Comment sought on lagoon plans

A draft plan of management for the Everglades lagoon system is to go on public exhibition for four weeks.

Some key management issues identified in the plan included impacts on flora and fauna, impacts on the Sydney Freshwater Wetland endangered ecological community, lack of melaleuca recruitment, eucalypt die-back, changed fire regimes and water levels with flooding and groundwater extraction.

The Everglades lagoon system consists of seven freshwater lagoons near the Everglades Country Club at Woy Woy.

The plan of management was developed with community and State Government consultation.

The minimum period of public exhibition for the plan is 28 days and the minimum period for council to receive comments on the plan is 42 days from the first day of exhibition.

If no "significant objections" to the plan are received, council has stated it would adopt the plan.

Council officers stated that if significant objections were submitted, a further report would be given to council providing details.

Council is considering funding the program under its capitol works fund next year.

The Everglades Lagoon System draft plan of management was developed by Kellogg Brown and Root, with funding from council and the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources.

The plan provides a framework for the short, medium and long term management of the area.

It also provides objectives for the management of the area, management actions to achieve those objectives and performance targets.

Council agenda EP.66, December 7