Sustainability Report 2006/07Overview
Many complex challenges face Melbourne Water in fulfilling its role of protecting the natural environment.
In 2007/08 we experienced extended drought, shifting rainfall patterns, low waterway flows, higher temperatures and intense storms. Looking ahead we can expect increases in energy costs, continued population growth and competing demands for resources.
To protect the natural environment while continuing to deliver services to Melbourne, we set targets to reduce greenhouse emissions and increase our use or export of renewable energy, and to improve biodiversity.
We use formal processes to assess and understand the potential impacts of our actions, projects and activities, and work to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to eliminate or minimise risks to the natural environment.
These processes include our community environment public health assessment checklist to assess and plan for potential impacts of major works, such as infrastructure projects. It ensures we are managing impacts, identifying solutions, including and informing relevant people and groups, and reviewing capital works, operations and policy.
The checklist covers potential impacts on the natural environment including land, water, air, Aboriginal, cultural and archaeological heritage, material use and waste management, biodiversity, risk management and public safety, and community and stakeholder issues.
Our environmental and public health management system guides our management of environment and public health risks (except drinking water quality) and helps us comply with the International Standard for Environmental Management Systems ISO14001. This standard requires us to meet all environmental legislative requirements and achieve continual improvement in our environmental performance.
We achieve this through:
- Our environment policy, supported by Sustainable Water – A Strategic Framework
- An aspects and impacts register that identifies and ranks all positive and negative environmental impacts from our activities
- Meeting legislative and other requirements
- Defining environmental improvement programs within our Corporate Plan and Water Plan
- Developing systems for competence, training and awareness, and regular monitoring, reporting and audits of environmental impacts.