ordinary meeting of council to be held on tuesday, 26 april 2005 at ...

Ordinary Meeting <strong>of</strong> Council - 26 April 2005 17 / 2
Item 17
S02252
4 April 2005
PURPOSE OF REPORT
To report on the review <strong>of</strong> the Water Management Policy 1999.
BACKGROUND
A S<strong>to</strong>rmwater Management Policy for Ku-ring-gai was originally adopted in 1993. The current
Water Management Policy was adopted in 1999 during the development <strong>of</strong> the Draft Water
Management Development Control Plan No 47 (DCP 47). The draft DCP was not adopted at that
time.
The Water Management Policy was <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> reviewed “every five (5) years, or <strong>be</strong>fore that time if
necessary”.
In Novem<strong>be</strong>r 2003, Council resolved <strong>to</strong> review the Water Management Policy in the context <strong>of</strong> the
new Draft DCP No 47 and other current Council activities and policies. DCP 47 has since <strong>be</strong>en
adopted and an amended Draft DCP 47 is <strong>be</strong>ing recommended for adoption in a separate report <strong>to</strong>
this Council <strong>meeting</strong>. Council has also recently adopted a new Riparian Policy.
The process <strong>of</strong> review has involved examination <strong>of</strong> the document by staff from across Council in
the light <strong>of</strong> more recently developed documents such as DCP47, Riparian Policy, State <strong>of</strong> the
Environment report etc.
COMMENTS
The Water Management Policy was designed <strong>to</strong> sit immediately <strong>be</strong>low the Council Management
Plan, providing a statement <strong>of</strong> commitment <strong>to</strong> appropriate water management in Ku-ring-gai and
acting as a guiding document for water-related Council activities, including everyday operations,
development <strong>of</strong> DCP 47 and long-term projects.
The Policy includes the following statement about Council’s visions for water management:
“The waterways within Ku-ring-gai are managed responsibly within an ecologically
sustainable framework, where residents, businesses and Council consider the <strong>to</strong>tal water
cycle, while acknowledging that urban waterways will never <strong>be</strong> res<strong>to</strong>red <strong>to</strong> their natural,
pre-development state”.
The new Riparian Policy states that:
“our vision for Ku-ring-gai is <strong>to</strong> ensure our creeks support riparian ecosystems, reflect
community values and sustain economic activity”.
It is considered preferable that Council have a single vision for Council’s waterways. The more
recently adopted vision is certainly adequate.
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