains catchment. The risk assessment includes current controls used to minimise dry weather overflow discharges in the Blue Mountains catchment. Sydney Water has also included the environmental risks from dry weather overflows in its wastewater risk assessment.

Water Availability

2013/7 - NOW should extend existing monitoring to include groundwater quality data as well as groundwater levels to establish a baseline for groundwater resources in the Catchment.

DPI - Water In progress

DPI Water is leading a Water Monitoring Framework which shall expand groundwater monitoring (levels and quality) in the coal basins of NSW, including areas within the Sydney drinking water catchment. The program is scheduled over five years 2015/16 to 2019/20.

Water Quality

2013/8 - The SCA should refine investigation of hotspots of sporadic Cryptosporidium contamination to sites not proximate to STPs to determine the sources, genotypes, and potential human health risks.

WaterNSW Complete

WaterNSW will investigate hotspots of sporadic Cryptosporidium contamination at additional sites identified by the Catchment Auditor that aren’t related to STPs (such as E706 Kangaroo River at Hamden Bridge, E488 Wollondilly River at Jooriland and E531 Werriberri Creek at Werombi) to determine the sources, genotypes, and potential human health risks. The pathogen campaign monitoring program has been specifically designed to better understand pathogen risks in the catchment and water supplies and includes hotspots of Cryptosporidium contamination. The major hotspots are covered by the Campaign monitoring program, which targets sampling at the high flow (=highest risk) times. The exception, E706 (near the Hampton bridge in the Kangaroo River), is being tested for Crypto viability/genotyping when oocysts are detected at sufficient concentration to do so.

2013/9 - The SCA use the existing data (including PSAT) to develop a predictive tool to evaluate catchment management scenarios for the reduction of diffuse sources of nutrient pollution.

WaterNSW Complete

A new version of the Pollution Source Assessment Tool was delivered in June 2015, with exception of gully erosion module. The new version of PSAT has the capability to run scenario testing for climate change, future planning, development and land uses, and wet and dry weather.

25



2013/10 - The SCA undertake targeted projects to ground-truth the effectiveness of Catchment improvement activities at a drainage unit scale to verify the prioritisation of on-ground works via PSAT and use this information as feedback to the Land Management Database.

WaterNSW In Progress

This is addressed firstly by the grazing trial, which is being conducted at two sites in Kangaroo Valley. Sampling has continued in rain events during the past year. As yet the results have not provided sufficient data to warrant further statistical analysis. Secondly, the sewage treatment plant evaluation study. This study found that oocyst infectivity in raw sewage was high but this was reduced by UV treatment to negligible concentrations of infective oocysts. Total Nitrogen and Phosphorous in raw sewage were reduced by 85.5% and 97% respectively by the improved sewage treatment process used at Lithgow.

Biodiversity and Habitats

2013/11 - OEH and CMAs should investigate the potential to update the data on the extent and condition of native and riparian vegetation in the Catchment for the next audit period.

OEH, LLS In progress

OEH has recently completed a high resolution map of woody extent for NSW. This new data replaces an earlier version based on Landsat imagery (25 metre pixel resolution) with a SPOT5 derived product having a five metre pixel resolution. This level of detail is unprecedented in Australia. The layer does not differentiate native from non-native, but for the majority of the Sydney drinking water catchments it would be predominantly native. Analysis of the woody extent values for each of the sub-catchments encompassing the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Area has been completed. This new map layer will shortly become available for download through the OEH Open Data Portal or by request.

2013/12 - OEH, SCA, CMAs and other relevant agencies collaborate to develop and apply a standardised procedure for assessing the extent and condition of wetlands in the Catchment.

OEH, WaterNSW, LLS

In progress

OEH convened an interagency workshop and undertook a stakeholder survey in September 2014 to explore the development of a NSW Wetland Inventory including Sydney’s drinking water catchment. This inventory project will map the location, distribution and extent of wetlands, develop a standardised set of core biophysical data for wetlands, and assess wetland condition, values, threats and significance. A detailed business case has been developed although funding for implementation is yet to be secured.

2013/13 - The SCA and other government agencies ensure that all monitoring program sites are incorporated into a spatial database (Recommendation 1) to enable agencies to coordinate and leverage programs across the Catchment to promote systematic data collection.

WaterNSW Complete

A new spatial database environment has been created and populated with data from WaterNSW and other local, state and federal government agencies that address the 'spatially-enabled' catchment monitoring sites. This database will continue to be populated with new data as it becomes available. A register of catchment monitoring sites is available for the spatial database.

2013/14 - The SCA and OEH should investigate the causes of the decline in the condition of macroinvertebrates at core sites in the Catchment.

WaterNSW, OEH Complete

WaterNSW undertook a review into the apparent decline in macroinvertebrates at some core sites within the catchment. Trend analysis identified a decline in macroinvertebrate health predominantly in sites west of Shoalhaven River. Additional monitoring sites have been established to assess this further. The other site that declined was E706, which was subject to a substantial change in its edge environment.

26

i Addresses Catchment Audit 2010, Recommendation 26 (The SCA in cooperation with other state and local government agencies explore ways to integrate individual monitoring programs into a broader ecosystem health monitoring program for the entire Catchment) ii Addresses Catchment Audit 2013, Recommendation 1 (The SCA lead the implementation of an integrated

ecosystem health database to collate and maintain information for the catchment with support from OEH and other government agencies. The spatial database should contain all data and metadata required for the assessment of the gazetted Catchment health indicators) iii Addresses Catchment Audit 2013, Recommendation 13 (The SCA and other government agencies ensure that

all monitoring program sites are incorporated into a spatial database (Recommendation 1) to enable agencies to coordinate and leverage programs across the Catchment to promote systematic data collection) iv Addresses Catchment Audit 2013, Recommendation 9 (The SCA use the existing data (including PSAT) to

develop a predictive tool to evaluate catchment management scenarios for the reduction of diffuse sources of nutrient pollution) v Contributes to addressing Catchment Audit 2013, Recommendation 8 (The SCA should refine investigation of

hotspots of sporadic Cryptosporidium contamination to sites not proximate to STPs to determine the sources, genotypes, and potential human health risks) vi Contributes to addressing Catchment Audit 2013, Recommendation 8 (The SCA should refine investigation of

hotspots of sporadic Cryptosporidium contamination to sites not proximate to STPs to determine the sources, genotypes, and potential human health risks) vii

Partially addresses Catchment Audit 2013, Recommendation 5 (DPI, SCA, OEH, NOW, DP&I and Sydney Water should collaborate to develop a risk assessment methodology to assess the impacts of mining, CSG and industrial developments on water resources in the catchment) viii

Provides data necessary to progress actions that address Catchment Audit 2013, Recommendation 9 (The SCA use the existing data (including PSAT) to develop a predictive tool to evaluate catchment management scenarios for the reduction of diffuse sources of nutrient pollution) ix Addresses Catchment Audit 2013, Recommendation 10 (The SCA undertake targeted projects to ground-

truth the effectiveness of Catchment improvement activities at a drainage unit scale to verify the prioritisation of on-ground works via PSAT and use this information as feedback to the Land Management Database) x Provides data necessary to progress actions that address Catchment Audit 2013, Recommendation 9 (The

SCA use the existing data (including PSAT) to develop a predictive tool to evaluate catchment management scenarios for the reduction of diffuse sources of nutrient pollution) xi Addresses Catchment Audit 2013, Recommendation 2 (In the management of the Special Areas the SCA shall

continue to make recommendations to the DP&I, which are commensurate with their Principles for Managing Mining and CSG impacts) xii

Partially addresses Catchment Audit 2013, Recommendation 5 (DPI, SCA, OEH, NOW, DP&I and Sydney Water should collaborate to develop a risk assessment methodology to assess the impacts of mining, CSG and industrial developments on water resources in the catchment) xiii Addresses Catchment Audit 2010, Recommendation 20 (The operators and regulators of sewage treatment

systems in the Catchment should continue efforts to reduce nutrient loads)

sydney catchment area annual catchment management report...the sydney catchment area covers almost...

Documents