Shoalhaven Clean Waters Model

Consultants start work

SHOALHAVEN CLEAN WATERS MODEL GETS UNDERWAY

As the Commonwealth Government met in Canberra for the 2009 spring session SCWM consultants got to work informing bureaucrats of issues that need addressing in the Shoalhaven Shire. Highlighting especially the need for the Shoalhaven & Crookhaven Rivers to be included in the "Hot Spot" list in the next "Caring for our country" Business Plan upgrading our priority for funding.

Also in their mission plan was to source funding for upgrading On Site Sewage Management Systems (OSSMS) for dairy sheds. This would have a huge beneficial impact on the diffuse pollution leaking into our waterway.

In the near future meetings will be held to gather all interested stakeholders to unite as community to support and encourage the Commonwealth government to see that the Shoalhaven estuary is an iconic waterway which is in need of rehabilitation.

Since the drought began 10 years ago, Warragamba Dam has relied on supply from Tallowa Dam on the Kangaroo and Shoalhaven Rivers. Thousands of megalitres have been pumped up to Sydney to ensure the residents of Sydney City and surrounds have enough water for household and industrial use.

Since the dam was built in th 1970's a minimum environmental flow has been released to the lower estuary. Salinity levels in the lower estuary remain unnaturally high which is possibly the cause of "winter mortality" in Shoalhaven River Oyster stock. Restaurant market grade stock which is 3 to 4 years old can suffer mortality due to lack a fresh water coming down the river this loss has been recorded between 25%- 80% annually.