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Darling Harbour Seabin Trial

Decision Maker: Council

Decision status: Recommendations Determined

Decision:

Moved by Councillor Forster, seconded by Councillor Miller -

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          the City of Sydney is committed to improving the quality of local waterways by reducing pollution that is discharged from stormwater outlets;

(ii)         the City's water quality targets aim to:

(a)        reduce yearly solid pollution load discharged to waterways from stormwater by 50 per cent by 2030; and

(b)        reduce yearly nutrient load discharged to waterways from stormwater by 15 per cent by 2030;

(iii)        since 2005, the City has installed 154 raingardens in the local area, aiming to treat stormwater, protect local waterways and green inner-city streets;

(iv)       there are also 50 gross pollutant traps installed underground in stormwater pipes that collect approximately 150 tonnes of litter each year;

(v)         the City is also working with its Sydney Harbour partners to create a management program to achieve the long-term vision for Sydney Harbour’s coastal zone, supporting the coordinated management and ecologically sustainable development of Greater Sydney Harbour to maintain its exceptional social, cultural, economic and environmental values, and symbolic status as Australia’s most globally iconic waterway;

(vi)       one of the goals of the Seabin Project is to provide practical, visible, tangible and measurable solutions to reduce plastics in our oceans;

(vii)      in September, the Seabin Project announced a new partnership with NSW Roads and Maritime Services trialling Australia’s first Public Seabin in Rose Bay for three months, building on its existing Seabins which are located in private marinas around Sydney Harbour, including four at Jones Bay Wharf, one at Pyrmont, one at Sydney Wharf and one at the Australian National Maritime Museum; and

(viii)     the Seabins are also used to gather baseline data on the amounts of micro plastic in Sydney Harbour waterways and measuring the health of the water table in Darling Harbour; and


(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to liaise with the NSW State Government and other related agencies to investigate the installation of additional Seabins around the City of Sydney’s harbour foreshore, including Darling Harbour for:

(i)          efficient capture of floating marine litter including micro plastics;

(ii)         high impact visual communication for solutions, awareness and education; and

(iii)        data monitoring of micro plastics, marine litter, surface pollutants and general health of the water table.

___________________________________________________________________

Note – the above motion was not carried. The resolution below was carried –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          the City of Sydney is committed to improving the quality of local waterways by reducing pollution that is discharged from stormwater outlets;

(ii)         the City's water quality targets aim to:

(a)        reduce yearly solid pollution load discharged to waterways from stormwater by 50 per cent by 2030; and

(b)        reduce yearly nutrient load discharged to waterways from stormwater by 15 per cent by 2030;

(iii)        since 2005, the City has installed 247 raingardens in the local area, aiming to treat stormwater, protect local waterways and green inner-city streets;

(iv)       there are also 50 gross pollutant traps installed underground in stormwater pipes that collect approximately 150 tonnes of litter each year;

(v)         the City is also working with its Sydney Harbour partners to create a management program to achieve the long-term vision for Sydney Harbour’s coastal zone, supporting the coordinated management and ecologically sustainable development of Greater Sydney Harbour to maintain its exceptional social, cultural, economic and environmental values, and symbolic status as Australia’s most globally iconic waterway;

(vi)       one of the goals of the Seabin Project is to provide practical, visible, tangible and measurable solutions to reduce plastics in our oceans;

(vii)      the Seabins Project website says “We need to turn off the tap first if we are ever to clean up the mess”;

(viii)     that addressing the problem of plastic pollution requires a whole of system approach which minimises the production of plastic, and moves towards eliminating single-use plastics;

(ix)       that in June 2019, over 50 leading companies joined the City in pledging to dramatically reduce plastics across their businesses. The City has taken a platinum pledge, committing to phasing out seven single-use items in its buildings, at its own venues and at events within out local government area;

(x)         in September, the Seabin Project announced a new partnership with NSW Roads and Maritime Services trialling Australia’s first Public Seabin in Rose Bay for three months, building on its existing Seabins which are located in private marinas around Sydney Harbour, including four at Jones Bay Wharf, one at Pyrmont, one at Sydney Wharf and one at the Australian National Maritime Museum; and

(xi)       the Seabins are also used to gather baseline data on the amounts of micro plastic in Sydney Harbour waterways and measuring the health of the water table in Darling Harbour; and

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to liaise with the NSW State Government and other related agencies to investigate the installation of additional Seabins around the City of Sydney’s harbour foreshore, including Darling Harbour for:

(i)          efficient capture of floating marine litter including micro plastics;

(ii)         high impact visual communication for solutions, awareness and education; and

(iii)        data monitoring of micro plastics, marine litter, surface pollutants and general health of the water table.

The motion, as varied by consent, was carried unanimously.

S129260

 

Report author: Erin Cashman

Publication date: 28/10/2019

Date of decision: 28/10/2019

Decided at meeting: 28/10/2019 - Council

Accompanying Documents: