Geography Activities
AG3 Dirt Busters
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Urban Impacts on UPRC
Urbanisation increases the area of impervious surfaces (such
as roads and roofs) in a catchment. This causes rainfall that
previously infiltrated into soil or flowed off catchments at a
slow rate, to flow off the catchment quickly and in greater volumes.
In the upper Parramatta River catchment, many small creeks have
been replaced with piped and lined drainage systems. This causes
additional increases in the rate at which stormwater is carried,
increased flooding and erosion problems. The concentration of
pollutants such as oil, grease, sediment and organic matter running
off urban surfaces causes deterioration in the water quality downstream.
Building activities can have a severe impact on the catchment
– with sediment and mud washing into creeks and drains greatly
increasing turbidity.
Curriculum Links
·
NSW Department of Education - Environmental Education Policy
2001
·
Stage 5 Geography – 5A3 Issues in Australian Environments
- Water Management
Outcome 5.9 applies geographical knowledge,
understanding and skills to demonstrate active and informed citizenship
·
Stage 6 Geography – 8.2.1 Biophysical Interactions
ð collecting and analysing field
data
ð the relevance
of geographical understanding of biophysical interactions to a
particular location such as: planning hazard mitigation, practising
environmental law.
Background Information
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Image 1
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Image 2
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Image 3
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Image 4
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Image 5
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Look at the photos above.
1. What work practices in
photos 1 – 4 are causing or have the potential to cause
stormwater pollution?
2. What is likely to happen
when the storm brewing over Toongabbie in photo 5 moves
into Blacktown?
3. What offence is being
committed under the POEO Act?
4. What fines could be incurred
by - management of the business?
- workers on the site?
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Photo 6 – Immediately below site
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Photo 7 – Downstream of site
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Look at photos 6 – 7 showing Blacktown Creek below
the worksite seen in images 1 – 2.
5. What impact has this site
had on the turbidity levels in Blacktown Creek?
6. What impacts do high turbidity
levels have on aquatic life and the health of the upper
Parramatta River catchment?
7. What needs to be done
to prevent a pollution event such as this from happening
again? Design a pollution prevention plan for the businesses
involved in this incident, including advice about:
- staff awareness and training,
- pollution prevention strategies,
- pollution prevention devices on site.
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Resources and Links
E3
Environmental Legislation, E6
Impacts of Urban Development, E7
Water Pollution
Protection of the Environment Operations Act (POEO) http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/prpoeo/index.htm
http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/stormwater/hsieteachguide/s5curriclinks.htm
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