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Improving water quality in Victoria – the
role of the SEPP (Waters) review
Improving water quality in
Victoria
in moderate condition, 19 per cent in poor condition
and 13 per cent in very poor condition. This shows
that there is scope for improvement in the quality of
Victoria’s water environments.
Victoria’s coasts and bays, along with rivers,
streams, groundwater and wetlands, are some of
the state’s most valuable natural assets.
The condition of our marine environments and
groundwater systems is also variable across the state
and can be improved.
Healthy, productive water environments are vital for
household water supplies, industrial and agricultural
uses, aquaculture and fishing, and for recreation and
tourism.
Protecting water quality
Clean and healthy water is a fundamental
responsibility of the Victorian Government. We
manage water quality in Victoria so that water is
available to support a diverse range of needs.
Our approach focuses on minimising the impacts of a
wide variety of activities on water quality and
addressing any emerging issues or hot spots.
Risks to water quality
The quality of Victoria’s water varies significantly
across the state. A range of factors can contribute to
poor water quality, including:
• urban stormwater run-off or changes in flow
regimes;
• catchment-based activities, such as intensive
agriculture and forestry;
• over-extraction of water; and
• extreme events such as bushfires, floods and
drought.
These factors can lead to water quality issues such as
increased nutrients, sediments, salinity and turbidity
in our waterways, and the presence of toxicants
(including heavy metals and pesticides) and
pathogens in our waters.
The 2010 Index of Stream Condition report found
that, of 29,000 kilometres of Victorian rivers and
streams, 12 per cent of river length was in excellent
condition, 11 per cent in good condition, 43 per cent
State environment protection policies (SEPPs) are
legal tools under the Environment Protection Act
1970, which aim to protect and improve Victoria’s
environments, including water, and the social and
economic values they support.
In Victoria, the protection of waters is covered by two
separate policies:
• surface water environments, including inland
waters, estuaries and marine systems, are
protected under SEPP (Waters of Victoria); and
• groundwater environments are addressed
separately under SEPP (Groundwaters of Victoria).
These policies set out:
• the uses and environmental values that Victorians
want to protect (known as beneficial uses), such
as water recreation and agriculture;
• ‘water quality goalposts’ to show when beneficial
uses are protected (known as environmental
quality objectives and indicators), such as nitrogen
level or total dissolved oxygen, and biological
indicators, such as the presence or absence of
different small aquatic organisms; and
• clear guidance on what we need to do to protect
beneficial uses (known as the attainment
program).
Victoria’s environment and resource managers, along
with industry groups, use SEPPs and a number of
other instruments, such as the Water Act 1989 and
regional waterway strategies, to protect our water
environments.
Improving water quality in Victoria – the role of the SEPP (Waters) review
Improving management of water quality
How to get involved
The Victorian Government wants to protect and
improve the health of the state’s water environments
through improved management of water quality.
Victorians are invited to comment on how water
quality will be managed and protected in the future,
with the release of a discussion paper for the SEPP
(Waters) review.
We are reviewing the water-related SEPPs to ensure
Victoria has clear and relevant standards and legal
obligations to protect and improve the health of our
water environments.
The review provides an opportunity to move towards
an integrated water management approach that
aligns water quality standards and long-term
objectives across the whole of the water cycle. As
part of the review, we will explore options to produce
a single policy to cover all of Victoria’s water
environments.
The review will ensure the new policy reflects the
latest science, addresses the issues that have been
identified and contributes towards improved water
quality management across Victoria.
The review process
The review is underway and will be completed in
2016. The revised SEPP (Waters) will be streamlined
and user-friendly, outcome-focussed and risk-based.
The discussion paper, available online at
www.delwp.vic.gov.au/state-environmentprotection-policy-waters-review, aims to increase
community understanding of how the policies protect
water health, so people can give informed feedback
on how water should be managed and protected in
the future.
People can provide feedback on the paper by
emailing water.SEPPreview@delwp.vic.gov.au. This
feedback will be considered before the release of the
draft policy and policy impact assessment. Feedback
is due by 13 July 2015.
Victorians will have another opportunity to comment
on the review in early 2016, when the draft policy
and policy impact assessment are released.
For more information please visit the SEPP (Waters)
Review webpage:
www.delwp.vic.gov.au/state-environmentprotection-policy-waters-review
A committee with representatives from key
organisations and interest groups is being appointed
to guide the review and make recommendations on a
new policy.
A scientific advisory panel, including academics and
scientists with recognised expertise in aquatic
science, has been appointed to provide independent
advice on the science that will underpin the policy.
© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and
Planning June 2015
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