HAWKESBURY–NEPEAN

CATCHMENT ACTION PLAN

2007 – 2016

Published by the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority

This report is copyright under the Berne convention

Copying of this report is permitted providing that the meaning is unchanged and the source is acknowledged

Published April 2008

Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority

Locked Bag 2048, Goulburn NSW Australia 2580

The Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Action Plan is available on CD-Rom and on the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority website www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au.

ISBN 0 7347 5797 2

Acknowledgements

The Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Action Plan has been developed by the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority.

The development of the plan would not have been possible without the assistance of many people including members of the Theme Teams and of those who assisted with production of maps and editing. These people include many who live and work in the catchment and staff from Councils, state government departments and HNCMA Board members and staff. The Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA gratefully acknowledges the wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm brought to the development of the Plan by all who were involved.

Disclaimer

Users of the information and maps in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Action Plan should recognise the scope and limitations of the maps and the appropriate scale for their application. The data and maps in the Plan are to be used as a general guide for regional scale natural resource management only. The Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority is not responsible for the result of any actions taken on the basis of the information and maps contained in this plan or for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies.

HAWKESBURY–NEPEAN

CATCHMENT ACTION PLAN

2007 – 2016

ii Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority

January 2008

iiiCatChment aCtion Plan

The Catchment Action Plan (or CAP) is one of thirteen CAPs which are central to the delivery of natural resource management throughout New South Wales. CAPs are developed by Catchment Management Authorities (or CMAs). Each regional CMA is a locally-driven State Government body which is responsible for planning and investing in natural resource management within it's area of operation. The NSW Government has endorsed this CAP following the advice from the Commissioner of the Natural Resources Commission.

The CAPs represent a major step towards balanced natural resource management in the rural, coastal and urban catchments of NSW. CAPs build upon the valuable work of former catchment management bodies- such as catchment management committees, boards and trusts.

CAPs are ten-year strategic plans that set targets and direct investment of public and private resources to achieve sustainable natural resouce management in line with community expectations. The CAPs are not regulatory plans, but complement other natural resource management plans, including regional strategies, water sharing plans and regional conservation plans.

Importantly, CAPs have a key role in addressing the priorities in the State Plan. The State Plan Priorty E4 identifies targets which will guide the implementation of the CAPs to ensure better outcomes for native vegetation, biodiversity, land, rivers and coastal waterways.

Each CAP contains a range of targets that the CMA has developed to enhance and protect natural resources in the area covered by the CMA. Within each CAP you will aslo find invaluable information about the present condition of our lands and waterways and priorities over the next ten years. Of course, CAPs will require revision as new information on issues such as climate change comes to hand.

This CAP is the result of a great effort from people with wide-ranging backgrounds and views on natural resource management, working in a spirit of consensus. I would like to thank the Chairperson, Board members and staff of the CMA for their tremendous commitment and hard work in preparing this CAP. They have worked in partnership with farmers, local groups, Aboriginal communities, local governments, industry, other NSW and Commonwealth agencies to develop the best priorities and investments for natural resource management at a catchment level.

I also thank the individuals, groups and organisations that contributed to this CAP's development by either making submissions or contributing their knowledge and expertise during its development.

I commend this CAP to you, and urge you, your group or orgnaisation to consider how you may take part in its implementation. The CMA's contact dteails are availlable at www.cma.nsw.gov.au.

Phil Koperburg

minister for Climate Change, environment and Water

January 2008

minister’s foreword

iv Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority

Chairperson's ForewordSustainable management of the natural resources of the Hawkesbury–Nepean catchment is imperative if we are to improve the health of its waterways, sustain the diversity of its ecosystems and manage the wealth of its soils. These improvements can only be achieved if everyone in the catchment — individuals, community groups, business and all levels of government — all work together.

The Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority (HNCMA), established in April 2004, brings together a range of stakeholders with common goals to achieve lasting environmental benefits for the catchment. Through catchment-wide programs in river health, biodiversity and soil and land the catchment management authority (CMA) is working towards improved natural resource condition.

The Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Action Plan (CAP) will guide the CMA’s investment in sustainable natural resource management and provide support for individuals and communities to work together. The CAP focuses on actions that the CMA can achieve within the scope of its role and capacity. Improved natural resources management outcomes that can be achieved through current state government reforms in land use and water use planning will also be a necessary support to the CMA’s investment in many parts of the catchment.

The CAP contains targets for environmental improvement and is a ten-year plan for action — specifically action that the CMA can directly undertake or directly influence through strong partnerships. The Catchment Action Plan will ensure that future investment by the CMA is put towards key issues in the catchment and is based on the best available knowledge. Management actions and progress will be reviewed each year to make sure lessons are learned and the CAP is managed in an adaptive manner ensuring continuous improvement.

The HNCMA will work to maintain and improve all levels of government and private investment in the catchment to deliver positive natural resource outcomes and invites the entire community to join in achieving the targets and actions laid out in this plan.

The HNCMA board and staff look forward to implementing the CAP in partnership with our many stakeholders.

John KlemChairperson

Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority

vCatChment aCtion Plan

vi Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority

Contentsminister’s ForeWord ................................................................................................................................................... iii

ChairPerson's ForeWord .......................................................................................................................................... x

aBBreViations ......................................................................................................................................................................xi

haWKesBury–nePean CatChment management authority Board ..................................xiv

struCture ...........................................................................................................................................................................xvi

Part a. the Catchment, the hnCma and the CaP .............................................1

1. haWKesBury–nePean CatChment ..................................................................................................................3

Natural significance ..................................................................................................................................................4

Catchment under pressure .................................................................................................................................8

Key threats in the Hawkesbury–Nepean ...........................................................................................9

2. haWKesBury–nePean CatChment management authority ..............................................12

Planning and investment ...........................................................................................................................12

Native vegetation ...........................................................................................................................................12

Water ......................................................................................................................................................................12

On-ground works .............................................................................................................................................12

Community engagement ............................................................................................................................13

hnCma and the CaP are one of many players ...................................................................................14

strategic Planning Framework and the CaP .......................................................................................15

CAP and the Metropolitan Strategy ....................................................................................................18

CAP and Hawkesbury–Nepean SOJI .....................................................................................................20

3. haWKesBury–nePean CatChment aCtion Plan .............................................................................21

CaP as part of the state-wide framework for nrm ........................................................................21

Standard for Quality NRM ........................................................................................................................23

Targets ...................................................................................................................................................................24

CAP and other NRM plans and strategies........................................................................................25

CAP and the Catchment Blueprints ....................................................................................................26

investment ....................................................................................................................................................................28

HNCMA investment priorities ..................................................................................................................29

Investment Strategy .....................................................................................................................................30

adaptive approach of the CaP ......................................................................................................................31

viiCatChment aCtion Plan

the development of the CaP ....................................................................................................................................31

The themes .........................................................................................................................................................31

Theme Teams ....................................................................................................................................................31

Consultation .......................................................................................................................................................32

Feedback from the consultation process .......................................................................................34

Part B: the targets .........................................................................................................................................35

4. Community and PartnershiPs ......................................................................................................................39

Community and partnership targets .........................................................................................................41

5. riVer health .................................................................................................................................................................51

the river health strategy ................................................................................................................................53

Water management framework for the hawkesbury–nepean .............................................57

Hawkesbury–Nepean water quality objectives ...........................................................................60

Metropolitan Water Plan ..........................................................................................................................61

river health targets ..............................................................................................................................................62

6 BiodiVersity ....................................................................................................................................................................83

Biodiversity targets ................................................................................................................................................88

7. soil and land ............................................................................................................................................................110

soil and land targets .........................................................................................................................................113

Part C. action ......................................................................................................................................................125

8. hnCma Programs ...................................................................................................................................................127

Project initiation .........................................................................................................................................128

Assessment process ....................................................................................................................................128

Project development ...............................................................................................................................130

river health Program ........................................................................................................................................130

River Restoration Project .......................................................................................................................132

Biodiversity Program ..........................................................................................................................................133

Bushland Conservation Project ..........................................................................................................134

soil and land Program ......................................................................................................................................135

Catchment Protection Scheme ...........................................................................................................136

Community and partnership ........................................................................................................................136

Landcare Support ........................................................................................................................................137

Catchment action .................................................................................................................................................137

viii Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority

9. CollaBoration and PartnershiP ...........................................................................................................143

local government ................................................................................................................................................143

Local Government Advisory Group...................................................................................................144

utilities and county councils .......................................................................................................................145

state government agencies .........................................................................................................................145

adjacent Cmas ........................................................................................................................................................146

aboriginal organisations and groups ......................................................................................................147

Aboriginal Community Support Team .............................................................................................147

Peak industry and environmental organisations ..........................................................................147

educational institutions, research and policy organisations ..............................................148

individual land managers ...............................................................................................................................148

Part d monitoring and evaluation .......................................................................................149

10. risKs ................................................................................................................................................................................151

11. monitoring, eValuation and reVieW oF CaP ...........................................................................156

What is monitoring and evaluation? ......................................................................................................156

the need to monitor, evaluate and report on the CaP ..........................................................156

Monitoring, evaluation and review standards and frameworks ...................................156

Weight of evidence and monitoring, evaluation and reporting ...................................158

monitoring and evaluation .............................................................................................................................159

Levels of monitoring ..................................................................................................................................159

monitoring tools .....................................................................................................................................................160

reporting on the CaP ........................................................................................................................................161

amendment to the CaP ...................................................................................................................................162

glossary ..............................................................................................................................................................................167

reFerenCes ........................................................................................................................................................................173

aPPendiCes .........................................................................................................................................................................178

1 Participation in CaP and rhs development .................................................................................178

2 Key legislation and policy for nrm in the hawkesbury–nepean ..................................183

3 government preferences for nrm investment and CaP response ...........................188

4 Points raised in community meetings and in submissions ..............................................191

5 issues considered in development of the CaP ..........................................................................197

6 listed threatened species of the hawkesbury–nepean .....................................................201

ixCatChment aCtion Plan

7 Clearing of mitchell landscapes in the hawkesbury–nepean .........................................218

8 regional corridor assessment and priority fauna habitats ..............................................221

9 Flagship species associated with river reaches ........................................................................231

10 hawkesbury–nepean Cma ProJeCts — initiation Form ................................................235

Figures 1 CAP implements CMA action ........................................................................................................................26

2 CAP Implementation Framework ...............................................................................................................30

3 River health and water management framework for the Hawkesbury–Nepean .........58

4 Distribution of acid sulphate soils ..........................................................................................................118

5 The standard for quality NRM and adaptive management ....................................................157

maps 1 Area of operation for the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment

Management Authority .........................................................................................................................................2

2 National parks and reserved areas ..............................................................................................................5

3 Assets of national environment significance in the Hawkesbury–Nepean .........................7

4 Strategic planning influences and areas of operation .................................................................16

5 Local government boundaries ......................................................................................................................17

6 Community environment activity in riparian lands .......................................................................45

7 Subcatchments of the Hawkesbury–Nepean River system ........................................................54

8 Riparian lands management category ....................................................................................................55

9 Regional biodiversity corridors and priority fauna habitats ....................................................66

10 Recreational access and river reaches ...................................................................................................70

11 Road crossings for removal ............................................................................................................................74

12 Hawkesbury–Nepean wetlands .....................................................................................................................77

13 Mitchell Landscapes over 70% cleared in 2002 .................................................................................92

14 Priority species on private lands .............................................................................................................100

15 Rural land capability Class 7 and land uses .....................................................................................121

16 HNCMA programs — northern valleys subregion ............................................................................138

17 HNCMA programs — estuary subregion ................................................................................................139

18 HNCMA programs — metropolitan subregion ...................................................................................140

19 HNCMA programs — southern subregion .............................................................................................141

20 HNCMA programs — western subregion ...............................................................................................142

x Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority

tables 1 Assets of national environmental significance in the Hawkesbury–Nepean

catchment ...................................................................................................................................................................6

2 External pressures on the Hawkesbury–Nepean catchment ....................................................10

3 Roles of organisations involved in catchment management in the Hawkesbury–Nepean ...........................................................................................................................................14

4 Environmental targets for sustainable growth of the metropolitan area ......................19

5 Development of the CAP and application of the Standard ......................................................23

6 State-wide resource condition targets as endorsed by government from the recommendations of the NRC ......................................................................................................................24

7 Estimate of investment delivered through the CAP ......................................................................28

8 Background papers and minutes for each theme ...........................................................................32

9 Guide to reading tables for condition targets ..................................................................................38

10 Guide to reading tables for management targets ..........................................................................38

11 Summary of the state/pressure/CAP response analysis for the community and partnerships theme .............................................................................................................................................40

12 River Health Strategy management themes and CAP targets ................................................56

13 River health issues ...............................................................................................................................................59

14 Environmental values for water in the Hawkesbury–Nepean catchment .......................60

15 Guide to CAP targets for aquatic biodiversity .................................................................................73

16 Links to Estuary, Coast and Marine issues ............................................................................................82

17 Summary of the state/pressure/CAP response analysis for biodiversity ........................86

18 Priority fauna habitats in the Hawkesbury–Nepean ......................................................................94

19 Threatening processes and threat abatement plans ....................................................................97

20 Summary of state/pressure/CAP response for soil and land in Hawkesbury–Nepean ........................................................................................................................................111

21 Land class summary .........................................................................................................................................120

22 HNCMA assessment processes ....................................................................................................................129

23 Summary of River Health Program components ...........................................................................131

24 Summary of Biodiversity Program components .............................................................................133

25 Summary of Soil and Land Program components .........................................................................135

26 Summary of Community and Partnerships Program components ......................................136

27 Summary of risks to successful implementation ..........................................................................151

xiCatChment aCtion Plan

abbreviationsAIP Annual Implementation Plan

ASS acid sulphate soil

Blueprints Hawkesbury–Nepean Blueprints for the Warragamba and Hawkesbury Lower Nepean

BMP best management practice

BMWHI Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute

CAP Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Action Plan

CMA catchment management authority

CMA Act Catchment Management Authorities Act 2003 (NSW)

CPS Catchment Protection Scheme

CRP current recommended practice (this is the current terminology superseding BMP in most instances)

CT Condition target

CVA Conservation Volunteers Australia

DECC Department of Environment & Climate Change

DIPNR Department of Infrastructure, Planning & Natural Resources (now replaced by DECC and DoP)

DLWC Department of Land & Water Conservation (a predecessor of DNR)

DNR Department of Natural Resources (now part of DECC and DWE)

DSS decision support system

DoP Department of Planning

DPI Department of Primary Industries

DUAP Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (a predecessor of DoP)

DWC REP Drinking Water Catchment Regional Environment Plan no 1

DWE Department of Water and Energy

EEC endangered ecological community

EPA Environment Protection Agency now part of DEC

EP&A Act Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979

EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth)

FM Act Fisheries Management Act 1994 (NSW)

GFS groundwater flow system

xii Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority

GL gigalitre or 1 000 000 000 litres

HIMS Hawkesbury Information Management System of the HNCMA

HNCMA Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority

HNRMF Hawkesbury–Nepean River Management Forum

HRC Healthy Rivers Commission

HRCC Hawkesbury River County Council

IBRA Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia

JSC Joint Steering Committee for the Commonwealth State Bilateral Agreement

LALC local Aboriginal Land Council

LEP local environment plan (made under the EP&A Act)

LGA local government area

LGAG Local Government Advisory Group (of the HNCMA)

LMD Land Management Data-base (tool of the HNCMA)

MER monitoring, evaluation and review

ML megalitre or 1 000 000 litres

MOU memorandum of understanding

MT management target

NAP National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality

NGO non-government organisation

HNCMA Directors (left to right) – Mary Howard, Angus Gibson, Jenny Smith, Bob Wilson, John Klem (Chair), Kenneth Wheelwright.

xiiiCatChment aCtion Plan

NHT Natural Heritage Trust

NPWS National Parks & Wildlife Service — now part of DECC

NRC Natural Resources Commission

NRM natural resource management

NSW Agriculture now known as Department of Primary Industries — Agriculture

NSWSS NSW Salinity Strategy

PAS priority threatened species action statement prepared by DECC

PVP property vegetation plan made under the NV Act

RAMAs routine agricultural management activities

RH river health

RHS River Health Strategy (accompanies the CAP)

RLPB Rural Lands Protection Board

SM CMA Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority

SEPP State Environment Planning Policy

SCA Sydney Catchment Authority

SOJI statement of joint intent for the Hawkesbury–Nepean River System

spp. species

SR CMA Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority

Standard Standard for Quality NRM (NRC 2005)

SWC Sydney Water Corporation

STP sewage treatment plant

TAP threat abatement plan under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW)

TSC Act Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW)

TT Theme Team

UNSW University of NSW

WOE weight of evidence approach

WQO water quality objectives

xiv Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority

hawkesbury–nepean Catchment management authority BoardJohn Klem — Chairman

John Klem was appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority in February 2004. He manages a grazing property approximately 30 km from Goulburn. John holds a Diploma in Agriculture from Hawkesbury Agricultural College and a Bachelor of Arts (Education) from the University of Canberra.

John is a member of the Australian Landcare Council and NSW Landcare Committee and has been appointed to the Natural Resources Advisory Council to represent coastal Catchment Management Authorities. He was the Chair of the Wollondilly Catchment Management Committee, Chair of the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Trust, Chair of the State Catchment Management Coordinating Committee, on the Native Vegetation Council and a Sydney Catchment Authority Board member.

In 1988 John Klem won the award for Conservation Farmer of the Year.

angus gibson — director

Angus Gibson was appointed as a Director to the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority in May 2004. He manages a grazing and rural tourism property on the Mulwaree Chain of Ponds Rivulet near Goulburn.

Angus holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Wildlife Biology and natural resource management) from the University of Canberra. He is the Chair of the Wollondilly Landcare Committee and he was a member of the Wollondilly Catchment Management Committee.

Jenny smith — director

Jenny Smith was appointed as a Director to the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority in May 2004. She lives in the Blue Mountains and has qualified to study for a Master of Environmental Science with Macquarie University. Jenny has owned and run various business enterprises over 17 years prior to concentrating on catchment management. She has worked as an environmental consultant for five years.

Jenny has been a Board member of the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Board, represented the NSW Nature Conservation Council on the Hawkesbury–Nepean River Management Forum and was a Trustee on the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Trust and Program Leader of the Trust's Community Action and Education Programs. She has served as a member of the Total Environment Centre’s Management Committee and is on the Board of the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Foundation.

xvCatChment aCtion Plan

Kenneth Wheelwright — director

Kenneth Wheelwright was appointed as a Director to the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority in May 2004. He manages a grazing property on the upper reaches of the Wollondilly River and has an active interest in developing sustainable and profitable farm management practices.

Kenneth holds a degree in Rural Science from the University of New England, and teaches agriculture to tertiary students. He has obtained a Bachelor of Business from Charles Sturt University and has received training in holistic management.

Kenneth is also a member of the Board of the Sydney Catchment Authority.

mary howard — director

Mary Howard was appointed as a Director to the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority in August 2004. She has a background in farming and boat building and is involved in a prawn trawl fishing partnership on the Hawkesbury River.

Mary is an associate member of the Hawkesbury Trawl Association. She has an Advanced Certificate in Aquaculture Production (Freshwater) from the North Coast Institute of TAFE.

Mary has a long history of community activity and industry representation and was an industry representative of the Hawkesbury–Nepean River Management Forum and a member of the Women’s Industry Seafood Network.

Bob Wilson — director

Robert (Bob) Wilson was appointed as a Director to the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority in August 2004. He was the Chair of the Independent Expert Panel on Environmental Flows in the Hawkesbury–Nepean, Woronora and Shoalhaven Rivers. This Panel advised the Hawkesbury–Nepean River Management Forum and the Government on river health issues and contributed extensively to the Forum’s report, Water and Sydney’s Future (HNRMF 2004).

Bob Wilson has held several senior government service positions including Secretary for Lands, Chief Commissioner for Water Resources and Managing Director of Sydney Water. He has served on a number of boards including NSW Treasury Corporation, Sydney Water Board, Hunter Water Board, Snowy Mountains Council, Murray River Commission, Public Interest Advocacy Centre, NSW Sustainable Energy Advisory Committee, Zoological Parks Board, and the Royal Botanical Gardens and Domain Trust.

Bob Wilson holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree from the University of Sydney, is a Certified Practicing Accountant and a member of the Australian Computer Society, the Australian Water Association and the Institute of Public Administration.

xvi Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority

structure This document has four parts:

Part A. The Catchment, the HNCMA and the CAP

1. Hawkesbury–Nepean catchment — provides an overview of the catchment and the key issues in sustainable management of its natural resources

2. Hawkesbury–Nepean CAP — talks about the development of the CAP

3. Investment — outlines the scale of investment and the priorities that underpin investment in the CAP

Part B. The targets

4. Community and Partnerships

5. River Health

6. Biodiversity

7. Soil and Land

Part C. Action

8. Programs

9. Collaboration and Partnerships

Part D. Monitoring and evaluation

10. Risks

11. Monitoring and review

It has references and appendices.

The CAP is available to the community and stakeholders through the HNCMA website <www.hncma.nsw.gov.au> and on CD/DVD.

The electronic formats provide readers easy links to:

the River Health Strategy that is a companion document to the CAP and identifies priorities for river health targets

documents that support understanding of the CAP and the operation of the HNCMA

documents and websites of organisations referred to in this CAP.

The total package is designed to assist the reader in understanding the CAP and natural resource management in the Hawkesbury–Nepean. Your feedback is welcome.

Please send feedback via email to: hn@cma.nsw.gov.au

or by mail to: 159 Auburn St, Goulburn, NSW 2580