Queanbeyan
Queanbeyan Updates Summary 2008-09
This section presents a summary of recorded changes for 2008-09 against the same 22 indicators as in the 2004-08 report. Links to each of the indicators within the comprehensive 2004-09 report are listed below. The new data, including charts and tables, for the period 30 June 2008 to 1 July 2009 are available within the comprehensive 2004-09 report. For easy identification, the 2008-09 changes have been marked in coloured text. Local initiatives undertaken within this period can be viewed as snapshots.
What the 2008-09 results tell us for Queanbeyan
During the 2008-09 period the condition of riparian vegetation and streambank disturbance along the Queanbeyan River has changed slightly with 1400m of riparian zone now removed of willow and other woody weeds. The Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has provided Queanbeyan City Council with funding to undertake riparian restoration on-ground works by Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people of the Queanbeyan area in partnership with Queanbeyan City Council (QCC), the Local Aboriginal Community, Department of Lands, Department of Environment and Climate Change, TAFE, Murrumbidgee CMA and other stakeholders. A wide range of activities has been undertaken during the 2008-09 reporting period under the Willow Removal and Revegetation Program. This project aims to preserve remaining biodiversity assets and increase vegetation cover and condition within targeted areas of the Queanbeyan urban landscape. In addition the project will improve the condition of targeted tributaries of the Murrumbidgee River. Comprehensive assessment and recognition of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites and values within the project area is undertaken by the Queanbeyan Riparian Restoration Team.
Discharges to waters continued the overall trend, evident across the 2004-09 reporting period, of significantly increased mass loads of nitrogen and phosphorus, even though the levels recorded in 2008-09 were slightly lower than for 2007-08.
The annual Household Hazardous Waste collection, where residents may dispose of unwanted, potentially hazardous materials around the home free of charge, has continued in 2008-09. Batteries, oil and paints are the most commonly disposed of items. As in previous years, quantities and types of materials varied, with no particular trends evident, although the total amount collected was somewhat lower than for 2007-08 it was about the same as for most other years in the reporting period.
The total waste that needed to be addressed by the City Council in 2008-09 was 19858.1 tonnes. While this amount is a rise of 43% on the amount generated in 2004-05 a slightly higher proportion of it has been diverted to recycling in the last two years. Overall, about half the waste stream is recycled and half goes to landfill. This proportion has remained similar over the 2004-09 reporting period. Investment in waste management and resource recovery in 2008-09 was $3 026 337, a comparable amount with other years of the reporting period.
No significant changes in patterns of water use or recycling were recorded during 2008-09. Queanbeyan residents consumed 3657.6 mega litres of water. Over 2008-09 the Queanbeyan drinking water supply was of a consistently excellent quality with all parameters within the Guideline Values. During 2008-09 a total of 183 samples from the Queanbeyan reticulation system were assessed for E.coli, and over the 2008-09 period no samples showed the presence of the organisms.
The City Council has undertaken at least four cases of noise monitoring within the 2008-09 reporting period. Half the monitoring related to air conditioners and half to traffic complaints.
Indicators updated for 2008-09
- Atmosphere and Weather
- Biodiversity
- Catchments
- Resource Use
Issue: Atmosphere and Weather
Indicator: Rainfall
An analysis of monthly 2004-09 rainfall and a long-term perspective are available for the indicator. The main rainfall observing site used in this analysis was Queanbeyan Bowling Club (Bureau of Meteorology Station No. 070072), which has records commencing in 1871.
Indicator: Temperature
Analyses of 2008-09 temperature, evaporation and soil moisture, and long term climate trend data are presented for the indicator. There are no official Bureau of Meteorology temperature records for Queanbeyan; however, Canberra Airport (Bureau of Meteorology Station No. 070014) is in close proximity and these data reflect the temperature fluctuations and trends at Queanbeyan. The Canberra Airport weather station is the official Bureau of Meteorology observation site in the ACT and is a Bureau of Meteorology Climate Reference Station. It commenced operation in March 1939 and has a continuous record of temperature and rainfall to the present.
Issue: Biodiversity
Indicator: Pest Animals
There were no significant changes recorded during the 2008-09 period. As was reported in 2004-08 because Queanbeyan covers a small area and is predominantly urban, by comparison with other Local Government Authorities in the Capital Region, pest animals were not a major concern. Seven types of pest animal were reported to be present during the current reporting period. Two pest animal species were first recorded in the City Council during the previous reporting period; wild dogs and dingoes, deer. This is a similar trend to the previous reporting period however, due to limitations in the current reporting period data, quantitative information to assess change in the pest animal distribution and abundance is unavailable.
Indicator: Riparian Conditions
During the 2008-09 period the condition of riparian vegetation and streambank disturbance along the Queanbeyan River has changed slightly with 1400m of riparian zone now removed of willow and other woody weeds.
Queanbeyan City Council is working on actions from The Queanbeyan River Corridor Plan of Management (1998) with on-ground works along the Queanbeyan River. A major project of willow removal and revegetation has commenced with the employment of a team of indigenous trainees who have been undertaking TAFE units to gain their Certificate II in Conservation Land Management. The team has been undertaking the following tasks:
- removal of weeds in project area;
- revegetation of native vegetation in project area;
- fencing to protect and enhance native vegetation in project area;
- riparian zone management;and
- stream bank erosion control.
The Murrumbidgee Catchment Action Plan (CAP) sets the strategic direction for integrated catchment management actions. It details specific and measurable targets to be achieved over a 10-year timeframe and has been endorsed by the Australian and NSW Governments as a template for investment of funds available under National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) and other programs. The directions and strategies for action set out in the Queanbeyan River Corridor Plan of Management (1999) and the Plan of Management for Jerrabomberra Creek (2006) are in keeping with the CAP model.
The Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has provided Queanbeyan City Council with funding to undertake riparian restoration on-ground works by Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people of the Queanbeyan area in partnership with Queanbeyan City Council (QCC), the Local Aboriginal Community, Department of Lands, Department of Environment and Climate Change, TAFE, Murrumbidgee CMA and other stakeholders. This project aims to:
- increase the capacity and involvement in NRM of Traditional Owners and other Aboriginal peoples of the Queanbeyan area;
- increase the capacity of the the wider community to improve NRM by incorporating Aboriginal cultural heritage sites and values in the Murrumbidgee catchment; and
- restore the Queanbeyan River Corridor, Mount Jerrabomberra and natural areas of public and private land in accordance with the project milestones.
A wide range of activities has been undertaken during the 2008-09 reporting period under the Willow Removal and Revegetation Program the team has been engaged in:
- continuing woody weed removal with a large area of willows already cut and mulched;
- seed collection and plant propagation at our nursery;
- some planting and revegetation work; and
- an access track along the river has been cut.
This project aims to preserve remaining biodiversity assets and increase vegetation cover and condition within targeted areas of the Queanbeyan urban landscape.
In addition the project will improve the condition of targeted tributaries of the Murrumbidgee River. The outcomes of this component are to:
- form a Queanbeyan Riparian Restoration Team from the Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people of the Queanbeyan area to increase their capacity to be involved in NRM; and
- provide training and accreditation of the Queanbeyan Riparian Restoration Team to increase their capacity to be involved in NRM.
The project also provides for on-ground riparian restoration works by the Queanbeyan Riparian Restoration Team. Actions to protect and enhance Aboriginal cultural heritage sites and natural and biodiversity values of riparian areas within the project area include:
- removal of weeds;
- revegetation of native vegetation;
- fencing to protect and enhance native vegetation;and
- construction of access and interpretive facilities.
Comprehensive assessment and recognition of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites and values within the project area is undertaken by the Queanbeyan Riparian Restoration Team.
Issue: Catchments
Indicator: Discharge to Waters
Mass loads of nitrogen and phosphorus were slightly lower than for 2007-08 but continued the overall trend of significant increase across the 2004-09 reporting period.
| 2008-09 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed | 27760.0 | Sewage Effluent | Nil | Nil | Molonglo River | 65560.9 | 1782.4 |
Indicator: Groundwater
Groundwater flow in the area is mostly from local flow systems in sedimentary and intrusive Palaeozoic rock (DPI 1998), which provide a mix of good to moderate quality groundwater. Bore hydrograph data indicate a consistent seasonally adjusted drop in water levels for the majority of bores over the reporting period 2004 to 2009, continuing a trend observed since 1991. The Water Table depth is presented in Figure 1 for each of the 16 bores in Queanbeyan. A low natural rainfall is likely to be the most significant factor keeping bore levels low.
Charts presenting data on water table depth and results of salinity monitoring are presented for this indicator in the comprehensive 2004-09 report.
Issue: Resource Use
Indicator: Drinking Water Quality
Queanbeyan system
During 2008-09 a total of 183 samples from the Queanbeyan reticulation system were assessed for E. coli, and over the 2008-09 period no samples showed the presence of the organisms. This indicates a consistently excellent quality drinking water supply.
Free chlorine was measured 177 times, and no sample exceeded the Guideline Value. pH was measured 11 times, with no samples exceeding the recommended range of 6.5-8.5. The maximum reported was 8.3 and the mean 7.9. None of the samples tested were found to be outside the guideline values, confirming that the drinking water in Queanbeyan is of excellent quality.
Weetalabah supply
In the period 2008-09 sixteen samples were assessed for E.coli, and none were detected. Two samples were assessed for inorganic components, one showed a pH of 8.9, just outside the recommended range of 6.5-8.5. This has no health significance. All other parameters were within the Guideline Values.
In the period 2008-09 all parameters were within the Guideline Values.
Indicator: Hazardous Waste
The annual Household Hazardous Waste collection, where residents may dispose of unwanted, potentially hazardous materials around the home free of charge, has continued in 2008-09. The collection is run by a licensed contractor and funded jointly by the City Council and the Department of Environment and Climate Change and Water (DECCW). It is well supported by residents. Table 1 in the indicator shows types and amounts of hazardous wastes collected. Batteries, oil and paints are the most commonly disposed of items. Quantities and types of materials vary from year to year.
Indicator: Noise
The City Council uses a multi-pronged approach to noise mitigation that, separately or in combination, addresses noise at its source, along its transmission path and at the receiving end. This approach is consistent with NSW Government guidelines (Department of Environment and Conservation 2004 as updated on website June 2007).
The City Council has undertaken at least four cases of noise monitoring within the 2008-09 reporting period. Half the monitoring related to air conditioners and half to traffic complaints.
| Type of complaint | 2008-09 |
|---|---|
| Barking dogs | 54 |
| Industrial and Construction | 10 |
| Residential | 31 |
| Rooster | 19 |
| Total | 117 |
Source: Queanbeyan City Council
Indicator: Solid Waste
The total waste that needed to be addressed by the City Council in 2008-09 was 19858.1 tonnes (Table 1). While this amount is a rise of 43% on the amount generated in 2004-05 a slightly higher proportion of it has been diverted to recycling in the last two years. Overall, about half the waste stream is recycled and half goes to landfill. This proportion has remained similar over the 2004-09 reporting period. Queanbeyan City Council area's waste stream represents a total generation of about 505kgs per resident per year. This is comparatively low and may be due to an inability to capture data on the quantities of waste disposed of by rural residents and also a lack of data on quantities taken privately to landfill by urban residents.
Investment in waste management and resource recovery in 2008-09 was $3 026 337, a comparable amount with other years of the reporting period.
Indicator: Water Use
In 2008-09 Queanbeyan residents consumed 3657.6 mega litres of water. No significant changes is patterns of use or recycling were recorded during the period.
