AQUAPRINT - Environment Victoria | Environment...

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

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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.

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.

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


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


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

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.


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.



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.



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/



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.



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.


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.


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

23

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



Figure 7.Connectionsbetweengroundwaterandsurfacewater.

25

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


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


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

27

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



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.

29

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



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

31

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.


CHAPTER 03The Aquaprint – a community vision for water reform

•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.

33

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



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

35

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



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

37

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



–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



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


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.

43 SIX STEPS TO WATER LEADERSHIP | the path to healthy rivers and sustainable water use in victoria

Level2,60LeicesterSt,CarltonVictoria3053 | (03)93418100 | [email protected] | www.environmentvictoria.org.au

AuthorisedbyM.Wakeham,CEO,EnvironmentVictoria,60LeicesterStreet,Carlton3053.

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