Land pressures such as urban salinity have long been a problem in Junee. In 2005 Council partnered with the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority to take part in the project 'Protecting High Value Urban Infrastructure'. The aim of the project was to increase the understanding among Council staff of salinity processes and impacts in Junee and to assist in the identification of potential Local Government actions to address them.

In late 2005 early 2006, Council staff participated in 4 days of Urban Salinity Training which opened up MCMA funding opportunities for focused on-ground works associated with salinity management. Junee Shire Council was successful in obtaining $230,000 for 6 projects. This project extended into the 2007/2008 financial year and is due for completion in the coming financial year. The funded projects were:

Some of Councils roads in the lower discharge areas of town suffer continuous damage from the high water table. In previous years Council has repaired the roads by simply resurfacing them, only to have the damage recur in a very short period.

A project to develop a suitable treatment to alleviate the detrimental effects and protect council’s infrastructure was carried out in 2007 which involved a pavement design specific to this particular environment. The installation of subsurface drainage under the road pavement in these areas has helped remove this excess water and the addition of water repellant stabilizing material added to the pavement will help prevent surface deformations. Combined with this was the addition of new kerb and gutter which replaced old, broken and poorly graded guttering which also contributed to the high water table. Both surface and sub surface drains now discharge to newly constructed stormwater drains described below.

This project was completed in the 2007/2008 financial year. Funding was received for the revegetation of recharge and discharge areas in the Junee Urban Catchment Area. It consisted of a total of 66 participating landholders agreeing to plant a minimum of 100 stems and provide water and care for the seedlings to survive. Council agreed to provide trees, guards and stakes and carry out ground preparation (either digging individual holes or rip tree lines). A total of 11804 trees and shrubs were delivered to landholder in time for planting to coincide with Planet Arks National Tree Day on Sunday 27 July 2008.

This project was considered to be a major success with an overwhelming response form the community. Council will monitor survival rates and continue to provide participants with reminders and other information about tree care.

Councils stormwater system consists of some “U-shaped” concrete lined drains and some grass lined drainage swales. This project was about redesigning our open stormwater drains to carry the minor flows through town and out of our high water table areas. To achieve this Council installed small v-drains in the base of some of our grass lined drainage swales to allow day-to-day trickle flows to be carried out of the town and therefore not contribute to our water table.

With heavy rains we see the entire drain fill with water and then in the days that follow, there is a steady flow of trickling water being carried in the bottom of the drain and out of town. The project is considered to be a success and Council will continue to source funding to complete the remaining network of grass lined drainage swales.

  Junee Stormwater Management Plan  (Details) | pdf | 215

By developing a demonstration site in town, Council has been able to exhibit practical ways to reduce impacts on Urban Salinity. Waterwise plantings, effective mulching, watering techniques, and informative signage was included in the project.

Council is continually aiming to increase the awareness of urban salinity issues and encourage attitudinal and behavioral changes in the community. Information is disseminated via Council’s website, newsletters and newspaper articles and educational signage at demonstration sites.