Stormwater management planning

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REGISTERED MAIL

Hunter Water Corporation
426-432 King St
NEWCASTLE WEST NSW 2302
Attn: Managing Director

CLEAN WATERS REGULATIONS 1972

WHEREAS -

The Environment Protection Authority (the EPA) considers that stormwater runoff from urban areas adversely impacts on the quality of the environment in New South Wales and believes that the preparation and implementation of Stormwater Management Plans will provide for more effective management of urban stormwater, thereby contributing to environment protection.

In accordance with the powers vested in the EPA under Regulation 21 of the Clean Waters Regulations 1972, the EPA, by this Notice, hereby requires the HUNTER WATER CORPORATION to:-

1. Participate in the preparation of a Stormwater Management Plan (the Plan) with local councils for each of the catchments, districts or local government areas listed in the attached Schedule, within which the HUNTER WATER CORPORATION has a responsibility for stormwater management, in accordance with the following conditions:

1. The Plan must be prepared in cooperation with other Stormwater Managers within each catchment, district or local government area;
2. The Plan must be prepared in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including the community, any relevant Catchment Management Committees or Trusts, the Environment Protection Authority and the Department of Land and Water Conservation;
3. The Plan must take into consideration the findings and recommendations of any relevant catchment, estuary or floodplain management plan, or Healthy Rivers Commission report;
4. The Plan must contain, but need not be limited to, the following:
   1. A brief description of the catchment, including climate, topography, water quality, streamflow, aquatic ecosystems and habitats, riparian vegetation, point sources of pollution, major sewer overflows and urban bushland areas;
   2. Clearly defined stormwater management objectives for both existing and proposed urban areas;
   3. Identification of stormwater management problems and issues;
   4. An evaluation of potential stormwater management practices (both non-structural and structural) to address the identified problems and issues;
   5. An Implementation Strategy, which includes prioritisation of specific management actions to be implemented by each stormwater manager in the catchment and a tentative timeframe for their implementation;
   6. A monitoring program to assess the effectiveness of the Plan, and identify any necessary refinements;
   7. A mechanism for reporting the effectiveness of the Plan to stakeholders, including the community; and
   8. A program for revising the Plan and linking its implementation to the Corporation's budgetary planning process.
5. The Plan must be submitted to the EPA by 24 April 1999;

2. Submit to the EPA by 24 May 1999, a Stormwater Environment Improvement Program (the Program) comprising all actions identified in the Plans that the HUNTER WATER CORPORATION is responsible for implementing.
3. Implement each of the actions identified in the Program.
4. Obtain the written consent of the Director-General of the EPA for any amendment to the Program.

For the purposes of this notice:

1. the definitions of "Catchment Management Committee" and "Catchment Management Trust" are to be taken as those in the Catchment Management Act 1989;
2. "Stormwater Manager" includes local councils and State Government agencies or trading enterprises with a significant responsibility for stormwater or land management within the catchment, district or local government area;

 â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦..…………
NEIL SHEPHERD
Director-General

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13 May 1998