In an example of co-operative Federalism, the Prime Minister, John Howard, and the Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie, have signed an agreement to develop a plan to improve water quality and reduce impacts on the Great Barrier Reef's marine environment.
This is the text of a statement released by the Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie:
The Federal and Queensland Governments have agreed on a joint approach to protecting the Great Barrier Reef from land-based pollution.
The Prime Minister, Mr Howard, and the Queensland Premier, Mr Beattie, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a Plan that identifies practical actions to improve water quality and reduce impacts on the Reef’s marine environment.
These actions will include the development and implementation of codes of practice, identifying areas of greatest erosion hazard, and developing a demonstration water quality action plan within a coastal catchment to serve as a model for other catchments.
“Both Governments share the objective of stabilising and reversing the decline in the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Howard said.
“We cannot effectively manage the World Heritage qualities of the Great Barrier Reef without the Commonwealth and the Queensland Governments working together on important issues such as water quality.”
Also welcoming the co-operative approach Mr Beattie said the Reef had a complex inter-dependent relationship with the adjacent river catchments.
“Many marine species rely on coastal freshwater wetlands and estuaries as breeding and nursery areas, but unfortunately areas of this habitat are being adversely affected by development on the land,” Mr Beattie said.
“This development has led to increases in pollutant loads in the rivers since European settlement.
“It is vital to continue partnerships with local governments, communities and groups such as land holders, agricultural industries and tourism.
“I thank the communities and industries up and down the coast for their on-going co-operation, and for understanding that protecting the reef may involve some changes for them.
“We will be relying on these partnerships to help us stabilise and reverse the decline in the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon,” Mr Beattie said.
The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area contains the largest system of coral reefs in the world and contains mangrove forests, sponge gardens and seagrass beds which provide habitat for a range of marine species. The Reef is recognised nationally and internationally for its outstanding natural values and rich biodiversity, which support a range of industries that make a significant contribution to the local, state and national economies.
The memorandum of understanding provides for the development of initiatives including:
- Identifying major sediment and nutrient sources in catchments;
- Negotiating an eco-efficiency agreement with the fertiliser industry (through the Fertiliser Manufacturing Industry Association) to promote efficient on-farm fertiliser use;
- Designing and assessing an economic and socio-economic research study to examine the importance of different industries in the Great Barrier Reef catchment, and the costs and benefits of particular on-ground actions; and
- Demonstrating sustainable farming projects by assisting land holders who use best management practices.
The initiatives in the memorandum of understanding will be made available through the Commonwealth and State Government’s joint implementation of the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and the NHT.
This funding will be over and above the already significant amounts provided by the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments to meet on-going responsibilities to protect the Reef.
The two governments will jointly develop a Reef Water Quality Protection Plan by the end of 2002. The Plan will identify the extent of decline in water quality and measures to address that decline. Many of the actions identified in the Plan will be implemented through the regional Natural Resources Management Plans developed as part of the National Action Plan on Salinity and Water Quality and the Natural Heritage Trust.
This is the text of the memorandum of understanding:
Memorandum of Understanding between the Commonwealth Government
and the Government of the State of Queensland on cooperation to protect the
Great Barrier Reef from land-sourced pollutants
PREAMBLE
The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (the Reef) contains the largest system of coral reefs in the world. This diverse ecosystem also contains extensive seagrass beds, mangrove forests, and sponge gardens. The ecosystem of the reef has a complex inter-dependent relationship with the adjacent river catchments. Many marine species rely on coastal freshwater wetlands and estuaries as breeding and nursery areas. The catchments adjacent to the reef have extensive land modification with a focus on developing land and infrastructure for urban centres, agricultural production, tourism and mining. This development has led to increases in pollutant loads in the rivers since European settlement.
GENERAL
- The governments agree that the Great Barrier Reef is a nationally and internationally significant area with outstanding natural values that plays a significant role in the local, regional and national economy.
- The governments agree that the values of the area require protection and that a joint and cooperative approach to the Reef's protection is required.
- The governments agree that the decline in water quality entering the Reef lagoon poses a significant threat to the natural, economic and social values of the Reef.
- The governments agree that as a first stage in the protection of the Reef a major goal is stabilising and reversing the decline in water quality entering the Reef lagoon as soon as practicable.
- The governments agree that the precautionary approach needs to be used to protect the values of the Reef, and that a risk management approach should be taken to address matters posed by declining water quality that might impact on the environmental, social and economic values of the Reef.
- The governments note that the major source of pollutants entering the Reef lagoon emanates from land use activities in the catchments. The addressing of this source through integrated catchment management is the focus of this agreement.
- The governments also note that there are a range of other sources of pollutants entering the Reef lagoon that are, and will be, the subject of ongoing actions to reduce their impact on water quality in the Reef lagoon. The potential impacts of these other sources and the action to constrain their impacts will need to be considered.
- The governments further note that a significant amount of work has already been undertaken to develop water quality objectives and identify what actions are needed to protect the Reef. Governments agree that this information should be used in determining a joint way forward.
- The governments agree that it is important to build upon the existing participation and support of stakeholders in identifying and implementing approaches to protecting the Reef.
- The governments note the need for the public and stakeholders to be assured that a joint approach by governments is being taken to protecting the Reef.
- The governments note that there are other threats to the values of the Reef, for example, impacts from fishing and tourism ventures, and that separate processes are underway to address these threats.
OPERATIVE
- In order to achieve the goal of stabilising and reversing the decline in water quality entering the Reef lagoon as soon as practicable, the governments will undertake the following actions:
(a) Jointly progress the development of a Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, with a target date for agreement of a draft plan by the end of the third quarter of 2002, with a final plan before the end of 2002. The Plan would include:
- A clear statement of the objectives;
- Clear statements of risks and priorities that arise from risk assessment, noting that connectivity is of significance in reef environments in assessing risk;
- An analysis of the pressure on the Reef lagoon associated with water quality in the catchments flowing to the Reef, and what responses in these catchments are appropriate to protect the environmental, social and economic values of the Reef;
- An outline of the range of activities currently undertaken in relation to water quality in the Reef catchments;
- Actions and responsibilities for implementation, including a commitment to work with regional bodies through the Regional Natural Resources Management Planning process to develop more detailed actions to meet targets, including by upstream and downstream users;
- Consideration of short, medium and long-term responses;
- Costing for ‘no regrets’ actions and a financial plan;
- Clear auditing and reporting arrangements; and
- Noting that targets will be developed that are achievable and measurable through the regional NRM planning process where the emphasis will be on catchment by catchment approaches
(b) Cooperate in an assessment of options for short, medium and long-term actions to stabilise and reverse the decline in water quality, including the environmental, social and economic benefits and costs of those actions and implementation through the regional NRM planning process.
(c) In developing the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan consider the role of measures such as: pesticide and fertiliser chemical uses and practices; upstream and downstream industries for all relevant sectors; development, adoption, implementation, auditing and compliance with existing Codes of Practice, Environmental Management Systems and adoption of Property Management Planning; riparian management and re-vegetation requirements; wetlands management and rehabilitation requirements; total grazing pressure management and any other actions that may assist in stabilising and reversing the decline in water quality.
(d) Determine, through the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, the key sub-catchments where actions need to be undertaken, noting that the regional NRM planning processes will be defining specific actions to meet targets.
(e) Jointly host a stakeholder consultative forum.
(f) Jointly provide information to and engage stakeholders in consultations over particular aspects of the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan relevant to those stakeholders, with an emphasis on regional and industry by industry approaches.
(g) Implement as a priority, agreed 'no regrets' actions that:
- provide a framework for prioritising further regional actions;
- build on industry specific initiatives aimed at improving the environmental performance
of those industries, particularly reducing the discharge of pollutants to the Reef lagoon;
- implement priority actions cooperatively with regional communities;
- develop the water quality audit framework built upon existing monitoring and evaluation processes being developed through the NRM Ministerial Council.
'No regrets' actions that are agreed should be of relatively low cost and have broad environmental, social and/or economic benefits beyond the benefit of protecting the Reef lagoon. These actions should commence before the third quarter of 2002.
These 'no regrets' actions may include:
- Identifying the major sediment and nutrient sources in the catchments;
- Negotiating eco-efficiency agreement(s) with the fertiliser industry;
- Have the relevant regulatory agencies undertake a review of the current uses of key herbicides/pesticides used in catchments adjoining the Reef;
- Promoting development and adoption of codes of practice and guidelines for agricultural industries within the catchments; and
- Negotiate and implement local water quality improvement actions where catchment communities wish to take early actions.
(h) Cooperate in considering what water quality decline has occurred and what improvements are needed at the catchment and sub-catchment level, the science underpinning the analysis of the status of water quality entering the Reef lagoon and the objectives and mechanisms for improvement to water quality in the Reef lagoon. Cooperation will include participation in and supporting consultation on water quality target-setting through the regional NRM planning process.
- The governments agree to use best endeavours to ensure that public statements related to the implementation of the MOU will be joint or coordinated between governments. Where separate statements are to be made or reports released, the government proposing to make the statement or release the report will consult the other government beforehand.
- The Reef Water Quality Protection Plan will include the development of water quality improvement objectives and approaches to achieving these objectives, to provide input into regional NRM planning processes, including target-setting.
- It is expected that the regional natural resource management plans will be the primary vehicle for implementing the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan at the catchment level.
- In addition to these joint initiatives the governments will also pursue initiatives individually towards the joint goal. Governments will involve the other government in the pursuit of these initiatives.
- The Commonwealth government will consider supporting a number of initial actions consistent with the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Possible actions include:
- Undertake economic and socio-economic studies of the industries associated with the Reef and adjacent catchments, including information on the values of industries and information enabling the assessment of the benefits and costs of specific actions that are proposed;
- Have the National Registration Authority undertake a Chemical Review of Diuron;
- Provide through normal channels assistance and advice to stakeholders from relevant scientific, research agencies and management agencies;
- Provide financial, policy and project management assistance to implement 'no regret' actions agreed as priority regional actions under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality or Natural Heritage Trust;
- Provide as a priority financial, policy and project management assistance to develop and implement regional plans within the agreed NAP and NHT regions adjacent to the Reef.
- The Queensland government will consider supporting a number of initial actions consistent with the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Possible actions include:
- Provide financial, policy and project management assistance to implement 'no regret' actions agreed as priority regional actions under the NAP or NHT;
- Provide as a priority financial, policy and project management assistance to develop and implement regional plans within the agreed NAP and NHT regions adjacent to the reef;
- Establishing and supporting a scientific panel to investigate Reef health and impact issues; and
- Provide assistance to industry to refine and encourage industry adoption of current recommended practice.
- To guide the development of the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan the governments will form a Commonwealth/State Steering Committee of senior officials.
- A joint project team of officials from both jurisdictions will be formed to support the Steering Committee and the development of the Plan.
