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AQUAPRINT
June 2016
A community vision for water reform in Victoria
AQUAPRINT
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CONTENTSSUBTITLE
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20 Communityeducationforwaterliteracy
21 ReformingtheVictorianWaterAct
26 AMurray-DarlingBasinPlanthatrestoresourrivers, wetlandsandnationalparks
28 AtransitionplanforVictorianagriculture
30 Astate-wideplanforwatersensitivetownsandcities
32 AVictorianEnvironmentAssessmentCouncil(VEAC) investigationintofreshwaterecosystems
34 Reconnectingrivercorridorsandrestoringriverbanks
37 Improvingwaterquality
40 Increasedsecurefundingforsustainablewater managementandhealthyrivers
08 Victoria’sriversarethelifebloodofourlandscapes
11 Whathappenswhenriversgetsick
13 WateruseinVictoria
14 TheimpactofclimatechangeonVictoria’srivers
15 PopulationgrowthandMelbourne’swaterconsumption
17 Waterreformtodate
18 Whyweneedanewvisionforwaterreformnow
conclusion
PAGE
04 Thecaseforaction
05 DevelopmentoftheAquaprint
07 StepstowaterreforminVictoria
The Aquaprint:A community vision for water reform
why do we need water reform?
introduction
EnvironmentVictoriapaysrespecttoVictoria’sTraditionalOwnersandelderspastandpresent.Weacknowledgetheircarefulstewardshipoflandandwaterovermanythousandsofyears,andwesupporttheirrighttoaccessandusewaterforculturalpurposes.
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LeadAuthor:JulietLeFeuvre
Email:[email protected]
Phone:(03)93418106
ContributingAuthors:NickRoberts,MarkWakeham.
©EnvironmentVictoriaJune2016.
AuthorisedbyM.Wakeham,CEO,EnvironmentVictoria,Level2,60LeicesterSt,CarltonVictoria3053.Phone(03)93418100,[email protected]
www.environmentvictoria.org.au
This report is printed on 100% recycled paper.
ThisworkhasbeengenerouslysupportedbytheHelenMacphersonSmithTrust.
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4 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
The case for action AustraliaisthedriestinhabitedcontinentonEarth.Ouruniqueclimateof‘droughtsandfloodingrains’makesourriversystemsthemostvariableintheworld.Undernaturalconditionsourriverseitherhaveabundantwaterspreadoutonthefloodplainorvirtuallynowateratall.‘Average’rainfallyearsarefewandfarbetween,andarebecomingevenrarerastheclimatechanges.Yetwepeopleandourcities,animalsandcropsrequirewaterallyear,everyyear.
Thisbasicmismatchbetweenasocietythatdemandswaterconstantlyandaclimatethatsuppliesitonlyoccasionallyposeshugechallengesforourgovernmentandwatermanagers.Theconsequencesforourrivers,creeksandwetlandshavebeendisastrous.
Asaruleofthumb,arivercangiveuptoathirdofitswaterforconsumptiveuse,suchasirrigationanddrinking,andremaininreasonablehealth.SomeofVictoria’shardest-workingriversliketheYarra,theMurrayandtheGoulburngiveupmorethanhalftheirwateronaregularbasis,andevenmoreindryyears.Theinevitableresultisthatthehealthofourrivers,streamsandwetlandshasmassivelydeclined.Currently,just23percentofourriversareclassifiedasingoodorexcellentconditionandthreequartersofwetlandsonprivatelandhavedisappearedaltogethersinceEuropeansettlement.1Wearequicklydepletingthenaturalcapitalthatsupportsoureconomicandsocialfabric.
TheAndrewsGovernmentwaselectedinNovember2014withapromisetorestoreVictoria’sstatusasaleaderonenvironmentalissues.ThispromiseandrecognitionoftheneedforenvironmentalleadershiphasopenedupnewpossibilitiesforwaterreforminVictoriaandnationally.WaterMinisterLisaNevilletoldtheParliamentinApril2015that“wewilltakeenormousstepsforwardtomakesurethatVictoriaisonceagain
01introduction
The mismatch between a society that demands water constantly and a climate that supplies it only occasionally poses huge challenges for our government and water managers.
Consumptive useiswaterextractedfromriversandgroundwaterforalltypesofhumanuseinagriculture(especiallyirrigation)andintownsandcities.
1 CommissionerforEnvironmentalSustainabilityVictoria,2013,State of the Environment report,p.137.
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01introduction
aleaderinenvironmentandclimatechange”.2Shehasalsosaidthat“preservingthefutureofourwatersuppliesrequiresanewvisionandthatcallsforafreshandbalancedapproach,startingatthetop”.3
TheAndrewsGovernmentisnowseekingtodescribethisnewapproachthroughthedevelopmentofastatewaterplan,Water for Victoria.Theplanisintendedto“managewatertosupportahealthyenvironment,aprosperouseconomyandthrivingcommunities,nowandintothefuture”.4
Development of the aquaprint
ThisAquaprintreportpresentsacommunityperspectiveonhowthataimcouldbeachieved.ItisbasedonEnvironmentVictoria’sSix Steps to Water LeadershipreportwhichwaspublishedinNovember2015.Sincethenwehaveconsultedwidelyonthecontentandinvitedcomments,ideasandsuggestions.ThroughworkshopsinMelbourneandregionalcentreslikeBendigo,discussionswithcommunitymembersandexpertsinthefield,andemailstooursupporterbaseofmorethan60,000Victorians,wehavecollateddetailedandspecificfeedbackfrommorethan100peopleacrossthestate.
Fromthiscommunityconsultation,somestrongthemeshaveemergedthatbuildonourreportandarehighlyrelevanttothestatewaterplan:
Strong support for:
•Providingriverswithareliableshareofwater,a‘sustainablebaseflow’
•StrengtheningtheWaterActtoprovidebetterenvironmentalprotectionandcoordinatesurfacewaterandgroundwatermanagement
Above: CycliststakeintheviewalongtheYarraRiver.
“preserving the future of our water supplies requires a new vision and that calls for a fresh and balanced approach.”
2Neville,L(MinisterforEnvironment,ClimateChangeandWater),2015,Hansard,16April.
3Neville,L(MinisterforEnvironment,ClimateChangeandWater),2015,A New Vision to Manage And Preserve Our Water Supplies,mediarelease,8April.
4VictoriaStateGovernment,2016,Water for Victoria Discussion Paper,p.8
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6 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
CHAPTER 01INTRODUCTION
•Greateruseofalternativesourcesofwatersuchasstormwaterandrecycledwater
•Catchments‘livingwithintheirmeans’intermsofwaterresources.
Areas needing more attention:
•Educationaboutwateratallscales(watercycle,watermanagement,wateruse)
•Theimpactsofrapidpopulationgrowthonwaterresourcesandincreasingdemandforwater
•Thesustainabilityandwateruseofcurrentagriculturalpracticesandatransitionplanforagriculture
•Protectionofwaterquality.
Lack of support for:
•Pumpingwaterlongdistancesthroughthewatergridanddesalination
•Allocatinganymorewater(surfacewaterorgroundwater)forconsumptiveuse.
Agigalitre (GL)isequivalenttoonebillionlitres(1,000,000,000).Mostfiguresinthisreportaregivenasgigalitres.
Improving the health of our waterways and catchments is fundamental to supporting jobs and economic productivity and to enhancing Victoria’s liveability, health and wellbeing.
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Steps to Water reform in VictoriaFollowingthecommunityconsultation,thesixkeystepstowaterleadershipinouroriginalreporthavebecomeninesteps(seelistandiconsbelow).ImprovingthehealthofourwaterwaysandcatchmentsisfundamentaltosupportingjobsandeconomicproductivityandtoenhancingVictoria’sliveability,healthandwellbeing.Thiscommunityvisionforwaterreformprovidesapathtoachievingthis.
1. Community education for water literacy
2. Reforming the Victorian Water Act to give our rivers a fair share of water and to manage surface and groundwater together
3. A Murray-Darling Basin Plan that restores our wetlands and national parks
4. A transition plan for agriculture
5. A state-wide plan for water sensitive towns and cities
6. A Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) investigation into the status and management of freshwater-dependent ecosystems
7. Reconnecting river corridors and restoring river banks
8. Improving water quality
9. Secure funding for sustainable water management
PAST FUTURE
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8 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
Victoria’s rivers are the lifeblood of our landscapesRiversconnect,supportandnurturecommunitiesofallkinds–animals,plantsandpeople.Theygiveuswatertodrink,growourcrops,cleanuppollutionandbringfertilitytothesoil.Theyarepartofourculture,ourhistoryandourstories,andeveryVictorianhasaspecialplaceonacreekorriverbankthattheyloveandenjoy.
Victoriahassometrulyspectacularrivers,fromtheinternationallyrecognisedredgumwetlandsalongtheMurrayandtheGoulburn,totherapidsoftheMitchell,tounsunggemsliketheMacalisterinGippslandandtheGlenelginthesouthwest.Whetherit’sapristinealpinestreamoradegradedsuburbancreek,everyriverinVictoriahasvaluetoitscommunity.
02WHY DO WE NEED WATER REFORM?
Right:MacalisterRiver. Photo:AndrewShannon
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Ourriversareanessentialelementofthe‘naturalcapital’thatsupportsVictoria’seconomicactivity.ArecentreportfromTheFutureEconomyGroupdemonstrateshowmaintainingandrebuildingnaturalcapitaladdsvaluetotheeconomyandshowshowinvestmentinenvironmentalrestorationwillrepayitselfinincreasedemployment,economicoutput,liveabilityandwellbeing.5WaterisparticularlycrucialtoVictoria’sbiggestexportearners–agricultureandtourism.
Despitetheirincrediblevalueandimportance,Victoria’srivershavenotbeenwelllookedafter.Duringthetwentiethcentury,thousandsofdamsandweirswereconstructedtocollectwaterforconsumptionandmakeitavailablemoreconsistentlyfromyeartoyear.Thecombinedimpactofdamconstruction,increasingwaterextractionandlandclearingforagriculturehasdevastatedfreshwaterecosystems.
TheIndexofStreamCondition6revealsthatonly23percentofriverreachesareingoodorexcellentconditionwhile32percentareinpoororverypoorcondition(Figure1).TheonlyriversinVictoriaingoodconditionareintheeastwheredemandforwaterislowandlandscapesarelargelyintact.
What’smore,thisstateofaffairshasnotimprovedsincethepreviousassessmentin2004(Figure2).Oureffortstoimproveconditionsareholdingthelineforsomerivers,butothersmaybebeyondrepair.
Above:GlenelgRivernearBalmoral.
Natural capital istheeconomicvaluegiventonaturalassets,suchasfreshwater,landandsoil,forestsandoceans,andbiodiversity.Naturalcapitalunderpinsallaspectsofsocietyandalleconomicactivity.
Ariver reach isageneraltermforalengthofriverorstream.TheIndexofStreamConditionusesastandardsetofreachestoassessriverconditioneveryfiveyears.
5TheFutureEconomyGroup,2014,The Economic Impact of Diminishing Natural Capital in Victoria.http://www.futureeconomy.com.au/download-reports/
6DepartmentofEnvironmentandPrimaryIndustries,2013,Third Index of Stream Condition.http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/water/water-resource-reporting/Third-Index-of-Stream-Condition-report.
The only rivers in Victoria in good condition are in the east where demand for water is low and landscapes are largely intact.
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10 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
CHAPTER 02WHY WE NEED WATER REFORM
Figure 2.Riverconditionin2004and2010–littlehaschanged.Redindicatesthatlessthan10percentofriverreachesareingoodcondition.Source:ThirdIndexofStreamCondition.
2004 2010
Figure 1.OverallriverconditioninVictoriain2010.Source:ThirdIndexofStreamCondition.
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What happens when rivers get sick
Unhealthyriversarenotjustanenvironmentalproblem.Intimeofwatershortageduetodroughtorclimatechange,waterqualitycanseriouslydecline,leavingthewaterunusableforanypurpose.Fortunatelymostofourrivershavenotyetreachedthispointonapermanentbasis,butthefollowingexamplesofwhathappenedduringtheMillenniumdroughtserveasareminderofwhatcouldhappentoourriversifwefailtoprotectthem.
The Wimmera River in 2009 – twice as salty as sea water
DuringtheMillenniumdrought,theWimmeraRiverceasedtoflow.Thelackofwaterflowcoupledwithhistoriclandclearingmeantthatsaltygroundwaterwasabletocometothesurfaceandpenetratetheriverbed.Theinevitableresultwasdeadtreesandunusablewaterthatwastoxictostockandwildlife.
Left:TheWimmeraRiveratJeparit,August2009. Photo:EnvironmentVictoria.
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12 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
CHAPTER 02WHY WE NEED WATER REFORM
The Moorabool River in 2007 – choked with algae
TheMooraboolRiversupplieswatertoGeelongandBallarataswellastovineyardsandpotatogrowersinthearea.In2007almostalltheavailablewaterwasextractedfromtheriver.Allthatwasleftweredisconnectedpoolsthatbecamechokedwithalgae,unusableforanypurposeandtoxictolivestock.
Psyche bend lagoon near Mildura in 2007 – saline and acidic
DuringtheMillenniumdroughtwhenwaterwasinshortsupply,PsycheBendLagoonbecameseverelyaffectedbysaltydrainagewaterfromirrigationproperties,coupledwithintrusionbysalinegroundwater.Theresultantchemicalreactionsturnedthelagoonmoreacidicthanbatteryacid,makingittootoxicforanytypeofuse.
Left:TheMooraboolRivernearBatesford,January2007.Photo:StuartMcCallum
Left: PsychebendlagoonnearMildurain2007.Thereleaseofironduetoacidicconditionsgivesthewateritsredcolour.Photo:StephTout
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Water use in Victoria
Onaverage,overfivetrillionlitres(5000GL)ofwaterisextractedfromVictoria’sriverseachyear.Between75and80percentofthiswaterisusedforirrigatedagriculture(Figure3).7IrrigationoccursprimarilyinnorthernVictoriaandthebiggestconsumerofirrigationwaterinthestateisthedairyindustry.
Inordertomeetthisdemand,mostofVictoria’sriversincludingtheBarwon,theThomson,theLoddonandtheWimmeragiveupmuchmorewaterindryyearsthantheycanaffordtoforriverhealth.Theimpactcanbedevastating.Forexample,accordingtoareportfromtheDepartmentofSustainabilityandEnvironmentin2007:“Inthese(dry)years,about95percentoftheflowisextractedfortownsandirrigation.ThedroughtnowbeingfacedbytheCampaspeRiverenvironmentis20timesharsherthananaturaldrought.”8
Figure 3.UsesofconsumptivewaterinVictoria.About80percentisusedforirrigation.Source:VictorianWaterAccounts2013-14.
Between 75 and 80 percent of water taken from our rivers is used for irrigated agriculture.
7SuccessiveVictorianWaterAccounts2003/04–2013/14
8DepartmentofSustainabilityandEnvironment,2007,Why rivers need water.
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14 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
CHAPTER 02WHY WE NEED WATER REFORM
Figure 4.ThedownwardtrendintotalrainfallinVictoria1970-2015,shownasthedecreaseinmmrainfallper10yearperiod.Source:BureauofMeteorology.9
The impact of climate change on Victoria’s rivers
RainfallinVictoriahasbeendecliningsincethe1970s(seeFigure4above),withthemajordecreaseoccurringinwinterandspring.Thisisparticularlyconcerningasthesearethemainseasonswhenrainfallreplenishesrivers,reservoirsandgroundwater.
Itislikelythatthisdownwardtrendwillintensify.ClimateprojectionsindicatethatovertimeVictoria’sclimatewillbecomewarmerand,formostofthestate,drierthanduringthesecondhalfofthetwentiethcentury.Boththesefactorsreducestreamflowsandthevolumeofwaterinourrivers.
9http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/index.shtml#tabs=Tracker&tracker=trend-maps&tQ[map]=rain&tQ[area]=vic&tQ[season]=0112&tQ[period]=1970
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By2030,streamflowisprojectedtodecreaseby25to40percentinriversystemsinnorthernandwesternVictoria.By2070,streamflowmaydecreasebyupto50percentacrossmuchofthestate.AriseintemperatureofjustonedegreeCelsiusintheMurray-DarlingBasinwouldreduceannualinflowby15percentevenifrainfalldoesnotchange.10Recentresearchsuggeststhatprolongeddroughtmayinfluencehowcatchmentsfunction,reducingrunoffmorethantheclimatemodelspredict.11Coupledwithrecordtemperaturesinearly2016,thisnewresearchsuggeststhattheimpactsofclimatechangemaygreaterthaneventheworst-casemodelledscenarios.12
Thesituationismadeworseforriversandwetlandsbythewaywaterissharedbetweenconsumptiveusersandtheenvironment.Inmostriversystemsthereisacapontheamountofwaterthatcanbedivertedforuse,andanywaterthatisleftoverafterthat(‘abovecap’water)isforenvironmentalpurposes.Wheninflowsarereducedbydroughtorclimatechange,abovecapwater–theenvironment’sshare–isimpactedthemost.Usersmayhavetocopewithlesswaterthroughrestrictionsorreducedallocations,buttheenvironmentisimpactedevenmoreheavilyandinsomeriversmayloseitssharealtogether.13
population growth and Melbourne’s water consumption
GreaterMelbourneisaddingmorepeopleeachyearthananyothercityinAustralia.In2013/14thecity’spopulationgrewbyastaggering97,000toatotalof4,400,300people.14Thisgrowthisprojectedtocontinueunabatedand,accordingtostategovernmentpredictions,7.8millionpeoplewillbecallingMelbournehomein2051.15
Thispopulationgrowthishavingadramaticeffectonwaterconsumption.ThegovernmenthasreintroducedtheTarget155campaigntoreducehouseholdwateruseto155litres/person/day.AssumingthecampaignissuccessfulandMelbourne’sresidentsachieveTarget155,theextra97,000peopleaddedin2013/14wouldstillhaveboostedMelbourne’swaterdemandby5.4billionlitres(GL)peryear.Thisrateofgrowthindemandisonlygoingtoaccelerateastheabsolutenumberofpeopleaddedeachyearincreases.
Householddemandisjustpartofthestory.RecentresearchbyFoodprintMelbournehasfoundthatittakesmorethan475litresofwater/person/daytogrowfoodforthecity’sresidents.16That’satotalof758GLper
By 2030, stream flow is projected to decrease by 25-40 percent in river systems in northern and western Victoria.
10 CommissionerforEnvironmentalSustainabilityVictoria,2008,State of the Environment Report,p.421
11 https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/the-rivers-run-but-less-than-we-thought
12https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/marchheatreport
13DSE,2009,Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategyp.24
14AustralianBureauofStatistics,Regional Population Growth 2013/14 http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/3218.0
15DELWP,2015,Victoria in Future http://www.delwp.vic.gov.au/planning/forward-policy-and-research/victoria-in-future-population-and-household-projections
16http://www.ecoinnovationlab.com/project_content/water-needed-to-grow-food-for-melbourne/
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16 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
CHAPTER 02WHY WE NEED WATER REFORM
year,morethanthreetimeshouseholdconsumption.Sotheimpactofpopulationgrowthonwaterdemandisevengreaterthanhouseholdusesuggests–those97,000peopleneedanextra16.5GLofwatertogrowtheirfoodeveryyear.
Whenhouseholduseandwaterrequiredtogrowfoodarecombined,theimpactofpopulationgrowthonwaterdemandishuge–Melbournewillrequireatleastanextra21GLperyeareveryyearfortheforeseeablefuture.That’saminimumof735GLby2051–theequivalentoffivemoreWonthaggi-sizeddesalinationplants!
Afurtherexacerbatingfactoristhatworldwateruseisgrowingatafasterratethanworldpopulationgrowth(Figure5above).Percapitausageisrisingasconsumptionpatternschangeandworldpopulationbecomesincreasinglyurbanisedanddependentonirrigationforfoodandfibreproduction.
Anylong-termplanforsustainablewateruseandhealthyriverswillneedtoaddresspopulationissues.Thecurrentparadigmofcontinuousgrowthisunsustainableandiscausingseriousdepletionofthenaturalcapitalonwhichalloursocialandeconomiccapitaldepends.Thisisacomplexandmultifacetedproblem,beyondthescopeofthisreport,butourcommunityconsultationshoweddeepandconsistentconcernabouttheissueanditcannotbeignored.
Figure 5.Globalwateruseandpopulationgrowth.Source:FAOAquastatdatabase17
17http://www.waterclean.ca/Facts&Trends.php
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Water reform to date
Aswateruseforirrigationroserapidlyfromthe1960sonwards,theenvironmentaldamagecausedtoriversystemsbecameincreasinglyobvious.AmassivealgalbloomontheDarlingRiverintheearly1990sspurredtheCouncilofAustralianGovernments(COAG)toputwaterreformonthenationalagenda.WaterextractionsfromtheMurray-DarlingBasinwerecappedandwaterentitlementsmoreclearlydefined.AstheMillenniumdroughtbegantobite,furtherreformwasclearlyneededandsomemajorstepswereachievedinthe2000s.TheVictorianBracks/BrumbyGovernmentwasaleadingplayerinthesereformprocesses.
•TheNationalWaterInitiativewasagreedbetweenstateandfederalgovernmentsin2004.Theyagreed(amongotherthings)topreparewaterplansthatmadeprovisionfortheenvironmentandtoreturnover-allocatedriverstosustainablelevelsofextractionasrapidlyaspossible.18
•TheVictoriangovernmentreleaseditsOurWaterOurFutureWhitePaperin2004,whichledtogroundbreakingreforms.TheseincludedthecreationoftheEnvironmentalWaterReserve,waterrecoveryforstressedriversliketheMurray,theYarraandtheThomson,andchangestotheVictorianWaterActtoallowforthedisproportionateimpactofclimatechangeonfreshwaterenvironmentstobeaddressed.
•UnderJohnHoward’sleadership,withMalcolmTurnbullasWaterMinister,theCommonwealthWaterActwaspassedwithbipartisansupportin2007.TheActdirectsthemanagementoftheMurray-DarlingBasintobeconductedinthenationalinterest.ItrequiredagreementfromalltheBasinstatesincludingVictoriatosetuptheMurray-DarlingBasinAuthority(MDBA),theBasinPlanprocessandtheCommonwealthEnvironmentalWaterHolder(CEWH).
•TheVictorianEnvironmentalWaterHolder(VEWH)wasestablishedin2011toholdandmanageVictoria’senvironmentalwaterentitlements.TheVEWHenablesindependentandtransparentdecisionmakingontheuseofenvironmentalwatertoachievethebestenvironmentaloutcomes.
Unfortunatelythesereformshavenotbeensufficienttoreversethelong-termdownwardtrendinriverhealthandfreshwaterbiodiversitycontinuestodeclineatanalarmingrate.19Thisreportreinvigoratessomeoldideasandintroducesnewonestohelpaddressthegapsandsetoutapathwaytorestoringournaturalcapital.
18http://www.nwc.gov.au/nwi/objectives
19Mantylea-Pringle,C,Rhodes,J,andMartin,M.2016.‘Wealllivedownstream–it’stimetorestoreourfreshwaterecosystems.’TheConversation.
TheEnvironmental Water Reserve (EWR)isthelegaltermusedinVictoriaforwaterthatissetasideforenvironmentalpurposesandtoprotectriverhealth.
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18 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
CHAPTER 02WHY WE NEED WATER REFORM
Why we need a new vision for water reform now
TheMilleniumdroughtthatendedin2009wasfollowedbyoneofthestrongestLaNiñaeventsinhistoryandrecord-breakingfloodsacrossVictoriain2010/11.20Theseeventsremovedtheurgencyfromnationalwaterreform.TheelectionoftheBaillieu/NapthineGovernmentinVictoriaandtheAbbottGovernmentfederallytookawayanyenvironmentalfocusinwaterdecisionmakingandconsumptiveusewasagainprioritised.Eventheground-breakingMurray-DarlingBasinPlanhasbeenunderconstantattack,andenvironmentalwaterrecoveryfortheBasin’sstressedriversisslowingtoatrickle.
Atthesametimeasthispolicydroughthasdeveloped,realdroughtisappearinginVictoria.MuchofwesternVictoriahashadasevererainfalldeficitinthelasttwoyears,withsomeareasreceivingthelowestrainfallonrecord(Figure6).Coupledwithsteadilyrisingtemperaturesduetoclimatechangeandgrowingpopulation,thepressureisbackonforurgentwaterreform.
FortunatelytheAndrewsGovernmenthasrecognisedtheneedforchange.TherecentlyreleasedWater for VictoriaDiscussionPaperacknowledgesthecurrentandfuturepressuresonwaterresourcesandmakesusefulproposalsforchange.ThecommitmenttoestablishanAboriginalwaterunitandimproveoutcomesforTraditionalOwnersisparticularlywelcome.However,thegovernmentisyettospelloutacoherentplantorescueourriversandsetVictoriaonacoursetosustainablewateruse.
ThisAquaprintreportisayardsticktomeasuretheambitionofthegovernment’swaterplanandtohelpshapeitsfinalversion.
20SouthEastAustralianClimateInitiative,2011,The Millennium Drought and 2010/11 Floods Factsheet.www.seaci.org.au
This Aquaprint report is a yardstick to measure the ambition of the government’s water plan and to help shape its final version.
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Figure 6.Victorianrainfalldeficienciesinthepasttwoyears(1April2014to31March2016). Source:BureauofMeteorology.21
21http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/rain/index.
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20 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
1. Community education for water literacyWaterliteracyhasbeenadominantthemeinallthecommunitydiscussionwhiledevelopingtheAquaprint.EducationhasbeenrepeatedlyidentifiedasfundamentalinbuildingcommunityunderstandingabouthowwaterismanagedinVictoria,particularlyincatchmentswherethereiscompetitionbetweenwaterusersandthepotentialforconflict.ItwasdescribedatourworkshopsinFrankstonandBendigoas‘stepone’forsustainablewatermanagementinVictoria.
WatereducationneedstogobeyondcurrentschoolsprogramslikeResourceSmartSchoolsandcitizenscienceprogramssuchasWaterwatchandEstuarywatch.Whiletheseprogramsarepopular,informativeandfun,theyarenotcomprehensivewaterliteracyprograms.Theybringwelcomefocustoparticularaspectsofwatermanagementbutarenotdesignedtoprovideacomprehensiveeducation.
Educationforwaterliteracyneedstocoverthewatercycle,watermanagement,waterentitlementsandwateruse.Itshoulddescribethefinitenatureoffreshwaterresourcesandthepotentialforcompetitionandconflict,andexplorepotentialsolutionstotheconflict.Theconceptofnaturalcapitalanditspreservationshouldbefundamental.Understandingwateruseindifferentsectors,especiallyinagricultureandfoodproduction,isalsokey.
TheestablishmentofaWaterLiteracyUnitwithintheDepartmentofEnvironment,Land,WaterandPlanning(DELWP)couldhelpdrivethedevelopmentofnewprogramsandinitiativesforadulteducation,particularlyincatchmentswheredemandforwaterishighandthereiscompetitionforascarceresource.ItcouldexpandtheworkofWaterwatchtoeducatevolunteersmorebroadlyaboutriverhealthandwatermanagement.Itcouldalsotakeafreshlookattheschool
03THE AQUAPRINT - A COMMUNITY VISION FOR WATER REFORM
Education has been repeatedly identified as fundamental in building community understanding about how water is managed in Victoria, particularly in catchments where there is competition between water users and the potential for conflict.
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curriculumandseekopportunitiesforreal-lifeeducationsuchasthe‘SchoolsasCatchments’programpioneeredbyEnvironmentalEducationVictoria.22Suchanapproachfitswellwithinintegratedwatercyclemanagementandpromotesliveability.
2. Reforming the Victorian Water ActOneofthepurposesoftheVictorian Water Act 1989is“topromotetheorderly,equitableandefficientuseofwaterresources”.23Forconsumptiveuse,theActsetsouttheframeworkforentitlementsandlicencestoextractwater.Itgivestheholdersoftheseentitlementsconsiderablerightsandsecurityandprovidesthemwithwatersharingarrangementsthatareorderlyandequitable.However,itdoesnotprovidethesamesecurityforthefreshwaterecosystemsthatprovidethewater,anditdoesnotallowforallthecomponentsofthewatercycletobemanagedasawhole.
a) A fair share of water for rivers and other freshwater ecosystems
TheWaterActestablishestheEnvironmentalWaterReserve(EWR)“topreservetheenvironmentalvaluesandhealthofwaterecosystems”.24 HowevertheActdoesnotrequiretheWaterMinistertosetasideasecuresupplyofwatertomeetthisobjective.Evenaftermorethanadecadeofinvestmentinwaterrecoveryforrivers,theEWRisstilllargelycomposedof‘abovecap’water,whichiswaterleftoverafterconsumptivedemandhasbeenmet.Itishighlysusceptibletotheimpactsofdroughtandclimatechangeandisoftennon-existent.ThesecondlargestcomponentoftheEWRis‘rulesbased’or‘planned’environmentalwaterwhichdependsonthedeliveryofconsumptive
22http://eev.vic.edu.au/resources/school-as-catchment/
23VictorianWaterAct1989,s1(c)
24VictorianWaterAct1989,s4b
Above:EnvironmentVictoriaHealthyRiversCampaignerJulietLeFeuvreholdsacommunityforumonwaterleadership.
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22 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
waterandisreadily(andfrequently)redirectedtoconsumptiveusewhentimesgettough.25Thethird–andmostreliable–componentoftheEWRisenvironmentalentitlements,whichhavesimilarsecurityandreliabilitytoconsumptiveentitlementsbutamuchsmallervolume(around650GLacrossthestateascomparedto6000GLofconsumptiveentitlements).
Whenwateravailabilityislow,theWaterActprioritisesconsumptiveuseovertheenvironment.Stockanddomesticusehasthehighestpriorityandinsomecatchmentsprivatedamscancapturevirtuallyalltheavailablerun-off,leavinglittlewaterforpublicdamsandevenlessfortheenvironment.26Entitlementsandlicenceshavethenextpriority,andwhileallocationsmaybereducedorrestrictionsputinplaceatleastsomewaterwillbesupplied.Apartfromenvironmentalentitlements,rivershavenoreliablerighttowater.27TheproblemisparticularlyacuteinunregulatedriverssuchastheHopkinsinwesternVictoriaortheTarwininSouthGippslandwhereitisdifficulttocreateanenvironmentalentitlement.
ArrangementsforwatersharinginVictoriaareessentiallyinequitableandriversandwetlandscomeoffworst.Toresolvethisinequity,fourthingsneedtochange:
1.Riversneedaguaranteedshareoftheirownwater,a‘sustainablebaseflow’28thatissecureunderallclimaticconditions.
2.Theenvironment’sshareofavailablewatershouldbeprotectedfromtemporaryqualification(redirectionbytheMinisterduringtimesofwatershortage)topreventdamagetofreshwaterecosystems.TheWaterActshouldbeamendedtoprioritisecriticalhumanandenvironmentalneedsoverotherconsumptiveuses.Anotheroptionwouldbetoinserta‘freshwatertrigger’intheFloraandFaunaGuaranteeAct(whichiscurrentlyunderreview)topreventirreversibledamagetofreshwaterecosystems.
3.Allwateruse,includingstockanddomesticuseandwaterusebydeep-rootedcropsandplantations,shouldbelicencedundertheWaterActandbroughtunderacatchmentcap.TheVictoriangovernmentcommittedtoincludingallwaterinterceptionsinitsplanningframeworkaspartoftheNationalWaterInitiativein2004,29 buthasnotyetimplementedthecommitment.Thisactionisrequiredtoendinequitiesbetweenusersandtoallowfairsharingoftherisksofwatershortageandclimatechange.
4.Catchmentcapsbasedonan‘environmentallysustainablelevelof
CHAPTER 03THE AQUAPRINT - A COMMUNITY VISION FOR WATER REFORM
Rivers need a guaranteed share of their own water, a ‘sustainable baseflow’ that is secure under all climatic conditions.
Stock and domestic use: UndertheWaterAct,watercanbetaken,usedandstoredfreeofchargeandwithoutalicenceforhouseholduse,wateringstock,petsandakitchengarden,andforfiresuppression.Inpracticethiscategoryofusecoverseverythingfromagroundwaterboreforgardenwateringininner-cityMelbournetodamsforaestheticorrecreationalpurposesonruralresidentialproperties,tothewateringoflargenumbersofcattleandsheep,andcanbequiteasignificantvolumeofwaterthatisunaccountedfor.
25VictorianAuditor-General’sOffice,2010,Restricting Environmental Flows during Water Shortages
26In2006,smalldamsintheCampaspecatchmentcaptured96percentofininflows
27ThisdisproportionateimpactisexplicitlyacknowledgedintheNorthernRegionSustainableWaterStrategy,2009,p24
28EnvironmentVictoriaandEnvironmentDefendersOfficehavemaderecommendationsonhowthismaybeachievedinourreportBringing the Victorian Water Act into the 21st century,2010
29NationalWaterInitiative,2004,clauses55-57
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take’30shouldbeestablishedforallVictorianriverbasins.Thesecapswouldplayakeyroleinprovidingthesustainablebaseflowsourriverssodesperatelyneed.Thelegislatedlong-termwaterresourceassessmentsthatareduein2017wouldbetheidealvehicletoprovidetheinformationneededtoestablishthesecaps.31Thecatchmentcapscouldthenbeimplementedthroughtheensuingreviewofthebalancebetweenthewateravailableforconsumptionandfortheenvironment.Thisreviewisrequiredbylawtorestorethehealthofwaterwaysiftheyhavedeterioratedforreasonsconnectedtoflow.32
TheCommissionerforEnvironmentalSustainabilityhasmadeaseriesofrecommendationstoimprovetheprotectionoftheEWR.33Thestatewaterplanisagreatopportunitytoimplementthem.
Thesenecessarychangeshavebeenavoidedsofarbecausetheyinvolvedisturbingentrenchedrightstowater,buttheyareessentialifourriversandwetlands,andournaturalcapital,aretosurviveandthriveinadryingclimate.Theycouldbepartofthe‘freshandbalancedapproach’envisagedbyMinisterNevilleandimplementedthroughthestatewaterplan.
b) Managing surface and groundwater together Surfacewaterandgroundwaterarepartofthesamewatercycleandarecloselyconnected.Whatatthispointoftimeisclassifiedasgroundwatermaybecomesurfacewaterinthefuture,andviceversa.Asaconsequence,makinguseofonecomponentofthewatercyclecanhaveunforeseenconsequencesfortheother.Yethistoricallygroundwaterandsurfacewaterhavebeenmanagedasseparateresourcesasiftheywerenotconnected.TheVictorianWaterActdoesnotacknowledgetheinterconnection.
Physicalconnectionbetweengroundwaterandsurfacewatertakesmanydifferentforms(seeFigure7onthenextpage).Theremaybeanaturalconnectionthroughthestreambed,sothatstreamseithergainwaterfromorlosewatertogroundwater.Groundwatercanberechargedbyinfiltrationofrainfall,oritcandischargetothesurfacethroughsprings,seepsandwetlands.Manyriversandwetlandsdependongroundwaterfortheirflows.Artificialconnectioncanbeengineeredbyinstallinginjectionwellsorbuildinginfiltrationbasins,ormorepassivelybybuildingleveestoretainfloodwatersoverknown
30Anenvironmentallysustainableleveloftake(ESLT)isdefinedintheCommonwealthWaterAct2007as‘thelevelatwhichwatercanbetakenfromthatwaterresourcewhich,ifexceeded,wouldcompromise: a)Keyenvironmentalassetspfthewaterresource;or b)Keyecosystemfunctionsofthewaterresource;or c)Theproductivebaseofthewaterresource;or d)Keyenvironmentaloutcomesofthewaterresource.’
31VictorianWaterAct1989s22K-O
32VictorianWaterAct1989s22P
33CommissionerforEnvironmentalSustainabilityVictoria,2013,State of the Environment report.Recommendations5&6
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24 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
CHAPTER 03THE AQUAPRINT - A COMMUNITY VISION FOR WATER REFORM
Figure 7.Connectionsbetweengroundwaterandsurfacewater.
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groundwaterrechargeareas.Landmanagementpracticessuchasclearingorplantingdeep-rootedvegetationcanhaveabigimpactonwatertablesandgroundwaterrecharge.
Giventhetwoarehighlyinterconnected,groundwaterandsurfacewatershouldbemanagedasasingleresource.Evenwhentheconnectionisnotimmediate,managingthemtogethermakessensebecauseoftheircomplementaryproperties.Forexamplegroundwatercanbeusedasadroughtreservewhensurfacewaterisinshortsupply.34
UndertheNationalWaterInitiative,theBrumbyGovernmentagreedtorecognisetheconnectivitybetweengroundwaterandsurfacewaterandtomanageconnectedsystemstogether.35Sincethenmuchprogresshasbeenmadeinmappinggroundwaterandgroundwater-dependentecosystemsandassessingthedegreeofconnectivity,but,sofar,Victoriahasonlyoneintegratedwatermanagementplan.ThisplanfortheUpperOvensValleyappliesthesamerulestobothgroundwaterandsurfacewaterlicencessothatallpumpingisreducedwhenwaterisinshortsupply.NSWgoesonestepfurtherinitsproposedmanagementplansfortheClyde,DeuaandTurossRivers.Surfacewaterandshallowgroundwaterwillbeconsideredpartofthesameresourcepoolandcoveredbyasingletypeofwaterlicence.36
TheNationalWaterCommissionhascomeupwithapracticalfirststeptointegratesurfaceandgroundwatermanagement.Itrecommendsaligningreviewcyclesandtimeframesforsurfacewaterandgroundwaterplanningtoallowconsiderationofopportunitiesandcross-impacts.37Victoriahasanobviousopportunitycomingupatthelegislatedlong-termassessmentofwaterresourcesin2017andsubsequentreviewin2019.38Thisreviewcouldallowaresetoftheplanningcycletobettercoordinategroundwaterandsurfacewatermanagementacrossthestate.
Someobviouscandidatesforintegratedmanagementplanshavealreadybeenidentified,particularlyinSouthernRuralWater’sexcellentseriesofGroundwaterAtlases.39TheseincludetheAvonandMitchellRiversinGippslandandtheWandinYallockGroundwaterManagementAreaintheYarraValley,whichareprimecandidatesforintegratedor‘plannedconjunctive’managementthattakesaccountofthewholewatercycle.Asresearchcontinuesandknowledgeofgroundwaterandthedegreeofinterconnectionwithsurfacewaterimproves,morecatchmentswillbeaddedtotheprioritylist.
AccordingtotheNationalWaterCommission,managinggroundwater
Aligning review cycles and timeframes for surface water and groundwater planning will allow consideration of opportunities and cross-impacts.
34NationalWaterCommission,2014,Integrating groundwater and surface water management in Australia
35NationalWaterInitiative,2004,Para23(x)
36http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/water-management/water-sharing/plans-on-exhibition
37NWC,2014,opcitFinding1
38VictorianWaterAct1989,Division1c
39http://www.srw.com.au/page/page.asp?page_Id=687viewed19/10/15
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26 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
andsurfacewatertogetheratthewholeofsystemleveloptimisesproductivity,equityandenvironmentalsustainability.40ThistypeofplanningshouldbethedefaulttemplateforallVictoriancatchmentsandembeddedintheVictorianWaterAct.
3. A Murray-Darling Basin Plan that restores our rivers, wetlands and national parksIn2010theBrumbyGovernmentdeclaredtheRiverRedGumnationalparksinnorthernVictoria–amassivestepforwardforenvironmentalprotection.TheseparksbordertheMurray,GoulburnandOvensRivers,andprotectRamsar-listedwetlandsatBarmahandGunbowerForests.Theyareamagnificentlegacy,andsomeareco-managedbyTraditionalOwners,afirstforVictoria.
However,themostcrucialingredientoffloodplainandwetlandhealthisstillinshortsupplyfortheparks.Theyneedenoughwaterforaflowregimethatincludesoverbankflows,allowingwatertospilloutoftheriverchannelandontothefloodplainsothatthewetlandsandredgumscangetthewatertheyneed.Whentheparkswereestablished,theBrumbyGovernmentrejectedVEAC’sproposals41forenvironmentalwateringoutright,preferringinsteadtoleavethejobofenvironmentalwaterrecoverytothethen-embryonicMurray-DarlingBasinPlan.
ThedevelopmentoftheBasinPlanhasreinforcedjusthowimportantoverbankflowsaretowetlandandfloodplainhealth.42WhilethePlanwillnotrecoverenoughwatertoreinstatemajorfloodevents,itwillallowsomemanagedoverbankflooding.Recoveringtheproposed3200GLandrelaxingconstraintstodeliveringenvironmentalwaterwillmeanthat17ofthePlan’s18‘activemanagement’flowindicatorscanbeachieved,includingalltheindicatorsatBarmahandGunbowerForests.ThiswouldmakeahugedifferencetobirdbreedingatallnorthernVictoria’sinternationallyrecognisedRamsarsites.43
SustainableDiversionLimits(SDLs)onhowmuchwatercanbeextractedfromriverswillstartoperatingin2019.AllwaterrecoveryprojectstomeettheenvironmentalobjectivesofthePlanareduetobecompletedby2024.DespitetheCommonwealthgovernment’srepeatedassurances
CHAPTER 03THE AQUAPRINT - A COMMUNITY VISION FOR WATER REFORM
Flow regimeisthepatternofflowsthatariverneedstobehealthy.Itincludeshighandlowflowsandchangeswiththeseasonandfromyeartoyear.
The Ramsar Conventionisaninternationaltreatyfortheconservationandwiseuseofwetlandsthatrecognisestheirfundamentalecologicalfunctionsandtheircultural,scientific,economicandrecreationalvalues.Victoriahas11siteslistedaswetlandsofinternationalsignificanceundertheConvention.
40NationalWaterCommission,2014,Australia’s water blueprint: national water reform assessment
41VictorianEnvironmentAssessmentCouncil,2007,RiverRedGumForestsInvestigation–DraftProposalsPaperforpubliccomment
42Murray-DarlingBasinAuthority,2012,Assessment of Environmental Water Requirements for the Proposed Basin Plan
43Murray-DarlingBasinAuthority,2012,Hydrologic modelling of the relaxation of operational constraints in the Southern connected basin
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thatthePlanwillbeimplemented“ontimeandinfull”thereisstillconsiderabledoubtastowhatafullyimplementedPlanwilllooklike.
SuccessivegovernmentsinVictoriaandNSWhavepushedtoreducewaterrecoverybyusingtheSDLadjustmentmechanismwhichallowsforchangestobemadetothePlaninmid-2016.Theyareproposing‘supplymeasures’oroffsetsthatareintendedtoprovidethesameorbetterenvironmentaloutcomesusinglesswater.Theseincludeusingpumpsandregulatorstodeliverwatertoisolatedsitesratherthanwaterbeingrecovereddirectlyfortheriver.However,theseengineeringsolutionsarefraughtwithuncertainty.TheIndependentReviewPanelchargedwithassessingtheadjustmentmethodologystatedthat“theSDLadjustmentprocessdescribedintheBasinPlanispolicyoperatingin‘uncharteredwaters’frombothascientificandmanagementperspective.NooneshouldassumethatadoptionoftheSDL-EEmethodiswithoutsignificantuncertaintyorrisk”.44
Toputitplainly,unprovenenvironmentalengineeringsolutionsareapoorsubstitutefordirectlyreturningrealwatertoourrivers.
Themostcost-effectiveandefficientmethodofrecoveringwateristobuyitbackfromwillingsellers.45HoweveranewcaprecentlywrittenintoCommonwealthlegislationandsupportedbytheVictoriangovernmentlimitswaterrecoverybythismethodto1500GL.Therestwillhavetoberecoveredbymakingirrigationinfrastructuremoreefficient.These
Right:LakeLittleYerangreceivingthebenefitsofenvironmentalwatering,April2011.Photo:EnvironmentVictoria
44IndependentReviewPanel,2014,SDL Adjustment Ecological Elements Method Development Report – Review of final project report
45ProductivityCommission,2010,Market Mechanisms for Recovering Water in the Murray-Darling Basin
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28 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
CHAPTER 03THE AQUAPRINT - A COMMUNITY VISION FOR WATER REFORM
infrastructureprojectsaretwotoseventimesmoreexpensivethanbuybacks46andarecentreportcastsconsiderabledoubtontheireffectiveness.47
EnsuringthePlanreachesitsfullpotentialforenvironmentalrestorationrequiresleadershipandcommitment.AlongwithALPgovernmentsinSouthAustraliaandQueensland,theAndrewsGovernmenthasanopportunitytoleadbychampioningaPlanthatreturns3200GLofrealwatertotheriversandwetlandsoftheBasin.Thiswillinvolve:
•Reinstatingbuybackastheprincipalmeansofwaterrecovery
•Reducingrelianceonuntestedsupplymeasuresandenvironmentalengineeringtoachieveenvironmentaloutcomes
•Dealingwithconstraintsonthedeliveryofenvironmentalwatertoareasofthefloodplainwhereitismostneeded.
Basincommunities,asmanypeoplehaveemphasised,need‘confidenceandcertainty’.Thecertaintytheyneedisaplanthatwilldeliverlong-termsustainabilitythroughadequateflowstoprotectriversandwetlands.TheAndrewsGovernmentshouldstandupforanundilutedBasinPlanthatpreservesnaturalcapitalandembodiesthecoreprincipleoftheOur Water Our Future White Paper:“ahealthysocietyandeconomyisdependentonahealthyenvironment.”48
4. A transition plan for Victorian agricultureAgricultureinVictoriaisbigbusiness,worth$12.5billionayear.Itisundergoingrapidchangeintermsofdemographics,numberandsizeoffarmingenterprises,employmentandfarmingpractices.It’salsosubjecttoarangeofpressuresanduncertaintiesincludingcommodityprices,currencyexchangeratesandtermsoftrade.Butperhapsthebiggestuncertaintiesofallareweatherconditionsandwateravailability,whichhaveadramaticimpactonproductionandprofitability.
ABAREmodellingshowsthatVictorianagriculturalproductionishighlysusceptibletoclimatechange(Figure8).Bothirrigatedandnon-irrigatedproductionisatriskwithasignificantdeclinepredictedby2030.Thisdeclinemirrorsthedeclineinwateravailabilitydescribedearlier.
46DepartmentofEnvironment,2014,Commonwealth Water Recovery Strategy
47GHD,2015,Goulburn-Murray Water Connections Project Stage 2 Mid-term Review
48VictorianGovernment(2004)Securing our water future togetherWhitePaper(OWOF)p12
PAST FUTURE
The certainty communities need is a plan that will deliver long-term sustainability through adequate flows to protect rivers and wetlands.
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Adaptationmeasuresareclearlyrequiredtosustainagriculturalproduction.
WorkshopdiscussionwhiledevelopingthisAquaprintrevealedsignificantcommunityconcernaboutthesustainabilityofcurrentagriculturalpractice,whichwasraisedineveryforum.Therewasstrongconcernabouttheimpactofcurrentpracticeonecosystemhealthandthepressureagriculturaldemandforwaterisplacingonriversystems.TheseconcernsechothefindingsofeverysingleStateoftheEnvironmentandVictorianCatchmentManagementCouncilcatchmentconditionreport,allofwhichdocumenttheimpactofagriculturalpracticesonterrestrialandfreshwaterecosystems.
Ahugeamountofworkisunderwayonreformingagriculturalpolicyandpracticetoincludetheprovisionofecosystemservices,carbonsequestrationandclimatechangemitigation.50Whatismarginaltodaywillbecomemainstreaminthefutureandviceversa,andthechoicesandincomestreamsavailabletofarmerswillbeverydifferentinyearstocome.
Thecurrentrateofchangeineconomic,socialandenvironmentalconditionsdemandssignificantleadershipbygovernmenttospeeduptheadaptationprocess.Adetailedtransitionplanforagricultureisbeyondthescopeofthisreport,butresilientcommunitiesneeddiversifiedopportunitiesandtheknowledgeandconfidencetomakechangehappen.Governmentneedstodevelopthepolicyframeworkthatwilldrivethechangesrequiredtoprotectandrestoreournaturalcapital.51
Sector
Wheat
Beef
Sheep
Dairy
Approximate decline by 2030 (%) Approximate decline by 2050 (%)
9.8
2.4
7.1
4.6
13.4
6.5
12.9
10.0
Figure 8.EstimateddeclineinagriculturalproductionforVictoriain2030and2050duetohuman-inducedclimatechange.Source:ABARE(2007)49
49http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/climate-science/impacts/vic
50 See Farming in 2050: storing carbon could help meet Australia’s climate goalsforarecentexamplehttps://theconversation.com/farming-in-2050-storing-carbon-could-help-meet-australias-climate-goals-54899
51SeeforexampleTheFutureEconomyGroup,2014,BringingVictoria’seconomyintothe21stCentury
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30 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
CHAPTER 03THE AQUAPRINT - A COMMUNITY VISION FOR WATER REFORM
5. A state-wide plan for water sensitive towns and citiesVictoria’stownsandcitiesweredesignedonatraditional‘oncethrough’basis.Wateriscapturedandstoredinremoteareas,fedorpumpedthroughaseriesofpipestopropertiesandbusinessesandthenthroughafurtherseriesofpipestothewastetreatmentplant.Ultimatelythiswaterisdischargedtoariverortheocean.
Thisistheoppositeofa‘watersensitive’citythatusesitswaterresourcesefficientlyandsustainably.Thedefinitionofawatersensitivecityisbasedonthreefundamentalprinciplesor‘pillars’:
•Citiesarewatersupplycatchments:thecityhasaccesstoarangeofdifferentwatersources,whichincludelocalisedsewagetreatmentandrecycling,stormwatercapture,andharvestingofrainwaterbeforeitentersthestormwatersystem.
•Citiesprovideecosystemservices:thecitysupplementsandsupportsthefunctionsofthenaturalenvironmentandprovidesbenefitssuchascleanwateranderosioncontrol.
•Citiescomprisewatersensitivecommunities:thesocio-politicalcapitalforsustainabilityexistsandcitizens’decisionmakingandbehaviourarewatersensitive.52
Transitioningtoawatersensitivecityrequiresmultipleapproachesandcommunityparticipation.Someofthedifferencesbetweenatraditional,once-throughwatermanagementregimeandawatersensitiveregimeareoutlinedinFigure9onpage32.
Victorianshavemadehugeeffortstoconservewaterintheirhomesandbusinesses.Melbournetodayconsumesaboutthesamevolumeofwaterasitdidinthelate-1970s,despitehavingmorethanamillionextraresidents.However,thelong-termupwardtrendinwaterusehasreversedsincetheendoftheMillenniumdroughtin2009.Thecommunitystronglysupportsbetteruseofourpreciousandlimitedwatersuppliesandmorerecyclingandstormwatercapture.TheTarget155campaigntolimitwateruseto155litres/person/daywasahugesuccessanditsrecentreintroductionwillhelppreventbacksliding.BusinessesembracedtheEPA’sEnvironmentandResourceEfficiencyPlan(EREP)programtofindcost-effectivemeansofsavingwaterwhich
Ecosystem services arethebenefitsprovidedbynaturalecosystemsthatcontributetomakinghumanlifebothpossibleandworthliving.53
Melbourne today consumes about the same volume of water as it did in the LATE-1970s, despite having more than a million extra residents.
52CRCforWaterSensitiveCitieshttp://watersensitivecities.org.au
53DefinitionfromUKNationalEcosystemAssessment
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encouragedthemtoseekfurthersavingsandefficiencies.54
TheBrumbyGovernment’sCentral Region Sustainable Water Strategy of2006brokenewgroundbyassessingthepotentialimpactsofclimatechangeonwaterresources.Ittookahighlyinnovativeapproach,usingwaterconservationandefficiencymeasuresasitsstartingpoint.Itdiscussedintegratingurbanandwaterplanningandsupportedlocalscalerecyclingprojects,atthesametimeascreatingenvironmentalentitlementsfortheregion’sstressedrivers.ItsetintrainanupgradefortheEasternTreatmentPlantwhichnowproducesabout120GLClassArecycledwaterperyear.ThechallengenowistofindauseforthisvaluablerecycledwaterresourcebeyondtheexistingEasternIrrigationScheme(thatusesabout6GL)andisolatedexamplesofthirdpipesystemsinnewhousingdevelopments.
TheAndrewsGovernmenthastheopportunitytobuildonthesepastachievementsandcapitaliseontheworkdonebythepreviousCoalitiongovernmenttoimplementIntegratedWaterCycleManagement(IWCM).ThegovernmenthascommittedtoaYarra Protection Act intended tocontroldevelopmentintheYarraRivercorridor.There’sagreatopportunitytobuildonthatfoundationtocreateanActthatembedsIWCMintotheplanningframeworkandthenextendtheprovisionsstate-wide.WithparallelchangestotheWaterAct,wewouldbewellonthewaytobeingworldleadersinmakingourcitieswatersensitive.55Wewouldalsoachievethegovernment’sobjectivesforliveabilityandgreenspacesinourcities.
Keyplanksinanewplanshouldinclude:
•Capturingstormwaterrun-offbeforeitentersdrainsandcreeks,increasingwateravailabilityandstoppingpollutionenteringandpreventingdamagetourbancreeksandrivers
•Improvingratesofwaterrecyclinginurbanareas–currentlyonly16percentoftreatedwastewaterisreusedinVictoria(thesameproportionas10yearsago),mostlyforirrigatedagriculture56
•Embeddingwaterefficiencyinnewandexistinghomesandbusinesses(asdiscussedinEnvironmentVictoria’sreportSix Steps to Efficiency Leadership)57
•Establishingadomesticdrinkingwaterconsumptiontargetof100litres/person/dayHouseholdsshouldbeabletoconsumeasmuchrecycledwaterorstormwaterasrequired
Integrated water cycle management (IWCM)considersthewatercycleasawholeandhowplanningforeachelementofwaterservices(drinkingwater,sewerage,stormwater,riversandgroundwater)canmergetoprovidemoresustainableenvironmental,economicandsocialoutcomes.
54http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/business-and-industry/lower-your-impact/ereps/erep-case-studies
55TheStateoftheEnvironmentreport2013makesaverysimilarrecommendationonIWCM(Recommendation13)
56VictorianWaterAccounts2013/14
57http://environmentvictoria.org.au/efficiency-leadership
Capturing stormwater runoff before it enters drains and creeks increases water availability and stops pollution entering urban creeks and rivers.
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•ComprehensivelyintegratingIWCMandWaterSensitiveUrbanDesignintheplanningframeworkatavarietyofscales.
TheYarra Protection ActalsooffersanopportunitytountanglethecomplexwebofagencieswithresponsibilityfortheYarraRiver.58TheestablishmentofaYarraRiverProtectionTrusttointegratelanduseplanning,waterresourcemanagementandenvironmentalmanagementwouldbeagreatstepforward.
6. A Victorian Environment Assessment Council (VEAC) investigation into freshwater ecosystemsThelastcomprehensiveexaminationoffreshwaterecosystemsinVictoriawastheLandConservationCouncil(LCC)inquiryintoriversandstreamsin1991.59ThisinquiryledtomanyimportantmeasurestoprotectriversandstreamsincludingtheHeritage Rivers Act 1992 and theestablishmentofenvironmentalflowrecommendations.Thesewere
58EnvironmentalJusticeAustraliaandYarraRiverkeeperAssociation,2015,Let’s Act for the Yarra
59LandConservationCouncil,1991,Rivers and Streams Special Investigationhttp://www.veac.vic.gov.au/documents/376-RiversandStreamsSpecialInvestigationReport.pdf
Water sensitive city
Public health
protection
Separate sewerage
system
Flood protection
Drainage/stormwater
capture
Water quality
protection
Control point
source and diffuse
pollution
River health protection
Water conservation
and efficiency
Resilience to climate
change
Diverse sources of
water(Rainwater, stormwater,
recycled)
Traditional ‘once through’
city
Public Benefits
Mechanisms
Securewatersupply
Inter-generationalequity
Supplyhydraulics–damsandpipes
Integratedwatercyclemanagement
Figure 9. Featuresofawatersensitivecity.
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vitalstepsinthedevelopmentofthefirstVictorianRiverHealthStrategyin2002.
Whiletheinvestigationmadeimportantrecommendations,therehasbeennofollow-upandmanyhavebeenforgottenovertime.TheriverhealthstrategyhasmorphedintoaWaterwayManagementStrategywithafocusonsocial,culturalandeconomicvalues,andweakenvironmentalgoals.TheHeritageRiversActisatoothlesstigerandenvironmentalflowrecommendationshavenotbeenfullyimplemented.Theinvestigationdidnotcoverwetlands,estuariesorgroundwaterdependentecosystemsandthemanagementoftheseremainsfragmentedacrossmultipleActsandauthorities.Asaresult,mostofourriversandwetlandsarelockedintomoderatetopoorhealth.
It’stimeforafreshlookatfreshwater.
ThegovernmentappointedanewVictorianEnvironmentalAssessmentCouncil(VEAC)in2015.TheCounciliscurrentlyengagedinastate-wideassessmentofpubliclandinVictoria.Itsnextassignmentshouldbeastate-wideinvestigationintofreshwater-dependentecosystems,includingrivers,wetlands,estuariesandgroundwater.Theinvestigationshouldassessthemanagementandlevelofprotectionaffordedtofreshwater-dependentecosystemsandmakerecommendationsforimprovements.Itshouldlookattheadequacyofbothland-basedreservesandtheEnvironmentalWaterReservetoprotectandrestorethehealthoftheseneglectedecosystems.
Freshwater-dependentecosystemsaregrosslyunderrepresentedinthenationalsystemofecologicalreserves.Onlyaboutthreepercentofwetlandareaiswithinthelandreservesystem60andmanyexistingreservesaretoosmalltomitigatetheimpactsofpoorlandmanagementonwetlandandriverhealth.EveninternationallyrecognisedwetlandssuchasWesternportBayandPortPhillipBayremainpoorlyprotected.Waterandlandmanagementstilllackcoordinationdespitedecadesof‘integratedcatchmentmanagement’.Responsibilitiesremainfragmentedandcatchmentmanagementauthorities,the‘caretakersofriverhealth’,61arestarvedoflong-termfundingandlackcapacitytofulfiltheirobligations.
TheAndrewsGovernmentshouldcommissionaVEACinquirytoexaminetheseandotherissues.Theinquiryshouldproviderecommendationsforecologicallysustainablemanagementoffreshwater-dependentecosystemsandanyadditionstolandorwaterreservesnecessaryfortheirprotection.
VEAC should look at the adequacy of both land-based reserves and the Environmental Water Reserve to protect and restore the health of these neglected ecosystems.
60http://piku.org.au/reprints/2005_Kingsford_etal_call_for_protected_areas.pdf
61CMAStatementofObligations,Part6
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7. Reconnecting river corridors and restoring river banksDegradationofnativevegetationalongVictoria’sriversandstreamshasbeenlistedasathreateningprocessundertheFlora&FaunaGuaranteeAct.62Accordingtothe2010IndexofStreamCondition,morethanhalfofVictoria’sriverbanksareinmoderateorpoorconditionandonlyeightoutof29riverbasinshavemorethan50percentoftheirstreamsidezoneingoodcondition.63Theprincipalcauseofthisdegradationisstockaccesstowaterways,whichdamagesrivers,decreaseswaterquality,causeserosion,impactsuponthreatenedspeciesandposesarisktohumanhealth.
Fortunatelyit’sastraightforwardproblemtofix.Fencingoutlivestockfromriverbanksandreplantingnativevegetationisgoodforbiodiversity,threatenedspecies,waterqualityandhumanhealth.Fencingisalsogoodforfarmers–itreducesstocklossesanderosion,mitigatesfloodimpactsandsavesmillionsofdollarsinfloodrestorationworks.
Figure 10.ConditionofriverbanksinVictoria.Lessthanhalfareingoodorexcellentcondition.Source:ThirdIndexofStreamCondition.Percentagefigureshavebeenroundeduptothenearestwholenumber.
62http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/204391/201207-FFG-processes-list.pdf
63CommissionerforEnvironmentalSustainabilityVictoria,2013,State of the Environment Report,p.136
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Vegetationalongrivercorridorsreconnectslandscapefragmentsandisparticularlyimportantasanadaptationtoclimatechange.Itsroleinprotectingwaterwaysandincreasingproductivity,connectivityandamenitywaswellrecognisedinSecuring Our Natural Future,theBrumbyGovernment’sbiodiversitywhitepaper.Inaddition,increasednativevegetationcoverincreasespropertyvalues64andcanimproveanimalwelfarebyprovidingshadeandshelter.65
SuccessiveVictorianstategovernmentshaverecognisedtheimportanceofimprovingthemanagementofriverbanksandmanyfarmersandlandholdershaveenthusiasticallyparticipatedinriverbankrestorationandenjoyeditsmanybenefits.Themajorissuehasalwaysbeenalackofinvestmentinlivestockexclusionandtheslowrateofprogressinfencingoffriverbanks.WhiletheAndrewsGovernment’sRegionalRiparianActionPlanbringsawelcomefundingboostandmeansthatCMAprioritieswillbeachievedmorequickly,muchmoreneedstobedoneifwearetomakeasignificantdifferenceatthelandscapescale.
Crown water frontages
VictoriaisuniqueamongAustralianstatesinhavingCrownlandonriverbanks,about30,000kminall.Around17,000kmismanagedunderlicencebytheadjoininglandholder.Traditionallylicenceshavebeenforgrazingpurposes,butinrecentyearssomegrazinglicenceshavebeen
Fencing out livestock from river banks and replanting native vegetation is good for biodiversity, threatened species, water quality and human health.
Left:CowsaccessingtheOvensRiver,April2015.Photo:EnvironmentVictoria
64http://decision-point.com.au/?article=the-value-of-native-bush-to-landholders
65PeterAustin(LandtechConsulting)2015,TheEconomicBenefitsofNativeShelterBelts,TheBasalttoBayLandcareNetwork,http://basalttobay.org.au/index.php/download-reports
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convertedtoriparianmanagementlicences.Ariparianmanagementlicencehasadditionalconditionsrelatingtostockmanagement,nativerevegetationandfencingrequirementsandresultsinabigimprovementinconditionofriverbanks.
ArecentreporttotheVictorianDepartmentofEnvironment,Land,WaterandPlanningaboutmanagingCrownwaterfrontagesunderlicencehasinvestigatedthecostsandbenefits.66Thereportfoundthattheagriculturalbenefitsofriparianmanagementlicencesarehigherthangrazinglicencesandthatthebenefit-costratioofconvertingfromgrazingtoriparianmanagementisstronglypositive,withbenefitsrangingfrom1.6to4.1,dependingontheregion.Itconcludesthatpublicinvestmentinfencingriparianfrontagesisjustified.
Thefindingsofthereportmakeaclearcaseforacceleratingthelicencetransitionfromgrazingtoriparianmanagement.TheAndrewsGovernmentshouldaimtotransitionlicencesinallpriorityareasidentifiedinRegionalWaterwayManagementStrategiesbeforethenextlicencerenewaldateinOctober2019andtomoderniselicenceconditionstobringthemintothetwenty-firstcentury.Otherspecificactionsinclude:
•DeclaretheMurrayRiverPark.Around200licencescoveringabout500kmriverfrontagealongtheMurraywerelegislatedtobephasedoutin2014butwereinsteadrenewedbythepreviousCoalitiongovernment.Theparkshouldbedeclaredwhenthemajorityoflicencesexpirein2017.
•IdentifyCrownfrontagesthathavealreadybeenfencedbutwithoutachangeinlicenceconditions,alongwiththosethatarenotcurrentlybeingusedforgrazing,andconvertthemtoriparianmanagementlicences.
•Identifyhighpriorityareaswherethequalityofexistingvegetationwarrantstheestablishmentoflinearparks,suchaswasachievedintheBroken-Booseystatepark,oradditionstoexistingconservationareas.ThisactionwouldcomplementtheAndrewsGovernment’scommitmenttoastate-widebiodiversitystrategyandbiolinkapproach.
•Requirelandholdersinoccupationofunlicensedfrontagestoeithernegotiateariparianmanagementlicencetoaccesssubsidiesortofenceoffthefrontageattheirownexpense,whichisthedefaultposition.
66Aither,2015,ManagingCrownfrontagesunderlicence:Investigationofcostsandbenefitstolandholders,theVictoriangovernmentandthecommunity.AreporttoDELWP
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8. Improving water qualityFreshwaterpollutioncomesfrommanysources,including:
•Fertilisersthatraisenutrientlevelsandencouragealgalgrowth,includingtoxicblue-greenalgae
•Otheragriculturalchemicals,suchaspesticidesandherbicides
•Industrialpollutionfromfactoriesandmines,whichcanincludeheavymetalsandothertoxicants
•Increasedsedimentationfromlandclearing,miningandstockgrazing
•Sewagepollutionfromseptictanks,faultyconnectionsandunseweredproperties
•Faecalpollutionfromstockgrazingonriverbanksandinwaterways
•Salt–bothinindustrialdischargeandasaresultofdrylandandirrigation-inducedsalinity
•Effluentfromwastewatertreatmentplantswhichgenerallyhasraisednutrientandsalinitylevels
•Stormwaterrun-offfromroadsandstreetspollutedwithlitterandchemicals.
Industrialpollutionistheoreticallytheeasiesttoidentifyandcontrolbecauseitoriginatesfromadistinctsourceandisreadilymonitored.TheEnvironmentProtectionAuthority(EPA)istheregulatorybodyandithasmadeasignificantdifference–abattoirsanddyeplantsnolongerdumptheirwastestraightintothenearestriver.Butthereisstillalongwaytogo–minesandindustrialplantscontinuetopolluteriverswithcontaminatedwater.PollutedwaterflowsintoriversandgroundwaterfromsourcesasdiverseasthecoalminesoftheLatrobeValley67 to arsenicpollutionfrompastgoldmininginBendigo.68
ThecurrentreviewoftheEPAistheidealopportunitytogivetheAuthoritymorepowertomakepolluterstakeresponsibilityfortheirdischargeandeitherre-useitorcleanitupbeforereleasingittotheenvironment.69Italsoneedstobeempoweredtodealwiththecumulativeimpactsofdifferenttypesofpollution.
Agriculturalpollutionishardertoaddressbecauseitisdiffuseandoccursoverabroadarea.Controllingitrequirescatchment-scaleactiontobeeffective.Farmersneedtoadoptagriculturalpracticesthatreduceinputs
67http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/1607641/yallourn-water-discharge-increased/?cs=1462
68http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/3751388/arsenic-laced-water-threatens-bendigo/
69SeeEnvironmentalJusticeAustraliasubmissiontoEPAInquiryforsuggestionstoimprovetheeffectivenessoftheEPAhttps://envirojustice.org.au/submissions-and-issues-papers/inquiry-into-the-environment-protection-authority
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38 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
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–bothfertilisersandchemicals–andreducerun-offintoriversandwetlands.Suchanapproachsavesfarmersmoneyaswellasprotectingriversystems.There’sawealthofresearchonthistopic70–butitstillneedstobebuiltintoagriculturalpracticeasadutyofcare,potentiallyundertheCatchmentandLandProtection(CALP)Act,notanoptionalextratobefundedbygovernment.Restoringriverbankscanhaveabigimpactbecauseintactriparianvegetationactsasafiltertotrappollutants.
Case study: Gippsland Lakes – the overlapping problems of pollution and climate change
TheGippslandLakesmakeupthelargestestuarinelagoonsysteminAustralia.Theyarefedbysevenriversandwereoriginallyamainlyfreshwaterenvironment,separatedfromtheseabyalineofdunesthatwasonlybreachedattimesofflood.TheLakesareinternationallyrecognisedforthediversityoftheirwetlandsandvegetationandfortheirbirdlife–theyarehometoover80speciesofwaterbirdswithabout50,000birdsinresidence.Theyarealsoamagnetfortourists,boatersandrecreationalfishers,andsupportcommercialfishingvaluedat$2millionperyear.71
TheLakesarenowsignificantlydegraded.In1889apermanentopeningtotheseawasestablishedatLakesEntrancewhichhasbeencontinuouslydredgedeversince.ThisopeninghasallowedtheLakestobecomemuchsaltierovertime,withLakeKingmostaffected.Atthesametimethecatchmenthasbeenclearedforagriculture,pollutingthelakeswithnutrients(especiallynitrogenandphosphorus)andsediments.Theseinturnstimulatealgalblooms,whichhavecausedmassivedamagetotheregion’seconomy.Asinglealgalbloominsummer2007/08attheheightof
thetouristseasonhadadirecteconomiccostof$18.2million,andatotalcosttotheregionof$26.2millionand306jobs.72
ArecentstudybytheEPA73showsthattheGippslandLakesarecaughtinawaterqualitytug-of-warbetweensalinityandnutrients.Indryyears,whenfreshwaterinflowsarelow,nutrientlevelsdropbutsalinityincreases,especiallyinLakeWellingtonwhichisnormallyquitefresh.Thehighersaltlevelskilloffvegetationinthefringingwetlandsandencourageinvasionbymarinespecies.
Inwetteryearstheoppositeoccurs–inflowsarehighersothewaterisfresher,butithasamuchhigherconcentrationofnutrients,bothwashedinfromthecatchmentsandstirredupfromthebottom.Thesenutrientsencouragealgalgrowth,whichcanquicklydevelopintoalgalbloomsandaffecttheoxygencontentofthewater–enrichedatthesurface,depletedatdepth.Toxicsedimentsfrompreviousmininginthecatchmentcanalsobestirredup.Allofthisisdetrimentaltofishandbottomdwellers.
70Forexamplehttp://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/dairy/pastures-management/fertilising-dairy-pastures
71DSE,2003,Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site Strategic Management Plan
72Connolly,B&Hylands,P,2009,Economic Impact of the 2008 Blue Green Algal Bloom on the Gippsland Lakes Tourism Industry Nexus Consulting(Aust)PtyLtd&N.I.E.I.R
73EPAVictoria,2013,Gippsland Lakes Condition Report 1990-2011
74ClimateCommission,2013,The Critical Decade –impacts for Gippsland, Victoria
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TheEPAconcludes“theecologicalhealthoftheGippslandLakesisdrivenbythequalityandquantityofcatchmentinputs,sedimentsbehaviour(i.estorageandreleaseofnutrients)andoceanicinfluence.TheLakeswouldvastlybenefitfromamoreandbetterintegratedmonitoringandreportingprogram,encompassingsedimentandcatchmentimpacts,helpingimprovetheeffectivenessofmanagementactionsundertakentoprotecttheLakes”.
TheEPAisrightbutweneedtogofurther.ThewaterqualityguidelinesfortheLakesareoutofdateanddon’treflectthelatestscientificknowledge.Catchmentprogramstocontrolnutrientinputsareatthewhimofgovernmentprioritiesandindividual
farmers–theyneedtobemadeadutyofcareundertheCALPActandaconditionoffarmingatalllevels.
Thereareevenmorepressingissues.The‘oceanicinfluence’identifiedbytheEPAiscurrentlytheopeningatLakesEntrance,whichletsinseawater,butinfutureitwillberisingsealevels.ClimatechangeposesaninexorablethreattotheGippslandLakes,withthedunebarriertotheseaatNinetyMileBeachlikelytobeoverwhelmed.TownslikeSeasprayandLakesEntrancecouldbeunderwaterin50years.UrgentactiontoreduceCO2emissionsanddecarbonisetheeconomyistheonlywaytoavertthisdisaster.74
Above:GippslandLakesseenfromtheair.LakeWellingtonisontheleftandLakeKingontheright,withLakesEntranceatfarright.Image:GippslandEnvironmentGroup
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40 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
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Waterqualitymanagementiscomplexandspreadacrossarangeofregulatorsandmanagementagencies.TheVictorianWaterwayManagementStrategy,forexample,takesthreepagestolisttherolesandresponsibilitiesofkeyagenciesinwaterqualitymanagementandincidentresponse.75Thisproblemhasbeenidentifiedrepeatedly,mostclearlyinthe2005EnvironmentalAuditwhichfollowedamajorfishkillintheGoulburnRiver.76Ithasnotbeenfullyresolvedandrecentgovernmentplansstillincludeactionssuchas“identifyingtheleadagenciesformanagingwaterquality”,77and“clarifyandstrengthenroles,responsibilitiesandaccountabilitiesforagenciesinvolvedinmanagingwaterqualityincidents”.78
It’stimetodecideonceandforallwhoisresponsibleforwaterquality(EPAorCMAs)andgivethemthefundingandtoolstomanageit.TheAndrewsGovernmenthasstartedareviewoftheStateEnvironmentalProtectionPolicy(SEPP)(WatersofVictoria)butdraftpolicyisnotdueuntil2017.TheSEPPprovidesstatewidewaterqualitybenchmarksbutitisoutofdate,inaccessibleandcumbersometoimplement.Thenewpolicyshouldreflectcommunityexpectations,setwaterqualitytargetsandindicatorsthatprotectbeneficialuses,andestablishaframeworkthatactuallycontrolsbothpointsourceanddiffusepollutionofwaterways.
9. Increased secure funding for sustainable water management and HEALTHY RIVERSTheEnvironmentalContribution(EC)isaninvaluablesourceofdedicatedfundingforsustainablewatermanagementandimprovingwaterwayhealth.IthasachievedmanysignificantoutcomesacrossarangeofprogramsfromenvironmentalwaterrecoveryundertheLivingMurrayInitiativetoincreasedinvestmentinriparianrestoration.However,thededicatedsourceoffundinghasledtoadeclineinalternatefundingstreamsandthelevelofinvestmentisnotkeepingupwiththescaleoftheproblem.Despitethebesteffortsofgovernmentandcommunityandsomenotablelocalsuccesses,Victoria’sriversremainlockedinpredominantlypoortomoderateconditionwithlittlelikelihoodofimprovementasclimatechangereduceswateravailability.
It’s time to decide once and for all who is responsible for water quality (EPA or CMAs) and give them the funding and tools to manage it.
75DEPI,2013,Victorian Waterway Management Strategy p145-7
76EPAVictoria,2005,EnvironmentalAuditoftheGoulburnRiver–Lake Eildon to the Murray River
77DSE,2012,A cleaner Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay – A plan of action
78VictorianWaterwayManagementStrategy,Action10.4
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TheWaterIndustryActdefinestheobligationofwaterauthoritiestopaythelevy79butdoesnotdefinethelevelatwhichthelevyisset.Thisiscurrentlysetat5%ofexistingrevenueforurbanwaterauthoritiesand2%forruralauthorities.ThefourthtrancheoftheECisduetostarton1July2016andtheStateBudgetanticipatesthatitwillraise$468millionintotalor$117millionperyear.Awelcome$222millionwillbespentonriverhealthactionsoverthenextfouryears.
However,theWaterforVictoriaDiscussionPaperestimateswaterauthorityrevenueat$5.6billionin2013/14.IftheECwereappliedattheflatrateof5%acrossallwaterauthorities,itwouldgenerate$280millionperyearandcreateaveryconsiderableboosttofundingforsustainablewatermanagementandimprovingwaterwayhealth.Thereisnologicalreasonwhyruralwatercorporations,whichsupplyaround80%ofVictoria’swater,shouldbeleviedatalowerratethanurbanwaterauthorities.
DuringthelifetimeofthefourthtrancheoftheEC,thelevyshouldbeincreasedforruralwaterauthoritiesby1%peryear.Theywouldpayatthesamelevelasurbanwaterauthoritiesinthefourthyear.Thiswouldensureequitybetweenusersandmorethandoubletheavailablesourceoffundstoimplementthewaterplan.SubsequentECtrancheswouldbesetataflat5%rateacrossallwaterauthorities.
79WaterIndustriesAct1994,s192
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42 AQUAPRINT | A community vision for water reform in Victoria
04CONCLUSION
IfVictoriaistohaveaviablewaterfuture,withsecuresuppliesofgoodqualitywater,theAndrewsGovernmentwillhavetofocusitswaterplanonrestoring,sustainingandimprovingournaturalcapital.Thatmeansmaintainingandimprovingtheenvironmentalconditionofourfreshwater-dependentecosystems,especiallyourriversandwetlands,andprotectingthemfromtheworstimpactsofclimatechange.ThisAquaprintoutlinesapracticalandachievablepathtowardsthatgoal.
TheVictorian(andAustralian)climateposesuniquechallengesforwatermanagersbecauseitissovariable.Rainfalliseitherwayaboveor–moreoften–waybelowaverage.Climatechangewillmakethisvariabilityevenmoreextremeandmanagingourwaterresourcesevenmoredifficult.
TheAndrewsGovernmentaspirestobealeaderinenvironmentalpolicy,andwatermanagementpresentsitwithbothagreatchallengeandahugeopportunity.Torealisethisopportunityweneedtherighttools–anenvironmentallyfocusedWaterAct,arobustMurray-DarlingBasinPlanandintegratedwatercyclemanagementacrossallourcatchments–andstrongleadership.Weneedanengagedandwater-literatecommunitythatcontributestosettingthebenchmarkforcatchmentandriverconditionrequiredtosustainournaturalcapital.Andweneedinnovationtomakeourcitiesandouragriculturetrulywatersmart.
Victorianscaredeeplyabouttheirriversandwetlands,andtheirwaterresources,andtheyexpecttheirgovernmenttoworkhardtoprotectthem.Theyalsowanttheircitiestobewatersmartandtheproducetheyconsumetobesustainablyfarmed.Inotherwords,theywanttheirnaturalcapitalpreserved.
AsWaterMinisterLisaNevillehassaid,freshwaterisanessentialpartofoursocialfabric.Infactitismorethanthat:wearepartofthewatercycleandwecannotlivewithoutit.Freshwateristrulyourlifeblood.Weneedtomanageitwellsothatitremainsfresh.Thismeanstreasuringourriversandwetlandsasiftheywerethemostpreciousandessentialpartsofourlandscapeandsociety,forinmanywaystheyare.
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43 SIX STEPS TO WATER LEADERSHIP | the path to healthy rivers and sustainable water use in victoria
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