As World Environment Day on 5 June 2004 rolls around it is timely to reflect on the great work being done in Australia by all levels of government, from the Australian Government right through to the local councils, to encourage the sustainable management of our natural resources. Local Governments are playing a key role in rescuing the environment, in partnership with the Australian and State and Territory Governments, regional bodies, community groups and industry across the country. This environmental rescue is possible because of the $3 billion Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and the $1.4 billion National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP).
These national programs – the biggest financial commitment to environmental action in Australia’s history – play an important role in protecting and enhancing Australia’s unique biodiversity, the viability of rural and regional communities and the future of our agricultural industries.
The NAP and NHT programs are driven by a single regional plan, developed by local communities and councils and supported by the Government and the best available science to improve natural resources on a regional scale. Fifty-six regions have been identified covering all of Australia, and a natural resource management plan will be developed for each. Local Governments are integral to this process. Through responsibility for local water resources, recycling, weed management and other environmental activities, Local Government is already a major contributor to sustainable natural resource management.
As community leaders, people in Local Government are well positioned to promote the integration of natural resource management. Existing Local Government infrastructure and administration can be used to provide local expertise, feedback and support as well as facilitate the delivery of on ground actions, infrastructure support, regulation and incentives.
Local Government planning laws are integral to sustainable natural resource management and more importantly, councils are significant land managers. At its April 2002 meeting, the Council of Australian Governments agreed to support arrangements that include adequate: Local Government representation on regional bodies, Local Government involvement in the development of integrated natural resource management regional plans and Awareness of regional objectives in local planning.
This tier of government should take part in raising key environmental issues, setting priorities, and investing strategically, because it is a key player in many of the activities outlined in the regional natural resource management plans.
This month Local Governments in Queensland were encouraged to get involved in regional natural resource management with $875,000 in funding from the Australian and State Governments. The $875,000, funded under the NAP, will provide training through workshops, publications, web site development and one on one interaction to boost the ability of councils to play a key role in natural resource management. The project, which will extend over three years, will be managed by the Local Government Association of Queensland and include Aboriginal Community Councils.
Shire of Shark Bay, Western Australia
The Shire of Shark Bay in Western Australia is undertaking natural resource management in a World Heritage Area and Marine Park. A viewing platform has been constructed at Denham’s Little Lagoon Tidal Creek to help manage the impact of tourists visiting the site.
The platform was built with the help of a $13,500 grant from the Australian Government Envirofund – the community component of the Natural Heritage Trust – to the Shire of Shark Bay and was constructed under the direction of the Council.
As well as being part of a World Heritage Area and Marine Park, this area is also recognised as an important fish nursery. Denham receives about 104,000 visitors every year and about 60 per cent of those visit the tidal creek lagoon to see the mangroves and the tidal inlet. The high number of tourists that visit the area cause major erosion of the banks and also the loss of the native vegetation.
But through this project people are out of the water and away from the edge of the bank, keeping the visitors in one area and protecting the banks from further erosion.
The viewing platform will also enable people in wheelchairs and others who may not have been able to access the area, the opportunity to get to a viewing area over the water. In addition, it will help protect the public from stone fish in the area, not to mention giving people a good view of the tidal creek and the local wildlife without having to get their feet wet.
Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, Tasmania
A prime example of Local Government involvement can be found in Bicheno, Tasmania where the Australian Government and the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council have achieved cleaner water for the local community.
Thanks to more than $650,000 from the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust and further funding from the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, there is a new Bicheno Drinking Water Treatment plant and a new Bicheno Golf Club water recycling scheme. This partnership has helped remove pollution, preserved valuable drinking water, benefited the fishing industry and enhanced one of Tasmania’s premier tourist destinations.
The numbers are impressive – Bicheno Golf Club water recycling scheme will use 100 per cent of Bicheno’s wastewater and the Bicheno Drinking Water Plant will produce up to 4 million litres per day, sufficient for significant future population growth.
Treatment lagoons have been upgraded to provide recycled water suitable for irrigating golf courses and a recycled water storage and computer controlled irrigation system will ensure green fairways and putting greens all year round. Water meters will be installed and two part pricing will be implemented to help manage demand for water. In addition, tourism operators and residents will benefit from the visibly clearer water and the fact that boil water notices are no longer required.
These two projects were funded under the Natural Heritage Trust’s Clean Quality Water Program, which has successfully addressing a range of environmental and conservation issues. Nearly $11.25 million in Australian Government funding, together with funding from local sources, has been made available through the program to upgrade sewage lagoons and town water supplies.
Through this program, capital works were undertaken to upgrade 27 sewage lagoon treatment systems and 12 drinking water treatment plants in rural towns of Tasmania.
For further information on how your council can help improve natural resources on a regional scale call 1800 065 823 or visit www.nht.gov.au
