Victoria reviews water SEPPs

The Victorian Government has completed a draft review of its State Environment Protection Policies (SEPPs) for water, established under the Environment Protection Act 1970.

The two existing SEPPs for water in Victoria are:

• the State Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria), including five catchment specific schedules: Gippsland Lakes and Catchment; Waters of the Latrobe and Thomson River Basins and Merriman Creek Catchment; Waters of Port Phillip Bay; Waters of the Yarra Catchment; Waters of Western Port and Catchment; and

• the State Environment Protection Policy (Groundwaters of Victoria).

The draft review, which is open for public consultation until 19 June,

The draft:

• brings together surface water and groundwater into one document

• removes repeated obligations contained in other legislation

• introduces a geothermal beneficial use

• increases recognition of Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians values

• removes general roles, partnerships or programs into a separate implementation plan

• provides a consistent suite of environmental quality indicators across rivers, streams and marine water segments

• revises and updates environmental quality indicators and objectives based on relevant national and international standards and guidance

• includes new indicators and objectives for sediment toxicology, marine biological indicators and for wetlands

• puts roles and responsibilities into individual clauses for clarity.

More information is here