Environmental Policy

The Department of Defence is the Australian government’s largest land owner, with stewardship over Australian oceans and more than thirty million hectares of land, including the water and airspace. With the primary mission defending Australia and its national interests, the Defence Environmental Vision states that “Defence will be a leader in sustainable environmental management to support the ADF's capability to defend Australia and its national interests”. This is supported by the Defence Environmental Policy and Environmental Strategic Plan.

As a Commonwealth Government Agency, the Department of Defence is subject to Australian environmental Commonwealth legislation, the Environment Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The requirement for sustainable environmental management is subsequently integrated into all exercise planning and conduct. Everyday environmental management practices are applied to manage ongoing ADF training activities on estates such as Shoalwater Bay Training Area, through the Range Standing Orders, environmental management plans and Department of Defence environmental personnel.

In November 2005, the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, and Commander United States Pacific Command, Admiral William J Fallon, signed the historic Statement of Environment and Heritage Principles . This Statement acknowledges the importance of managing and using training areas sustainably. It demonstrates that Australia and the United States are committed to promoting a strong culture of sustainable environmental management in all combined military activities. The principles encourage a high-quality and continual improvement approach to the planning and conduct of Australian and US combined activities.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Public Environment Report

As part of the Defence’s commitment to promote a cooperative approach to the protection and management of Australia’s environment and heritage, it involved relevant stakeholders and more broadly the Australian public in the early stages of planning the TS07 activities. This approach aimed to ensure possible environmental issues were identified, so that Defence can develop and implement measures to mitigate risks that may arise. Accordingly, Defence commissioned Maunsell Australia to prepare a Public Environment Report (PER) , which communicates the main environmental issues that have been identified, and the controls that are planned to be implemented for the exercise.

Defence invited individuals, community groups and other stakeholders to provide comment or discuss particular aspects that should be considered, as exercise planning progresses. The TS07 overview provides a concise summary of the environmental impact assessment used to consider the potential environmental impacts for TS07. Public feedback was considered to help to refine the TS07 PER as part of the next steps in finalising the PER.

Environmental Management Plan

The TS07 specific Environmental Management Plan provides a summary of environment matters to be managed, providing clear guidance on responsibilities, environment management processes and planned controls, including exercise monitoring and incident management. The EMP describes the direction and responsibilities to mitigate the potential environmental impacts identified in the environmental risk assessment.

The EMP will also act as a roadmap on how all environmental matters will be managed, and provide a link to instructions contained in exercise procedures and instructions, Standing Orders, site environmental management documentation, training area environment plans etc.

Environmental Management

Defence maintains the lead planning responsibilities for environmental management of TS07, as the exercise will be conducted in Australia. The ADF Warfare Centre personnel with support from the Department of Defence Environment Heritage & Risk Branch (EHR), will ensure all environmental compliance and obligations are adhered to. This will be undertaken at the key TS07 training sites namely Shoalwater Bay Training Area ; Townsville Field Training Area ; Cowley Beach Training Area ; Coral Sea, and at support sites within Queensland and Northern Territory .

Safety and environmental management are key considerations for TS07. All training sites have undergone a rigorous environmental risk assessment process, and will be managed in accordance with Departmental provisions, relevant Australian environmental and other legislation.

Australia and the United States considers the risks associated with potential environmental impacts arising from military exercises at the earliest stage of planning. The Department of Defence works closely with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority , Department of the Environment and Water Resources , Australian Quarantine Service state government agencies and the public, to ensure that TS07 activities are managed and take account of principles of ecological sustainability.

The Defence Forces then strive to develop and implement measures to mitigate such impacts.

• These management initiatives are then included in the operational requirements, aiming to avoid or mitigate possible environmental impacts to the most practicable extent.
• A comprehensive environmental awareness plan will be implemented to highlight mitigation strategies for key exercise locations. The environmental awareness plan includes videos to highlight mitigation strategies for Shoalwater Bay Training Area and Maritime Operations ; and environmental awareness cards to be carried by exercise participants at Shoalwater Bay Training Area , Townsville Field Training Area and RAAF Townsville
• An Environmental Management Group (EMG) will be set up to monitor compliance with stringent exercise environment protection instructions.
• The EMG will also provide advice to military commanders on environmental mitigation and avoidance measures and report environmental incidents if required.
  

Environmental Reporting

Defence will report any significant environmental incidents to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources. An Environmental Post Activity Report will also be completed at the completion of the exercise for key stakeholders, such as the Department of the Environment and Water Resources. This report will also be made public.

Information current at 27 February 2007