Model statutory objectives and principles for natural resource management

Model statutory objectives and principles for natural resource management.

These 'model' provisions have been derived by modifying and amalgamating sections of Tasmania's Water Management Act 1999, the NSW Water Management Act 2000; and Victoria's Environmental Protection (Liveable Neighbourhoods) Bill 2000.

They are presented here as a model for the development of objectives and principles applicable both to: (a) a whole-of-government natural resource management framework (like the Tasmanian Resource Management and Planning System), and (b) water legislation lying within that broader framework. Objectives and principles are hence presented in two main parts:

Appendix Two, Part One
Objectives and principles of GSL's Resource Management and Planning System

LAND USE PLANNING AND APPROVALS ACT: SCHEDULE 1 - OBJECTIVES

PART 1a OBJECTIVES OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING SYSTEM

1. The objectives of the resource management and planning system are -

(a) to provide the sustainable development of natural and physical resources and the maintenance of ecological processes and genetic diversity; and

(b) to provide for the fair, orderly and sustainable use and development of air, land and water; and

(d) to facilitate economic development in accordance with the objectives set out in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c); and

(e) to promote the sharing of responsibility for resource management and planning between the different spheres of Government, the community and industry in the state.

2. In clause 1(a), "sustainable development means managing the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources in a way, or at a rate, which enables people and communities to provide for their social, economic and cultural well-being and for their health and safety while -

(a) sustaining the potential of natural and physical resources to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations; and

(b) safeguarding the life -supporting capacity of air, water, soil and ecosystems; and

PART 1b - OBJECTIVES OF THE PLANNING PROCESS ESTABLISHED BY THIS ACT

The objectives of the planning framework established by this Act are, in support of the objectives set out in Part 1 of this Schedule -

(a) to require sound strategic planning and co-ordinated action by State and local government; and

(b) to establish a system of planning instruments to be the principal way of setting objectives, policies and controls for the use, development and protection of land; and

(c) to ensure that the effects on the environment are considered and provide for explicit consideration of social and economic effects when decisions are made about the use and development of land; and

(d) to require land use and development planning and policy to be easily integrated with environmental, social, economic, conservation and resource management policies at State, regional and municipal levels; and

(e) to provide for the consolidation of approvals for land use or development and related matters, and to co-ordinate planning approvals with related approvals; and

(f) to secure a pleasant, efficient and safe working, living, and recreational environment for all residents of, and visitors to the State; and

(g) to conserve those buildings, areas or other places which are of scientific, aesthetic, architectural or historical interest, or otherwise of special cultural value: and

(h) to protect public infrastructure and other assets and enable the orderly provision and co-ordination of public utilities and other facilities for the benefit of the community: and

(i) to provide a planning framework which fully considers land capability.

PART 1c PRINCIPLES OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING SYSTEM

4. The principles of the resource management and planning system are -

4A. Principle of integration of economic, social and environmental considerations

(1) Sound environmental practices and procedures should be adopted as a basis for ecologically sustainable development for the benefit of all human beings and the environment.

(2) This requires the effective integration of economic, social and environmental considerations in decision making processes with the need to improve community well-being and the benefit of future generations.

(3) The measures adopted should be cost-effective and in proportion to the significance of the environmental problems being addressed.

4B. The precautionary principle

(1) If there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.

(2) Decision making should be guided by--

(a) a careful evaluation to avoid serious or irreversible damage to the environment wherever practicable; and

(b) an assessment of the risk-weighted consequences of various options.

4C. Principle of intergenerational equity

The present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations.

4D. Principle of conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity

The conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration in decision making.

Central to the conservation of Australia’s biological diversity is the establishment of a comprehensive, representative and adequate system of ecologically viable protected areas, integrated with sympathetic management of all other areas, including agricultural and resource production systems.

4E. Principle of improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms

(1) Environmental factors should be included in the valuation of assets and services.

(2) Persons who generate pollution and waste should bear the cost of containment, avoidance and abatement.

(3) Users of goods and services should pay prices based on the full life cycle costs of providing the goods and services, including costs relating to the use of natural resources and the ultimate disposal of wastes.

(4) Established environmental goals should be pursued in the most cost effective way by establishing incentive structures, including market mechanisms, which enable persons best placed to maximise benefits or minimise costs to develop solutions and responses to environmental problems.

4F. Principle of shared responsibility

(1) Protection of the environment is a responsibility shared by all levels of Government and industry, business, communities and the people of GSL.

(2) Producers of goods and services should produce competitively priced goods and services that satisfy human needs and improve quality of life while progressively reducing ecological degradation and resource intensity throughout the full life cycle of the goods and services to a level consistent with the sustainability of biodiversity and ecological systems.

4G. Principle of product stewardship

Producers and users of goods and services have a shared responsibility with Government to manage the environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of the goods and services, including the ultimate disposal of any wastes.

4H. Principle of wastes hierarchy

Wastes should be managed in accordance with the following order of preference--

(a) avoidance;

(b) re-use;

(d) recovery of energy;

(e) treatment;

(f) containment;

(g) disposal.

4I. Principle of integrated environmental management

If approaches to managing environmental impacts on one segment of the environment have potential impacts on another segment, the best practicable environmental outcome should be sought.

4J. Principle of enforcement

Enforcement of environmental requirements should be undertaken for the purpose of:

(a) better protecting the environment and its economic and social uses;

(b) ensuring that no commercial advantage is obtained by any person who fails to comply with environmental requirements;

(c) influencing the attitude and behaviour of persons whose actions may have adverse environmental impacts or who develop, invest in, purchase or use goods and services which may have adverse environmental impacts.

4K. Principle of accountability

(1) The aspirations of the people of GSL for environmental quality should drive environmental improvement.

(2) Members of the public should therefore be given--

(a) access to reliable and relevant information in appropriate forms to facilitate a good understanding of environmental issues;

(b) opportunities to participate in policy and program development.".

Appendix Two, Part Two:
Part 2a. Objectives of the Water Management Act

5A. (1) The objectives of this Act are to further the objectives of the resource management and planning objectives and principles of the resource management and planning system of the State, as specified in Schedule 1, and in particular to provide for the use and management of the freshwater resources of the State having regard to the need to:

(a) promote sustainable use and facilitate economic development of water resources in accordance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development; and

(b) recognise and foster the significant social and economic benefits resulting from the sustainable use and development of water resources for the generation of hydro-electricity and for the supply of water for human consumption and commercial activities dependent on water; and

(d) provide for the fair, orderly and efficient allocation of water resources to meet the community's needs; and

(e) increase the community's understanding of aquatic ecosystems and the need to use and manage water in a sustainable and cost efficient manner; and

(f) encourage community involvement in water resource management; and

(g) to encourage continual improvement through the provision of procedures for implementation, enforcement, evaluation, and review.

(2) It is the obligation of the Minister, the Secretary, a water entity and any other person on whom a function is imposed or a power is conferred under this Act to perform the function or exercise the power in such a manner as to further the objectives specified in subsection (1) and in Schedule 1.

Part 2b. Principles of the Water Management Act

5B. Water management principles

(1) The principles set out in this section are the water management principles of this Act, and include the principles of ecologically sustainable development referred to in the objects of the Act.

(2) Generally:

(a) water sources, floodplains and dependent ecosystems (including groundwater and wetlands) should be protected and restored and, where possible, land should not be degraded, and

(b) habitats, animals and plants that benefit from water or are potentially affected by managed activities should be respected, protected and (in the case of habitats) restored, and

(d) the cumulative effects of all activities with significant impacts on water resources and dependent ecosystems must be assessed, managed, evaluated and reviewed, and

(e) geographical and other features of indigenous significance should be protected, and

(f) geographical and other features of major cultural, heritage or spiritual significance should be protected, and

(g) the long-term social and economic benefits to the community should be maximised, and

(h) the principles of adaptive management should be applied, which should be responsive to monitoring and improvements in understanding of ecological water requirements.

(3) In relation to water sharing:

(a) sharing of water from a water source must protect the water source and its dependent ecosystems, and

(b) sharing of water from a water source must protect the basic landholder rights of owners of land, and

(c) sharing or extraction of water under any other right must not prejudice the principles set out in paragraphs (a) and (b), and

(d) climatic variability must be explicitly accounted for in sharing arrangements.

(4) In relation to water use:

(a) water use should avoid or minimise land degradation, including soil erosion, compaction, geomorphic instability, contamination, acidity, waterlogging, decline of native vegetation or, where appropriate, salinity and, where possible, land should be rehabilitated, and

(b) water use should be consistent with the maintenance of productivity of land in the long term and should maximise the social and economic benefits to the community, and

(5) In relation to drainage management:

(a) drainage activities should avoid or minimise land degradation, including soil erosion, compaction, geomorphic instability, contamination, acidity, waterlogging, decline of native vegetation or, where appropriate, salinity and, where possible, land should be rehabilitated, and

(b) the impacts of drainage activities on other water users should be avoided or minimised, and

(c) the historic damage to wetlands through drainage and levee bank construction should be recognised, with a view to avoiding future damage.

(6) In relation to floodplain management:

(a) floodplain management must avoid or minimise land degradation, including soil erosion, compaction, geomorphic instability, contamination, acidity, waterlogging, decline of native vegetation or, where appropriate, salinity and, where possible, land must be rehabilitated, and (b) the impacts of flood works on other water users should be avoided or minimised, and (c) the existing and future risk to human life and property arising from occupation of floodplains must be minimised.

(7) In relation to controlled activities:

(a) the carrying out of controlled activities must avoid or minimise land degradation, including soil erosion, compaction, geomorphic instability, contamination, acidity, waterlogging, decline of native vegetation or, where appropriate, salinity and, where possible, land must be rehabilitated, and

(b) the impacts of the carrying out of controlled activities on other water users must be avoided or minimised.

(8) In relation to aquifer interference activities:

(a) the carrying out of aquifer interference activities must avoid or minimise land degradation, including soil erosion, compaction, geomorphic instability, contamination, acidity, waterlogging, decline of native vegetation or, where appropriate, salinity and, where possible, land must be rehabilitated, and

(b) where linked, surface and groundwater resources need to be managed together in integrated ways, and

(c) the impacts of the carrying out of aquifer interference activities on other water users must be avoided or minimised.

(9) In relation to environmental protection:

(a) the complexity of natural processes and water-dependent ecosystems must be recognised, and the need for harmony, as far as possible, between these processes and imposed management regimes should be encouraged (the principle of minimal impact management);

(b) the principles for the provision of environmental flows, as agreed within the Council of Australian Governments Water Reform Framework, should be recognised and applied, and

(c) it should be recognised that humans are one of many species on this planet, and that other species, particularly indigenous water-dependent species in relation to this Act, have a right to coexistence with humans on this planet.