6.4 Response

The ACT Government manages the pressures affecting water in the ACT in a variety of ways, which are examined in detail in Chapter 10. Particular features of water management and responses from the reporting period are included in this section.

6.4.1 Legal and policy framework

At the beginning of the reporting period, the 2004 water resource strategy, Think water, act water,⁵⁸ remained in place. This strategy, which came into operation during the 2000–2010 drought, focused on increasing the efficiency of water use, providing long-term reliable sources of water for the ACT and region, and promoting development and implementation of an integrated approach to ACT–NSW cross-border water supply and management.

A 2011 review of the Think water, act water strategy⁵⁹ found that significant achievements had been made towards the strategy’s objectives, including:

• achievement of its water use reduction targets
• development of expanded storage capacity with an enlarged Cotter Dam
• implementation of agreements between the ACT, NSW and the Australian Government on cross-border water supply and management
• ratification of a cap on water extractions under the Murray–Darling Basin Agreement, with a base of 40 GL and provision for growth at 75% of the 2006–07 population base
• implementation of water-sensitive urban design rules covering all new developments and some extensions to existing dwellings
• implementation of a range of water efficiency programs in consultation with the community
• review of the environmental flow guidelines
• ongoing development of a catchment management framework to be applied to water supply, and rural and urban catchments across the ACT.

The review of Think water, act water considered that the strategy had successfully guided the ACT to improved water security, and that it was timely to explore potential new strategies for future water needs in the Territory.

In August 2014, the new strategy, ACT Water Strategy 2014–44: Striking the Balance, was released. It contains seven strategies:

• Achieve integrated catchment management across the ACT and region.
• Protect and restore aquatic ecosystems in urban and nonurban areas.
• Manage stormwater and flooding.
• Secure long-term water supplies.
• Manage and promote the sustainable use of water.
• Provide clean and safe water for the ACT.
• Engage the community on understanding and contributing to a more sustainable city.

An implementation plan for the first five years of the strategy has been published.⁶⁰

6.4.2 Management of pressures

In 2011–2015, major progress was made in increasing the ACT’s water storage capacity and establishing integrated catchment management as a fundamental part of the ACT’s water cycle management.

Prospects for the improvement of water quality in the ACT region were greatly improved by the announcement of an agreement between the Australian and ACT governments in February 2014 for up to $85 million to be spent on water quality improvements under the ACT Basin Priority Project. This project focuses on six priority catchments that account for 74% of total run-off and 54% of total pollutant load in ACT waterways.⁶¹

The management effectiveness assessment for this report found that there is:

• sound knowledge about water quality and the factors that influence it
• effective planning for water in the ACT.

It noted the strong focus on healthy catchments and waterways, a sustainable water supply used efficiently and community engagement (see Case study 6.4). As noted in the assessment, the ACT Water Strategy is a key initiative in delivering positive water outcomes for the ACT, but it is too early to determine if the outputs from the strategy are reducing threats to water resources.