File No: C370/12/10
REC 3 Helensburgh Environmental Management Plan
Report of Manager – Planning (ART) 29/4/98

PRECIS
On 18 August, 1997 Council resolved to endorse a brief to allow the preparation of an Environmental Management Plan for Helensburgh. This endorsement was on the basis that other government agencies, who were party to preparation of the brief, contribute an equal proportion of funding for the engagement of a consultant. Some agencies have declined to contribute monetary funding. Therefore, this report is seeking Council’s direction on this matter.
RECOMMENDATION
1 Council advise the Minister that Council will not proceed with the Environmental Management Plan due to the non participation of some government agencies.OR

2 Council request support from the Minister to approach relevant government agencies to reconsider contributing funding toward this project.

BACKGROUND
In 1994, Robert Webster MLC, Minister for Planning and Minister for Housing announced the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry. The Commission of Inquiry was the culmination of various studies and exhibitions of draft Local Environmental Plans which had commenced in 1980.

The terms of reference of the Inquiry were to assess the capability of land in the vicinity of Helensburgh to sustain various land use options without causing significant environmental degradation and to make recommendations on appropriate land uses and zonings based on the assessment of capability and taking into account various matters relating to water quality, impact on the Royal National Park, economic costs and other matters.

All the land which was subject to investigation of the Inquiry has subsequently been rezoned to 7(d) Environmental Protection Hacking River.

One outcome of the Commission of Inquiry and recommended by the Minister for Planning and Minister for Housing, Craig Knowles in March, 1996 was the preparation of an Environmental Management Plan for the sensitive area of the upper Hacking River. In June, 1996 Council resolved to:

( prepare an Environmental Management Plan for the Helensburgh area as requested by the Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning;

( a Steering Committee be established to report on the scope of the Environmental Management Plan, available sources of funding, timeframes, responsibilities etc. The Steering Committee consist of relevant Council officers and state instrumentalities.

The Steering Committee had representatives from the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, Environment Protection Authority, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hacking River Catchment Management Committee, Department of Land and Water Conservation and Wollongong City Council to prepare a brief for a draft Environmental Management Plan (Attachment 1).

In August, 1997 Council resolved to:

1 endorse the brief to allow the preparation of an Environmental Management Plan for Helensburgh;

2 subject to other government agencies contributing an equal proportion of the cost of funding a consultant for the development of an Environmental Management Plan in accordance with the brief (a total of $20,000 would be required and each agency requested to contribute $3,400). Council contribute $3,400 for retaining a consultant to prepare the plan.

The Hacking River Catchment Management Committee and the National Parks and Wildlife Service have indicated they are willing to contribute financially to the brief.

The Environment Protection Authority and the Department of Land and Water Conservation have indicated that they are unable to contribute financially to this project, however they may be able to assist in kind.

The Department of Urban Affairs and Planning have not responded to the request for financial assistance.

PROPOSAL
Council’s resolution to contribute funding toward the Environmental Management Plan was dependent on equal contributions from other agencies on the Steering Committee. Given this funding will not be available, Council’s direction is sought in this matter.

Furthermore, the following information is provided to assist Council in determining whether to proceed with pursuing the proposed Environmental Management Plan.

The Environment Protection Authority are providing grant money to all Councils to develop strategies to control the disposal of stormwater. These strategies would be developed for the Wollongong LGA and would include Helensburgh, but not focus solely on Helensburgh. If these strategies propose certain works, then funding for these works would be borne by Council. The Environment Protection Authority have indicated that they have not planned any works or projects which specifically address environmental issues in Helensburgh.

Council’s Environmental Health section have advised that –

( there have been works to improve the groundwater and leachate treatment at the Helensburgh Waste Disposal Depot;

( controls for the stabling of horses are being developed for the Kelly and Gills Creek catchment. It is anticipated that these controls will form the basis of a Technical Policy for assessing such developments;

( approaches have been made to the State Government (Department of Land and Water Conservation) to control the indiscriminate dumping in State Recreation Areas;

( an environmental assessment of the impacts by Symbio Animal Park and a chicken farm in the Kellys and Gills Creek catchments. Negotiations with Symbio Animal Park are continuing and the operator of the latter has agreed to introduce appropriate environmental controls.

( Council is also doing some road works/improvements.

CONSULTATION
If funding becomes available to employ a consultant to respond to the Brief, the Management Plan would be placed on exhibition for public comment.
Neighbourhood Committee
If funding becomes available to employ a consultant to respond to the Brief, the Management Plan would be placed on exhibition for public comment.
PLANNING AND POLICY IMPACT
There is no impact on existing Policies.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Council endorsed a brief on 6 August, 1997 for the preparation of an Environmental Management Plan. This included allocation of funding of $3,400 towards the cost of this project.
OPTIONS
1 Council can resolve to request the Minister to assist in seeking funding from government agencies who have indicated that they will not contribute funds.

2 Council can resolve not to proceed with the Environmental Management Plan.
CONCLUSION
This report seeks Council’s direction on whether to pursue funding for this project. Some works have been undertaken and completed which improve the environmental quality of Helensburgh as resources have permitted. Council can continue to develop and implement programs/projects for environmental improvements as resources permit, or Council can pursue implementation of such policies via an Environmental Management Plan which all member agencies of the Steering Committee contribute to the funding.
ATTACHMENTS (number of pages 3)
1 Brief for Helensburgh Environmental Management Plan.

ATTACHMENT 1

BRIEF FOR

HELENSBURGH ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

BACKGROUND

Helensburgh is a small township located adjacent to the Royal National Park. It is Wollongong City Council’s most northern suburb and enjoys close links with Sydney. The township developed because of the mining industry which was established there in the late 19th Century.

The potential expansion of Helensburgh has been under investigation since the early 1970’s, with detailed investigation occurring from 1985 when the Urban Development Committee resolved to include Helensburgh in the Illawarra Urban Development Program. This inclusion resulted in the State Government requesting Council to prepare a Local Environmental Study to investigate the potential for urban expansion in Helensburgh.

These investigations were carried out by an Urban Expansion Committee, culminating with the exhibition of the draft Helensburgh Plan in 1990. Council, in light of the submissions received, and concern over environmental issues, resolved to reject this Plan. At the same time, Council resolved to exhibit a draft Local Environmental Plan which zoned the lands in question to 7(d) Hacking River Environmental Protection zone. This zone is designed to restrict development potential.

In April, 1993 Council resolved to –

( endorse the Environmental Protection zoning around Helensburgh to 7(d) Environmental Protection, except for the Gills Creek Catchment;

( defer consideration of the Gills Creek Catchment and affirm that it will seek resolution of development/conservation conflicts at Helensburgh through third party mediation.

The Minister was requested to make the plan in accordance with Council’s resolution.

The Minister informed Council on 9 February, 1994 that a Commission of Inquiry was warranted to assist him in making his decision on the draft Plan.

The Commissioner concluded his Inquiry in December, 1994. Attachment 1 is an excerpt of the Commissioner’s findings.

The lands subject of this Inquiry have subsequently been zoned 7(d) Environmental Protection (Hacking River). The land in east Helensburgh was rezoned on 31 March, 1995 the Gills Creek catchment was rezoned on 27 March, 1997.

The rezoning of the Gills Creek catchment was initiated in response to advice from the Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning that he would not proceed with studies recommended by the Inquiry as he considered that residential expansion at Helensburgh was not necessary in terms of the Government’s strategy for growth of the Greater Metropolitan Area. In advising of the decision not to proceed with these studies, the Minister indicated his support for the preparation of an Environmental Management Plan as a cost-effective strategy for managing this sensitive catchment.

Consequently, a Steering Committee was established to prepare the Brief for the Environmental Management Plan. Members of the Committee were representatives from the following organisations:

( Wollongong City Council
( Department of Urban Affairs and Planning
( National Parks and Wildlife Service
( Department of Land and Water Conservation
( Hacking River Catchment Management Committee
( Environment Protection Authority.

REQUIREMENTS

The Committee is seeking a document which:

( provides practical and measurable outcomes;
( can be achieved within Council’s budgetary constraints;
( allows for flexibility in achieving short, medium and long term goals.

In this regard, the Committee is seeking a document which:

a) Identifies on-ground solutions and approximate cost of implementation to existing environmental problems.

( Water quality:

• locates stormwater outlets and identifies a range of viable options to reduce the impact of stormwater pollution; and ranks the options and the outlets in order of effectiveness, cost and priority in reducing stormwater pollution of the Hacking River;
• identifies sites of major point source pollution and develop options/solutions for redressing these problems.

( Keeping of horses:

• the impact of keeping horses and development of a policy which protects the creek system and takes into account land area, slope, creeks, method of waste disposal etc.

( Dumping of rubbish:
– options for reducing the illegal dumping of rubbish.
( Weeds:

• identify locations where weed control and land care programs would have most benefit to the catchment.

b) Procedural or policy changes required to improve environmental quality, e.g. review Council’s development guidelines.

c) Identify funding available via government grants which may facilitate the implementation of specific works and/or studies which redress some of these identified environmental issues.

d) Identify any further studies monitoring required which will demonstrably contribute to resolving environmental problems.

Resources available will include:

( Documentation relating to the Helensburgh Commission of Inquiry and other relevant information.
( Aerial photographs.
( Relevant maps.

TIME CONSTRAINTS

A draft document should be presented to the Committee 6 weeks from the date of appointment. The draft document must demonstrate that the solutions being explored are within the guidelines stated, i.e. practical and measurable outcomes; and can be achieved within Council’s budgetary constraints.

Final document must be presented 12 weeks from the Date of Appointment.

Funding of $20,000 has been allocated and 40% payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of the draft document. The balance of payment will be made when the document has been completed.

Six copies of the completed document, which includes appropriate graphs, maps, tables etc must be available.

Planning & Development Committee
18 May 1998