Eurobodalla
Indicator: Riparian Conditions
Results for this indicator are also available for [an error occurred while processing this directive]
What the results tell us for Eurobodalla
No quantitative information was available to assess the overall changes in conditions of riparian areas within the Eurobodalla Shire during the current reporting period and the previous reporting period.
The current reporting period has seen progress in the development and implementation of Estuary Management Plans that assist to strategically manage the estuarine parts of the main riparian systems across the Shire. These estuaries include; Batemans Bay/ Clyde River Estuary, Tomaga River Estuary, Moruya/ Deua River Estuary, Tuross River and Coila Lake and Wagonga Inlet. A wide range of projects were undertaken over the reporting to deliver these strategic priorities. Many of these were funded as a range of estuary and coastal management projects, and many were delivered by community-based Landcare groups operating across the Shire. Council has also delivered a successful Biodiversity Program to conserve biodiversity on private land over the reporting period, with many of these initiatives improving riparian zone condition.
In 2007 the Batemans Marine Park came into effect covering much of the Eurobodalla Shire’s coastal seabed and waters from the mean high water mark to three nautical miles offshore, and includes all estuaries, creeks, rivers and lakes, to the tidal limit (ESC 2008).
Six threatening processes which impact on riparian condition relevant to the Eurobodalla are listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995 and the Fisheries Management Act, 1994.
Condition of riparian zones in the shire
The extent to which the condition of riparian vegetation, channel modification and stream bank disturbance changed across the Shire during the current reporting period is not know, as no detailed Shire-wide information was available. However some information on riparian condition was available for the five estuary areas being managed by the Shire (ESC 2008).
Significant riparian vegetation loss has occurred on some sections of the Moruya River estuary and is likely to be causing significant bank erosion though it should be noted that erosion is also occurring on fully vegetated banks, where collapse or slumping of banks has led to displacement of riparian vegetation (ESC 2003). Tomaga estuary has been classified as having 50% of its riparian vegetation cleared (DLWC 2001) yet it has seen a 5% to 10% increase of riparian vegetation between 1972 and 1997. Where the vegetation is present, it is of a significant width, notably between 30 and 100m (ESC, 2005b). Batemans Bay and the Clyde river estuary also has riparian vegetation of a significant width and density where it is present (ESC 2004) however little to no vegetation occurs in the flat sandy areas of the Clyde River due to clearing and substantial wave action (OSE 2004). Tuross has 13% of its estuary area developed on the low lying alluvial plains – significant amounts of riparian vegetation has been removed from this area leaving the banks extremely susceptible to erosion (ESC 2005a).
There was no information available for the condition, conservation value and management of classification of coastal lakes within Eurobodalla Shire.
Threats to riparian condition
Three processes relating to riparian condition have been listed as key threatening processes in the State (see Table 1) by the New South Wales (NSW) Scientific committee under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. The Fisheries Scientific Committee also listed, under the Fisheries Management Act 1994, three key threatening processes relevant to riparian areas.
| Name of threatening process | Date of Final Determination or Gazettal |
|---|---|
| Alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers, streams, floodplains and wetlands (DECC, 2008a) | Final: 31 May 2002 |
| Clearing of Native Vegetation (DECC, 2008b) | Final: 21 September 2001 |
| Human-caused climate change (DECC, 2008c) | Gazetted: 17 November 2000 |
| Removal and degradation of native riparian vegetation (DPI, 2008a) | Final: 01 June 2005 |
| Installation and operation of instream structures and other mechanisms that alter the natural flow regimes of rivers and streams (DPI, 2008b) | Final: 01 June 2005 |
| Removal of large woody debris from NSW rivers and streams (DPI, 2008c) | Final: 01 June 2005 |
The impacts of these key threatening processes on riparian conditions and waterways include (DECC 2008 a, b; DPI 2008, a, b; DPI 2005a):
- bank erosion
- loss of biological diversity
- impairment of important ecosystem services for fish and invertebrates (e.g. removal of refuges used during flooding or drought or removal of spawning sites)
- reduced nutrient filtering capacity
- increased light penetration of the water-body and loss of shade and shelter for fish
- reduced inputs of organic carbon (for example, twigs and leaves)
- changes to stream behaviour (increased and decreased flow, seasonality, frequency, duration, magnitude, timing predictability, rate of rise and fall of water levels and altering surface and subsurface water levels)
- exotic plants such as Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) reducing stream flow.
What is being done to protect riparian zones?
Shire Council activities
Council has a range of measures in place to help protect riparian zones. These include landuse planning control measures, the development and implementation of Estuary Management Plans, Landcare activities and working with private landholders through the Biodiversity Program.
Landuse planning and development assessment
During the previous reporting period Council carried out a range of activities that helped protect riparian zones in the Shire (OEC 2004). As part of its coastal environmental capacity planning project, Council encourages landholders to protect or restore up to 100 m wide riparian buffers along streams within the Shire (OCE 2004). This width is highly variable and is dependent on individual landholders, the viability of the lands involved and the nature of the water body (e.g. river or stream) (Lenson 2005). The capacity planning project also identified riparian areas sensitive to development and created a decision-making methodology for assessing areas where development constraints are to be applied. Updates on this program for the current reporting period were unavailable.
Estuary Management
The current reporting period has seen progress in the development and implementation of Estuary Management Plans that assist to strategically manage the estuarine portions of the main riparian systems across the Shire. These estuaries include; Batemans Bay/ Clyde River Estuary, Tomaga River Estuary, Moruya/ Deua River Estuary, Tuross River and Coila Lake and Wagonga Inlet
As part of the implementation of Estuary Management Plans, environmental projects have regenerated riparian buffers to improve water quality and restore ecological functions. Many of these projects have been developed and implemented with external funding, and have complemented Council works.
Stormwater Management
Council's stormwater quality management plan (ESC 2001a) sets out objectives for new stormwater developments, one of which is to protect and restore indigenous riparian vegetation. The plan recommends that reserve management practices be reviewed to consider the impact on riparian zones of practices such as mowing, and that riparian vegetation be addressed in all Development Control Plans (DCPs) and soil and water management plans prepared for new subdivisions. Council noted that during the current reporting period no major stormwater quality issued have arisen (ESC 2006). A review of this Plan would be timely.
Community activities
Council continues to encourage removal of stock from waterways through Landcare, Biodiversity and Estuary Programs. This has included revegetation and fencing projects within riparian buffers (ESC 2006).
The Eurobodalla Shire Council has been proactive in implementing a biodiversity program during the current reporting period. This program works with landholders to provide incentives for the undertaking of environmental works on private land, with a strong focus on protecting and enhancing riparian areas within the Shire. Landholders are required to place land under conservation covenant to ensure ongoing environmental outcomes are achieved.
Landcare group activities
Landcare groups have continued to be very active during the reporting period and have carried out numerous projects with a particular focus on rehabilitation and restoration of habitat. Council staff working with Landcare groups help them identify and target priority issues, including working along riparian corridors and undertaking weeding and improvement works adjacent to SEPP 14 wetlands. Works have included weeding, planting, fencing and erosion control.
Between 2004 and 2008 major projects were carried out at Tuross (Kyla Park) and Tuross reserves, Lilli Pilli, Mystery Bay, Broulee, Long Beach, Hanging Rock, and Guerilla Bay. Major planting was undertaken as a part of these projects as well as in the Moruya area (ESC 2006).
For more information on community projects and volunteering see the Eurobodalla annual State of the Environment updates: http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/plans/Documents/Archive/SOEIndex.html
Other Activities
Nationally funded activities undertaken during the reporting period in the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority area may have enhanced riparian conditions within the Eurobodalla Shire Council area.
References
DECC – see Department of Environment and Climate Change
Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (2008a) NSW Scientific Committee—Final Determination, Alteration to the Natural Flow Regimes of Rivers, Streams, Floodplains and Wetlands—Key Threatening Process Declaration, NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, viewed 14 October 2008, http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=20002
Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (2008b) NSW Scientific Committee—Final Determination, Clearing of Native Vegetation—Key Threatening Process Declaration, NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, viewed 14 October 2008-10-14, http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/ClearingNativeVegKTPListing.htm
Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC) (2001), Tomaga River Catchment Status & Issues Report for South Coast Water Management Committee & Tomaga River Estuary Management Committee, in Eurobodalla Shire Council (2005b) Tomaga Estuary Management Study & Plan, Eurobodalla Shire Council, viewed October 14 2008, http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Estuaries/Estuary/TomagaArea.html
Department of Primary Industries (NSW) (2008a) Removal of large woody debris from NSW rivers and streams, NSW Department of Primary Industries, viewed 10 October 2008 http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/habitat/publications/threats/removal-large-woody-debris
Department of Primary Industries (NSW) (2008b) Degradation of native riparian vegetation along NSW water courses, NSW Department of Primary Industries, viewed 10 October 2008 http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/habitat/publications/threats/degredation-native-riparian-vegetation
Department of Primary Industries (NSW) (2005a) Fisheries Scientific Committee Recommendation—Installation and Operation of Instream Structures and Other Mechanisms that Alter Natural Flow Regimes of Rivers and Streams, NSW Department of Primary Industries, viewed 11 August 2005, http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/5284/FR21_dams.pdf.
DLWC – see Department of Land Water and Conservation
DPI – see Department of Primary Industries
ESC – see Eurobodalla Shire Council
Eurobodalla Shire Council (2008) Estuaries of the Eurobodalla, Eurobodalla Shire Council, viewed 14 October 2008 http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Estuaries/index.html
Eurobodalla Shire Council (2006) Annual Report 2006/07, Eurobodalla Shire Council.
Eurobodalla Shire Council (2005a) Tuross Estuary & Coila Lake Estuary Management Plan, Eurobodalla Shire Council, viewed October 14 2008 http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Estuaries/Estuary/TurossArea.html
Eurobodalla Shire Council (2005b) Tomaga Estuary Management Study & Plan, Eurobodalla Shire Council, viewed October 14 2008, http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Estuaries/Estuary/TomagaArea.html
Eurobodalla Shire Council (2004) Batemans Bay & Clyde River Estuary Management Study, Eurobodalla Shire Council, viewed October 14 2008, http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Estuaries/Estuary/BatemansBayArea.html
Eurobodalla Shire Council (2003) Moruya/Deua Estuarine Processes Study, Eurobodalla Shire Council, viewed October 14 2008, http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Estuaries/Estuary/MoruyaArea.html
Eurobodalla Shire Council (2001a) Eurobodalla Shire Urban Stormwater Quality Management Plan, Eurobodalla Shire Council.
Eurobodalla Shire Council (2001b) Wagonga Inlet Estuary Management Study and Plan, Eurobodalla Shire Council, viewed October 14 2008, http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Estuaries/Estuary/NaroomaArea.html
Lenson, D (2005) Environment Team Leader, Eurobodalla Shire Council, personal communication.
OCE – see Office of the Commissioner of the Environment
Office of the Commissioner for the Environment (2004) Australian Capital Region State of the Environment Report 2004, Office of the Commissioner for the Environment, Canberra (see Riparian Condition)
