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Wilsons River Catchment Management Plan
Final Draft Plan Being Prepared
The draft Wilsons River Catchment Management Plan, and associated documents, was available for public review for four weeks between 22 June and 17 July 2009. This was advertised through local newspaper articles and advertisements, the members of the Catchment Working Group, and various e–lists of interested parties. Thankyou to everyone who provided feedback on this important document. Ecos Environmental Consulting are currently integrating comments into the final draft.
If you wish to view the draft plan which went on public exhibition, you can still download it from www.wilsonsriver.wikispaces.com . The period for submission, however, has now ended.
To find our more about this project, please use the following links:
An Introduction to the Project
Community Involvement
’In the Flow’ Newsletter
Who to Contact
An Introduction to the Project
Rous Water is currently developing a Catchment Management Plan (CMP) for the catchment area of the Wilsons River Source (a new major water source for the Far North Coast region). The project has run through 2008, with the draft CMP being on public exhibition between late June and mid July.
The Wilsons River Source (previously known as the Lismore Source) involves pumping water from the tidal pool on the Wilsons River at a site adjacent to Howards Grass and pumping to Nightcap Water Treatment Plant for subsequent supply to consumers through the existing water distribution infrastructure.
Due to the open (uncontrolled) nature of the water catchment areas that influence water quality in the Wilsons River at Howards Grass, a comprehensive catchment (risk) management program will be a key component of the operation of the Wilsons River source.
A consulting consortium led by Ecos Environmental Consulting has been engaged to develop an integrated whole–of–catchment Catchment Management Plan (CMP) including an environmental monitoring program to support the adaptive management of the Wilsons River source and its associated water catchment area. Ecos specialises in catchment water quality and natural resource management and will be assisted in the project by Water Futures (public health and water supply consultants), Fluvial Systems (river management consultants) and Sustainable Futures Australia (specialising in community engagement).
Community Involvement
A community consultation program is integrated into the catchment management planning process. It has included a range of ways to get involved with the project and many people had productive input.
Aspects of community consultation have included:
• specific information and local knowledge about sub–catchment areas being sought by Ecos
• a working group of interested stakeholders met 4 times throughout the project (facilitated by Sustainable Futures Australia)
• information days in sub–catchments and at Big Scrub Day
• a series of newsletters and information provided on the Rous Water website and to an e–list
Key stakeholders that are being consulted include:
• government authorities and local councils
• local Aboriginal community
• commerce and industry (rural and urban based)
• community and interest groups (including conservation, Landcare and sub–catchment communities)
The primary task of the community consultation program is to answer the question"What are the water quality and catchment issues of significance for the community and key stakeholders?" and to integrate this information into the catchment management planning process.
’In the Flow’ Newsletter
Rous Water’s Catchment Working Group, representing various interest groups in relation to Wilsons River catchment, is publishing a regular newsletter to update people on the progress of the Wilsons River Catchment Management Plan.
Who to contact
Sustainable Futures Australia, a consultancy group based in Byron Bay, is working with Ecos to facilitate the community consultation process. They are the primary point of contact throughout the project.
So, if you have any enquiries about the project, please phone Elizabeth Bragg on 66857194 or email wilsonsriver@sustainablefutures.com.au