This section reports on Defence's ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance during 2005–06 under Section 516A of the Environment and Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
As part of Defence's commitment to continually improve its environmental performance, the Defence Environmental Policy was updated in January 2006. The revised policy reaffirms Defence's vision to be a leader in sustainable environmental management.
In 2005–06, Defence issued the Defence Environmental Strategic Plan 2006–2009. The strategic plan focuses on integrating environmental management within existing business processes consistent with wider Australian Government policy on environmental management.
Sustainable Management of Ecosystems
Land Management
In 2005–06, the Joint Statement of Environment and Heritage Principles was signed by the Chief of the Defence Force and the Commander, United States Pacific Command. The signing of this statement demonstrates the commitment to sustainable environmental management in all Australian and United States combined military activities, including the upcoming Exercise Talisman Sabre 2007. An exercise planning tool is being developed to help planners recognise and meet all environmental obligations and responsibilities during the planning, conduct and review of military exercises.
Defence also developed a framework to address the long-term sustainability of land-based training areas, which will be trialled at several Defence sites and reviewed regularly.
During 2005–06, Defence continued to develop and implement national policy initiatives for the management of feral animals, weeds and bushfires. Following the release of the National Inquiry on Bushfire Mitigation and Management in January 2005, Defence reviewed its bushfire management policy. An updated draft bushfire management policy was subsequently released in 2005–06 and will be finalised in 2006–07.
Interaction with Marine and Aquatic Environment
Defence has continued to improve the application of the ADF Maritime Activities Environmental Management Plan. The plan guides all activities Defence is likely to undertake in the marine environment including, in particular, the use of military sonar.
Threatened Species Management
In 2003, Defence participated in a project to relocate a number of endangered Eastern Bristlebirds to a Defence-managed site at Beecroft Peninsula on the south coast of New South Wales. Scientists have continued to monitor the relocated birds and now have some indications that the birds have been engaging in breeding behaviours. Further monitoring during the next year will establish whether or not the birds are now successfully breeding at the new site. A Defence-managed site was chosen for the trial relocation because of its suitable habitat and the good programs Defence had in place for managing public access, feral animals, weeds and fire that might threaten the long-term survival of the birds.
Natural Resource Efficiency
Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A revised energy strategy was drafted in 2005–06 to align with the new Commonwealth Energy Policy. The strategy emphasises reducing energy use in Defence office buildings, and aligning energy use in Defence establishments with operational tempo. The energy strategy includes the completion of site and regional energy management plans, audits of distribution systems and installation of monitoring and reporting equipment so Defence can use energy more efficiently and effectively, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Water and Waste Management (previously Water Use and Conservation)
Draft water and waste management initiatives were developed during 2005–06. These include audits of high consumption users, development of water management plans and waste stream audits to provide Defence with better information on waste minimisation outcomes.
Defence trialled mixed recycling at an office facility in March 2006. The study revealed that the introduction of recycling facilities reduced waste sent to landfill by some 46 per cent. Defence is investigating how it can implement this initiative at other sites.
Pollution Prevention and Contamination Management
The Defence Contaminated Land Management Strategy was developed in 2003–04, and a review begun during 2005–06 to ensure that contaminated land is appropriately managed. Initial desktop studies were conducted for the 19 highest risk sites, as well as investigations to further identify contamination risks at 27 sites. Seven sites were remediated under the National Priority Sites Investigation Program.
Defence continued to implement a number of other contamination management initiatives in 2005–06, including becoming a core participant of the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment, and continuing to provide formal training on contamination assessment and remediation technologies through the University of South Australia.
Defence is currently involved in four collaborative research projects that provide Defence with access to leading edge technologies and will improve the understanding and cost-effective management of contaminated sites. In addition, Defence is developing guidance for best practice approaches to undertaking potentially polluting activities.
National Environmental Protection (Air Toxics) Measures
Defence contributed to the National Pollutant Inventory reporting for 2004–05. Defence is reviewing the reporting requirements of National Environmental Protection Measures as part of a wider exercise examining alternative reporting regimes, including the National Pollutant Inventory.
Stewardship
Defence EnvironmentaL and Heritage Panel
The panel of specialist environmental and heritage consultants, established under a three-year contract in February 2004, was extended in early 2006 for a further two years. The panel completed environmental work to the value of $38.8m from July 2005 to March 2006 as outlined in Table 6.20.
Ozone Depleting Substances and Synthetic Greenhouse Gases
Defence began rewriting its policy on the management of ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases in compliance with the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Amendment Regulations 2005 (No.1). Under the new regulations, Defence is required to have fire protection industry permits for the handling and use of ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gasses on Defence sites, and trading authorisation for these materials. Defence is consulting with the Department of the Environment and Heritage, and the Fire Protection Association of Australia, which issues these licences and manages the implementation of the regulations.
A new Defence Instruction (General) on the management of fire protection gases, developed in 2005–06, will be released in 2006–07. This will require reporting on all accidental discharges and stock usage information to the Fire Protection Association of Australia. Defence is continuing to encourage fire protection suppliers to provide equipment without ozone depleting substances or synthetic greenhouse gases.
Infrastructure Development and Support
Under the Defence Ecologically Sustainable Development Strategy, performance targets for energy, water and waste have been set for the construction of new buildings and major refurbishments. In 2005–06, Defence was awarded its first 5-star 'Green Star Office as-built' rating, as well as its first Green Building Council of Australia 5-star Green Star 'Office Design' rating for the Combined Squadron Headquarters building located at RAAF Richmond. Significantly improved practices have been incorporated in many other projects. Defence continued to serve as a Board Director of the Green Building Council of Australia.
Stakeholder Management
Environmental Training and Awareness
Defence delivered environmental training programs and materials to continue to raise the environmental awareness of Defence personnel. These included the development of online guidance, revisions to ADF courses, and environmental induction of staff working on Defence bases and training areas.
Work on a revised Defence environmental education strategy also commenced. A focus of the revised strategy is to encourage targeted development of training and awareness materials to communicate the specific environmental risks attached to Defence activities, and to promote the inclusion of environmental education into existing tri-Service and staff college curricula.
A highlight of 2005–06 was the presentation of ten Defence Environment and Heritage awards by the Chief of the Defence Force and the Secretary of Defence to personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group and the DMO.
Business Practices
Risk Management
Defence continued to integrate risk management principles into its environmental management activities using a seven-dimensional risk assessment framework. The framework assesses risks to the environment as well as health and safety, capability, reputation, financial efficiency, legislative compliance and morale. It is used across a range of environmental and project related activities to ensure that risk management assessments are consistent and comparable.
Incident Reporting
An increase in the environmental awareness culture continues to promote improvements in the number of environmental incidents reported within Defence. During 2005–06, Defence used the Environmental Management System to manage the notification and follow-up of environmental incidents, which resulted in an increase in incident reporting. No incidents were regarded as significant, with over 98 per cent of incidents falling into the minor category. The number of incidents reported is shown in Table 6.21.
Note:
- Almost exclusively relates to routine fuel dumping by Air Force air\craft for operational safety reasons and is reported because it represents an emission in the context of the Defence Environmental Management System.
Defence Environmental Management System
During 2005–06, Defence continued to progressively roll out a five-year program to implement the Defence Environmental Management System at priority sites. In its fourth year, Defence achieved certification to the International Standards Organisation 14001 for Environmental Management Systems for Puckapunyal Military Area. RAAF Townsville maintained certification and Russell Offices underwent a pre-certification audit. The network of regional environmental officers continued to provide guidance and advice to all areas of the Defence organisation including contributing to the sustainable management of all Defence bases and training areas.
Improvements to the system include starting an internal audit program to consider site examples of better practice and a simplified approach to the development and implementation of the system at Defence sites.
The Army continued to implement environmental requirements as part of capability development, training and operations. In 2005–06, the Chief of Army released an Army Environmental Policy Statement which confirmed the Army's commitment to sustainable environmental management.
The Navy progressed with the integration of environmental requirements into maritime processes and procedures, including production of an environmental compliance guide for Navy commanders.
The Air Force completed the first stage of an Air Operations Environmental Management Plan. The plan and guidance materials will inform Air Force planning and further assist in minimising adverse impacts on the environment during the conduct of air activities.
Defence is integrating environmental requirements into garrison support and comprehensive maintenance services contracts. Defence has revised its policies throughout the year to include waste minimisation, and energy and water conservation.
The DMO is integrating environmental management into its quality management system and is developing an environmental manual for capability acquisition. An example of this integration is the Land 907 Battle Tank Replacement Project which recently completed the first whole-of-life environmental assessment for the acquisition of major capital equipment.
A further outcome of the implementation of the Defence Environmental Management System into the Groups and Services occurred in Operation Pakistan Assist. This operation included the review of environmental performance and ensured that the ADF did not leave behind any negative environmental legacies in Pakistan.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Defence provided environmental impact advice on over 60 projects involving new capability, infrastructure or the disposal of Defence property. Depending on the extent of potential impacts, environmental assessment ranged from reviewing standard procedures and issuing Environmental Clearance Certificates through to various levels of environmental investigation and management. In some cases, the nature of the project called for input from state and local governments, the local community and the general public.
Two examples are the proposed relocation of 171 Squadron to Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney and a proposed facility for training in urban operations at Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland. In both assessments, public environment reports were prepared by independent environmental consultants, the reports were exhibited for public comment and public meetings were held to explain the proposals and the plans for environmental management. These assessments followed the process laid out in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, with the addition of public meetings to provide face-to-face opportunities to inform the public.
A landmark achievement this year was the acceptance by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority of Defence's Strategic Environmental Assessment of Defence activities in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The assessment documents the potential risks associated with Defence activities and describes how Defence will ensure that the Great Barrier Reef is protected while allowing for critically important military training.
Heritage Management
During 2005–06, Defence launched the Defence Heritage Strategy and developed a heritage management system, which continues to be refined in support of the Defence Environmental Management System. Defence also developed heritage management plans in accordance with the commitments made in the Defence Heritage Strategy and continued to implement the 'Opening the Doors' program to promote Defence heritage sites across Australia. The program was renamed to 'Discover Defence Heritage' to better reflect the initiatives of the Defence Heritage Strategy. A heritage toolkit located on Defence's intranet web site was also updated and circulated to Defence personnel. Further information on heritage management is available at http://www.defence.gov.au/environment/heritage.
Defence Referrals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Under the Act, Defence is required to consult with the Department of the Environment and Heritage to ensure that Defence activities that will have, or are likely to have, a significant impact on the environment only proceed with the approval of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. Defence formally referred one action in 2005–06, as shown in Table 6.22.
Administration of the Commonwealth Policy on the Management of Land Affected by Unexploded Ordnance
Defence provides advice to Commonwealth, state, territory and local government authorities and, where appropriate, individual landholders on the policy, technical and commercial aspects of unexploded ordnance management. Established relationships continue to work well with government agencies in the worst affected states—Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. A summary of the activities of the Defence unexploded ordnance program is set out below.
The national unexploded ordnance office, established in Canberra in early 2005, has developed a state-based digital geographic information system depicting known or suspected unexploded ordnance sites in Australia. This system will help field assessments to be undertaken in the future.
The Defence unexploded ordnance website (www.defence.gov.au/uxo) has been enhanced. In addition to the provision of information of interest on unexploded ordnance and on safety, the site has a mapping facility that allows the public to check whether or not land title of interest is affected by unexploded ordnance and, if so, enables access to advice on the level of contamination. Information on Queensland properties is currently available on the site with other states to follow in 2006–07.
The total number of sites remains as reported in the Defence Annual Report 2004–05. Information on sites, by state and territory, is presented below.
The total number of registered sites is expected to decrease in future years as a result of the development of the geographic information system and the results of the field assessments.
The second Defence unexploded ordnance panel, which comprises five commercial unexploded ordnance contractors and consultants, is now in place. The new arrangement commenced on 4 August 2005 for a term of three years, with two one-year options. The panel mechanism continues to provide an efficient and effective means to deliver Defence-sponsored investigative surveys and remediation projects.
Full-page unexploded ordnance warnings were again placed in police child safety handbooks in all states and territories as a means to increase public awareness of unexploded ordnance hazards. In Queensland, additional public awareness activities continued to be undertaken in areas of higher risk.