Cootamundra
Issue: Resource Use
This issue is discussed for these areas: [an error occurred while processing this directive]
For more information refer to the following Indicatorsl:
Drinking Water Quality | Hazardous Waste | Heritage | Noise | Population | Solid Waste | Water Use
In the 2004 Regional State of the Environment Report (RSoER) two issues papers covered community wellbeing and resource use for each local government area. Previous ’Community Wellbeing‘ indicators have not been reported in this RSoER following a decision by the RSOER workshop in July 2007. These indicators are now covered in the Shire Council’s Social Plan .
Under the requirements of the New South Wales (NSW) Local Government Act 1993, reporting of Heritage (both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) and Noise is mandatory in state of the environment report.
What changes took place during the reporting period?
- Affected by drought with use of Level 1 water restrictions
- Continued drinking water quality of a high standard
- Population is reducing in number but growing in age
- A range of noise complaints the numbers relating to barking dogs were much reduced.
- Waste minimisation efforts improved increased investment.
- Little change to the listed heritage estate.
| Council Locations | Coastal Councils Eurobodalla Bega Valley |
Alpine Councils Tumut Tumbarumba Snowy River Bombala Cooma/Monaro |
Major Regional Centre Councils Queanbeyan Yass Goulburn/ Mulwaree |
Inland Councils Young Boorowa Upper Lachlan Cootamundra Harden Gundagai Palerang |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population Size change | Increased population | Declining population | Increased population | Declined population |
| Population age change | Aging population | Aging population | Aging population | Aging population |
| Heritage | Spending on heritage programs | Spending on heritage programs | Spending on heritage programs | Spending on heritage programs |
| Noise | Main complaints - barking dogs. Improved noise compliance outcomes |
Main complaints - barking dogs. Improved noise compliance outcomes |
Main complaints - barking dogs. Improved noise compliance outcomes |
Main complaints - barking dogs. Improved noise compliance outcomes |
| Waste | Good initiatives/ reduction strategies in place Improved data collection |
Good initiatives/ reduction strategies in place | Good initiatives/ reduction strategies in place Improved data collection |
Good initiatives/ reduction strategies in place |
| Water Quality | Consistent High Water Quality | Consistent High Water Quality | Consistent High Water Quality | Consistent High Water Quality |
| Water Availability | Higher potential evaporation Water restrictions |
Higher potential evaporation Water restrictions |
Higher potential evaporation Water restrictions |
Higher potential evaporation Water restrictions |
Source: The information in this table is collated from data supplied by Shire Councils (collated by OCSE)
Water
Cootamundra Shire is fortunate to have an assured water supply coming from the Murrumbidgee River. This supply is part of a large drinking water supply system operated by Goldenfields Water County Council, which is fully treated at the Jugiong drinking water treatment plant. This water is then supplied by pipeline providing water to Cootamundra.
The application of Level 1 water restrictions to domestic use, and the watering of town parks and gardens from recycled water, has cut overall water consumption by about 40% since 2003.
The Cootamundra Shire drinking water supply is of excellent and consistent quality.
Population
Cootamundra Shire continued to experience a decrease in population growth. According to the 2006 Census there were 7,597 residents in the Shire with an estimated 7,527 in 2007. Since the end of the previous Regional State of the Environment Reporting period, the population of the Shire is estimated to have decreased by 0.2% or 24 persons.
Compared with NSW as a whole Cootamundra Shire has a higher aged population, a slightly higher Indigenous population and a small increase in the proportion of persons born overseas compared which concords with a gradual increase for the State. Along with many other jurisdictions in Australia, Cootamundra Shire Council will need to consider the impacts of an ageing population on its economy, and infrastructure.
The composition of households has continued the trend noted in the 2004 report with a further reduction in the number of households comprising couples with children and a consequent increase in couples without children and also lone person households. Cootamundra’s Community Plan is committed to addressing these issues.
Noise
A range of noise complaints including noisy machinery, loud music, model aero club noise and an air conditioner were received by the Shire Council in this reporting period. There was a marked reduction in the number of complaints concerning barking dogs with only three complaints received in this reporting period compared to 48 in the 2000-04 Report.
Focus on reducing solid waste
The waste stream generated by Cootamundra Shire residents increased by 52% in the reporting period (2004–08), to 9950 tonnes in 2007-2008. Of this, Cootamundra achieved 40% resource recovery and 60% went to landfill. Cootamundra Shire Council introduced kerbside recycling to some residents during this period. This change in the waste system may account for many of the changes seen, such as a higher rate of recovery of recyclables and apparent rise in waste to landfill, which is at least in part likely to be a result of better data capture rather than an actual rise in generation.
Volumes of most materials in the waste stream increased over the four years, particularly building and demolition waste. The volume of private delivery waste decreased. A steady increase in resource recovery was also seen, with large increases seen for steel cans, demolition waste and aluminium. Increases in both the landfill and recycling portions of the waste stream meant that the total amount of waste per resident increased from about 900kg in 2004-2005 to 1.3 tonnes in 2007-2008. While this is high relative to some similar rural Councils the higher tonnage may simply reflect a more complete set of data.
Some increases in resource recovery have been observed in the Cootamundra Shire over the four years to 2007-08. Tonnage of most recycled items increased, particularly steel cans, demolition materials, aluminium paper, plastic, glass and garden materials recovery also increased. A number of contributing factors have been identified: increased population and waste generated; increased education and awareness of available recycling services; and increased efficiencies in the materials sorting processes.
Heritage
Changes to the listed heritage estate show that one place has been added to the Register of the National Estate (Bradman’s Birthplace Museum), No places have been added to the NSW Heritage register or Section. 170 heritage list, and
There are still no places on the Cootamundra Shire Local Environmental Plan (although 11 were identified as being on a draft LEP in the 2004 Regional State of the Environment Report).
There are no listed Aboriginal Cultural Heritage sites in the Cootamundra Shire.
No information is available on the condition of heritage sites during the reporting period and little information on condition prior to the reporting period. The condition of many sites has not been updated since they were listed on the Register of the National Estate.
The future what does this mean for the Shire Council?
Water
The supply is primarily controlled by licence, and secondarily by the ability of Goldenfields Water County Council to supply the required volume. The Jugiong drinking water treatment plant is running well over nominal capacity, and this is regarded as unsustainable. If further development in the Cootamundra area requires additional water the capability of the present treatment plant to supply this water is open to question
Consistent data collection should be continued to ensure that direct comparisons between water quality reporting periods can be continued.
For population
Along with many other jurisdictions in Australia, Cootamundra Shire Council will need to consider the impacts of an ageing population on its economy, and infrastructure.
The composition of households has continued the trend noted in the 2004 report with a further reduction in the number of households comprising couples with children and a consequent increase in couples without children and also lone person households. Cootamundra’s Community Plan is committed to addressing these issues.
These trends are similar to those evident in other shires in the Region and will have resultant impacts on the Shire’s healthcare, social, economic and transport needs into the future.
For noise
The Shire Council may wish to consider developing a system for keeping statistics on mechanisms for resolution, or time taken by staff on, resolving noise issues. These statistics could assist the Shire Council in further planning for resolving noise complaints especially with regard to time management and resources outcomes.
For waste management
In 2007-08, Council invested well over a million dollars in waste management and resource recovery. This was substantially more than investments for each of the previous three years. There was a sharp increase in garbage collection investment in 2007-08 compared with the previous year, as this period saw the introduction of a duel bin collection system. Council purchased all new bins and a new collection vehicle. Continued investment is supported.
No information is available on the condition of heritage sites during the reporting period and little information on their condition prior to the reporting period either. It would be beneficial for the Council to address these gaps to develop a future benchmark from which to work.
Although there is an expressed intention to undertake, and funding has been receivedfrom the NSW Heritage Council, a community heritage study over the next two years, it is disappointing to note a lack of progress in establishing a register of all buildings within the Shire of historical significance. Such a project has been identified by the Council as a gap in their database and could be used to provide information to the public regarding advice on the restoration of heritage buildings.
