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P-H WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN (WQIP)

The Peel-Harvey Water Quality Improvement Plan (P-H WQIP) is the primary output of the Peel-Harvey Coastal Catchment Initiative and is being managed by the Environmental Protection Authority (WA) in partnership with the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council. 

The Draft P-H WQIP was released by the EPA, for public comment  on the 19th of Sep 2007.  For the full details, a copy of the document and procedures for making a formal comment please visit the EPA website at http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/phwqip

The purpose of the WQIP is to guide investment in actions to reduce nutrient input over the next 7 years by setting a comprehensive decision making framework based on sub-catchment level nutrient (particularly phosphorous) load targets and, secondly, the identification of the most cost-effective management measures to reduce the nutrients for the Peel-Harvey Coastal Catchment.

The Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) for the Peel Harvey Coastal Catchment (download map) is a joint Western Australian and Australian Government funded program to advance water quality improvement of the Peel-Harvey Estuarine System.  The WQIP comprises four broad elements:

  1. identification of environmental values, water quality issues, water quality objectives, and phosphorus reduction targets by sub-catchment;
  2. identification of land use practices which cause or allow the discharge of phosphorus to the water bodies;
  3. an implementation strategy aimed at: a) improving water quality to meet specified sub-catchment phosphorus reduction targets; and b) implementation of recommended management measures and control actions; and
  4. facilitate community and key stakeholder engagement.

The WQIP will complement and closely link with the Peel-Harvey Catchment Natural Resource Management Plan of the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council Inc. (PHCC) and the South West Regional Natural Resource Management Plan of the South West Catchments Council.

The WQIP draws information from historic and current projects in the Peel-Harvey catchment, including seven other projects funded as part of the Coastal Catchments Initiative (CCI).  Five of the CCI projects - a land use decision support system, monitoring and infrastructure, best management practices for agricultural land use, water sensitive design for urban land use, and a review of environmental regulatory mechanisms - have been central in the development of the WQIP.

For more information please contact the PHCC on (08) 9550 4225 or via info@peel-harvey.org.au.

 


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