Area Total Phosphorous (tonnes/year) Total Suspended Solids Total Nitrogen Relevant clauses Achievement of targets Lake Wellington Less than 115 tonnes/year No current target No current target SEPP (WoV) Schedule F3 (Waters of the Gippsland Lakes)-Clause 3A Target achieved for phosphorous loads (but not for the related chl-a concentration) Macalister Irrigation District 40% per from baseline annual load (46 tonnes/yr) by 2005 No current target No current target SEPP (WoV) Schedule F5 (Waters of the Latrobe and Thomson River Basins and Merriman Creek Catchment) - Clause 15 Target was generally achieved (in average rainfall years) Western Port No current target. Required a sediment action program to be developed within 30 months to reduce sediment and associated pollutant loads entering the East Arm segment (Clause 19(2)) No current target No current target SEPP (WoV) Schedule F8 (Waters of Western Port) - Clause 19,22 Target not achieved (but difficult to assess without a quantitative target) Port Phillip Bay No current target No current target 1000 tonnes/year total nitrogen reduction by 2006 SEPP (WoV) Schedule F6 (Waters of Port Phillip 6, 11 and 12. Target achieved Corner Inlet No current target/new segment in SEPP (Waters) No current target/new segment in SEPP (Waters) No current target/new segment in SEPP (Waters) N/A No previous target set Source: SEPP (WoV) Schedule F3; Schedule F5; Schedule F8; Schedule F6 These load targets specify the quantities of total phosphorous or total nitrogen that should be allowed to enter these waterbodies per year, or in the case of Western Port, provide a narrative statement requiring the reduction of sediment loads. No load based targets currently cover Corner Inlet. [Footnote 62: Corner Inlet supports outstanding environmental values that have been recognised through its listing as a wetland of international
Impact Rationale Option 1 (relative to base case) Rationale Option 2 (relative to base case) Industry administration costs NA Increase in water corporations administrative costs Increase costs for some water corporations from increased involvement in participating in preparing DWMP and preparing a response in areas where they were previously not consulted. Decrease in costs for other water corporations that were previously required to prepare a SMP across the region. Small (In the order of $316k pa, $1.5million NPV for the next 5 years) Industry compliance costs NA Possible reductions in compliance costs. Increases the likelihood of efficient investment in sewerage infrastructure by providing an obligation on Councils to consult with water corporations. + Uncertain cost saving EPA and council administration costs Small increase in one-off state government administrative costs Cost of developing tool to aid in assessing permit eligibility Collating and updating technical advice. Disseminating tools and guidelines Developing and disseminating public education materials. Small one-off costs (In the order of $800k) Costs as per option 1 plus Increase in ongoing reporting costs for municipal councils relating to (footnote 117 - Assumes there are 79 Councils, and the cost of a water corporations of preparing a SMP is $400,000 for 4% of councils every year. This equates to $316k per annum or $4.3 million NPV for the next 20 years (using inflation of 2.5% and discounting rate of 7%): Developing/ updating their DWMP (5 yearly) Audit and reporting on progress against the DWMP (3 yearly) - Medium sized ongoing costs (In the order of $1 million pa, $4.7million NPV for the next 5 years) Water quality impact Improvement in water quality and associated benefits resulting from: Improved planning decision of councils as a result of increased information on how to assess and manage + Improvement in water quality and associated benefits resulting from: Improved servicing decisions as a result of councils being more likely to implement and update DWMPs (given greater ++
Australian Water Association Catchment Management Authorities Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia Central Coastal Board Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and Identification Construction Material Processors Association (CMPA) Department of Health and Human Services Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources Department of Treasury and Finance Environmental Health Professionals Australia Limited EPA Community Reference Group EPA Industry Reference Group General public Gippsland Lakes Ministerial Advisory Council Gippsland Local Government Network Governor in Council Landcare Victoria Local governments Melbourne Water Metropolitan Planning Authority Minerals Council of Australia Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) Office of the Commissioner for Better Regulation (formerly Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission) Parliament Port Authorities Control Board Stormwater Victoria Victorian Catchment Management Council Victorian Coastal Councils Water corporations Waterwatch Victoria Yarra Riverkeeper Victorian Water Industry Association Internal Review Committee DEDJTR EPA DELWP DHHS Stakeholder reference committee Landcare Australia Municipal Association of Victoria Seafood Industry Victoria Victorian Farmers Federation VicRoads Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak Body CMA Chief Executive Officers forum Environment Victoria Parks Victoria Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council Water Corporations - Melbourne Water Department of Premier and Cabinet Environmental Justice Australia 15.2 Summary of key consultation outcomes Key outcomes from the application of the communication approaches are summarised below.
management plan requirements for a plan. 30. Sewerage planning Requires water corporations to work with councils to identify and prioritise options for sewerage services where offsite treatment is identified as the preferred option in domestic wastewater management plans. 33 20 30 Significant See Chapter 12 31. Connection to sewerage Requires that, where sewerage is provided, a property must be connected, unless wastewater is reused in accordance with EPA guidelines and is retained on-site. Water companies and authorities are responsible for ensuring that properties which cannot contain their waste on-site are connected to reticulated sewerage. 34 20 Significant See Chapter 12 SUBDIVSION 2 –MANAGEMENT OF SPECIFIC RISKS TO BENEFICIAL USES 32. Planning schemes and permits Provide for the retention of the links with the Victorian Planning Provisions by providing the policy basis for specific State Planning Policy considerations (e.g. 19.03-2 Water supply, sewerage and drainage, 13.02-1 Floodplain management). 17 15, 23 23 13, 14 Minor Updated to clearly define the role of responsible authorities in the consideration of applications for planning permits and administration of planning schemes. 33. Protecting catchment areas used to supply water Requires protection agencies to manage potable water supply catchments in aquatic reserves to protect the quality of water from the catchment to minimise the cost of treatment. 21 Minor Updated to better define obligations for water corporations with water supplies in the aquatic reserves segment and clarifies responsibilities for
recreational activities and infrastructure on or adjacent to waterways planning/responsible authorities and protection agencies and harmonises existing clauses. The clause specifically states infrastructure, even though it is implied in the definition of “recreational activities”. Actions that remain relevant are incorporated into the implementation plan. 39. Minimising runoff of pollutants from agricultural activities Sets out requirements for an occupier of premises used for agricultural activities to implement measures to minimise runoff of pollutants from that premises to waters, where practicable. 39, 50, 52, 25 24 Minor Consolidates existing clauses and other partial clauses that address prevention and minimisation of wastes from agricultural related activities from entering waters. 40. Works affecting water dependent ecosystems and biodiversity Sets out the requirement to minimise the environmental risks to water dependent ecosystems and other beneficial uses from unnatural erosion and sediment and other environmental risks from works undertaken in or on a waterway. 43 16 14 25 Minor Clause clarifies that works must be managed to minimise risks, and replacement of ‘aquatic’ with ‘water dependent’ ecosystems – a more appropriate designation. 41. Storage and handling of fuels and potentially Sets out the obligation for an occupier of premises to prevent chemicals on premises 37 14 Minor Updated to clearly state requirements to prevent
performance SEPP (Waters). Spills, illegal discharge and dumping of waste 38 Provides measures to prevent the spillage of chemicals, oil and other hazardous substances to surface waters etc. and clean up arrangements are in place to minimise environmental risks to beneficial uses. The threat identified by clause 38 is addressed through the provisions of the Marine (Drug, Alcohol and Pollution Control) Act 1988, and national and state marine pollution contingency plans and legislation administered by EPA. With respect to inland spills, existing water quality incident management frameworks provide adequate response and clean-up arrangements. Water allocations and environmental flows 41 SEPP (WoV) requires DELWP in consultation with catchment management authorities, relevant water authorities and EPA, to develop and implement measures to provide environmental flows to assist in protecting beneficial uses. The provision of environmental flows is now legislated for in the Water Act 1989. Aquaculture 48 17 Requires EPA, DPI and DSE to provide guidance on effective management practices and environmental monitoring requirements to managers of aquaculture operations, particularly for water based operations. Requires EPA, DPI and DSE to ensure operators implement effective management practices and appropriate environmental monitoring systems. Aquaculture operators are managed through licensing provisions contained within the Fisheries Act 1995 and the Environment Protection (Scheduled premises and Exemptions) Regulations 2017. DEDJTR has provided guidance on its website for operators.
Mining and extractive industries 58 Requires extractive industries to be managed in a way that minimises the environmental impacts of sediments and pollutants on surface waters and groundwater. Extractive industries that discharge waste to water are managed through the licensing (mining) and work authority (extractive industry) provisions of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990, and the Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises and exemption) Regulations 2017. Schedules – Strategies and plans 5 11 11 Required the preparation and implementation of specific strategies and plans Yarra Catchment Action Plan requirement from Schedule F7 to be included in Melbourne Waters, The Regional Waterway Strategy and the Yarra River Strategies. The Water Quality Management Strategy requirement in Schedule F5 has been removed to avoid duplication with the West Gippsland CMA Regional Waterway Strategy. Appendix 2: Existing and proposed beneficial uses Beneficial uses in the existing water-related SEPPs SEPP (WoV) and schedules, SEPP (GoV) Beneficial uses proposed for SEPP (Waters) Beneficial use purpose or intent Waters that beneficial use is applicable Protection of water dependent ecosystems and species
Aquatic ecosystems Maintenance of natural aquatic ecosystems and associated wildlife Maintenance of ecosystems (groundwater) Maintenance of indigenous riparian vegetation Passage of native fish Water dependent ecosystems and species Water quality that is suitable to protect the integrity and biodiversity of water dependent ecosystems groundwater and surface water Water for human consumption Human consumption after appropriate treatment Potable water supply Human consumption after appropriate treatment Water quality that is suitable for use by drinking water suppliers after appropriate treatment and for delivery to consumers Water quality is protected for the desalinisation plant surface water Potable water supply (desirable / acceptable) Potable water supply Groundwater quality that is suitable for raw/ potable water supply groundwater Potable mineral water supply Potable mineral water supply Water quality that is suitable for use as mineral water, which in its natural state contains carbon dioxide and other soluble matter in sufficient concentration to cause effervescence or impart a distinctive taste groundwater Water for agriculture, aquaculture and industry Agriculture and irrigation Agricultural water supply Stock watering and agriculture Agriculture, parks and gardens Agriculture and irrigation Water quality that is suitable for agricultural activities such as stock watering and irrigation, as well as a range of other uses such as the irrigation of domestic gardens, groundwater and surface water