NSW Water Quality and River Flow Objectives |
 About the Objectives |
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For the Lake Macquarie and Tuggerah Lakes catchments a community discussion meeting was held at Toukley on 26 February 1998, attended by more than 80 people. Several written submissions were received from both catchments.
The community identified a range of uses of Lake Macquarie and Tuggerah Lakes, based on their value as recreational and ecological resources, as well as their value for economic activities including farming, mining and a commercial fishing industry.
Of most concern to the community was the value of these waters as supporters of aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity in nature conservation. The next most listed values were for recreation (mainly swimming), and those incorporating aesthetic qualities, irrigation for agriculture, industry water supply, fishing and prawning. Other values listed related to water for domestic use, watering stock, drinking water and town water supply.
A number of issues relating to Water quality and its effect on the above-mentioned values were discussed. Both at the meeting and in written submissions water pollution was regarded as very important. The presence of pesticides, chemicals, effluent, nutrients from farm runoff, and pollutants from urban stormwater runoff, was deemed unacceptable. There were many calls for water-sensitive urban design that included adequate management and treatment of urban stormwater, and for more efficient use of water in both rural and urban areas. Excessive sedimentation and dead aquatic plants restrict circulation in shallow, near-shore areas and cause low levels of oxygen in hot weather, leading to fish kills. Fine sediments contributing to turbidity (from urban, recreational and rural land uses) and excessive weed growth were seen as the main factors affecting the appearance of the lakes, although oil from boats was also mentioned. Heavy-metal pollution from industry-particularly the power stations of Munmorah, Vales Point and Eraring (which also discharges warm water), and the Pasminco smelter-were mentioned, although most people acknowledged that there had been considerable gains in the management of these issues. Selenium, in particular, was a concern. Mining was also seen as a concern for its potential environmental impacts.
The highest level of Water quality (meeting basic environmental needs and advanced needs for human use, including water fit for drinking after some treatment, swimming, and low-salinity irrigation water) attracted by far the greatest level of support at both the meeting and in written submissions. The next level of support (only half that of the previous option) was for good quality water that would support aquatic ecosystems, boating, livestock and medium-salinity irrigation water supplies. The cost of implementing and managing these Water quality objectives was noted as a considerable drawback.
For the freshwater streams and rivers in the catchments, maintaining water levels in periods of low flow was seen as a priority. In both freshwater regions and in the lakes, the impact of barriers such as weirs and tidal barriers was important, as was the use of groundwater. Maintaining natural processes within the lakes was the highest priority. Some members of the community wanted Tuggerah Lakes to have an additional opening to the sea; others didn't want this, or explained that the original 'second opening' was a high-level spillway that functioned only in floods or stormy weather. Several people mentioned that there were areas of erosion, such as at Salts Bay and Aeropelican near the entrance to Lake Macquarie; others wanted additional dredging.
All proposed river flow objectives were supported, except for those relating to drying of temporary waterways and the downstream impacts of large storages (which have limited application to these catchments). Most people supported objectives relating to protecting pools, wetland inundation and protecting groundwater. Objectives concerning protecting low flows, protecting high flows and minimising the effects of weirs and other instream structures received the next highest level of support, followed by maintaining natural flow variability, maintaining the rate of change in water levels and making water available for unforeseen events. There were calls for a return to natural flows. The objective of maintaining estuarine processes and habitats was particularly well supported for the lakes.
Many people saw a whole-of-catchment approach as essential in rehabilitation work. The community was concerned about the erosion of waterways and general bank instability due in part to clearing of vegetation. It was felt that a policy of protecting existing vegetation, and revegetating the riverbanks, wetlands and the lake shores should be endorsed. People also saw a need for greater controls on development, and said that the cumulative impacts of development should be considered. Some felt that the response from government (both local and state) in managing the lakes and their catchments could be improved.
People said that planning controls and guidelines for managing catchment activities needed to be strengthened and implemented more effectively. It was also suggested that increased community education and involvement, and incentives for healthier practices, could have a positive impact.
Most people wanted the lakes to be improved in quality and amenity, and accepted that this would have some cost for the community, but wanted costs to be equitably spread. Information was sought on the extent and impact of groundwater use (particularly its use for potable spring water). Monitoring of water quality, water use, mining, wetlands and seagrasses, and fish was thought necessary. Education to minimise urban impacts (such as littering and pet faeces) and to promote the health of the lakes was seen to be important.
The process of developing the objectives identified major issues that need progressive action to achieve the health and viability of Lake Macquarie and Tuggerah Lakes. Comments on some of these are included in Section 3, in the supporting information for the recommended objectives.
The major recommendations for action are to:
Some priority issues already receive considerable attention and resources. The $60 million Urban Stormwater Management Program is providing funds to develop stormwater management plans and to improve stormwater management generally. Grants of nearly $1 million have been made to Lake Macquarie City Council and Wyong Shire Council. Several projects have been undertaken to identify the scope and extent of problems in the catchments and to develop strategies to deal with the problems. At issue are nutrient modelling, mapping the availability of groundwater, assessing the state of stream banks and riparian vegetation, and mapping the landscape of the Lake Macquarie catchment. In the Wyong area, an Adaptive Environmental Assessment Model has been developed to identify Water quality issues in the catchment.
Where programs and actions such as these are already underway, they need to be acknowledged and, as far as possible, incorporated in the water and estuary management plans.
This page was published 1 May 2006