Annual Report 2009/2010 - Hawkesbury City Council - NSW ...

Response to the issue
Hawkesbury City Council relies of the provisions of State Environmental Planning Policy No 55-
Remediation of Land (SEPP 55) in order to implement a contaminated land management framework
within the Hawkesbury City Council area. SEPP 55 applies to all land within the Hawkesbury City Council
area.
Future directions
In determining all rezoning, subdivision and development applications, Council must consider the
possibility of land contamination and the implications it has for any proposed or permissible future uses of
the land. A precautionary approach will be adopted to ensure threat any land contamination issues are
identified and dealt with early
Acid Sulfate Soils
Introduction
Acid sulphate soils are widespread in our estuarine floodplains and coastal lowlands (including mangrove
tidal flats, salt marshes and tea-tree swamps. As with salinity they are also directly affected by
development
Measures of Performance
Measure
1. Not increasing area affected by acid
sulphate soils.
How is the Hawkesbury performing?
This measure of performance is
used by the Hawkesbury City
Council through the implementation
of the Local Environmental Plan.
Current status and trends
The trend is stable because the good quality information on the location of potential acid sulphate soils,
combined with the planning and management measures that have been developed, means that the
creation of actual acid sulphate soils can be avoided.
Response to the issue
Land that may contain potential acid sulfate soils has been identified from maps provided by the former
NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation. These maps, known as Acid Sulfate Soils Planning
Maps, establish 5 classes of land based on the probability of acid sulfate soils being present (Class 1
being the most likely and Class 5 being the least likely).
Clause 37A of thee Hawkesbury Local Environmental Plan 1989 states a person must not, without the
consent of the Council, carry out works described in the following table:
Future directions
Preliminary assessment is required for those development applications seeking consent for works
described and proposed to be located on land classified vulnerable. An acid sulfate soils management
plan is obtained if required and apply best management guidelines for rectification. Acid Sulfate Soils
Assessment Guideline, August 1998, which forms part of the Acid Sulfate Soils Manual.
Page 80
2009/2010 Annual Report