Koolewong marina conditions outlined

The environmental conditions placed on the approval of the Koolewong Marina have been outlined in a summary of final proposed amendments and an aquatic ecology assessment.

The developer was required to prepare and implement a sea grass management plan to the satisfaction of the NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries).

"The plan shall outline measures to protect and minimise loss to seagrass communities found within and surrounding the site during both construction and operation of the project," said the Department of Planning and Environment's notice of modification of the project approval.

"Construction teams should be made aware of the importance of avoiding navigating over seagrass, particularly in shallow areas.

"If movements over seagrass are necessary during construction then these should be done at high tide, while travelling slowly and ensuring that adequate clearance is maintained between seagrass and propellers."

Construction teams will be prohibited from deploying anchors within the seagrass.

A no wash speed limit is to be enforced on vessels during the marina construction as they approach and move around the work site.

The developer was expected to establish background levels of turbidity at the site and identify appropriate methods to monitor those levels during construction, in consultation with the Office of Environment and Heritage.

"Real time turbidity monitoring shall be conducted continually during the installation of piles with a handheld turbidity metre in close proximity to the seagrass beds" and if it exceeded predetermined levels work was to cease until it returned to those levels.

Silt fences and erosion control measures will be placed around the site for the car park reconfiguration.

The marina owner is also required, in consultation with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries), to regularly monitor seagrass species health and cover within and surrounding the site commencing from the start of construction and continuing for three years.

Appropriate mitigation measures are required to be in place if the construction and/or operation of the marina "causes unforeseen adverse impacts upon seagrass species health and cover in their pre-construction state".

Once the marina is operational, it is to be operated in accordance with the provisions of the Marina Environmental and Operational Management Plan dated August 2015.

The conditions of approval require the enforcement of a no wash speed limit for vessels and deep draft vessels will be berthed in accordance with the particular Australian Standard.

According to the approval modification documents, Marmong Marina Properties is required to make information available to future marina members and boat owners about the importance of sea grass "in order to raise awareness and ensure ongoing management of the existing seagrass beds".

Information, such as signage, will be provided to marina users on the presence and distribution of seagrass at the site using maps.

"The importance of this environmentally-sensitive area will be outlined and details on how and why to avoid damaging seagrass provided."

According to the developer, the depth of water at the closest point of the marina is three metres and beyond the seagrass line so boats with deeper draft are not expected to have an impact on the seagrass.

Boat owners will be prohibited from deploying anchors within the seagrass and will be required to avoid navigation across seagrass beds particularly in shallow areas.

A northern cardinal marker will also be sought from Roads and Maritime Services to highlight shallow water and create a vessel exclusion zone.

The shading effects of the jetty, pontoons and walkways will be mitigated by replacing the existing jetty boarding with "seagrass-friendly" decking and keeping the length and width of floating structures to a minimum.

Mitigation measures will also need to be implemented to reduce the potential risk of water contamination from boats.

Those measures will include: the provision of information to boat owners about the environmental problems associated with copper-based anti-fouling paints; containment measures for accidental spillages of waste materials including fuels and oils; prohibition of sewage discharge; and provision of information about the location of Brisbane Water pump out facilities in addition to the marina's own pump out.

A marina manager will be on site seven days a week from 9am to 5pm to ensure mitigation measures are upheld.

Outside of hours signage is to display numbers for the marina manager and the Office of Environment and Heritage.

Website, 14 Apr 2016

NSW Planning and Environment, MP10_0209 Mod 1