Minutes of the ordinary Council meeting - 25 September 2012

Faecal matter run-off from properties with stock on them that may contain
pathogens and viruses harmful to human health.
There are many ways of improving the protection of the catchment. The most
practiced is revegetation of river corridors and catchment areas. Vegetation along
river corridors and in catchment areas traps runoff from properties and provides
filtration of runoff prior to it entering the river. This also significantly reduces the
potential for erosion and greatly improves the control of sedimentation within the
environment.
To ensure that Council protects the Sherwood Borefield catchment area, in 2010
Council staff prepared a Plan of Management for the Borefield. The Plan of
Management identified a number of areas requiring remediation works, to reduce
runoff and erosion, and suggested a number of methods of remediation, including
engineering works and revegetation. Revegetation in most circumstances is the
preferred option as it is usually less expensive and more aesthetically pleasing in
appearance.
In 2011, Council began discussions with the Catchment Management Authority
(CMA) to develop ways in which we could work together with adjacent landholders
in implementing the revegetation works suggested in the Plan of Management. The
CMA suggested that Council support a large scale project for biodiversity
revegetation in the area together with the landholders. The CMA applied for and
was successful in obtaining grant funding, over three years for this project.
Council‟s involvement in this project includes undertaking revegetation works
adjacent to the recharge channel, at cost, and revegetation works within the river
corridor, funded by the grant. A map of the intended work by Council has been
included as an attachment (Appendix D – Page IS37).
Upstream property owners will also be participating in this program through
vegetation of the river corridors on their properties. It should be noted by Council
that some of the land is actually owned by Council for flood mitigation purposes,
but for a long time has been managed by these landholders.
To receive the grant funding, Council is required to enter into a contract with the
CMA to ensure we deliver the services in accordance with the grant application. The
project will involve staff from Council‟s Infrastructure and Sustainable Environment
Divisions to deliver the outcomes. The contract requires Council to expend the
funds and provide reporting upon completion of milestones. The overall funding for
the program has been outlined in the table below.
CMA
Funding
Council
Contribution
Grant
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 TOTAL
2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15
$27,300 $11,700 $84,300 $41,000 $164,300
$50,000 $13,000 $115,000 $60,000 $238,000
It should be noted that due to delays in grant processing, Years 1 and 2 have been
rolled together to be delivered in 2012/13.
The financial contribution from Council is funded through existing operational and
capital budget allocations in the Water Fund for source water control activities. This
was originally intended to undertake activities within the borefield & recharge
Kempsey Shire Council FULL TEXT Minutes Ordinary Meeting 25 September 2012 Page 66