Why notification is required
Drainage has improved agricultural development on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia, but has also increased nutrient movement to waterways and wetlands. These nutrients have encouraged algal blooms that lead to eutrophication in the Peel Inlet and other waterbodies in the region, resulting in large-scale fish kills and stench problems. The state and the local community do not find this acceptable.
The implementation of Regulation 6 aims to reduce nutrient discharges from new drainage proposals, and therefore reduce water contamination problems.
The regulation
Regulation 6 of the Soil and Land Conservation Act (1945) requires all land owners or occupiers who intend to drain land (including pumping) and dispose of the water onto land, other water course or waterbody within the gazetted Peel–Harvey Catchment to submit to the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation, a notice of intent to drain or pump water (NOID) form at least 90 days before the drainage starts. The Commissioner is based in the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and the contact details are at the bottom of this page.
Note that the NOID form has government agency names from before agency amalgamations. The forms are still valid, and the current names are listed at the bottom of this page.
Public notification
The Commissioner will notify potentially affected downstream parties of the proposed drainage works, and relevant government authorities, such as the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, local government authorities and the land conservation district committee. The Water Corporation will also be contacted for comment if the works discharge into a drain managed by the Corporation.
Assessment
The Commissioner will complete his assessment of the proposal and advise the proponent in writing of the outcome within 90 days of the NOID being registered.
This assessment is based on a site inspection and must consider the likely increase in discharge of phosphorus, sediment or pollutants, such as animal manure, into waterways.
New government department names
- The Department of Agriculture and Food is now the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
- The Department of Water is now the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER).
- The Department of Environment and Conservation is now the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
- The Federal Department of Environment and Heritage is now the Department of Environment and Energy.
- The WA Department of Indigenous Affairs is now the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH).