Annual Report 2008-2009 - Department of Transport

Supply of oceanographic information to port authorities
The Department supplies the State’s port authorities with vital oceanographic
information that enables the safe and efficient movement of vessels trading
in the import and export of commodities.
Vessels entering and leaving the State’s ports via restricted depth channels
use real-time tidal and ocean conditions, such as wave and swell heights,
to determine if there is a safe clearance between the sea bed and the hull
of the vessel. This real-time information from the Department’s tide gauges
and wave buoys is vital to the port authorities in their operations.
It is estimated that effective use of real-time oceanographic information
adds six per cent to the total volume (and value) of exports from Western
Australia and provides greater profitability to companies and greater
royalties to government.
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine
Augusta–Walpole Coastal Strategy
The Augusta–Walpole Coastal Strategy has been prepared to provide a
framework for sustainable land-use planning and management along the
coastline between Augusta and Walpole. The strategy provides guidance
on coastal tenure and management, settlement, tourism, coastal access,
infrastructure, subdivision, development, and protection of the environment
and biodiversity. It also provides detailed planning direction for updating
planning schemes and promotes a coordinated approach by the three local
governments responsible for the area.
The Department prepared the Augusta–Walpole Coastal Strategy on behalf
of the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC), with substantial
community and stakeholder engagement. The WAPC endorsed the final
strategy in February 2009.
*This activity also relates to Goal 4
www.planning.wa.gov.au/Plans+policies
Coastal Catchments Initiative
The Department has completed the water sensitive urban design component
of the Swan–Canning and Vasse–Geographe Coastal Catchments Initiative
(CCI) projects. The project outputs have contributed to the development of a
water quality improvement plan for both estuary systems.
The Department of Water and the Western Australian Local Government
Association partnered with the Department to facilitate the integration of
water resource protection and management into the land-use planning
system. The Department recently completed the final CCI report required
under the Department’s funding agreement and contractual obligations with
the Commonwealth Government Department of the Environment, Water,
Heritage and the Arts. In receiving the final report, the Commonwealth
Government noted the excellent partnerships that have been forged and
acknowledged the project’s outcomes had been a significant success.
Under the CCI project, the Department finalised the Better Urban Water
Management framework along with Planning Bulletin 92 Urban Water
Management, which were subsequently endorsed and adopted by the Western
Australian Planning Commission in September 2008. Providing guidance
on the implementation of State Planning Policy 2.9 Water Resources, the
framework ensures appropriate consideration of water management issues
at all stages in the planning system by requiring a suitably detailed water
management report accompany planning applications.
Since finalisation, Better Urban Water Management has been actively
implemented through a suite of initiatives including capacity building
programs, development of further guidance documents and a review of
internal and inter-departmental procedures and processes. The framework
received the Innovation Award at the 2008 WA Water Awards.
www.planning.wa.gov.au/Plans+policies
Goal 2
45