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Figure 14. Broad Catchment Areas of the MidCoast from the Rural Waterways paper
Impacts on waterways will continue to arise from urban and rural development, population growth, increased use by residents and visitors for recreation, and influenced by land use and development decisions taken within the MidCoast and upstream.
Monitoring indicators for ecological and environmental health, drinking water quality, safety for swimming, heavy metal contamination, and biosecurity for oyster farming or fishing, will assist with identifying where focused efforts may need to be taken to prevent, reduce or reverse the consequences of these impacts.
In the MidCoast's rural areas, management of agricultural runoff, soil erosion and wastewater have positive impacts on waterways as does integrated water cycle management in the development and ongoing use of urban land. Integrating these considerations and on-ground practices into land use and development assessment processes can result in transformative change to the water quality across our catchments.
Therefore, by taking a catchment-based approach in collaboration with water planning authorities, Council can implement effective land use planning controls and assist with establishing a common understanding of the environmental, economic, and sociocultural considerations that inform decision-making for the long-term health of waterways and sustainability of surrounding land uses.
Figure 14. Broad Catchment Areas of the MidCoast from the Rural Waterways paper
Map Legend:
Catchments:
1. Manning River 2. Khappinghat Creek 3. Wallis Lake 4. Smiths Lake 5. Myall Lakes 6. Karuah River
Outcome 3.2.1. Maintain or improve waterways within all catchments
a) Prepare and maintain broad catchment area profiles that: • Identify and describe the water resources; • Describe the current health status of water resources; • Identify the established water quality objectives and community values • Describe the typical activities and rural industries occurring or expected to occur; • Identify and manage known or anticipated threats to water quality and resources. b) Establish and monitor localised water quality objectives and baseline measurements for both ecological and environmental health outcomes in each identified water catchment to inform assessment of singular and cumulative impacts of land use and development. c) Assess and regularly report on the condition of waterways and their associated riparian areas to identify priorities and requirements for rehabilitation, management and protection. d) Apply enhanced planning controls to support waterways that require a high-level of rehabilitation, management and protection. e) Discourage intensification of development in areas: • not serviced by reticulated sewerage; • within identified areas of significant water resources; • where the development would compromise water sharing plan objectives. f) Map land-based exclusions in the Exempt & Complying Development SEPP that limit development on unsewered land within priority drinking water catchments g) Review criteria and requirements for planning proposals to rezone rural land, to ensure consistent assessment outcomes regarding the identification and management of impacts upon water catchments and waterways.
Local Plan Recommendations LEP provisions
Update existing local clause on stormwater management and water sensitive design to ensure clear and consistent assessment outcomes. Update the local clause on riparian land and watercourses to ensure it is appropriate and provides clear and consistent assessment outcomes. Update the essential services local clause to ensure it provides clear and consistent assessment outcomes for villages, rural residential development and rural living zones. Reserves and foreshores in public ownership are to have an environmental or recreation zone appropriate to the existing and anticipated future use and value to the community and environment.
DCP provisions
Review existing stormwater management and water sensitive design objectives and controls to ensure they provides clear and consistent assessment outcomes Implement a clear and consistent framework for the assessment of on-site sewage disposal and potential environmental impacts across the MidCoast
