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- 19 June 2003
Georges River Catchment
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Page: 1761
Urgent Motion
Mr GREENE (Georges River) [3.47 p.m.]: I move:
That this House notes the environmental improvements by the State Government to the Georges River since 1995.
The Georges River is a great local asset. Cleaning up the river and protecting the foreshores has been one of the Carr Government's highest priorities. The Georges River covers 14 local government areas, with more than 1.5 million people—that is, 25 per cent of the population New South Wales—living in the catchment. The Georges River has a catchment area of 800 square kilometres, with a waterway area of 12 square kilometres. The river varies in width from about 30 metres near Liverpool to approximately 1,500 metres near its mouth, adjacent to Dolls Point in Botany Bay. It has 2.038 square kilometres of mangroves, 0.268 square kilometres of seagrass and 0.247 square kilometres of salt marsh.
A commonly quoted cliché is that the best things in life are free. But, as we all know, everything comes at a cost. Similarly, the simple pleasures of enjoying the sound of a free-flowing river, the sight of the sun reflecting off sparkling water, or enjoying a picnic with family or friends on the riverbank also come at a cost. But it is a cost that the Government is more than willing to pay to protect and improve the wonderful lifestyle to which many Australians, particularly families, have become accustomed.
The water quality in the Georges River is affected by both the level of development in the surrounding catchment and the level of tidal flushing. Humans have only so much control over nature's wonders, and similarly, with water quality, we can only do our best. During dry weather, bacterial contamination upstream of Salt Pan Creek has made the water quality of upstream locations a potential problem, but samples show that the contamination levels are low to moderate. In wet weather, water quality with respect to suitability for recreational activities is reduced. Bacterial levels are generally higher in wet weather than during dry weather. At most sites along the Georges River bacterial levels were generally lower in 2002 than median levels measured in previous years.
The Carr Labor Government's Stormwater Trust grants have led to a cleaner Georges River. I am proud to report that in my electorate approximately 50 per cent of the local Georges River catchment area is now covered by gross pollutant traps [GPTs] and wetland projects. Prior to 1995 there was almost nothing, which meant that rubbish flowed straight into the Georges River. Gross pollutant traps, litter baskets and wetlands have been installed at strategic positions in Oatley, Riverwood, Peakhurst, Lugarno and Hurstville central business district to stop pollution from reaching the river. There are also eight GPTs and three litter bins scattered along the edges of Kogarah Bay. The Stormwater Trust grants to both Hurstville council and Kogarah council have played a significant role in the improved quality of the Georges River. Examples of the use of program grants include Hurstville council using a grant of $100,000 to fund a program titled "Catchment Care at Hurstville". Under the direction of council staff, 15 primary schools are involved in developing an integrated school and council stormwater action project that will have significant environmental benefits.
Hurstville council is using a Stormwater Trust grant of $80,000 to undertake an environmental audit of the Peakhurst industrial area. This audit will assess the impact of land use operations on the lower Georges River catchment and seek to minimise any detrimental effects these premises may have on the river. Kogarah council has used grants to treat stormwater entering the Georges River through Oatley pleasure grounds, Poulton Park, Donnelly Reserve and Quarry Reserve at Hurstville Grove. The Roads and Traffic Authority's State Environmental Improvement Programs are another example of the Government delivering on its commitment to a cleaner Georges River.
The following programs are producing significant benefits for the river. Some $104,051 has been spent on installing a gross pollutant trap and creating wetlands in Johnstone Street Reserve between Johnstone Street and Ogilvy Street, Peakhurst. Some $95,000 has been used to instal a gross pollutant trap in the car park of Hurstville council's new $8 million expanded leisure and aquatic centre. This will treat run-off from King Georges Road and Forest Road, Hurstville. An amount of $90,597 has been spent on installing a GPT at Pearce Avenue Reserve, Peakhurst, treating stormwater flowing into Salt Pan Creek.
We are fortunate to live in an area with such a beautiful environment, but we must work to protect it. Just as important as improving water quality in the Georges River is improving access to the river for our community. Increased access to the Georges River provides more and more people in our community with exposure to the wonders and enjoyment of our river. The more exposure the Georges River has to local residents, the more they will learn to appreciate it and seek to protect its natural beauty. That is why the Georges River Foreshore Improvement Program has been such a success. Since my election in 1999 the Georges River Foreshore Improvement Program has allocated $5.6 million for 40 projects, generating more than $11 million in partnership expenditure to restore and protect water quality and the foreshores of the Georges River.
Some $285,000 was allocated to Hurstville council for access to Lime Kiln Bay at Oatley and Peakhurst. This project developed a network of all weather foreshore access routes and rehabilitated degraded areas by expanding bush regeneration. Scores of local residents have reported to me on the beauty of this walk. Some $338,000 was given to Kogarah council and, when combined with an Environment Protection Agency Stormwater Trust grant, the Moore Reserve wetland became a reality. This project involved structures to divert and reduce erosion, pollution and silting. It includes a wetland to prevent pollution, particularly nutrients, reaching the river. It has also improved access and regenerated bushland. Oatley and Hurstville Grove residents are particularly pleased with this development.
A grant of $70,000 was made to fund a study based on the concept proposed by Dr Peter Tralaggan to develop and extend the Great Southern Walk with a Georges River walking trail. The study developed guidelines for strategic cross-catchment planning and a system of sustainable foreshore open space links and access, such as trails, walkways, boardwalks and cycleways. The need for councils to recognise the possibility of linkages is of great importance. A grant of $476,000 was made for Hurstville council's Edith Bay Lugarno boardwalk and jetty. Council is enhancing community access to the foreshores by building a boardwalk and pathway, which will include the site of the heritage ferry crossing jetty.
Council is also carrying out bush regeneration to protect the foreshores of Edith Bay and the Georges River. New signage will enhance community appreciation of environmental and heritage values. An additional grant of $96,000 for this project has allowed for the construction of an artificial wetland and wetlands observation deck. The project will improve stormwater quality flowing into Georges River and enhance pedestrian access and community participation and education. A grant of $98,000 was made for Kogarah council's Moore Reserve leachate collection and treatment system to improve local water quality. Of course, these are only a few of the projects funded in my electorate. Other members whose electorates also border the river could give numerous other examples of similar successful projects undertaken since 1995.
The treatment programs I mentioned previously have resulted in better water quality for the George River. The access improvement programs mean that people do not have to own an expensive home to enjoy our magnificent local waterfront and improved water. The Foreshore Scenic Protection Area initiated by Hurstville City Council is an example of the Georges River being protected from overdevelopment. This protection resulted from community activism led by local residents, such as Ted Cooper and Sharyn Cullis, and supported by Hurstville council, particularly councillors Philip Sansom and Joanne Morris. I was happy to put the community's concerns before the then Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning, who readily agreed to the strengthened codes. The end result has been the prevention of overdevelopment along our foreshore areas, thereby lessening the impact that development has on the condition of the Georges River.
The Government is being successful, yet we must do more, particularly with sewer overflows and industrial discharges, in our bid to revitalise the Georges River, which is Sydney's largest catchment and one of our most splendid scenic jewels. We want people to fully appreciate and enjoy all the magnificent features the Georges River and its tributaries have to offer along the many kilometres of foreshores. More than one million people who live in the catchment and visitors are benefiting from cleaner water, a restored and attractive foreshore environment and better access for family recreation. Successfully improving water quality, protecting mangroves and regenerating bushland mean employing best practice standards. Ultimately, the projects to which I have referred will result in local flora and fauna habitats improved and maintained, and the water quality of the river enhanced. It will mean that those who live in the Georges River basin will have cleaner, healthier, more enjoyable places for recreation and the opportunity to appreciate our natural environment.
I thank Hurstville City Council and its mayor, Councillor Vince Badalati, for their enthusiasm in improving the Georges River; Kogarah council and Mayor Jim Taylor for their involvement; Rob Clarsen and the Lugarno Progress Association for their promotion of the Edith Bay project; Dr Peter Tralaggan for his vision and foresight; Oatley Flora and Fauna Society for its ongoing promotion of environmental issues, particularly the Lime Kiln Bay project; and Sharyn Cullis, Secretary of the Georges River Environmental Alliance, for her passion in raising awareness of the standard of water quality, access and other factors that impact on the river. [Time expired.]
Mr RICHARDSON (The Hills) [3.57 p.m.]: While I was listening intently to the honourable member for Georges River I was trying to work out why this motion is being debated, why it is urgent. When one compares this issue to hospital services in Clarence, it is fatuous that we should have to listen to the tirade of drivel from the mouth of the honourable member for Georges River. It is true that many of the programs to which he referred may well be beneficial, as indeed they are across the whole spectrum of New South Wales. Clearly, constructing boardwalks and installing gross pollutant traps are not restricted to this Government. The previous Coalition Government put a very effective clean waterways program in place. That is when we started to clean up our rivers, beaches and waterways.
I was listening for the substance in the contribution of the honourable member for Georges River. He started by giving us a geography lesson about where the river is, how long it is and the fact that the catchment is 800 square kilometres. However, he hedged the numbers a bit. At one point he said that the population of the Georges River catchment was one million; at another point he said it was 1.5 million. He spoke about the wonderful picnics that one can enjoy along the Georges River. After listening to his contribution, I have to conclude that he has plenty of time for picnics: He is out to lunch most of the time.
I wish to address some specific issues relating to the Georges River, in particular the report of the Independent Inquiry into the Georges River-Botany Bay System by the Healthy Rivers Commission dated September 2001. The honourable member for Georges River referred to the fact that bacterial levels in the river were lower in 2002 than they had been during the previous year. Why might that have been the case? Could it have been that there was less precipitation in the catchment? The honourable member for Southern Highlands might be able to remind me whether there was a drought on at the time. I think there was, so it is not surprising that there would be lower bacterial levels in the river in 2002. The Healthy Rivers Commission was less effusive than the honourable member for Georges River about the health of the river and about what needs to be done.
In particular the commission referred to the need for environmental flow releases from the Woronora Dam. I am sure that honourable members are aware of the pressing need for environmental flows throughout all our waterways. In fact, that is one of the most contentious issues facing our nation currently. Environmental flows have not been released from the Woronora Dam down the Georges River in accordance with the recommendation that was made by the Healthy Rivers Commission. The commission also referred to the fact that pricing mechanisms alone have been shown to have a limited effect on the demand for water and that there will need to be a greater reliance on demand management if security of the water supply system is to be maintained without creating the need to augment storages. That is true, and it means that we will have to use less water. It is also true that if rainfall in the Sydney Basin could be collected and used for non-potable purposes, such as washing cars, flushing toilets and watering gardens, a great deal of drinking water could be saved.
Ms Megarrity: Point of order: My point is relevance. I am not sure what the use of potable water or the reuse of non-potable water has to do with the environmental quality of the Georges River, the subject of the debate. That, together with statements on the Woronora Dam's river releases, which were totally incorrect, causes me to ask you to draw the attention of the honourable member for The Hills to the substance of the motion.
Madam ACTING-SPEAKER (Ms Saliba): Order! The honourable member for The Hills should confine his remarks to the substance of the motion.
Mr RICHARDSON: I was referring to the report of the Healthy Rivers Commission into the Georges River and Botany Bay system. That is relevant; it is an issue that the Government needs to address. The Government will have to examine ways of collecting rainwater that falls in the Sydney Basin but ends up in our waterways and is then flushed into the Georges River, among other water courses, creating enormous problems during times of heavy rain. That is waste water. It is water that pollutes our waterways, the Georges River, the Hawkesbury-Nepean waterway, the Cooks River and Sydney Harbour, but it is water that could be used to augment our water supply and for all sorts of other purposes.
Through Sydney Water the Government introduced a rainwater tank rebate system in October last year; it is one of our best-kept secrets. The scheme commenced on 20 October last year and it ceases on 30 June, in 11 days time. The rebate applies only to tanks of 2,000 litres capacity and so far only 500 people have received rebates ranging from $150 to $650, depending on the size of the tank and whether the tank is connected to a toilet or a washing machine. It is obvious that scheme is but a drop in the ocean as far as the Georges Rivers is concerned. The Government will have to do more if it intends to provide environmental flows that were referred to in the report of the Healthy Rivers Commission.
I was disturbed to learn from the Auditor-General that overall New South Wales rivers are the unhealthiest in the nation. In his report entitled "Protecting Our Rivers," which was released in May this year, the Auditor-General quoted a Commonwealth Government report, "Australian Catchment, River and Estuary Assessment", that showed that 34 per cent of New South Wales Rivers are significantly impaired compared to only 20 per cent of rivers in Victoria, 17 per cent in Queensland and 20 per cent in Tasmania. There is a huge difference between the health of New South Wales rivers and those in other States. That is an indictment of the Government's mismanagement of the environment portfolio. The Government has not got that right yet. I obtained information, to which I will refer, from Sydney Water's web site today. Sydney Water is less than effusive about the quality of water in the Georges River. The following appears on the web site:
During dry weather, the lower estuarine site at Woolooware Bay … was suitable for primary- and secondary-contact recreation on most sampled days (more than 75 per cent).
That means that on 25 per cent of those days, the water was not suitable. The honourable member for Georges River referred to Salt Pan Creek. The following also appears on Sydney Water's web site:
Low to moderate levels of dry weather bacterial contamination at locations upstream of Salt Pan Creek have made the water quality at these upstream locations unsuitable for primary-contact recreation on more than 50 per cent of sampled days.
I emphasise that those assessments were made during dry weather. Another extract from the web site states:
Algal blooms were recorded at all sites in the upper estuarine section of the Georges River.
One has to ask why there would be algal bloom at all sites. It is fairly easy to see why. As I understand it, there are more than 2,000 stormwater discharge points and 351 points of sewage effluent overflow into the Georges River. They are creating the problem. For those reasons the Government stands condemned for its mismanagement of the environment of the Georges River.
Mr COLLIER (Miranda) [4.07 p.m.]: The Georges River forms the northern boundary of my electorate. It flows into Botany Bay and is regarded as one of the jewels in the crown of the Sutherland shire. It is the river that George Bass and Matthew Flinders rowed along and mapped in 1795. It is the same river on which Henry Lawson rowed in the 1920s and from which he came ashore to the original Como Hotel to entertain its patrons. It is the same river in which I fished as a kid and it is where I taught my son, Michael, who is present in the gallery, to fish, just under the Como rail bridge near the junction of the Georges River and the Woronora River. That junction is a place of indigenous significance, for it is where the bitter water people of the Georges River met the sweet water people of the Woronora River.
The Georges River occupies an important place in my electorate's local history and culture, indigenous and non-indigenous, and in the personal histories of many people in the shire. Over the years it has played an important role in commerce, industry and, of course, recreation. Sadly, the health of this once pristine river was neglected for years and both the foreshores and the environment suffered. One only needs to cite as proof the example of the Georges River oysters. Oyster farms were once the pride of the shire and oyster farming was one of the first industries in the area. Oyster farming flourished until 1994 when the Fahey Government was in power. Despite what the honourable member for The Hills has said about the Coalition's marvellous environmental programs, in 1994 the QX parasite first appeared and wreaked devastation on the industry.
Since then we have made great strides in protecting and preserving this great river, which is an important part of our heritage, and its foreshores, not just for the million people who live along the Georges River catchment, or the thousands who use it for recreational purposes, but for future generations of shire residents and Sydneysiders. Great strides have been made by the Carr Government, by the 14 councils that border the catchment, and by the many individuals, families and environmental groups who care about the future of the Georges River. They are all working together for a better, cleaner and healthier Georges River.
In 1999 the Carr Government announced a four-year $6 million Georges River foreshore improvement program. The program has generated partnerships and projects of environmental and heritage significance which can and will benefit those living in the catchment. A fine example of this is the Como Pleasure Grounds Heritage and Environmental Trail project, which is currently under way in my electorate. This is a joint project with Sutherland council, which is using a $290,000 grant from the State Government under the Foreshore Improvement Program to rehabilitate the environmental and cultural heritage of the historic Como Pleasure Grounds. The project highlights indigenous culture and heritage, and it seeks to protect the natural environment, improve public access, and enhance recreational activities. It also seeks to reduce the potential adverse impact on water quality and to address significant degradation that has resulted from past activities.
Following community consultation, council has adopted master plans for the trail and conservation management. Stage one of the project construction is due to commence soon. This is one of the projects in which the State Government has been involved that are aimed at improving the Georges River and its environment. In October 2001 the Government announced an $11.5 million project to upgrade 20 sewage pumping stations across the shire. The upgrades will limit the potential sewage overflow into the Georges River and its tributary, the Woronora River. I understand that environmental flows are now being released into those rivers, contrary to what the honourable member for The Hills said. That is happening in wet and dry weather. The result of the $11.5 million project is improved water quality and a less polluted, less threatened Georges River, a cleaner Botany Bay and, in the long-run, cleaner shire beaches.
In March 2002 the Government announced grants totalling $407,000 to the shire council to repair and upgrade waterways, including the Georges River. That involved two projects: one to increase the retention and re-use of stormwater in the shire so there is less polluted run-off into our river, and a second that targets vehicle-related businesses in the shire to minimise their pollution entering the lower Georges River catchment. There are other projects under way, one of which reduces run-off from local golf courses, which occupy 20 per cent of the foreshore land along the Georges River. One of those golf courses is Kareela, in my electorate of Miranda.
The State Government has also invested about $800,000 in a program to remove derelict oyster leases along 18 kilometres of the Georges River. Under the program, debris will be removed from about 46 leases, covering 78 hectares of the river; and abandoned leases will be removed, thereby increasing and improving the recreational amenity of the river and removing navigational hazards. The Carr Government has done much to improve the amenity of the Georges River catchment.
Ms SEATON (Southern Highlands) [4.12 p.m.]: I congratulate my colleague the honourable member for The Hills, the shadow Minister for the Environment. In this debate he has done something that members opposite have not: he has drawn to attention that the Government is accountable for delivering the outcomes that the community wants, and delivering outcomes for taxpayers that demonstrate value for money. We have heard nothing from the Government about outcomes.
I would also like to hear the honourable member for Georges River—if he is so desperately interested in the health and welfare of the Georges River—tell the House what he personally did during the previous term of the Government to try to convince his colleague the Hon. Eddie Obeid—our friend Eddie—who was then the Minister for Mineral Resources, to put in place some decent environmental controls with regard to mining the area underneath the headwaters of the Georges River. If members opposite were serious about protecting the water quality and the long-term sustainability of the Georges River, they would take a very strong interest in the welfare and management of the catchment in the headwaters of the Georges River.
The experience I have had as the local member for Southern Highlands—which includes the Appin area, which of course is the headwaters of the Georges River—is that the community there has been desperately concerned about the Government's lack of management, lack of accountability, and lack of standards. I remind members that an excellent report was written some time ago by the Cataract River task force, which was a body of the upper Nepean catchment management committee chaired by Tony Ross. That committee was part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment management trust group. I am sure that members on the other side of the House will be on the ball and will say, "No, that is the Nepean River, not the Georges River," but the importance of this is that the Cataract River report was absolutely relevant to what later happened in the upper Georges River, at Marhnes Hole and Jutts Crossing.
The recommendations of the Cataract River task force referred to the mining-induced surface cracking of the river bed, which has accelerated the drainage of some rock pools—a process that became evident when combined with low river flows. We then all looked at the Cataract River and said, "This is an absolute disaster. It should have been avoided. What lessons can we learn from this before we go and mine under Marhnes Hole, Jutts Crossing and all of the areas that form the headwaters of the Georges River?" I said, and many members of the community said to the Government, "We want to know that you will guarantee that, whatever approvals you give for mining under the Marhnes Hole area, there will be no repeat of the Cataract River-style cracking that caused a huge amount of drainage, environmental damage, methane release, and fires in the river bed."
The Hon. Eddie Obeid did absolutely nothing to provide those guarantees. I acknowledge that BHP Billiton has done everything it can to work within its licence. To my understanding it has never exceeded its licence. To its credit, in recognising community concern it has undertaken a lot of community consultation and put in place a lot of community work. The fault lies with the Carr Government and with Eddie Obeid when he was the Minister for Mineral Resources, because he never tried to put in place standards that mining companies needed to uphold and work towards. They simply did not bother to consult with the community, to understand the community's concerns, or to fully understand the impact on the upper Georges River catchment.
This has resulted in the cracking of Marhnes Hole—which is a much-loved waterhole in the Appin area—and dangerous falls of rock. BHP has done what it can to manage the tensions and pressures with some specifically engineered slot technology, but, nevertheless, Marhnes Hole and Jutts Crossing have been damaged. BHP is working with the community but, at the end of the day, the accountability lies with the Carr Government.
Mr ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Mills): Order! It being after 4.15 p.m. business is interrupted for the taking of private members' statements.
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