Clean Ocean Foundation - Sydney
With strong academic links from word go, the Clean Ocean Foundation Sydney Chapter started in late October 2011, as a voice of reason in the long-running battle for adequate protection of Sydney's magnificent beaches, and its many millions of beach users.
Clean Ocean Foundation sees its entry into the debate about managing Sydney's urban metabolism as something akin to the rugby metaphor "fresh legs towards the second half" because there is a long way to go to achieving smart disposal of effluent here. Simply redefining the notion of 'away' doesn't cut it.
(Pic above courtesy of Manly Environment Centre).
To dot point our Sydney Chapter's concerns and aims:
- Despite the city's three outfalls now dumping 3km offshore, pollution medians back on the beaches are still an ongoing health problem here. Yet policing is not happening. The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) had its hands tied with the previous state government. Clean Ocean Sydney hopes we can help free the watchdog.
- Sydney Water has 24,000 kilometres of pipes, many of which are almost 100 years old, servicing 23 sewage treatment systems across Sydney. The sewers overflow - contaminating surrounding waterways - on a regular basis. For the best insight into this problem, read the Sun Herald's Natalie O'Brien article of October 23 here.
- As with Victoria's EPA, the OEH is not far enough removed from state government, therefore policing of unsatisfactory pollution isn't happening, therefore the political will for government to make an ongoing commitment to spend on infrastructure for better outcomes is not going to happen.
- It would seem the new NSW state government sees the sending of the sewage outfalls offshore as an end result, not just a part of an ongoing program to better Sydney's treatment of its effluent.
- Industrial waste entering the sewage system is lethal in Sydney. An October 2011 investigation by the Sun-Herald found 24 kilograms of mercury per year is discharged through North Head outfall off Manly. Clean Ocean Sydney is committed to tackling the issue of adequate processing of industrial waste - and dumping it in the sea is not adequate.
- The Sydney Morning Herald has also revealed the Cooks River has become an open sewer that carries high levels of raw sewage and household pharmaceuticals into Botany Bay.
- Click here for a good backgrounder of Manly's North Head sewage treatment plant, provided by the Manly Environment Centre.
- The plume surfaces about 25 per cent of the time in winter
- The OEH model allows for events of up to 10mm of rain where the OEH issues no swim warning, despite alarming health risks at Sydney beaches.
- Why is there not an ongoing committment to spending on infrastructure?
- Why can't the OEH act on state government (Sydney Water) pollution?
- Where are the holes in NSW legislation and why are we lagging behind international standards for world famous beaches?
Then there's the stink our friends around North Head have to contend with. Not OK when the technology exists in 2011 to adequately treat the effluent.
Join Clean Ocean Sydney NOW by clicking 'Join Now' above and in the notes mark 'SYDNEY'. Numbers mean muscle and voice when we are attempting to create the political will for the state government to spend dollars towards resolving the issues above.
Join us at Manly Beach on December 4 for Ocean Care Day.