Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts annual report 2007–08

388 Pages·2008·5.96 MB·English

Department of
the Environment, Water,
Heritage and the Arts
Volume 1
ANNUAL REPORT 2007–08
How to contact the department

Main ofce: John Gorton Building,

King Edward Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600
Post: GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Internet: www.environment.gov.au

Annual Report 2007–08 3
DEWHA Annual Report 2007–08
Table of Contents
Volume 1
Letter of transmittal 7

Executive summary 9

Secretary’s review 9

Organisation overview 13

Outcomes and outputs 14

Resources 16

Outcome 1 – Environment 17

Climate change 18

Land and inland waters 36

Coasts and oceans 58

Natural, indigenous and historic heritage 70

Human settlements 86

Outcome 2 – Antarctica 123

Outcome 3 – Water 137

Outcome 4 – Arts and Culture 157

Cross-cutting activities
185
Managing the department
203
Corporate governance
204
Stakeholder relations
215
External scrutiny
218
Environmental sustainability
222
Human resources
231
Finances
244
Financial Statements
257
Glossary
352
Indexes
359
Compliance index
359
Alphabetical index
362
Annual Report 2007–08 5
The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP Senator the Hon Penny Wong
Minister for the Environment, Minister for Climate Change and Water
Heritage and the Arts
Parliament House Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600 CANBERRA ACT 2600
Dear Ministers
I present the annual reports of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage
and the Arts for the fnancial year ended 30 June 2008. This set of reports is in two volumes.
The frst volume contains the annual report of the department. The report was prepared
in accordance with the requirements set out in section 63 of the Public Service Act 1999.
Subsection 63(1) of the Public Service Act 1999 requires you to lay a copy of this annual report
before each House of the Parliament on or before 31 October 2008.
The second volume contains the legislation annual reports. It details the operation of the
eight Acts the department administers that we do not report on separately to Parliament.
It also, for the frst time, incorporates the annual reports of the Murray-Darling Basin
Authority and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder. This volume must be tabled
in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days after the day on which you receive it.
I certify that this agency complies with the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines. I certify
that this annual report has been prepared in accordance with Section 70 of the Public Service
Act 1999 and the Requirements for Annual Reports for 2007–08.
Yours sincerely
David Borthwick
Secretary
1 October 2008
Annual Report 2007–08 7
Letter of Transmittal
8 Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Secretary’s review Water
The connections between water and
All aspects of human activity are the environment are integral to how
interdependent with the conservation the Australian environment operates.
and sustainable management of our natural Maintaining a safe and reliable water
environment. The nurturing of a stimulating supply to our towns and cities and ensuring
and lively arts and culture sector, and the efcient water use by agriculture and
conservation of our national heritage, further industry is equally important. Water has
enriches the lives of all Australians. both a production and a conservation value,
which sometimes seem in confict, especially
During 2007–08 the Department of the
when drought and climatic change reduce
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
the available water for environmental and
underwent a period of signifcant growth
consumptive purposes. Getting the balance
and change. As well as continuing to take
right requires a major change in the way
a lead role in the protection and conservation
water is managed and used. This will be
of Australia’s environment and securing
founded on:
an efcient and sustainable use of water
resources, in January 2008 responsibility • adhering to the National Water Initiative
for arts and culture came into the portfolio. framework for water management

in Australia that was agreed by all

With the change of government the
jurisdictions in 2004;

department also welcomed two new
ministers, the Hon Peter Garrett AM, Minister • implementing the government’s Water
for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, for the Future strategy, announced in
and Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister April 2008, which aims to:
for Climate Change and Water. ◆ increase the efciency of irrigation
systems to conserve water and
A particular focus in 2007–08 was the delivery promote agricultural productivity;
of the new government’s commitments. ◆
recover water from willing sellers so
The department responded to these
that it can be targeted at protecting
challenges by placing a greater emphasis
our rivers and wetlands;
on project management and reporting,
reprioritising resources and restructuring ◆ provide funding to enhance water
to meet the government’s priorities. security for our cities and towns; and
• bringing the Murray-Darling Basin
Authority and the Murray-Darling
Basin Commission together as a single
Annual Report 2007–08 9
Executive Summary
institution charged, for the frst time, ensure that investments are well targeted
with developing and implementing to achieve the specifed outcomes. A strong
a Basin Plan by 2011, which will include emphasis will be placed on monitoring
a sustainable cap on surface and ground and evaluation to allow the program to be
water extractions. tracked in a transparent and accountable
manner.
The department is responsible for
implementing the government’s policies
The department continued to pursue its
in these domains. This has required
world leading regional marine planning
extensive consultation with the states,
program and the implementation of
territories, regional communities, irrigators,
a system of marine protected areas.
environmentalists and scientists. Working
As part of the process, in September 2007
with all these parties is essential to secure
the South-East Commonwealth Marine
a transformation in the way Australia’s
Reserves came into efect. This is the frst
water resources are used.
temperate deep sea network of marine
reserves in the world and its 225,000 square
Environment
kilometres has examples of the diverse
The Environment Protection and
seafoor features and associated habitats
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is
found in the South-east Marine Region.
the Commonwealth’s central piece of
environmental legislation. Funding increases The department continues to advance
in the 2007–08 budget meant that the Australian Government policy to pursue
department could further strengthen and a total ban on scientifc and commercial
streamline the processes for assessing whaling and a more conservation-focused
actions that may have a signifcant impact future for cetacean management. As a result
on matters of national environmental of global conservation eforts some species
signifcance. Amendments to the Act which are recovering, such as the humpback whales
came into efect in February 2007 have that grace Australia’s southern coastline.
also improved the Act’s operation. The Australian Government continues to
argue internationally for collaborative non­
From 1 July 2008, the department
lethal scientifc research; nations do not
consolidated the Natural Heritage Trust,
need to sponsor the killing of whales in
National Landcare Program, Environmental
order to study them.
Stewardship program and the Working on
Country Indigenous land and environmental The OECD’s second Environment
programs into a new natural resource Performance Review of Australia was
management initiative, the $2.25 billion released in March 2008. The Review made
Caring for our Country program. The 45 recommendations to strengthen
program is focusing on six national Australia’s environmental policies and their
priorities: Australia’s national reserve implementation. Many of the government’s
system; biodiversity and natural icons; coasts current programs such as Caring for our
and aquatic habitats; sustainable farm Country and the Water for the Future
practices and Landcare; natural resource strategy are consistent with the OECD’s
management in remote and northern recommendations. In other areas more
Australia; and community skills, knowledge needs to be done.
and engagement. In each of these areas,
The department has advanced a number of
outcomes that will be achieved over the
the government’s climate change programs,
life of the program will be spelt out. This will
particularly in the area of renewable energy,
be supported by an annual business plan to
energy efciency, greenhouse gas abatement
10 Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Executive Summary
and community and household education. The National Portrait Gallery continued
The department has a key role in developing to work towards the construction of a
policies and delivering programs that are dedicated building in the Parliamentary
complimentary to the Carbon Pollution Zone to open in 2008–09. The Gallery
Reduction scheme. Measures that increase ceased exhibition programs in Old
energy efciency can make substantial Parliament House while staf prepared
contributions to carbon emission abatement for the move to the new building.
and in a way that reduces overall costs
There are now 79 places on the national
to households, industry and the economy
heritage list. Particular focus is being placed
as a whole.
on pursuing the world heritage listing for
The tackling of waste issues received convict places and in exploring the scope
for national and potentially world heritage
considerable public attention in 2007–08,
listing for Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range
with heightened interest on the possibilities
in Western Australia. A particular highlight
for reducing the use of lightweight plastic
this year has been to work with the Papua
bags. Other areas being investigated are
New Guinea Government to secure
the scope for the introduction of product
protection of the Kokoda Track and Owen
stewardship arrangements to reduce the
Stanley ranges, with a view to possible world
waste stream for tyres, televisions and
heritage listing. Australia was elected to the
computers. In each of these areas there
World Heritage Committee in October 2007.
are particular challenges, chiefy to make
Australia is one of 21 countries appointed to
sure that any measures are well targeted
the United Nations’ committee, which works
and cost efective and in securing agreement
to advance the principles and integrity of the
across jurisdictions and with industry on
World Heritage Convention. The four-year
the best way forward.
appointment will enhance Australia’s ability
Arts, Culture and Heritage to be a leading manager of world heritage.
The transfer of responsibility for arts and
The Antarctic
culture in 2007–08 brought key cultural
As part of the 2007–09 International Polar
agencies into the portfolio. These include
Year, the department participated in and
the Australia Council, the government
helped lead a number of international
flm agencies, and the national collecting
projects to encourage collaboration in
institutions such as the National Gallery
scientifc research and policy development.
of Australia and the National Library of
One of the key projects included examining
Australia. These institutions are important
the relationships between the physical
repositories of information and culturally
sea ice environment and the structure of
signifcant material, supporting discovery
Southern Ocean ecosystems.
and research in the broader community.
The department conducted research in
The department also completed a major
Antarctica on climate change, sustainability
restructuring of government support
and environmental protection and also
arrangements for the Australian flm
acts as a depository and primary source
industry, including new taxation incentives,
of Australian Antarctic information.
the creation of a single flm support agency,
The department continued to take a
Screen Australia, and the establishment
lead role in coordinating and managing
of the National Film and Sound Archive
logistic support for the Australian Antarctic
as a separate statutory authority.
program, including permanent stations,
marine science feld bases, transport,
communication and medical services.
Annual Report 2007–08 11
Executive Summary
The Wilkins Runway facility in Antarctica Workings of the department
was ofcially opened and named by
The department now supports two
Governor-General Sir Michael Jefery AC
portfolio ministers and its role is greatly
CVO MC in January 2008. The Antarctic
expanded. With the change of government
Airlink is an invaluable service allowing in November 2007, the department has
staf and researchers, both Australian and been asked to implement 107 new policy
international, to travel to Antarctica from initiatives, many of which involve major
Australia by air in about four hours, rather changes in program design or legislation.
than up to two weeks by sea. This will
These are testing times for the department,
enable more focused and efective scientifc
requiring a re-examination of priorities,
research to be undertaken.
changes to the confguration of the
2020 Summit department in some areas and an increased
focus on project management to ensure the
The department played an important role in
delivery of the government’s commitments.
the 2020 Summit, held in Canberra on 19 and
20 April 2008, with two of the Summit’s ten
At the same time, the department needs
thematic streams in the department’s areas
to reach out in some new areas. Particular
of responsibility: ‘Sustainability and climate
priorities for the year ahead will include
change’ and ‘Towards a creative Australia’.
providing more information on the state
of the environment, including publication
I attended sessions in both streams and a
of annual statistics on key environmental
number of departmental volunteers collated
indicators (commencing in 2009) and
public submissions to the summit and
pursuing an occasional paper series covering
provided other vital support services. The
aspects of the department’s work.
Summit provided a signifcant opportunity
for open discussions and new ideas on areas
1
of great importance to all Australians.
1
The fnal report of the summit

is available on

http://www.australia2020.gov.au/

12 Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Executive Summary