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Objective

Recommendation

Further and related recommendations

Actions taken

Objective

To integrate the management of all land uses in catchments.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the proposed State Policy on Integrated Catchment Management specifically recognises and addresses potential inconsistencies between the Policy and other natural resource management legislation and codes of practice, and also provides direction for the establishment of monitoring programs.

Further and related recommendations

Actions taken

The State Policy on Integrated Catchment Management was never formalised. Since the previous SoE Report (1997), natural resource management approaches have altered from catchment-based boundaries to the municipal area of the landscape, and there is a lack of consistency between municipal and catchment boundaries. Catchment-based approaches remain important through Water Management Plans being implemented under the Water Management Act 1999. The introduction of the Act provides for the sustainable use and development of water resources. The Act supersedes statutory water management provisions in 13 other Acts.

The State Government has made specific commitments for the development of Water Management Plans for a number of water resources over the next few years. These commitments have been made under the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Framework for reform of the Australian water industry (National Competition Policy) and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.

The major achievement for the Water Management Planning program was the finalisation of the 'Great Forester Catchment Draft Water Management Plan 2002' and its placement on public exhibition in January 2002. This is the first draft Water Management Plan to be exhibited in Tasmania under the Water Management Act 1999 and was therefore a significant milestone.