Strategic Assessment of the Water Access Program for the Midlands Water Scheme
Public submissions invited by 4 November 2010
Introduction
Midlands Water Scheme – Strategic Assessment Area
The proposed Midlands Water Scheme (MWS) is one of a number of regionally significant irrigation projects that are underway in Tasmania. Project development and management is being carried out by the Tasmanian Irrigation Development Board.
On 5 February 2010, the Australian and Tasmanian Governments signed an agreement to undertake a strategic assessment of the Water Access Program for MWS. The MWS will deliver 47,500ML of water annually to the Midlands region. This will be via two irrigation schemes:
• Arthurs Pipeline – a gravity/pumped supply from Arthurs Lake, and
• Lower South Esk – a pumped supply from the South Esk River.
Each of these irrigation schemes will use, in part, river sections for the transmission and supply of some of the irrigation water. Pipelines will also be used for the supply and distribution of irrigation water.
Why is a strategic assessment being done?
The Australian and Tasmanian governments agree that the areas within and surrounding the Midlands Water Scheme have significant environmental values and that an assessment of the impacts of the Water Access Program for the MWS on the following nationally protected matters be undertaken:
• National heritage places
• Listed threatened species and communities
• Ramsar wetlands, and
• Listed migratory species
The strategic assessment will include water extraction, pipeline delivery, water access plans and property management systems.
Subsequent to the signing of the Agreement, two sites within and adjacent to the assessment area which are currently listed as National Heritage Places (Brickendon Estate and Woolmers Estate) were added to the World Heritage list. This listing therefore qualifies these sites as World Heritage properties under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation 1999. The strategic assessment has included a consideration of the potential impacts arising from the actions associated with the Program on World Heritage properties.
What happens in a strategic assessment?
A strategic impact assessment presents a big-picture study of an area to assess how environmental, cultural and heritage values can be best protected while allowing sustainable development. Through such an assessment, environmental concerns are contained in a single assessment process and protection measures are put in place to adequately safeguard nationally protected matters for the long term.
The Strategic Impact Assessment Report (available below)
The draft Assessment Report will look at the impact of plans, policies and programs on matters of national environmental significance (MNES).
The draft Assessment Report
• deals with water availability, pipeline delivery, water access plans and property management systems, and
• assesses the adequacy of the Program to ensure that actions associated with the construction and operation of the MWS having potential to impact MNES can be managed so as to meet the objectives of the EPBC Act.
Public consultation on this draft Assessment Report is required and the comments received will be taken into account in finalising a Report for submission to the Commonwealth Environment Minister.
The Water Access Program Report (available below)
The Program Report is a companion report to the draft Assessment Report. In reviewing the draft Assessment Report you may need to refer to the Program Report. The Program Report identifies the policy, regulatory framework and processes in Tasmania that will govern how irrigation water is to be made available under two proposed schemes within the Midlands region of Tasmania so as to meet commitments and undertakings for the protection and management of MNES. Specifically it covers the construction of the scheme, the sourcing of water and the planning processes required at the farm level to receive water.
Who makes the final decision on the MWS Project?
After considering the finalised Strategic Impact Assessment Report, the Commonwealth Environment Minister may endorse the Program. Once the Program has been endorsed the Minister may approve the taking of actions in accordance with the Program.
Public Consultation
Your input is valued by the Tasmanian Government and is important to ensure the best outcomes are achieved through the consultation process. You or your organisation can contribute during this consultation phase by critically reviewing the Strategic Impact Assessment Report.
How to Participate
To get the best value out of making your submission, be clear about the scope and objectives of the draft report. The Terms of Reference for preparation of the report and the Strategic Assessment Endorsement Criteria (attachment C to the intergovernmental agreement) give the best guidance on this.
www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/tas-midland-water-scheme.html
Comments on the draft documents will be received for a period of 5 weeks. The closing date for submissions will be 4 November 2010.
Further information concerning the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the strategic assessment process can be accessed at:
www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessments/strategic.html
For further information or clarification regarding the contents of the Strategic Assessment see Lodging Submissions.
Lodging Submissions
Written submissions can be lodged by:
Email: [email protected]
Post: GPO Box 44, Hobart, TAS 7001
Fax: 03 6233 0865
Closing Date: 4 November 2010
