Snowy River
Snowy River 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 Snowy River
While water restrictions have not been imposed, the domestic consumption of water increased in 2008-2009 by 17% over previous year. The commercial sector use has increased by 9% since 2006 but there has been little change in industrial use over the same period. Jindabyne Dam upgrade works were substantially completed in 2009 by Snowy Hydro Ltd with the removal of the construction coffer dam. These works will allow the release of environmental flows to the Snowy River in accordance with the Snowy Water Licence. Construction of a pipeline is underway to use recycled wastewater from Berridale wastewater treatment plant to irrigate the Coolamatong golf course.
The PLC (Programable Logic Controller) at the Jindabyne Sewerage Treatment Plant was offline for approximately 6 months of 2008-09. This affected the monitoring of the flows as well as the chemical dosing. The Ferrous chloride used for phosphorous removal is controlled by the PLC and was offline during the time when the PLC was being repaired. This resulted in a high level of phosphorous in the discharge. Discharges to Locker Creek and Wullwye Creek for 2008-09 were not available at time of reporting.
In 2008-09 the total of waste and recyclables per capita rose to almost 880 kg (a rise of 20%), though the domestic component of waste to landfill was the same as the previous year. There was a small increase in the proportion of domestic waste that was recycled. Better collection and processing of data has enabled Council to record all illegal dumping for the first time in 2008-09. Illegal dumping amounted to nearly 17 tonnes, with 6.4 tonnes of household waste, 2.6 tonnes of asbestos and 7.9 tonnes of scrap steel (white goods). Council investment in waste management and resource recovery increased to $1,984,000, approximately $100,000 increase over 2007-08. However, the figure per resident dropped slightly to $213 based on population estimates for the period. In the period July 2008 to June 2009 there was a 24% decrease in controlled waste collected, the outcome of a number of factors associated with collection arrangements.
No significant changes in ecological communities were recorded for the 2008-09 period. However, five additional Property Vegetation Plans (PVAs) approvals were registered for Snowy River Shire in 2008-09 by Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority. No information was available on the vegetation communities occurring within the VCAs and wildlife refuges, or whether a plan of management or scheme of operation had been developed and/or implemented for them. No information was available on these conservation initiatives during the current reporting period.
The Shire Council undertook treatment measures along roadsides and in its reserves for all priority pest plant species during the reporting period, and has achieved a high level of control in those areas. Some work has been undertaken on vacant Crown Lands with limited funds provided by the NSW Department of Lands, however further treatment is required to achieve control. As in the earlier 2004-08 period, African Lovegrass, St. John's Wort, Serrated Tussock, Vipers bugloss, and Scotch Thistle continued in the 2008-09 period, to have the greatest total affected areas treated.
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 Adaminaby Tourist Park (Bureau of Meteorology Station No. 071000), which has records commencing in 1886. Data from the nearest stations were used to calculate values for months with missing data at this site, although the distance to these stations, in excess of 20 km, means that these data can only be considered indicative (see Appendix 2 for further information).
Indicator: Temperature
The Bureau of Meteorology is heavily reliant on volunteer observers to record temperature readings across the Region. Reduced observation coverage has limited data collection and resulted in no temperature data available for 2008-09 in this Council area.
Issue: Biodiversity
Indicator:Ecological Communities
No significant changes were recorded for the 2008-09 period. However, five additional Property Vegetation Plans (PVAs) approvals were registered for Snowy River Shire in 2008-09 by Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority. No information was available on the vegetation communities occurring within the VCAs and wildlife refuges, or whether a plan of management or scheme of operation had been developed and/or implemented for them. No information was available on these conservation initiatives during the current reporting period.
Indicator: Pest Animals
There were no significant changes recorded during the 2008-09 period. As was reported in 2004-08 dingoes and wild dogs, feral pigs, foxes and deer were the main pest animals in the Snowy River Shire during the current reporting period although goats, cats, and horses were also present. 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 distributions and abundance is unavailable.
Indicator: Pest Plants
The Shire Council undertook treatment measures along roadsides and in its reserves for all priority pest plant species during the reporting period, and has achieved a high level of control in those areas. Some work has been undertaken on vacant Crown Lands with limited funds provided by the NSW Department of Lands, however further treatment is required to achieve control. No information was available on the status of weeds within various national parks and other reserves over the reporting period, or on weed management activities undertook by the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) in those areas. No information was available on weeds and weed management in the two state forests located partly within Snowy River Shire.
As in the earlier 2004-08 period, African Lovegrass, St. John's Wort, Serrated Tussock, Vipers bugloss, and Scotch Thistle continue to have the greatest total affected areas treated. Treatment costs for these plant types are also the greatest, with annual treatment costs of $35,837, $33,619, $11,005, $10,027, and $10,998 respectively.
Issue: Catchments
Indicator: Discharge to Waters
The PLC (Programable Logic Controller) at the Jindabyne Sewerage Treatment Plant was offline for approximately 6 months of 2008-09. This affected the monitoring of the flows as well as the chemical dosing. The Ferrous chloride used for phosphorous removal is controlled by the PLC and was offline during the time when the PLC was being repaired. This resulted in a high level of phosphorous in the discharge. Discharges to Locker Creek and Wullwye Creek for 2008-09 were not available at time of reporting.
| 2008-09 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed | 464.6 | Sewage | Unknown | Nil | Cobbin Creek | 5041 | 104.7 |
Source: Snowy River Shire Council
Issue: Resource Use
Indicator: Hazardous Waste
In the period July 2008 to June 2009 there was a 24% decrease in controlled waste collected. Variations were the outcome of a number of factors. The figure recorded for 2007 was low because the contractor making the hazardous waste collection would only collect waste dropped off on the designated collection day, not stockpiled waste. In 2008 waste dropped off and stockpiled at Council’s waste facility was included in collection which resulted in the large increase in that year. In 2009 there was a big reduction in waste collected because there was no stockpile to clear. In addition, notification of the collection day to landholders was rather late and may have resulted in a lower rate of drop-off on the day.
Indicator: Solid Waste
In 2008-09 the total of waste and recyclables per capita rose to almost 880 kg (a rise of 20%), though the domestic component of waste to landfill was the same as the previous year. There was a small increase in the proportion of domestic waste that was recycled. It appears that changes to waste charges (including additional charges for extra bins) have had the positive effect of encouraging the community to recycle more of their domestic waste.
Better collection and processing of data has enabled Council to record all illegal dumping for the first time in 2008-09. Illegal dumping amounted to nearly 17 tonnes, with 6.4 tonnes of household waste, 2.6 tonnes of asbestos and 7.9 tonnes of scrap steel (white goods).
Council investment in waste management and resource recovery increased to $1,984,000, approximately $100,000 increase over 2007-08. However, the figure per resident dropped slightly to $213 based on population estimates for the period.
Indicator: Water Use
While water restrictions have not been imposed, the domestic consumption of water fell by nearly 19% over period 2005-2008 but increased again in 2008-2009 by 17% over previous year.
Residential water use declined from 2006 to 2008 but increased to nearly 2007 levels in 2009. The commercial sector has increased by 9% since 2006 but there has been little change in industrial use over the same period.
Jindabyne Dam upgrade works were substantially completed in 2009 by Snowy Hydro Ltd with the removal of the construction coffer dam. These works will allow the release of environmental flows to the Snowy River in accordance with the Snowy Water Licence. This Licence allows for increasing environmental releases to the Showy River below Jindabyne, up to 212 Gigalitres/annum by June 2012. The annual pattern of flow releases is advised by an independent Snowy Scientific Committee, and the flows are to be sourced from irrigation areas in NSW and Vic from either water efficiency savings or purchased entitlements.
Construction of a pipeline is underway to use recycled wastewater from Berridale wastewater treatment plant to irrigate the Coolamatong golf course.
