Catchment Management Plan - Hunter Water

The current legislative mechanisms forland use planning in Hunter Water’sdrinking water catchments are:1. The Hunter Water Regulation 2010:• This legislation defines six catchmentareas in the Lower Hunter Regionfrom which Hunter Water drawsdrinking water supplies.• It addresses potential threatsto drinking water quality fromcatchment activities such asagriculture, extractive industries,sewage disposal, water-basedrecreational activities, andmanagement of waste andpollutants.• The regulation is currently not wellintegrated into local and regionalplanning instruments and regionalawareness of the principles of theregulation could be improved.2. Dungog and Port Stephens LocalEnvironment Plans (LEPs)• The primary purpose of LEPs is tosegregate incompatible land usesthat are thought to be incompatible.They formalise which developmentis allowable in which areas and areadministered by local councils.• Dungog and Port Stephens arethe only councils in Hunter Water’scatchments and are presentlyremaking their LEPs, applying aStandard Template as stipulated bythe NSW Department of Planning.The Port Stephens and DungogLEP will be remade by mid 2011.The LEPs do not currently referencedrinking water catchments and thisis an opportune time for change tothese documents.3. The Williams River RegionalEnvironmental Plan (REP)• The aim of this plan is ‘to protect andimprove the environmental qualityof the Williams River catchmentthrough the management and useof the catchment’s resources in anecologically sustainable manner’.• It legislates that all developmentmust consider the Williams RiverBest Practice Notes for land use,published in 2005. To this end, itis important to promote the intentof this planning instrument as ithas the capacity to improve waterquality in the Williams Catchment.3.2.2 Guidance forminimum water qualityfrom developmentsThe Hunter Water Regulation 2010requires developments to not pollutedrinking water catchments. Currently,when developments such as subdivisionsin catchments are assessed, counciloften seeks advice from Hunter Waterfor the level of stormwater treatmentthat s considered necessary. HunterWater would be well placed to assistDungog and Port Stephens Councils indeveloping a policy to advise the minimumstorm water treatment necessary fordevelopments within catchments.3.2.3 Recent improvement toplanning controlsDuring the past year, the three legislativeinstruments and processes have been (orare being) improved in the following ways:• The Hunter Water Regulation2010 has been remade to includedetailed maps of catchments.Prior to 2010, planning bodies wereunsure about the bounds of thelegislated drinking water catchmentareas and therefore sometimesapproved incompatible land uses incatchments.• Hunter Water has the power toenforce contraventions of theRegulation in the new remake.Hunter Water has previously hadprovisions under the Hunter WaterAct 1991 to issue infringementnotices but these were not definedin legislation until now.• Hunter Water has establishedregular training for councilplanners ensuring appropriatereferral of DA’s to Hunter Waterfor comment on water qualityimpacts. The high turnover in somecouncil planning staff has meantthat Development Applicationsthat should consider their effect oncatchments do not always do so.Regular contact with councils shouldincrease the appropriateness andnumber of referrals to Hunter Waterfor comment. Councils have showna willingness to cooperate if HunterWater responds in a timely manner.• Hunter Water has establishedtraining for Hunter Water staffto ensure appropriate and timelyresponses to referrals from planningbodies.• A new internal process forassessment of DevelopmentAssessment referrals under theHunter Water Regulation will likelylead to improved turnaround timesand response rate. Hunter Waterhas targeted 100% response rate toexternally reinforce the importance ofthe Regulation to Hunter Water.• Inclusion of a reference to theRegulation in the new PortStephens and Dungog CouncilLocal Environment Plans. Councilshave agreed in principle to placethe Hunter Water Regulationrequirements on all Section 149certificates issued within drinkingwater catchments. This move willensure that planners and developersalike are aware that their land fallswithin a legislated drinking watercatchment.CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN . ssS . 001 . JUNE201030