WATER AND RIVERS COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT 2003–2004 The Water and Rivers Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection are now operating as the Department of Environment. Much of the content of this 2003–2004 Annual Report — particularly the Report on Operations — is common to both the Water and Rivers Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection. WATER AND RIVERS COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT OCTOBER 2004 Water and Rivers Commission Annual Report 2003–2004 Acknowledgments This report was prepared by the Community Information and Publications Section of the Communications Branch. For more information contact: Department of Environment Level 2 Hyatt Centre 3 Plain Street East Perth WA 6004 Telephone (08) 9278 0300 Facsimile (08) 9278 0301 Postal address: PO Box 6740 Hay Street East Perth WA 6892 Recommended reference The recommended reference for this publication is: Water and Rivers Commission 2003–2004 Annual Report, Water and Rivers Commission, 2004. We welcome your feedback A publication feedback form can be found at the back of this publication. ISSN 1447-8099 ISBN 1-920947-37-X October 2004 2 Annual Report 2003–2004 Water and Rivers Commission Vision A healthy environment and sustainable use of water resources for the benefit of present and future generations. Mission To lead the protection and enhancement of the State’s environment and water resources, working in partnership with the community. We achieve this through managing and influencing people’s attitudes and behaviours towards the environment and natural resources. Our Principles For the environment and water resources, we will: • act for the long term protection of the environment • act in the long term public interest • consider environmental, social and economic needs, and • manage them in an integrated way with others. And in all our dealings we will: • act with courage and integrity • respect our stakeholder’s views and contributions • be willing to make a constructive difference • progressively explore new ways for achieving outcomes, and • take responsibility for our individual and collective contribution. 3 Water and Rivers Commission Annual Report 2003–2004 Letter to the Minister Hon Dr Judy Edwards MLA MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT On behalf of the Board and in accordance with Section 65A of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985, I have pleasure in submitting for presentation to Parliament the Annual Report of the Water and Rivers Commission for the period 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004. This report has been prepared in accordance with provisions of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985. Verity Allan CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Perth, Western Australia 30 August 2002 4 Annual Report 2003–2004 Water and Rivers Commission Foreword The 2003–04 financial year has been one of further reform for the water resources and environment portfolio. We have moved closer to becoming one entity legally, with administrative amendments to change the name of the Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Environment ahead of legislation to amalgamate with the Water and Rivers Commission. In the meantime we operate under a single integrated corporate structure. Management of Western Australia’s water resources has emerged as a high-priority for government, due to increasing pressures on resources and growing community awareness of the issues. The lack of rainfall in recent years has increased the environmental risk to water allocation for the Perth metropolitan area and the South West agricultural region. Faced with this, the Commission has moved to improve knowledge of the major groundwater reserves, and generally adopt a more cautious and precise approach to allocations and conserving environmental flows. One of the major issues relating to the pressures on our water resources involved a complex assessment of the social, economic, ecological and hydrological aspects of pumping water from the South West Yarragadee aquifer. This was carried out in the Commission’s assessment of the Water Corporation’s application to draw 45 gigalitres from the aquifer per annum. Initial results indicated that further work on the environmental impacts is required. Meanwhile, the Commission advised the Environmental Protection Authority that existing strategies to manage water levels on the Gnangara Mound were inadequate. The State Government subsequently announced a three-year, $6 million water metering trial on the Gnangara Mound. This will enable the collection of data on private use needed to manage the water resources and associated environmental problems. The Commission employed more than 20 additional licensing officers across Western Australia to improve the way we manage water licensing, including increased monitoring and surveillance of existing use to ensure water is not wasted or used inappropriately. We have also continued our work to ensure that the State’s water resources are protected and conserved especially recognising that salinity and acid sulfate soils are two key areas that require ongoing measurement and management. During the year we continued our work on the Engineering Evaluation Initiative, which is a State Government commitment of $4 million over four years to support engineering projects that would reduce the impacts of salinity. These projects relate to drainage, groundwater pumping and surface water management. 5 Water and Rivers Commission Annual Report 2003–2004 The completion of the Denmark River Salinity Situation Statement found that the river’s salinity was declining and that there were feasible options for complete recovery. Another important achievement was the completion and implementation of the Carnarvon Groundwater Area Management Strategy. The emerging department recognises that the immense pressure on our water resources demands better knowledge and more comprehensive planning than ever before, to ensure their sustainability. We also recognise that this can only be achieved with the support and confidence of the Western Australian community, derived through meaningful consultation and involvement in the decision making process. This commitment extends to our efforts to explore better ways of managing surface waterways, and addressing problems such as excess nutrient run-off and consequent algae blooms. The next year will give us the opportunity to consolidate following a period of legislative, structural and cultural reform. The new department is now positioned better than ever to achieve its vision for a healthy environment and sustainable use of water resources for the benefit of present and future generations. I am appreciative of the department’s extremely talented and diverse workforce and thank our people for their continued professionalism and immense contributions. Derek Carew-Hopkins ACTING DIRECTOR GENERAL 6 Annual Report 2003–2004 Water and Rivers Commission Contents Acknowledgments 2 Recommended Reference 2 Letter to the Minister 4 Foreword 5 Contents 7 1 About the Water and Rivers Commission 11 1.1 Governing legislation 12 1.2 Formation of the Department of Environment 12 1.3 Organisation structure 13 1.4 Service Delivery Model 14 1.5 Office of Water Policy 15 1.6 Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability 16 1.7 The Commission and the Community 17 1.8 WA Environment Awards 18 2 Summary of achievements 19 3 Report on operations 23 3.1 Office of the Director General 23 3.1.1 Overview 23 3.1.2 Government Relations 23 3.1.3 Strategic Planning and Review 24 3.1.4 Environmental Enforcement Unit 24 3.1.5 Communications 25 3.1.6 Evaluation of the Ribbons of Blue/Waterwatch program 26 3.2 Resource Management Division 27 3.2.1 Overview 27 3.2.2 Managing the groundwater of the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds 28 7 Water and Rivers Commission Annual Report 2003–2004 3.2.3 Water resource planning in the Blackwood Groundwater Area — South West Yarragadee 29 3.2.4 Natural Resource Management (NRM) 30 3.2.5 Protection of public and private water sources 31 3.2.6 Policy on accessing the Leederville and Yarragadee aquifers in Perth 32 3.2.7 Development of statewide policies 33 3.2.8 State Water Strategy 36 3.2.9 National Water Initiative 37 3.2.10 Land use planning 37 3.3 Resource Science Division 38 3.3.1 Overview 38 3.3.2 Water Information Provision 39 3.3.3 Air quality management 39 3.3.4 National Pollutant Inventory 40 3.3.5 A Statewide strategy for managing algal blooms 41 3.3.6 Indian Ocean Climate Initiative 41 3.3.7 Salinity management program 43 3.3.8 Rural Water Planning 45 3.4 Policy and Coordination Division 46 3.4.1 Overview 46 3.4.2 Environmental Protection Policies (EPPs) 47 3.4.3 State of the Environment reporting program 48 3.4.4 Supporting the State Sustainability Strategy 49 3.4.5 North West Shelf Community-Derived Marine Quality Objectives 50 3.4.6 Background Marine Water Quality Surveys 50 3.5 Environmental Management Division 51 3.5.1 Overview 51 3.5.2 Progress on managing acid sulfate soils in Western Australia 51 3.5.3 Hazardous/Industrial Waste Precinct Stakeholder Involvement Process 52 3.5.4 Priority sites — inspection and auditing 53 3.5.5 Establishment of the policy framework for a new approach to environment licensing and enforcement in Western Australia 53 3.5.6 Implementation of the Unauthorised Discharge Regulations 53 8 Annual Report 2003–2004 Water and Rivers Commission 3.5.7 Drafting of amendments to the Noise Regulations 54 3.5.8 Establishment of a mobile chemical and hazardous wastes incident support unit 55 3.5.9 Implementation of the Controlled