Minutes of the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce

 

 

Meeting Date:    Monday, 20 March 2017

Location:            Jervis Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra

Time:                   4.04pm

 

 

The following members were present:

 

Clr Andrew Guile – Chairperson

Clr Amanda Findley

Clr John Wells

Clr Annette Alldrick

Brian Allen

Jessica Zealand

Phil Guy

David Lamb

Robyn Flack

Stephen Short

 

Others present:

 

Clr Patricia White

Clr Mitchell Pakes

Tim Fletcher – Director Planning, Environment and Development Group

Kelie Lowe – Environmental Services Manager

Greg Pullen – Economic Development Manager

Alasdair Stratton – Acting Unit Manager Natural Resources and Floodplain

Mir Abdus Subhan – Floodplain & Stormwater Quality Engineer

Ray Massie – Coast and Estuaries Officer

 

  

 

Apologies / Leave of Absence

 

An apology was received from Gerald Groom, Mike James

 

Confirmation of the Minutes

Recommendation

 

That the Minutes of the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce held on Monday 12 December 2016 be confirmed.

 

RESOLVED (David Lamb / Clr Alldrick)

That the Minutes of the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce held on Monday 12 December 2016 be confirmed.

CARRIED

 

Note:

The Committee raised a point in the previous minutes in relation to the address from the Mayor. In the second dot point it states that the State Government has not provided funding however the State Government has matched $50,000 funding from Council for the WRL Study “Management Options for Improving Flows of the Shoalhaven River at Shoalhaven Heads”.

The Committee feel they do have a united direction and they formed a focus group and have recommendations to put forward.

 

 

Declarations of Interest

 

Nil

 

 

Presentations

 

SH17.1       Progress Update on Taskforce Resolutions

HPERM Ref: D17/84318

Verbal Report – Staff provided a presentation in relation to catchment management projects and actions currently being implemented. These included:

  • Review of the lower Shoalhaven River Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan
  • St Andrews Way
  • Water Quality Monitoring and Aqua Data Portal
  • Acid Sulphate Soil Project
  • River Road Foreshore Sedimentation Options
  • Discussions with Surf Club – Sand Movement

Recommendation (Clr Wells / Phil Guy)

Council:

1.      Accept the offer from Parramatta Council for the two (2) Water Testing Buoys and the purchase price of $10,000 be covered from the existing 2016/2017 Water Quality Budget

2.      Consider funding allocation from the 2017/2018 Budget for maintenance of the Buoys at a cost of $6,000

CARRIED

 

 

SH17.4       Verbal Update on Economic Development and Tourism

 

Greg Pullen – Economic Development Manager provided a verbal report on the economic assessment and process in relation to Grant funding.

 

 

Note: Clr Wells and Clr White left the meeting at 5.06pm

 

 

 

 

SH17.5       Review of Objectives

 

The Committee discussed ways forward and the objectives of the Committee. It was also noted that Part 2 of the Objectives remove the words “including a permanent opening”.

 

Recommendation (Jessica Zealand / Robyn Flack)

That the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce review the Estuary Management Plan as it relates to Shoalhaven Heads and reports to the Shoalhaven Natural Resources and Floodplain Management Committee requesting the following change:

1.      Estuary Management Plan Reflect Community Values

a.      Ensure the values of the Shoalhaven Heads community are adequately represented within the Estuary Management Plan.

CARRIED

 

Recommendation (Phil Guy / Stephen Short)

That Council receive and note these objectives as identified by the Committee and the General Manager report back on the financial and resourcing implications associated with the objectives outlined below:

1.      Storm-water Management River Road  (immediate)

a.      Redirect three storm-water outlets along River Road in front of the Hotel.

2.      River Road Erosion Control Works (immediate)

a.      Undertake urgent remedial work from Matt Black’s report and create a sand buffer along River Road to reinforce erosion control works and provide a recreational space around foreshores.

b.      Further consideration to be given to moving the channel further out from the bank. Create a sand buffer along River Road to reinforce erosion control works and provide a recreational space around foreshores.

3.      Trial Geotechnical Groynes (medium)

a.      Design and commission groyne system into ocean at entrance to direct flow at the next flood event by producing an entrance design using the groyne system illustrated in WRL Report 2015.

b.      The design to include a dune care works programme that compliments the groyne system and encourages a narrower entrance that scours deeper rather than wider entrance during a flood event.

4.      Dredge or Dragline Programme (medium)

a.      Investigate alternative boating channels to help protect foreshore sand buffers by providing a more direct access to main river basin.

b.      Around Holiday Haven Caravan Park and River Road foreshore to provide wider bank buffers and restore clean sand, water recreation and boating with better water depth

5.      Pursue Commercial Dredging (long term)

a.      Options in the Shoalhaven River of Old Man Gut and Kurrajong Island that can offset the cost of maintenance dredging in the basin at Shoalhaven Heads.

6.      Submerged wall or groyne System at O’Keefes Point (long term)

a.      Investigate placing a groyne or groynes along the river bank near O’Keefe’s point deflecting flow from Berry’s Canal towards Shoalhaven Heads.

CARRIED

 

Reports

 

SH17.2       Membership - Resignation from Allan Richardson and Application from Carole Cassidy

HPERM Ref: D17/59969

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That Council

1.    Accept the resignation of Mr Allan Richardson

2.    Write to Mr Richardson to thank him for his contribution to the Taskforce.

3.    Appoint Ms Carole Cassidy as a community member of the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce

4.    Write to Ms Cassidy to notify her of her appointment and invite her to all future meetings.

 

It was noted that the form should include additional criteria in relation to technical expertise and or background that would contribute to the Committee.

 

RESOLVED (Stephen Short / Robyn Flack)

That the Committee accept the resignation from Allan Richardson and defer other applications until after the community drop in session on 9 April 2017.

CARRIED

 

 

SH17.3       Outcome - Representations to Local Members - Funding - Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce Objectives

HPERM Ref: D17/37183

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the report regarding the results of representations made to Federal and State Local Members requesting support to source funding for the Shoalhaven Heads Taskforce objectives be received for information.

 

RESOLVED (Clr Guile / Amanda Findley)

This matter be deferred and reported back to the next meeting.

CARRIED

 

     

 

Note:

The Chairperson and the Committee acknowledged that this will be Tim Fletcher’s last meeting and thanked him and his staff for his contributions and commitment to the Committee.

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the time being 6.23pm.

 

 

Clr Guile

CHAIRPERSON