Water management plans aren’t made equal

Working on a state significant development project? You probably know there are strict environmental regulations associated with the work, particular surrounding water quality and catchment management.

But here’s the (ahem) catch – not all management plans are equal. Our Environmental Consultant Holly Hanley explores the variations that you don’t want to overlook.

Water management plans ensure responsible water resource usage and environmental protection. These plans are crucial for assessing the potential impacts of major projects on water resources and for managing water effectively after the project is approved.

There are often variations in the conditions associated with a project, even those within the same catchment area.

These variations may be for several reasons.

Location matters

Sites closer to sensitive ecosystems are often met with more stringent conditions. For example, a project planning to operate within a known watershed (an area where water and runoff naturally drain towards a common point such as a river) will need to control its water usage and manage the surrounding landform. This ensures that the natural water flow across the whole catchment remains sustainable through effective management.

Contemporary approvals

Some projects have been operating for a number of years already, and therefore were likely to have received approval under older versions of an Act or policy framework. Therefore, their catchment management plans may not reflect current water quality standards. It is important to consider this when applying for modifications to a project, as this may trigger a revision of a project’s conditions to meet current standards.

Cumulative impact

Where multiple developments exist, the combined effect of these operations can cause increased runoff, erosion and pollution, which may result in cumulative consequences for the catchment area and local communities. These cumulative impacts are taken into consideration when applying for a new project and often results in the application of more stringent or different conditions. Even a small project with a low individual impact can have extensive conditions to ensure the health of the catchment is not compromised.

At Onward, our team can help understand your project’s site-specific conditions and generate bespoke management plans that are practical, compliant, and easy to implement.

Whether you’re applying for a new project or looking to update existing plans, get in touch with us at admin@onward.au and we can provide you with expert knowledge to help manage your site responsibly.