Annual Report 27 March – 30 June 2009 Department of Environment and Resource Management Communication objective Purpose of the report Our partners This annual report details the fi nancial and To deliver on the government’s agenda, DERM works non-fi nancial performance of the Department of collaboratively with other organisations that have a Environment and Resource Management (DERM) role and interest in the environment and natural from 27 March to 30 June 2009. It highlights the resource management, including other state work, achievements, activities and strategic initiatives government agencies, local and federal governments, of the department, and satisfi es the requirements of regional natural resource management bodies, other Queensland’s Financial Administration and Audit environmental authorities, industry, conservation Act 1977. groups and special interest groups, landholders, and the general community. The report also details progress against the 2008 Strategic Plans of the former Department of Your feedback Natural Resources and Water (NRW) and the former ii Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and The annual report is an important document documents how the department’s work contributes representing communication and accountability. to the government’s priority of protecting the The department values comments and welcomes environment for a sustainable future. feedback from readers. To provide feedback, please complete the electronic survey available at <www.derm.qld.gov.au>. This publication can be accessed and downloaded COMMUNICATION OBJECTIVE COMMUNICATION from our website. Alternatively, hard copies of this publication can be obtained by emailing <[email protected]>. Published by: Phone: +61 7 3227 8311 Department of Environment and Resource Management Email: [email protected] GPO Box 2454 Brisbane Qld 4001 If you need to access this report in a language other than English, please call the Translating and Interpreting © The State of Queensland (Department of Environment Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to and Resource Management) 2009 telephone the department’s Library Services on +61 7 3224 8412. The department authorises the reproduction of textual material in this report, whole or in part and in any form, Published October 2009 provided the appropriate acknowledgement is given. ISBN 978-1742300290 Contact Communication Services if an alternative # 29012 format is required. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Department of Environment and Resource Management 30 October 2009 The Honourable Stephen Robertson MP The Honourable Kate Jones MP Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Minister for Climate Change and and Minister for Trade Sustainability iii Level 17, 61 Mary Street Level 17, 160 Ann Street Brisbane Qld 4000 Brisbane Qld 4000 Dear Ministers LETTER OF COMPLIANCE OF LETTER I am pleased to present the Annual Report for the Department of Environment and Resource Management for the period ending 30 June 2009. The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) was established in March 2009, amalgamating the former Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Natural Resources and Water. This report outlines DERM’s activities and achievements from 27 March to 30 June 2009. I certify that this Annual Report complies with: • the prescribed requirements of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1977 and the Financial Management Standard and • the detailed requirements set out in the Annual Reporting Guidelines for Queensland Government Agencies. A checklist outlining the annual reporting requirements can be accessed at <www.derm.qld.gov.au>. Yours sincerely John Bradley Director-General Department of Environment and Resource Management ANNUAL REPORT | 27 MARCH – 30 JUNE 2009 Contents Our organisation 1 We are DERM 2 Director-General’s report 4 Our achievements 5 Executive Management Group 8 Organisational structure 9 Financial summary 10 Our past, our future 12 Our business 14 Output performance 15 Conservation and Environmental Services 21 iv Sustainable Futures 27 Land and Vegetation Services 34 Water and Catchment Services 41 CONTENTS Corporate Services initiatives 49 Service Delivery initiatives 52 Our people 54 Staff profi le 55 Awards and recognition 57 Service delivery contacts 58 Other reporting 60 Reducing our carbon footprint 61 Corporate governance 65 Legislation 69 Administration 73 Appendix 1 – Statutory bodies 76 Appendix 2 – Boards and committees 81 Appendix 3 – Queensland Trust for Nature 88 Financial statements 90 Glossary 154 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 1 Our organisation ANNUAL REPORT | 27 MARCH – 30 JUNE 2009 We are DERM Performance management framework 4OWARD1GOVERNMENT !NNUALWHOLE The Department of Environment and Resource AMBITIONSANDTARGETS OF GOVERNMENT Management (DERM) is a new department comprising PERFORMANCEREPORT the former Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Natural Resources and Water. It was established following a machinery-of-government 4OWARD1TARGET change—Administrative Arrangements Order (No. 1) DELIVERYPLANS INTER AGENCY 2009 and Public Service Departmental Arrangements Notice (No. 2) 2009 of 26 March 2009. Consequently, this is DERM’s fi rst annual report and $%2-STRATEGICPLAN it covers the period 27 March 2009 to 30 June 2009. OBJECTIVES STRATEGIES The report is structured around the fi ve outputs described on page 3. These outputs represent a combination of the former EPA and the former $%2-SERVICE 2 /THERSTRATEGICPLANS NRW outputs. Consequently, the fi rst three refl ect DELIVERYSTATEMENT former EPA activities and the fi nal two refl ect former NRW activities. $%2-OPERATIONALPLAN $%2-ANNUALREPORT Departmental responsibilities OUR ORGANISATION DERM conserves and manages the natural environment for the benefi t of all Queenslanders. It aims aim to $IVISIONALBUSINESSPLANS 0ERFORMANCEREPORTING deliver long-term sustainability for the state’s natural environment by promoting sustainable living and resource use, and by strengthening the state’s response to climate change. The department considers social, economic and environmental outcomes when planning, allocating and managing natural resources, to ensure the state’s economic growth and its natural heritage are maintained now and in future. DERM’s key responsibilities include: • water—securing the quality and supply of water • climate change—preparing for the impacts of climate change • land—managing land and vegetation including native title • environmental services—building resilience in natural landscapes and conserving Queensland’s natural and cultural heritage. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Departmental functions 3. Performance and Capability focuses on the capabilities, knowledge and value of people involved DERM delivers its services through the following in environmental protection activities. It includes the fi ve outputs. Environmental Sciences group, which provides monitoring services and robust scientifi c evidence to 1. Conservation and Environmental Services refl ects support policy development and decision making. the department’s objective to provide a whole-of- landscape perspective for managing the present for 4. Land and Vegetation Services implements the an environmentally sustainable future. It does this state’s vegetation management framework; provides through two sub-outputs: land valuations, titles registration and mapping and • Queensland Parks and Wildlife which conserves spatial information; manages State land and and manages the parks and wildlife estate commercial use of its forest and quarry products; and implements effective land ownership and access • Environmental Services which enables sustainable strategies for Indigenous Queenslanders. development and improvements in business and industry environmental performance. Through this output, the department contributes to the Toward Q2 green target: Protect 50 per cent more 2. Sustainable Futures takes a strategic approach to land for nature conservation and public recreation, planning, designing and communicating about an 3 and the Toward Q2 strong target: Queensland is environmentally sustainable future, and leads the Australia’s strongest economy, with infrastructure government’s Toward Q2 green target: Cut by one-third that anticipates growth. Queenslanders’ carbon footprint with reduced car and electricity use. It has four sub-outputs: 5. Water and Catchment Services focuses on effective • Climate change—to provide a leadership role in management of the state’s water resources which OUR ORGANISATION climate change policy responses that reduce includes developing and implementing catchment-level greenhouse gas emissions and prepare Queensland water resource plans and strategies and regulations for for the impacts of climate change water supply and demand. The output incorporates activities under the state’s water reform agenda and • Sustainable communities—to inform, involve and Commonwealth–State agreements that address issues of partner with our communities and industries to catchment and reef health. It contributes to the Toward realise an environmentally sustainable Queensland Q2 strong target: Queensland is Australia’s strongest • Sustainability innovation—to lead future scanning economy, with infrastructure that anticipates growth. and innovation to infl uence and guide future actions to address existing and emerging environmental issues • Strategy and policy—to infl uence and create the future direction