Annual Report 2013 Annual Report 2013 Report Annual Accountable Officer’S Declaration
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Annual Report 2013 Department of Environment and Primary Industries Annual Report 2013 Accountable Officer’s declaration In accordance with the Financial Management Act 1994, I am pleased to present the Department of Environment and Primary Industries’ Annual Report for the year ending 30 June 2013. Adam Fennessy Secretary Department of Environment and Primary Industries 9 September 2013 Cover image: Lake Catani, Mt Buffalo National Park Credit: Alison Pouliot Contents Secretary’s message 2 Our department 4 About DEPI 10 Year in review 14 Financial review 22 Our people 24 2I¿FHEDVHGHQYLURQPHQWDOSHUIRUPDQFH Output performance 49 Effective management of water resources to meet future urban, rural and environmental needs 50 7KHFRPPXQLW\EHQH¿WVIURPHIIHFWLYH management of Victoria’s land assets 55 Effective environmental and climate change policy, investment and regulation 62 5HGXFHGLPSDFWRIPDMRUEXVK¿UHVDQG other extreme events on people, infrastructure and the environment 72 Legislative and other information 79 Financial statements 91 $SSHQGLFHV Appendix 1 Disclosure index 183 Appendix 2 Budget portfolio outcomes 185 Appendix 3 Capital projects 190 Appendix 4 Disclosure of grants and transfer payments 191 Appendix 5 Environmental contributions 199 Appendix 6 Acronmyns 200 Department of Environment and Primary Industries 2013 Annual Report 1 Secretary’s message The 2012–13 Annual After being appointed Secretary of DEPI on 15 April, my first priority was to establish a transition taskforce to Report records a year ensure that the new department was ‘open for business’ of change, milestones on 1 July 2013. Following an intensive direction-setting and outstanding process, DEPI’s new structure was announced in late April. Deputy Secretaries corresponding to each of the six new achievement in providing functional groups were appointed in early May. services to Victorians. The new executive team worked together to organise the The most significant change, department into six regions across Victoria, to better align announced by the Premier of and scale operations to government priorities. Victoria on 9 April 2013, was the merger of the Department Local decision-making and service delivery are key features of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and the Department of the new service model, which is designed to create of Primary Industries (DPI) to form the Department of value across the department’s functions, ensure flexibility Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) and the transfer and community focus and deliver on-ground results across of Land Victoria to the new Department of Transport, Victoria’s landscapes and food and fibre industries. In the Planning and Local Infrastructure. coming year, we will continue to improve our responsiveness The changes strengthen the government’s focus on jobs, to opportunities and regional needs, as we work through investment and more effective delivery of regional services. government priorities, develop new programs and new links Positioning environment and agricultural services together with stakeholders. in one department allows us to deliver better and more Along with these initiatives, DEPI will maintain the high efficient environmental management and agricultural support standard of business as usual that made 2012–13 a and provide a ‘one-stop shop’ approach across private and successful year. The planned burning program to protect public land and water. people, property and infrastructure was especially notable. The focus of the new department is on boosting productivity Despite wet and variable spring weather and a demanding in Victoria’s world class food and fibre sector, managing bushfire season, our firefighters completed 678 burns, our natural resources, protecting the environment and treating 255,227 hectares of public land. This was 58,078 responding to fire, flood and biosecurity emergencies. hectares more than the previous year and the largest planned burning program in the past 30 years. 2 Department of Environment and Primary Industries 2013 Annual Report Sadly, this fire season was a reminder of how dangerous These policies provide opportunities for Victorians to get firefighting can be, with three firefighters losing their lives in more involved in protecting and enhancing the environment. active duty. We gratefully and respectfully acknowledge their Finally, I would like to thank staff for their resilience and commitment to protecting Victoria’s communities. dedication to delivering services during this period of The Murray-Darling Basin Plan, signed into law in November change, especially those staff members who have now 2012, establishes a new regime for the management of moved on to other areas. While visiting workplaces the water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin. Finalising across the state, I have been delighted to see the passion the plan brings clarity and certainty to northern Victoria’s that people bring to their work and the enthusiasm and communities, agriculture and industries. The department commitment to the new department. led Victoria’s negotiations with the Commonwealth over five I would also like to acknowledge the valued contribution of years and achieved several key inclusions in the final plan. In Greg Wilson who led the department for four years. During June 2013, Victoria, became the first state to sign the plan’s his time as Secretary, Greg oversaw extensive reform in the agreements. water sector, a new statewide approach to environmental Another milestone in water management was the Office of protection, strengthened relationships with our portfolio Living Victoria’s development of Melbourne’s Water Future, partners and industry and led the department through the a draft whole-of-water-cycle strategy. This will drive greater significant challenges of the 2012–13 fire season. use of rainwater, stormwater and wastewater while saving As we continue into the future I am confident that we drinking water and better managing the city’s water costs. have the resources and capability to make an important It was also a significant year in environmental policy. contribution to Victoria’s growth and quality of life. Victoria’s first Climate Change Adaptation Plan was tabled in State Parliament in March, setting out government action to manage the risks of a changing climate and build Victoria’s resilience to extreme events. The year saw the release of several key policies supporting the government’s aim to deliver better environmental outcomes through practical action, effective regulation Adam Fennessy and better services: Secretary Department of Environment and Primary Industries • Environmental Partnerships lays the foundation for government, business, industry, community groups and individuals to work together to undertake practical action to maintain a resilient, healthy environment. • Getting full value: Victoria’s Waste and Resource Recovery Policy is transforming waste management while strengthening health and environmental standards. It marks more than two years extensive research and collaboration between government, industry and the community. • The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy will protect threatened species throughout Melbourne’s four urban growth corridors. It provides greater planning certainty for development, improved biodiversity outcomes and further streamlines planning and approvals. Department of Environment and Primary Industries 2013 Annual Report 3 Our department Our Ministers Structural changes to the department Minister for Agriculture and On 9 April 2013, the Victorian Premier Denis Napthine Food Security and Minister announced a number of Machinery of Government changes for Water to strengthen the focus on jobs and investment and more effectively deliver frontline services. The Hon. Peter Walsh MLA was appointed as the Minister for The changes included the merger of the Department of Agriculture and Food Security Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and the Department and the Minister for Water in of Primary Industries (DPI) to form the new Department of December 2010. He is also the Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) from 1 July 2013. Deputy Leader of the Victorian As part of the Machinery of Government changes, the Nationals. Energy and Resources portfolio from the former DPI As Minister for Water, Peter Walsh is driving change to transferred to the new Department of State Development, deliver better water services, improved local environments Business and Innovation (DSDBI). Land Victoria transferred and increased liveability in Melbourne and Victoria’s regional from the former DSE to the new Department of Transport, cities. Planning and Local Infrastructure (DTPLI). Minister for Environment The transfer of staff and functions following Machinery of and Climate Change Government change is undertaken pursuant to Section 30 of the Public Administration Act 2004. The Premier signed The Hon. Ryan Smith MP was the Section 30 declaration to officially transfer staff to DEPI appointed as the Minister for or DSDBI on 3 June 2013. Land Victoria staff officially Environment and Climate Change transferred to DTPLI on 1 July 2013. in December 2010. He is also the Minister for Youth Affairs. The DEPI Secretary, Adam Fennessy, assumed responsibility for the leadership and direction of the new department As Minister for Environment and and DPI on 15 April 2013. A transition taskforce with Climate Change, Ryan Smith representatives from both departments was then formed to is responsible for action to lead the establishment of the new department.