Pilbara Coastal Water Quality Project

Background

The State Water Quality Management Strategy (Government of Western Australia, 2004) provides for the establishment of environmental values and environmental quality objectives as the goals for environmental quality management to protect the environment from the effects of waste inputs and pollution.

The Strategy requires that thorough public consultation be undertaken to develop environmental values and environmental quality objectives prior to their submission to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for review and endorsement, to guide environmental impact assessment and natural resources management.

The State Sustainability Strategy (Government of Western Australia, 2003) recommended that environmental values be identified and environmental quality objectives designated as the basis for environmental quality management for all of the State’s marine ecosystems on a priority basis.

Between September and November 2004, the Department of Environment (now the Department of Environment and Conservation) ran a planned and targeted public consultation process to obtain comment on environmental values, environmental quality objectives and how they should be applied geographically within the State marine waters from Exmouth Gulf to Cape Keraudren. This region has long been recognised for its very high marine biodiversity and conservation values, its extensive mineral resources, and as a focus of rapidly increasing development pressures.

Outcome

The EPA and the Rangelands NRM Coordinating Group endorsed the report Pilbara Coastal Water Quality Consultation Outcomes as an interim framework to guide environmental impact assessment, waste discharge regulation and natural resource management in Pilbara coastal waters. By doing so, they recognised the community's expectation that environmental values associated with the marine environment should be protected.

Downloads

 Pilbara Coastal Water Quality Consultation Outcomes: Environmental Values and Quality Objectives (3.71 MB)
Publish Date: 01-JUN-2006 09:52 AM
Report from the Department of Environment to the Environmental Protection Authority and the Rangelands NRM Coordinating Group

 The Pilbara Coastal Water Quality Consultation: an update - June 2005 (314.26 kB)
Publish Date: 28-JUN-2005 01:12 PM
This brochure provides preliminary feedback on the community and stakeholder responses received and issues raised, and outlines the next steps in the Pilbara Coastal Waters Project.

 Pilbara Coastal Water Quality - A Quick Guide to the Public Consultation Kit (85.44 kB)
Publish Date: 13-SEP-2004 03:12 PM

 2001 Pilbara Community Survey (173.89 kB)
Publish Date: 13-SEP-2004 03:02 PM
This paper provides an overview of the key findings of a survey of Pilbara residents conducted in 2001 to gauge community views about the marine environment and its uses. The survey asked questions regarding resource uses, perceived threats, community values, and preferred outcomes. The survey was undertaken as part of the North West Shelf Joint Environmental Management Study.

 Questionnaire - Pilbara Coastal Water Quality (256.54 kB)
Publish Date: 13-SEP-2004 02:48 PM
What you can do - Please read the accompanying consultation brochure entitled ‘Protecting the Quality of our Pilbara Coastal Waters' before completing this questionnaire.

 Consultation Brochure 2004 - Protecting the Quality of Our Pilbara Coastal Waters - Have Your Say (390.6 kB)
Publish Date: 13-SEP-2004 02:29 PM
The environmental quality of our coastal waters in the future will be strongly influenced by the decisions and actions we take now. This consultation brochure sets out key issues and approaches which need to be considered in developing a plan for the quality of marine waters from Exmouth to Port Hedland. Before making your submission and providing your views, you are encouraged to read this short brochure.