Water Quality Protection Plan for Darwin Harbour
The review of the Beneficial Uses Declarations is a component of the Water Quality Protection Plan (WQPP) for the Darwin Harbour Catchment. The development and implementation of the WQPP is an important element in the on-going efforts to implement the Darwin Harbour Regional Plan of Management, prepared by Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee.
The WQPP is a jointly funded project aimed at protecting and monitoring the Darwin Harbour Catchment. The Australian Government, through its Coastal Catchments Initiative, has provided close to $1 million dollars over a three year period towards the development of the Plan, with further financial contributions being made by the Northern Territory Government and project partners. The Environment Protection Agency Program of the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and The Arts will be primarily responsible for the development of the Plan.
To be developed over the next three years, the Plan will identify and address key water quality risks to the values of Darwin Harbour and its catchment, as outlined in the Australian Government’s water quality initiative ‘Framework for Marine and Estuarine Water Quality Protection’.
What would a water quality protection plan look like?
It would comprise the following major components:
- A statement on the environmental and cultural values of Darwin Harbour which translates into Beneficial Uses Declarations under the Water Act.
- Water quality guidelines/objectives that translate these values into water quality concentrations and identify measurable biological condition indicators that can be monitored.
- Decision support tools. These are management tools to assist in decision making. The project will develop a water quality model for Darwin Harbour which can be used to predict the impact of nutrient and sediment inputs on the Harbour’s water quality. The project will develop institutional capacity to use decision support tools.
- Regulatory mechanisms to achieve the objectives of the plan. For example guidelines for urban development for water sensitive urban design and best practice stormwater management.
- A monitoring and reporting system that informs resource managers and the public about the state of health of the Harbour and its catchment.
Extensive stakeholder consultation and engagement
The preparation and implementation of the Water Quality Protection Plan will be undertaken in consultation with all stakeholders including the Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee which, through consultation with the community, will be involved in the development of the Plan.
Preparation and review of a draft Plan
The final Plan will be endorsed after extensive community consultation with residents and users of the Darwin Harbour Catchment.
