Figure 15. Priority Drinking Water Catchments and Aquifer Catchments in the MidCoast

Protect significant water resources

Some of the MidCoast's water resources are particularly valuable for environmental, social, cultural, or economic reasons.

Land use and development located within the catchment of these water resources has the potential, either singularly or cumulatively, to cause catastrophic outcomes for specific communities or industries.

Significant water resources in the MidCoast area include:

• Aquatic conservation areas, including the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine

Park, • RAMSAR and other protected coastal wetlands; • Estuaries suitable for commercial seafood production, including oysters, prawns and lobsters • Priority drinking water catchments and aquifer catchments.

Proactively identifying catchments and water quality impact areas associated with these significant water resources will enable an appropriate, higher-level of assessment to be undertaken, when considering land use and development proposals.

Figure 15. Priority Drinking Water Catchments and Aquifer Catchments in the MidCoast

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Outcome 3.2.2. Protect significant water resources

a) Update local controls to identify and manage potential water quality impacts on significant water resources including aquatic conservation areas, priority oyster areas, priority drinking water catchments and aquifer catchments. b) Update planning controls to ensure developments relying on on-site sewage / effluent management systems are assessed on singular and cumulative basis where there is potential to impact on significant water resources.

Local Plan Recommendations LEP provisions

Incorporate a local clause that requires consideration of potential impacts of development and subdivision on watercourses, waterbodies and significant water catchments. Update local clause and mapping of Priority Drinking Water Catchments and Aquifer Catchments to enable identification, management and protection of water quality and resources. Apply an appropriate environmental zone to land within significant aquifer catchments to ensure intensive agriculture, rural industries and other activities that may compromise these water resources are excluded.

DCP provisions

Update water sensitive design objectives and assessment criteria to ensure clear and consistent assessment outcomes Update water quality objectives and target assessment criteria to ensure clear and consistent assessment outcomes Include objectives and controls relevant to the use, development and occupation of land within or adjoining significant water resources and catchments Update objectives and controls for on-site sewage management systems to require consideration of cumulative impacts in priority drinking water catchments and aquifer catchments, flood prone land and land adjoining significant waterways and waterbodies Include locally relevant objectives and controls for integrated development applications within Priority Drinking Water Catchments and development in Aquifer Catchments Provide objectives and controls for the use, development and occupation of land in or adjoining waterways, priority drinking water catchments and aquifer catchments that require a high-level of conservation or rehabilitation