South Coast Sensitive Urban lands Independent Panel Recommendations for the Tathra River Estate (TRE)

The Tathra River Estate (TRE) is situated about 6 km north-west of Tathra Village   beside the Bega River Estuary.  The above Independent Panel has recommended to the Minister for Planning that up to 300 dwellings be allowed for Stage 2 of the TRE.  At the 2006 Public Hearing re South Coast Sensitive sites, Council’s Director of Planning recommended a maximum density of 100 to 120 dwellings.  The majority of respondents to the Tathra Structure Plan Report also called for up to 100 to 120 dwellings.  At the Public Hearing the Department of Natural Resources officer stated that, "The majority of the site is not considered suitable for urban development due to the biophysical constraints of the site and the potential impacts that development would have on the adjacent Bega River Estuary.”  Both agencies called for deferral of decisions until completion of planning instruments which are currently progressing.

The TRE has a 5km water frontage to the Bega River Estuary and SEPP 14 wetlands.  The high ridges and steep slopes act as natural drainage channels to the river and wetlands.  The Dept. Natural Resources has stated that artificial wetlands won’t work on steep slopes such as the TRE.  A large proportion of this coastal zone land is constrained for development by its steep slopes and drainage lines, proximity to waterways, flood prone land, global warming and rising sea levels, archeological sites, and forestation. 

Estuarine Water Quality.  Tathra is a relatively unspoilt village on the NSW Far South Coast;  its population of about 1700 people increases to over 5000 during the holiday seasons.  For the past 30 years the SEPP 14 wetlands and Bega River Estuary have been absorbing all of Tathra’s treated effluent, following dispersal over the adjacent golf course.  This Estuary or coastal lake remains closed to the ocean for a large part of each year, thus limiting tidal flushing.  During the past 12 months the Estuary has only been open to the sea for about 3 months.  Global warming may further reduce river flow and lead to even more frequent river closures.  The Estuary caters for primary and secondary recreation.  It is a declared recreational fishing haven and breeding ground for fish and endangered birds such as Pied Oyster Catchers and endangered Little Terns.  Protection of estuarine water quality is therefore vital for tourism and the Shire’s economy. 

Safety Issues:  Bushfires and Traffic.

Access to the TRE from the Snowy Mountains Highway is via one narrow windy road known as Thompson Drive.  During a major bushfire event this road could be cut by falling trees thus limiting access for Fire Brigade, police and ambulance services.  Would these officers be prepared to put their lives at risk by using only one access road through forested land to reach the TRE during a bush fire event?  Approval of another 300 dwellings, above the existing 58 dwellings, could place the lives of well over 1000 residents and visitors at risk at such a time.  

The traffic generated by residents from 360 dwellings will put the lives of pedestrians and travellers at risk.  Travel along Thompson Drive is already hazardous due to the narrow windy road, blind corners, and lack of footpath.  Due to the steep topography there is little scope to widen the road or provide footpaths.  With renewed access to the Bega River and Thompsons Picnic area the additional recreational traffic ( buses, caravans, boats, trailers, cyclists) will increase traffic density and problems on this road.

Current Planning Instruments.  Bega Valley Shire Council is in the process of completing planning instruments; namely the Bega River Estuary Management Plan, Tathra Structure Plan and comprehensive Local Environment Plan.  When completed these instruments should provide the scientific basis for enlightened decision making.  

Evidence of community concern.

The community has been working for 18 years to ensure ecologically sustainable development for this highly visible and sensitive site within the Bega River Estuary.  Over 1500 signatures altogether were collected for 2 petitions during the 1990s, in response to 2 exhibited TRE development proposals of 320 and 500 dwellings.  After much community outcry both proposals were refused by Bega Council and the previous Minister for Planning. 

The majority of submissions for the exhibited Draft Tathra Structure Report Dec.’05 called for low density development and protection of the Bega Estuary, and stated that significant growth was more suited to other areas of the Shire.  The Council report stated that Council staff supported this view. A recent local community survey supports the Tathra Structure Report’s call for low density development. 

Below is a summary of the findings of a 2006 Tathra public meeting relating to the community’s vision for the Draft Bega River Estuary Management Plan.  This summary of the consultant’s Newsletter 2 published on Bega Council’s website, clearly indicates the level of public concern about the Bega River Estuary. 

The question is will the South Coast Sensitive Urban Lands Independent Panel’s recommendation for up to 300 dwellings for the TRE meet the environmental, socio-economic and safety issues which are so important for this sensitive coastal site?

Summary of the values of the Bega River Estuary identified through the community workshop process as part of the Estuary Management planning process.

VALUES

The values that were considered to be most important were:

• ‘Naturalness’ (biodiversity and abundance of life, including birds, fish, and threatened species;

• Natural beauty (feeling of wilderness and isolation) and scenic amenity;
• Recreation / leisure (safe swimming [especially for children], fishing, water-skiing prawning, canoeing, walking, picnicking, etc);
• Economic (especially tourism, which is reliant on other existing estuary values, and agriculture); and
• Educational opportunities.

ISSUES

Twenty eight (28) separate issues were identified through the community workshop and a review of the existing technical data (as highlighted in the previous Estuary Processes Study). The most important issues have been identified as:

• Existing catchment management practices, eg stock watering from the river,unfiltered sediment and nutrient runoff, sediment runoff from cleared bushfire Asset Protection Zones (APZ) around rural-residential development, especially on steep slopes;

• Loss of riparian vegetation along foreshore, especially on private lands;
• Excessive / inappropriate development (especially visible / obtrusive) around the estuary and the associated results of population growth, water quality impacts, effluent disposal and loss of social and recreational amenity;

• Public infrastructure (existing condition, need for additional infrastructure)

•  Overfishing by recreational fishers (ie, bag limits too high given the sensitivity of the estuary);

• Artificial entrance management to balance competing human and environment  needs;

• Potential poor water quality given catchment and point source inputs of pollutants;

• Climate change, including sea level rise, wave climate (and associated entrance processes) and rainfall / evaporation;

• Lack of effective planning instruments to protect estuary values;

• Protection of threatened species from recreation; and

• Unnatural hydrological regime of SEPP-14 wetlands.

 MANAGEMENT GOALS/PRINCIPLES ( DRAFT)

Management of the Bega River Estuary will accord to the following overarching goals, or principles:

1. The healthy, diverse and viable ecosystems of the Bega River Estuary shall be maintained and protected for future generations.
2. The scenic beauty and wilderness character of the Bega River Estuary shall be preserved for enjoyment by residents and visitors now and in the future.
3. The Bega River Estuary shall remain a place of great recreational and tourism value, with minimum impacts on the natural environment

The above extract is taken from the Bega River Estuary Management Plan second community newsletter. The Management Plan is being developed by Bega Valley Shire Council and State Government (Department of Natural Resources) to guide future management of the estuary, keeping it healthy, productive and sustainable.

This newsletter describes the outcomes of a recent community workshop, and presents some suggested directions and objectives for future management of the Bega River Estuary. 

Dr Philip Haines,  WBM Pty Ltd.  PO Box 266 BROADMEADOW NSW 2292.  For further information, please contact Philip on (02) 4940 8882 or phaines(at)wbmpl.com.au   October 2006 or view it on Bega Council’s website http://www.begavalley.nsw.gov.au/Environment/estuaries/estuaries.htm#related%20documents