Goulburn-Mulwaree
Issue: Resource Use
This issue is discussed for these areas: [an error occurred while processing this directive]
For more information refer to the following Indicators:
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 Council 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 state of the environment report.
How has resource use changed?
- Strongly affected by drought - Severe Level 5 restrictions on water use were put into place
- 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 outcomes improved and introduction of organics collection.
- 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 Councils (collated by OCSE)
Water
The last time in which the Goulburn water supply dams were full was November 1999 and since that time they dropped to their lowest level of 16.8% in May 2007. Only 182 mm of rain in June 2007 prevented the dire situation continuing. Severe Level 5 restrictions on water use were put into place in 2004 and followed until July 2007. These resulted in a reduction in water use of 54% compared to water use in 1999-2000. It is apparent that urgent action is needed to supplement the Goulburn water supply on a permanent basis, particularly in the light of predicted declines in rainfall in South Eastern Australia resulting from climate change.
Drinking water in the Council area was excellent in quality during the reporting period. However, ‘hard’ water is a characteristic of water in all three supply systems, which has no health implications. The single spike in metal content for one sample may indicate some release from a quarry or similar site.
Population
Goulburn Mulwaree Council area experienced a small percentage of growth over the reporting period. According to the 2006 Census there were 27,277 residents in the Council area with an estimated 27,327 in 2007. Since the end of the previous 2004 State of the Environment Reporting period, the population of the Council area is estimated to have increased by 0.4% or 384 persons.
Compared with NSW as a whole, Goulburn Mulwaree has a higher aged population, a comparative 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. Along with many other jurisdictions in Australia, Goulburn Mulwaree 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 Council areas. Goulburn Mulwaree’s Community Plan is committed to addressing these issues.
Noise
Barking dogs were the main source of complaints for the Council area. Council had the service of rangers during the reporting period and a large percentage of their time was spent dealing with companion animal management issues. All barking dog complaints received during the period were investigated and resolved.
Reducing solid waste
Urban residents of Goulburn Mulwaree Council area have a three bin kerbside waste and recycling system which includes a recently introduced greenwaste (organics) bin, while rural residents access waste disposal through a voucher system at landfill, and have access to recycling drop off points. Figures for this reporting period are largely unavailable. Those included in this period’s report are based on estimates from Council staff, as during this reporting period there have been no facilities to weigh materials going to the landfill sites or transfer stations, and data on recycling has been unavailable. The lack of data on volumes and product breakdown makes discerning trends difficult, but a recently installed weighbridge at the Goulburn landfill site will begin to address some of these issues.
Heritage
Changes to the listed heritage estate for Goulburn Mulwaree Council area over the past four years show that: one place was listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List (Goulburn Post Office) . Two places have been added to the Register of the National Estate (Wollogorang, Breadalbane and Morton National Park); and two places have been added to the NSW Heritage register (Hillas farm, Bannaby and Mayfield - Welcome Reef Dam, Lower Boro).
Many more places now appear on the local Section 170 heritage register as there were heritage places included in Mulwaree Shire that are now included in the list for Goulburn Mulwaree Council area. Three places have been added to the Goulburn Mulwaree Council Local Environmental Plan (LEP) heritage list (Christ Church Rectory, Goulburn, Landsdowne Bridge, Goulburn and St Matthew's Church, Bannaby).
The future what does this mean for the Council?
For water
It is apparent that urgent action is needed to supplement the Goulburn water supply on a permanent basis, particularly in the light of predicted declines in rainfall in South Eastern Australia resulting from climate change.
Good consistent data collection should be continued to ensure that direct comparisons between drinking water quality reporting periods can be undertaken over time.
For population
Along with many other jurisdictions in Australia, Goulburn Mulwaree Council will need to consider the impacts of an ageing population on its economy, and infrastructure. Residents have been active in ensuring that the natural heritage values of the region are protected and managed sustainably in the push for further growth.
For noise
The 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 Council in further planning for resolving noise complaints especially with regard to time and resources management.
For waste management
The provision of three kerbside bins to urban residents gives residents the chance to recycle a large proportion of their waste. While some organics collection systems are limited to garden clippings only, Goulburn Mulwaree residents will be able to use one in the Council's area for all food organics, as Goulburn Mulwaree Council is a partner in the innovative Groundswell project. This project will collect organics to be processed into a soil improving product to benefit farmers in the region which will simultaneously address the issues of reducing waste to landfill and improving the region’s degraded farming land.
With the recently installed weighbridge at the landfill and the opportunity to access recycling data through the Groundswell project and recycling collection contractor, Council has the means to gather a clear picture of waste generation in the Council area, and should ensure that this is made a priority to inform future waste minimisation efforts.
For heritage
Heritage protection is a high priority for Goulburn Mulwaree, with approximately 2,500 individually listed properties within the Goulburn Heritage Inventory. The majority of properties located within the Heritage Conservation Area are in the centre of the city. A Community Heritage Study has also been completed for the former Mulwaree Shire. This Inventory lists and describes over 100 items of heritage importance. Council has also established a Register of Significant Vegetation aimed at protecting significant stands of vegetation. it is important that these initiatives continue to be supported.
Goulburn Mulwaree Council recently adopted a 2008-2011 Heritage Strategy which aims to establish a heritage committee to consider heritage matters.
