ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AUTHORITY Annual Report 2004–2005 Annual Report 2004–2005 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL The Hon John Hill MP Minister for Environment and Conservation Parliament House North Terrace Adelaide SA 5000 Dear Minister It is with pleasure that I present to you the Annual Report of the Environment Protection Authority for the period 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005. This report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Environment Protection Act 1993 and the Public Sector Management Act 1995. Yours sincerely Dr Paul Vogel Chief Executive and Chair Environment Protection Authority 30 September 2005 EPA Annual Report 2004–2005 i FOREWORD This report provides an overview of the some 25 key interest groups, gave us the course of the year, committed their work of the Environment Protection valuable insights into the community’s time and efforts to these programs to Authority (EPA) as the body responsible expectations of the EPA, and assisted protect and enhance our environment. for administering the Environment us to better defi ne our how we can Protection Act 1993 (the Act) for the contribute to the sustainability agenda. The Board of the EPA and its staff look period 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005. forward to the opportunities ahead Another fundamental policy driver is in working in collaboration with our Under the Act, the EPA’s responsibilities the South Australian Strategic Plan, stakeholders towards achieving a cover many activities. These include released in 2004. The EPA has reviewed sustainable South Australia. regulation of activities that pose a its programs to ensure it aligns itself signifi cant risk to the environment, the with this initiative. Along with the development of environment protection input from its consultative program, policies, environmental monitoring and the Board, in consultation with EPA evaluation, programs and investigations staff, has performed a thorough review that promote ecologically sustainability of its previous strategic plan, and Dr Paul Vogel development, and consultation with at year’s end was in the process of Chief Executive and Chair all levels of government, the private fi nalising its 2005–08 Strategic Plan. Environment Protection Authority sector and the community on matters The key priorities for the organisation related to environmental protection and were: improving its service orientation; management. enhancing stakeholder engagement and relationships; exploring more innovative The EPA Board has continued to provide methods to effectively infl uence proactive governance for the EPA, community and industry behaviour and has worked to refi ne the strategic towards environmental protection and directions for the organisation to enhancement; and contributing to the achieve our vision of a clean, healthy development of a more effective land and valued environment that supports use planning and assessment system. social and economic prosperity for South Australians. As well as concentrating on the future, this report demonstrates the The Board’s comprehensive stakeholder extensive work of the EPA over the and regional consultation program has last 12 months in all facets of its continued, providing it with useful and operations—in policy development; in timely information on the important attaining better science and greater issues that face communities and understanding of our environmental their environments. This two-way systems; in improving the organisation’s exchange with key stakeholders, both communication with people; in in metropolitan and regional areas, has enhancing internal operations and allowed the Board to understand the guidelines for its role in development aspirations of the community. Part of assessment; and clarifying its approach this program, the annual Round Table to compliance and enforcement. I thank Conference, with participants from all staff and stakeholders who, during EPA Annual Report 2004–2005 iii ABBREVIATIONS µg/m3 micrograms per cubic metre EPA Environment Protection NPI National Pollutant Inventory CARES Complaints and Reports of Authority ODS ozone depleting substances Environmental Signifi cance EPO Environment Protection OHSW occupational health, safety (web site) Order and welfare CDL container deposit legislation; EPP Environment Protection P&DR performance and correctly, beverage container Policy development review provisions of the Environment ERD Court Environment, Resources PAH polycyclic aromatic Protection Act and Development Court hydrocarbons CE chief executive FTE full time equivalent PIRSA Department of Primary CMS community mediation GoGO Greening of Government Industries and Resources, services Operations South Australia CQMS Central Queensland HRD human resource PM10 particles of less than Mining Supplies development 10 microns in diameter CSIRO Commonwealth Scientifi c KESAB Keep South Australia PMW (PoPS) Protection of Marine Waters and Industrial Research Beautiful Act (Prevention of Pollution from Organisation L&D learning and development Ships) Act 1987 CSO Crown Solicitor’s Offi ce LEMP landfi ll environmental ppm parts per million CWMB catchment water management plan RPC Act Radiation Protection management board LGA Local Government Association and Control Act 1982 DEH Department for Environment LMRIA Lower Murray Reclaimed SARDI South Australian Research and Heritage Irrigation Area and Development Institute DoH Department of Health MIL monitoring investigation level SoE Report State of the Environment DTEI Department of Transport, MoU memorandum of Report for South Australia Energy and Infrastructure understanding the Act Environment Protection DWLBC Department of Water, Mt mega tonnes Act 1993 Land and Biodiversity NEPC National Environment WPO Watershed Protection Offi ce Conservation Protection Council ZWSA Zero Waste SA EIP environment improvement NEPM National Environment program Protection Measure e-ELF electronic-Environment NPC National Packaging Licensing Form Covenant vi LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL i WASTE AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY 31 FOREWORD iii Country Landfi lls Training Course 31 ABBREVIATIONS vi Landfi ll guidelines 32 HIGHLIGHTS AND MAJOR INITIATIVES 1 Waste to Resources EPP 32 Policy and strategy development 1 Small Business Eco-effi ciency Training Program 33 Science and smarter regulation 2 Greening the Supply Chain Program 33 Engagement and review 3 Beverage container provisions expansion 33 INTRODUCTION 4 Used packaging 34 EPA BOARD AND ITS ACTIVITIES 6 POLICY AND LEGISLATION 35 Meetings and strategic planning 6 Environment Protection (Miscellaneous) Stakeholder consultation program 2004–05 6 Amendment Act 2005 35 EPA Board members 8 New EPA position statements 36 EPA Strategic Plan 2005–2008 11 State of the Environment Report 36 WATER QUALITY 12 Review of licence fee structure 36 Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 12 New dolphin sanctuary object to Codes of practice 13 the Environment Protection Act 37 Vessel and Facility Code of Practice: National policy 37 Marine and Inland Waters 13 Environment protection policies (EPPs) 37 Water monitoring 13 Site contamination 38 Nepean Bay (Kangaroo Island) 13 Regional Impact Assessment Statement 38 Heavy metals in dolphins 13 ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS 39 Razorfi sh in the Northern Spencer Gulf 13 Round-table 2005 39 River Murray and Lower Lakes catchment Community programs 41 risk assessment for water quality 14 EPA web site 41 Lower Murray reclaimed irrigation areas (LMRIA) 14 COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT 42 Stormwater pollution prevention 15 Compliance and enforcement guidelines 42 Mount Lofty Ranges Watershed Protection Offi ce 15 EPA audits 42 South East dairy industry effl uent Freedom of Information and the Public Register 43 management program and guidelines 17 Inspection of licensed premises 43 Lake Bonney South East 17 Pollution complaints line 44 Adelaide Coastal Waters Study 18 CARES 44 SA Water environment improvement programs 18 Community mediation 44 EPA Port River projects 18 Local government support 44 Aquaculture 19 EPA-PIRSA Memorandum of Understanding 45 AIR QUALITY 20 EPA-DAIS Memorandum of Understanding 45 National Environment Protection Measure 20 Illegal dumping in South Australia 45 South Australia’s air quality 20 Key point source pollution programs 45 Fuel Quality EPP 23 Emergency response 47 Diesel NEPM 24 Environment protection orders 47 NRG Flinders 26 Enforcement and investigations 48 SUSTAINABLE LAND USE 27 Planning policy 27 ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT AND SYSTEMS 49 Development assessment 27 Information technology 49 Finance and administration 49 ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE 29 Fraud 50 Noise monitoring 29 Consultancies 50 Train noise 29 Executive employment, staff employment Wind farm noise 30 and other human resource matters 51 ENERGY EFFICIENCY ACTION PLAN REPORT 57 Figure 21 GoGO Priority Area 3—recycling GoGO Priority Area 1: energy management 57 of containers 58 GoGO Priority Area 3: waste management 58 Figure 22 GoGO Priority Area 5—proportion of unleaded fuel used in dual fuel vehicles 59 GoGO Priority Area 5: travel and fl eet management 59 Figure 23 GoGO Priority Area 5—greenhouse ANNUAL REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE gas emissions 59 RADIATION PROTECTION AND CONTROL ACT 1982 LIST OF TABLES JULY 2004–JUNE 2005 60 Table 1 Aquaculture assessments 2004–05 19 APPENDIX 1 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ACCOMPANYING NOTES 76 Table 2 PM10levels recorded on 23 June 2004. 21 APPENDIX 2 PUBLICATIONS RELEASED Table 3 Referred development applications OR UPDATED IN 2004–2005 110 completed 27 APPENDIX 3 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION Table