2016-02-02 P&O Committee - Item 3 - Attachment 4 - Mary River Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives

            Mary River environmental values and water quality objectives




            Water type: groupings of waters with similar characteristics, as shown in the accompanying plan. The water
            types covered by this document are based on mapping and definitional rules for water types established in
            the QWQG and, where available, other site-specific documents. Water types can include coastal marine
            waters (open coastal, enclosed coastal), estuarine waters (lower, middle and upper estuaries), tidal canals,
            constructed estuaries, marinas and boat harbours, freshwaters (lowland, upland, lakes/reservoirs), wetlands
            and ground waters. WQOs applying to different water types are outlined in this document. More detail on
            water types is provided in section 1.4.


            1.2.2 Main parts of this document

            The main components of this document are:

            •    Plan WQ1381 – showing the spatial extent and boundaries of water types covered by this document;
            •    Section 1 – introduction and guidance on how to use the document;
            •    Section 2 (Table 1) – environmental values (EVs) applying to waters covered by this document;
            •    Section 3 (Tables 2–12) – water quality objectives (WQOs) applying to different EVs:
                   Table 2 provides WQOs to protect the aquatic ecosystem EV, and closely links to the water types
                      shown on Plan WQ1381;
                   Tables 3 to 12 provide WQOs to protect human use EVs;
            •    Section 4 – ways to improve water quality: containing a list of relevant documents, provided for
                 information purposes only; and
            •    Section 5 – a dictionary of other terms relevant to EVs and WQOs.

            1.2.3 Use of this document
            Section 2 (Table 1) lists the identified EVs for protection for particular waters. The aquatic ecosystem EV is a
            default applying to all waters. Reference to section 3 (Table 2) provides the corresponding WQOs to protect
            the aquatic ecosystem EV. Where relevant, different WQOs are specified to protect the aquatic ecosystem
            EV in different water types (refer to the Table and the accompanying plan). For the human use EVs specified
            for a water in Table 1, Tables 3 onwards provide the corresponding WQOs to support these EVs.

            Where reference to Table 1 indicates more than one EV applies to a given water, the adoption of the most
            stringent WQO for the identified EVs applies to each water quality indicator in order to protect all identified
            EVs. Further detail on selection of most stringent WQOs is provided in section 3.

            This document also refers to a number of guidelines, codes and other reference sources on water quality. In
            particular, the Queensland water quality guidelines (QWQG) prepared by DERM provide a technical basis for
            the water quality objectives contained in this document. The QWQG also provide more detailed information
            on water types, water quality indicators, derivation of local water quality guidelines, application during flood
            events, monitoring, predicting and assessing compliance.

            1.3 Information about mapped areas and boundaries
            The boundaries in the accompanying plan WQ1381 are indicative only. The water types and management
            intent (level of protection) depicted in the accompanying plan are stored in electronic form as part of the
            South East Queensland Environmental Values Schedule 1 Database July 2010 and held at the offices of
            DERM at the corner of Lennox and Alice Streets, Maryborough. Database regions are based on the regions
            established in the Queensland water quality guidelines. For further information on accessing the
            accompanying plan and database, please contact the Department by email at [email protected]

Document Set ID: 20002123
Version: 1, Version Date: 21/12/2015