Young

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 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 each local Government 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 slowly growing in number.
The main noise complaint problems were in relation to barking dogs.
Waste minimisation focuses on effective waste and recycling system with good data.
Some change to the listed heritage estate.

Table 1. General apparent emerging trends for Young Shire Council 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 drinking water supply to Young Shire is provided through the Goldenfields Water County Shire Council, which draws water from the Murrumbidgee River at Jugiong. The water availability for the whole system is controlled by license from the NSW Government and not by river flows. The limiting component in the whole supply is the capacity of the Jugiong Water Treatment Plant, which is currently operating at 54% above nominal capacity.

The ongoing drought has had major impacts on irrigation supplies on the Murrumbidgee, but limited impacts on town supplies. As an illustration, only 5% of the General Security licence water for irrigation is currently allocated, due to insufficient water in storage in the Murray-Darling system. Reticulated water use in Young Shire 2003 to 2008. No data are available for use of non-reticulated water, but private rural water use for domestic, stock and irrigation can be expected to be considerable. Level 1 restrictions has been in place for 210 days during 2007-2008, with no restrictions prior to that year. Water consumption in 2007-2008 fell back to the quantity use from 2004 to 2006. The restrictions imposed consist of the use of one hand-held hose at any time, with fixed sprinklers, drip irrigation, lawn watering and unattended hoses between 6pm and 8am any day. Compared to other levels of water restriction in NSW, Young Shire has only a slight level of restriction.

The Young Shire drinking water supply is of excellent and consistent quality.

Population

Young Shire has experienced a relatively stable population over the reporting period. According to the 2006 Census there were 12,488 residents in the Shire with an estimated 12,535 in 2007. Since the end of the previous SoER period, the population of the Shire is estimated to have increased by 1% or 386 persons. Examining this in the context of the age profile, it can be seen that the trend of decreasing youth noted in the last report has continued in this reporting period, but slowing only falling 0.9% since 2001 and 0.5% in the 10 year period since 1996. However, the actual number of persons under 15 years has risen from 2,657 to 2,783. The “middle” age group remained rather static in percentage terms with only a 1.3% fall (1996-2006), but as with the under 15 age group the real numbers actually increased. The proportion of the population aged 65+ increased by 1.8% since the 1996 census.

Compared with NSW as a whole, Young Shire has a lower rate of increase of aged persons, a higher Indigenous population and a slight decrease in the proportion of persons born overseas compared to a small increase for the State as a whole.

Noise

A large number of noise complaints (522 complaints) were received by the Shire Council in relation to barking dogs in this reporting period, whilst another 448 noise complaints were classified as general noise.

In relation to the problem of barking dogs and general noise complaints, Council issued verbal warnings followed, if need, by written warnings and finally infringement notices as a last resort.

The Council did not undertake any ambient noise monitoring during the reporting period therefore it is not possible to report on recent trends.

Reducing solid waste

The total waste generation in the Young Shire increased by 15% in the reporting period (2004-08). While the amount rose, the percentages of the waste stream recycled and sent to landfill remained relatively constant at around 40% recycled and 60% sent to landfill each year.

Heritage

There are no listed Aboriginal Cultural Heritage sites in the Young Shire. There are six non Aboriginal places in the Young Shire listed on Commonwealth heritage lists and six places are entered in the Register of the National Estate.

However 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. The condition of many sites has not been updated since they were listed on the Register of the National Estate.

The Lambing Flat Festival was held in April 2005 and 2006 and was well received by both locals and visitors. The event had a heritage theme and included a re-enactment of the Reading of the Riot Act that was read to miners at Lambing Flat (Young) in 1861. The event now brings in over 2000 visitors and has become part of the annual events calendar for Young.

In 2006, Young Shire commissioned a Community Based Heritage Study with assistance funding provided by the Heritage Branch of the NSW Dept of Planning. This study empowered a committee of local heritage-minded individuals to assist the appointed Heritage Adviser research the thematic history of Young and establish a proactive list of heritage conservation items for the community to be aware of and recognize as important in the development of the life and people of Young. The Thematic History and Report on the Heritage of Young is being handed up to Shire Council for release as a public document as this report is being written (November 2008).

The future what does this mean for the Shire Council?

For 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 occurs in the Young area additional water capability of the present treatment plant to supply this water is open to question.

Consistent high qualitly data collection should be continued to ensure that direct comparisons on water quality between differing reporting periods can be continued.

For population

Along with many other jurisdictions in Australia, Young Shire Council will need to consider the future 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. Young Shire’s Social and Community Plan is committed to addressing these issues.

For noise

The Shire Council may wish to consider developing a system for keeping statistics on 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.

Shire Council should also consider measuring ambient noise.

For waste management

Young Shire Council has an effective waste and recycling system with good data collection which gives a stable picture over time of a community which is good at recycling. However, in line with most western world communities waste generation rates are rising. Further large decreases in waste being sent to landfill can be effectively achieved through introducing a wider range of recycling options, especially in the areas of garden and/or food organics recycling.

For heritage

No information is available on the condition of heritage sites during the reporting period. It would be beneficial for the Shire Council to address this gap to develop a future benchmark from which to work.

The Shire Council is looking to build on its valuable heritage work in the upcoming years by acquiring funding and services to achieve a Heritage Local Fund to continue to promote the importance of heritage, as well as being able to provide a Local heritage Advisory Service where the residents of the Town get first hand heritage advice on proposed restoration, additions and/or alterations to heritage places.

Top of page...

Regional State of the Environment Report 2008