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DWE Home > Home > across the state > Sydney/South Coast > Major projects

Sydney/South Coast

Major projects

Audley Weir Fishway

In association with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, a rock ramp fishway is to be constructed at Audley Weir to increase the aquatic biodiversity upstream of the weir structure. DNR is managing the overall delivery of the works which were principally designed by the Department. DNR is contributing $350,000 which is a majority share of the cost of the project.

Chipping Norton Lake Scheme

Works are being undertaken to restore a section of the Georges River near Chipping Norton devastated by uncontrolled sand mining. DNR provides administrative and technical support to the Chipping Norton Lake Authority, which is responsible for the restoration of the area.

Comprehensive Coastal Assessment

Local Government require detailed planning information on natural constraints along the coastal margin of NSW where areas of high population growth and development are occurring. The feasibility of various land uses (eg. standard residential, high density, agriculture) was assessed based on underlying soil information such as salinity hazard, acid sulfate soils, erosion hazard and fertility.

Hawkesbury-Nepean Floodplain Management Strategy

A key priority in the NSW Government's $71.3 million Hawkesbury-Nepean Floodplain Management Strategy, these recently completed guidelines provide comprehensive information for new developments on flood prone land. The guidelines aim to reduce future flood losses and damages and provide for safer occupancy of the floodplains. DNR Staff from the Sydney Flood Group managed the preparation of the guidelines and will assist councils in the Hawkesbury, Penrith, Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Hornsby and Gosford local government areas along with the relevant government agencies in their application.

Lady Robinson's Beach

A $7.9 million project to restore and stabilise the northern end of Lady Robinsons Beach on the western shore of Botany Bay was completed in 2006. DNR contributed $4 million to the project with staff from the Sydney/South Coast Region providing technical advice and support.

Lake Illawarra Entrance Improvement Works

A $4 million project is being delivered to improve the entrance to Lake Illawarra. The NSW Government has contributed $2 million in funding towards the project, with Wollongong and Shellharbour City Councils each contributing $1 million. The project is being managed by the Lake Illawarra Authority, with DNR providing administrative and technical assistance. Once completed, the works will result in the lake being open to the sea more often than in the past; improving tidal flushing, water quality, and the lake ecosystems.

South Coast Macro Water Sharing Plans

The Department of Natural Resources is preparing five macro water plans for unregulated rivers in the South Coast. Macro water plans are water sharing plans which apply to a number of water sources across catchments or to different types of aquifers. The plans set rules for sharing water between the environment and water users. They bring water users still operating under the Water Act 1912 into the one licensing system managed under the Water Management Act 2000 and are current for ten years.

Native vegetation mapping, monitoring and assessment

DNR is assisting the Department of Environment and Conservation to compile an integrated native vegetation map for the Sydney South Coast Region. The map will be used by Government and Catchment Management Authorities for decision-making on the rehabilitation and protection of native vegetation.

Shoalhaven River environmental flows

The Department of Natural Resources is developing new environmental flow rules for the Shoalhaven River downstream of Tallowa Dam. The new flow rules will vary the amount and timing of water released from Tallowa Dam to better replicate natural flow patterns.  This will benefit fish, plants and animals living in or around the river, particularly native species which prefer a naturally variable flow regime.

Snowy River Flow Response Monitoring Program

A long term program of data collection is underway on the Snowy River to assess the effects of increasing the amount of water released from Jindabyne Dam over the next 10 years from 1% up to 21% of average annual flows. Data is being gathered on hydrology, river bed structure, water quality, aquatic and riparian vegetation, macro-invertebrates and fish.

Soils Information for Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA

The Department is collecting soil data (i.e. maps, soil samples and information on land limitations) for the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment. The objective is to provide detailed soil information to inform decision-making in agriculture and urban land use planning.