Tumut
Tumut 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 Tumut
Few significant changes were recorded for the 2008-09 period. The management of water continued as an important area of attention for Council. Waste water treatment plants enabling re-use of effluent to water recreational facilities continued with increased volumes at Talbingo and Batlow and a new plant in Tumut commissioned in September 2009. Over the five years of records, only 2007-08 showed a reduction in use of bore water, though the periods 2007-08 and 2008-09 both showed a reduction in use of reticulated water. During 2008-09 Adelong Creek failed to keep up with the town demand for water. To maintain a reliable supply, four bores have been commissioned which combined, are able to meet the town demands under Stage 4 restrictions. Adelong operated under Stage 4 restriction levels between 20 February 2009 and 17 April 2009. During this time town water was sourced from the bores. Stage 1 Water Restrictions were in force across the entire Shire for 365 days with Adelong operating at Stage 4 level for two months.
There were no significant changes in expenditure or effectiveness of pest plant control during the 2008-09 period. However, during 2008-2009 Tumut Shire Council and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) were active with the Patterson's Curse flea beetle (Longitarsus echii). The mite appears to me making a significant impact on the weed locally as an important component of an integrated weed control program. In conjunction with Snowy Hydro Ltd, the landowner, a control plan for an infestation of African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) was developed and implemented.
The waste generation picture for the reporting period 2004-09 for Tumut Shire is incomplete because data is unavailable for some of the waste streams generated by Tumut Shire residents.
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 sites used in this analysis were Tumut - Wattle St (Bureau of Meteorology Station No. 072044), which commenced in 1886; and Cabramurra (No. 072091), which closed in 1999 and was replaced by an automatic weather station (AWS). Data from nearby stations were used to calculate values for months with missing data at these sites (see Appendix 2 for further information). However, there are problems in developing a high quality continuous dataset for Cabramurra because the relationship between rainfall at the manual observing station and at the AWS is not particularly strong, despite the two sites being in close proximity.
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: Pest Animals
There were no significant changes recorded during the 2008-09 period. As was reported in 2004-08 eight pest animals were recorded in the Tumut Shire. 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
During 2008-2009 Tumut Shire Council and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) have been active with the Patterson's Curse flea beetle (Longitarsus echii). The insect has been found to be very active locally and can be easily found in a large number of locations around the Shire. While these are still early days, it appears that the mite will have a significant impact in controlling the weed locally as an important component of an integrated weed control program.
An infestation of African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) has been found within the Shire and a control plan has been developed and implemented in conjunction with Snowy Hydro Ltd, the landowner on which the infestation was found.
There were no significant changes in expenditure or effectiveness of pest plant control during the 2008-09 period.
Issue: Catchments
Indicator: Contaminated Sites
Tumut Shire Council holds a draft database of contaminated sites, but due to limited resources no further identification of sites and refinement of the database has been done since the previous reporting period. Information on contaminated sites is therefore unavailable for the 2004-2009 reporting period.
Indicator: Discharge to Waters
No significant changes were recorded during the 2008-09 period. Discharges to waters for that period are given in Table 1.
| Licensed/ unlicensed |
Volume (ML/year) | Type | Estimated volume discharged illegally (L/year) | Estimated volume discharged accidentally (L/year) | Receiving waters | Mass load of nitrogen (kg) | Mass load of phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | |||||||
| Licensed | 581 | Effluent (STP) | Nil | Nil | Gilmore Creek | 7717 | 288 |
| Licensed | 50 | Effluent (WTP) | Nil | Nil | Tumut River | Unknown | Unknown |
| Licensed | 5.6 | Effluent (WTP) | Nil | Nil | Tumut River | 15 | 10 |
| Licensed | 70 | Effluent (STP) | Nil | Nil | Adelong Creek | 272 | 18 |
| Licensed | 94 | Effluent (STP) | Nil | Nil | Unnamed Creek | 2232 | 826 |
| Licensed | 41 | Effluent (STP) | Nil | Nil | Lake Jounama | 57 | 4.5 |
| Licensed | 204 | Effluent (WTP) | Nil | Nil | Stream | Unknown | Unknown |
Issue: Resource Use
Indicator: Heritage
No significant changes were recorded in the period 2008-09.
Indicator: Solid Waste
The waste generation picture for the reporting period 2004-09 for Tumut Shire is incomplete because data is unavailable for some of the waste streams generated by Tumut Shire residents.
| Material | Tonnes |
|---|---|
| Aluminium | 26 |
| Steel | 50 |
| Plastic | 65 |
| Paper/cardboard | 680 |
| Glass | 290 |
Indicator: Water Use
Over the five years of records, only 2007-08 showed a reduction in use of bore water, though the periods 2007-08 and 2008-09 both showed a reduction in use of reticulated water
During 2008-09 Adelong Creek failed to keep up with the town demand for water. To maintain a reliable supply four bores have been commissioned which, combined, are able to meet the town demands under Stage 4 restrictions. Adelong operated under Stage 4 restriction levels between 20 February 2009 and 17 April 2009. During this time town water was sourced from the bores. Stage 1 Water Restrictions were in force across the entire Shire for 365 days with Adelong operating at Stage 4 level for two months.
