The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government State of ACT Water Presentation for AUSSI water workshop Becky Smith Senior Manager Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment 10 April 2013

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government Outline Who we are Findings from the 2011 ACT State of the Environment Report Findings from Lake Burley Griffin Investigation

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment Legislation and first Commissioner 1993 (20 years in 2013) One of two in Australia – only a few in the world Independent of government though funded by ACT Government Main functions of the Office: o Responding to community complaints o Advocating for the environment and increased sustainability o Investigations – instigated by the Minister or the Commissioner o Reporting: ACT SoER, Regional SoER

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government ACT State of the Environment Report

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government Headline indicators The size of the average ACT resident’s ecological footprint was 9.2 global hectares. This has increased by 8% in 5 years and nearly 25% in 10 years; Waste generation per person has increased by 28% faster than the population growth of 5.5%, over the reporting period; Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise with ACT emissions increasing by 7% between 2005 and 2009; Generally water quality is similar as it exits the ACT to that as it enters the ACT. Urbanisation impacts are having an impact on water quality; and three new nature reserves were added to our conservation reserves, while three additional species were listed as vulnerable.

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government State of Water in ACT – 2007 to May drought. – June 2010 to June above average rainfall.

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government River, Lake and Wetland Health River Health – generally, river health and catchment condition are improving within the ACT having been stressed by drought and fire. Lake Health - over the last ten years, there has been a steady increase in the number of lake closures per year, because of either faecal contamination or potentially toxic blue-green algae in the water. Wetland Health - information on the health of ACT wetlands is patchy. Wetlands have been constructed in urban areas across the ACT to improve the quality of stormwater.

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government Challenges and Response Climate change challenges water supply will. Significant management and infrastructure work has been undertaken eg. dam building, urban wetlands, WSUD. The health of ACT waterbodies and their water quality are dependent on the land health and land uses of ACT catchments. Greater knowledge of the impacts of urban areas on water quality and catchments would be beneficial for future catchment management.

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government Water use

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government Recommendations 1.Establish cross-boundary management of the ACT’s water resources 2.Complete assessment of the ACT’s at risk groundwater resources. 3.Update water management, monitoring and reporting programs 4.Improve monitoring to assess the impact of erosion on local land and water resources, and to help to understand the interactions between the ACT's catchment and ecosystem services 5.Management of knowledge and the coordination of scientific research, data collection, monitoring and reporting (including public information) is an area of concern across all themes.

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government Lake Burley Griffin Investigation

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government Lake condition Lake Burley Griffin is in fair condition subject to toxic blue green algae blooms that impact on sporting and recreational use. subject to high levels of the organism used to indicate the level of faecal pollution.

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government Sources of pollution organic matter loading in urban stormwater; the release of phosphorus from sediments, when dissolved oxygen concentrations are low and there is poor mixing of the water column, driving the blooms of blue-green algae, faecal pollution from urban runoff; wildlife faeces; re-growth of bacteria already present in the lake and possible leakages from aging sewer pipes; the loss of submerged and emergent water plants, and the low concentrations of dissolved oxygen.

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government What do we want the lakes for? What were they originally designed to achieve? What are we willing to pay to achieve what we want form them now?

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government Integrated management Governance of the Lake involves: ACT Government (2 directorates) National Capital Authority ACTEW Corporation Including the catchment NSW Office of Water NSW EPA Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority Queanbeyan City Council Palerang Council Cooma-Monaro Shire Council

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government Resources for Schools SoE – Data – Research papers Investigation Reports – Grasslands – Urban Trees – Nature parks – Lake Burley Griffin Presentations at schools and universities Fact sheets for Schools - – Carbon Emissions – Community Engagement – Ecological Footprint – Food Choices – Protecting Biodiversity – Renewable Energy – Transport – Urban Planning – Waste – Water in the ACT

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government Community Action Water sensitive urban design Cotter river restoration Upper Murrumbidgee Demonstration Reach Project Bottle free campus

The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government For contacting us The Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment Phone: Website: