Figure 8-4: Map of AWMA management area
Management of the Albany waterways
The Albany Port Authority managed the Princess Royal and Oyster harbours and King George Sound under the Albany Port Authority Act 1926 (1979). These powers only related to the port, and the increasing environmental problems in the 1970s couldn't be dealt with properly under them. The Authority requested the then Department of Conservation and Environment (DCE) to establish a waterways management authority to manage Albany's harbours.
The DCE recommended establishing an advisory committee to help develop and implement a management plan for the harbours. At the time, they thought that the harbours couldn't be managed under the Waterways Conservation Act because the Act didn't specifically mention `harbours'.
The Albany Waterways Management Advisory Committee (AWMAC) was established in November 1977. The committee was made up of representatives from the Albany Port Authority, Albany Chamber of Commerce, South Coast Licensed Fishermen's Association, City of Albany, Albany Port Industries Association, Albany Conservation Society and relevant government departments.
AWMAC started a monitoring and research programme to get some basic data about the environmental condition of the Albany waterways (in particular Princess Royal Harbour). The committee was also committed to pointing out the need for a proper waterways management authority for the harbours.
A study by Atkins in 1979 confirmed that the harbours were suffering from various types of pollution. The main concern at the time was the level of bacteria caused by discharges from the King Point sewage treatment works and the meatworks on the foreshore.
AWMAC held numerous discussions with the Waterways Commission and local community to try and establish a more formal management process. In 1982 a discussion paper, Waterways Management Authority: Albany WA, was circulated by the DCE. It recommended establishing a waterways management authority. The recommendation was an agreement by the three local government authorities and other groups represented on the AWMAC.
In January 1983, Premier Ray O'Connor announced that an Albany-based waterways management authority would be gazetted under the Waterways Conservation Act. Later that year, mercury contamination was found in the western end of Princess Royal Harbour.
Under the Act the proposed Albany Waterways Management Authority (AWMA) would be responsible for the management of Princess Royal and Oyster harbours, rivers and wetlands in the then Town and Shire of Albany. The Premier also announced that there would be negotiations with the Town and Shire councils to encourage local participation in forming the new authority.
In 1984 a review of the Environmental Protection Act placed the establishment of any formal management body on hold. AWMAC was told that once Cabinet had worked out the future role of the EPA there would be action taken on the proposal to establish a management authority in Albany. The proposal also needed to await the outcome of the Government's deliberations on a report of the Task Force on Land Resource Management in South-Western Australia, because it contained a recommendation for the Waterways Commission to be incorporated with the proposed Land Management Department.
Further revelations in 1985 and 1986 about the extent of mercury contamination in Princess Royal Harbour led to AWMAC writing to the Director of the EPA requesting support for a study to look at the wider environmental issues facing Albany's harbours. The EPA responded by initiating a major increase in environmental research of Princess Royal Harbour.
By 1987 AWMAC and the EPA had been monitoring the mercury problems in Princess Royal Harbour for three years and environmental studies had identified other problems beginning to emerge. A build-up of nutrients and a consequent decline in seagrass coverage in the harbours was noticed. The need for management of these problems became urgent. As a result, the Western Australian Government approved funding for an intensive two-year study into the ecology of the Albany harbours on the understanding that the study would provide long-term solutions to the problems facing the harbours.
In 1990 the EPA released the Albany Harbours Environmental Study 1988-89 (Bulletins 412 and 426). After public consultation this study produced 12 recommendations endorsed by the EPA and published as Bulletin 442. These 12 major recommendations made it clear that immediate action was needed to reduce pollution from industrial and domestic wastewater. Also, there needed to be better management of pollution from diffuse sources within the urban and rural catchments. In response, the Government made the decision to establish an Albany-based waterways management authority. The Albany Waterways Management Authority was established on 17 May 1991. Bulletin 442 is still the foundation for most of the work done to solve the harbours environmental problems.
The Albany Waterways Management Area was gazetted in May 1991. The management area comprises all of the waters of Princess Royal Harbour, Oyster Harbour, part of King George Sound and the land and waters within the Albany harbours catchments as shown in the figure below. This is the area in which the Authority's responsibilities under the Waterways Conservation Act apply.
Figure 8-4: Map of AWMA management area
AWMA has up to 12 members selected from the local community for their knowledge of waterways management and local affairs. Members are appointed by the Minister for Water Resources, generally for a three-year term. Membership includes:
The chairperson of AWMA is a member of the Rivers and Estuaries Council, along with the Commissioner for Waterways, chairpersons of the other management authorities and the chairperson of the Swan River Trust. Through its membership of the Council AWMA advises the Water and Rivers Commission on the development, implementation and monitoring of State-wide policies and strategies which promote the management, protection and enhancement of rivers and estuaries.
AWMA is supported by the regional staff of the Water and Rivers Commission who provide professional, technical and administrative support.
AWMA can research and manage the Albany waterways. AWMA's powers are mainly to do with the bed, banks or foreshore of waterways. The Authority issues licences for activities such as dredging or reclamation. AWMA's powers include:
Under the Waterways Conservation Act it's an offence to pollute waters. Approval from AWMA is normally needed for drainage, discharge or depositing waste or water into the Albany waterways. Under an agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection, AWMA uses the Environmental Protection Act when combating pollution, and is involved in licensing industries discharging into the harbours.
AWMA has the power to request details of proposed town planning schemes, subdivisions, developments or changes in land use where there is likely to be an effect on the waterways. AWMA can make recommendations to the appropriate planning authority. AWMA has no approval powers in this area. It can only give advice. However, the planning authority must consider AWMA's advice before making a decision on a proposal.
AWMA has the power to control certain activities on the bed and along the banks of the waterways, including damage or alteration to the bed or the banks. AWMA looks at activities such as dredging, filling, building, drainage and waste disposal. AWMA, as required under the Act, must approve and licence a number of these activities.
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AWMA mission statement is:
To maintain the waterways in the management area as functional, healthy systems, in order to facilitate sustainable uses, for the benefit of the whole community. |
In order to achieve this mission, AWMA has four objectives:
These objectives and the individual strategies and actions needed to achieve their implementation are detailed in AWMA's management programme. Such a programme is encouraged under the Waterways Conservation Act, and was completed in 1995 after extensive agency and public consultation.
AWMA may, under Section 35 of the Waterways Conservation Act, prepare a management programme for the area under its control. The programme should also be under constant review so that it is up-to-date.
The Albany waterways management programme was prepared by WRC and AWMA and was released in March 1995. A fact-finding study formed the first stage of the management programme by gathering all the information that was needed to make management decisions.
The management programme is a guide for the operations of AWMA and other agencies involved in the management of land and water resources. The programme identifies things that need to be done and the roles and responsibilities of various agencies. These programmes are usually effective for about seven years. It's expected that the programme will be reviewed and updated when necessary.
AWMA must make sure that its decisions and advice are consistent with the programme. However, the programme does not bind other government or non-government agencies. The management programme is developed in conjunction with other agencies with responsibility for waterway and catchment management. This consultative process ensures that management objectives and recommendations are achievable.
AWMA is involved in a variety of activities and works closely with catchment groups, local government and other agencies involved with the Albany catchments and waterways. AWMA develops good cooperation between agencies for the benefit of the waterways.
Some of AWMA's activities are:
AWMA also assists other leading management agencies. In the rural catchments, the LCDCs and catchment groups are the major management groups, with AgWA being the leading agency. AWMA assists with things such as:
| For more about this see section 8.3 |
AgWA established the South Coast Estuaries Project Group to deal with issues in the catchment. The group was especially concerned with nutrient management.
AgWA, AWMA and the Water and Rivers Commission work together in the rural catchments. In general, AWMA and the Commission take the lead in the 'wetter' catchments, particularly if a drainage district is involved or the catchment doesn't have much farming. AgWA take the lead in the 'drier' catchments. The partnership is still evolving.
The Water Corporation is responsible for getting rid of all wastewater from sewered areas in Albany. After the release of the Albany Harbours Environmental Study, the EPA recommended that the Water Corporation (formerly the Water Authority of Western Australia) stop discharging domestic wastewater from the King Point outfall. The outfall was closed in January 1995. Land-based disposal of wastewater effluent through the irrigation of blue gums was developed. This `agroforestry disposal' of the wastewater is jointly managed by the Water Corporation and CALM. More than 300 hectares of blue gums have been planted.
The Corporation supplies Albany and surrounding areas from the Lower Great Southern Water Supply Scheme. The Scheme can use four separate sources:
Currently 60% of Albany's water requirements are supplied from three wellfields: Sandpatch, Prison and Racecourse, located on the peninsula south-west of Albany. The water is limited and needs to be protected from groundwater pollution and from private and public wells taking out too much.
The groundwater area on the peninsula is jointly managed by the Commission and the Water Corporation. The Water Corporation is responsible for supplying the water to users. The Water and Rivers Commission is responsible for licensing and protecting the water. The Water Corporation itself has a licence to extract groundwater, which is managed by the Water and Rivers Commission. The area is proclaimed under the Rights In Water and Irrigation Act (1914) which allows the Commission to control through licensing how much water is taken out by private and public wells. The wellfield is also proclaimed as a water reserve under the Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947, to protect groundwater quality. There are policies in place to restrict development to that which won't harm the groundwater quality.
In this policy, Priority 1 areas (where the most protection is needed) are generally located on the coastal side of the water reserve. The land immediately surrounding Princess Royal Harbour is generally Priority 3 (a low level of protection is needed). This is because Priority 3 areas are generally located downflow of the wellfields, so any pollution won't directly affect the wellfields.
It is the job of the Water and Rivers Commission to make priorities within a proclaimed water reserve and to manage these reserves.
The Department of Planning and Urban Development (now the Ministry for Planning) prepared the Albany Regional Planning Study. The study consisted of:
The main objectives of the rural strategy are to:
The study guides private land use, development, and local and State government activity in the Albany region.
The Great Southern Development Commission's job is to encourage, promote, facilitate and assist economic and social development in the Great Southern Region. The Commission consults with State and Commonwealth agencies, local government authorities and statutory bodies.
The Commission coordinates projects involving local and State agencies, industry and commerce, employer and employee organisations and the community. Its main tasks are to:
Four local government authorities are situated wholly or partly within the Albany harbours catchment. These include:
The local government authorities in the Albany harbours catchment all have current town planning schemes. Several need to be reviewed and updated. Town planning schemes are drafted and reviewed in consultation with AWMA and other relevant authorities. Talking about the schemes together makes sure that the issues affecting the catchment and waterways are taken into account.
| For more information about water pollution in Albany and the monitoring programs see section 9 |
The Shire of Albany carried out a similar monitoring programme. Results from both the town's and the shire's studies have been published in reports. See the section 'further reading' to get their publication details.
Between 1987 and 1990 the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) coordinated research which raised community awareness of a number of environmental problems in the harbours and prompted government action to address the causes. Although the bulk of this research and management responsibility has now been passed to AWMA, the DEP still plays an important role in assisting AWMA and the Water and Rivers Commission with their tasks.
The DEP's role is to help protect Albany's harbours from pollution and maintain and enhance the harbour's natural ecosystems. The south coast region, including the Albany waterways catchment, is managed by the DEP's district office in Bunbury.
CALM has prepared a regional management plan for the South Coast region. The plan looks at land management in the region and aims to:
The plan also looks at the broad issues relating to the protection and management of:
In 1986, the Western Australian Government appointed a working group of marine scientists and planning officers from a number of government, academic and other bodies to identify significant coastal marine sites and areas which could be included in the State marine reserve system. The working group recommended that additional marine reserves be established along the Western Australian coast including:
The Albany Port Authority is a corporate body established by the Albany Port Authority Act (1926) which was proclaimed on 14 March 1950. The Authority is comprised of five members, appointed by the Minister for Transport.
The Authority is responsible for controlling the Port of Albany. The Port of Albany includes the waters of Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound, west of a line from Bald Head to the south to Herald Point to the north. The Authority is responsible for the planning, construction and maintenance of port facilities; provision of port services such as moorings for ships, power and water supply and security services; and the management of land under its control.
There are a number of cultural heritage sites in and along the shores of Albany's waterways which are subject to heritage agreements.
The Albany Harbours Environmental Study and other research has highlighted the problems facing the harbours. The community has become much more aware of the environment and the need for its good management.
A survey was carried out by CSIRO in March 1990 to look at community attitudes to water quality and the recreational use of the Albany harbours. The survey showed that the Albany community wants good water quality maintained, recreational opportunities, landscape preserved, wildlife conserved, and public access. It also pointed out that although these issues were important to the community, so was the maintenance of industry and local employment.
Community participation is essential for successful catchment and waterways management. Community support and involvement has been growing and in the South Coast region there are now over 30 catchment groups, 25 LCDCs and many other landcare and special interest groups, all of which are community-based. There are also community representatives on many of the major management groups, including AWMA. There are four LCDCs in the Albany waterways catchment. The Oyster Harbour Catchment Group coordinates them. Various community groups, such as the South Coast Progress Association, recreational groups and tourism and fishing organisations are all involved in issues to do with the harbours management.
The LCDCs represent rural communities within the Albany harbours catchments. The main job of the LCDCs is to help land users and agencies cooperate to put in place sustainable land management systems and to solve regional land degradation problems. In the Oyster Harbour catchment the LCDCs play a vital role in reducing nutrient input to the harbours from rural sources.
The LCDCs are formed under the Soil and Land Conservation Act and are advisory groups to the Commissioner for Soil Conservation. Because they're made up of land users, the LCDCs are an excellent way for land users to have a say in the development of plans, management actions and research. The LCDCs consist of land user representatives, farmer groups (such as the Western Australian Farmers Federation and the Pastoralists and Graziers Association), a nominee of the Commissioner of Soil Conservation, and representatives from other government departments actively involved in that part of the catchment.
Under the Soil and Land Conservation Act AgWA supports the LCDCs. In the Albany harbours catchment area there are four LCDCs:
When AWMA was established, the four LCDCs in the Albany harbours catchment area (listed above) decided to form the Oyster Harbour Catchment Committee to make sure that catchment management wasn't hampered by lack of communication.
The catchment committee comprises two representatives from each of the four LCDCs, a representative from the Emu Point Progress Association, a facilitator and a representative from AgWA. The catchment group also has a representative on AWMA to make sure that there is clear communication between the realms of catchment management and waterways management.
AWMA was the first waterways management authority to be established with a management area which encompasses the entire catchment of the waterway. Waterways management authorities in the past have been established with a limited amount of land on the foreshores of the waterways included in their management area.
The reason for this inclusion is the integrated catchment management (ICM) approach now being adopted by government departments and the community alike. The ICM approach ensures that the land is not divorced from the water and that management of these two entities doesn't happen in isolation.
AWMA is keen to expand its role. It wants to deal with more water resource issues and to look more closely at the upper catchment. Some of the extra activities that have been proposed are: