State Planning Policy for Healthy Watersfor Healthy Waters

SPP Cover and start details The SPP:

Commences May Reviewed in 5 years Expires in 10 years

Why the SPP was developed Problems -

Drivers

• Poorly designed & managed urban development – report card, SoE

• Rising cost to the community • Greater development pressures • Different rules - local government• WQIPs – protect reef WQ

A big problem – poor erosion and sediment control …

… leading to downstream sediment impacts like these …

… or these

Background: The SPP and Qld water legislation • The Environmental Protection Act 1994 requires

environmental values (EVs) to be identified and protected in consultation with the community

• EVs for water:– described in the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 –– part of water resource planning under the Water Act 2000– supported by technical water quality guidelines

Environmental values

• EVs are the values or uses that are important for healthy ecosystems or for public benefit, welfare, safety or health

• All waters (tidal and non-tidal, lakes, wetlands, groundwater) have EVs

• EVs include: – aquatic ecosystem health (four levels of protection)– aquaculture and human consumption of aquatic foods– agricultural uses (e.g. stock watering and irrigation)– recreational uses (e.g. swimming, wading, boating, fishing and aesthetic)– drinking water (raw water supply)– industrial uses (e.g. power generation, mining and manufacturing)– cultural and spiritual values

Aquatic Ecosystems value

4 levels of protection and management intent

High ecological value (HEV)– maintain natural values/condition

(HEV WQ objectives

Moderately disturbed (MD)– maintain WQ (where better than WQ

objectives, or improve WQ to achieve WQ objectives for moderately disturbed system

Highly disturbed (HD)– halt decline & progressively improve

WQ over time

Slightly disturbed (SD)– maintain current condition &

progressively improve towards HEV

EnvironmentalValues -

‘Human’ values & uses

Irrigation

Stock Drinking Water Human consumption of wild/ stocked fish or crustaceans

Primary recreation: Swimming, Windsurfing, Rafting

Secondary recreation:Boating, Fishing, Wading

Visual recreation:Aesthetic appreciation

Drinking Water Industrial use

Farm Supply

Cultural andSpiritual Values

Cultural andSpiritual Values

Aquaculture

Environmental Values - Human values & uses

Role of the SPP HW

• Make clear State’s interest in land use planning for WQ– Embed environmental values into land use planning

• Guide planning instruments and development decisions to reduce impacts on water quality from urban development.

• Greater consistency throughout Queensland.

• Site WQ outcomes WQOs in the waterway–Stormwater quality design objectives–Erosion and sediment control WQ outcomes

Outcome sought by the SPP HW

Development is planned, designed, constructed, and operated to manage stormwater and waste water in ways that protect the environmental values specified in the EPP Water 2009.

The SPP in relation to water sensitive urban design (WSUD) and total water cycle management (TWCM)

Total water cycle managementWater sensitive urban design

Water cycle

Potable water conservation Wastewater management Stormwater management Groundwater management

•

Demand management

•

Stormwater reuse•

Water reuseoGreywateroReclaimed

•

Infiltration inflow reduction

•

Waste water flow and quality

•

Rain/stormwater harvesting and reuse

•

Stormwater quality improvement

•

Stormwater flow management

•

Groundwater quality management

•

Groundwater quantity management

•

Demand management

•

Stormwater reuse•

Water reuseoGreywateroReclaimed

SPP HW does not

• apply to a single detached building or

• building works or plumbing and drainage works or

• apply to Environmentally Relevant Activities or

• deal in all aspects of TWCM or WSUD

WQ issues addressed?

urban stormwater quality and flow• aim: clean up and slow down frequent small flows

small development with waste water

coastal algal blooms

development involving urban lakes

supported by:Urban Stormwater Planning Guidelines

• construction (ESC) and operational (WSD) phase design objectives to reduce sediment and nutrients loads

• local stormwater quality planning guidance

When

does SPP HW apply?

• Making or amending planning instruments e.g. regional Plans & local government plans

• Assessing development applications for urban purposes if:

> 2500m2 or 6 dwellings

small-scale development is discharging waste water

• Designating land for community infrastructure.

What planning provisions apply?

• Zoning compatible with landscape/WQOs

• Planning instruments compatible with any Env Plans - EPP Water

• Avoid draining directly to High Ecological Value (HEV) areas – EPP maps

• Reflect DA Code provisions

What development assessment provisions apply?

• A development assessment code is included• States performance outcome required

• A range of acceptable solutions is possible• Covers

Stormwater quality and flow – design objectivesWaste water – hierarchy (avoid, minimise etc), coastal algal bloomsUrban lakes – design and management