Effluent plans are only one option

Injecting high quality treated effluent into groundwater at the Woy Woy borefield was only one option under consideration, according to Gosford Council's Manager of Asset Management Ms Pam McCann.

If it did occur, it would be "six-star" treated effluent, "a higher standard than current drinking water", she said.

It would be used "as a salt water barrier to protect the aquifer" rather than injected into "the mount of the aquifer for use in the borefield".

Ms McCann said comments in Peninsula News which stated that secondary treated water would be injected into the groundwater were "incorrect".

Ms McCann also said that council had been completely transparent with the many water recycling initiatives it had underway.

"Council resolved on August 1 to undertake a water recycling community information program to facilitate best practice water recycle management and community acceptance of any proposed water recycling projects," Ms McCann said.

"As part of this program, a Gosford Council Public Water Forum will be held on October 7 at the Erina Centre where recycling along with other water activities will be presented and discussed with the community."

Ms McCann said a recently-completed water recycling initiatives study listing possible options had been presented at a Community Environment Network public water forum, documented in an open council report on September 5.

"In fact, two community representatives attended the stakeholder workshop in March to evaluate the options as part of the study," Ms McCann said.

Ms McCann also said council was not under any requirement to treat the development application for the water treatment plant has an integrated development, following comments from the Department of Natural Resources suggesting the water treatment plant should have been advertised as such.

Ms McCann said that the public would get a chance to comment on the borefield, following a 12-month production testing period.

Residents would then get 28 days to submit comments for consideration to the department.

"The bore field scheme is not a 'fait accompli'.

"The test licence is only for the initial 12 months production testing of the proposed 14 production bores, to allow enough time to determine and prove the sustainability of the bore field," Ms McCann said.

"The department requires this preliminary work to be done at the same time we are making water.

"This normally applies in circumstances where there are many groundwater and environmental impacts to be assessed.

"The department's Newcastle office advised that once this period was completed the department would generally advertise the applications for comment, allowing a period of 28 days before close.

"Under the Water Act, this is not generally required, but only if a free flowing artesian bore/s etc.

"However in particular cases, the department likes to advertise and get public comment.

"The comments received are taken on board by the department in its assessment of the annual allocation given to each bore.

"The department has advised verbally that this will be the process.

"This process has already been taken in a number of playing field bores in respect to the department issuing allocations in Gosford and Wyong.

"Undertaking a wide range of monitoring and data collection during this test period can enable a realistic appraisal be made of what will be allowed at the end of the day."

Ms McCann stated that groundwater monitoring would take place, similar to that already in train for the Ourimbah and Mangrove Weir bore fields.

She said the bore field management plan would involve both a groundwater management plan and an environmental management plan.

"There are multiple numbers of monitoring bores already in place in the bore field.

"These will be used to monitor standing water levels, and basic water quality parameters such as Ec (salinity) and pH (acidity) and DO (dissolved oxygen)," Ms McCann said.

Ms McCann said groundwater-dependent plant communities such as the Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland, the Melaleuca Wetlands and Everglades Lagoons had been identified and mapped, with recommended monitoring sites back in July last year.

She said that four major sites had been identified.

"The department will make its own assessment prior to sign off on the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) requirements," Ms McCann said.

"The plan will generally set monitoring targets, frequency of sampling, indicate value or level indicating potential impact, action/s required, follow up action/s, reporting required to the department.

"The methodology will involve floristic surveys, condition assessments, wetland monitoring, flora photo monitoring, plant ID, and taxonomic review, fauna monitoring, diurnal bird surveys, and amphibian surveys.

"Council will have in place a baseline survey, ecological monitoring report, prior to the bore field production commencing.

"It is expected these will be carried out in the coming months and just prior to the bore field coming into operation in March 2007.

"Basically there will be a lot more data and assessment concentrated on these specific and nominated areas then there is at present.

"The groundwater and environmental management processes to date, with all the other operating bore fields (Ourimbah, Mangrove Weir, Somersby, Braithwaite, and Mardi) has been kept flexible with any changes suggested and required by the department, over the period being incorporated by council."

Press release, September 6, 7 Pam McCann, Gosford Council