Showing posts with label Clarence Valley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clarence Valley. Show all posts

Sunday 4 February 2024

Please drive carefully on Clarence Valley roads as endangered Coastal Emus are moving about in the Lower Clarence

 

Clarence Valley Independent, 31 January 2024:




Locals and visitors to the Clarence Valley are urged to keep an eye out for endangered Coastal Emus. Image: contributed



Residents of the Clarence Valley and visitors to the area are being asked to keep a close lookout for endangered Coastal Emus on local roads following the recent death of a Coastal Emu on Brooms Head Road and the sighting of what appeared to be a family of the flightless birds at Palmers Island last Tuesday.


When the Coastal Emu count was done in October 2023, fewer than 50 of these critically endangered birds, that were once widespread across north-eastern NSW, were spotted in their remaining habitat from Corindi to Evans Head.


Coastal Emus are genetically different from all other Emus in Australia, and their loss would have a serious environmental impact because they eat and spread fruits and seeds across large areas which helps keep north-eastern NSW forests healthy and able to support many different threatened plants and animals.


Attacks from feral animals including pigs, dogs, and foxes can cause emu injury or death, particularly in chicks, and you can reduce the risks of attack by keeping your pets secured during the day and reporting sightings of wild dogs, feral pigs and foxes to Local Land Services on 1300 795 299.


The recent tragic death of a Coastal Emu on Brooms Head Road this month prompted Clarence Valley Council to issue the following warning to locals.


The Coastal Emu is a protected animal, both alive and dead.


Please leave remains where they are for the appropriate authority to deal with and to allow cultural repatriation.


You can help save Coastal Emus by reporting sightings of emus in the Clarence Valley Local Government Area via Clarence Valley Council’s online sightings register; installing emu-friendly fencing if you own land where emus roam; and by being on high alert for emus on local roads, following animal warning signs, slowing down and driving to the speed limit.


If you see an emu, log your sighting online at www.clarenceconversations.com.au/coastalemus


Tuesday 30 January 2024

Two persistent fires in Yuraygir National Park under control


 


 Two bushfires have been burning in Yuraygir National Park on the Clarence Coast for well over a week now.

The largest which began in the Sandon River area now covers a fireground of at least 4,246ha.

The second at Lake Arragan  between Angourie and Brooms Head area has only covered 514ha to date. 

Both fires are under control and the current NSW Rural Fire Service advice for the Sandon River fire is set out below:


Advice: Sandon River Fire (Clarence Valley LGA) Monitor Conditions - Minnie Water, Diggers Camp, Wooli.

Posted: 28/01/2024 11:21


Firefighters have contained a fire burning to the east and north of Lake Hiawatha near the locations of Minnie Water, Diggers Camp to the north of Wooli township, and south of Sandon.


The fire has burnt more than 4,010ha and is contained.


Current Situation


The fire has burnt to the north of Wooli and to the north and west of Minnie Water.

Crews undertook backburning operations yesterday along the northern side of Diggers Camp Road and south west of the Minnie Water village.

Rain fell across parts of the fireground yesterday evening and overnight, further easing conditions, with minimal fire activity today.

National Parks and Wildlife crews assisted by RFS crews will continue to black out, mop up and continue to strengthen containment lines today.

A number of campgrounds in the area have been closed and people planning to visit camp grounds in the Diggers Camp area are advised to use alternate campgrounds.

Monitor conditions and stay up to date in case the situation changes. Know what you will do if the situation changes.


Minnie Water – Monitor Conditions


Firefighters conducted backburning operations yesterday south west of Minnie Water village. Crews will continue to strengthen containment lines today.

The fire continues to burn to the south west of the Minnie Water village between Lake Hiawatha and the coast.


Diggers Camp – Monitor Conditions


The fire is burning to the west of Diggers Camp between south of Lake Hiawatha and the coast.

Backburning operations were undertaken yesterday along the northern side of Diggers Camp Road. Crews will continue to mop up and patrol this area today.

People in the area are advised to monitor the situation and know what they will do if conditions change.


Wooli – Monitor Conditions


While the fire remains to the north of the Wooli village. People in the area are advised to monitor the situation and know what they will do if the situation changes.


What you need to do


  • People in the Minnie Water, Diggers Camp, and Wooli areas stay alert and monitor your surroundings.

  • Watch out for emergency services personnel and follow their directions.

  • This means looking out for burning embers, changes in wind direction and smoke. Watch for signs of fire in your area.

  • Know what you will do if the fire impacts on where you are. Identify a safer location in case the situation changes. This may include a well cleared area or a solid structure such as a home.

  • If you are not prepared to the highest level, leaving early is the safest option.


If you are threatened by fire


  • If the fire impacts, seek shelter in a solid structure such as a house to protect yourself from the heat of the fire.

  • Bring pets indoors and restrain them, close all doors and windows and turn off air conditioners, keep water running if possible.

  • Shelter in a room on the other side of the building from the approaching fire, and one that has water and a clear exit out of the house.

  • Monitor both inside and outside for small fires and burning embers and turn sprinklers on if you have them.

  • Be careful outdoors after the fire has passed as trees can be unstable and fall.

  • If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000). 


There are currently no total fires bans in the Northern Rivers region.


Tuesday 14 November 2023

Domestic Violence Assaults in the Clarence Valley remain well above the state rate in 2023

 

"A Clarence man with a history of DV broke into his partner’s home with a group, bashed her and screamed he would “kick the unborn baby out” of the woman, a court has heard." [Daily Telegraph, 8 November 2023]



In 2022 there were 273 Domestic Violence Related Assaults recorded by police in the Clarence Valley Local Government Area (LGA) and the majority of these incidents appear to have occurred in residential properties.


The 2022 full year total for Domestic Violence Related Assaults showed an increase in the number of recorded incidents by +73 compared with the previous year.


This 2022 total gave the Clarence Valley a rate of 527.7 incidents for every 100,000 head of the state population and, a two year trend for Domestic Violence Related Assaults of 35.1%.


It also ranked this LGA at 49th in a field of 128 NSW LGAs placing it in the top 39% of councils recording this crime category in 2022.


Between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023 there were 312 Domestic Violence Related Assaults recorded by police in the Clarence Valley, an increase on the number of incidents recorded of +96 compared to the previous July to June period.


While the valley-wide reported incident rate for this crime category remained at 575.9 per 100,000 population, at 147.2 above the state rate in July 2022-June 2023 it was no longer considered "stable" and the rate was markedly higher in postcode 2460 encompassing Grafton City & environs at 769.6 making parts of this postcode designated "hotspots".


BOSCAR, NSW Crime Tool
Snapshot retrieved 13.11.23


The Clarence Valley two year trend percentage for Domestic Violence Related Assaults stood at 43.8% in July 2022 to June 2023.


NSW Local Court lists for 6-13 November 2023 indicated that at least 59 matters before the Grafton court involved allegations of domestic violence.


NOTE: The quote at the head of this post does not indicate a finding of guilt. The matter remains before the District Court at time of publication.



SOURCES


BUREAU OF CRIME STATISTICS AND RESEARCH

(BOSCAR):


  • NSW Recorded Crime Statistics, June Quarter 2023

  • NSW Recorded Crime Statistics, June Quarter 2023

  • NSW Local Government Area excel crime tables - Clarence Valley.


NSW COURT LISTS - Grafton



Monday 6 November 2023

The NSW Minns Government continues to make the right noises about ceasing residential development on the state's floodplains, however it is uncertain how committed it will be in practice given the pressure construction & development industries can bring to bear


 An number of uncomfortable caveats are apparent in the following statements made concerning New South Wales floodplains....


*yellow highlighting in this post is mine*


AAP General News Wire. 3 November 2023:


More planned developments could be scraped in NSW after a state government report found there was a risk to residents' lives in flood plain areas.


Plans to build extra homes on high-risk flood plains could be shelved across NSW after the state government axed the rezoning of land on Sydney's outskirts.


The decision to scale back the developments on the city's northwestern fringe followed a state government flood report that declared there would be a “risk to life” in the case of a mass evacuation.


Planning Minister Paul Scully said the government was considering extending the measure to any dangerous flood plain area, although he declined to give a clear definition of what that would entail.


"It's one, not unreasonably, that puts lives at risk," he told a budget estimates hearing on Friday.


"The definition of dangerous will vary based on the frequency, the severity (and) the capacity for people to leave."


The state government on Sunday announced it was scrapping rezoning plans for Marsden Park North and parts of West Schofields, which were due to be developed with more than 10,000 homes.


Plans for a new Riverstone Town Centre will also no longer go ahead.


The decision followed the release of a flood evacuation report, which found there was a risk to life in areas such as the Hawkesbury-Nepean basin.


Mr Scully on Friday described the area as the plain with the highest unmitigated flood risk of anywhere in Australia.


The report said the number of people unable to evacuate from the region in the case of a flood increased significantly if all potential development was to occur.


"For example, for a 1-in-500 chance per year flood (similar to the worst flood on record), the risk to life would increase from an estimated 980 people under committed development to around 23,700 people by 2041," it read.


Opposition Leader Mark Speakman called on the government to be transparent about its modelling, referring to criticisms of the evacuation report by former NSW Police deputy commissioner Dave Owens.


"Obviously governments cannot be reckless and put people in harm's way," he told ABC Radio.


Pressed at estimates about whether the government would stop housing developments in other flood-plain regions, such as Clarence Valley in the Northern Rivers, Mr Scully said he was "looking at all options".


"Where there are cases where we believe there should be an intervention, that will happen," he said.


"As a broader policy work, that continues.


"We absolutely won't put lives unnecessarily at risk by building on dangerous flood lines."


Mr Scully said if housing developments did not go ahead, the land could be used in alternative ways.


"Just because you can't use a piece of land for residential use, doesn't mean you can't use it for other uses ... there's sporting fields, there's biodiversity, there's the potential for areas to be zoned as industrial or commercial," he said.



Deputy Premier, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces & Labor MP for Wollongong Paul Scully, media release, 29 October 2023:


Focus on prevention to reduce risk to life during floods in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley

Published: 29 October 2023


The NSW Government is delivering on its election commitment to no longer develop housing on high-risk flood plains in Western Sydney.


The Government is today announcing it has rezoned parts of the North-West Growth corridor to ensure NSW does not construct new homes in high-risk areas.


The Government is also releasing the Flood Evacuation Modelling report for the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley, which informed the rezoning decisions.


No more building on high-risk flood plains


We cannot continue to develop and build new residential towns in high-risk areas, and risk putting more people in harm’s way.


Following a rigorous assessment process and review of expert advice on flooding, it has been determined the proposed rezoning and draft plans for Marsden Park North precinct and Riverstone Town Centre will not proceed.


The plans for the West Schofields precinct will partially proceed, subject to strict conditions.


The three projects fall within the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley floodplain and were put on hold in 2020 until further flood risk investigations and evacuation modelling were completed.


It means that, in line with the NSW Government’s election commitment, and in taking a risk-based approach to planning decisions on dangerous flood plains, of the approximately 12,700 new homes previously proposed – but not approved – under the three rezonings, only up to 2,300 will now proceed.


The NSW Government will continue to work closely with councils and other stakeholders to explore suitable land-use options.


Work is also underway to understand where additional housing can be accommodated to mitigate the impacts of these decisions on the housing pipeline.


Flood Evacuation Modelling report for the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley


The land-use planning decisions follow the release of Flood Evacuation Modelling report for the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley.


The modelling was undertaken to help make better decisions on emergency evacuations, land use planning and road upgrades in one of Australia’s most dangerous flood risk areas.


The former NSW government commissioned an independent expert inquiry led by Mary O’Kane and Mick Fuller into the preparation for, causes of, response to and recovery from the 2022 catastrophic flood event across the state of NSW.


Key recommendations in the report included revised and updated flood modelling and disaster adaption plans to help resolve rezoning decisions.


This updated modelling has been instrumental in the NSW Government’s consideration of the three planning proposals in Sydney’s North-West Growth Area.


The Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley covers over 500km2 of floodplain in Western Sydney, stretching from Wallacia to Brooklyn and Wisemans Ferry.


It includes land in Hawkesbury, Hills, Blacktown, Penrith, Central Coast, Wollondilly, Liverpool and Hornsby Local Government Areas with more than 140,000 people living or working in the floodplain.


The valley is often compared to a bathtub – one with five ‘taps’ flowing in and only one drain. Between 2020 and 2022, the area flooded six times with some of the largest floods seen in decades.


Sadly, this area has suffered even bigger floods in the past, and the Government must consider the risk of similar floods in the future.


The extreme depth of floods in the valley means that large numbers of people often need to evacuate at short notice before roads out are cut off. It is not possible to shelter in place in these areas.


Adding to the complexity, thousands of vehicles need to evacuate using roads and intersections that were not designed for those levels of traffic.


This technical Flood Evacuation Modelling report for the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley will be used to reduce the risk to life by informing better planned evacuation routes for flood events, assesses potential road infrastructure options and inform decisions on potential future developments.


While improvements can be made, the flood challenges of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley are not ones that communities can build their way out of.


The report makes clear that the number of people who will be unable to evacuate increases significantly with potential future development and climate change.


Recognising that decisions to limit new homes on the flood plain could raise concerns for small local landowners, the Government has appointed strategic planning expert Professor Roberta Ryan to provide independent community liaison support to help affected landowners them understand and navigate the issues.


Professor Ryan has previously assisted communities in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and Orchard Hills on land-use planning matters.


For more information read the Flood Evacuation Modelling report or more about flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valleylaunch


A new focus on disaster preparedness


What is clear, is NSW’s ability to prevent and prepare for disasters has been hampered by ineffective funding, with 97% of all disaster funding spent after an event and only three per cent spent on prevention and preparedness.


It’s part of why the NSW Reconstruction Authority was established in December 2022 with the expanded responsibilities to include adaption, mitigation and preparedness for natural disasters.


As part of that, an historic $121 million has been invested in the last Budget to properly resource the NSW Reconstruction Authority and allow the authority to support communities across the state better prepare for natural disasters including bushfires, floods and storms.


The authority is working on a State Disaster Mitigation Plan and new regional Disaster Adaptation Plan to reduce the impact of floods in the Valley and this tool will also be used to better understand the risks.


Today’s announcement is a key example of the preventative work that will be prioritised to reduce the impacts of natural disasters in the state.


Minister for Western Sydney, Deputy Premier Prue Car said:


Western Sydney residents have borne the brunt of recent disasters including the pandemic and floods in the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley.


By stopping unsafe development in dangerous areas on flood plains, and with our Government’s work to reduce the risk of disasters before they happen, we’re making sure communities across Western Sydney, in areas including Penrith, Blacktown and Riverstone, are finally supported and better protected.


When we consider new housing areas, we will look at both the potential for those homes to be inundated in floods, as well as the impact more homes will have on the ability of both new and existing residents to evacuate in emergencies.


We know we can’t stop natural disasters from occurring, but we are committed to doing more to prepare for and prevent the worst of their impacts.”


This new tool will not only help us better plan for evacuations but it will also make our amazing emergency service workers safer by reducing the risks they face when responding to floods in the valley.”


Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:


We’ve all seen the devastation caused by floods in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley – with homes and businesses damaged or destroyed. We also know these communities will only face more and worse flood risks if things stay the same.


There’s no simple solution but we are working on a suite of measures which includes this tool to help NSW better prepare for disasters.


These are hard and complex policy problems – we need to deliver new housing, but it needs to be done safely.


New developments could impact the ability of both new and existing residents to evacuate safely during emergencies, which puts more lives at risk.


I’d rather a disappointed landowner confront me over a decision we’ve made to keep them safe, rather than console them when they’ve lost a loved one because of floods.


We’ve been clear that we will put an end to unsuitable development on dangerous flood plains which puts lives at risk and destroys livelihoods - this model gives us the technical data needed to make those informed decisions and balance competing priorities.”


****************************

Frequently Asked Questions

Flood Evacuation Modelling at:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-10/Hawkesbury%20Nepean%20Valley%20Flood%20Evacuation%20Model%20FEM%20FAQs.pdf


Sunday 5 November 2023

27 days out from the beginning of the 2023 Australian Summer and drought intensifies in Northern Rivers region

 

By 30 October 2023 NSW Dept. of Primary Industries' Combined Drought Indicator mapping showed that drought was intensifying along the North Coast of the state, from Port Macquarie-Hastings up to the NSW-Qld border. 

NSW DPI Combined Drought Indicator mapping, 30 October 2023
Click on image to enlarge



 An est. 42.8% of the region is experiencing intense drought; with another est. 41.6% in drought; and 15.5% considered drought affected.


As of the end of October, the North Coast region was the most affected by the growing drought conditions. State-wide almost half the land area is yet to experience drought. With only est. 3.2% of the total land area listed as in intense drought; est. 13.8% in drought; est. 33.8% drought affected; and the remaining 49.2% unaffected by drought conditions. 


Recent drought history from January 2017 to October 2023 of three Clarence Valley parishes which include major population centres.

Click on images to enlarge








Clarence Valley Council, News, 31 October 2023:


Clarence Valley community urged to reduce water use


A combination of low rainfall and high consumption has put Clarence Valley on the brink of water restrictions.


Due to low flow conditions in the Nymboida River, Clarence Valley's water supply is currently being sourced from Shannon Creek Dam.


Clarence Valley Council has Permanent Water Conservation Measures in place. However, dry conditions are predicted to continue and current projections indicate water restrictions are likely in the near future.


Several neighbouring councils have already implemented water restrictions including Bellingen Shire and parts of Tweed Shire, while Rous County Council, which services Ballina, Byron, Lismore and Richmond Valley, anticipates Level One water restrictions will be activated before Christmas.


"It is now an important time for the community to make a concerted effort to adhere to the permanent water conservation measures in order to delay the introduction of water restrictions," CVC Manager Water/Sewer Operations Andrew Potter said.


"Water consumption across the Clarence Valley has steadily risen in recent weeks, including several days above capacity."


The Rushforth Road Water Treatment Plant (RRWTP) has maximum capacity to provide 22 megalitres per day. Average daily consumption (22.39ML/day) exceeded 22ML for the first time in the week ending Sunday 22 October, when consumption peaked at 28.01ML.


There have been another ten days of more than 22ML being pumped out of RRWTP since 21 September, when temperatures reached 37 degrees for the first time heading into the warmer months.


"Generally warmer weather correlates with higher water consumption," Mr Potter said.


"We understand people are keen to keep their lawns and gardens alive. However, we urge people to consider ways they can reduce their usage….