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Associate Professor Gavin Birch, MSc, PhD, Grad.Dip.Ind.Admin
Associate Professor
Madsen Building (F09), Rm462
Phone: +61 2 9351 2921
Fax: +61 2 9351 3644
Email: gavin.birch@sydney.edu.au
Research Interests
In 1991 Gavin moved from the petroleum industry to the University of Sydney to undertake research in Environmental Science. He has five major ongoing research projects and is a consultant to industry and local government in these fields.
•Assessment of impact of marine waste disposal,
•Determining estuarine processes and developing a contaminant model for complex mixed/stratified estuaries,
•Constructing models to quantify sediment toxicity,
•Providing remedial options for effective stormwater management, recycling and water harvesting,
•Developing sedimentary metals as a new ecosystem indicator for estuarine environments
Grants and Consultancies
Gavin Birch has been successful in competitive grant applications from many granting bodies including, Australian Research Council (five large ARC grants, three small ARC grants and a large equipment grant), two Environmental Trust grants, four Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology grants, three National Heritage Trust grants, one industrial research grant and a number of smaller grants ($2.2m) as well as numerous other grants ($2.5m).
Professional Consultancies and Commissioned Research include income from NSW EPA, Olympic Co-ordination Authority, Councils, Government institutions and industry.
Supervised Research
Gavin Birch has supervised 83 postgraduate and Honours students, comprising 39 Honours students; 30 Applied Masters students; and 14 MSc/PhD students. He currently supervises 3 PhD; 1 MSc, 2 Honours and 4 MApplSci students.
He has attracted PhD students from Brazil and Korea and visiting professors from China, Iran, United Kingdom, Canada and the US. Gavin has supervised students from the UK, France Germany, New Zealand and the US on extended work experience arrangements.
All environmental students have been successful in attaining quality employment in industry and academia, locally and overseas.
Publications
Gavin Birch has authored over 130 peer-reviewed scientific publications, including three books, and seven book chapters, as well as over 100 non-refereed conference abstracts and reports.
Selected Publications
•Birch, G. F., 2000. Marine pollution in Australia, with special emphasis on central New South Wales estuaries and adjacent continental margin. International Journal of Environmental Pollution, 13, 1-6, 411-423.
•Birch, G. F. and Taylor, S. E., 2000. The distribution and possible sources of organochlorine residues in sediments of a large urban estuary, Port Jackson, Sydney. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 47, 749-756.
•Birch, G. F. and Taylor, S. E., 2000. The use of size-normalisation procedures in the analysis of organic contaminants in estuarine environments. Hydrobiologia, 431, 129-133.
•Matthai, C. and Birch, G. F., 2000. Trace metals and organochlorines in sediments near a major ocean outfall on a high energy continental margin (Sydney, Australia), Environmental Pollution, 110, 411-423
•McCready, S., Slee, D., Birch, G. F. and Taylor, S. E., 2000. The distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surficial sediments of Sydney Harbour, Australia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40/11, 999-1006
•Matthai, C. and Birch, G. F., 2000. Dispersion of dredge spoil dumped on a high energy continental margin (southeastern Australia). Journal of Marine Environmental Engineering, 6, 1-32
•Clark, M. W., Davis-McConchie, F., McConchie, D. and Birch, G. F., 2000. Selective chemical extraction and grain size normalisation for environmental assessment of anoxic sediments: validation of an integrated procedure. Science of the Total Environment, 258, 14-170.
•Matthai, C. and Birch, G. F., 2000. Effects of coastal cities on surficial sediments mantling an adjacent high energy continental margin – Central New South Wales, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research, 51, 565-576
•Matthai, C., Birch, G. F., Jenkins, A. and Heijnis, H., 2000. Physical resuspension and vertical mixing of sediments on a high energy continental margin (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 52, 67-89
•Barry, S. C., Taylor, S. E. and Birch, G. F., 2001. Heavy metal supply to the Port Jackson Estuary, Australia by stormwater. Australian Journal of Water Resources, 4/2, 147-154
•Birch, G. F., Siaka, M and Owens, C., 2001. The source of anthropogenic heavy metals in fluvial sediments of a rural catchment: Coxs River, Australia. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 126, 13-35
•Birch, G. F., Taylor, S. E. and Matthai, C., 2001. The role of geology in environmental science: an example of pollution assessment of the estuarine and marine environment in central New South Wales. In: Gondwana to Greenhouse. Ed. V. Gostin. Australian Environmental Geoscience. Publ. Geological Society of Australia Special Publication, No. 21. Chapter 21, 243-254
•Birch, G. F., Taylor, S. E. and Matthai, C., 2001. Small-scale spatial and temporal variance in the concentration of heavy metals in aquatic sediments: A review and some new concepts. Environmental Pollution, 113, 357-372
•Hatje, V., Rae, K. and Birch, G. F., 2001. Trace metal and total suspended solids concentrations in freshwater: The importance of small-scale temporal variation. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 3, 251-258
•Hatje, V., Birch, G. F. and Hill, D. M., 2001. Spatial and temporal variability of particulate trace metals in Port Jackson estuary, Australia. Estuarine and Coastal Shelf Science. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 53, 63-77.
•Matthai, C. and Birch, G. F., 2001. Detection of anthropogenic Cu, Pb and Zn in continental shelf sediments off Sydney, Australia – A new approach using normalization with cobalt. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 42/11, 1055-1063.
•Birch, G. F. and Taylor, S. E., 2002. Possible biological significance of contaminated sediments in Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 77, 179-190.
•Matthai, C., Birch, G. F. and Bickford, G., 2002. Anthropogenic trace metals in sediment and settling particulate matter on a high energy continental margin Sydney, Australia). Marine Environmental Research. Marine Environmental Research, 54, 99-127.
•Simpson, S., Rochford, L. and Birch, G. F., 2002. Geochemical influences on metal partitioning in contaminated estuarine sediments. Marine and Freshwater Research, 53, 9-17.
•Birch, G. F. and Taylor, S. E., 2002. Application of sediment quality guidelines in the assessment of contaminated surficial sediments in Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), Australia. Environmental Management, 29/6, 860-870
•Birch, G. F. and Taylor, S. E., 2002. Assessment of possible sediment toxicity of contaminated sediments in Port Jackson estuary, Sydney, Australia. Hydrobiologia, 472, 19-27.
•Birch, G. F., Fazeli, M. S. and Matthai, C., 2005. Efficiency of stormwater infiltration in removing contaminants from urban stormwater. Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 101, 23-38.
•Suh, J. and Birch, G. F., 2005.Use of grain-size and elemental normalisation in the interpretation of trace element concentrations in soils of the reclaimed area adjoining Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 160, 357-371.
•Golding, C., Smernik, R. J. and Birch, G. F., 2005. Investigation of the role structural domains identified in sedimentary organic mater in the sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds. Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 3925-3932.
•McCready, S, Greely, C. R., Hyne, R. V., Birch, G. F., and Long, E. R., 2005. Sensitivity of an indigenous amphipod, Corophium sp. to chemical contaminants in laboratory toxicity tests conducted with field collected sediment from Sydney Harbour, Australia and vicinity. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 24/10, 2545-2552.
•McCready, S., Birch, G. F., Long, E. R., Spyrakis, G. and Greely, C. R., 2006. An evaluation of Australian sediment quality guidelines, Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 50/3, 306-315.
•McCready, S., Birch, G. F. and Long, E. R., 2006. Metallic and organic contaminants in sediments of Sydney Harbour and vicinity – A chemical dataset for evaluating sediment quality guidelines. Environment International, 32, 455-465
•McCready, S., Birch, G. F., Long, E. L., Spyrakis, G., and Greely, C. R., 2006. Predictive abilities of numerical sediment quality guidelines for Sydney Harbour, Australia and vicinity. Environment International, 32, 638-649.
•Gillis, A. and Birch, G. F., 2006. Investigation of anthropogenic trace metals in sediments of Lake Illawarra, New South Wales. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 53, 521-537.
•Birch, G. F., Matthai, C., and Fazeli, M. S., 2006. Efficiency of a retention/detention basin to remove contaminants from urban stormwater. Urban Water Journal, 3/2, 69-77.
•McCready, S., Birch, G. F., Long, E. R., Spyrakis, G. and Greely, C. R., 2006. Relationships between toxicity and concentrations of chemical contaminants in sediments from Sydney Harbour, Australia, and vicinity. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 120, 187-220.
•Birch, G. F., Harrington, C., Symons, R. K. and Hunt, J. W. 2007. The Source and Distribution of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxin and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans in Sediments of Port Jackson, Australia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54, 295-308.
•Golding, C. J., Gobas, F. A. P. C. and Birch, G. F., 2007. Characterisation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon availability in estuarine sediments using thin-film extraction. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 26/5, 829-836.
•Birch, G. F. 2007. A short geological and environmental history of the Sydney estuary, Australia, pp 217-246. In: Water, Wind, Art and Debate. Ed. G. F. Birch, Sydney University Press, The Sydney University, Australia. 433p.
•Birch, G. F. and O’Hea, L., 2007. The chemistry of suspended particulate material in a highly contaminated embayment of Port Jackson (Australia) under various meteorological conditions. Environmental Geology, 53, 501-516.
•Birch, G. F. 2007. Water, Wind, Art and Debate. Ed. G. F. Birch, Sydney University Press, The Sydney University, Australia. 433p.
•Olmos, M. and Birch, G. F., 2008. Application of sediment-bound heavy metals in studies of estuarine health: a case study of Brisbane water, New South Wales. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 55, 641-654.
•Birch, G. F., Russell, A. T. and Mudge, S. M., 2008. Normalisation techniques in forensic assessment of contaminated environments. In: Methods in Environmental Forensics Eds. Ball, A.S. and Mudge, S.M. Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
•Golding, C.J.; Gobas, F.A.P.C.; Birch, G.F., 2008. A fugacity approach for assessing the bioaccumulation of hydrophobic organic compounds from estuarine sediment. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 27/5, 1047-1054.
•Birch, G. F., McCready, S., Long, E, R., Taylor, S. E. and Spyrakis, G. 2008. Contaminant chemistry and toxicity of sediments in Sydney Harbour, Australia: spatial extent and chemistry-toxicity relationships. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 363, 71-87.
•Hunt, J., Birch, G. F. and Warne, M. St. J, 2008. Deriving trigger values for, and assessing hazard posed by, volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons in a Sydney estuary, Australian Journal of Ecotoxicology, 12, 33-42.
•Birch, G. F. and Olmos, M. 2008. Sediment-bound heavy metals as indicators of human influence and biological risk in coastal water bodies. Journal of Marine Science, 65, 1407-1413.
•Davis, B and Birch, G. F., 2009. Catchment-Wide Assessment of the Cost-Effectiveness of Stormwater Remediation Measures in Urban Areas, Environmental Science and Policy, 12/1, 84-91.
•Birch, G. F. and Matthai, C., 2009. Efficiency of a continuous deflection separation unit in removing contaminants from urban stormwater. Journal of Urban Water, DOI: 10.1080/15730620902807056
•Birch, G. F. and McCready, S., 2009. Catchment sources of heavy metal contamination and influence on the quality of receiving basin sediments in Port Jackson, Australia. The Science of the Total Environment, 407, 2820-2835.
•Hunt, J., Birch, G. F., Warne, M. St J., Krassoi, R., 2009. Direct toxicity assessment of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater and derivation of a site-specific guideline. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 407, 2820-2835.
•Hunt, J., Birch, G. F., Warne, M. and Krassoi, R., 2009. Evaluation of a methodology for toxicity testing of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons on marine organisms, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Technology, 82, 743-748.
•Birch, G. F., Cruikshank, B. and Davis, B., 2009. Modelling nutrient loads to Sydney estuary (Australia). Environmental Modelling and Assessment, DOI10.1007/s10661-009-1053-z
•Birch, G. F., Murray, O., Johnson, I. and Wilson, A., 2009. Reclamation in Sydney Estuary, 1788-2002. Australian Geographer, 40/3, 347-368.
•Birch, G. F. and Hutson, P., 2009. Use of sediment risk and ecological/conservation value for strategic management of estuarine environments (Sydney estuary, Australia). Environmental Management, 44/4, 836-850.
•Olmos, M. A. and Birch, G. F. 2009. A novel method for measuring anthropogenic change in coastal lake environments, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, DOI 10.1007/s11356-009-0250-1
•Birch, G. F. and Rochford, L., 2009. Stormwater metal loads to the Sydney estuary (Australia), Environmental Modeling and Assessment, DOI 10.1007/s10661-009-1195-z
•Davis, B. S. and G. F. Birch, 2010. Spatial distribution of bulk atmospheric deposition of heavy metals in metropolitan Sydney, Australia. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, DOI:10.1007/s11270-010-0411-3.
•Hunt, J., Birch, G. F. and Warne, M. St J., 2010. Site-specific probabilistic ecological risk assessment an a volatile chlorinated hydrocarbon-contaminated tidal estuary. Environmental Toxicity and Chemistry, 29, 1-10.
•Davis, B S. and Birch, G. F. 2010. Comparison of heavy metal loads in stormwater runoff from major and minor urban roads using pollutant yield rating curves. Environmental Pollution
•Birch, G. F., Vandenhayden, and M., Olmos, M. 2010. The nature and distribution of metals in soils of the Sydney estuary catchment (Australia). Water, Air and Soil Pollution
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Units Taught
•GEOS 3009/3909 – Coastal Environments and Processes
•GEOS 3102/3802 – Global Energy and Resources
•ENVI 5708 – Introduction to Environmental Chemistry
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ABN: 15 211 513 464. CRICOS Number: 00026A. Phone: +61 2 9351 2222.
Authorised by: Dean, Faculty of Science.
Leichhardt
Peter Head
General Manager
Leichhardt Municipal Council
Leichhardt Council, Draft Budget, 2014,
Submission by Ted Floyd
June 2014
7 Coulon St
Rozelle
ted7floyd@gmail.com
Summary
The State and Federal Governments aim to increase expenditure on infrastructure especially expressways. It is disappointing Leichhardt Council wishes to increase expenditure on infrastructure especially roads. The three levels of Government have policies resulting in continued transport problems in Leichhardt, especially traffic congestion.
Submission
Leichhardt Council has produced a draft budget. A major aim in the budget is to reduce spending and to introduce ‘efficiencies’ to save money.
Spending on general services will be reduced and spending on roads will be increased. The meaning of efficiency in this draft budget is,
Efficiency = reduced spending on general services and increased spending on roads.
It is clear the council believes it is important to spend money on roads. It is also clear the council believes many people and business want money spent on roads.
It is doubtful if spending more money on roads will be beneficial.
An economic analysis needs to be carried out on the cost of maintaining roads. What benefits will be achieved? Will maintaining roads improve transport in Leichhardt.
What are the other options to reduce traffic congestion?
The draft budget has made no attempt to do an economic analysis. The only answere given by council is expenditure in past years was less than needed and council now needs to increase expenditure. An economic study should now be carried out on the Engineers Dreams.
How to Improve Transport
The use of cars for personal transport needs to be obstructed.
On bus routes, buss only lanes need to be introduced in peak hours. On Darling Street in Rozelle buss only lanes need to be introduced by illuminating car parking during peak hours.
Parked cars and especially cars stoping and then entering the parking space is a major factor slowing down traffic. It is unfortunate current parking regulations encourage car drivers to park for a short time, have a cup of coffee, pick up mail and then leave Darling Street. This is good for business and disastrous for traffic congestion and buss speeds.
Multiple Use of Roads
The total land area of roads including footpaths + drainage + vegetation + other functions is very large.
The use of this land should be multi-functional. The surface area covered by asphalt and dedicated to cars should be reduced.
The less area covered by asphalt will reduce the cost of maintenance of asphalt.
Improved Use of Road Area.
Plant Plants and encourage photosynthesis A safe place for people to enjoy and especially ensure safety for children. Stormwater management is greatly improved if the impermeable asphalt is replaced by soils covered by vegetation.
Vegetation will flourish when irrigated by harvesting water from the gutters beside streets and roads.
All car parks will be a better asset for the community when used as a multi functional area of land. Many car parks are an excellent site for children playgrounds.
The Council has produced a transport policy aiming to reduce private car use. This is a major improvement for Leichhardt. The next step to improve transport is to obstruct personal car use.
The reduction of personal car use will probably take a long time. Many issues will need to be addressed, including town planning, public transport, pedestrian access and safety. Cost of petrol and cost of owning a car is a major factor in car use. Pollution levels, especially greenhouse gases is a major issue.
The State and Federal Governments aim to increase expenditure on infrastructure especially expressways. It is disappointing Leichhardt Council wishes to increase expenditure on infrastructure especially roads. The three levels of Government have policies resulting in continued transport problems in Leichhardt, especially traffic congestion.
Ted Floyd
Appendix 1 Plant Plants and encourage photosynthesis.
Appendix 2 Previous submissions by Ted Floyd
Appendix 3
City of Sydney URBAN ECOLOGY STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN
Appendix 1
Plant Plants and encourage photosynthesis.
Whites Creek Wetland
http://www.ramin.com.au/creekcare/history-of-whites-creek-wetlands.shtml
Rehabilitation of Urban Creeks
http://www.ramin.com.au/creekcare/rehabilitation-of-urban-creeks.shtml
Appendix 2
Previous submissions by Ted Floyd
Comments Ted Floyd April 2014
Leichhardt Council Draft Budget 2014
Leichhardt Council has produced a draft budget. A major aim in the budget is to reduce spending and to introduce ‘efficiencies’ to save money.
Spending on general services will be reduced and spending on roads will be increased. The meaning of efficiency in this draft budget is,
Efficiency = reduced spending on general services and increased spending on roads.
Many services will be reduced and their funding cut. Detailed explanations are presented why road funding needs to be increased.
Very little attempt is made to investigate ways to cut costs of roads. Roads are given an ‘open cheque book’. The amount of road traffic is an important factor in the cost of roads.
Council has policies increasing car transport. Polices reducing car use should be introduced at an accelerated rate. Reduction of non-essential car use will reduce traffic congestion and reduce travel times for essential vehicles, busses and commercial vehicles.
Council has many policies which increase car use. Car parks encourage car use. Vehicle Kilometre Travelled should be calculated for new developments and used in decision making.
User pays is a popular economic principle. This principle is used by Council to justify raising the price for some services.
User pays should be introduced to help fund roads. Revenue should be raised from car ownership. A special rate should be introduced on cars registered in Leichhardt Council.
It is economically unstainable to continually encourage the use of private cars. Encouraging car use will increase the demand for more money to be spent on roads.
This budget is not about efficiencies; the use of the word efficiencies is deceptive and is simply propaganda from the road lobby.
The draft budget is all about, ‘Robbing Peter to Pay Paul’
Leichhardt Council, Draft Budget, 2014, Submission by Ted Floyd
Spending on general services will be reduced and spending on roads will be increased in Leichhardt Council Budget.
Reduction of non-essential car use will reduce traffic congestion and reduce travel times for essential vehicles, busses and commercial vehicles.
It is economically unstainable to continually encourage the use of private cars. Encouraging car use will increase the demand for more money to be spent on roads in future.
The draft budget is all about, ‘Robbing Peter to Pay Paul’.
Appendix 3
City of Sydney URBAN ECOLOGY STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN
Ted Floyd Sept. 2013 PO Box 83 Balmain NSW 2041
http://www.ramin.com.au/creekcare ted7floyd@gmail.com
It is important in strategies to conserve and enhance biodiversity, the vigorous growth of vegetation should be encouraged. Multifunctional schemes should be encouraged. Vegetation in cities produces many benefits.
1 Biophilic Cities
2 Habitat for animals
3 Shady cool space
4 Cool the urban heat island
5 Generate natural biocarbon sinks and ensure climate stability
6 Increase water infiltration into soils
7 Reduce flooding
8 Pollution control
9 Education of young and old.
When enhancing biodiversity a variety of different ecosystems should be established in close proximity. Water ecosystems should be surrounded by dry land bush. Ponds, wetlands and creeks need trees, shrubs and grasses on the water edge.
Stormwater should be used to irrigate plants to encourage plant growth, produce animal feed and encourage extra Carbon stored in plants and soils.
Global warming is a major environmental problem. Large amounts of carbon can be stored in plants and soils including garden soils, wetlands, mangroves salt marsh and sea grass.
Parks and gardens are more resilient to adverse conditions when many different ecosystems are allowed to survive throughout the landscape. Australian natural landscapes contain many different species and a variety of ecological niches. This variable biodiversity has developed over millions of years and Australian landscapes and soils are very old and older than landscapes in other continents. These variable ecosystems add resilience to landscapes. After droughts or other disasters there is a store of variable biological material able to recolonize the devastated land.
Leaky weirs, wetlands, duck ponds and wildlife islands may be established in drainage lines. Dry spots, wet spots, rock piles, log piles, trees, shrubs, grasses, bumpy surface, depressions, high spots, low spots, uneven land surface and contours create a variable environment encouraging biodiversity.
A variable landscape with variable ecological niches produces a resilient landscape, increasing sustainability and biocarbon sinks. A variable landscape cannot be established in a year, good land management is needed for many years nurturing the environment so pants grow, organic matter grows, microbes grow and a sustainable land system grows.
Natural sequence land management aims to restore natural water cycles to extract maximum value from water passing through the landscape. This system helps to drought proof parks and gardens. Ecological principles are followed mimicking the way water passed through the landscape before European settlement.
The main principle is to slow down the water. Water is slowed down and redirected by porous barriers and can be directed onto flood plans. Porous barriers or leaky weirs can be made from, rocks, sediment, trees, branches, reeds, and grass roots.
Reeds and trees can be established in drainage lines to help spread water through the soil.
Microbes are important in maintaining soil health and there is now an explosion of interest in microbes. Scientific studies of root exudates and mycorrhiza fungi is rapidly increasing the knowledge of soil health and nutrition of plants.
My web site ( http://www.ramin.com.au/creekcare )explains the importance of vegetation, transpiration and soil water infiltration in the water cycle. Water should be encouraged to infiltrate into soils and vegetation encouraged to transpire water vapour into the atmosphere. Mimicking nature should be established in urban areas so as to reduce stormwater problems
Latest News from FOP
Contemporary politicians are working hard to make us all work hard. FOP is now working hard to prevent Leichhardt Council from supporting State and Federal Governments from encouraging car use and building Motorways. As you know the Council Draft budget is now on display and the Council is asking for submissions.
1 The safety of possums is decreased if we spend lots of money on roads.
2 It is essential to reduce spending more money on roads and to increase spending on safe footpaths.
3 Busses and trams travel faster when there is no cars on roads.
I do know you will be able to inform the Council how silly it is to spends lots of money on roads and encouraging cars to use motorways.
Friends of Possums (FOP), Merton Think Tank Branch
Draft Delivery Program, Operational Plan and Budget – Now On Exhibition
LEICHHARDT COUNCIL eNOTICE
Draft Delivery Program 2014-2018, Operational Plan 2014-2015 and
Draft Resourcing Strategy
NOW ON EXHIBITION
13 May – 13 June 2014
Budget eNotice
Council welcomes your submissions and encourages members of the community to have their say.
About Leichhardt
Leichhardt Council, a local government area in inner western Sydney, acknowledges that this land area traditionally belonged to the Gadigal and Wangal people of the Eora nation.
7-15 Wetherill Street, Leichhardt, NSW 2040 Phone: (02) 9367 9222
—
Ted Floyd
PO Box 83
Leichhardt Council
Draft Budget 2014
Comments Ted Floyd
April 2014
Leichhardt Council has produced a draft budget. A major aim in the budget is to reduce spending and to introduce ‘efficiencies’ to save money.
Spending on general services will be reduced and spending on roads will be increased.
The meaning of efficiency in this draft budget is,
Efficiency = reduced spending on general services and
increased spending on roads.
Many services will be reduced and their funding cut.
Detailed explanations are presented why road funding needs to be increased.
Very little attempt is made to investigate ways to cut costs of roads. Roads are given an ‘open cheque book’.
The amount of road traffic is an important factor in the cost of roads.
Council has policies increasing car transport. Polices reducing car use should be introduced at an accelerated rate.
Reduction of non-essential car use will reduce traffic congestion and reduce travel times for essential vehicles, busses and commercial vehicles.
Council has many policies which increase car use. Car parks encourage car use. Vehicle Kilometre Travelled should be calculated for new developments and used in decision making.
User pays is a popular economic principle. This principle is used by Council to justify raising the price for some services.
User pays should be introduced to help fund roads. Revenue should be raised from car ownership. A special rate should be introduced on cars registered in Leichhardt Council.
It is economically unstainable to continually encourage the use of private cars. Encouraging car use will increase the demand for more money to be spent on roads.
This budget is not about efficiencies; the use of the word efficiencies is deceptive and is simply propaganda from the road lobby.
The draft budget is all about,
‘Robbing Peter to Pay Paul’
———————————————————
WHITES CREEK ANNANDALE
Upgrade of Whites Creek
Orchard
WHITES CREEK VALLEY PARK
MASTERPLAN AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
LEICHHARDT COUNCIL
1998
—————————————————-
WHITES CREEK CATCHMENT
Whites Creek is a small creek in the densely developed inner western suburbs of Sydney.
The headwaters are in the suburbs of Stanmore and Leichhardt and the creek flows in a northerly direction between Annandale and Lilyfield into Rozelle Bay, Sydney Harbour (Port Jackson).
The creek’s length is a little over 2 kilometres and the catchment area is 262 hectares. The highest point in the landscape is 44m above sea level in the Southern headwaters.
About 55% of the land is covered by houses and units with a population of 14,000. Total road space is 25% and only 3.5% of land is parkland. The largest park is Whites Creek Valley Park with an area of 6 ha.
All native bushland has disappeared and the complete length of Whites Creek is now a stormwater drain with buried pipes in the upper reaches and an open concrete canal for the lower 1 kilometre.
Water pollution in the creek originates from all land areas in the catchment. The major source of water pollution is leaks from sewage pipes and runoff from roads.
————————————–
————————————————–
Park Master Plan
The Master Plan proposed the construction of a liner wetland or grassland swale. In the flood plane of the proposed orchard it was proposed by the Masterplan to restore Riparian vegetation.
5 alternate options for the recreation of a more natural creek system in the park were considered. Only the wetlands option was constructed in 2002.
An orchard is now under construction by Leichhardt Council (April 2014)
The low lying land beside Whites Creek Canal is within the flood plane. This part of the orchard will be planted with water tolerant plants.
———————————————————–
Orchard/Food Forest
Whites Creek Valley Park
Lilyfield, Leichhardt Council
Comments by
Ted Floyd
July 2013
Leichhardt Council has plans to develop a food forest on a site where 3 houses were demolished near Whites Creek. A Contamination Report stating the complete site should be capped with imported soil and a geo-textile fabric (marker) is placed on top of original soil separating from added topsoil.
The use of geo-textile fabric should not be extensively used.
Geo-textile fabric restricts root growth and plant growth is reduced and should not be used to cover whole site.
Contamination is in hot spots and over half site results show no contamination.
Geo-textile fabric cover should be used to cover contaminated areas.
or
Contaminated soil could be dug up.
If contaminated soil is dug up the hole in the ground should be filled with imported top soil or could be used for a water feature.
Complete site should be covered with top soil and mulch.
A path could be designed to run over contaminated areas of site.
Access to site.
Need access from Whites Street and Whites Creek pedestrian path.
Pedestrian access need a plan for area linking Whites Street and Whites Creek pedestrian path to food forest, Community Centre, toilets and Environment Centre should be developed.
Creek rehabilitation.
An area next to Whites Creek should be reserved for future naturalization of creek.
Woodchips
Need an area for wood chips and compost. During initial site preparation considerable wood chips could be produced by onsite chipping. Wood chip site should be maintained for general tree maintenance in the future. The wetlands produce considerable material suitable for composting.
Irrigation
Should not use potable water for irrigation.
Need to develop a stormwater harvesting plan.
Future development of Whites Creek Valley Park.
Whites Creek Valley Park Management Plan is now over 10 years old. Since this Park Management Plan was developed many changes have occurred, especially the establishment of Nursery. Is it time to develop a new and updated management plan? The wetlands are over 10 years old, should a review be made of the wetlands? The Park is becoming a central asset for the council and in recent years the Eco-festival has added a new dimension to the success of the Park in the social development of council. The baby boom is an important factor in developing educational features for the little ones. Social opportunities in natural parkland are beneficial for the young ones and oldies.
Whites Creek Valley Park is a great council asset, let’s use it, let’s develop it, let’s just
do it.
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Tree death close to Whites Creek Canal and in tidal zone. This could be salt affected soil. high tide, salt may inundate soil. considerable landfill of original mangroves/salt marsh, very salty. Possible soil is potential acid-sulphate soil. land fill may contain a variety of toxic chemicals.
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REHABILITATION OF URBAN CREEKS
Ted Floyd October 2010
extract from http://www.ramin.com.au/creekcare
Keywords: Urban Creeks, Waterways, Streams, Drainage lines, Stormwater drains, Grass waterways, Swales
Water flowing in creeks is a soothing gift from nature. Water gurgling over rocks, swirling in pools and spilling over waterfalls helps to wash our troubles away.
It is unfortunate many creeks in towns and cities have disappeared, buried in pipes or converted into ugly concrete drains. Swamps, water holes and flood planes are filled in and built over.
In growing cities trees are cut down, soils covered by impermeable surfaces and flash floods become common. Rainwater is collected in concrete gutters lining streets and flows down stormwater drains into rivers and the sea.
Stormwater drains are often dirty, lifeless, smelly and polluted. Ugly drains are a blight on the urban landscape. A natural creek is a great asset and attempts should be made to bring back nature to suburban stormwater drains.
Multiple use drainage systems.
In built up areas in towns and cities land is valuable and creek valleys should be used to satisfy a variety of needs. Valleys should be more than a single purpose drainage system.
Parks and gardens
Habitat
Green corridors
Sport and recreation
Walking and cycle tracks with bridges
Flood mitigation
Pollution control
Education
Water storage
Greenhouse control
Shady, cool space
Peace and quite
Habitat
Stormwater drains lined with concrete are sterile and support little life. Habitat diversity with aquatic plants and animals should be encouraged in the stream and natural habitat established in the riparian zone.
In creek valleys different ecological niches occur. The banks and flood planes provide special riparian habitat. Wetlands, billabongs, lakes and flowing stream provide aquatic habitat
Urban Creeks and Wetlands
Vegetated Drainage Line (Photo Gillian Leahy) Wetlands (Photo Aurora Sice)
Vegetated Rocky Creek (Photo Gillian Leahy) Rocky Creek (Photo Gillian Leahy)
Green corridors
Urban bush creeks facilitate the movement and migration of native animals in densely populated suburbs. Frogs, turtles and water dragons appreciate natural waterways.
Stormwater drains with concrete vertical walls act as a barrier to traveling animals. Creeks can be a watering place for thirsty animals and concrete walls prevent animals from enjoying a drink. Animal friendly streams are a great addition to the habitat of urban landscapes.
Floods and droughts
Stormwater drains are designed to remove floodwaters as quickly as possible from flood prone urbane areas. During droughts drains dry up or have very low flows.
The severity of floods and droughts can be reduced by treating the catchment by water sensitive design. Water should be stored in the catchment during rain periods to reduce flash floods.
Detention basins store water during rain periods and slowly release water after rain ceases. Water should be encouraged to infiltrate into soils and impermeable surfaces should be reduced. Water tanks store water for use in gardens during dry periods. Rain gardens, trees and wetlands can reduce flooding.
Catchment management and water sensitive urban design is a growing science with new techniques becoming available every year. The quality of stream rehabilitation is improved when the catchment is managed to reduce foods and increase dry weather flows.
Water flowing in a concrete gutter flows about three times faster than in a grass waterway. A meandering waterway has a longer length, reduced slope, slower velocity and increased water storage.
Flood planes and flood ways in drainage lines of rehabilitated creeks reduces the damaging effects of flash floods. Natural habitat can be established on flood planes where water only occasionally inundates the land.
In the ecological mix of a waterway, flood planes add a special habitat to a creek valley.
Pollution control
Toxic chemicals in a concrete drain are carried downstream untreated. In a flowing stream and in wetlands many chemicals are broken down into less toxic forms and harmful microorganisms destroyed.
Features of rehabilitated creeks
Many different natural features can be incorporated into rehabilitated creeks and the design will depend on the desired mix of end uses.
Rocky or earthen banks
Meanders
Pools and riffles
Lakes and wetlands
Islands
Weirs
Snags
Flood planes and flood ways
Bank stabilization with vegetation, natural rocks, sandstone blocks, riprap, logs, groynes
The physical layout of the land surrounding a creek will influence the design of rehabilitation works. Creeks in steep rocky areas similar to the sandstones in Sydney region are relatively straight, rapidly flowing creeks with waterfalls, rapids and small rock pools. The valley surrounding the creek is narrow with steep sides and small or no flood planes.
In western Sydney on the gently sloping planes, creeks meander and have earthen banks with extensive flood planes. Large pools and wetlands often occur in the drainage lines. Often flood planes have rich alluvial soils, prized by farmers.
It is important to remove rubbish and weeds. Pollution traps should be installed to prevent litter entering creeks. Silt traps prevent creeks from clogging up with sand and gravel. After construction regular maintenance will be required.
Environmental issues are global and often solutions are many local actions. We need to grow sustainable cities. Creeks and rivers are life forces flowing downhill through sterile built cities. Stormwater drains should be reborn in a manner similar to nature.
Creeks should be a pleasant cool space to visit and not a smelly dirty drain.
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Urban Catchments Enhanced By Green Corridors
Catchment Care
Whites Creek Catchment
http://www.ramin.com.au/creekcare/rehabilitation-of-urban-creeks.shtml © Ted Floyd 2010. Last updated 21 January 2011. Photographs © Auroa Sice © Gilian Leahy and Webdesign © 2010 ramin communications.
Whites Creek Catchment
by Ted Floyd
extract from http://www.ramin.com.au/creekcare/ whitescreek-catchment
Whites Creek is a small creek in the densely developed inner western suburbs of Sydney.
The headwaters are in the suburbs of Stanmore and Leichhardt and the creek flows in a northerly direction between Annandale and Lilyfield into Rozelle Bay, Sydney Harbour (Port Jackson).
The creek’s length is a little over 2 kilometres and the catchment area is 262 hectares. The highest point in the landscape is 44m above sea level in the Southern headwaters.
About 55% of the land is covered by houses and units with a population of 14,000. Total road space is 25% and only 3.5% of land is parkland. The largest park is Whites Creek Valley Park with an area of 6 ha.
All native bushland has disappeared and the complete length of Whites Creek is now a stormwater drain with buried pipes in the upper reaches and an open concrete canal for the lower 1 kilometre.
Water pollution in the creek originates from all land areas in the catchment. The major source of water pollution is leaks from sewage pipes and runoff from roads.
http://www.ramin.com.au/creekcare/whitescreek-catchment.shtml
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CREEK CORRIDORS AND URBAN BUSHCREEKS
by Ted Floyd
2010
GREEN CORRIDORS facilitate the movement and migration of native animals through densely populated suburbs.
Green corridors can connect isolated pockets of bushland.
Urban bushcreeks can act as very effective green corridors.
Roads often act as barriers to traveling animals and bridges across creeks can help to assist animal movement.
Stormwater drains with vertical concrete walls act as barriers to animals movement.
Creeks can be a watering place for thirsty animals and vertical concrete walls act as a barrier to animals wishing to have a drink.
Vertical concrete walls are a safety hazard for people trapped in stormwater drains. Sloping walls are easier for people to climb out of. Government authorities construct fences alongside stormwater drains. These fences are easy to climb over and enter the drain and are very difficult to climb over when trying to exit from the drain.
Creek corridors with rocky sloping walls and growing plants are a lower drowning hazard and are safer to general population. In a drain with a vertical wall deep water flows swiftly at the drains edge. In drains with sloping banks the water edge is only shallow and velocity of flowing water is slower than in the middle of the creek.
Whites Creek could become a Bushcreek with more trees and the creation of creek crossings with rocky slopes where little animals can crawl down to the waters edge to have a drink.
Natural creeks flowing through steep rocky terrain are relatively straight with rock pools, rapids and waterfalls. The creek may have a rocky bank and the valley a steep “V” shape. In flat landscapes bends occur and a creek meanders with deep and shallow points creating pools and riffles. The creek may have an earth bank and a flat floodplain.
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PLANTS and SOIL WATER
by Ted Floyd
June 2014
The world needs to grow more plants.
Water is essential for plant growth.
Environmental sustainability of the world and the survival of humans depends on plants and healthy soils. The key to healthy soils is soil carbon. Water is essential for plant growth and production of soil carbon.
Biocarbon compounds are synthesised during photosynthesis in plants, algae and some bacteria. Globally 100 thousand million tonnes of Carbon is fixed annually and 10% of atmospheric Carbon Dioxide is converted by photosynthesis into carbohydrates annually. Soil Carbon originates from plants growing in the soil. Composts, animal manures, mulches and other organic fertilizers may be used to add carbon to soils.
Life on earth begins with photosynthesis when plants convert Carbon Dioxide into carbohydrates. To maintain environmental sustainability more plants need to be grown in healthy soils with an adequate supply of water.
Natural Water Cycle
natural water cycle
Urban Water Cycle in Gardens
water cycle in garden 1
Water reservoirs can be produced in soils and water encouraged to infiltrate into soils. For example, contour banks, leaky wells, leaky weirs, mulches, composts, grass water ways, swales, kerb extensions. A suitable level of water in soils helps plants grow faster. Soil microbes and small soil animals need water.
Water Harvesting in urban street
kerb extension
Kerb extension captures water from concrete gutter
CARBON CYCLE and PLANT GROWTH
Plants are the center of natural, sustainable eco-systems where energy from the sun plus rain water and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is converted to organic matter by plants growing in healthy soils.
Life on earth is a series of interlocking cycles continually going round and round, linked to the carbon and water cycle.
Soil Carbon Cycle
soil-carbon-cycle-web1
Dead vegetation and root exudates add organic matter to soils. Soil microorganisms and small soil animals eat and decompose organic matter and add faeces to soils.
Soil sustainability is improved when healthy soils encourages plant growth and plant growth creates healthy soils.
SOIL WATER and PLANT GROWTH
Field Capacity
When a soil has drained freely for several days after rain or irrigation, the water content is the field capacity of the soil.
The field capacity is a measure of the soils ability to store water. A sandy soil freely drains and the field capacity is low. A clayey soil holds water and has a high field capacity. A clayey soil can store more water than a sandy soil.
Soil structure effects the field capacity. A structureless clay with no large pores has a very high field capacity. A well structured clay with large pores will drain freely and has a lower field capacity.
Organic matter can absorb water and increases field capacity.
The field capacity of a soil is mainly determined by the pore size distribution. Small pores hold water by capillary forces. Large pores freely drain and do not hold water at field capacity.
Wilting Point
When a soil is dry and plants suffer from permanent wilting because they are unable to absorb water, the moisture content is the wilting point of the soil.
When the moisture content is above the wilting point, plants can absorb water from the soil. Below the wilting point, water is tightly adsorbed to clay particles and is unavailable to plants.
Sandy soils have very low wilting points while clays have high wilting points. A clay contains a significant amount of water unavailable to plants.
Available Water
The amount of water stored by a soil that can be absorbed by a plant is the available water and is equal to the water held at the field capacity minus the wilting point.
The available water is the water stored by a soil and is useful to plants. Texture, structure and organic matter have an effect on the available water. Clayey soils generally have a higher available water than sandy soils. A well developed structure can increase the available water. Organic matter absorbs water and increases the available water.
Moisture properties of typical soils.
Sands silts and clays have different moisture properties.
Soil Type. Field Capacity. Wilting Point. Available Water.
Sand…………4.0% water……….1.3% water…….2.7% water.
Loam…………25.5%……………..12.2%…………….14.3%.
Clay…………34.3%………………17.8%…………….16.5%.
The available water stored in a soil is often measured as mm of water. Farmers prefer to sow a crop when there is sufficient water stored in the soil to ensure good plant growth. The amount of water available to plants also depends on the depth of the plant roots.
Water storage in soils
(soil bulk density 1.3 g/cc)
Available water mm water stored in 10 cm soil
3% 2.3mm
10% 7.7
15% 11.5
Soluble salts in soils reduces the availability of water to plants. Salt increases the osmotic pressure of water. High salt content in soils will kill plants.
SOIL EROSION
Vegetation reduces wind and water erosion. Vegetation holds soils together and increases water infiltration into soils.
Raindrop Splash and Splash Erosion
Splash Erosion on bare soils
raindrop-splash-on-bare-soils
Beating raindrops hit bare soil surfaces forming small craters.
Raindrop splash occurs when droplets carrying small soil particles are flung into the air.
Raindrops break down clods and destroy soil structure forming a surface seal.
Beating raindrops slow down infiltration into soils and runoff increases.
Erosion is more severe when surface clods are broken down into small particles and become easily carried by water. Higher runoff will increase erosion.
On a sloping surface more raindrop splash occurs downhill than uphill and this results in downhill erosion occurring directly from beating raindrops.
Raindrop splash increases sheet erosion.
Runoff is able to carry more soil particles when raindrops stir up surface water.
Plants protect surface soils
plants-protect-surface-soils (1)
Growing plants intercept raindrops, breaking them up into smaller droplets and reducing their velocity.
The soil surface is protected by plants from the beating action of raindrops reducing structure breakdown. Leaf litter also protects soil.
Infiltration of rainfall into soils is greater when plants protect the soil surface.
TRANSPIRATION
Transpiration is the flow of water vapour from leaves into the atmosphere.
The driving force of transpiration is radiation from the sun heating the interior of leaves. Evaporation occurs at the surface of cells and water vapour flows through stomates into the drier atmosphere.
The loss of water at the leaf surface creates a suction pulling water up through the xylem tubes in the stem and roots and water is sucked out of the soil through root hairs Water movement by transpiration pull is assisted by osmotic pressure and capillary rise. Water travelling up the stems transports minerals from soils up to the leaves where organic substances are manufactured for plant growth.
The major factors affecting the rate of transpiration is the strength of solar radiation and the presence of available soil water. Transpiration is greatest in the middle of the day when maximum solar radiation occurs and nearly ceases during the middle of the night.
The rate of transpiration is increased by winds, low relative humidity and low atmospheric pressure. Trees transpire large volumes of water. In Sydney a large gum tree transpires up to 200 liters of water on a sunny summer day.
Photosynthesis requires, carbon dioxide to enter through open stomates and oxygen to flow out. Water vapour also flows out through open stomates into the atmosphere. Stomates are small breathing pores mainly found in the lower leaf surface. Plants regulate water loss through transpiration by opening and closing stomates.
Normally stomates are open in the day and closed at night. Cacti and some desert plants conserve water by closing stomates in the day and opening them in the night.
In different plant species the number, size and location of stomates helps to control transpiration rate. Often plants close their stomates during high temperatures and water shortages.
In the winter transpiration is slow and when deciduous trees lose their leaves transpiration nearly stops. Australian native trees are evergreens and have very deep roots, up to 40 meters.
Higher leaf area in plants increases transpiration and at the top of a canopy, transpiration is greater than close to ground level. An open canopy facilates transpiration compared to a dense, closed canopy. A tree standing alone has a higher transpiration rate than a tree in a forest surrounded by many tall trees.
There needs to be sufficient available soil water for transpiration. When a water shortage occurs, leaves will droop and wilting occurs.
Plant Roots
Many Australian native trees have very deep roots, up to 40 meters. During dry spells, surface soils dry out and native trees with deep roots continue to grow using water in the subsoil. This helps to make Australian native trees drought resistant.
Quick growing native trees have the ability to transpire 2-4 times more water in a year than the average
annual rainfall.
Annual grasses have very shallow roots often less than 0.5 meters deep and are susceptible to drought. Plants with deep roots are more drought resistant.
Growing Tip Plant Root
mycorrhiza3
Root hairs near the tip of roots absorb water and nutrients. Mychorriza fungi grow into roots and transfer nutrients from soil directly into roots. New scientific evidence has demonstrated Mychorriza sometimes are connected to more than one plant enabling nutrients and other materials to be directly transferred from one plant to another.
An evaporimeter measures evaporation directly from a water surface. In Sydney the annual evaporation is 1800 mm and is higher than the rainfall of 1200 mm. The ratio of P/E (Precipation/Evaporation) indicates when soil water is available for plant growth. In Sydney the annual P/E is 0.67 and ranges from 1.68 in June to 0.33 Dec. The low P/E ratio in Sydney demonstrates evaporation is higher than rainfall in Summer months.
P/E ratio = Precipitation/Evaporation P/E less than
Evaporation is greater than Precipitation when P/E is less than 1.
Evapotranspiration is the sum of evaporation from the soil surface plus transpiration from plants.
Normally transpiration can not exceed evaporation and under ideal conditions transpiration may reach 95% of evaporation. In the middle of winter transpiration from deciduous trees when they have lost their leaves is less than 15% of evaporation.
Moreton Bay Fig, Wentworth Park, with aerial roots
Moreton Bay Fig, Wentworth Park, with aerial roots
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APPENDIX 1
SUSTAINABLE SOILS
Sustainable Healthy Soils need to be, Chemically, Physically and Biologically Fertile.
Biological Fertility is linked to the Carbon cycle in soils.
The Carbon cycle in soils includes,
Plants
Root Exudates
Soil Organic Matter
Soil Microorganisms
Animals
Climate Stability
Natural biocarbon sinks in soils help to produce climate stability. Humus is an important Carbon Sink.
Often the creation of humus in soils is overlooked when measuring climate stability and only the end product is studied. To obtain humus with all the desired properties to stimulate plant growth many processes occur beginning with the addition of plant material and the decay of plant material. The decay of organic matter and the soil carbon cycle improves soil health and climate stability. What is more important, the product or the process? Climate stability and natural biocarbon sinks often only considers resistant carbon compounds and ignore the carbon cycle and the process of humus creation in soils.
Is the cycling of soil carbon more important than attempting to create permanent soil carbon?
Renewable energy will reduce additions of Carbon Dioxide to the atmosphere in the future. Natural biocarbon sinks absorb Carbon Dioxide from the existing current atmosphere. Comprehensive programs to establish climate change stability should include both natural biocarbon sinks and renewable energy. Soils are a very good natural biocarbon sink.
PLANT PLANTS and encourage photosynthesis.
Reports by Ted Floyd
http://www.ramin.com.au/creekcare.
Little pieces of nature. Carbon sinks in soils and Water Sensitive Urban Design, enhancing life in the suburbs.
http://www.tedthefloyd.wordpress.com
Soil Carbon Key to Sustainability
http://www.tedfloyd.wordpress.com
Ted Floyd’s blog/web
link to youtube short film about Whites Creek Wetlands. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTI5viIsAxs
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Tedfloyd's Blog 
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