Components of the Healthy Lakes Program

Planning Initiatives
Community Education Initiatives
Structural Initiatives
Enforcement

Planning Initiatives

Planning initiatives relevant to stormwater quality management include the development and implementation of:

Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens and Bulahdelah Stormwater Management Plan (draft)
Wallis Lake Catchment Management Plan
Port Stephens/Myall Lakes Estuary Management Plan
Smiths Lake Estuary Management Plan

Community Education Initiatives

Council is currently developing and implementing a comprehensive education and awareness program targeting the local community, local businesses, visitors, as well as Council employees.

The education initiatives aim to raise awareness of the impacts of stormwater pollution on local waterways as well as to inform and encourage individuals to adopt practices that effectively reduce stormwater pollution.

Some of the initiatives of the education program include:

	a regional mass media advertising campaign.
	Development of educational material.
	Direct contact with stakeholders including local residents and school groups.
	a local small business initiative.

Stormwater pollution prevention training with Council's Operational Staff.

Structural

Stormwater Litter Baskets

Council has installed over 100 litter baskets throughout areas of Forster, Tuncurry, Bulahdelah, Nabiac, Stroud, Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens. The litter baskets are successful in capturing pollution including litter, sediments (eg. soil, sand) and organic material (e.g. leaves and grass clippings) prior to it entering waterways.

Figures outlining the quantity of pollution captured by baskets is given below:

	Stroud	Bulahdelah	Nabiac	Forster	Tuncurry	Tea Gardens	Hawks Nest	TOTAL
# litter baskets	7	2	10	12	13	13	13	70
JUNE (kg)	270	5	54	110	50	100	380	969
% Sediments	60	65	37	20	15	70	75
% Litter	10	25	33	66	70	5	5
% Organics	30	10	30	14	15	25	20
Total rainfall	268	339	268	356	268	598.4	598.4
JULY (kg)	160	1	38.5	103	38.5	55	195	591
% Sediments	70	60	35	20	30	50	60
% Litter	5	5	45	70	53	5	5
% Organics	25	35	20	10	17	45	35
Total rainfall	10	90.5	0	12.5	0	232.9	232.9
AUGUST (kg)	140	1.5	31	83	41	280	250	826.5
% Sediments	55	50	25	18	27	65	70
% Litter	5	5	58	78	54	4	5
% Organics	40	45	17	4	19	31	25
Total rainfall	97	37	101.5	127.5	101.5	73	73
# litter baskets	17	2	10	20	21	25	19	Stroud, TG, HN take account from August
SEPTEMBER (kg)	34	2	41	111	68	350	700	1306
% Sediments	25	50	37	27	31	65	75
% Litter	0	10	54	69	65	0	0
% Organics	75	40	9	4	4	35	25
Total rainfall	11.8	45	52.5	46.5	52.5	49	49
OCTOBER (kg)	36	2	53	59	65	310	620	1145
% Sediments	34	55	26	35	32	88	80
% Litter	0	5	74	65	68	2	5
% Organics	66	40	0	0	0	10	15
Total rainfall	38.5	20.5	25.5	8	25.5	44.8	44.8
NOVEMBER (kg)	140	2.5	25	95	67	190	380	899.5	2 weeks
% Sediments	80	60	16	28	16	85	75
% Litter	1	2	84	72	84	0	2
% Organics	19	38	0	0	0	15	23
Total rainfall	161	228.5	15	27	15	42.2	42.2
DECEMBER (kg)	120	3	60	150	77	130	250	877
% Sediments	55	60	27	20	45	70	75
% Litter	1	5	73	80	55	5	5
% Organics	44	35	0	0	0	25	20
Total rainfall	45	47	100	144	100	41	41
2002
JANUARY (kg)	40	5	60	93	60	111	195	564
% Sediments	50	65	17	25	63	70
% Litter	5	5	83	75	37	5	5
% Organics	45	30	0	0	0	25	20
Total rainfall	44	21	37.5	24.5	37.5	28.2	28.2
FEBRUARY (kg)	51	8	70	167	93	380	590	1359
% Sediments	35	60	57	28	63	70	75
% Litter	3	5	0	72	37	5	5
% Organics	62	35	43	0	0	25	20
Total rainfall	220.5	388	277	253.5	277	170.8	170.8
MARCH (kg)	74	3	31	52	52	330	500	1042
% Sediments	20	65	45	37	37	70	75
% Litter	1	3	55	63	63	5	5
% Organics	79	32	0	0	0	25	20
	Stroud	Bulahdelah	Nabiac	Forster	Tuncurry	Tea Gardens	Hawks Nest	TOTAL

Constructed Wetlands

Council has begun constructing a network of wetlands throughout areas of Forster and Tuncurry. Interpretive signs are planned for each of the wetland sites which will help to inform the community about the purpose and function of the wetlands.

How do constructed wetlands work?

Constructed wetlands are effective at filtering and treating stormwater prior to it entering waterways. The primary objective of constructed wetland systems is to remove and retain pollutants. They generally consist of a trash rack that assists in the removal of gross pollutants such as bottles, cans and plastics. Another important component of any wetland is the extensive zone of plants, which assist in the uptake of nutrients that would otherwise enter our waterways and contribute to algal blooms.

The principal components of a constructed wetland system designed for stormwater  treatment

Gross Pollutant Trap

In November 2000 Council installed a Gross Pollutant Trap at Little St Forster. The GPT removes 95% of pollutants greater than 3mm in size, 85% of sediments less than 0.25mm in diameter, collects up to 97% of oils and grease, is able to treat 100% of water flow. It prevents tonnes of pollutants from entering Wallis Lake each year.

An interpretive sign is located at the site to help inform the community about the purpose and function of the GPT.

Enforcement

Legislation is an important aspect in the management of any resource. The Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO) is the principle environmental legislation in NSW.

Under the POEO Act, it is an offence for any person to pollute any waters. "Pollution" includes the introduction of anything (litter, wash water, oil, detergent, paint, etc) into water. It also includes placing anything where it may be blown or could fall into a drain, gutter or local waterway. Council actively enforces this Act and has issued a number of penalty infringement notices.

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Last Updated 31 August 2005