Download Greater Bunbury Land Release Plan 2002

Greater Bunbury
Land Release Plan
2002
Country Land Development Program
4. ENVIRONMENT
4
CHAPTER
4
4.
ENVIRONMENT
Key Points:
• The draft Greater Bunbury Region Scheme –
Environmental Review (WAPC, 2000c)
investigates appropriate strategies to manage
and reduce degradation of the environment
in the region.
22
•
The Water and Rivers Commission (WRC)
protects surface water resources by
designating priority areas over particular
water sources. Under the draft Greater
Bunbury Region Scheme a Special Control
Area (SCA) may be declared over water
catchments to prevent negative impacts of
incompatible development.
•
A significant environmental issue facing the
region is degradation of wetland areas,
which are coming under increasing pressure
from adjacent intensive agriculture and
Rural-Residential development. The draft
Environmental Review suggests a series of
management strategies that might be
implemented to reduce damage to wetland
areas.
•
New development proposed around the
Leschenault Estuary could introduce
problems, such as nutrient contamination.
In order to minimise these problems,
developments should be designed with
consideration being given to Water Sensitive
Design (WSD).
•
Due to extensive clearing and predation,
many species of fauna are no longer present
in the region. However, remnant vegetation
still provides a habitat for some species.
These are coming under threat from
continued development.
•
The foreshores of the region’s major water
bodies, such as Leschenault Estuary and
Lake Preston, could be appropriately zoned
to protect native bird species from
development.
•
The coastline is a valuable asset to the
Greater Bunbury Region. The draft Greater
Bunbury Region Scheme facilitates the
protection of the foreshore and dunes along
most of the coastline within the region.
4.1
INTRODUCTION
This section provides an overview of the Greater
Bunbury Region’s natural environment. It generally
outlines the region’s environmental characteristics
and then examines the relationship between existing
and future Residential, Commercial and Industrial
development. A good synthesis of issues,
management strategies and potential outcomes is
provided in the draft Environmental Review of the
GBRS. This review refers to the large body of work
already produced, including broad strategy
documents and more specific area-based studies,
which investigate and formulate appropriate
strategies to manage and reduce degradation of the
environment in the region. These detailed
investigations should be consulted where a more indepth review of environmental issues confronting the
region is required.
4.2
COAST
The region has approximately 80 kilometres of
coastline of almost unbroken sandy beaches
extending south from the Shire of Harvey to the
Shire of Capel. Within the region, there is a
concentration of people living near the coast. As in
other areas throughout the State, great value is
attached to coastal land ownership. Consequently,
there is increasing competition for land adjacent to
the coast to be used for housing, recreation,
conservation, industry, mining, and farming
activities.
Management based on an understanding of natural
processes over a long period of time is fundamental
to conserving natural values of the coast and
reducing the risk to public and private property. The
draft Greater Bunbury Region Scheme facilitates the
protection of the foreshore and dunes by creating
appropriate reserves along the majority of the
coastline within the region. The width of the reserves
varies in response to the width of the coastal dunes,
the presence of existing developments, the presence
of existing Crown reserves and the intended use of
each sector of the coastline.
Future proposals for coastal development in the
region will be subject to the minimum setbacks
inside reserve areas as well as any additional
setbacks found to be necessary by local government.
The foreshore reserve is likely to be managed by
local government for a combination of conservation
and recreation in accordance with local structure
plans and coastal policies.
G R E AT E R B U N B U R Y L A N D R E L E A S E P L A N 2 0 0 2
CHAPTER
4
According to the draft Greater Bunbury Region
Scheme, a number of proposed projects have the
potential to contaminate groundwater aquifers.
These industries should be permitted in this area
only if they can demonstrate appropriate
management and limited potential for groundwater
contamination.
4.3
4.5
SURFACE WATER
To protect surface water quality, the WRC has
developed a classification system for public water
sources to guide decision-making and control land
uses. The classification system designates areas as
either Priority 1, 2 or 3. Priority 1 Water Source
Protection Areas are designed to ensure there is no
degradation of the water source. Priority 2 is defined
to ensure that there is no increased risk of
degradation of water and water source. Priority 3
areas are intended to minimise the risk of pollution
to the water source. The Priority method is not
statutorily recognised in country areas, however,
amendment to the Country Areas Water Supply Act
1947 is proposed to permit future use of this
classification system. At present, the WRC provides
local governments with advice on the compatibility
of land uses within Water Source Protection Areas
classified as Priority 1 or 2 (WAPC, 2000c).
The draft Greater Bunbury Region Scheme contains
provisions for a SCA to be declared over proclaimed
catchment areas to prevent incompatible
development, in consultation with the WRC. The
draft Public Water Supply Catchment Policy (WAPC,
2000d) has been prepared to state clearly the land
use planning and development control requirements
for Priority 1 and 2 Water Source Protection Areas
proclaimed within existing surface water catchments.
4.4
In recognition of increasing development pressure on
land along the Brunswick, Collie and Preston Rivers,
their floodplains were taken into account as part of
the Greater Bunbury Structure Plan (WAPC, 1995).
During the preparation of the draft Greater Bunbury
Region Scheme, it became evident that there was a
need to increase public awareness of constraints to
development in floodplain areas (see Figure 4.1).
The regulations contained in the Building Code of
Australia (BCA) (ABCB, 2002) also were updated to
address the issues created by construction in
floodplain areas.
In the past, to meet expectations within industry,
community and government that flood damage
should be minimised, the WAPC and local
governments have sought the advice of the WRC
regarding appropriateness and/or development
conditions to be placed on applications for
development of land within defined floodplains.
In response, the draft Floodplain Management
Strategy (WAPC, 2000e) was developed to formalise
the consideration of floodplain management
requirements by the responsible authorities when
preparing town planning schemes, and assessing
subdivision and development applications within
floodplains for rivers and the Leschenault Estuary.
4.6
GROUNDWATER
The Greater Bunbury Region covers parts of the
South-West Coastal, Bunbury and Busselton-Capel
groundwater areas. Within these areas, the Water
Corporation and Aqwest (formerly the Bunbury
Water Board) abstract groundwater from a number
of aquifers. In addition to public groundwater
schemes, there are a large number of private bores
that abstract water for domestic supply, stock
watering, irrigation and industry. Water sources are
proclaimed under the Country Areas Water Supply
Act 1947 to protect the quality of groundwater
sources in country Western Australia.
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT
WETLANDS
Wetlands, of various types, are a dominant feature
of the coastal plain in the Greater Bunbury Region,
which contains 230 lakes gazetted under the Lakes
EPP (EPA, 1992). These range from major water
bodies, such as the Leschenault Estuary and Lake
Preston to other seasonally inundated waterways
(see Figure 4.2). Many of the seasonal waterways
have been subject to agricultural clearing over many
years and are now scarcely recognisable. At present,
Lake Preston and the water bodies making up the
Yalgorup Lakes chain remain relatively undisturbed
but are coming under increasing pressure from
adjacent intensive agriculture and Rural-Residential
developments (WAPC, 1999).
G R E AT E R B U N B U R Y L A N D R E L E A S E P L A N 2 0 0 2
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Greater Bunbury - Environment
The Coastal Planning Program (WAPC, 2002) assists
in the development of important coastal plans
around the State to guide land use and management
of the State’s coastal resources. It recommends that
coastal management plans be developed for the
Shires of Capel and Harvey, and that the Bunbury
Coastal Plan (DPUD et al., 1993) be reviewed.
CHAPTER
4
LEGEND
EXTENT OF STUDY
GEOCENTRIC DATUM OF AUSTRALIA
RI
VE
R
Floodway
Flood Fringe
LESCHENAULT
BRU
NSW
IC
K
Flood Fringe - Area that is liable to flooding
in the event of a Preston River Levee breach
ESTUARY
1 in 100 year flood level
1.92 m AHD
Glen Iris Relief Floodway
*The extent of the 1 in 100 year
floodplain for the Leschenault Estuary
has not been shown due to a lack of
suitable contour information.
Levee Bank Buffer Zone
Extent of 1 in 100 Year Floodplain
AUSTRALIND
Existing Levee Bank
C
Proposed Levee Bank
O
RIVER
CLIFTON PARK
INDIAN OCEAN
C
O
LL
IE
Turkey
Point
RIVER
Samphire
Bay
Bar
Island
Casuarina Point
EXTENT OF STUDY
IE
LL
Proposed Preston River DiversionRequired for future expansion of
Bunbury Inner Harbour
Vittoria
Bay
Koombana
Bay
EATON
In
ne
r
SS
PA
BY
Ha
rb
ou
r
AUSTRALI
BUNBURY
ND
HIG
S TE
WE
SOU
HW
AY
RN
TH
GLEN IRIS
EX
TE
NT
RA
ILW
AY
CAREY PARK
OF
ST
UD
Y
RAIL
WA
Y
WA
HIGH
Y
DAVENPORT
WITHERS
EE
D
G
UL
ROAD
BUSS
ELL
S
BOYANUP
LE
LY
ROAD
DRIVE
CENTENARY
N
INSET
CAPEL FLOOD DATA
NOT TO SCALE
EXTENT OF STUDY
CAPEL
2
PR
HIG
ES
AY
1.5
RA
ILW
1
CAPEL
0.5
L
PE
CA
0
HW
AY
EXTENT OF STUDY
TO
N
kilometres
RIVER
EL
R
BU
VE
SS
RI
LOCATION OF INSET
EXT
ENT
OF S
TUD
Y
SOURCE : WATER AND RIVERS COMMISSION :
EX
TE
NT
O
F
ST
UD
Y
COLLIE RIVER FLOOD STUDY 1985
BRUNSWICK RIVER FLOOD STUDY 1982
PRESTON RIVER FLOOD STUDY 1987 , 1994
EEDLES GULLY FLOOD STUDY 1989
GLEN IRIS RELIEF FLOODWAY 1988
Figure 4.1 - Greater Bunbury Region Scheme - Floodplain Management Policy
24
ROAD
L
WELD
Reproduced from Figure 1, Draft Greater
Bubury Region Scheme, Floodplain
Management Policy (WAPC 2000)
Ref. Statutory Mapping Section,
Geographic & Planning Information Branch,
Department for Planning and Infrastructure,
Perth, Western Australia.
ntw-map11\strat_plan\industry\cldp\
greater_bunbury\figs2002\gb_fig4.1.dgn
Cadastral Data supplied by Department of
Land Administration, Western Australia
G R E AT E R B U N B U R Y L A N D R E L E A S E P L A N
2002
CHAPTER
4
As outlined in the draft Environmental Review,
management strategies applied to wetlands will
depend on the attributes and management objectives
assigned to a particular wetland. Possible
management strategies for wetlands categorised as
Conservation or Resource Enhancement may
include:
• provision of appropriate setbacks between
the wetland and adjacent development to
minimise any removal of wetland
vegetation;
4.7
•
monitoring of wetland hydrology and water
quality where adjacent to proposed new
zonings;
•
implementation of Water Sensitive Design
(WSD) principles in nearby urban areas to
ensure no stormwater enters the wetland;
•
sewering of Urban and Industrial
developments near wetlands to ensure no
direct drainage into the wetlands; and
•
creation of buffer areas to minimise direct
disturbance, water quality and water level
impacts of nearby developments.
LESCHENAULT ESTUARY
Under the draft Greater Bunbury Region Scheme,
there are a number of new Urban, Urban Deferred
and Industrial activities proposed inside the
Leschenault Estuary catchment. These new
developments could, in the absence of proper
drainage, export a range of contaminants, including
nutrients, hydrocarbons, organic matter and heavy
metals, into the estuary. The potential for this to
occur will depend on the particular land use and the
measures put in place to control pollution.
Consequently, all new areas zoned Urban and
Industrial inside the Leschenault Catchment should
be required to incorporate appropriate management
strategies.
4.8
NATURAL VEGETATION AND
FLORA
The area’s natural vegetation is closely associated
with the dominant landforms and soils. Previous
studies list 43 types of flora in the region, 18 of
which are listed as threatened, endangered or
vulnerable. The most threatened ecological
communities occur in Yarloop, Waterloo, Manea
and the Capel Nature Reserve (WAPC, 2000c) (see
Figure 4.3).
Any identified areas of regionally significant
bushland will be assessed and considered for
inclusion in ROS, as an amendment to the region
scheme, based on similar criteria to those for the
Urban Bushland Strategy (WA Government, 1995)
and Perth’s Bushplan (WA Government, 1998).
Further protection mechanisms may involve some
reservation or encouragement of alternative
conservation measures such as private land
management agreements.
Riparian vegetation along the lower sections of the
Wellesley, Brunswick, Preston, Ferguson, Collie and
Capel Rivers and at the mouth of the MyalupHarvey River Diversion may need to be protected.
Small parcels of remnant bushland within new or
existing Urban zonings that are too small to be
considered regionally significant may have local
significance. These remnants are most appropriately
addressed at the local planning level through
structure and subdivision plans and local bushland
strategies (WAPC, 2000c).
4.9
FAUNA AND HABITATS
A wide range of native terrestrial fauna would have
once occupied the Greater Bunbury Region prior to
human settlement and development. The decline in
native fauna due to clearing and predation by
introduced species, such as foxes and cats, means
that only disturbance-tolerant species remain.
Under the draft Environmental Review an
appropriately zoned reserve may be created around
the shores of Leschenault Estuary and Lake Preston.
G R E AT E R B U N B U R Y L A N D R E L E A S E P L A N
2002
25
Greater Bunbury - Environment
One major problem created by clearing and
development on the Swan Coastal Plain is a rise in
the average elevation of the water table, which can
have an adverse effect on wetland environments.
CHAPTER
4
REZONINGS AND NEW RESERVATIONS
PROPOSED UNDER THE SCHEME (EXCLUDING
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE RESERVATIONS)
GEOCENTRIC DATUM OF AUSTRALIA
YARLOOP
HIGHW
AY
HIGHWAY
Primary Regional Roads
SADDLE
DAM
RO
AD
RIVERDALE
Public Purposes
LAKE
BROCKMAN
HARVEY RIVER BASIN
RO A
D
LAKE
PRESTON
LOGUE BROOK
DAM
BUNBURY
Other Regional Roads
HARVEY
HARVEY
WEIR
HARVEY
DAM
HS
HS
GO
VER
NME
NT
Port Installations
Urban
Myalup Beach
MYALUP
PERTH
WESTE
RN
Urban Deferred
Industrial
EY
SL
LE
EL
W
BINNINGUP
Riv er
RIV
ER
WETLAND CLASS
SOUTH
LESL
EY
BENGER
Welle
sley
AD
WEL
RO
Basin Wetland
Palusplain
r
ve
Ri
H
RG
BU
EN
N
LU
RIV
ER
River
Brunswick
ICK
SW
UN
BR
LESCHENAULT
ESTUARY
River Basin Boundary
BRUN
BEELA
K
SWIC
RIVER
BRUNSWICK JUNCTION
RIVER
HS
Samphire
Bay
Casuarina Point
COLLIE RIVER BASIN HIG
BYPASS
Greater Bunbury Region
Scheme Boundary
ROELANDS
S
LD
FIE
AL
O
C
Collie
Vittoria
Bay
Koombana
Bay
HIG
HS
BUNBURY
L
A U ST R A
HS
IN
HW
AY
BUREKUP
D
TER
N
River
WATERLOO
S
WE
Rocky Point
HW
AY
OUTH
S
Indian
Ocean
Fe
r
HS
g
us
RO
AD
PR
N
t on
es
TO
HS
HASTIES
ROAD
HIGH
WAY
RIV
SKIPPINGS
AY
HIGHW
Ri
N
UP
YAN
BO
BOYANUP
ESTO
PR
ELL
WELLINGTON
DAM
RN
STE
AD
RO
PEL
CA
BUSS
ER
WE
Stirling Beach
DARDANUP
ROAD
TH
SOU
NIN
UP
Riv
er
Pr
ES
Dalyellup Beach
MIN
on
CENTENARY ROAD
PRESTON RIVER BASIN
ve
RIV
ER
r
N
Peppermint Grove
Beach
STIRLING
BUSSELTON COAST
RIVER BASIN
ROAD
0
5
10
Kilometres
CAPEL
Forrest Beach
NO
G
O
O
DW
O
O
D
Ca
RT
RO
AD
Reproduced from Figure 7, Draft
Greater Bubury Region Scheme,
Environmental Review (WAPC 2000)
Ref. Statutory Mapping Section,
Geographic & Planning Information Branch,
Department for Planning and Infrastructure,
Perth, Western Australia
ntw-map11\ \strat_plan\industry\cldp\
greater_bunbury\figs2002\gb_fig4.2.dgn
Cadastral Data supplied by Department of
Land Administration, Western Australia
Information sourced from draft Greater
Bunbury Region Scheme (WAPC, 2000a)
H
pe
l
G
O
O
DW
O
O
D
RO
AD
River
Figure 4.2 - Greater Bunbury Region - Wetlands and Hydrology
26
G R E AT E R B U N B U R Y L A N D R E L E A S E P L A N
2002
CHAPTER
4
GEOCENTRIC DATUM OF AUSTRALIA
YARLOOP
5
10
Kilometres
LOGUE BROOK
DAM
LAKE
BROCKMAN
HIGHWAY
Reproduced from Figure 10, Draft
Greater Bubury Region Scheme,
Environmental Review (WAPC 2000)
Ref. Statutory Mapping Section,
Geographic & Planning Information Branch,
Department for Planning and Infrastructure,
Perth, Western Australia
ntw-map11\strat_plan\industry\cldp\
greater_bunbury\figs2002\gb_fig4.3.dgn
Cadastral Data supplied by Department of
Land Administration, Western Australia
Information sourced from Draft Greater
Bunbury Region Scheme (WAPC, 2000a)
SADDLE
DAM
RO
AD
RIVERDALE
HIGHW
AY
0
Greater Bunbury - Environment
N
BUNBURY
RO A
D
LAKE
PRESTON
HARVEY
WEIR
HARVEY
DAM
HS
HS
GO
VER
NME
NT
HARVEY
Myalup Beach
PERTH
WESTE
RN
MYALUP
SL
LE
EL
W
BINNINGUP
RIV
ER
EY
SOUTH
AD
WEL
RO
LESL
EY
BENGER
H
RG
BU
EN
N
LU
RIV
ER
INDIAN
BEELA
OCEAN
SW
BRUN
ICK
SW
UN
BR
LESCHENAULT
ESTUARY
ICK
RIVER
BRUNSWICK JUNCTION
BYPASS
RIVER
HS
HIG
ROELANDS
DS
IEL
LF
Samphire
Bay
Casuarina Point
Vittoria
Bay
Koombana
Bay
HIG
HS
BUNBURY
L
A U ST R A
HS
HW
AY
A
O
C
IN
HW
AY
D
TER
BUREKUP
N
WATERLOO
S
WE
Rocky Point
TH
SOU
HS
RO
AD
CENTENARY ROAD
PR
ES
TO
N
DARDANUP
Dalyellup Beach
HS
ROAD
HIGH
WAY
RIV
SKIPPINGS
AY
HIGHW
ELL
N
BUSS
BOYANUP
ESTO
PR
AD
RO
PEL
CA
UP
YAN
BO
WELLINGTON
DAM
RN
STE
Stirling Beach
ER
WE
MIN
ROAD
TH
SOU
NIN
UP
HASTIES
RIV
ER
Peppermint Grove
Beach
STIRLING
LEGEND
ROAD
CAPEL
Remnant Vegetation
( Perennial Vegetation Includes
Modified Vegetation; Derived from
Landsat TM Satellite Imagery 1995/96 )
Forrest Beach
NO
G
O
O
DW
O
O
D
RT
H
G
O
O
DW
O
O
D
RO
AD
RO
AD
Declared Rare Flora
Threatened Floristic Communities
( System 6 Update )
Greater Bunbury Region Scheme Boundary
Figure 4.3 - Greater Bunbury Region - Remnant Vegetation, Declared Rare Fauna and
Threatened Floristic Communities
G R E AT E R B U N B U R Y L A N D R E L E A S E P L A N
2002
27
CHAPTER
4
Planning Implications
Development throughout the Greater Bunbury
Region will continue to affect its natural
environment. In order to limit further
environmental degradation, the draft Greater
Bunbury Region Scheme investigates specific
issues and seeks to develop appropriate strategies
to manage environmental issues in the region.
At present, the WRC protects surface water
resources by designating Priority areas over
particular water sources. The Greater Bunbury
Region Scheme provides for SCA to be declared
over water catchments to prevent negative
impacts of incompatible development.
The foreshores of the region’s major water bodies,
such as Leschenault Estuary and Lake Preston form
important habitats for native bird species.
Appropriate zoning, such as ROS, around these
areas should be implemented to protect these species
from the impact of development.
The coastline is a valuable asset to the Greater
Bunbury Region. The Greater Bunbury Region
Scheme facilitates the protection of the foreshore
and dunes by creating a foreshore reserve of ROS
along the majority of the coastline within the region.
Increasingly, development is occurring within the
floodplains of the Brunswick, Collie and Preston
Rivers. In response to expectations within the
community, industry and government that
floodplain damage should be minimised, a
Floodplain Management Policy has been prepared
as part of the draft Greater Bunbury Region
Scheme. This policy formalises the consideration
of floodplain management by responsible
authorities when preparing town planning
schemes, as well as when considering subdivision
and development applications.
A significant environmental issue facing the
region is degradation of wetland areas, which are
under pressure from adjacent intensive agriculture
and Rural/Residential developments. The draft
Greater Bunbury Region Scheme suggests a series
of management strategies that could be employed
to reduce damage to wetland areas. For example,
new developments should incorporate WSD.
To protect native vegetation, regionally significant
bushland could be assessed for inclusion in ROS,
as an amendment to the draft Greater Bunbury
Region Scheme. Smaller parcels of remnant
bushland within new or existing Urban zonings
that are too small to be considered regionally
significant may have local importance. These
remnants are most appropriately addressed at the
local planning level through structure and
subdivision plans and local bushland strategies.
28
G R E AT E R B U N B U R Y L A N D R E L E A S E P L A N 2 0 0 2