Water policies and plans

Caring for our Country
Five year, $2.25 billion Commonwealth Government program to protect Australia's unique natural environment and manage natural resources. Caring for our Country brings together delivery of four Commonwealth programs under a single banner, namely the Natural Heritage Trust, the National Landcare Program, the Environmental Stewardship Program and the Working on Country Indigenous Land and Environmental program.
Caring for our Country focuses on six national priorities:
• national reserve system
• biodiversity and natural icons – including weed and feral animal control, threatened species
• coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats
• sustainable farm practices – including Landcare
• natural resource management in remote and northern Australia
• community skills, knowledge and engagement.

The Planning and Development Act 2005 provides an efficient system of land use planning and development in Western Australia, which promotes sustainable use.

The Environmental Protection Act 1986 establishes the Environmental Protection Authority. It also provides for the prevention, control and abatement of pollution and environmental harm and for the conservation, preservation, protection, enhancement and management of the environment. Many of these responsibilities are also delegated to local government authorities.

Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914
Provides the statutory basis for planning and allocation of water in Western Australia. The objectives of the legislation include providing for the management, sustainable use and development of water resources to meet the needs of current and future users, and for the protection of their ecosystems and the environment in which water resources are situated.
It is intended that this Act will be repealed and replaced by new legislation to implement the new water policy and water planning frameworks. Western Australia’s legislative reform program aims to consolidate 11 Acts (including this Act) into two Bills: the Water Services Bill; and the Water Resources Management Bill.

The Western Australian Planning Commission is a statutory body with responsibilities for urban, rural and regional land use planning and land development matters. It responds to the strategic direction of government and is responsible for the strategic planning of the state. It operates with the support of the Department of Planning, which provides expertise, administrative services, and resources.

Environmental Protection Authority
Independent statutory authority with the broad objective of protecting Western Australia’s environment. The authority consists of five members and is supported by the Department of Environment and Conservation under a service level agreement. The authority provides environmental advice to the Minister, prepares environmental protection policies and state environment policies under the Environmental Protection Act 1986, and provides public statements about matters of environmental importance.

Water Corporation
A government owned business enterprise established by the Water Corporation Act 1995. The Water Corporation provides water, sewerage and drainage services to 97% of Western Australia’s population and bulk water supplies to irrigation districts. The Water Corporation owns and operates 110 dams and reservoirs, and is responsible for water supply planning and infrastructure management.
The Water Corporation’s water charges are regulated through by-laws made by the Minister for Water under the Water Agencies (Powers) Act 1984.
www.watercorporation.com.au

Minister for Water
Has responsibility for the Department of Water, Water Corporation, Busselton Water Board and Aqwest (Bunbury Water Board).
The Minister is supported by the Department of Water.

Land use planning frameworks
Land use and development decisions in Western Australia are made in the context of the State planning framework, which unites existing state and regional policies, strategies and guidelines within a central framework. It informs the Western Australian Planning Commission, local government and others involved in the planning process on those aspects of planning policy which are to be taken into account, in order to ensure integrated decision-making across all spheres of planning.

Department of Water
Has prime responsibility for water resource planning, management and regulation, and administration of water entitlements and water rights in Western Australia. The Department of Water also produces water resource policy and undertakes investigations and assessment.
Also has responsibility for the management of Western Australia’s water, including the collection and analysis of water resources information, protection of water quality and of water resources and water industry planning and policy, management and regulation. The department’s responsibilities include the preparation of water service policies, the identification and protection of public drinking water source areas and the preparation of drinking water source protection assessments and drinking water source protection plans and the water services policy framework.

State planning policies are prepared by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) and established under the Planning and Development Act 2005. The WAPC and local government authorities must have 'due regard' for the provisions of state planning policies when preparing or amending local planning schemes and when making decisions on planning matters. A number of state planning policies are relevant to water, in particular SPP 2.7 Public drinking water sources and SPP 2.9 Water resources.

Environmental protection policies
Identify values or uses of the environment for preservation or restoration in designated areas. These policies are developed by the EPA.

Integrated water supply scheme source development plan 2005-2050
This plan was developed by the Water Corporation to meet the water needs of areas supplied by the integrated water supply scheme. The scheme services over 75% of the state’s population including the Perth metropolitan area. The plan encompasses investigation and development of supplies from dams, groundwater, recycled water and desalinisation to address current and future needs. This plan is currently being updated and will be replaced by Water Forever, a strategy for Perth and the surrounding areas to secure water and wastewater service delivery for the next 50 years, which will be managed by the Water Corporation.

Water policies framework
Water policies are developed by the Department of Water and address specific issues such as protecting water quality and drinking water sources, managing unused water entitlements and ensuring consistency in implementing transferable water entitlements. Of particular relevance to water allocation planning is Statewide Policy No. 5 – Environmental water provisions policy for Western Australia. This policy describes the principles and processes to determine how much water should be retained for the environment, or what water-level regime should be maintained when allocating and reviewing water-use rights. Water policies can be created at directional, strategic and operational levels with different geographical applicability depending on the issue.

The State water plan 2007 provides a framework to plan and manage Western Australia’s water resources. It sets out broad strategic directions and policies and a framework for water planning and priority actions to be implemented over the next three to five years. The plan includes an overview of water availability and use in Western Australia, current and projected trends in water demand and options available to meet these demands. The Department of Water takes the lead role in delivering the State water plan 2007, working with other government agencies to achieve the plan objectives.

Regional natural resource management strategies
Developed by the Western Australian Planning Commission, these strategies include information, goals, strategies and actions related to water and other aspects of natural resource management in the region.

Regional water plans are developed by the Department of Water, are strategic in nature and have a long-term planning horizon that aligns with the State water plan 2007. They:
• assess current water resource management and service delivery in the region
• identify current and forecast future water availability and demand
• set priority actions to implement water policy and planning, improve water resource management and establish water management plans.
Nine regional plans are proposed for the state.

Strategic water issue plans
These plans provide guidance on urgent strategic issues and can address matters that cannot be dealt with by other plans in the water planning framework.
An example of a strategic water issue plan is the Western Australian rural water plan, released in 2000. This plan was developed in response to the need to improve reliability of access to water supplies in agricultural and pastoral areas. The plan incorporates several water supply initiatives to improve on-farm, pastoral and community water supplies.
Over time, strategic water issue plans should integrate with other strategic and water management plans.

Drinking water source protection plans
Plans developed by the Department of Water to protect water catchments and groundwater aquifers to minimise the risk of drinking-water contamination. They recommend protection strategies, such as the establishment of reservoir protection zones.

Water allocation plans
These plans determine how much groundwater and surface water can be taken for domestic or commercial purposes while leaving enough water in the environment to meet ecological, recreational and cultural needs. They are developed by the Department of Water.
Licences are the statutory instrument that regulate individual take and use. Water allocation plans provide the management framework and rules for licensing in a specific management area. At present there are no statutory water allocation plans.

Drainage plans
Produced by the Department of Water, these plans identify the natural movement of water across landscapes and mechanisms to improve the environment, land planning and the capacity of communities to implement best-management practices.

Floodplain plans
These plans recommend approaches for the protection of people and property within flood-affected areas to minimise flood damage. They are produced by the Department of Water.

Waterways plans
These plans are prepared by the Department of Water to identify the condition and threats to waterways and develop strategies to protect, restore and manage waterways.
These plans may incorporate key issues that need to be resolved at a catchment scale.

Water management plans
The planning direction provided by the State water plan 2007 and regional water plans will be supported by detailed water management plans to protect and share water resources and manage land-use changes.
The Department of Water is developing a range of water management plans to allocate water sustainably, protect drinking-water sources, preserve our waterways, and manage drainage and floodplains.