Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Amendment Policy 2022

1Short title

This policy may be cited as the Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Amendment Policy 2022.

2Policy amended

This policy amends the Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019.

3Amendment of s 5 (Purpose)

Section 5(2)(c), ‘of’—
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for

4Amendment of s 6 (Environmental values for waters)

(1)Section 6(1), ‘of’—
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for

(2)Section 6(2)(e)—
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(e)for waters that may be used to produce, or from which may be taken, aquatic foods for human consumption—the suitability of the water for—

(i)producing aquatic foods that are safe and suitable for human consumption; and

(ii)having aquatic foods that are safe and suitable for human consumption taken from the water; or

(3)Section 6(3)—
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aquatic foods includes the following in an aquatic ecosystem—

(a)fish, shellfish and other animals;

(b)plants.

5Amendment of s 8 (Indicators and water quality guidelines for environmental values for waters)

(1)Section 8(3)—
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(3)For particular water, the indicators and water quality guidelines for an environmental value are decided using the following documents—

(a)site-specific documents for the water;

(b)the document called ‘Queensland water quality guidelines 2009’, published on the department’s website;

(c)the document called ‘Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality’, published by the Commonwealth;

(d)the document called ‘PFAS national environmental management plan’, published by the Commonwealth;

(e)the document called ‘Australian drinking water guidelines 6’, published on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s website;

(f)the document called ‘Guidelines for managing risks in recreational water’, published on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s website;

(g)the document called ‘Guidance on per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in recreational water’, published on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s website;

(h)other relevant documents published by a recognised entity.

(3A)Also, for water mentioned in schedule 1, column 1, the indicators for an environmental value include the indicators stated in the document opposite the water in schedule 1, column 2.

(2)Section 8(4), ‘subsection (3)(a)’—
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subsection (3)

(3)Section 8(3A) to (5)—
renumber as section 8(4) to (6).

6Amendment of s 9 (When environmental values of water are protected)

Section 9, heading, ‘of water’—
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for waters

7Amendment of s 11 (Water quality objectives for waters)

(1)Section 11(2)—
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(2)Subject to subsection (4), the water quality objectives for water mentioned in schedule 1, column 1 are the objectives stated in the document opposite the water in schedule 1, column 2.

(2A)Subsection (4) applies if, for water mentioned in schedule 1, column 1—

(a)an indicator and water quality guideline are decided for an environmental value for the water under section 8(3); and

(b)the indicator, and a water quality objective for the indicator, are not stated in the document opposite the water in schedule 1, column 2.

(2B)The water quality guideline is also a water quality objective for the indicator for the water.

(2)Section 11(4), ‘subsections (2) and (3)’—
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subsection (5)

(3)Section 11—
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(6)In this section—

stormwater treatment system means a system used for managing stormwater quality, quantity and flows.

(4)Section 11(2A) to (6)—
renumber as section 11(3) to (8).

8Amendment of s 12 (Identifying environmental values etc. for waters)

Section 12(4), ‘11(2)’—
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11(4)

9Amendment of s 15 (Management intent for waters)

Section 15(2)(a), ‘of’—
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for

10Amendment of sch 1 (Environmental values and water quality objectives for waters)

(1)Schedule 1, authorising provision, ‘8(3)(b)’—
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8(4)

(2)Schedule 1—
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Burdekin, Don and Haughton region
Burdekin, Don and Haughton River basins, including all groundwaters of the basins	basins 119, 120 and 121	Burdekin, Don and Haughton River Basins Groundwater Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives, published by the department in June 2022
Burdekin River (lower) sub-basin, including all surface waters of the sub-basin downstream of Burdekin Falls Dam, including— •  Bowen River and Broken River sub-basin •  Burdekin River (lower) and Bogie River sub-basin •  adjacent coastal waters	part of basin 120 and adjacent to basin 120	Burdekin River (lower) and Bowen River Sub-Basins Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives, published by the department in June 2022
Burdekin River (upper) sub-basin, including all surface waters of the sub-basin downstream to, and including, Burdekin Falls Dam	part of basin 120	Burdekin River (upper) Sub- Basins Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives, published by the department in June 2022
Don River basin, including the Elliott River and all surface waters of the basin and adjacent coastal waters	basin 121 and adjacent to basin 121	Don River Basin Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives, published by the department in June 2022
Haughton River basin, including the Reid River, Barratta Creek and Major Creek and all surface waters of the basin and adjacent coastal waters	basin 119 and adjacent to basin 119	Haughton River Basin Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives, published by the department in June 2022
Suttor River sub-basin, including the Belyando River and Cape Campaspe River and all surface waters of the sub-basin downstream to, and including, the Burdekin Falls Dam	part of basin 120	Suttor River Sub-Basin Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives, published by the department in June 2022

(3)Schedule 1, entry for Mackay and Whitsundays regions, entries for O’Connell River basin, Pioneer River basin, Plane Creek basin, Proserpine River basin and Whitsunday Island basin, column 2, ‘August 2013’—
omit, insert—

June 2022

(4)Schedule 1, entry for South East Queensland region, entries for Albert River, Bremer River, Brisbane creeks—Bramble Bay, Brisbane River, Broadwater, Caboolture River, Coomera River, Currumbin and Tallebudgera creeks and Pacific Beaches, Lockyer Creek, Logan River, Maroochy River, Mooloolah River, Moreton Bay, Nerang River, Noosa River, Oxley Creek, Pimpama River, Pine rivers and Redcliffe creeks, Pumicestone Passage, Redland creeks, Sandy, Six Mile, Wolston, Woogaroo and Goodna creeks and Stanley River, column 2, ‘July 2010’—
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June 2022

11Amendment of sch 2 (Dictionary)

(1)Schedule 2, definition recognised entity, paragraph (d), from ‘established’—
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, of which a Minister is a member of the council, established by the National Federation Reform Council; or

(2)Schedule 2, definition water quality objectives, after ‘the objectives’—
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for an indicator