Tamar Estuary and North Esk Catchments
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DEPARTMENT of PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, WATER and ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT GOALS for TASMANIAN SURFACE WATERS TAMAR ESTUARY AND NORTH ESK CATCHMENTS December 2005 1 Environmental Management Goals For Tasmanian Surface Waters: Tamar Estuary and North Esk Catchments Between 2001 and 2005 Protected Environmental Values were set for the waterways that are located within the The first part of the paper is divided into Tamar Estuary and North Esk six main sections: Catchments. A discussion paper was prepared to facilitate public 1. The first part describes water reform participation in setting the PEVs. This in general. discussion paper was intended as a basis for community and stakeholder 2. The second part gives some general participation in the process of information relating to the area developing environmental management covered in the paper. goals for the waterways that are located within the Tamar Estuary and North Esk 3. The third part discusses the State Policy on Water Quality Catchments. Management. The paper was prepared by the 4. The final Protected Environmental Department of Primary Industries, Values for the area are shown in Water and Environment in association part four. with the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and Latrobe, West Tamar, 5. The fifth section discusses water George Town, Launceston City, quality and water quantity values Northern Midlands, Break O’Day, Meander and Dorset Councils. 6. Part six lists the community water values for the catchments. Words and expressions used in this final paper have, unless the contrary intention appears, the same meaning as defined in the State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997 and the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994. Ecosystem refers to physical, chemical and biological aspects of the aquatic environment. 2 1 INTRODUCTION 4 1.1 WHY DO WE NEED WATER REFORM? ..............................................................................................4 1.2 WHAT ARE THESE REFORMS?...........................................................................................................4 1.3 WHAT WILL THIS COMMUNITY INPUT ACHIEVE? ..........................................................................5 1.4 WHAT DO WE WANT YOU TO DO?....................................................................................................5 1.5 HOW WILL YOUR INPUT BE USED?...................................................................................................5 2 TAMAR ESTUARY AND NORTH ESK CATCHMENT OVERVIEW 7 2.1 CATCHMENT DESCRIPTION ..............................................................................................................7 2.1.1Water Resources ..................................................................................................................................8 2.1.2Land Use..............................................................................................................................................9 2.2 WATER QUALITY ...............................................................................................................................9 2.3 VALUES AND RESOURCES OF THE TAMAR ESTUARY..................................................................11 2.4 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ...............................................................................................................12 3 WATER QUALITY : THE STATE POLICY ON WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT 14 3.1 SETTING PROTECTED ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES .......................................................................14 3.2 PROTECTED ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES CATEGORIES................................................................14 3.3 COMMUNITY INPUT .........................................................................................................................15 4 WATER QUALITY : PROTECTED ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES FOR THE TAMAR ESTUARY AND NORTH ESK CATCHMENTS 17 5 WATER QUANTITY VALUES FOR THE TAMAR ESTUARY AND NORTH ESK CATCHMENTS 28 5.1 OVERVIEW........................................................................................................................................28 5.2 WATER QUANTITY VALUES............................................................................................................28 6. COMMUNITY WATER VALUES 30 3 reforms designed to ensure that these 1 INTRODUCTION values are protected for the future of the State. 1.1 Why do we need water reform? 1.2 What are these reforms? A good supply of fresh, clean water is an essential requirement for human life, Two major aspects of the water reforms a healthy environment and a productive are water quality management and economy. water quantity management. We need water for drinking, for (a) water quality management recreational activities like fishing, swimming and boating, to provide the The State Policy on Water Quality food we eat and export, to generate Management 1997 is designed to clean electricity, and to support mining maintain or enhance the quality of and other industries. Tasmanian surface waters. Principal objectives of the Policy include: We also expect our rivers and lakes to look healthy, and provide a healthy • Move on from reliance on ‘end of environment for a wide range of aquatic pipe’ controls to take into plants and animals. consideration the number of discharges into a given water body, We sometimes take for granted that our or the sensitivity or current use of water resources is sustainable; condition of the water body. that our hard-working water will still be there in a healthy state to provide the • Ensure that diffuse source and point same benefits for future generations. source pollution does not endanger Our waterways are not immune from the achievement of water quality problems, however, and many of our objectives, and that pollutants river systems are showing signs of discharged to waterways are stress. reduced as much as possible by the Tasmanian rivers range from relatively use of best practice environmental short, swiftly flowing rivers fed from management; mountain sources to slowly flowing rivers which may be reduced to a series • Facilitate and promote integrated of pools during dry periods. catchment management. River health, and the health of the • Focusing on overall water quality economies that depend upon them, is management strategies by clearly linked to the way we use the identifying those water quality waters; the degree of regulation we values and uses that are considered impose; the quantity of water we take worthy of protection. out; and the quality of water we return. The first purpose of this paper is to In response to a general recognition explain how the water quality values across the community of the importance were identified and will be used. Local of having clean water and appropriate communities played a key role in river flows, the Tasmanian Government identifying these values in their areas. has recently introduced a range of 4 water quality? Which of your activities (b) water quantity management rely upon maintaining or enhancing the The Government has recently finalised flow of water into catchment new water management legislation to waterways? Are there certain places on replace the Water Act 1957. The Water your rivers that you traditionally use for Management Act, 1999 provides for: swimming or other recreational activities? Do you fish in them? Are • Major changes to the institutional there specific features of your rivers and arrangements for water management; streams that are recognized scenic attractions, such as rapids or waterfalls? • The ready transfer of water rights Do you know of rare or endangered between different users; animals or plants in, or adjacent to, specific areas of your rivers or streams? • Enhanced stakeholder and community Do you use water for livestock input into water allocation and watering? Does your river supply the management; and local town water supply? Do you draw water from it to irrigate your farm? • A more transparent and equitable How often do you need to draw water water allocation system, including from it, and when? formal allocation of flows to maintain a healthy river environment. Answers to these questions (and those of other catchment stakeholders) helped • The development of water to develop the community water values management plans for regional wetlands and waterways. People had different views on these The second purpose of this paper is to questions. What was needed was for summarise stakeholder and public the community to try to think about the views on what you value in your water "big" picture, and how their own resources from a water quantity objectives may impact on the whole perspective. catchment and the wider community. 1.3 What did this community input Planning to ensure sustainable use of achieve? these waters and protection of river health requires sound knowledge of The objective was to identify Water local water quality and quantity issues. Management Goals for the catchments As such, the community input providing within your region. These Water local knowledge was important to the Management Goals include Protected process. Environmental Values (PEVs) as defined under the State Policy on Water 1.5 How was your input used? Quality Management, and identified community water values. Information from the public on values particularly relating to water quality 1.4 What do we want you to do? assisted the Board of Environmental Management and Pollution Control and Local communities have a valuable your council to finalise