Recent storms couldn't breach the wall of sand

This is how we would like to see the Lake amazingly it is what is being published on the Lake Tabourie Holiday Haven web site as part of their advertising program. Seems odd that the Holiday Haven Tourist Park still promote an open healthy lake when it has been closed or many, many years.

Massive storm front and the Lake remains closed.

The recent storm front that devastated the South Coast dumping unprecedented amounts of rain and an 8 meter Ocean surge did not manage to breach the wall of sand that plugs Lake Tabourie’s lake entrance.

The Lake is currently full above traditional boundaries with a recorded 0.92 meters but does not look even close to breaking through the sand shoal. The exact result we tried to point out to Council if they did not take some course of action to not only prevent a massive flood issue but to lower the burden placed on Mother Nature in trying to restore the natural balance of the Lakes entrance.

Mayor Greens responce 7 May 2010

Update Request – Lake Tabourie Condition

First of all, let me sincerely apologise for the delay in responding to your emails. I am advised that unfortunately Council staff requested to provide technical information inadvertently overlooked your correspondence.

Please find the following answers to the questions you asked in your emails dated 16 February 2010 and 24 February 2010, which have been provided by Council staff.

16 February 2010
Question1
Council in the last 12 months has been developing a Flood Study of Lake Tabourie including advanced modelling of berm heights under climate change conditions. This work will inform further studies and decisions related to entrance management. A paper on this topic has been delivered at the recent NSW Flood Conference. This pioneering work attracted the interest of other councils in charge of management of ICOLLs and is attached for your information. Also attached is the requested report from the University of Queensland on entrance opening procedures. This work will be continued during 2010.

Question 2
Council has 14 estuary systems under its management and is progressively developing and implementing estuary, flood and coastal management programs. The pace at which this happens is dependent on the availability of resources and state agencies funding priorities.

Question3
Opening the entrance will not raise the water levels. The current lake level is approximately 0.4m AHD which means the average lake level is above mean sea level. When the entrance is open, tidal exchange is limited due to friction losses along Tabourie Creek which connects the lake to the ocean. So whilst the lake level may increase at high tide this would be limited as the tidal range in the lake is only 0.28m. More importantly, the average lake level should the entrance be open, would more likely decrease to 0.15m AHD (based on historical records) as the lake slowly drains out to the sea. Historical records show that the average lake level when the entrance is closed is higher than the average lake level when the entrance is open.

Opening the entrance at low levels is unsustainable, the entrance would close back soon after being opened as there is not enough head in the lake to scour a large enough channel. Opening the entrance at low level would also create adverse effects on the lake ecology as demonstrated by the review of environmental factors undertaken by a specialist consultant. There is no requirement under the State Government Policy to open lake entrances to restore lake ecology. The fact that the lake is sometimes closed and sometimes opened is what makes its unique ecology. Opening the lake artificially would affect the natural lake ecology. There is no guarantee that the system will be flushed by opening the lake at low levels. The lake will be naturally flushed when a flood occurs but this does not necessarily result in better long-term water quality.

24 February 2010.
Question1
When property owners apply to Council to connect to the sewer, Council requires the septic tank to be de-commissioned, pumped-out by a licenced contractor, lime washed, a hole put in the base of the tank and the sides knocked in so that it does not hold water. Some property owners wish to keep the tank and convert it to a stormwater holding tank so the water can be used to water the garden. In this case, Council requires that the septic tank is de-commissioned, pumped-out by a licenced contractor and disinfected.

Question 2
Council has seven (7) sampling sites in Lake Tabourie.

Question 3
Samples are collected from all the sites at least four times a year and fortnightly during summer from two sites within the main body of the lake.

Question 4
Council does not test the bed of the lake.

Question 5
When the lake opens the ocean water will partially mix with estuarine water. The complexity of the interactions between different events including dilution, nutrient cycles, chemical and sedimentation processes, and nutrient inputs from catchment runoff does not necessarily ensure that the lake will be "cleaner" if it is opened.

Question 6
General lake health is reflected by a number of parameters, fish populations, foreshore vegetation, concentration of Chlorophyll a, nutrient concentration, etc.

Council is currently working with the NSW Department of Environment Climate Change and Water to monitor parameters that will be reflective of the overall condition of its lakes. These parameters will inform the NSW Natural Resources Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (MER) program. This program will provide information about natural resource condition and pressure on lake health. It is anticipated that report cards will be available to the community in 2010-11.

Question 7
The Flood Study will investigate the relationship between lake entrance, sand build up levels and flooding impact. It is anticipated that the results of the flood study will be presented to the community in June/July this year.

Question 8
Intervention on the sand shoals will be guided by the Lake Tabourie Flood Risk Management Study and Plan. This Study will start in 2010 and the community views on management options will be sought in 2011 during the investigation of different flood management options.

Question 9
Under the NSW Estuary Management Policy, local Councils are responsible for developing and implementing Estuary Management Plans through cooperation between the NSW Government, Local Government, Catchment Management Authorities, landholders and estuary users. These partners are members of Council’s Far South Natural Resources and Floodplain Management Committee which objective is to foster sustainable management of Shoalhaven’s natural resources including floodplains, coast and estuaries.

The Committee provides overall guidance for the management of natural resources including floodplain management, estuary management and coastal zone management in accordance with Federal, State and Local Government Policy and Legislative instruments.

Question 10
Low lake water levels are of natural occurrence and are part of the natural cycle for an ICOLL such as Tabourie Lake.


Question 11
To equitably manage a resource requires identification of the key ecological, social and economic values that people with an interest in the lake consider important and wish to see preserved into the future. Values can be important in a local, regional or national sense. The recent survey of the Lake Tabourie community sought to identify the values of the lake’s resources and the threats to the condition of the resources, so that objectives for future management of the lake can be developed. It is expected that the reviewed estuary management plan for Lake Tabourie will be publicly exhibited by the end of 2010. This review will have been informed by the recent survey and exhibited for comment.

Question 12
Council will not clear and maintain the entrance until such time that existing interim trigger levels for entrance opening are reached. It is not sustainable to open the entrance at low water levels similar to those currently experienced. Future information gathered through the flood risk management program may trigger a review of current entrance management practices as specified in the answer to question 8.

I trust these answers will assist in clarifying Council’s position on these issues.
Kind regards


Paul Green
Mayor

Mayor Green "but you did not answer the question"

Lake Tabourie 1961 note the distinct lake of sand build up at the entrance. How pristine the lake was.







Mayor Green

Thank you for your response and the opportunity to offer comment and ideas for consideration by the Estuary Management Team, however, you did not specifically answer the question within my email but rather responded with general comment. To prevent confusion in what we are looking for I will endeavor to respond to your letter, raise further concerns and specifically list our questions so that you may answer them directly.

1, The sewage scheme for Lake Tabourie, We totally agree, this will have a significant impact on the Lake and the water quality as it was one of the major contributors poisoning the lake and surrounding wetlands. Without dismissing the value of this to the lake it would hardly be correct to say that the Lakes water quality was the ONLY reason Council provided this system, I feel a fair portion may also be contributed to cleaning up their act and providing modern services to a growing and thriving community – so a win, win situation for which we are all pleased with and thank Council for appropriating the local tax payers money accordingly.

One area that I feel needs dealing with is the old septic systems that still remain in the ground, have these systems been commercially evacuated so that in the case of a flood which is eminent in the lower regions these systems do not fill with runoff and once again overflow into the lake depositing left over pollutants.

Q1: What has been done to ensure this can not happen?

2, Poor water quality, Contained within several documents released by the State Government – are statements in one wording or another but to quote one “In recent years, concern has increased about the declining condition of the State’s natural resources. This decline is possibly nowhere more evident than in the rivers and estuarine environments. Water quality has deteriorated, land has become degraded, salinity levels in soils and streams have risen, and native vegetation and its dependent fauna have been lost” I feel that statement speaks for it’s self. But if we can put the interpretation to one side and concentrate on the subject mater, the water quality issue. There are I believe six sampling points around the lake of which can you advise how many are working and how often the samples are taken? It may very well be fair to say that the water quality is good if the lake has been sitting and all has settled leaving a relative clean water column, however, stir up the bottom and what are the readings. The once water covered lake bed is exposed to the open air and when stirred up the stink is putrid, a combination of rotten aquatic vegetation from low water levels, sewerage from days of old and other introduced contaminates. When the lake is open the beds are flushed and cleansed which has not happened for quite some time now, so to rely purely on water sampling and the only indicator of the Lakes quality and health is not by any means a correct practice.

Q2: How many sample points are in action?

Q3: How often are these samples taken?

Q4: Is the lake bed subject to health tests?

Q5: Do you agree or not that when the lake is open the system flushes and goes through a cleansing cycle?

Q6: Is Council stating that water quality is their only indicator of the lakes health?

3, Sand build up, we have all noted and agree the level of sand has increased in the entrance and how it got there, no one is debating that, nor are we debating the fact of low rainfalls and drought type conditions exist and impact on the lakes water level. Our concern is what are you going to do about it? if you leave the high sand build where it is and wait for high rain fall and high seas the flood plain will be massive a concern to us all. We appreciate that Mother Nature is having a bad run here leaving us to contend with and clean up her mess for a change and we should. The sand banks are too high, too high for the lakes to flow as they should and too high not to be of concern in flood management. Is that simply not enough reason to take preventative action and reduce the sand build up to something more inline with the traditional order of things? It has taken many years for Ocean storms to deposit the amount of sand in the lakes entrance as we see now and if cleared properly with little maintenance they should be able to be kept at a reasonable height.

Q7: Is the high sand build up levels in the lake entrances of flood concern?

Q8: Is Council going to reduce the height of these sand shoals as preventative maintenance in the case of flooding?

All of the above brings us back to our point of concern, the point we have been trying to get across, the point we have been trying to get direct answers to. Low lake levels are as unhealthy for the lake as high water levels, we have conveniently legislated action plans to open the lake for high water levels based on damage control. Well the damage control should also extent to low lake levels, when the lake is low the water quality diminishes, the visual appeal diminishes, the wild life diminished, the wetland diminish, the aquatic fauna diminish, the tourism dollar diminish, properly value diminishes, recreational fishing value diminishes and so on. Council has been empowered and obligated to maintain and halt the degradation of these resources according to State Policy so why are we not acting on those policies as the true caretakers.

Q9: Do you agree that Council is obligated and empowered under State policy to halt and prevent degradation of these resources?

Q10: Does Council agree that low water levels are damaging to the lake as a natural resource?

Q11: Does Council value the income stream generated from those that wish to enjoy this resource?

Q12: Will Council clear and maintain the entrance to preserve this resource for low or high water levels?

We look forward to your comments and most import the direct answers to our questions.

Regards



Michael Pawson

Mayor Green responce 22 Feb 2010

Dear Mr Pawson

Update Request - Lake Tabourie Condition

Thank you for your extensive comments on Tabourie Lake conditions. Council is genuinely interested in listening to the views of the community. As part of the review of the Estuary Management Plan for Tabourie Lake, Council has recently conducted extensive community consultation to gather the views of the community on the values and issues associated with the lake. Your views will also be considered as part of this review.

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify and comment on some of your statements. For instance, I am not sure why you say that "Council by their own admission have been recording the declining conditions of the lake." Council has monitored water quality in the lake for many years now. Water quality in the lake has fluctuated between 'Poor' to 'Excellent' but there is no trend showing an ongoing decline. Short term declines in water quality, such as what you may have observed recently, are expected to be reversed if we move into a period of higher rainfall.

The current drought has had a significant effect on the lake. The condition of Tabourie Lake over the last few months has been similar to numerous other lakes on the South Coast. These lakes have all been suffering the effects of drought – closed entrances, low water levels, algal blooms and fish kills.

In addition, the large amount of sand at the entrance to the Lake is echoed at the entrances of most of our lakes. It is not a local factor that is causing sand to build up at Tabourie. The sand is being washed ashore by the ocean (a natural process) and there have not been any recent floods to scour the sand out. Council has trialled removing sand from other entrance (such as Burrill Lake and Shoalhaven River). In the absence of floods the sand quickly accumulates again by natural coastal processes.

Council has committed significant resources to the management of its 14 major estuaries, including Tabourie Lake. It is not true to say that what has been done to date is study after study. The review of the Tabourie Lake
Estuary Management Plan has shown that 88% of the strategies in the Plan have been done or partly done. These actions have included some major on ground projects. For example, in July 2007 Council connected the first house to the new $9.3 million sewerage scheme for the Tabourie village. This is likely to be one of the most significant things ever done for the environment of Tabourie Lake and I expect it will be of enormous long term benefit to the water quality of the lake.

If you have specific suggestions to make about what actions you think Council can take to better manage the lake I would be happy to have them considered as part of the review of the Estuary Management Plan.
Kind regards


Paul Green
Mayor

1439E
D10/37562

Mayor Green answers please

Sent to Mr Green 8/2/10
greenp@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au

Mayor Green

I am writing to you in reference to a letter sent by one of the followers of the “Friends of lake Tabourie” [see attached] I am wondering why you have not responded or at least acknowledged receipt of the email and look forward to your reply. I would also like to bring to your attention our blog site http://laketabourie.blogspot.com an internet forum we created that provides a platform for concerned residence and regular visitors to air their concerns in relation to the deteriorating condition of the lake. The site has only been operational since Australian day and is gaining momentum daily, it would seem there is a large portion of your constitutes that feel they are being grossly mislead and misrepresented in regard to the responsible parties for the caretaking, well being and maintenance of Lake Tabourie.

I am sure you would be familiar with the objectives and mandate of the “Lakes, Rivers and Estuaries Management Policy” prepared by State Government under which local Council are required to maintain these assets and halt degradation. This certainly is not happening, Council may very well be throwing money at the lake but, what is being done is not preserving status quo or halting and degradation - the lake is worsening by the day. Council by their own admission, have been recording the declining conditions of the lakes since 1997 - 13 years ago. One would think that after 13 years we would be fairly close to being on top of the program. So far the little amount of money being spent has being is primarily on study after study, seems duck shoving at best. These assets are a valuable resource to the community, but are treated with what can only be described as contempt. I appreciate Council needs funding support from the State Government but, noted is the lack of pressure / attention in a timely fashion to acquire or manage the acquisition and budgeting of the needed funds. After all the management plan was drafted back 1997, 13 years to petition funding or budget for the expense, what went wrong?

I also appreciate the fact that these ecosystem are sensitive are we should not simply bulldozer a track, however, the objective and mandate of the lakes, rivers and estuaries management policy requires Council to maintain these assets and halt degradation. Council have implemented a flood management plan, a questionable point - we have sanctioned intervention when it is convenient to us in the name of flood control, to prevent damage to property. If the argument is such that the shoaling of the lakes is a natural part of the lakes cycle then we should not interfere with raising water level either. The flood plain that exist now is massive due to the extremely high sand build up across the entrance, why simply apply some common sense and under the maintenance plan remove this sand, lowering the dam wall as such in the name of flood control, from there mother nature may very well take over and break through flushing the lake.

Under the current circumstances do you not think a biannual review is a little long in the tooth, especially in the planning process should Council not be more proactive and concerned about these resources. I noted that at a recent meeting held on the 2nd February 2010 by the “Crown reserve community and commercial operations committee” the Far South Natural Resource & Floodplain Management Committee was not directly involved, why would they not be informed and represented at a meeting, after all this committee was set up and devoted to the development and implementation of the Estuaries Management Plan as required by State Government.

Contrary to your comment about climbing on Coaches and heading off to Government house in order to petition them into action – the lake is Councils responsibility, however, I have written to the HON Tony Kelly pointing out the poor condition of the lake and the lack of attention as required under the Lakes, Rivers and Estuaries Management Policy laid out by the State Government.

The Lake Tabourie Tourist Park has heavy bookings for the Easter period were we plan to hand out fliers and bring to the 2-3 thousand visitors, [regular and migratory] attention, the blog site so that should they wish to air their concerns they can do so either directly on the blog site or direct to the representatives of Council listed in the flier, I hope in the mean time we have enlisted your support moving forward.

I look forward to your acknowledgement of this email and your future support.

NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change assumed responcibility for Lake Tabourie

In April 2007, the Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW assumed responsibility for many of the lakes, rivers and estuaries within NSW. The details of which are outlined on their web site www.naturalresources.nsw.gov.au/estuaries/

The Objective of this policy is to;
To manage the rivers and estuaries of NSW in ways which,
* Slow, halt or reverse the overall rate of degradation in their systems,
* Ensure the long-term sustainability of their essential biophysical functions
* Maintain the beneficial use of these resources.

After reading through the numerous documents listed on this site it is quite obvious that under the terms and conditions of the NSW State Rivers and Estuaries Policy there is a requirement to maintain and restore the natural order of these resources and Lake Tabourie certainly falls under that category.

So who is responsible for implementing this care?

To quote directly from the policy "The NSW Government will rely upon its agencies, local authorities and the community to translate the suite of component polices into practical management strategies. In offering a more coordinated and intensified encouragement role, the NSW Government looks forward to working with the community to achieve the Policy's objectives, so that the rivers and estuaries will continue to provide a quality environment, supporting a full range of community needs and amenities"
As required Shaolhaven Council implemented the Lake Tabourie Estuary Management Plan March 1997. [This can be found on the above website under "Major Estuaries of NSW" scroll to Lake Tabourie, open this file which is specific to Lake Tabourie]

The Management plan is actioned and reviewed by a committee, The Far South Natural Resource and Floodplain Management Committee and is currently under review. This committee is made up of Council and members of the local cummunity. At present the van park is not represented. I do feel the van park should have representation after all between three and five thounsand people visit Lake Tabourie tourist park annually, most regualr visitors.

One initiative the committee took was a community survey date July 2009 to evaluate if there had been change in the things that people valued about the lake, or the issues that need to be managed. The results confirm the thoughts and opinions we all share. The lake is a fantastic resource that we all enjoy, however, it has declined to a shallow, stinky undesirable swamp and the people want it fixed, they want the entrance opened and the lakes natural well being restored.

We need to support this process to ensure the appropriate action is taken to restore and maintain the lake in a fashion that upholds the objectives of the NSW State Rivers an d Estuaries Policy. Time is running short as the review meeting will be held in March this year, the committee is open to suggestions and ideas on what should be done to resolve this, so I am looking for feed back and suggestions that we can present.

Polution, smell, algae, silting, water quality and cleanliness and the enterance are the main factors.

Lake Tabourie walking the green mile

Lake Tabourie 26 January 2010 note the extremely low water levels. Records state the water level at 0.15m on the 26/1/10.





Without intervention the next heavy rainfall may very well transform Lake Tabourie from a saltwater lake into a seething fresh water swamp. Life within the lake relies on salt water and with the lake being less than half full the dilution factor of salt to water will be very high, if the water become too salty or too fresh the impact is significant on the wild life.
The catchment area for Lake Tabourie is recorded to be 43Km2 as such it is highly susceptible to siltation. Heavy rains will see masses of silt from the exposed dry lake banks and flats entering the lake, making it's way into what's left of the deep channels. The already stressed sea grass beds may simple perish under a blanket of slit destroying the vital feeding and breading grounds of many aquatic creatures.

Council identified, silting as a major concern to the ecology of the lake, as well as water quality and dilution capacity a concern to public health from increased levels of bacteria via runoff. [details can be found in the "Tabourie Lake Entrance Management Policy and Review of Environmental Factors" published by Shoalhaven City Council 23/01/01, I have a copy and can email it should anyone want one]

Knowing this,

Why are they not installing simple anti-siltation devices now, before any rainfall washes sediment into the lake.

Why are they not preparing the entrance so that a breach can be easily achieved before flooding occurs.

The lakes current level provides the perfect opportunity to clear out the entrance. The extraordinary low water levels would allow easy access for excavators and tippers to remove the massive sand build up at the entrance and deposit it further down the beach at a minimal cost and minimal affect on traditional wild life.