Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Strategic policy and
legislation
Goals and themes
• decisions and actions should provide for broad community
involvement on issues which affect them.
These guiding principles and core objectives are to be considered as
a package. No objective or principle should predominate over the
others. A balanced approach is required that takes into account all
these objectives and principles to pursue the goal of ecologically
sustainable development.
The Murray-
Darling Basin
Agreement (1992)
Provides for the integrated management of the Murray-Darling
Basin. The purpose of the agreement (Clause 1) is: to promote
and co-ordinate effective planning and management for the
equitable efficient and sustainable use of the water, land and other
environmental resources of the Murray-Darling Basin. Replaced the
1915 River Murray Waters Agreement. Included New South Wales,
Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, ACT. In 2007 the Agreement
was subsumed within the Commonwealth
Water Act 2007.
National
Water Quality
Management
Strategy 1994
The process involves community and government development and
implementation of a management plan for each catchment, aquifer,
estuary, coastal water or other waterbody. Includes use of high-status
national guidelines with local implementation.
COAG Water
Reform Framework
1994
Committed state and territory governments to implement a
framework to deliver a more sustainable and efficient water industry
through a range of initiatives including cost recovery water
pricing, clearly specified water entitlements, legally recognised
environmental water, enhanced water entitlement trading and
institutional reform.
Implementation was linked to state governments receiving
'competition policy payments' from the Commonwealth.
National
Strategy for the
Conservation
of Australia's
Biological
Diversity 1996
Foundation of ecologically sustainable development; one of the three
core objectives of the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable
Development.
Biological resources provide food, medicines and industrial products.
Biological diversity underpins human well-being through the
provision of ecological services essential for the maintenance of soil
fertility and clean, fresh water and air.
Provides recreational opportunities and a source of inspiration and
cultural identity.
Aims to bridge the gap between current activities and the effective
identification, conservation and management of Australia's biological
diversity.
Primary focus is Australia's Indigenous biological diversity and
includes goals and actions in the areas of conservation, integration
of biodiversity conservation into natural resource management and
management of threatening processes.
With regard to water resource management, the strategy requires
governments to ensure that the conservation of biological diversity is
'taken into account'.
