Public consultation opens for the review of the Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2015
The EPA is proposing important changes to protect the quality of South Australian water environments in a review of the Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2015.
Most notably, the review aims to provide improved protection of groundwater systems against pollution.
To protect all underground waters for future generations the new ‘future use’ environmental values are proposed to require that, as far as reasonably practicable, any activities are managed to prevent a detoriation in water quality.
The EPA is also proposing to recognise cultural and spiritual values in South Australian waters, with the revamped policy aiming to acknowledge that waters in South Australia have significance to First Nations Peoples that goes beyond primary industry uses, drinking water uses and aquatic ecosystems.
The consultation, which opened today, outlines 5 areas for proposed policy improvement, including:
- Improved protection of all underground (including saline) waters for future use
- Update the Policy to reference the latest Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, which includes recognition of cultural and spiritual values of waters
- Align the Water Quality Policy with the Planning and Design Code requirements in the Mount Lofty Ranges Water Supply Catchment, allowing the EPA to require that development applications referred to it have a neutral or beneficial effect on water quality
- Align the Water Quality Policy with the updated Code of Practice for Vessel and Facility Management (Marine and Inland Waters) 2019 (Vessel Management Code)
- Updating schedules to ensure best practice, including:
- Schedule 2 – Class 1 pollutants
- Schedule 3 – Class 2 pollutants
- Schedule 4 – Codes, standards, guidelines and other documents
The EPA’s Acting Director of Science Services Steven Sergi said the consultation is an important opportunity for stakeholders to influence the updating of the management and regulation of water quality policy.
“Water quality in South Australia is protected by the Environment Protection Act 1993 and the environment protection policies made under it,” Mr Sergi said.
“The EPA uses the Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2015 as the primary policy to regulate water quality as it provides the most specific and detailed protection of the state’s surface, marine and underground waters.
“The recognition and acknowledgement of cultural and spiritual values will also be reflected in a revised policy following consultation and submissions.
“Climate change is expected to place increased reliance on our groundwater systems for a range of purposes, which places an increasing need for water in those environments to be protected within reasonable and practicable limitations”
“I encourage all interested stakeholders to have their say and participate in the consultation.”
A series of public information sessions will be held across regional SA and Adelaide, as part of the consultation period. The consultation will close on 9 December.
For further details visit www.yoursay.sa.gov.au/environment-protection-water-quality-policy-2015-review