Catchment Management Plan - Hunter Water
Catchment Management Plan - Hunter Water Catchment Management Plan - Hunter Water
2.10 The Paterson andAllyn RiversCatchment area Annual rainfall AreassuppliedPaterson River - 277 km 2Allyn River - 367 km 2850mm (Gresford),955mm (Lostock)Gresford(population~400), 100% ofsupplyLand use breakdownof catchment82% agriculture (dairying,beef cattle poultry, timber),18% National ParkPopulation forecast2010-2030Current population 5 450 residents.Negligible population growth until2030.On 1 July 2008, Hunter Water took overthe water and wastewater networksoperated by the Dungog Shire Council(DSC). This included the water supplysystem to the township of Gresford(Figure 15). Bulk water for this systemis sourced from the Paterson and AllynRivers according to the availability andquality of water. The Allyn River wateris the primary source of the two rivers(approximately 75 per cent of volume).Raw water is pumped to a microfiltrationplant where the water is filteredand chlorinated. DSC administers thePaterson and Allyn rivers catchmentand Hunter Water is responsible for thepotable water supply.Allyn and Paterson CatchmentsThe Paterson and Allyn rivers rise inBarrington Tops National Park andChichester State Forest and flowin a south-easterly direction. Theheadwaters of these rivers are both inexcellent condition.Mount RoyalNational ParkBarrington TopsNational ParkPaterson RiverCatchmentAllyn RiverCatchmentChichesterState ForestNChichesterCatchmentWilliams RiverCatchmentThe geological features of bothcatchments are predominatelyCarboniferous/Devonian sedimentswith some tertiary basalt, whichcan contribute geologically sourcedphosphorus to the rivers. The upperreaches of the Paterson River containbasalt soils and the lower reacheshave rich alluvial soils. The soils of theAllyn River catchment are moderatelyerodible and prone to mass movementon the steeper slopes contributing toincreased river turbidity at times.Lockstock Dam is located on thePaterson River near the township ofLockstock and algal growth within thedam can impact downstream waterquality. The dominant non agriculturalland use in the catchment is timberproduction and the major agriculturalindustries are dairying, beef cattle andpoultry production.Water quality hazard and riskassessments for these sourcesindicated that pathogens, turbidity,pesticides, organics and algal toxins,taste and odour compounds were theprincipal issues for this system.10 KILOMETRESLostock DamFigure 15: The Paterson and Allyn CatchmentsGresfordKEYNational ParkState ForestCatchment BoundaryCATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN . ssS . 001 . JUNE201022
Part 3: The eight element strategic plan3.0 IntroductionThere is a large body of literature onhow to best manage catchments fordrinking water quality. A critical review ofthe accepted best practice documentshighlighted eight elements for effectivecatchment management (Table 1).Figure 16 demonstrates the connectionsbetween the elements. Two elementsunderpin all others: ‘identify the tophazards’ and ‘work with stakeholders’.This is because knowing the risks incatchments necessarily precedes effectivemanagement and successful managementof catchments is not possible alone.Hunter Water intends to implement eachof these elements to minimise waterquality risks. Part 3: The eight elementplan discusses the current conditionof each element in turn and provides avision for the future of each element.Element QUestion answer1. Identify the top hazards How should effort befocused to improvethe drinking watercatchments?2. Have effective legislation How should land useactivities be guided incatchments?A catchment model will be used to identify fromwhere pollutants originate, highest risk areas willthen be prioritised.Legislation will be strengthened and embeddedinto local planning instruments.3. Work with stakeholders How can the workload beshared?4. Monitor high risk areas How can the water qualityrisks and improvements bequantified?Current stakeholder relationships will be builtupon.A Source Water Monitoring Program will bedeveloped to review the current monitoringprogram.5. Foster research How can expertiseabout the drinking watercatchments be built?Assembly of local knowledge will be promoted,directed by requirements from the catchmentmodel.6. Perform proactive surveillance How can changes incatchments be bettercommunicated?7. Engage the community How can land users anddevelopers be informedabout their effects on waterquality?8. Plan for emergencies (fire) How can the risk ofuncontrolled bushfire beminimised?A programmed surveillance program will beimplemented.A Catchment Communication Plan will explainthe best methods for community engagement.A Bushfire Management Plan will be written toaddress risk before, during and after a fire.Table 1: The eight elements for effective catchment managementDominant elementSupporting elementElement has a stronginfluence on anotherFigure 16: An influence diagram demonstrating the connections between each element.CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN . ssS . 001 . JUNE201023
- Page 2 and 3: Table of contentsMessage from the M
- Page 4 and 5: Executive SummaryWater supply busin
- Page 6 and 7: Part 1: Introduction1.1 DOCUMENT Pu
- Page 8 and 9: “Preventive measures by their1.6
- Page 10 and 11: Part 2: Our drinking water catchmen
- Page 12 and 13: 2.3 A snapshot of Hunter Water’sc
- Page 14 and 15: NBarrington TopsNational ParkChiche
- Page 16 and 17: 2.6 Grahamstown DamCatchmentarea115
- Page 18 and 19: 2.7 The Tomago SandbedsCatchmentare
- Page 20 and 21: 2.8 The Tomaree (Nelson Bay) Sandbe
- Page 24 and 25: 3.1 Element 1: Identify thetop haza
- Page 27 and 28: 637 6000williams river2Sinclairs Hi
- Page 29 and 30: Using this model it is possible to
- Page 31 and 32: 3.2.4 Hunter Water’s visionfor le
- Page 33 and 34: Freudenberg (1999) 9 recommendsthe
- Page 35 and 36: 3.4.3 Recent improvementsto the mon
- Page 37 and 38: 3.5.2 Hunter Water’s vision forca
- Page 39 and 40: 3.7 Element 7: EngagE thecommunityO
- Page 41 and 42: Appendix A:Items to observe during
- Page 43 and 44: Appendix C:The Land newspaper adver
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2.10 The Paterson andAllyn Rivers<strong>Catchment</strong> area Annual rainfall AreassuppliedPaterson River - 277 km 2Allyn River - 367 km 2850mm (Gresford),955mm (Lostock)Gresford(population~400), 100% ofsupplyLand use breakdownof catchment82% agriculture (dairying,beef cattle poultry, timber),18% National ParkPopulation forecast2010-2030Current population 5 450 residents.Negligible population growth until2030.On 1 July 2008, <strong>Hunter</strong> <strong>Water</strong> took overthe water and wastewater networksoperated by the Dungog Shire Council(DSC). This included the water supplysystem to the township of Gresford(Figure 15). Bulk water for this systemis sourced from the Paterson and AllynRivers according to the availability andquality of water. The Allyn River wateris the primary source of the two rivers(approximately 75 per cent of volume).Raw water is pumped to a microfiltrationplant where the water is filteredand chlorinated. DSC administers thePaterson and Allyn rivers catchmentand <strong>Hunter</strong> <strong>Water</strong> is responsible for thepotable water supply.Allyn and Paterson <strong>Catchment</strong>sThe Paterson and Allyn rivers rise inBarrington Tops National Park andChichester State Forest and flowin a south-easterly direction. Theheadwaters of these rivers are both inexcellent condition.Mount RoyalNational ParkBarrington TopsNational ParkPaterson River<strong>Catchment</strong>Allyn River<strong>Catchment</strong>ChichesterState ForestNChichester<strong>Catchment</strong>Williams River<strong>Catchment</strong>The geological features of bothcatchments are predominatelyCarboniferous/Devonian sedimentswith some tertiary basalt, whichcan contribute geologically sourcedphosphorus to the rivers. The upperreaches of the Paterson River containbasalt soils and the lower reacheshave rich alluvial soils. The soils of theAllyn River catchment are moderatelyerodible and prone to mass movementon the steeper slopes contributing toincreased river turbidity at times.Lockstock Dam is located on thePaterson River near the township ofLockstock and algal growth within thedam can impact downstream waterquality. The dominant non agriculturalland use in the catchment is timberproduction and the major agriculturalindustries are dairying, beef cattle andpoultry production.<strong>Water</strong> quality hazard and riskassessments for these sourcesindicated that pathogens, turbidity,pesticides, organics and algal toxins,taste and odour compounds were theprincipal issues for this system.10 KILOMETRESLostock DamFigure 15: The Paterson and Allyn <strong>Catchment</strong>sGresfordKEYNational ParkState Forest<strong>Catchment</strong> BoundaryCATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN . ssS . 001 . JUNE201022
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