Hunter Region Beaches
Summary
The good news from previous summer seasons continued for the Hunter region beaches during summer 2007-2008. Once again they were among the cleanest groups of beaches monitored as part of the Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra Beachwatch program.
Despite the above average rainfall in the region, 15 of the 17 Hunter beaches complied 100% with Beachwatch water quality criteria for both faecal coliforms and enterococci for the entire 2007-2008 summer season (Figure 12). Only Burwood North and Burwood South beaches did not comply 100% with the faecal coliform criteria, although compliance was still very high at 97%.
Hunter’s cleanest beaches
The Hunter’s cleanest beaches were Zenith, Box, Fingal, One Mile, South Stockton, Nobbys, Newcastle, Bar, Merewether, Glenrock Lagoon, Dudley, Redhead, Blacksmiths, Swansea Heads Little Beach and Caves Beach.
Port Stephens Council beaches
All four Port Stephens ocean beaches recorded 100% compliance with recreational water quality criteria for faecal coliforms and enterococci (Figure 12). These results were identical to the previous summer season.
Newcastle City Council beaches
Five of the seven Newcastle ocean beaches recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch water quality criteria for faecal coliforms and enterococci (Figure 12). Burwood North and Burwood South beaches performed very well, complying with faecal coliform criteria 97% of the time, and 100% compliance for enterococci criteria.
Lake Macquarie City Council beaches
All of the six Lake Macquarie City Council beaches recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch water quality criteria for faecal coliforms and enterococci (Figure 12). Swansea Heads Little Beach improved by six percentage points for the enterococci criteria from the previous summer season.
Plans for improvement
Hunter Water Corporation (HWC) operates 17 sewage treatment plants in the Hunter Region, with ocean outfall plants located at Boulder Bay, Belmont and Burwood Beach.
Hunter Water Corporation is preparing detailed Upgrade Management Plans for each of its reticulation systems relating to its Wastewater Treatment Works. The actions from these plans focus on improving overall system performance during wet weather periods and cater for growth in the area.
Upgrade works being undertaken or planned as part of these upgrade management plans include the coastal areas of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Port Stephens. Significant work is programmed for the Newcastle System wastewater catchment draining to Burwood Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant, including works to improve wet weather system performance in Mayfield, Adamstown and New Lambton over the next five years.
The Newcastle wastewater transportation system is being upgraded to include a wet weather pumping system. This system will operate during heavy rainfall to transfer flows from the wastewater transportation system directly to the Burwood Beach wastewater treatment plant. New pumping stations and larger pipes will enable the wastewater system to manage larger flows that occur in heavy rainfall. The section of pipeline below Merewether Hills has been constructed by using ‘directional drilling’. The pipe is laid deep beneath the surface to avoid the need for pumping stations and reduce the energy requirements of the system. Design work on the remainder of the wet weather pumping station is in its final stages, with work expected to commence in 2008 (Hunter Water 2006).
Design work to upgrade the Burwood Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant has begun, and is due to be completed in mid 2010. The upgrade will improve plant reliability and provide capacity for growth.
The actions to improve beach water quality undertaken by Port Stephens Council, Newcastle City Council and Lake Macquarie City Council are outlined in the Hunter council summary pages of this report.
Figure 12: Compliance of Hunter Region Beaches during Summer 2007-2008
Page last updated: 26 February 2011
