Foreword from the Bronte Catchment Team

Recommendations from the Bronte Catchment Citizens Jury

Foreword

The Bronte Catchment Project is pleased to present the attached recommendations from the Bronte Catchment Citizens Jury. These were developed by 15 citizens over three days of intensive, structured discussion and deliberation. We attach this foreword to provide some context regarding the project, of which the Citizens Jury is just one part.

The Bronte Catchment Project (BCP) aims to support, develop and evaluate inclusive community and organisational processes to improve water quality at Bronte Beach. This project is an Australian first. It is an original and highly significant initiative, with high profile implications for planning and policy processes across local, state and national government.

It focuses on:

• reducing pollution at its source;
• including all sectors of the community, particularly those who may not normally be involved in stormwater management.

There are two main components:

To implement and facilitate deliberative processes that address stormwater quality which involves all sectors of the community. This includes citizen groups that are generally difficult to identify, or normally impeded from participating in civic issues, and/or not readily perceived as effective stakeholders.

To monitor the internal and external effectiveness of the process through employing continuous social action-based quantitative and qualitative measures and periodic physical quantitative measures.

The Bronte Catchment Project has conducted a complex series of activities over the last 10 months. Distinct phases of project activity include:

• preliminary information gathering, or ‘getting to know the community’;
• community and organisational engagement, development and activities;
• a trial of two processes of deliberative democracy (a Citizens Tele-poll, and Citizens Jury);
• organisational and community capacity building;
• implementation and integration of sustainable solutions to stormwater management.

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Project outcomes include:

• increased levels of community participation and involvement;
• positive improvements in knowledge, attitudes and motivations;
• establishment of self-governing sustainable participatory processes;
• changes in behaviour, policy and practice;
• ongoing integrated activities to improve water quality and monitoring of those processes
• evaluation of the effectiveness of these participatory processes in developing sustainable, integrated approaches to stormwater management.

Stormwater pollution is one of the single biggest threats to the health of our waterways. Pollution traps have made a difference to water quality by catching pollution and rubbish before it has a chance to get onto the beach. However, the Bronte Catchment Project is about stopping pollution – including detergents and fertilisers – from getting into stormwater in the first place.

Why this catchment area?

Research shows that Bronte residents are particularly concerned about beach pollution. The vast majority (88%) of residents who were surveyed said they agreed that individuals should be responsible for the environment. A similar number said they were willing to change the way they do things to make a difference to water quality and the environment.

The Citizens Jury built on this concern and willingness to make a difference by thinking hard about environmental problems and coming up with ideas for workable solutions.

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As part of this project, a trial of two models of participation and deliberation were conducted. These were a Citizens Tele-poll and a Citizens Jury.

The Citizens Tele-poll involved a directly-addressed mail-out to every household listed in the White Pages telephone book for the postcode area 2024 (equivalent to the Bronte Catchment). Residents were sent an information package and asked to read through it, before receiving a phone call during which they were asked to respond to a series of questions. 358 out of 877 households participated in the Tele-poll (an extremely high response rate of 41%). Their responses were analysed and presented to the Citizens Jury two weeks later.

The Citizens Jury is a model for involving local residents in making decisions about important issues that affect their community. It has never before been applied at this community level, around environmental management issues. The challenge to translate theory into practice was significant.

The Citizens Jury involved 15 citizens, recruited through a range of strategies including the Citizens Tele-poll, newspaper advertisements, information stalls at community events, presentations to community groups and precinct committee meetings, as well as posters displayed across a range of community locations.

Jury candidates were interviewed and asked a series of questions, to select a demographic cross-section of people with a range of environmental views, values and involvement in the local community.

Jurors received detailed briefing papers and met for an informal discussion about the Jury process and a series of catchment-based activities to focus on the issues. The Citizens Jury met one week later, from 14 and 16 September.

Jurors received additional information about the issues in a series of pre-prepared reports, heard a series of expert witness presentations, questioned witnesses, and then retired to deliberate together over a series of recommendations to a range of stakeholder groups. The process was supported by two facilitators and the Bronte Catchment Project Team.

The following presents the recommendations from the Bronte Catchment Citizens Jury. These were prepared during the last day of Jury deliberations, and presented to representatives from Waverley Council, NSW EPA and its Stormwater Trust, and members of the community in a formal ceremony at the close of the Jury.

One week later, Jurors were sent a copy of the draft recommendations, and invited to feedback on the basis of their collective (not individual or subsequent) deliberations. Their comments were incorporated into the following.

The recommendations were grouped by the Jurors into several categories. Underpinning all was the importance of ongoing research and monitoring to establish baseline information, measure change, and inform future strategies. Other categories include:

• Community education and participation;
• Urban planning and design;
• Capital works and innovative projects;
• Regulation and enforcement;
• Further recommendations; and
• What comes next.

Community education, participation and urban planning were the foremost categories of recommendations proposed by Jurors.

The Bronte Catchment Project Team commends the Jurors for the extensive series of recommendations produced. They offer sophisticated, practical, and achievable solutions to local stormwater and environmental issues. They are aimed at a range of stakeholders, and argue for integrated, sustainable approaches informed by community contexts.

We hope you find the following recommendations from the Bronte Catchment Citizens Jury informative, achievable and inspiring.

Roberta Ryan
Project Manager
Bronte Catchment Project

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The Bronte Catchment Citizens Jury wishes to thank Waverley Council and the NSW EPA through the Stormwater Trust, and to acknowledge their past and current achievements in innovative approaches to environmental management.

In particular, the Citizens Jury wishes to recognise Council and the Stormwater Trust through the NSW EPA for their considerable commitment to community participation, as demonstrated by their unstinting support for this unique process.

Waverley Council and the NSW EPA have played a critical role in resourcing and supporting the Citizens Jury, and we wish to thank them for all of their contributions, without which this Project would not have been possible.

The Citizens Jury offer the following recommendations, underpinned by a profound vision of the Bronte Catchment and shared community values. These were developed in collective deliberation and discussion, and illustrated in creative visions of ‘Bronte Dreaming’.

The following keywords summarise the values which underlie the recommendations of the Citizens Jury.

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We – the Bronte Catchment Citizens Jury – believe that education, participation and urban planning are the most important ways to approach the problem of stormwater pollution. It worked on us, why not the rest of the community?

In recognition of the impact of the role of development, urban planning was viewed by the Jury as an important and innovative way helping to reduce stormwater pollution.

We believe that ongoing research and monitoring should underpin all stormwater activities in the Bronte Catchment, to produce evidence-based approaches to stormwater management. This applies across the physical, technical, and social aspects of stormwater management. This is currently limited, particularly in relation to the monitoring and analysis of key pollutants.

1.1 Identify, adapt and resource successful and functional water quality research models.

1.2 That increased and regular monitoring be conducted of the sources of stormwater pollution in the catchment.

1.3 This monitoring should be especially focussed on non-visible sources of contamination, eg. phosphates, metals, nitrates, chemicals, detergents.

1.4 This monitoring needs to be conducted in partnership with community groups, such as schools, precincts, surf clubs, Beachwatch, Streamwatch etc; and universities linking to students doing internships and research projects.

1.5 This monitoring should have a participative and educative focus, utilising local knowledge and resources.

1.6 The professional support of this monitoring needs to be consistent, ideally coordinated by a permanently employed member of council (it is understood that this is already done by the Environment Services Manager of Council).

1.7 This monitoring needs to be regularly and widely reported.

1.8 The targets and impacts of preventative activities (such as education, participation, regulation) should be determined by monitoring and baseline benchmarks and post test measures.

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By education and participation, we mean building knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviours through involving the community with stormwater issues, from whatever starting point they are at, and through whatever means most suits their needs.

Through our experience listening to expert speakers and discussing the issues raised with one another, we recommend that:

2.1 Any education must be evidence-based, ongoing, integrated, strategic and participatory.

2.2 Education of local business should be a major component of the stormwater education plan. This should emphasise community relationships between business, permanent visitors (residents) and temporary visitors to the catchment.

2.3 All stakeholders (businesses, permanent visitors and temporary visitors) need to feel involved and responsible. This links to enforcement strategies, in creating and abiding by stormwater regulatory initiatives.

2.4 There also should be a coordinated education strategy for temporary visitors to Bronte Catchment which links to the purpose of their visit and is place specific. eg. a Bronte walk, with picture signage highlighting flora, fauna and marine life, and with an ecological focus.

2.5 Education, participation and training should be closely integrated with other stormwater interventions as appropriate. Regulation, research, water quality monitoring, and structural works should all have educational/participatory dimensions.

2.6 There should be an overarching Council education plan of which stormwater is a key component. This should establish priority issues for education, program objectives/outcomes, key target groups, and messages. It should also identify strategies for achieving outcomes and roles and responsibilities for implementing the education plan. The plan should recognise indigenous peoples and issues, and respect ethnic and cultural diversity.

2.7 Education should target council staff and Councillors to ensure that they understand and support the integration of stormwater issues into Council governance.

2.8 There should be ongoing funding to sustain education and participation initiatives identified in the plan. For example:

• interpretive signage (eg along Bronte walk);
• information targeted to specific community groups about particular issues;
• create and participate in festivals and public events (eg annual Water Festival, street theatre);
• target schools with existing stormwater educational materials;
• develop stormwater display material which could be used by community groups at events etc;
• seek business sponsors and supporters for education and participation initiatives (as funders and partners) and festivals;
• new resident ‘induction’ programs held once yearly – informal, educational, invitational;
• disseminate indigenous perspectives about the Gully area;
• create a Bronte Gully information walk.

2.9 The NSW government should be applauded for its far-sighted stormwater initiative. In particular, the growth of education strategies in this program is seen as the key to engaging communities in the ownership of and solutions to stormwater problems. For us, it has been a fulfilling and exciting process.

2.10 There should be continuing promotion of educational and participation tools within the stormwater program:

• Councils should be encouraged to further develop stormwater education and participatory strategies within their stormwater management plans (SMPs);
• Council staff and others involved in implementing SMPs should receive training in the use and integration of education and participation tools;
• the capacity of councils to adopt integrated catchment approaches to stormwater management (that is, not just through the traditional engineering approach) should be enhanced through key objectives of the government’s stormwater program.

2.11 The Urban Stormwater Education Program (USEP) should continue to provide coordination and support for local activities and develop resources and campaigns which provide a supportive context for councils’ stormwater education.

 

2.12 EPA to create a visiting performance group to visit schools.

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3. Urban Planning

The Jury believes in an ecological and holistic approach to stormwater management issues, which should be directly reflected in Council’s Planning Codes and Regulations. Addressing stormwater pollution through urban planning should be linked to Council’s management planning process and other existing community activities such as the bush regeneration program.

3.1 Stormwater planning should be closely integrated into council’s STATUTORY PLANNING framework through more robust requirements.

3.2 Council should examine models developed by other councils including Kogarah Council; these measures are seen as vital medium and long term planning strategies to "slow the flow" and "reduce the flow".

3.3 In general, Council’s urban planning strategies should examine water sensitive urban design techniques. The Jury endorses the approach by Kogarah Council in its new pilot Development Control Plan (DCP) and in particular in the areas which specifically relate to:

• reducing the site coverage of buildings for all new developments;

• setting improved ratios for impervious/pervious surfaces in all areas;

• improving run-off uptake by increasing vegetation coverage and setting specific requirements for deep planting.

3.4 Council should research appropriately sized and designed RAINWATER TANKS for all residential and non-residential dwellings in the region.

3.5 Council should consider introducing COMPULSORY RAINWATER TANK SYSTEMS enabling rainwater re-use for new development and renovations, along with incentives for existing development. Material promoting uses and benefits of rainwater use in our environment should accompany this initiative.

3.6 Council should investigate changing codes to REDUCE SITE COVERAGE for all new developments.

3.7 We recommend that the proportion of IMPERVIOUS TO PERVIOUS surfaces is controlled in all areas, as per the Kogarah Council approach.

3.8 Council regulations and guidelines should provide native plant lists for DEEP PLANTINGS and require minimum coverage areas for development and renovation proposals.

 

3.9 That these strategies should also be considered by DUAP.

3.10 That statewide urban planning regulations assist local councils with these objectives.

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We believe regulation and enforcement to be a legitimate and useful means to achieve improved stormwater quality. We believe the use of regulation and enforcement to be more effective when it is used in conjunction with other strategies. We believe that the use of this environment protection strategy must be made more visible.

4.1 Increase the use of enforcement to achieve stormwater quality objectives. Consideration needs to be given to the increased use of regulatory officers on weekends and public holidays.

4.2 Ensure the targeted use of regulatory activities to address key sources of contamination, including construction sites and business areas. For example, businesses should be consulted on the use of levies, fines or other economic mechanisms that would most appropriately address rubbish generated in their immediate vicinity by their businesses or business activities. Special attention needs to be given to the protection of marine environments.

4.3 Increase the capacity of its existing regulatory staff (including Rangers, Building Inspectors and Environmental Health Officers) to collect evidence that can be adequately substantiated in court. This may require additional tools (for example, cameras) and training; it may also include pairing officers on duty.

4.4 Conduct programs that broaden the responsibilities of its regulatory staff. Support multi-tasking of these officers where appropriate. This includes the use of the proposed Parking Rangers.

4.5 Develop and promote mechanisms that allow residents to report stormwater pollution incidents. This should include a hotline.

4.6 Develop more effective mechanisms for providing regular feedback to the community about the use of enforcement to protect stormwater. For example, reports to accompany Mayors Column in local press and direct feedback to residents who report pollution events.

4.7 Develop programs to increase understanding of stormwater regulations amongst all users of the Bronte catchment. These to include improved signage which is accessible to all users.

4.8 Review and evaluate the effectiveness of its use of regulatory strategies to protect stormwater.

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The Jury, at this stage, does not feel confident in making definitive recommendations about the range of mid-pipe and closer to source engineering interventions. The Jury feels that in order to develop recommendations in this area, more information is needed especially with regard to relative costs and benefits of these types of interventions.

5.1 Development of a Bronte sustainable stormwater homes initiative. This will include:

• partnership between Council/EPA and one or more interested home-owners to create a best practice example of sustainable stormwater practices in the context of redevelopment or extension of an existing dwelling;

• partnership between Council/EPA to do the same for a newly constructed dwelling;

• partnership between a sympathetic developer/builder and the Council/EPA/DUAP for a multi unit development.
• regular promotion and viewing opportunities for the community.

These initiatives should showcase innovative technologies, for roofs, gutters, pervious surfaces and landscaping, use of appropriate paints etc.

5.2 Development of a Bronte sustainable stormwater business venture:

• partnerships with established businesses in the catchment, such as laundries, automotive trades, cafes. This would model and demonstrate best practices in water use.
• The venture would also develop partnership with tradespeople such as builders, landscapers, dog washers, and other businesses active in the area.
• Regular promotion and viewing opportunities for the community.

5.3 Both these projects need to be able to be viewed by the community and regularly promoted.

5.4 In the context of Council’s capital works program, funds available through Council’s budget process should target known hotspots. For example, there are eroded areas in the park in Hewlett Street at the end of Alfred Street, while one of the GPT devices in the park regularly overflows and appears to malfunction.

5.5 Over a period of time, targeted replacement of non-porous surfaces in the public domain with new technologies and materials that are porous should be considered. Examples of this are initiatives in Kogarah and Manly Local Government Areas. Within the catchment, ‘the cutting’ might be an opportunity. Outside the catchment, the redesign of Bondi Junction Mall presents a great opportunity for a model piece of water sensitive urban design.

5.6 That Council develop important low cost projects, such as:

• Public car washing space;
• Community mulching station;
• Enhanced recycling system in the park;
• Additional bins and ash trays around strategic locations, including particularly bus stops, other gathering points;
• Adopt as a community initiative the Byron Bay film containers for cigarette butts.

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6.3 We recommend interesting, positive, educative and informative signs are created and located in relevant areas that:

• Explain for example, what an intertidal protection zone is, what is there that we want to protect, and what people can and can’t do to help to protect it. It is recommended that one of these signs face the northern rock platform where people’s attention can easily be drawn to the sign.
• Explain similarly for example, what bush regeneration is, what it is achieving and what will be achieved ultimately, and how people might be able to join in. (An artist’s impression of the restored slopes).
• Explain water quality and what the water course would have been originally, what is being done in the Park to improve it and ways that council and everyone can/is helping to contribute.

6.4 Stormwater is a priority issue in the community and stormwater education should be integrated within the activities of all stakeholders. These include:

• DUAP
• Ethnic Communities Council
• Sydney Water
• RTA
• Catchment boards
• Relevant industry associations
• Commonwealth funding bodies.

7. What comes next?

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