Review of Environmental Protection regulations

Under the Coastal Catchments Initiative (CCI), a project to Review the Environmental Protection Regulations to Protect the Peel-Harvey System was developed to review the regulatory capacity and assess if load allocations determined through the P-H WQIP could be established and enforceable under the Environmental protection Act 1986 (WA) as amended.

Intensive agricultural industries such as dairying, piggeries, abattoirs, feedlots, and market gardens which involve the land application of large quantities of phosphorus or the discharge of animal wastes (such as faeces and urine), which have the potential to to contribute disproportionate loads of phosphorus to the Peel-Harvey Estuarine System.  Some of these activities are currently prescribed under the Act, such as cattle feed lots and intensive piggeries, however the regulation of these industries in terms of enterprise size must be reviewed in light of the severity of water quality problems in the Peel-Harvey System and the likely outcomes of the P-H Water Quality Improvement Plan.

This project prepared recommendations in relation to regulatory changes required, where appropriate, specifically for the purposes of prescribing premises in the Catchment of the Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary to assist with the development and implementation of the P-H WQIP.

For further information please contact the Department of Environment, Kwinana Peel Region on (08) 9550 4222.