Annual Compliance Plan

Annual Plan

Prepared by: Intelligence, Strategic, Department of Environment and Heritage Protection The State of Queensland (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection) 2012 Copyright inquiries should be addressed to <copyright@ehp.qld.gov.au> or the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, 400 George Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 Disclaimer This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of publication. The department holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within this document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. Information contained in this document is from a number of sources and, as such, does not necessarily represent government or departmental policy. If you need to access this document in a language other than English, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Library Services on +61 7 3170 5470. This publication can be made available in an alternative format (e.g. large print or audiotape) on request for people with vision impairment; phone +61 7 3170 5470 or email <library@ehp.qld.gov.au>. December 2012

Foreword The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) is committed to delivering strong environmental management supporting sustainable economic development. It delivers on this commitment by ensuring Queenslanders comply with their legal obligations to use and manage the environment and protect the state s heritage places in a sustainable way. This annual compliance plan outlines EHP s targeted compliance priorities for 2012-13 and affirms the department s commitment to transparency in the way that it conducts its compliance activities. The activities undertaken as part of this plan are founded on a targeted, risk-based and transparent approach to compliance supported by a strong, modern enforcement program. This enables the department to respond to current and emerging challenges. The compliance initiatives undertaken as part of this plan will target particular industry types or activities. In addition, the department will also monitor high-risk activities to identify instances of noncompliance and will develop new communication tools to assist customers to better understand their environmental obligations. These activities reflect a significant and fundamental shift in the way environmental and heritage regulatory activities will be undertaken by the department. This annual compliance plan provides companies and individuals with more open and transparent information on EHP s compliance activities and contributes to the department s vision strong environmental management supporting sustainable economic development. Andrew Chesterman Director-General i

Contents Foreword... i Introduction... 1 Our regulatory responsibilities... 1 Our challenges... 1 Our customers... 1 program... 2 model... 2 Regulatory response to non-compliance... 2 Key compliance focus for 2012 13... 3 Summary of target areas for 2012 13... 5 projects... 7 CSG to LNG industry... 7 Existing industry in Gladstone... 8 Trade in dugong and turtle meat... 9 Flying-fox management... 10 Commercial harvesting of macropods... 10 Pre-wet season preparedness at mining sites... 11 Waste industry... 11 Recreational wildlife permits and wildlife movements... 12 Domestic trade in protected wildlife... 13 Resort and caravan park sewage treatment plants... 13 More information... 14 ii

Introduction Our regulatory responsibilities The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) is responsible for administering and ensuring compliance with a number of Acts and statutory instruments that aim to conserve, protect and manage Queensland s natural environment and built heritage places for today and into the future. The department regulates environmentally relevant activities carried out by the resources industry and the industrial sector. It also looks to conserve and protect wildlife and flora, and Queensland s built heritage. The department s main areas of regulatory responsibility include: industrial, mining and resource activities that have an impact on the natural environment management of native wildlife and flora protection of Queensland s heritage places activities that take place in the state s coastal zone waste reduction impacts on underground water from the activities of petroleum tenure holders. EHP is also responsible for Queensland s environment and heritage protection laws and regulations and governs activities under the: Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995 Environmental Protection Act 1994 Nature Conservation Act 1992 Queensland Heritage Act 1992 Sustainable Planning Act 2009 Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 Water Act 2000 (Chapter 3). Our challenges There are a number of environmental factors that affect the department s regulatory framework. These include: population growth, particularly in urban and coastal areas technological change and the emergence of new resource industries extreme weather events and a changing and more variable climate an ageing workforce and competition from prospective employers for skilled employees. Our customers Our primary customers are the people of Queensland. The department seeks to work collaboratively with organisations with a role or interest in the environment. This includes all levels of government, conservation and special interest groups, environmental authorities, regional natural resource management groups, industry and landholders. To achieve the government s vision and objectives, the department s programs, regulations and customer service all involve active engagement and collaboration underpinned by robust scientific evidence and thorough analysis. The department uses many communication channels to build and maintain relationships with its customers, other interested parties and to receive feedback and suggestions about its activities and direction. 1

program model The department s regulatory strategy outlines its long-term vision for compliance and enforcement activities. The regulatory application process will be significantly streamlined, while compliance activities will be increased and enforcement actions will become stronger and more consistent. The department s compliance program is founded on a targeted, risk-based and transparent approach to compliance supported by a strong, modern enforcement program. This enables the department to respond to current and emerging challenges. Monitoring activities will include desktop audits and inspections of sites that have an approval from the department. These activities will be undertaken as part of the department s compliance model which will identify areas where breaches of legislation pose the greatest risk to the environment or heritage places and take targeted action to reduce that risk. Transparency will be achieved by publishing information about which areas are being focussed on and what is being done in these areas through compliance plans. The department will take a risk-based approach to monitoring client performance. Individual clients representing a higher risk to the environment because of previous poor compliance will be checked more frequently. Clients that consistently demonstrate good performance and appropriate risk-management will be acknowledged as lower risk and be inspected less frequently. In addition, monitoring activities will be undertaken to identify and target those identified as operating unlicensed or carrying out illegal activities. Figure 1: Monitoring performance Regulatory response to non-compliance Most of the department s customers endeavour to achieve or exceed their environmental requirements however on occasions some customers may fail to meet their obligations. 2

If the department finds a customer has broken the law, is unlicensed, or is carrying out activities illegally, it will take action to ensure compliance. The department may provide an opportunity for the customer to voluntarily fix the problem, or may deem enforcement action in accordance with the department s enforcement guidelines as the best outcome. Enforcement action may include warnings, penalty infringement notices and prosecution. Where necessary, the department will require someone to do (or not do) certain things to prevent harm to the environment or a heritage place from occurring. This may include stopping an activity or suspending an approval until the department is satisfied the activity will be properly managed. The department provides information about its compliance and enforcement actions to industry and the community by publishing compliance alerts and prosecution bulletins on its website at www.ehp.qld.gov.au. In addition, the department s Enforcement Guidelines are also available on www.ehp.qld.gov.au. Key compliance focus for 2012 13 Three fundamental steps were used to identify compliance priorities for targeting as part of a transparent-risk identification process: 1. data collection and analysis 2. PESTLE analysis 3. validation of analysis with key business areas within the department. Collection and analysis of departmental information and data identifies the main issues the department is currently responding to. The PESTLE analysis model was incorporated to identify emerging and future risks. This model is a well-known tool to examine the political, economic, sociological, technological, legal and environmental factors that may impact on the department s regulatory framework now and in the future. Examples of emerging challenges include advancements in the resource industry facilitating expansion activities and use of the internet allowing illegal wildlife traders to communicate with each other more easily. Analysis provides only part of the picture. Consultation with key business units within the department validated findings from the analysis to ensure that findings were substantiated by expert people who work in the field. Following this, risks to the department were identified for inclusion in the plan. To manage the risks identified for targeting during 2012 13, the department will undertake a range of compliance activities including: Strategic responses to compliance risks. These projects target particular business or community sectors or areas with a higher potential to negatively impact the environment or human safety and drive improved regulatory systems and tools, and compliance outcomes. These projects focus on issues such as: o establishing baseline compliance performance o the effectiveness of current regulatory frameworks o strategies to improve compliance performance o identifying best practice. Monitoring high-risk activities. These projects involve continuous collection, monitoring and analysis of data and intelligence to identify instances of non-compliance. Non-compliance could trigger additional compliance activity such as site inspections and/or investigations. These projects drive compliance outcomes and remedial action. 3

Capacity building. These projects provide customers with training, resources and opportunities to increase skills and the capacity for meeting regulatory obligations. These projects also improve operations so they can move beyond compliance to best-practice approaches to environmental and heritage management. The table on page 5 provides a summary of the target areas for 2012 13. They are further detailed on page 7. In addition to these areas, the department will target issues identified at a regional level and respond to reports made by the public and industry. In these instances, the department may undertake additional compliance activity and/or enforcement action. Activities outlined in tables throughout the document are colour-coded according to the type of compliance activity being undertaken. Strategic compliance projects are green, monitoring activities are orange and capacity-building activities are blue. 4

Summary of target areas for 2012 13 Activity Project strategy Objectives Strategic compliance projects Petroleum and gas Coal seam gas (CSG) to liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry 93 proactive site inspections of CSG/LNG activities. 300 bore monitoring program. Audits of annual returns, waste movement, hydraulic fracture stimulation risk assessments, baseline assessment plans and underground water impact report, CSG companies groundwater monitoring techniques. Environmental and natural resource impacts of the CSG to LNG industry are appropriately and effectively managed. Industry Heavy industry in Gladstone Proactive compliance inspection program. Review and amendment of development approvals as a consequence of the CHAG project. Risk of environmental harm resulting from poor performance is reduced through identification and correction. Amendments will enable a consistent approach to regulating emissions to the environment to reflect bestpractice environmental management. Heritage Heritage listed places with current approved works. Conduct site inspections on 50 places subject to current development approvals or exemption certificates. Determine legislative breaches and undertake remedial and/or enforcement action. Regularly monitor upcoming expiry dates for development approvals and exemption certificates to conduct timely inspections. Ensure completion dates are advised and works completed satisfactorily. Unauthorised works Implement consistent procedures to record information from members of public and community groups and explore other potential information sources and central contact points to gather information about unauthorised works. Improve volume and timeliness of information received pertaining to unapproved works at heritage places. Reduce damage and detriment to heritage places with early intervention to educate owners and remediate issues. Wildlife Trade in dugong/turtle meat Targeted enforcement activities. Protection of dugongs and turtles. Lethal and non-lethal flying-fox permits Commercial harvesting of macropods Risk based monitoring of flying-fox roosts and dispersals and random compliance of lethal permit holders. Targeted compliance activities focussing on commercial harvesting operations at dealer and processing sites and licensed harvesters. Encourage voluntary compliance through education and self-regulation programs. To ensure the sustainability of the flying-fox population. To ensure the sustainability of macropod population. 5

Activity Project strategy Objectives Waste Registered operators receiving, treating and disposing of hazardous waste. Assess the performance of high risk waste operators receiving, treating and disposing of hazardous waste against the conditions of their permit. Non-compliances detected and corrected. Increased legislative compliance with the management of regulated waste. Risk of environmental harm resulting from mismanagement is reduced. Monitoring activities Mining Pre-wet season preparedness at mining sites. Level 1 mining sites risk assessed and very high-risk sites inspected pre-wet season Mines have appropriate water management strategies in place prior to the wet season. Waste Unlicensed waste operators. Unlicensed operators identified through monitoring and analysis of waste tracking data, open sources and information from the public. Unlicensed operators targeted through audits. Timely identification of unlicensed activity allowing short time frames to bring handlers into compliance. Wildlife Domestic trade in protected wildlife. Strong enforcement actions through intelligence and investigative strategies. Protection of protected wildlife. Enhanced compliance in regards to wildlife trade. Recreational wildlife permits and wildlife movements. Increased focus on desktop auditing of recreational permits holders and movement advices. Protection of protected species. in keeping, selling, trading and taking of protected species. Capacity building Sewage treatment plants Smaller resort and caravan park sewage treatment plants. Educate resort and caravan park sewage treatment plant operators on their obligations. Sewage treatment plant owners have an increased environmental understanding and compliance to their obligations. Waste Waste handlers including asbestos and lead acid battery handlers. Educate waste handlers as to how to safely dispose of and transport regulated waste. Improvements in waste management through increased awareness and education. Heritage Heritage places with inadequate essential maintenance. Letters sent to places where maintenance is rated poor or very poor from previous state-wide audit to educate and guide owners into compliance. Ensure essential maintenance undertaken to conserve condition of heritage places. 6

projects Department of Environment and Heritage Protection Annual compliance plan CSG to LNG industry The CSG to LNG industry in Queensland is continuing to rapidly expand. The department is committed to ensuring that the environmental impacts from this industry are appropriately managed. The department has developed the robust CSG/LNG Annual Plan 2012 13 to transparently communicate the government s commitment to ensuring environmental obligations are met as this industry develops and expands. The activities in this plan focus on the following key areas of CSG/LNG compliance and regulation: CSG dams and residual salt impacts on bores, aquifers and springs waste products including CSG water and residual salts are managed and disposed of correctly rehabilitation of decommissioned CSG evaporation dams erosion and sediment control at CSG/LNG development sites hydraulic fracture stimulation pipeline construction LNG development impacts on marine values acid sulphate soils relating to construction of CSG/LNG infrastructure providing better understanding of hydraulic stimulation and stimulation flowback risks and practices. As part of this plan, the department has committed to undertaking 93 proactive site inspections of CSG and LNG activities to ensure: protected vegetation is not impacted waste products (including CSG water and residual salts) are managed and disposed of correctly previously contaminated areas (such as decommissioned evaporation dams) are rehabilitated groundwater is protected from contamination and over-extraction. At the LNG development construction phase, the focus will be on sediment control conditions, acid sulphate soil management, and protection of marine values outside the approved construction area. The department is also committed to continuing its bore monitoring program. In 2011, measurements were taken from 300 bores which formed the baseline data for verification of potential groundwater impacts. These 300 bores will be monitored again in 2012 13, and the data analysed will provide the opportunity to assess any groundwater impacts. In addition to the proactive site inspections and bore monitoring program, the department will also audit: annual returns waste transport certificates to monitor the movement of regulated waste such as CSG water hydraulic fracture stimulation risk assessments baseline assessment plans (BAPs) and underground water impact reports (UWIRs) CSG companies groundwater monitoring techniques, including measuring and sampling techniques. Where non-compliance is identified, companies may be inspected or asked to provide further information to assess their level of non-compliance or bring them into compliance in accordance with the department s enforcement guidelines. In addition to planned inspections, unscheduled inspections may be conducted as a result of information received from the community, landholders and industry operators. The department investigates and responds to all complaints and enquiries lodged regarding the CSG to LNG industry. 7

The CSG/LNG Annual Plan 2012 13 is available at www.ehp.qld.gov.au. CSG to LNG industry Strategy 93 proactive site inspections of CSG/LNG activities. 300 bore monitoring program. Audits of annual returns, waste movement, hydraulic fracture stimulation risk assessments, BAPs and UWIRs, CSG companies groundwater monitoring techniques. Objective Environmental impacts of the CSG to LNG industry are appropriately and effectively managed. Existing industry in Gladstone The Gladstone region has the natural attributes of proximity to coal resources and ship harbourage that have facilitated the expansion of heavy industry, as well as attracting investment in sizeable projects to develop new infrastructure to support new industries. The on-going development of existing heavy and new industries will situate Gladstone as a principal driver of economic prosperity for Queensland. Nevertheless, heavy industry clients in Gladstone have the potential to pose a high risk to the environment if their performance falls below legislative requirements. EHP intends to proactively inspect heavy industries either located in the Gladstone area or in proximity to Gladstone Harbour. The department will also continue its response to the Clean and Healthy Air for Gladstone (CHAG) Report and amend development approvals in line with CHAG recommendations. This will progressively occur, on a basis, over coming years. This compliance approach is designed to achieve consistency in regulating emissions to the environment to reflect best practice environmental management. strategy Objectives Heavy industry in Gladstone Proactive compliance inspection program. Review and amendment of development approvals as a consequence of the CHAG project. Risk of environmental harm resulting from poor performance is reduced through identification and correction. Amendments will enable a consistent approach to regulating emissions to the environment to reflect best-practice environmental management. Heritage The department administers the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 which aims to conserve Queensland s cultural heritage. The department is responsible for managing State Heritage Places, Archaeological Places and Protected Areas entered in the Queensland Heritage Register in accordance with this legislation. The department also supports the functions of the Queensland Heritage Council an 8

independent statutory authority. The regulatory framework is designed to ensure these places are conserved to protect their significance for the benefit of current and future generations. The economy, natural disasters and population growth have had various impacts on the condition and sustainability of Queensland s heritage places. This has reinforced the important role the department plays in protecting these unique and non-renewable resources. A robust compliance plan is essential in order to protect and conserve cultural heritage from the risk of damage, degradation and destruction. Heritage places that are particularly vulnerable include those: under a current development approval or to which an exemption certificate applies with inadequate essential maintenance subject to unauthorised works. Building works undertaken by unskilled workers or without consultation and advice of heritage specialists can result in considerable and potentially irreversible damage or destruction to heritage places. Likewise, places that are poorly maintained including those with rusting/blocked gutters, peeling paint, unkempt grounds, loose/missing roofing and overgrown vegetation face an increased risk of damage. Early intervention is necessary to prevent or detect breaches of this legislation. This allows remedial action to be taken to minimise and detrimental impacts on a heritage place, and to correct the noncompliant behaviour of owners/parties undertaking these activities. The department will conduct a number of compliance activities to address these issues including inspections of properties during and at the conclusion of development works. Owners will be provided with assistance and advice to help them meet their statutory obligations, and understand the important role they play in the conservation of heritage places. In addition, the department will improve communication with the public to capture timely and valuable important information about unauthorised works and potential harm so early intervention can occur to ensure heritage places are protected. priorities Heritage listed places with current approved works Unauthorised works Heritage places with inadequate essential maintenance Proactive compliance activities Conduct site inspections on 50 places subject to current development approvals or exemption certificates. Regularly monitor upcoming expiry dates for development approvals and exemption certificates to conduct timely inspections. Implement consistent procedures to record information from members of public and community groups and explore other potential information sources and central contact points to gather information about unauthorised works. Letters sent to places whose maintenance is rated poor or very poor from previous state-wide audit to educate and guide owners into compliance. Outcomes Determine legislative breaches and undertake remedial and/or enforcement action. Ensure completion dates are advised and works completed satisfactorily. Improve volume and timeliness of information received pertaining to unapproved works at heritage places. Reduce damage and detriment to heritage places with early intervention to educate owners and remediate issues. Ensure essential maintenance undertaken to conserve condition of heritage places. Trade in dugong and turtle meat Dugong and turtle populations are at risk through increased poaching activities some of which is believed to be associated with inhumane slaughtering for commercial trade in meat products. Illegal 9

hunting may be a significant threat to the recovery of turtle and dugong populations where they are additionally at risk of depletion due to habitat loss and incidental kills. While traditional owners may hunt dugong and turtle for non-commercial use under custom and tradition, commercial trade of the meat is illegal. The department in conjunction with state and federal agencies will conduct targeted, intelligence-led enforcement activities to prevent the illegal trade of turtle and dugong meat. Trade in dugong and turtle meat strategy Targeted enforcement activities including collecting intelligence and conducing joint agency operations with state and federal agencies. Objectives Protection of dugongs and turtles. Flying-fox management Where the relevant statutory requirements have been met, dispersal of flying-foxes and/or the destruction of their roosts can be authorised under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. However, instances of flying-fox roosts being disturbed, dispersed or destroyed without the necessary approval have occurred. This may negatively impact flying-fox survivability and potentially increase the spread of diseases such as Hendra virus. In 2012 the Queensland Government amended legislation to allow shooting of a limited number of flying-foxes for commercial crop protection. This must be conducted under the authority of a damage mitigation permit (DMP) in accordance with a code of practice. The department must ensure DMP holders comply with this code of practice. The department must also take compliance and enforcement action where commercial crop growers are shooting flying-foxes without having a DMP. Risk-based monitoring of high-risk locations for flying-fox roosts will be undertaken to ensure sustainability of the flying-fox population and protection of their habitat. The department will also conduct random compliance checks of lethal DMP holders. Flying-fox management strategy Risk-based monitoring of high-risk locations for flying-fox roosts and random compliance checks of lethal DMP holders. Objectives Ensure sustainability of flying-fox population. Commercial harvesting of macropods Commercial harvesting of macropods (kangaroos and wallaroos) in Queensland is regulated through legislation and compliance is required to prevent overharvesting and illegal trade and identify any animal welfare issues. While macropods are classified as of least concern wildlife under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, they continue to be a valuable part of Queensland s ecosystems and are a symbol of the nation s identity. Queensland manages three out of the four macropod species currently harvested in Australia. Overharvesting and illegal harvesting pose risks to the sustainability of the macropod population and their welfare. This threat is exacerbated during periods of drought, which already result in population decline. 10

The department s compliance activities will focus on commercial harvesting operations at dealer and processing sites and licensed harvesters, and encourage voluntary compliance through education and self-regulation. Commercial harvesting of macropods strategy Targeted compliance activities focusing on commercial harvesting operations at dealer and processing sites and licensed harvesters. Encourage voluntary compliance through education and self-regulation programs. Objectives Ensure the sustainability of macropod population. Pre-wet season preparedness at mining sites The department is responsible for regulating environmental management of the mining industry in Queensland through provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008. The regulatory framework is designed to ensure Queensland s environment is protected while allowing for ecologically sustainable development. Queensland's severe weather during the 2010 11 summer caused widespread environmental damage from prolonged rainfall. The mining industry was severely affected and struggled to manage excess water on the site. Unless mining water management is appropriately planned and implemented, significant impacts on mine productivity and water quality of nearby water resources can occur. To prevent a similar event occurring in the future, it is essential mining sites are well-prepared to manage excess water. This may include using infrastructure such as water storage and tailings dams and developing water management plans outlining the overall mine water management strategy for the site. The department is committed to undertaking risk assessments of mining sites and inspecting sites identified as very high risk to ensure they have appropriate water management strategies in place prior to the wet season. Pre-wet season preparedness at mining sites strategy Level 1 mining sites risk assessed and very high risk sites inspected pre-wet season. Objectives Mines have appropriate water management strategies in place prior to the wet season. Waste industry Queensland is currently one of the highest producers of waste in Australia and the waste industry is rapidly expanding. It is increasingly important for the department to manage movement and disposal of regulated and trackable waste to ensure it is handled responsibly and potential environmental harm from this activity is minimised. The waste industry is subject to a regulatory framework which aims to minimise harm to the environment and risks to public health. This includes the movement of waste from generation to disposal or recycling from commercial and industrial activities, as well as specific types of domestic waste. 11

The department will achieve compliance in regulated waste management primarily through promotion of education and awareness within the industry, supported by targeted activities including site inspections and audits. The department will capitalise on identified opportunities to engage with industry groups, business and individuals to support these objectives and reduce the environmental risk from illegal dumping and poor waste-handling practices. Within the enforcement framework, the department will take prompt and decisive action to deter further non-compliance, while providing consistency and transparency in decision making. The key compliance focus areas for the department will be: high risk waste receivers treating and disposing of hazardous waste unlicensed operators waste transport and disposal practices of handlers of specific waste types including asbestos, tyres and lead acid batteries. These activities are designed to identify handlers in the industry deliberately engaging in non-compliant practices that have the potential to result in serious environmental harm. Opportunities to educate and improve awareness of waste management legislation will be undertaken while promoting industry consultation and cooperation to improve waste handling and disposal practices. This will minimise the incidence of non-compliance within the industry. Registered operators receiving, treating and disposing of hazardous waste Unlicensed operators Waste handlers including asbestos and lead acid battery handlers strategy Assess the suitability of very high-risk waste operators receiving, treating and disposing of hazardous waste against the conditions of their permit. Unlicensed operators identified through monitoring and analysis of waste tracking data, open sources and information from the public. Unlicensed operators targeted through audits. Educate waste handlers as to how to safely dispose of and transport regulated waste. Objectives Non-compliances detected and corrected. Increased legislative compliance with the management of regulated waste. Risk of environmental harm resulting from mismanagement is reduced. Timely identification of unlicensed activity allowing short time frames to bring handlers into compliance. Improvements in waste management through increased awareness and education. Recreational wildlife permits and wildlife movements Recreational wildlife permits and movements are significant issues for nature conservation as the consequences for non-compliance can include damage to or loss of flora and fauna. Declines in local populations in the wild have flow-on affects to the community, business and tourism. The department issues almost 130,000 permits authorising a range of activities including taking, keeping, moving, and relocating live and deceased protected flora and fauna. The department will conduct compliance checks on recreational permit holders through random and targeted audits and inspections focusing on specific issues generated through intelligence and risk assessment processes. 12

Recreational wildlife permits and wildlife movements strategy Increased focus on desktop auditing of recreational permits holders and movement advices. Objectives in keeping, selling, trading and taking of protected species. Domestic trade in protected wildlife Illegal trade of protected wildlife can adversely impact local populations, particularly where threatened species are involved. Technological advancement in society and industry are impacting nature conservation. Most notably the large-scale use of the internet to sell and trade protected species has allowed for more sophisticated illegal operations to be conducted. These operations include legitimate collectors and commercial businesses, however criminal networks are also utilising the anonymity and benefits of the internet to facilitate illegal wildlife trade. This illegal trade is being conducted both domestically and internationally and the department is committed to compliance in this area to deter and prevent growth in this activity. To address this issue, compliance activities will include proactive monitoring of wildlife movements, internet and freight records and target known persons within the wildlife trade with the aim of significant prosecutions to provide strong deterrence. Domestic trade in protected wildlife strategy Strong enforcement actions through intelligence and investigative strategies. Objectives Protection of protected wildlife species and enhanced compliance in regards to wildlife trade. Resort and caravan park sewage treatment plants Sewage treatment plants operating within caravan parks and resorts are used to collect and treat the site s wastewater from toilets, showers, baths and kitchen sinks. Sewage treatment plants servicing these facilities need to be managed effectively to maintain operating in accordance with guest capacity and use. Where a site continues to operate a poorly maintained sewage treatment and/or operates over capacity, the plant will fail to treat the raw sewage and wastewater effectively. This could lead to the release of untreated effluent into surrounding areas. Potential environmental impacts from discharging untreated effluent into the receiving environment (land and waters) include: soil contamination loss of vegetation due to the inability for roots to uptake the concentrations of phosphorous and nitrogen in the effluent groundwater contamination public health risks due to the presence of pathogens in untreated and non-disinfected effluent on land and within the stormwater flowing to local waterways negative impacts on ecosystems and organisms residing in receiving waters from high biological oxygen demand, low dissolved oxygen, high total nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations. Resort and caravan park sewage treatment plants are included in this year s compliance plan as they have been identified as an emerging issue. The department intends to educate operators on their obligations to better their environmental understanding and compliance. 13

Smaller resort and caravan sewage treatment plants strategy Educate resort and caravan sewage treatment plant operators on their obligations. Objective Sewage treatment plant owners have an increased environmental understanding and compliance to their obligations. More information To view this plan, previous annual compliance plans and enforcement guidelines visit the EHP website at www.ehp.qld.gov.au. For general enquiries, contact 13 QGOV (13 74 68). 14