Frequently asked questions
- How will environmental values and water quality objectives benefit the community?
- How will the results of the work be implemented?
- What are the effects of scheduling?
- As a commercial or recreational fisher how will environmental values and water quality objectives affect me?
- How can environmental values and water quality objectives benefit our drinking water supplies?
- How will aquatic ecosystems be managed?
How will environmental values and water quality objectives benefit the community?
Photo: DERM
Healthy water environments are essential to meet both community and ecosystem demands on water environments. The protection and improvement of water quality sustains economic and social activities and ensures ecological health for present and future generations. The Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997 provides a framework for identifying environmental values and associated water quality objectives; this framework is consistent with the efficient use of resources and best practice environmental management and involves the community through consultation and consideration of economic and social impact assessment. Healthy water environment
How will the results of the work be implemented?
Establishing environmental values and water quality objectives for Queensland waters informs statutory and non-statutory natural resource management planning. The potentially broad influence of environmental values and water quality objectives in natural resource planning correspondingly provides wide-ranging implementation mechanisms (statutory and non-statutory) - as shown in diagram below.
What are the effects of scheduling?
The department has produced an information sheet on Scheduling environmental values and water quality objectives (PDF, 105K)*, which identifies the implications of scheduling EVs and WQOs on a range of planning and development activities.
As a commercial or recreational fisher how will environmental values and water quality objectives affect me?
Recreational fishing. Photo: DERM
A healthy marine and freshwater environment is essential to supporting our fisheries. Environmental values and water quality objectives for fresh, estuarine and coastal waters informs statutory and non-statutory planning that protects our aquatic environments. Implementing actions that target water quality objectives supports the growth and reproduction of our harvestable species for an economically viable recreational and commercial fishing industry.
How can environmental values and water quality objectives benefit our drinking water supplies?
North Pine Dam. Photo: DERM
Environmental values and water quality objectives for water bodies inform land and water management planning within the catchment areas of our major water supplies. By implementing actions that target the water quality objectives, the costs of treating water prior to its distribution for consumption can be minimised.
How will aquatic ecosystems be managed?
The QWQG (2006) provide statements of management intent according to the three levels of aquatic ecosystem condition (i.e. reflecting the different ecological values of aquatic ecosystems). A summary of the management intent is provided below.
The management intent for effectively unmodified (high ecological value) aquatic ecosystems is to:
- maintain existing water quality, habitat, biota and flow conditions .
The management intent for slightly to moderately modified (or disturbed) aquatic ecosystems is summarised for three cases:
- Where the existing water quality is of better quality than the scheduled water quality objectives the management intent is to maintain the current water quality (and improve if possible) while allowing, in some circumstances, the use of some of the remaining assimilative capacity;
- Where the existing water quality corresponds to the scheduled water quality objectives the management intent is to maintain the current water quality (and improve if possible).
The management intent for highly modified (or disturbed) aquatic ecosystems is to:
- halt the decline and reverse the trend in water quality (improve water quality over time).
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Last updated 4 October 2011