CHCC Pathetic Response

Here is the rediculous response we got back from CHCC ............ needless to say I was not kind in my response.

G'day Paul,

The sediment from Opal Cove will be distinguishable by its colour (orange) and there isn't any process whereby this could transform into 'black muck' within a few months.

The heavier silt (estimate 3-4m3 max) is that which has deposited as a 'fan' at the outlet of the drainage pipe.  This is the focus of the cleanup efforts.

While I do acknowledge that there would have been some lighter material that would have spread further, the bulk of this would have washed through given the scale of the storm event and consequent flows through the lagoon at the time.

I acknowledge that the 'black muck' is something you'd want to address, but this is certainly not from Opal Cove. I understand that the entire catchment has many years of intensive agriculture around it then urbanisation with little or no sediment control, along with years of spraying Salvinia which would have rotted down in the lagoon.

As part of the works, Council plans to try to clean out the pipe under Links Ave. Once this is clear, it will probably have the effect of flushing out the lagoons during larger flows.

If your Landcare group wanted to focus on particular areas to clean some of the black muck in addition, this should be OK, however this will have to be documented on the Review of Environmental Factors Council is preparing for the proposed de-siltation works. So to tee this up, we'll need to arrange a meeting on site.  I've cc'd Bill Richardson and Nat Redman in on the email - can you &/or Craig please nominate a time that suits?

Regards, Ben.