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Sydney Catchment Authority - Horse Property Developments in the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment 1

Horse Property Developments in the Sydney Drinking Water CatchmentA Sydney Catchment Authority Current Recommended Practice

Stable 1

Stable 3

Stable 2

Stable 4

Stable 2 Washbay

Tack room

Day yard

Manurestore

Rainwatertank Feed

store

Manuretrap

Baffledseptic tank

Absorptiontrenches

Buriedpipe

Fig 13Stable layout showingwastewater management(not to scale)

2 Sydney Catchment Authority - Horse Property Developments in the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment

Published by the Sydney Catchment Authority, May 2013.

© Sydney Catchment Authority. This publication may be freely reproduced and distributed for most purposes, however some restrictions apply. See the copyright information at www.sca.nsw.gov.au or contact the SCA on (02) 4724 2200.

This publication has been developed as a guideline and the Sydney Catchment Authority and its employees do not guarantee that it is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purpose and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from your use of information provided in this publication.


Contents1. Introduction ................................................................................... 2

1.1 Environmental impact of horses ...........................................................................................2

1.2 This guide ............................................................................................................................................2

2. Planning for water quality ........................................................... 6

2.1 Legislation and planning controls ........................................................................................8

2.2 Development within the Special Areas ............................................................................8

3. Design Elements ............................................................................ 8

3.1 General ..................................................................................................................................................8

3.2 Locating the facilities ....................................................................................................................8

3.3 Construction activities .................................................................................................................9

3.4 Management of wastewater ...................................................................................................9

3.5 Management of stormwater runoff ................................................................................. 12

3.6 Management of manure ......................................................................................................... 18

3.7 Stockpiling of materials ............................................................................................................ 19

3.8 Management of dead stock .................................................................................................. 19

3.9 Other considerations ................................................................................................................. 19

4. Case Studies.................................................................................. 21

4.1 Small development .................................................................................................................... 21

4.2 Medium development ............................................................................................................. 23

4.3 Large development .................................................................................................................... 24

5. Acronyms ...................................................................................... 29

6. Glossary ......................................................................................... 30

7. References ..................................................................................... 33

Appendix – Exempt Development ................................................ 34


1 IntroductionThe Sydney drinking water catchment covers approximately 16,000 square kilometres and supplies drinking water to around four and a half million people in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Illawarra and the Southern Highlands (Figure 1). The catchment also includes more than 600,000 hectares of grazing land that supports domestic stock such as cattle, sheep and horses.

Environmental impact of horses

Keeping horses can have a serious impact on the environment of a property as well as the surrounding environment if the impacts are not properly managed. These impacts are mainly from the pollution of water that runs off exercise yards and arenas, stables, horse wash and manure storage areas, access roads and other facilities associated with the keeping of horses, regardless of the size of the property. This runoff and horse wastewater contains sediment, nutrients and pathogens that can end up in watercourses, farm dams and other sensitive areas, polluting the water and causing choking weed and algal growth.

Horses can also degrade a property if appropriate grazing and paddock management systems are not put in place. Well managed horse-keeping properties not only protect water quality, but also the health of the horses.

This guide

The Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) has developed this guide in response to the requirements of State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Drinking Water Catchment) 2011 (the SEPP).

Under the SEPP, proposed developments in the catchment that require consent under a Council’s LEP1, including development relating to the keeping of horses, must have a neutral or beneficial effect (NorBE) on water quality. Proposed developments should also incorporate current recommended practices (CRPs) and performance standards endorsed or published by the SCA that relate to water quality. This guide is a CRP that identifies a range of design, planning and development principles, practices and solutions for new developments that are consistent with the requirements for achieving sustainable water quality outcomes, in accordance with the ‘Neutral or Beneficial Effect on Water Quality Assessment Guideline 2011’ (SCA, 2011a).

“All development must have a neutral or beneficial effect on water quality”

1 Note: the nature and extent of the proposal may categorise the development as ‘extensive agriculture’ under a Council’s LEP,

or exempt development under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008.

These types of developments may not require consent. See the Appendix for further information.

1.1

1.2


The guide will help property owners, facility operators, council officers, consultants and contractors ensure best practice methods are used to design, construct and operate all facilities related to horse-keeping in the Sydney drinking water catchment. It will also help SCA officers when making an assessment of the horse-keeping proposal.

The guide discusses a range of issues associated with horse-keeping and the development of facilities such as riding arenas, stables and dressage areas as they relate to the protection of water quality. It provides practical advice on minimising the environmental impact of the development during construction and operation, including maintenance, and explains how to develop a proposal for horse-keeping facilities that is more likely to meet the neutral or beneficial effect on water quality test.

This guide does not provide detailed information regarding the management of food sources for horses, pasture or grazing management, or paddock layout. Information about other aspects related to the keeping of horses should be obtained from other sources, such as Local Land Services (part of the NSW Department of Primary Industries) and the CSIRO.

This guide also does not discuss information relating to legal or policy issues covered elsewhere such as the welfare of the horses, or construction specifications such as stable wall thickness, or to matters relating to the keeping of horses covered by any Council’s local environmental plan or development control plan. This guide must be read in conjunction with the relevant legislative requirements and Council planning policies.

Other CRPs and guidelines that are relevant to the establishment of facilities associated with horse-keeping activities include (but are not limited to):

• ‘Managing Urban Stormwater: Soils and Construction Vol.1 4th edition’ (the ‘Blue Book Vol.1’; Landcom, 2004)

• ‘Managing Urban Stormwater: Soils and Construction Vol.2C Unsealed Roads (DECCW, 2008)

• ‘Guideline for the Preparation of Environmental Management Plans’ (Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, 2004)

• ‘Environmental Practices for Rural Sealed and Unsealed Roads’ (ARRB Transport Research, 2002).


Figure 1. Sydney’s drinking water catchment

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Wollondilly River

Coxs River

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Wingeca ri be e River

LakeBurragorang

Lake Woronora

Lake Cataract

LakeCordeauxLake

Avon

LakeNepean

Wingecarribee Reservoir

Fitzroy Falls Reservoir

Lake Yarrunga

Bendeela Pondage

Nattai River

Prospect Reservoir

Tasman Sea

Warragamba Dam

Kowmung River

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Warragamba Pipelines

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Nowra

Cooma

Bowral

Sydney

Penrith

Lithgow

Goulburn

Canberra

Katoomba

Crookwell

Braidwood

Wollongong

Batemans Bay

Cascade Dams

Medlow DamGreaves Creek Dam

Woodford Dam

New SouthWales

Blue Mountains Catchments

Sydney's Drinking Water Catchment

0 25 5012.5

Kilometres

§c Copyright Sydney Catchment Authority 2011

Legend

Blue Mountains Catchment

Metropolitan Catchment

Shoalhaven Catchment

Warragamba Catchment

Woronora Catchment

Warragamba Pipelines

1:1,250,000Scale

Upper Water Supply Canal

Rivers


2 Planning for water qualityAny proposal that includes horse-keeping facilities must consider the need to manage stormwater, wastewater and manure, chemicals, and erosion and sediment impacts. These issues, and others, are discussed in greater detail in Section 3.

“All development applications must include a water cycle management study”

Details of the proposed management measures are to be included in a water cycle management study, which must be prepared for all development applications requiring consent in the drinking water catchment. Applicants should refer to the SCA’s publication ‘Developments in Sydney’s Drinking Water Catchment: Water Quality Information Requirements’ (SCA, 2011b), which describes the different reports and modelling that must be included in a water cycle management study that accompanies a development application, and how they vary for different types and scales of development.

Legislation and planning controls

Local government has the main responsibility for granting development consent for the establishment of horse-keeping facilities under their local environmental plans, therefore all development applications must be made to the relevant local council. The council will then review the application and refer it to other government agencies that may be required to provide input, or concurrence or approvals as required by other Acts. The concurrence of the SCA will need to be sought for all horse-keeping facilities which have an identifiable impact on water quality and require development consent, however all correspondence should be directed through the local council, who are the consent authorities.

Other approvals that may be required in addition to the development consent are discussed in the table below. This is not a definitive list of other approvals, and others may be required on a case-by-case basis. Consultation should be undertaken with the relevant approval bodies early in the design process.

2.1


ApprovalApproval body

When required (summary only)

Water Management

Act 2000

NSW Office of Water

Activities such as laying pipes, earthworks and excavations, and watercourse crossings within the riparian corridor are controlled activities and require an approval from the Office of Water.

Native Vegetation

Act 2003

Local Land Services

Vegetation clearing, including on State Protected Land, requires separate consent in defined circumstances. The Act sets out that native vegetation must not be cleared except in accordance with development consent or a property vegetation management plan.

Water Act 1912

NSW Office of Water

Extraction and use of water sourced from rivers and aquifers may require a licence from the Office of Water.

‘Planning for Bushfire Protection 2006’

Rural Fire Service

Applies to all development applications on land that is classified as bush fire prone land on a council’s bush fire prone land map. May influence the design through the need for an Asset Protection Zone.


Development within the Special Areas

The areas surrounding the SCA’s reservoirs in the drinking water catchment are designated Special Areas that provide an extra level of protection to the quality of the water within the reservoirs (Figure 2).

The Sydney Water Catchment Management (General) Regulation 2008 (clause 26(3)) states that for land within the Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 Special Areas, a person must not erect, maintain or use any (stockyard or stable) within 100 metres of any stream, reservoir or watercourse.

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Wollondilly River

Coxs River

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Wingeca ribee R iver

LakeBurragorang

Lake Woronora

Lake Cataract

LakeCordeauxLake

Avon

LakeNepean

Wingecarribee Reservoir

Fitzroy Falls Reservoir

Lake Yarrunga

Bendeela Pondage

Nattai River

Prospect Reservoir

Tasman Sea

Warragamba Dam

Kowmung River

Tarlo

Riv

er

Nepean River

BlackheathSpecial Area

KatoombaSpecial Area

WoodfordSpecial Area

WarragambaSpecial Area

MetropolitanSpecial Area

WingecarribeeSpecial Area

Fitzroy FallsSpecial Area

Shoalhaven Special Area

WoronoraSpecial Area

Warragamba PipelineControlled Area

Upper CanalControlled Area

ProspectSpecial Area

Nowra

Bowral

Penrith

Lithgow

Goulburn

Katoomba

Wollongong

Special and Controlled Areas

0 5 102.5

Kilometres

§

c Copyright Sydney Catchment Authority 2011

Legend

Schedule 1 Special Area

Schedule 2 Special Area

SCA Area of Operation

Rivers

1:600,000Scale

inSydney's Drinking Water Catchment

Warragamba Pipeline

Upper

Wat

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uppl

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Schedule 1 Controlled Area

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Figure 2. Catchment Special Areas


3 Design ElementsGeneral

Many design elements and issues need to be considered when designing a proposal for stables and other horse-keeping facilities, and preparing the development application. These include not only its construction, but also the operation and maintenance of the facilities.

The following issues must be considered in terms of their possible impacts on water quality:

• sedimentation and erosion impacts of construction activities

• management of stormwater, wastewater and manure

• the preservation of significant vegetation

• the stockpiling of materials

• the appropriate location of facilities such as sediment basins, water quality treatment ponds and wetlands, stables, yards, arenas and manure compost areas.

These issues will be taken into account during the development assessment process and when determining whether the proposal will have a neutral or beneficial effect on water quality. Each of these issues is discussed separately below.

Locating the facilities

Regardless of the size and nature of the proposal, there will be a number of structures, features and other facilities that will need to be developed and appropriately located, especially to avoid impacting on sensitive environmental features.

The design should take into account erosion risks and avoid disturbance of high-risk areas, including steep slopes and erosive soils.

Clearing of vegetation, whether native or introduced, has the potential to impact on water quality, and horse-keeping development proposals should be designed to avoid excessive clearing, with facilities located in areas that are already cleared wherever possible. In riparian areas, maintaining a buffer zone of healthy vegetation will increase bank stability and help filter out nutrients.

The design of the development should locate any facilities, including stables, arenas, yards, dwellings, all water quality treatment devices, and access ways away from drainage depressions or watercourses, saturated soils or spring seep areas and wetlands.

Buffer setbacks to drainage lines apply to all on-site wastewater systems and effluent disposal areas to protect public health and the environment. These buffer distances are:

• 150 m to a named river

• 100 m to a watercourse

• 40 m to a drainage depression or waterbody (such as a farm dam).

More information on setback distances for on-site wastewater systems can be found in the SCA’s ‘Designing and Installing On-Site Wastewater Systems’ (SCA, 2012a).

3.1

3.2


3.3 Construction activities

The construction of horse-keeping stables, arenas and other facilities, including access roads and watercourse crossings, can result in the disturbance of soil, the removal of vegetation, and the importation and stockpiling of materials for construction of roads, buildings and other impervious surfaces. If not properly managed, construction activities will result in impacts on water quality through stormwater runoff, soil erosion and sedimentation.

The neutral or beneficial effect on water quality test includes thresholds for developments according to the proposed size of the construction area or impervious area, with management responses differing according to their size. The total developed or disturbed area must include all access roads, parking areas (especially for those facilities being developed to stage equestrian events) and the area disturbed for the buildings and facilities.

• For developments where the total size of the construction or impervious area is less than 250 square metres, the standard erosion control current recommended practice applies (‘the Blue Book’, Landcom 2004).

• For developments where the total size of the construction or impervious area is between 250 and 2,500 square metres, an erosion and sediment control plan (ESCP) must be prepared.

• For developments where the total size of the construction or impervious area is greater than 2,500 square metres, a soil and water management plan (SWMP) must be prepared. A SWMP is a more detailed ESCP, but both must meet the requirements of Chapter 2 of the ‘Blue Book’ (Landcom, 2004).

ESCPs and SWMPs describe what will be done at the development site to control soil erosion (including sedimentation) and nutrient movement downslope and into receiving waters during and after development. They should be prepared by a specialist consultant, and must appropriately address any issues or constraints that may influence the construction, such as previous development, dispersible soils, gullying, scalding, or contaminants. Information regarding choosing a consultant is available in ‘Using a Consultant to Prepare Your Water Cycle Management Study’ (SCA, 2011c), available on the SCA’s website at www.sca.nsw.gov.au.

Effective erosion and sediment controls are to be installed prior to any construction activity including earthworks for the dwelling (if part of the development), material stockpiling and site access. The controls will vary according to the size and nature of the development, but may include sediment fences, diversion drains, sediment basins, earth banks or check dams. The controls must prevent sediment leaving the construction site, entering drainage depressions and watercourses, and are to be regularly maintained and retained until works have been completed and groundcover established.

Detailed descriptions and standard drawings for erosion and sediment controls can be found in ‘The Blue Book’ (Landcom, 2004).

Management of wastewater

Horse-keeping establishments also often include a dwelling and/or a manager’s residence or site office occupied or used by humans, resulting in two different types of wastewater being generated on the site – domestic and horse washing.

3.4


In some areas in the drinking water catchment, wastewater may be transferred off site to a treatment plant via the sewer. However, for most horse-keeping facilities, the wastewater will be treated and disposed of on-site. In these cases, domestic and horse washing wastewater need to be dealt with separately, as the large loads of horse washing wastewater have the potential to dilute and overload a domestic wastewater treatment system.

“Treat domestic and horse washing wastewater separately”

Horse washing wastewater is the wastewater generated through the washing down of horses, stables and other hard surfaces related to horse-keeping, which contains many pollutants (such as pathogens, nitrogen, phosphorus and solid organic waste) that have the potential to impact on water quality. A five minute horse wash uses approximately 80 litres of water for each horse, and one hour of stall washing using a high pressure cleaner (such as a ‘Gerni’) uses approximately 600 litres of water. The wastewater may also include water from water-based horse exercisers, if this water is not treated and recycled separately.

The horse washing wastewater travels via a manure trap (Figures 3a, 3b and 3c) for treatment in a dedicated septic tank (or sump for smaller developments). Effluent ponds are not considered a feasible or best practice treatment option for horse-keeping establishments.

The solids caught by the manure trap include manure, hair and straw, and must be managed with the rest of the solid horse waste and manure, as described in Section 3.6 below.

Figures 3a, 3b, 3c. Manure traps (SCA, 2012)


Domestic wastewater is generated from toilets, showers, laundries and kitchens associated with a dwelling/office and human occupation. A large variety of systems are available to manage domestic wastewater; no single system will be suitable for all developments. In fact, some sites may prove to be unsuitable for on-site wastewater disposal.

When determining whether on-site wastewater disposal is an option, and which system best suits the development, all soil and landscape constraints such as soil permeability, phosphorus sorption capacity, soil depth, watercourse, drainage depression and farm dam buffers, vegetation and slope must be taken into account. For advice regarding system selection, reference should be made to the SCA’s ‘Designing and Installing On-Site Wastewater Systems’ (SCA, 2012a), and ‘Developments in Sydney’s Drinking Water Catchment – Water Quality Information Requirements’ (SCA, 2011b). These documents are available on the SCA’s website at www.sca.nsw.gov.au.

For proposals that include the staging of events, such as gymkhanas and dressage events, provision must be made for the management of the extra domestic wastewater generated during the event. If the facility is purpose built for the regular staging of events, the wastewater treatment system must have sufficient capacity and the effluent management area must also be correctly sized, taking peak flows into consideration. A balance tank may be required for peak flows. For one-off events, the organisers must provide sufficient portable toilet facilities, and the wastewater must be disposed of appropriately off site by a licensed contractor.

The effluent from the septic tank or sump is managed either in absorption trenches (Figure 4; for most soil types), or evapotranspiration absorption beds (for clayey sub-soils). In all cases, the effluent management area must be protected from impacts by horses and vehicles using fencing.

Figure 4. Baffled septic tank and

absorption trench set up (SCA, 2012a)

In exceptional circumstances where treatment is proposed in a commercial package treatment plant, the SCA may consider permitting the co-mingling and treatment of the two wastewater streams. This will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and an Operational Environmental Management Plan (OEMP) must be prepared and submitted as part of the development application.


The SCA requires both domestic and horse wash wastewater management and disposal areas to be placed at least 150 metres from a named river, 100 metres from watercourses, and 40 metres from drainage depressions or farm dams. For all sites, the location of the appropriately sized effluent management areas must be identified on the plans accompanying the development application. The locations and the suitability of the areas to manage the effluent from the domestic and horse wash treatment systems are assessed using the SCA’s Wastewater Effluent Model, which helps the SCA determine whether the proposed development has a neutral or beneficial effect on water quality.

Reference should be made to ‘Designing and Installing On-Site Wastewater Systems’ (SCA, 2012a), which provides technical information to help design, install, inspect and assess on-site systems in the drinking water catchment. This document is available on the SCA’s website at www.sca.nsw.gov.au.

Management of stormwater runoff

Stormwater runoff from stables, yards and other areas has the potential to carry a high load of nutrients, pathogens and sediment. Also, the replacement of natural ground surfaces and vegetation cover with access roads, buildings and other impermeable surfaces may increase the volume of runoff from the site and the potential for pollutants to be transported off site during rainfall events. As a result, stormwater treatment and management measures are needed to avoid any impacts on water quality.

Treatment and management measures will vary depending on the volume, source and path of the runoff generated by rainfall events, and should be incorporated into the design for the development, and included as part of the water cycle management study that accompanies the development application.

• Runoff from roofs, including stables and indoor arenas, should be captured in rainwater tanks for reuse, as it is relatively clean.

• Runoff from horse yards, enclosures, outdoor arenas and access areas should be captured and treated in swales, which then may drain into an off-line farm dam, sediment basin, water quality treatment pond, or grass buffers and infiltration beds. For larger, more complex developments, runoff may also need to be diverted to a purpose-built bioretention system for treatment. These systems, discussed in greater detail in the sections below, are the most commonly used, but there are others available depending on the characteristics of the site, including proprietary products. All stormwater management systems must be protected from impacts by horses and vehicles by using fencing.

“Protect stormwater management systems from horses and vehicles”

3.5


An OEMP will need to be prepared in consultation with the SCA and Council, detailing the requirements and responsibilities for the inspection, monitoring and maintenance of all stormwater management structures, including any gross pollutant traps, swales, bio-retention systems, detention tanks, water quality ponds and any other stormwater structures and drainage works.

For large developments where the proposed impervious area is greater than or equal to 2,500 square metres, the NorBE Guidelines (SCA, 2011a) also require stormwater modelling based on the Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptual-isation (MUSIC) to have a neutral or beneficial impact on water quality from a stormwater runoff perspective. The MUSIC tool estimates stormwater pollutant generation from proposed land development, and the performance of stormwater treatment devices. MUSIC estimates both the short and long term effects of a wide range of stormwater management actions on the volume and quality of runoff discharging to receiving waters. The pollution generation rates for pollutants such as gross solids, nitrogen and phosphorus must be included in the modelling. For more information, refer to the SCA’s publication ‘Using MUSIC in the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment’ (SCA, 2012b).

The land in horse yards, enclosures and access areas, which generally has an earth surface, should be graded and drained to prevent the ponding of water and to facilitate the flow of surface stormwater away from the yard. Yards should be surrounded by well managed pasture with good groundcover (more than 80%) to limit the potential for nutrients to runoff into watercourses. All paddocks should be managed to maintain good groundcover for the same reasons.

Gates should not be located at the lowest point of yards, as this is the most disturbed point in the yard and will quickly become boggy (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Boggy point at gate

(SCA, 2010)

Surface water from day yards must not be allowed to flow onto adjoining properties, as this would result in water quality impacts leaving the site and therefore the proposal would not satisfy the NorBE test. Enclosures and yards with a concrete surface should be graded to a drain with a manure trap, and piped to an appropriate treatment system.


Rainwater tanks

Rainwater tanks should be used to capture runoff from the roofs of any indoor arenas, stables and other covered areas, regardless of any connection to a reticulated water supply. They should be sized to match the roof area.

There are multiple environmental benefits associated with the use of rainwater tanks to collect and reuse roof runoff. Generally, rainwater can be used for indoor and outdoor non-potable uses such as drinking water supply for the horses, horse washing, stable wash down, dust suppression and garden irrigation. The use of appropriately sized tanks also reduces site runoff, and removes, through harvesting, any sediments and pollutants generated that would otherwise be discharged. When adequately designed, rainwater tanks also provide some on-site detention, thus reducing peak flows and downstream velocities. This in turn reduces the need for other stormwater treatment measures and therefore the cost.

When installing and using rainwater tanks, tank overflow pipes must be installed so that they convey the excess roof water clear of the stables and exercise yards, then either direct the overflow to the stormwater treatment system, farm dam or onto a stabilised grassed area via an energy dissipater, depending on the volume of overflow.

Diversion berms/bunds and swales

Swales (Figure 6) are generally wide grassed waterways with gentle slopes designed to collect and treat stormwater runoff through reducing velocities, filtering pollutants and promoting infiltration.

3.5.1

3.5.2

Figure 6. Swale drain along

an access way

As stormwater runoff flows along the swale, it is treated by vegetation slowing the water to allow the sediment to settle out, filter through a subsoil matrix, and/or infiltrate into the underlying soils.

The use of swale drains is most effective at sites with low to moderate slopes (1-4%), well-drained soils, minimal roadside vegetation, a deep water table and low flow velocities. In steeper locations, swale drains should be armoured as well as vegetated, and include check dams.


Stormwater diversion berms or bunds (Figure 7) can be built using mounded and vegetated soil to divert surface water runoff into water quality treatment ponds and wetlands (Section 3.5.3 below), and to keep general paddock runoff (which is relatively clean) separate from surface runoff from day yards and other areas where horse waste and pollutants concentrate. They can also be used to divert runoff around or away from features such as wastewater treatment systems, effluent management areas, manure stockpiles and other sensitive areas.

All berms/bunds must be vegetated and stabilised with bitumen and jute matting or equivalent as soon as possible after construction.

Figure 7. Earth bund under

construction

Water quality ponds and wetlands

Constructed wetlands and ponds (Figures 8 and 9) have evolved as key management measures for improving the quality of runoff water and reducing the rate of discharge to watercourses. They also provide significant aesthetic, water supply and recreational values.

Figure 8. Newly constructed water

quality treatment pond (SCA, 2007)

3.5.3


Constructed wetlands and ponds use the physical, chemical and biological processes, forms and functions of natural wetlands to achieve the desired water quality outcomes. They work by removing sediment, reducing bacterial contamination and dissolved contaminant loads. Water quality ponds should be constructed to be consistent with Chapter 10 of ‘WSUD Engineering Procedures: Stormwater’ (Melbourne Water 2005), to ensure the flow path is maximised and retention time is optimised.

Figure 9. A constructed wetland

(NSW Government, 2011)

Wetlands are generally used in larger developments, and require particular construction techniques. Existing farm dams may also be able to be upgraded to a wetland. Stormwater discharge is to be directed to downstream grassed areas via outlets that are to be constructed and armoured in such a manner that discharge does not cause erosion. Details on wetland construction can be found in Chapter 9 of the Melbourne Water procedures.

Sediment basins (Figure 10) are used during the construction phase of larger developments, and can be converted into water quality ponds or wetlands when construction activities are completed. They have many of the same characteristics as farm dams as long as they are appropriately hydraulically designed and sized. In fact, an existing farm dam may be able to be upgraded to a sediment basin, by increasing the size, fitting an upgraded spillway, and directing discharge onto rock rip-rap. Details of how any upgrade is to be carried out must be included in the water cycle management study accompanying the development application.

Sediment basins must be located to avoid the need to remove native vegetation during their construction, and fenced off with appropriate signage advising of its water quality management function.


Figure 10. Sediment basin

(Melbourne Water, 2005)

3.5.4

3.5.5

Bioretention systems

Bioretention systems include bioretention swales, bioretention basins and raingardens. Bioretention swales may provide a means of conveying stormwater to a water quality treatment pond or other treatment device. Bioretention basins are typically large basins provided in large open space areas to manage stormwater quality for the whole of a large property. Raingardens are small bioretention basins that are commonly used to catch and treat overflow from dwelling and stable rainwater tanks.

Buffer strips and infiltration systems

Infiltration systems reduce the volume of flow and help to offset increased runoff resulting from additional impervious surface area after a site is developed. They treat stormwater by infiltrating it into the surrounding soil and to groundwater. The performance and suitability of these measures is highly dependent on site soil characteristics, and in general they are not preferred by the SCA.

Infiltration measures are best suited to permeable soil types with deep groundwater. They are not suited to clayey soils with low to imperfect drainage, and particular care should be taken using infiltration systems in soils with high acidity (which prevents nutrient uptake by plants) and/or saline or sodic soils (which are highly dispersive and can ‘clog’). Care should also be taken to ensure adequate separation between the infiltration system and any adjacent infrastructure.

Buffer strips are grassed or otherwise vegetated areas formed to filter sheet flow runoff from impervious surfaces. Buffers are mainly used to remove coarse matter that may otherwise overload a downstream stormwater treatment measure such as a swale or bioretention system.


Monitoring and maintenance of stormwater structures

Stormwater issues identified for the construction and operation phases of the facilities may be addressed through the adoption of various measures as described in the sections above. This must include protection from impacts by horses and vehicles by measures such as fencing. If structures designed and constructed for dealing with stormwater runoff are not properly maintained over their lifetime, water quality issues will arise. For this reason, the water cycle management study must include recommendations for the inspection, cleaning and general maintenance of any stormwater structures proposed for the development.

Management of manure

Horse manure and used bedding materials are potentially significant sources of pathogens and nutrients and must be managed to prevent it, or contaminants leached from it, reaching watercourses, waterbodies or drainage depressions, or leaving the site, regardless of whether the manure is ultimately disposed of off- or on-site.

All manure collected from the stables, tack shed, exercise yard, dressage or indoor arena, or any other area used by the horses, as well as from manure traps, must be stockpiled in a dedicated, covered area that has a sealed floor. The manure may be mixed with other vegetative material such as used hay, and composted for re-use on the property’s paddocks, or sold or otherwise disposed of offsite. The use of bins for manure storage may be appropriate for small-scale developments.

“Manure must be stockpiled in a dedicated covered area”

The manure storage area must be located away from areas of concentrated stormwater flow, as well as a minimum of 40 metres from a dam or drainage depression, 100 metres from any perennial or intermittent watercourse and 150 metres from any named river. Any leachate from the manure stockpile is to be diverted away from stormwater structures such as swales, rock-filled trenches, earth banks and wetlands using a bund. The storage area should also be surrounded by pasture with good (more than 80%) groundcover to limit the potential for nutrients and pathogens to runoff into watercourses.

All manure management measures must be detailed as part of the water cycle management study, which must take into account any relevant site constraints for the storage and disposal of manure, such as slope and proximity to watercourses.

Accumulated manure piles in paddocks may also need to be either collected daily where practicable, or harrowed to break them up and scatter the manure more evenly over the paddock to improve the pasture while it is being rested from grazing by the horses. This will result in more uniform groundcover in the future.

3.5.6

3.6


Stockpiling of materials

Stockpiles of materials other than manure, such as animal feed and materials related to the maintenance of the facilities such as sawdust, have the potential to leach nutrients and other pollutants and contaminate runoff if located uncovered and where the surface flow may be concentrated eg on steep slopes.

Regardless of the nature of the material, stockpiles must be stored away from areas of concentrated stormwater flow, undercover to protect the stockpile from rain, and on an impervious floor eg concrete. Where stockpiles are not under permanent cover they are to have sediment fences placed along the length of the stockpile toe. Such fences are to be maintained while the stockpiles remain.

When considering any potential location for the stockpile, the presence of and likely impact on native vegetation should also be taken into account. The siting and nature of the access to and from the stockpile must also be taken into consideration.

“Store stockpiles undercover and protected from overland flows”

Chemicals such as pesticides and fertilisers, however, have particular storage requirements and must always be stored in a chemical store that is weatherproof and fire-resistant, and has a concrete floor.

Management of dead stock

Inappropriate management of dead stock, such as disposal in gullies, can have a serious impact on water quality. If the dead stock is to be buried on site, it must occur at least 100 m away from watercourses, one metre above the watertable, in heavy soils of low permeability and good stability, avoiding sites sloping to watercourses or those areas that are likely to drain to watercourses. Disposal must be carried out according to the guidelines produced by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, available at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/mao/deadstockdisposal.htm.

Other considerations

The design of horse-keeping facilities should also incorporate measures to encourage horses away from dams, creeks and other watercourses to avoid erosion, pugging (excessive soil disturbance by horse hooves), damage to the vegetation cover on the banks of the watercourse and horses depositing manure directly into the water.

This may include a physical barrier such as fencing, or locating sheltering and watering points (troughs) away from any drainage lines. This protects water quality by encouraging the horses to use the shelters away from the watercourses.

3.7

3.8

3.9


Congregation of horses in paddock shade areas also leads to the disturbance of groundcover and soil erosion. The location of paddock shade areas must be considered at the design stage of the proposal, and should be located on areas of flatter ground, away from drainage lines. Isolated paddock shade trees should also be protected from rubbing and chewing by the horses. A detailed pasture management plan should be developed to incorporate these considerations, as well as to avoid the formation of ‘roughs’ and ‘lawns’ from horses selectively grazing around and away from their dunging areas.

The SCA generally requires all areas of remnant native and established introduced vegetation, including any regrowth on the site greater than one hectare, to be retained and protected. Double fencing enclosing remnant (native) vegetation can be used as windbreaks between paddocks.

Vehicle and horse access between paddocks (gates) should not be located at the lowest point in a paddock where water will drain and accumulate. Locating access at a higher point in a paddock will mean that any sediment from the bare patches caused by frequent use will be trapped on the paddock and the areas will not become boggy. Paths and other access ways should be aligned and constructed so they do not become channels for water.


4 Case StudiesNote: all case studies are based on real development proposals, however identifying features have been removed and some aspects of the development changed to help clarify the outcomes. All development proposals were assessed as to whether they had a neutral or beneficial effect on water quality.

Small development

A proposal was received by council for a small horse-keeping development (Figure 11) consisting of:

- a four bedroom dwelling

- stables for four horses and associated facilities (Figure 12)

- associated wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.

Domestic wastewater management

• Domestic wastewater is treated in an aerated wastewater treatment system with a minimum treatment capacity of 1,200 litres a day, with disposal of effluent in a sub-surface effluent irrigation area of 1,000 square metres (see the SCA’s documents ‘Developments in Sydney’s Drinking Water Catchment – Water Quality Information Requirements’ (SCA, 2011b) and ‘Designing and Installing On-Site Wastewater Systems’ (SCA, 2012a) for sizing and installation information). The effluent irrigation area is fenced off from access by the horses, and the pipe from the AWTS to the irrigation area buried at least 300 millimetres deep.

Stables

Dam

Existing shed

Absorptiontrenches

Effluentirrigationarea

Dwelling

Entry

Aeratedwastewatertreatmentsystem

Fig 12Site layout(not to scale)

4.1

Figure 11. Site layout (not to scale)


Figure 12. Stable layout showing

wastewater management (not to scale)

Stable 1

Stable 3

Stable 2

Stable 4

Stable 2 Washbay

Tack room

Day yard

Manurestore

Rainwatertank Feed

store

Manuretrap

Baffledseptic tank

Absorptiontrenches

Buriedpipe

Fig 13Stable layout showingwastewater management(not to scale)

Horse wash wastewater management

• The wastewater generated from the stables building and day yard is disposed of via manure traps, and a baffled concrete septic tank of 2,000 litres capacity fitted with an outlet filter to absorption trenches with a minimum base area of 30 square metres (eg three trenches each 17 metres long and 0.6 metres wide) in the silty clay soil. The wastewater is detained in the septic tank for a minimum of 24 hours. The absorption trenches are located at least 40 metres by flow path from the dam and fenced off from access by the horses and vehicular traffic.

• Both the domestic and horse wash effluent management areas were located to protect the remnant native vegetation on the property.

Manure management

• The manure traps are cleaned every week and the manure disposed of to the dedicated, covered manure storage area with a concrete floor adjacent to the stables. All other manure generated in the stables and day yard is also disposed of to the manure storage area, which is located at least 40 metres from the dam and protected against stormwater flows. The manure is composted and used on site.

Stormwater management

• The runoff from the roofs is captured in rainwater tanks and reused for toilets, horse water supply, horse washing, etc. Stormwater from the horse yards and access areas is captured and treated in swales, and then drains into the farm dam.


Medium development

A proposal was received by council for a medium horse-keeping facility (Figure 13) intended to be used for public events consisting of:

- an equestrian centre (arenas and shed)

- stables for up to 10 horses

- a retail shop, car park and amenities.

• Vegetated swales are provided along the sides of the driveway and car park to capture all road and car park runoff. Appropriately spaced cross drains and level spreaders are incorporated that divert the runoff into the existing dam and provide for sediment tapping and energy dissipation.

• The manure from the yards, working arena, campdraft arena and stables is collected, stored in a dedicated site undercover on a concrete floor before being disposed of off-site.

• Roof runoff from the shed, shop, and spectator deck is collected in a series of rainwater tanks spread across the site, which have a total minimum capacity of 35,000 litres, and are plumbed to the toilets. Runoff from the working and campdraft arenas is directed away from the existing farm dam and into a water quality pond with a minimum volume of 1,200 cubic metres. The water quality pond and dam are fenced to protect them from horses and vehicular traffic.

• Domestic wastewater is treated in an AWTS with a design capacity of 6,700 litres plus a balance tank of 4,000 litres before the AWTS to manage peak weekend wastewater loads. The effluent is disposed of in an effluent irrigation area with a minimum size of 1,200 square metres.

• Horse-generated wastewater from the stables, including the wash bays, is treated in a separate baffled septic tank with a capacity of 3,000 litres and disposed of in a series of fenced absorption trenches.

4.2


Figure 13. Site layout schematic

(not to scale)

Large development

A proposal was received by council for a large, commercial horse-keeping development (Figure 14) consisting of:

- an eight bedroom dwelling

- a Farm Services Area with machinery sheds, workshop, garage and feed storage (Figure 15) with a total roof area of approximately 1,200m2

- a Stables and Administration Area with stables (for up to 40 horses), veterinary care facilities, wash bays, tack rooms, feed rooms, offices and meeting rooms, and associated amenities (Figure 16) with a total roof area of approximately 2,800m2, a covered gymnasium area (2,000m2), and an exercise area consisting of treadmill, equine water-based exerciser and equine walker (740m2)

- access roads, internal roadways between development areas and gravel tracks

- associated wastewater and storm-water infrastructure.

Effluent managementarea

Subsurfaceeffluent managementarea Water quality

control pond

Septic tankStables

Parking area

Rainwatertank Campdraft

arena

Shop/ amenities

ShedAccess road

Existing farm dam

Working arena

Deck for spectatorsand riders

Fig 13Site layout(not to scale)

Rainwatertank

Rainwatertank

AWTS

Trough

4.3


Subsurfaceeffluent managementarea

Effluent managementarea

Horsewastewatercombinedtreatment system

Undergroundrainwatertank



Bio-retentionbasinsBioretention

basin

Farmservicesarea

Domesticwastewaterpumpwell

Main road

Dwelling


Stables andadministrationarea

Majorwatercourse

Combineddomesticwastewatertreatmentsystem

Fig 16site layout schematic(not to scale)

Horsewastewaterpumpwell

Parking

Figure 14. Site layout schematic

(not to scale)Site and planning issues

The following site and planning issues have been taken into consideration:

• A named river flows inside the boundary of the site, requiring a buffer of 150 metres against all effluent disposal. The wastewater treatment system and effluent disposal system have been located above the 1:100 flood level of this major watercourse.

• The scale and complexity of the proposed development required an operational environmental management plan to be developed.

• The impervious area of the development is greater than 2,500 square metres, meaning it was necessary to prepare a comprehensive soil and water management plan for the construction phase. MUSIC modelling for designing the stormwater management measures was also required. Reference should be made to the SCA’s document ‘The Use of MUSIC in Sydney’s Drinking Water Catchment: A Guide’ (2012b).

• All the access and internal roads are sealed and the remaining tracks are constructed of compacted road base. All roads and tracks are constructed in accordance with the SCA’s current recommended practices and council’s engineering standards, and incorporate runoff and other management measures such as vegetated swales, cross drains, level spreaders, sills or mitre drains as appropriate.


Entry

Compound


Arrivalsyard

Vetandtack

Horsebay

Machinerystore

Sawduststore

GarageStore

Workshop(with WC andshowers)

Securestore

Hayandfeed

Washdown

Fig 17Farm services are


Bioretentionbasin

Day yards

Horsewastewaterpumpwell

Figure 15. Farm services area

• No clearing is required for the development, and all areas of remnant native vegetation, including any regrowth, are retained and protected. Approximately six hectares of the site is being revegetated, including rehabilitation of a 20 metre wide riparian strip on the named river, and new plantings along tracks and roads, with all new and remnant vegetation permanently fenced off from access by the horses.

Domestic wastewater management

• Wastewater from the dwelling is directed via a 3,600 litre septic tank and 2,000 litre pump wells to an AWTS with a minimum capacity of 3,500 litres per day, and disposed of in an effluent irrigation area with a minimum size of 1,400 square metres, consistent with the water cycle management study.

• Domestic wastewater from the staff amenities in the Farm Services Area is pumped to the AWTS attached to the dwelling for treatment and disposal, via a 2,000 litre septic tank and 2,000 litre pump well.

• Domestic wastewater from the staff amenities in the Stables and Administration Area is pumped to the AWTS attached to the dwelling for treatment and disposal, via a 3,600 litre septic tank and 2,000 litre pump well.


Horse wash wastewater management

• All wastewater from the stables wash down and horse wash bays (Figure 17) in the Farm Services Area, and Stables and Administration Area is pumped to a 7,000 litre septic tank via manure traps and 1,000 litre arrestor pits. The effluent is then disposed of via a pump well with a minimum volume of 3,800 litres to evapotranspiration (ETA) beds, which have a minimum base area of 320 square metres (eg four beds each 20 metres long and four metres wide).

The pump well is set to operate between 50 and 65% full, with an alarm for when the pump fails or when the holding tank is 75% full. The pipe from the pump well to the ETA beds is buried at a minimum of 300 millimetres depth (500 mm under tracks and access ways), and a dosing and distribution mechanism installed for distributing effluent within and between the beds.

The irrigation area and ETA beds are both fenced off from access by the horses, and mown regularly with the grass clippings removed. The disposal areas are bunded to divert stormwater runoff away.

Manure management

• All manure from the stable floors and other areas, captured in the manure traps and where it concentrates, as well as the filtered sediments from the water-based exerciser is collected, stockpiled in dedicated under-cover skips that are removed regularly by a licensed contractor.

Stormwater management

• Runoff from all roof areas is collected in a series of rainwater tanks spread across the site with a minimum total capacity of 520,000 litres, and the water used for toilet flushing, showers, the hot water system, horse water supply, horse washing and general wash-down purposes. Overflow from the tanks is directed into small absorption trenches in a way that does not cause scouring.

All other stormwater runoff from the hard surfaces around the dwelling, Farm Services buildings and yards, Stables and Administration Area, Exercise Area and training yards is directed to a number of bioretention basins via a series of grassed swales. The bioretention basins have a total surface and filter area of 360 square metres and an extended detention depth of 200 millimetres to allow for floods. The basins are protected from vehicular damage by bollards, and signs are erected to advise of the nature and purpose of their stormwater quality management function.


Figure 17. Horse wash bay (SCA, 2012)

Horsebox

Horsebox

Horsebox

Horsebox

Horsebox

Horsebox

Horsebox

Tackroom

Tackroom

Horsebox

Horsebox

Horsebox

Horsebox

Horsebox

Horsebox

Horsebox

Horsebox

Bedstore

Feedmixstore

Rugstore

Binstore

Washbay

Tackroom

Washbay

Washbay

Washbay

Staffroom

Washbay

Ldry

WCThrough tosouth wing

Administration area(including shower and WC facilities)

Fig 18Stables andadministration area layout(part only)


Horsebox

Downpipe toundergroundrainwater tank

Downpipe toundergroundrainwater tank

Figure 16. Part of the stables and

administration area layout


5 AcronymsCSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

DEC Former Department of Environment and Conservation (now part of the Office of Environment and Heritage)

ESCP Erosion and sediment control plan

LEP Local environmental plan

LLS Local Land Services (now part of the Department of Primary Industries, includes Catchment Management Authorities)

MUSIC Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation

NorBE Neutral or beneficial effect

OEMP Operational environmental management plan

SCA Sydney Catchment Authority

SEPP State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Drinking Water Catchment) 2011

SWMP Soil and water management plan


6 Glossaryabsorption trench

A shallow trench designed to intercept and reduce surface runoff by holding it long enough to allow it to enter the underlying soil.

catchment The area of land from which rainfall flows to a waterbody.

clearing native vegetation

Has the same meaning as in the Native Vegetation Act 2003. Note: the term is defined as follows: Clearing native vegetation means any one or more of the

following:

a. cutting down, felling, thinning, logging or removing native vegetation,

b. killing, destroying, poisoning, ringbarking, uprooting or burning native vegetation.

(See Division 3 of Part 3 of the Native Vegetation Act 2003

for the exclusion of routine agricultural management and other farming activities from constituting the clearing of native vegetation if the landholder can establish that any clearing was carried out for the purpose of those activities).

concurrence Agreement by the Chief Executive of the SCA with the consent authority in granting consent to the development proposal.

consent authority

In relation to a development application or an application for a complying development certificate, means:

a. the council having the function to determine the application, or

b. if a provision of this Act, the regulations or an environmental planning instrument specifies a Minister or public authority (other than a council) as having the function to determine the application—that Minister or public authority, as the case may be.

development a. the use of land, and

b. the subdivision of land, and

c. the erection of a building, and

d. the carrying out of a work, and

e. the demolition of a building or work, and

f. any other act, matter or thing referred to in section 26 that is controlled by an environmental planning instrument, but does not include any development of a class or description prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition.

development application

An application for consent under Part 4 to carry out development but does not include an application for a complying development certificate.


diversion bank A channel with a supporting ridge on the lower side constructed across or at the bottom of a slope for the purpose of intercepting and redirecting surface runoff.

drainage depression

A low point that carries water during rainfall events, but dries out quickly once rainfall has ceased. A gully or incised drainage depression is considered to constitute a watercourse.

ETA beds Evapotranspiration absorption beds – maximise loss of water by evapotranspiration by plants, combined with absorption into the soil.

impervious A surface or soil through which water penetrates slowly or not at all.

intermittent watercourse

Having banks and beds or ponds or remaining wet for considerable periods between rainfall events and which may be characterised by supporting moisture tolerant vegetation.

named rivers Wingecarribee River, Wollondilly River, Nattai River, Nepean River, Cox’s River, Werri Berri Creek, Shoalhaven River, Kangaroo River, Mongarlowe River, Tarlo River for the full length of each river as defined on topographic maps, and the Mulwaree River upstream as far as the Braidwood Road crossing.

nutrients Nourishing substances, eg phosphorus and nitrogen, which enhance plant growth (including algal growth in water).

runoff Drainage or flood discharge that leaves an area as surface flow or through a pipe.

sediment Soil, sand and materials washed from land into water, usually after rain.

site The site of a proposed development means the area of land described in the development application.

stable A shelter provided to protect the horse from the natural elements of the weather, in which a horse is capable of being enclosed and includes a building or structure designed for use, or is capable of being used for the stabling, keeping, feeding, watering, grooming, shoeing or veterinary treatment of horses.

steep Slopes > 20% (11.4o) (for watercourses and gullies).

stormwater Rainwater running off a surface.

swale A wide shallow channel or low bank, often lined with grass (grassy swale) used to direct stormwater flow and, at the same time, promote pollutant removal by filtration through the use of properly selected vegetation and settling.

waterbody A waterbody (artificial) or waterbody (natural).


waterbody (artificial)

An artificial body of water, including any constructed waterway, canal, inlet, bay, channel, dam, pond, lake or artificial wetland, but does not include a dry detention basin or other stormwater management construction that is only intended to hold water intermittently.

waterbody (natural)

A natural body of water, whether perennial or intermittent, fresh, brackish or saline, the course of which may have been artificially modified or diverted onto a new course, and includes a river, creek, stream, lake, lagoon, natural wetland, estuary, bay, inlet or tidal waters (including the sea).

watercourse Means any river, creek, stream or chain of ponds, whether artificially modified or not, in which water usually flows, either continuously or intermittently, in a defined bed or channel, but does not include a waterbody (artificial).

wetland Means:

a. natural wetland, including marshes, mangroves, backwaters, billabongs, swamps, sedgelands, wet meadows or wet heathlands that form a shallow waterbody (up to 2 metres in depth) when inundated cyclically, intermittently or permanently with fresh, brackish or salt water, and where the inundation determines the type and productivity of the soils and the plant and animal communities, or

a. artificial wetland, including marshes, swamps, wet meadows, sedgelands or wet heathlands that form a shallow water body (up to 2 metres in depth) when inundated cyclically, intermittently or permanently with water, and are constructed and vegetated with wetland plant communities.

water cycle management study (WCMS)

Components of the WCMS include:

- a conceptual soil and water management plan or erosion and sediment control plan for the construction phase

- an on-site effluent management plan if unsewered

- water sensitive design features, and

- a determination of pre-and post-development loads

- an OEMP for effluent management and stormwater quality improvement devices.

windbreak Row or clumps of trees and shrubs planted at right angles to the prevailing wind direction to protect stock and property, improve soil moisture retention, reduce evaporation and wind erosion and protect pastures.

yard An enclosure in which a horse may be enclosed.


7 References1. Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW), 2004. ‘Horse Properties

on the Rural Urban Fringe - Best Practice Environmental Guide for Keeping Horses’. DEC, Sydney.

2. Landcom, 2004. ‘Managing Urban Stormwater: Soils and Construction, Vol. 1, 4th Ed’. Landcom, Sydney (the ‘Blue Book’ Vol.1).

3. Melbourne Water, 2005. ‘WSUD Engineering Procedures: Stormwater’. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood (VIC).

4. NSW Government, 2011. ‘The Farm Dam Handbook’. NSW Government, Sydney.

5. NSW Rural Fire Service, 2006. ‘Planning for Bush Fire Protection’. RFS. <<http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au>>

6. Standards Australia, 2012. ‘Australian/New Zealand Standard 1547:2012 – On-site domestic wastewater management’. Standards Australia (Strathfield) and Standards New Zealand (Wellington).

7. Sydney Catchment Authority, 2011a. ‘Neutral or Beneficial Effect on Water Quality Assessment Guideline 2011’. SCA, Penrith.

8. Sydney Catchment Authority, 2011b. ‘Developments in Sydney’s Drinking Water Catchment – Water Quality Information Requirements’. SCA, Penrith.

9. Sydney Catchment Authority, 2011c. ‘Using a Consultant to Prepare Your Water Cycle Management Study’. SCA, Penrith.

10. Sydney Catchment Authority, 2012a. ‘Designing and Installing On-Site Wastewater Systems’. SCA, Penrith.

11. Sydney Catchment Authority, 2012b. ‘Using MUSIC in the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment’. SCA, Penrith.


Appendix – Exempt Development2.6B Development standards in Subdivision 3A Animal shelters in State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008.

In the SEPP, an animal shelter is exempt in certain zones under subdivision 3A, if the following development standards are satisfied:

3. The standards specified for that development when it is a stable for the keeping of horses in Zone RU1, RU2, RU3 or RU4 are that the development must:

a. be for domestic purposes only, and

b. not have a floor area of more than 50m2, and

c. be not higher than 3m above ground level (existing), and

d. be located at least 20m from any road boundary and 5m from every other lot boundary, and

e. be located at least 30m from any dwelling on an adjoining lot, and

f. if roofed—be constructed or installed so that roof water is disposed of on site, without causing a nuisance to adjoining owners, and

g. if it is in Zone RU4 and to the extent it is comprised of metal components—be constructed of low reflective, factory pre-coloured materials, and

h. have an impervious floor, and

i. if it is located on bush fire prone land and is less than 5m from a dwelling—be constructed of non-combustible material.

4. There must not be more than 1 development per lot for development referred to in subclause (3).


Contact information

SCA Head Office

Sydney Catchment Authority Level 4, 2–6 Station Street Penrith NSW 2750

PO Box 323 Penrith NSW 2751

Telephone 1300 722 468 Fax + 61 2 4725 2599

Office hours 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday

Website www.sca.nsw.gov.au Email [email protected]

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