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“We represent a significant proportion of local residents,
who attended public meetings more than 12 months ago, and
who are adamant that the natural environment of South West
Rocks should not be destroyed to make way for poor quality
development”, FOSWR convenor, Trevor Scott, told the National
Parks Journal.
The forest supports a number of native fauna species, and contains koala food trees. A Species Impact Statement (SIS) prepared by the developers found the developments would have signifi cant impacts on Squirrel Glider, Brush-tailed Phascogale and Little Bentwing-bat. Loss of foraging habitat would affect Grey-headed Flying-fox, Glossy Black-cockatoo, Squaretailed Kite, Swift Parrot, Eastern Cave Bat, Hoary Wattled Bat, Eastern Freetail-bat and Common Blossom-bat.
Concurrence from NPWS Threatened Species Unit was granted with conditions. Council passed the Development Applications (DAs) although some councillors supported referral to the Minister for Planning.
Under SEPP71 Coastal Protection, residential subdivision over 25 lots should be declared State significant development, and the Minister is the consent authority. One proposal pre-dated SEPP71, but the SIS did not. The result of separating the other into two DAs was that Council could act as consent authority.
The Environmental Defender’s Office (EDO) gave initial phone advice to FOSWR that Council must provide copies of the SIS and DA forms to the public.
SARAH GUNN
NPA's Three Valleys Branch
Editor’s note: The EDO is a non-profit, non-government legal centre working to protect the environment. They also take a role in environmental law reform and policy formulation.
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30 years for Armidale NPA NPA's Armidale Branch will celebrate
their 30th anniversary For details phone Lynne Hosking on 6772 4802 |
Celebrating 25 years of bitou bush removal
This year marks the 25th year of successful bitou bush removal from reserves around the mid-north coast. The ongoing eradication project has been jointly run by the Mid-North Coast Branch of National Parks Association and the DEC's National Parks Service (also see NPJ, February 2004, p.5). An anniversary celebration will take place on Sunday, 27 June 2004.
The Journal will include more detail in the
next edition but preliminary enquiries may be made with
Roy Pullen, Mid-North Coast NPA Branch President email:
or Cathy Mardell, Ranger for Crowdy Bay National Park on 6588
5506.
Broadwater National Park — like a fish out of water
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Fish kills in a coastal lagoon, hectares of Melaleuca swamp forest dead, littoral vegetation dead, waterfowl gone. "Why is the Salty Lagoon wetland system not protected by its National Park status", ELLEN WHITE* is compelled to ask... Broadwater National Park extends from near Evans Head in the south, northwards toward the village of Broadwater. It includes the Salty Lagoon wetland system, SEPP 14 Wetland No 131(Fig 1). The lagoons are shallow with sandy bottoms and are fed by short streams from the north and south and wetlands which extend westward. |
Aerial photograph of the wetland system. The STP and landfill are to the south, the areas of dead Melaleuca are to the west and around the littoral zone, and the thick algal mats on the southern lagoon can be clearly seen — marked 'X'. (Photo by R. Gates) |
Under natural conditions, the extra water generated during floods is sometimes sufficient to sweep away the sand barrier allowing free interchange with the sea. In addition, high tides can breach the barrier. In general, the open water of the lagoons is well mixed and oxygenated due to wind action and the shallowness of the water column.
The Evans Head/Woodburn Sewage Treatment Plant and the Evans Head Landfill are situated in the upper catchment of the wetland system. By 1986 it was clear that there was serious pollution of the national park. But Evans Head went on ‘developing’. And, upon the amalgamation of Casino and Richmond River Shire Councils, a very pro-development council was born — Richmond Valley Council. Rapid suburban development followed and after heavy rains in early 2002, the ecosystem reached a breakdown point.
In March 2002 it was noted that Typha and duckweed in the swamps as the polluted creek enters the Broadwater National Park had died. Investigation showed that the littoral flora of the lakes, species like Melaleuca quinquenervia, Baumea juncea, Gahnia sieberana, Banksia ericifolia, had died. In the littoral zone, plants are draped with black, rotting algae. The vegetation has not recovered.
About 13th June 2002, again following heavy rains, a large fish kill occurred. There was a breach of the frontal dune, either man-made or due to high water levels, and dead fish, crabs etc spilled across the beach. Unfortunately, they were removed before sampling could take place.
There has been a notable reduction in both abundance and diversity of waterbirds many of which are listed under JAMBA and CAMBA, concomitant on the loss of food resources for them. There has also been a severe reduction of habitat for rare and threatened species. The Oxleyan Pygmy Perch (Nannoperca oxleyana), frequently found in local streams, is probably now absent from Salty Lagoon and, at least, the southern sections of Salty Creek.
The Wallum frogs, Litoria freycineti, L.olongburensis, and Crinia tinnula would have once been expected for this habitat but are unlikely to still occur with the changes in nutrient and pH status. With the increasing discharge volume and pollutant concentrations, it is to be expected that contamination will continue to push further up the northern arm of the Salty Creek.
The Salty Lagoon/Creek is a nursery for prawns which are released to the marine environment when the lakes break through the dune. A number of commercial fish species also spend long periods in the lagoons and may bioaccumulate contaminants.
A thick black algal mat covers the littoral zone, that were once the reed beds, and reaches across the open waters of the lagoons. The effects of blue-green algae on human health are known. How bad is the situation? Normally, ammonia in a coastal lagoon should be in the order of <0.0005mg/L. In Salty Lagoons, on 4th June before the fish kill, ammonia was 0.31 mg/L and following the fish kill, on 21 June, it was 1.89 mg/L. Phosphate (it is in the highly soluble orthophosphate form) is normally <0.00005 mg/L. Before the fish kill it was 0.87 mg/L and on 21 June, it was 2.11 mg/L.
The waters entering the park are highly anoxic. In addition, at least in the upper catchment, aluminium, copper, zinc and iron may be serious contaminants from the landfill leachate.
The EPA has also been complicit in the pollution. Each time the Richmond Valley Council has not complied with licence conditions, they have been altered to suit. In fact, in November 2001, the discharge volume was altered to beyond the hydraulic capacity of the plant!
The proposed erection of a new Sewage Treatment Plant (STP; expected to be on line within four years) and the proposed capping of the Evans Head Landfill site are welcome to facilitate reduction of future additional pollution. However, the adjacent and contiguous lands are now so severely contaminated as to require investigation as sources of pollution and remediation in their own right. In addition, the pace of development at Evans Head will ensure that by then there may be no chance of remediation.
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A community group at Evans Head has been calling for years for investigation into the pollution of Broadwater National Park. We ask that: • Under the Coastal Lakes Strategy developed by the Healthy Rivers Commission (2002) a Water Management Plan for Salty Lagoon wetland system based on a comprehensive Sustainability Assessment should be developed. This should incorporate actions to be taken in the interim period before the new STP comes on line. As part of this, a thorough investigation of the effects of the STP on fl ora and fauna in Broadwater National Park should be completed. • Sufficient grounds exist for the EPA to believe that
the lands adjacent and downstream from the STP and landfill
are contaminated in such a way as to present a significant
risk of harm, and that, consequently, the EPA should • Licensing by the EPA should be based on environmental parameters — not on the ability of the licensee to comply. • For the Wetlands Investigation, consultants must be independent of Richmond Valley Council and should reflect the necessary capacity to undertake a complex study of this type to the satisfaction of pertinent government departments and the public at large. |
ELLEN WHITE
is a member of the Far North Coast Branch of NPA
and she is also on the Evans Head Wastewater Committee
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A spectacular 214,000 ha property in Australia’s Outback has just been protected for conservation. In February 2004 Australian Bush Heritage Fund bought the grazing lease on Ethabuka Station in the Simpson Desert to create a spectacular new conservation reserve. The cattle have now been removed and the river floodplains, dune systems, clay pans and ephemeral and semi-permanent wetlands have been returned to the wildlife. Ethabuka lies on the northern boundary of the Simpson Desert National Park and is a haven for desert wildlife, with 198 species recorded so far. The populations of small mammals and reptiles are exceptionally rich and include the nationally vulnerable mulgara, a small desert carnivore, and six species of threatened birds. |
Ethabuka field and river. Photo courtesy of Australian Bush Heritage Fund |
Bush Heritage will have a reserve manager on the property by June 2004 and will manage the property for the long-term to protect all its wildlife, vegetation and landscapes. For more information please contact Bush Heritage 1800 677 101 or check the website: www.bushheritage.org.au
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National
Parks Association of NSW, P.O.Box A96, Sydney South, NSW 1235
Phone: (02) 9299 0000 Fax: (02) 9290 2525 Email: |
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