Section 7: Surface Water Quality
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7.2 Surface Water Quality 7.2.1 Objectives The objectives of this section of the EIS is to: describe the existing environmental values of the area; describe potential adverse and beneficial impacts of the proposal on the environmental values; outline cumulative impacts on environmental values; present environmental protection objectives, standards and indicators for monitoring; and examine the viable strategies for managing impacts for inclusion within an environmental management plan. The potential impacts and likely consequences which are addressed in this section are illustrated in Policy and Legislation Legislation, Policy and Best Practice Documents Relevant to Water Quality The following documents were reviewed to identify the key environmental values and applicable water quality objectives for the Hinze Dam catchment, incorporating the Nerang River: Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2004; Environment Protection Act 1994; Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997; Nerang River Environmental Values and Water Quality; Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC Guidelines); and Water Resources (Gold Coast) Plan 2006. Australian Drinking Water Guidelines The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (the ADWG) provide a framework for good management of drinking water supplies that, if implemented, will assure safety at point of use (NHMRC 2004). The ADWG are not Government legislation or policy, providing best practice guidelines, for determining appropriate drinking water quality. The ADWG are intended for use by the community and all agencies with responsibilities associated with the supply of drinking water (NHMRC 2004). The ADWG addresses the microbial limits, the physical and chemical requirements and the radiological limits of drinking water while also discussing the specific methods associated with the chemical treatment of drinking water. The requirements for designing a rigorous water quality monitoring program, with suitable levels of quality control are also stipulated and should be considered in the design of the monitoring program for Hinze Dam. Environmental Protection Act 1994 The objective of the Act is to protect Queensland's environment, while allowing for development that improves the total quality of life, now and in the future, in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends (ecologically sustainable development). This Act is the overarching legislation under which the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997 was developed. 7-35 Figure 7-16 Potential Project Impacts and Consequences . The potential impacts and likely consequences have also been discussed in the context of future water quality conditions. The potential ecological impacts have been addressed in the terrestrial ecology and aquatic ecology sections (see Section 9 and Section 10 of the EIS). 7.2.2 Policy and Legislation Legislation, Policy and Best Practice Documents Relevant to Water Quality The following documents were reviewed to identify the key environmental values and applicable water quality objectives for the Hinze Dam catchment, incorporating the Nerang River: Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2004; Environment Protection Act 1994; Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997; Nerang River Environmental Values and Water Quality; Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC Guidelines); and Water Resources (Gold Coast) Plan 2006. Australian Drinking Water Guidelines The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (the ADWG) provide a framework for good management of drinking water supplies that, if implemented, will assure safety at point of use (NHMRC 2004). The ADWG are not Government legislation or policy, providing best practice guidelines, for determining appropriate drinking water quality. The ADWG are intended for use by the community and all agencies with responsibilities associated with the supply of drinking water (NHMRC 2004). The ADWG addresses the microbial limits, the physical and chemical requirements and the radiological limits of drinking water while also discussing the specific methods associated with the chemical treatment of drinking water. The requirements for designing a rigorous water quality monitoring program, with suitable levels of quality control are also stipulated and should be considered in the design of the monitoring program for Hinze Dam. Environmental Protection Act 1994 The objective of the Act is to protect Queensland's environment, while allowing for development that improves the total quality of life, now and in the future, in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends (ecologically sustainable development). This Act is the overarching legislation under which the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997 was developed. 7-36 Figure 7-16 Potential Project Impacts and Consequences 7-37 Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997 The Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997 (EPP (Water)) is subordinate legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. This policy contains a set of guidelines for the waters of Queensland. This policy is consistent with and should be seen as an extension of the National Water Quality Management Strategy and the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) 2000 Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2006a). The EPP (Water) describes the process for determining which water quality guidelines to use in water quality planning and decision making (EPA 2006a). In general, where there is more than one set of applicable guidelines, the most local accredited guideline information shall take precedence over broader guidelines (EPA 2006a). Where the Queensland Water Quality Guidelines (QWQG) provide values for Queensland waters that are more localised than the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC) Guidelines, the QWQG take precedence over the (broader) ANZECC guidelines (EPA 2006a). Further to this, for a number of indicators, notably toxicants, there is little or no local information. For these indicators the ANZECC guidelines remain the fundamental source of information (EPA 2006a). The EPP (Water) identifies Environmental Values (EVs) for waters (including beds and banks) in Queensland. EVs describe the natural qualities and/ or beneficial uses of a water body that are to be protected (Environment Australia 2002). Where these EVs are not listed, the Policy identifies qualities of a water body to be enhanced or protected. Water Quality Objectives (WQOs) are established as quantitative targets to protect or enhance the EVs identified for a water. WQOs can be set for physical, chemical and biophysical components or indicators of aquatic environments (Environment Australia 2002) generally referred to as guidelines that protect the stated EVs for a water body. The Nerang River and its tributaries are listed under Schedule 1 of this policy. Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC Guidelines) The ANZECC guidelines are part of Australia’s National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) and relate to New Zealand’s National Agenda for Sustainable Water Management (Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) and Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ) 2000). The purpose of the guidelines are to provide both government and the community with a sound set of tools for assessing and managing ambient water quality in natural and semi- natural water resources (ANZECC and ARMCANZ 2000). The ANZECC guidelines aim to protect environmental values through management goals that focus on issues (concerns or potential problems) (ANZECC and ARMCANZ 2000). Despite this, the guidelines are not mandatory and due to the vast range of environments, ecosystem types and food production systems in both Australia and New Zealand, it is recognised that a three-tiered approach including national, state or territory, and regional or catchment scales are required (ANZECC and ARMCANZ 2000). In accordance with this recognition, the Queensland Water Quality Guidelines (QWQG) were developed to provide state-wide guidelines. In addition to this, the QWQG also provide the framework for establishment of local and regional guidelines. Nerang River Environmental Values and Water Quality Guidelines The Nerang River Environmental Values and Water Quality Guidelines (2006) contains environmental values and water quality objectives for waters in the Nerang Catchment and are listed under Schedule 1 of the EPP (Water). The QWQG states that where more locally relevant guidelines are appropriately developed and meet relevant technical requirements then they would take precedence over the regional/sub-regional guidelines established within the document (EPA 2006b). Therefore the Nerang River Environmental Values and Water Quality 7-38 Guidelines (EPA 2006b) have been used, along with the QWQG for assessing water quality objectives of this Project. Error! Reference source not found. identifies the waters of the Nerang River Catchment, all of which are considered and included in the Nerang River Environmental Values and Water Quality Guidelines (EPA 2006b). Although the Enclosed Coastal Waters/Lower Estuary does not appear on this figure, this area is referred to in the Nerang River Environmental Values and Water Quality Guidelines (EPA 2006b).