Coastal Risk Management Forum

The SCCG has resolved to convene a Coastal Risk Management Forum to address member Council concerns.

The forum will be held in March 2005.  Key Issues identified for consideration at the forum included:

Comparing current practices of Local government (what is happening); Needs for a holistic approach to Coastal Risk Management; Defining responsibilities of State and Local Government for “coastal access”; Communication with the Community (risks generally, risks and limitations to property including Section 149s); Liabilities in regarding to Public Access; Emergency Management Response; UNSW Student Research Projects; Risk Management Advice (auditing, insurance polices etc); Anthropogenic risk management (Oil Spills, Pollution events, Public Access).

The proposed risk management forum is to include

• What is Risk Management 
• NSW Planning Reforms
• Integrating Risk Management 
• Coastal Hazard Management Process 
• Local Government Issues:
• Responsibilities / Liability
• Communication
• Planning Controls 
• Emergency Management Responses
• What is an Emergency 
• Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities
• Local Government Case Study 
• Summary – Expert Panel Discussion and Action Formulation

Background

Delegates of the Sydney Coastal Councils Group Technical Committee expressed interest in late 2003 to investigate groundwater uses, needs and issues for SCCG member councils.  In early 2004, SCCG formed a Groundwater Water Group to further investigate groundwater issues and to produce a groundwater management handbook for local government.  The handbook will serve to inform, educate and guide professional staff within local government and industry groups about the sustainable management of groundwater.  Special interest will be given to the management of groundwater in coastal urban areas.  After an initial member council survey a draft table of contents was agreed to by the Working Group.  The handbook will provide guidance on the following issues for SCCG member councils:

Aims

Objectives

The aims of the project will be achieved by providing an informative and succinct summary that will address the following objectives:

Funding
The $50,000 Educational Grant submitted to the NSW Environmental Trust was unsucsessful. The funds were going to used be used to raise awareness and promote management and education material contained within the groundwater manual.

The Group is currently seeking ways inwich this can be achieved by convening workshops and forums and producing education materials for SCCG member councils and their local communities. The Group will continue to seek funding in order to provide training and workshop opportunities for its member councils and their local communities.

The Year Ahead
Members of the Working Group, the The Technical Committee and Full Group, are  currently undertaking a peer review of the Draft Handbook.  The final draft is likely to be completed by April 15, 2005.

Geotechnical Investigations

SCCG member Councils have expressed issues and concerns regarding the needs for and limitations of geotechnical investigations for development sites adjacent to cliff and other fault and unconsolidated areas. Some of the issue include: 

In response to these issues and concerns, the SCCG convened a Geotechnical Forum and Field Trip for member councils, various state agency representatives, the Institution of Engineers Australia and Australia Geomechanics Society in September 2003.

Issues addressed at the forum included:

 Presentations and summaries of proceedings are available by contacting the SCCG Secretariat

Please contact the SCCG Secretariat if you would like more information.

SCCG GIS Investigations

The GIS working group was formed in June 2004 to address GIS issues and needs for its member councils. The role of the group will be to provide GIS project facilitation and coordination on matters relating to data sharing, metadata and standards.

Some short term goals

1. Develop a more comprehensive information natural resource database for SCCG member councils.
2. To determine what data sets SCCG member councils have and have not got.
3. To create a meber council GIS database that can be of benefit to all SCCG member councils and any other interested stakeholders.
4. To seek funding to assist in the development of SCCG GIS invesitgations.

Long Term Goals

1. To improve GIS capabiliites and resources for SCCG member councils.
2. To organise and convene a GIS forum for all SCCG member councils. This would enable GIS officers from member councils to showcase what they are currently doing with GIS and to demonstrate that GIS can be used as a tool to improve NRM project deliverables.  It will also provide the opportunity for the discussion of data sharing among SCCG member councils and other state government agencies.
3. To investigate the possibilities to arrange for data sharing and data licence agreements between member councils and state agencies.
4. To develop a a process that will allow SCCG member coucnils better access to open web mapping and improved GIS options and functionality.

Phytopthora

Sydney Harbour Federation Trust's Phytopthora cinnamomi Brochure:

Sydney Coastal Councils is a member of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust's Phytophthora Working Group.  In response to a number of localised Phytophthora outbreaks around the Sydney Harbour region, a Working Group was formed to address the problem and to promote education on the issue.  This brochure provides information about the water mould - Phytophthora cinnamomi - a cause of dieback that is affecting plants around Sydney Harbour foreshores.

The brochure outlines what partners in the Sydney Harbour Dieback Working Group are doing to appropriately manage it and prevent its spread. To download the Phytophthora brochure click on the brochure image below.

   Sydney Coastal Councils also has a comprehensive library of information relating to Phytopthora inclduing fact sheets and brochures from other Australian states.  Contact the Secretariat if you would like to find out more about Phytopthora cinnamomi.

The Australian Museum also has a great page on Phytopthora cinnamomi and its testing.

Evironmental Education

Stormwater Education Banner Campaign

The SCCG with support from the RTA have developed a series of stormwater education banners.  A total of 6 stormwater education banners (see images to the right) are available for display. The banners have been displayed at the World Environment Day (Bondi pavilion) and more recently by Woollahra and Leichhardt Councils. Randwick Council is currently displaying 2 of the 3 banners.

Stormwater Extension Officers Program

The Program was established and financed primarily by the NSW Stormwater Trust with all in kind support from SEO host organisations.  The Trusts objectives were to:

The Trust subsequently provided funding for nine Stormwater Extension Officer Positions and a State Coordinator for the project.  The Sydney Harbour – Parramatta River position was hosted by the Sydney Coastal Councils Group. 

Specific tasks to be undertaken by the position included: 

The second phase of the program was tailored more towards the needs of individual SEO regions and councils.  In developing the work-plans the three Greater Metropolitan Region (GMR) SEO’s in Sydney worked closely to identify key issues that needed to be addressed to improve stormwater quality in Sydney.  Three issues were identified:  sediment and erosion control; water reuse and capacity building of council staff.  The Sydney Harbour – Parramatta River work program outlined the strategy by which these were to be addressed.  Individual programs were focused on these issues with the synergy of joint activities across the Sydney GMR being initiated where appropriate.    Sydney Harbour NEEDS ANALYSIS and the Sydney Harbour / Parramatta River Catchment Program FINAL REPORT are available via the SCCG Publications. 

Available from the SCCG Secretariat is a CD full of resources and contacts with respect to Rainwater Tanks.  The information contained on the CD is a copy of the proceedings from the SCCG Rainwater Tank Forum held in May, 2004.  Each CD costs $10.  Contact the SCCG Secretariat for more information.

Figure 1 – Sydney Harbour –

Parramatta River Catchment

Water Sensitive Urban Design in Sydney Project

The WSUD in Sydney Project is a cooperative project between: Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG), Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust (UPRCT), Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), NSW Stormwater Trust, and Sydney Water.

This project aims to enhance the ability and willingness of Council staff to promote and implement sustainable water management practices in Councils operations and in development projects in Sydney Australia.

Methodology

 A series of seminars, issues-based workshops and sites visits have been run to outline the main opportunities and challenges of WSUD.  WSUD planning and technical guidelines have been developed for use in the Sydney Region.  A sustainable water challenge has been facilitated each year, with councils from around NSW entering projects they have been involved with that deal with sustainable water management in some way.

Project Activities & Outcomes

 Seminars

 A series of seminars, workshops and sites visits have been run to help increase the understanding of WSUD. A summary of each event and some key papers presented can be found on the Seminars & Events page at www.wsud.org

Sustainable Water Challenge

 The Sustainable Water Challenge has been held for two years and involves councils entering projects that deal with more sustainable water management in some way. The 2004 sustainable water challenge was open to all councils in NSW, whereas 2003 was limited to the Sydney Region.

The projects entered in the Sustainable Water Challenge were judged by an expert panel. The project summaries entered and the results can be found on the Sustainable Water Challenge page at www.wsud.org

WSUD Planning Guide & Practice Notes

 A Water Sensitive Planning Guide was developed with the help of local council planners and state government agencies. It is anticipated the planning guide will be adapted for use by councils to update/consolidate existing DCPs and LEPs. It can be downloaded from www.wsud.org

A series of practice notes were developed or adapted from those created by LHCCEMS. These relate to common WSUD measures mentioned in the planning guide. These can also be downloaded from the Planning Guide page at www.wsud.org

WSUD Technical Guide

 The UPRCT, Blacktown City Council, Baulkham Hills Shire Council with the support of the NSW Stormwater Trust and Sydney Water developed WSUD Technical Guidelines for Western Sydney. These guidelines were developed with the involvement of local councils in Western Sydney. Downloaded these from the Technical Guide & Design Specs page at  www.wsud.org

Information Exchange & WSUD Literature

 During the course of the project a lot of WSUD literature has been gathered and some of the key papers from Australia and overseas have been put onto this site to help fill information gaps. Because of host space limits only a few papers from various areas have been included. This material can be downloaded from the WSUD Literature page.

As well many councils have developed innovative policies or projects that they have kindly agreed to put onto the site to share with other councils who may be considering similar projects or policies. If you have any projects or policies that you think may interest others please email them in. The council projects and/or policies can be downloaded from the Information Exchange page.

For more information contact the Project Officer John Dahlenburg on ph: 9891 4633 mobile: 0422 0088 69 or email john@wsud.org

Sydney Regional Coastal Management Strategy Implementation Program

Introduction

 The SRCMS has been prepared to coordinate and integrate relevant coastal planning and management activities, and the responsible organisations, to improve coastal management in Sydney. This strategy applies to the coastal zone between Pittwater Council in the north to Sutherland Council in the south, a key area not covered by the NSW Coastal Policy, 1997. This is a dynamic strategy that will be evaluated annually and comprehensively reviewed five years after its adoption

Aim of the Strategy

 The aim of the SRCMS is to protect and conserve terrestrial and marine ecosystems in the study area, and to manage the social and economic conditions to achieve this, through the implementation of identified, sustainable coastal planning and management practices.

Strategy Framework

 The SRCMS provides an action-orientated management framework that is intended to guide coastal management and planning in the Sydney coastal region into the next century. The underlying focus of the strategy is the pursuit towards and achievement of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) of Sydney’s coastal zone.

The SRCMS recognises the fact that Sydney’s coastal zone is: continuously under intensive pressures from human activity; subject to a myriad of competing interests for its resources; and covered by numerous planning and management documents. It is managed by an assortment of State, local and Commonwealth government authorities, industry, the community and a variety of non-government organisations. A single management strategy based on ESD provides an opportunity for all management and planning stakeholders to reconcile their competing interests and ensure an equitable, integrated and sustainable management approach. This will be achieved through the implementation of sustainable coastal planning and management practices that will ultimately protect and conserve terrestrial and marine ecosystems. This publication is available via the SCCG Publications page.

Regional Implementation Strategy for Water Quality / Environmental Monitoring

Development of the Environmental Monitoring Resource Package (CD-Rom)  

The Sydney Coastal Councils Group Inc. as part of its Sydney Regional Policy and Strategy for Water Quality Monitoring, identified the need for improved advice and resources for managers and local government staff to improve the design and implementation of environment sampling programs. A regional survey and direct liaison with member councils identified the limited effectiveness for existing environmental monitoring programs and the lack of regional consistency in these programs.

The SCCG therefore developed an extensive CD-based Resources Package dealing with most areas of environment monitoring and including many case studies. The aim of the Package is to promote an understanding of the principles of the design and interpretation of monitoring rather than focusing on providing information on standards and protocols (although it does that also).

The primary focus has been on the integration of available information into a Monitoring Resource Package for managers. The Resource Package is not a “cookbook” for monitoring. The package references and includes information and a suite of tools to help managers develop and deliver effective and efficient monitoring programs.

The Package is accessible to both new and experienced managers interested in water quality and environmental management. Monitoring and sampling are not ends in themselves but tools to inform better decision-making. The Resource is currently available as a CD-Rom. The Resource is intended to allow users to focus on the material that is relevant and provide a search tool for topics of interest.  The resource is to provide an introduction to water quality monitoring while also providing additional resources for those who want to explore particular issues in depth. The top level is a series of documents providing introductory advice:

• Introduction: An overview of the principles of planning, designing and implementing sampling programs, with additional lecture notes and interpreted case studies. Before you start:  A list of questions we believe you should think about before you start designing your projectGetting Started:  A list of questions (with answers) that are relevant to developing a useful sampling program
• Communicating: A program is only as useful as you make it and part of that is communicating all aspects of the project to those who are interested. Communication is integral to the design of the program, not an afterthought.

These documents are supported by (and with links to) 10 folders which each contain a review document (with links to further sites of interest) and additional resources. These review documents are:

Copies of the CD-Rom can be obtained on the publications page

The Sydney Coastal Councils Group Inc. has prepared a resource package to assist Councils and other interested stakeholders to encourage the correct disposal of cigarette butts. The Preventing Cigarette Butt Litter in the Sydney Coastal Region project purpose was to provide Member Councils, other authorities and the community with a range of best practice tools and information that they can implement to address cigarette butt littering in their local area. The principle outcome of the project is an innovative resource package that provides Councils and in turn the community with information on the extent and problems of cigarette butt littering, legislation, enforcement ideas, bins and devices available and a range of example education initiatives. Secondary outcomes have been greater community awareness of the effects of cigarette butt littering and a reduction in cigarette butt litter.

The Resource Package

 This package is compiled using existing information initiatives and new ideas for member councils.  The package contains information that allow councils to select information and initiatives suitable for their own campaigns. 

It has the following sections:

• Introduction (Concept and how to use the package).Facts and Figures (Extent of littering and effect of the pollution).Bins and Devices (Example bins and devices to assist correct disposal).Legislation (Relevant to littering and smoking area restrictions).Enforcement (Licensing, PINs, MOUs, property leases, standard conditions for development).Education (Education projects, activities, media releases, posters, stickers).
• Relevant Contacts and Internet Site Details.

Copies of the publication can be ordered on the publications page

Peak Environment Non Government Organisations (PENGOs) projects

The peak environment non-government organisations (PENGOs) have undertaken a series of projects in conjunction with Sydney Water, with the first of these projects being undertaken when the former Water Board was being reformed into a government owned corporation.  The new corporation was established with a statutory responsibility, unique at that time, to operate in compliance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development as defined in NSW legislation and subject to a binding Operating Licence that contained detailed obligations across a range of activities.

The first Sydney Water Project was a year-long study of the area of operations of the (then) Water Board.  The focus of the studies was ecologically sustainable development through water conservation and wise use, resource recovery and re-use, as well as protection of environment through waste minimisation and prevention of pollution.  The research was based on the range of policy, management and technical options outlined as part of the Sydney Water Board Clean Waterways Program.  The proposed scope of detailed work was reduced after three studies were discarded from the program by Sydney Water, including (i) management of the headwater catchments, (ii) the quality and treatment of drinking water (with reference to Build Own Operate schemes) and impoundments and (iii) a review of Sydney Water’s involvement in public participation and its decision making processes.  Nevertheless, the nine research studies completed as part of the Sydney Water Project covered a large part of the water cycle:

• Indicators of Environmental Quality (Mather, 1994);
• Ecological Implications for Riverine Environments (Pearson, 1994);
• The Efficiency of Water Use (White, 1994);
• Ecological Implications for Marine and Estuarine Environments (Mercer);
• Sewage Treatment (Gerson, 1994);
• Sludge Management (Vincent and Munoz, 1994);
• Source Control (Munoz, 1994);
• Stormwater Management (Dowsett, 1994); and
• Water Re-Use (Denlay and Dowsett, 1994).

Other PENGO's reports can be accessed via the following link.

Sydney Coastal Councils Group and Institute of Environmental Studies (UNSW) Partnership Program

The Sydney Coastal Councils Group and the Institute of Environmental Studies of The University of New South Wales have entered into the MOU partnership agreement designed for the SCCG, its member councils and the IES to jointly focus on addressing contemporary and strategic environmental management issues.

The project nomination process occurs bi-annually with the SCCG and member councils submitting an ‘expression of interest’ for hosting a partnership project with the Masters students to undertake and include a number of disciplinary and/or sector perspectives with the principal objective of advancing the management framework of sustainability. Each project involves a critical literature review that can be expanded to include the application of best practice applied techniques and models.  Project methodologies can range from (but not limited to):

 Individual students can participate in the partnership program by either achieving a distinction level average in the Core and Fundamental Knowledge courses offered in the Masters of Environmental Management Program or by special permission from the director of the IES. Participating students are required to be supervised by both an academic and industry supervisor as approved by the director of the IES.

All projects require a well-synthesised critical literature review, which includes an overview of both academic and industry literature on the project topic. For single elective topics the literature review will be in the order of 6000 – 8000 words.  Work beyond a critical literature review will draw on various best practice applied research models and techniques as agreed by the project supervisors.

2004 Projects

Project 1 - “Community Education Programs to Decrease Greenhouse Emissions”

Project 2 - “Biodiversity Management in Urban Environments”

Project 3 - “Assessing and Managing Coastal Risk”

Project 4 - “Educating for Sustainability - Community Needs and Engagement Strategies”

Project 5 – Ecological Footprint – Assessment of its use as a Sustainability Measure – Stage 2

Project discussion papers- click here

2005 Projects - A list of 2005 projects will be updated shortly.

Sydney Intertidal Protected Area - Review Committee

(Aquatic Reserves)

The SCCG has had a long association with the nomination, support and advocacy for Sydney’s Marine Protected Areas and. The Group was directly involved in the original determination of the 14 Sydney Intertidal Protected Areas in 1993 and was represented on the Sydney Intertidal Protected Area – Review Committee (Aquatic Reserves) who nominated six of these sites for permanent protection as aquatic reserves in 2002.

Marine Protected Areas
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are coastal, estuarine or oceanic areas created to protect biodiversity and marine habitats, and help to ensure that marine resources are used in a sustainable manner. They protect and conserve many different types of marine environments and the animals and plants that live in them. They allow fish to spawn and grow. They provide unspoilt natural sites for people to visit and offer areas for education and research.

MPAs range from small, highly-protected areas that focus on the protection of certain species or a community to large multiple-use areas that include complex ecosystems and habitats.

Intertidal Protected Areas

Intertidal Protected Areas (gazetted under the Fisheries Management Act 1994) are temporary fishing closures and complement the NSW marine protected area system by protecting rocky shore habitats and their associated intertidal invertebrates. Intertidal protected areas (IPAs) have been established in nine areas around Sydney to protect selected rocky habitats and intertidal species. They aim to:

All IPAs extend from the mean high water mark to 10 metres seaward from the mean low water mark. Collecting seashore animals is strictly prohibited in these closures. This includes crabs, snails, cunjevoi, octopus, sea urchins, anemones, pipis, cockles, mussels, oysters, and nippers (saltwater yabbies). See Protecting Seashore Animals for further information.

The intertidal protected areas are located at:

• Bungan Head
• Mona Vale Headland
• Dee Why Headland
• Shelly Beach Headland
• Sydney Harbour
• Bondi
• Long Bay
• Inscription Point
• Cabbage Tree Point

What you can do in an IPA?

Fishing is permitted in these areas, but bait collection is not allowed, although you may bring bait with you up to the quantity allowed by NSW Fisheries bag limits.

For more information contact NSW Fisheries

Manager, Protected Areas
NSW Fisheries
Private Bag 1
Nelson Bay NSW 2315
AUSTRALIA
Phone: +61 2 49821232
Fax: +61 2 4982 1107