Department for Environment and Water 2017-18 Annual Report Department for Environment and Water 81-95 Waymouth Street, Adelaide SA 5000 GPO Box 1047, Adelaide SA 5001 www.environment.sa.gov.au Contact phone number +61 8 8204 1910 Contact email [email protected] ISSN 2202-6673 Date presented to Minister: 28 September 2018 Public – I2 – A1 2017-18 ANNUAL REPORT for the DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT AND WATER Contents Contents .................................................................................................................... 3 Section A: Reporting required under the Public Sector Act 2009, the Public Sector Regulations 2010 and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987 ................. 4 Agency purpose or role ..................................................................................................... 4 Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 4 Key strategies and their relationship to SA Government objectives ................................... 4 Agency programs and initiatives and their effectiveness and efficiency ............................. 6 Legislation administered by the agency ........................................................................... 27 Organisation of the agency .............................................................................................. 28 Other agencies related to this agency (within the Minister’s area/s of responsibility) ....... 28 Employment opportunity programs .................................................................................. 29 Agency performance management and development systems ........................................ 29 Work health, safety and return to work programs of the agency and their effectiveness .. 30 Work health and safety and return to work performance .................................................. 31 Fraud detected in the agency .......................................................................................... 32 Strategies implemented to control and prevent fraud ....................................................... 32 Whistle-blowers’ disclosure ............................................................................................. 32 Executive employment in the agency............................................................................... 33 Consultants ..................................................................................................................... 33 Contractors ...................................................................................................................... 34 Financial performance of the agency ............................................................................... 35 Other financial information ............................................................................................... 36 Other information requested by the Minister(s) or other significant issues affecting the agency or reporting pertaining to independent functions .................................................. 36 Section B: Reporting required under any other act or regulation ..................... 37 Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Act 2005.............................................................................. 37 Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007 ................................... 45 Crown Land Management Act 2009 ................................................................................ 45 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 ............................................................................... 48 River Murray Act 2003 ..................................................................................................... 49 Wilderness Protection Act 1992 ....................................................................................... 52 Section C: Reporting of public complaints as requested by the Ombudsman. 67 Summary of complaints by subject .................................................................................. 67 Complaint outcomes ........................................................................................................ 67 Appendix: Audited financial statements 2017-18 ................................................ 69 3 | P a g e 2017-18 ANNUAL REPORT for the DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT AND WATER Section A: Reporting required under the Public Sector Act 2009, the Public Sector Regulations 2010 and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987 Agency purpose or role The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) plays a significant role in managing the state’s unique natural environment for the prosperity and wellbeing of current and future generations of South Australians. Objectives DEW’s objectives are to: Safeguard the state’s natural environment through sustainable management, evidence based decision making and service delivery that has the community and stakeholders at the centre. Sustainably manage South Australia’s water resources, including the River Murray, for the benefit of the economy, community and environment. Connect and involve people with nature by opening up parks and places. Unlock the potential of the state’s natural environment to contribute to the economic development and prosperity of South Australia. Key strategies and their relationship to SA Government objectives Key strategy SA Government objective Reviews, develops and implements Election commitments: legislation and environmental policy to Reforming natural resources management influence and shape the way natural resources are managed in South Australia. New life for our coastal environment Marine parks – economic and environmental priorities Water allocation plans in the South East Natural Resources Management region Greener Neighbourhoods Aligned to broader government objectives: More jobs, lowers costs, better services Provides on ground resources and partners Election commitments: with the community and volunteers to Reforming natural resources management protect and conserve the environment Establishing Glenthorne National Park More park rangers Retaining shacks as part of vibrant holiday communities Aligned to broader government objectives: More jobs, lowers costs, better services 4 | P a g e 2017-18 ANNUAL REPORT for the DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT AND WATER Key strategy SA Government objective Drives the planning and management of the Election commitments: state’s water resources to support Reforming natural resources management communities, industry and ecosystems for the future, and has specific responsibility for Water management in Mount Lofty Ranges driving the delivery of the Murray-Darling Water allocation plans in the South East Basin Plan, in full and on-time. NRM region More timely information for River Murray irrigators Aligned to broader government objectives: More jobs, lowers costs, better services Delivers a fire and flood program to Aligned to broader government objectives: conserve South Australia’s natural heritage Better services and protect property and lives. Provides and promotes community and Election commitments: visitor access to South Australia’s national Establishing Glenthorne National Park parks, reserves, built heritage, rivers and beaches and ensures they are well Opening up reservoirs maintained and sustainable. New life for our coastal environment Built heritage Marine parks – economic and environmental priorities Brownhill Creek Wirraparinga Loop Aligned to broader government objectives: More jobs, better services Identifies sustainable commercial Election commitments: opportunities in our parks, gardens and Establishing Glenthorne National Park places to improve the state’s economy and create jobs. Opening up reservoirs Ecologically sensitive development in national parks Built heritage Marine parks – economic and environmental priorities Retaining shacks as part of vibrant holiday communities Aligned to broader government objectives: More jobs, better services 5 | P a g e 2017-18 ANNUAL REPORT for the DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT AND WATER Agency programs and initiatives and their effectiveness and efficiency Program name Indicators of Outcome for South Australia performance/effectiveness/efficiency Reforming During the last quarter of 2017/18 an This is a significant reform Natural independent facilitator developed a program that will change the Resources state-wide engagement plan to enable way natural resources are Management the community, and key stakeholders managed. such as primary producers, The guiding principles for the conservation and environmental reform are decentralised organisations, local government as well decision- making, a whole of as Aboriginal nations to inform the landscape approach, a simple Minister’s decision making with regard and accessible system, back to to the reform outcomes, including the basics focus and community development of the new Landscape SA and land owners at the centre. Bill, including Green Adelaide. These reforms will be informed The new legislation is planned to be by the people who spend their introduced into Parliament in the first lives working in the environment quarter of 2019. and protecting it while also Work is underway to guide the sustaining their livelihoods. evaluation of the effectiveness of the project over time. Establishing A memorandum of understanding Glenthorne National Park is Glenthorne between State Government and the being established to provide a National Park