EPA claims support for efforts to identify bird deaths

The NSW Environment Protection Authority has claimed it has supported efforts to identify the cause of ongoing bird deaths around Blackwall.

The EPA has been involved in water testing throughout the Blackwall drains since 2014, according to the EPA Hunter manager Mr Adam Gilligan.

"Our involvement, as recent as late April 2016, has included water sampling, providing Gosford Council with equipment, technical advice and lab resources," Mr Gilligan said.

"The EPA has also liaised with key residents concerned about bird deaths to ensure water sampling has been conducted at a time that has traditionally coincided with bird deaths, following warm weather and rainfall events," he said.

"The EPA and council have tested for pesticides, nutrients, heavy metals, and potentially toxic algae.

"As part of our ongoing investigations into this issue, we regularly collaborate and share information with the Office of Environment and Heritage, Taronga Zoo and algae experts which has subsequently led us to believe the deaths are not being caused by pesticides, nutrients, or heavy metals.

"It is important to note that in this situation Central Coast Council is the appropriate regulatory authority for this issue, and the disposal of deceased birds, if a large mortality event occurs.

"Community members who come across sick or injured wildlife, or have observed significant numbers of sick and injured animals, should contact the council and wildlife rescue groups such as WIRES or Australian Seabird Rescue," Mr Gilligan said.

Central Coast Council's director of governance and planning, Ms Danielle Dickson, said: "As part of its investigation, the EPA selected the water sample sites as well as the sampling parameters and method.

"Council has assisted the EPA with its investigation by collecting a number of water samples," Ms Dickson said.

"Between September 2015 and March 2016, Council collected water samples from three different locations (a stormwater drain and two stormwater outlets in Blackwall) on three occasions for the EPA.

"All samples collected by Council were given to the EPA for analysis in its laboratory."

Ms Dickson said the results or other details of the water sampling would need to be requested from the EPA.

There are two types of water quality samples that can be collected, according to Ms Dickson: grab samples and continuous samples.

Grab samples provide a snapshot of the water quality at the time of collection.

Continuous samples provide a time series profile of water quality changes.

"Both will provide credible results," Ms Dickson said.

"However, while all water quality parameters can be measured using grab samples, only some parameters can be monitored continuously.

"Council has previously carried out extensive investigations and worked closely with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW Environmental Protection Authority, Taronga Zoo, Australian Registry of Wildlife Health and the NSW Department of Primary Industries to address this issue.

"Unfortunately, Council and other experts from these agencies have not been able to identify what caused the pelican deaths at Blackwall.

"However, a number of causes have been ruled out including lead poisoning, Newcastle Disease, avian influenza, West Marl Virus, bioaccumulation of toxins and vitamin deficiencies.

"Council understands that the water sampling parameters selected by the EPA included metals, algae, toxins, nutrients, total petroleum hydrocarbons and herbicides and pesticides.

Ms Dickson said as part of the sample collection process, and as requested by the EPA, council collected water samples after rainfall as well as at times of high ambient temperatures.

Botulism was ruled out as a cause of mass pelican deaths that occurred at Blackwall in 2012.

According to Ms Dickson, council's procedure for removing birds suspected of having botulism was to place the birds in sealable plastic bags using a shovel to minimise any potential human contact and dispose of them at a licensed waste facility.

She said the former Gosford Council had worked with the community to develop a series of catchment-focused management plans that aimed to improve the health of coastal wetlands while enabling their sustainable use.

"The Brisbane Water Coastal Zone Management Plan was adopted by Council in 2012 and consists of a scheduled sequence of recommended activities that need to be undertaken to protect, rehabilitate and improve the natural estuarine environment, manage the estuarine environment in the public interest to ensure its health and vitality, improve the recreational amenity of estuarine waters and foreshores, recognise and accommodate natural processes and climate change, and ensure ecologically sustainable development and use of resources.

"This plan aims to achieve a standard of water and sediment quality that protects and promotes a healthy aquatic ecosystem, and allows aesthetic enjoyment and appropriate recreational use, as well as protect, retain and rehabilitate existing habitat for estuarine species, rehabilitate degraded habitat and provide for ecological connectivity throughout the Brisbane Water catchment.

"Council is currently working to implement the 183 management actions developed as part of the plan.

"These include a number of planning, maintenance, compliance, education, research and monitoring actions.

"Council also continues to undertake routine water quality monitoring via the Beachwatch and Health of the Waterways programs.

"Beachwatch involves weekly sampling of 22 recreational swimming sites during the swimming season between September and April.

"Beachwatch is coordinated by the EPA, which analyses that data and provides a grading for each site in the annual State of the Beaches report.

"Health of the Waterways involves monthly sampling of 10 sites including lagoons and major creeks.

"The data from this sampling is analysed to develop a score for each site and review any trends.

"Council also takes the issue of littering very seriously and already provides around 1400 litter bins, over 100 pollutant traps, and delivers regular maintenance, education and sponsorship programs to help protect local waterways and wildlife."

Peninsula News asked Council whether old industrial sites and landfills in the Blackwall area could have anything to do with the bird deaths.

Ms Dickson said the council had taken action to filter run-off from James Browne Oval at Woy Woy, a former landfill site adjacent to the Peninsula Leisure Centre.

"The site mainly operated as a landfill in the 1960s before being closed in the early 1970s," Ms Dickson said.

"In 1997, Council implemented a Landfill Rehabilitation Scheme.

"The scheme provides funding to maintain and renovate sporting ovals that are located on reclaimed landfill sites.

"This includes preserving the capping process that is completed at previous landfill sites to minimise any risks.

"Under the scheme, James Browne Oval has been re-levelled (which included importing more fill to further cap the landfill site and ensure it's not exposed), its car park has been asphalted to further cap the former landfill in these areas, and sufficient turf cover has been maintained to provide added protection from sub-surface landfill.

"In late 2015, Council also installed a new drainage system at James Browne Oval.

"This drainage system, which is installed on top of the previous landfill site's capping layer, includes sand filtration that filters any liquid or water entering the drainage lines to remove possible contaminants and decrease the risk of these entering the drainage canal.

"James Browne Oval is also regularly monitored by maintenance staff to identify any potential issues."

Ms Dickson said the need for new pollutant traps was ranked using a set of guidelines to establish the priority of its projects.

"Given funding is limited, this ranking process makes sure that available funding is allocated to those projects identified as a high priority.

"Currently, funding for stormwater drainage improvements is targeted at projects where there are high risks to public safety, the environment, private property or public infrastructure.

"A key issue for Council to consider when deciding to install new pollutant traps is whether it has the funding available to maintain these devices properly.

"If pollutant traps are not maintained properly, they can have an adverse impact on the environment.

"Over 100 pollutant traps are installed across the former Gosford City including more than 30 around The Peninsula.

"Maintenance works are identified and prioritised according to Council's maintenance inspection program.

"Inspections are undertaken every four months.

"However additional inspections are made following major storm events or reports from the community."

WIRES can be reached on 1300 094 737 and Australian Seabird Rescue on 0438 862 676.

Media statement, 24 May 2016

Holly Love, Environment Protection Authority

Media statement, 20 May 2016

Danielle Dickson, Central Coast Council