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Illawarra
Community comment on the objectives

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• Overview
• Water quality and value of the resource
• River flows
• Major issues
• Existing programs

Overview

In the Illawarra catchments, a community discussion meeting attended by about 50 people was held in Wollongong on 24 February 1998, and 11 submissions were received.

Water quality and value of the resource

The catchment community showed support for all the proposed environmental values. Of particular significance were a healthy aquatic ecology, water that was safe for swimming, water looking pleasant and clean, being able to drink the water (after some treatment), being able to irrigate, and being able to use the water for household purposes and for livestock.

Most people supported a whole-of-catchment approach; increased efficiency of water use for human, stock and irrigation purposes; and management of the entire water cycle (including reuse of wastewater), particularly in urban areas.

People said they wanted unpolluted water for stock and irrigation, rehabilitated waterside areas, increased opportunities for activities such as fishing and boating, and a diversity of native animals with their habitats protected.

The community expressed particular concern with public safety issues-such as flooding, and landslips in the steep northern catchments. A broad range of other environmental problems within the catchment was also highlighted. (see 'Major issues' below).

The responses recognised that achievement of the objectives would have some cost for the community. Most people strongly supported spreading the costs throughout the community, rather than targeting a particular sector. They recognised that the community as a whole would benefit from achieving good water quality and a flow regime that protected both human and environmental health. It was also recognised that environmental improvements would increase the opportunities for recreation and tourism, and would have a positive effect on the economy. The local community showed interest in being involved in deciding how to work towards meeting the objectives, and in determining actual requirements.

Some people found the discussion paper (EPA 1997) lacked sufficient explanation of the possible impacts, or enough detail to allow proper assessment of the objectives and their achievement.

River flows

The submissions indicated a high level of support for adopting the proposed river flow objectives to achieve better quality catchments. The community was most concerned about restricted or absent flows, flooding and public safety in urban areas, flooding and landslips in the steep northern catchments, the connection between inundation from the river or estuary and the viability of fringing wetlands when inundation from the river or estuary is restricted, the need to manage groundwater (both for sustainability of use and to minimise the exposure of acid sulfate soils), retaining some natural variability in the flow regime, minimising the impact of instream structures, and protecting the estuary.

Concerns were raised about who would pay for improving river flows, and the adverse effect that reduction in water available for irrigation purposes could have on agricultural production.

Major issues

Several major issues were identified as needing progressive action to achieve healthy and viable catchments in the Illawarra. Comments on some of these are included in Section 3, as part of the supporting information for the recommended objectives.

Major issues recommended for remedial or maintenance action were:

• stormwater problems, especially around the suburban areas of Wollongong. Issues included sewer overflows, sedimentation, and the impact of engineered stormwater drains and culverts, especially on beaches
• the long-term degradation of Lake Illawarra from the inflow of nutrients, sediments and other pollutants. Suggested solutions involved increased flushing of the lake, and the creation of a more permanent opening to the sea
• on-site effluent disposal, which was seen as a problem in both rural and rural-residential areas in many sections of the Illawarra coastal fringe
• acid sulfate soils, especially around Lake Illawarra and the estuaries of the Minnamurra River and Crooked River
• flash flooding and resulting landslips along parts of the Illawarra escarpment, of concern because of the steep terrain and periodic high rainfall
• the threat to existing riparian vegetation, which needs protection and restoration. Associated with this are land-based issues-such as protecting the habitat of native animals; revegetating where necessary; and reducing erosion, sedimentation, weeds and land degradation
• for rural landholders, the continuing economic viability of their properties following action to protect substantial riparian zones lining the numerous streams draining the Illawarra escarpment. This action could remove significant areas from traditional rural uses, and alternative uses that meet both economic and environmental goals need to be found
• degradation caused by willows and other noxious and environmental weeds in rural areas, especially along Mullet Creek
• design and management of urban watercourse corridors, which was seen as needing improvement.

The community requested more information on management of aquatic environments and water resources in the catchments. In particular, they felt the information base on water quality, flow monitoring and biological health needs to be further developed.

Existing programs

Some of the above issues already receive considerable attention and resources, particularly those associated with Lake Illawarra.

Existing programs include the Waterways Program, Estuary Management Program, Floodplain Management Program and the Urban Stormwater Management Program. The Illawarra councils have received grants of up to $278,695 to improve stormwater management in their areas.

Communities, through Landcare, Rivercare and other programs, are already undertaking important on-the-ground projects. The NSW Government has established and funded programs such as Blue-Green Algae Management, Wetlands Action, the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program and the NSW Shellfish Quality Assurance Program. At the Commonwealth level, related programs are being funded through Landcare and the Natural Heritage Trust.

The Illawarra Catchment Management Committee has been active in developing programs including the Illawarra surface water database and supporting catchment planning in the Minnamurra catchment.

Where programs such as these already exist, they need to be acknowledged and, where possible, incorporated in water and estuary management plans.

This page was published 1 May 2006