Tumut

Issue: Resource Use

This issue is discussed for these areas: [an error occurred while processing this directive]

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 on in this RSoER following a decision by the RSOER workshop in July 2007 as these indicators are now covered in the 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 each state of the environment reports.

What changes took place during the reporting period?

Strongly affected by drought In October and November 2006 irrigation water allocations were suspended, while stock and domestic water continued to be allocated.
Continued drinking water quality of a high standard.
Population is reducing in number but growing in age.
The main noise complaint problems were in relation to barking dogs.
Waste minimisation includes introduction of a new recycling service.
Little change to the listed heritage estate however services of an advisor are currently in use.

Table 1. General apparent emerging trends from the 2008 RSoER
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

The main supply to Tumut is drawn from the Tumut River. This river is a major irrigation supply from the Snowy scheme to irrigators in the Murrumbidgee River irrigation areas. Flow is determined by electricity demand and irrigation requirements, and does not resemble natural flows in volume or timing. As a consequence, there is a greatly increased flow in the river overall, with particularly high flows when there is irrigation demand downstream. This occurs in mid to late summer, when the natural water flow would be low.

During the recent drought water allocations for irrigation have been greatly reduced, and the Tumut River flow lessened in consequence. In October and November 2006 irrigation water allocations were suspended, while stock and domestic water continued to be allocated. Water restrictions were imposed in Tumut Shire for 270 days in 2007-2008 for the first time, at Level 2 across all towns and villages in the Shire. These resulted in a reduction of 20% in the overall water consumption in the Shire.

Wastewater treatment plants provide water for reuse in recreational facilities.

The Tumut drinking water supply is of excellent and consistent quality

Population

Tumut Shire has experienced a small decline in growth. According to the 2006 Census there were 11,260 residents in the Shire with an estimated 11,238 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 -0.5% or 42 persons.

Compared with NSW, Tumut has a higher aged population, a higher Indigenous population and a small increase in the proportion of persons born overseas which is similar to the level observed for the State as a whole

Noise

The majority of complaints about noise in this reporting period were in relation to barking dogs, with 277 complaints over the four year period. Another 23 non specific noise complaints were received during that period mainly for industrial noise from the local timber mills. Council used the services of rangers to deal with report of noise disturbances during the reporting period. All barking dog complaints received during the period were investigated and managed by various methods. Various resolution strategies were used to defuse tension between parties involved in disputes over noise. In certain cases nuisance dog control orders under the Companion Animal Act 1997 were issued.

NSW DECC (EPA) regulates the activities of timber mills through operational licences. They have been working closely with the mills to identify and mitigate noise emissions. Considerable progress has been made to date. DECC undertakes noise monitoring in relation to the mill.

Reducing solid waste

Tumut Shire Council provides a kerbside waste and recycling service for the towns of Adelong, Batlow, Brungle Talbingo and Tumut. Shire Council introduced kerbside recycling in Tumut Shire in early 2007. Residents of Tumut Shire can drop off a wide variety of recyclable materials at no cost at four waste depots in the Shire.

The waste generation picture for Tumut Shire is incomplete because data is unavailable for some of the waste streams generated by Tumut Shire residents.

A partnership which diverts waste from landfill and into the recycling stream has been recently formed by Shire Council, Valmar Support Services (disability support services) and Snowy Works and Services. This innovative project has created a recyclables collection and recovery system which has provided the benefits of recycling services for the community as well as employment for community members.

Heritage

Changes to the listed heritage estate for Tumut Shire over the past four years show that two places have been added to the National Heritage List (Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves and the Snowy Mountains Scheme), one place has been removed from the S. 170 heritage list of NSW Government departments and agencies (Junction Bridge, Tumut), and one place has been removed from the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) (Adelong Falls gold processing site).

It is recognized that there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge on places of Aboriginal cultural significance. Some cultural differences are thought to exist that may work to exacerbate this lack of knowledge. The primary planning instrument for the Shire, the LEP, is currently under review with the intention of addressing this knowledge gap. The aim is to adopt an improved strategy for the identification and preservation of Aboriginal heritage.

The knowledge about non Aboriginal heritage also has a number of deficiencies. It is intended that the LEP review described above will result in improved knowledge in this area.

In conjunction with the NSW Department of Planning, Council employs a part time Heritage Advisor to assist in heritage matters. The Advisor is available to the general public one day per month for "no-cost" consultancy. The advisor provides expert consultancy on heritage restoration, preservation and adaptive re-use of buildings. The LEP has specific provisions to foster the adaptive reuse of buildings in a manner that preserves the heritage asset. Shire Council has produced an Heritage Trail brochure linking Adelong, Batlow and Tumut. Also, a Heritage Walk has been developed for Adelong.

The future what does this mean for the Shire Council?

For water

The supply from Tumut River will be secure, and the volume regulated by licence. The creeks providing water for smaller communities will be drought affected, but there is insufficient information provided to comment on the security of their supply.

Good 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, Tumut 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. These are similar to trends observed in other Shire Councils. Tumut’s Social Plan is committed to addressing these issues.

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 these 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

Shire Council reports that its new recycling service has been enthusiastically supported by residents and has provided tangible benefits such as creating employment and satisfying the communities demand for recycling facilities. A lack of data on the amounts recycled through this recycling system, and on other aspects of the waste stream hamper Shire Council’s ability to accurately assess the benefits and perhaps further improve the Shire’s performance in waste reduction.

For heritage

It is important that the Shire Council continues using the services of a heritage advisor to assist with obtaining information on the condition of heritage sites It would be beneficial for the Shire Council to address these gaps to develop a future benchmark from which to work. as it appears that the condition of many sites has not been updated since they were listed on the Register of the National Estate.

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Regional State of the Environment Report 2008