SCA Environmental Management Report September Report to IPART

Transcription

1 SCA Environmental Management Report September Report to IPART WaterNSW was formed on 1 January 2015 under the Water NSW Act 2014, effecting a merger of the Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) and State Water Corporation. Reference to the SCA in this report is taken to mean that part of WaterNSW s business that relates to the former SCA. In accordance with clause of the Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) Operating Licence , the SCA must maintain programs to manage the risks to the environment from carrying out its activities and must ensure all activities are carried out in accordance with those programs until the Environmental Management System (EMS) has been developed and implemented. The SCA s Environmental Management Program provides a summary of the activities that are undertaken by the SCA to manage risks to the environment and to meet the requirements of the Water NSW Act 2014 and the SCA Operating Licence It outlines the SCA s environmental objectives and targets, and the environmental management programs being implemented to achieve these. This Environmental Management Report outlines the environmental management programs implemented in , in accordance with clause of the Reporting Manual. Objective One - minimise the environmental impacts of the SCA s activities, projects and infrastructure The SCA s Annual Environmental Audit aims to assess the effectiveness of actions to minimise environmental impacts. The findings are used to improve environmental management for future activities. In , three SCA projects were subject to independent audit consisting of both desktop and on-site components. While the audit process identified some business improvement opportunities, the auditor noted that all relevant environmental safeguards appeared to be implemented effectively for all projects. 1.1 Comply with SCA s Environmental Impact Assessment Policy Target: 100% of audited projects meet the SCA s environmental impact assessment policy each year 100% met. All audited projects met the EIA policy. Target: 100% audited projects comply with the environmental assessment conditions imposed For the projects audited, documentation could not be provided as evidence that contractors notified SCA of the commencement date of on ground works. 1.2 Increase environmental performance of contractors Target: 100% of audited projects have environmental performance provisions included in the relevant contracts. 100% met. All projects assessed had environmental performance provisions included in contract documentation. Target: 100% of audited projects meet contract conditions in relation to environmental management. Not applicable. For all three projects, individual environmental management conditions were not required.

2 1.3 Findings of the annual environmental audit report addressed Target: 100% of approved recommendations addressed before 30 June the following year Ten of the twelve recommendations (83%) from the previous audit were addressed before 30 June. The two remaining recommendations relating to inclusion of relevant environmental safeguards and conditions of approval, and review of the Site Inspection Procedure are being addressed. 1.4 Findings of the environmental inspection program addressed Target: 100% of non-compliances addressed within six months of inspection being completed 100% met. The SCA implemented its Environmental Inspection Procedure in to improve environmental practice and reduce the impact of its activities on the environment. Six environmental inspections were undertaken in , with the projects selected on the basis of the type of works, nature of the risk and the duration of the works. One inspection identified four non compliances requiring corrective action, and these were addressed within six months of being identified. 1.5 SCA staff made aware of environmental responsibilities Target: 100% new staff inductions include environmental requirements 100% met. Environmental requirements are included in staff inductions and inductions are routinely held for all new staff. Some exceptions were found whereby some staff had not attended inductions; however, arrangements were made for these staff to be inducted at future induction sessions. Target: Relevant SCA staff undertake environmental assessment training as required On an as needs basis, project managers were advised of the SCA s environmental assessment requirements and procedures. An online environmental awareness training module for project and contract managers was developed. 47 staff completed the module during Continued release of environmental flows from SCA storages Target: 100% of Water Management Licence requirements for environmental flow releases met WaterNSW maintained 100% compliance with requirements of the Water Sharing Plan for the Greater Metropolitan Region Unregulated River Water Sources over the FY. There were a number of daily shortfalls over the period which were managed in accordance with agreed operating protocols and therefore did not constitute any non-compliances. Objective Two - manage and minimise resource use and waste generation 2.1 Conduct biennial waste audit Target: Waste audits conducted by 30 June 2013 and 30 June 2015 The SCA engaged an independent auditor to undertake a waste audit of its offices in February 2013 to help meet its obligations under the NSW Government s Waste Reduction and Purchasing Policy (WRAPP). The audit covered the Penrith, Warragamba, Campbelltown and Burrawang offices, and focused on general waste streams and recycling generation. The next waste audit was due to be conducted in February However, the Office of Environment and Heritage advised that WRAPP reporting obligations were being replaced by the Government Resource Efficiency Policy reporting requirements and agencies were no longer required to provide a WRAPP Report as at June 2015.

3 2.2 Waste audit recommendations addressed Target: 100% of recommendations considered and addressed as appropriate by 30 June the following year. All (100%) of the recommendations from the 2013 waste audit were considered and those considered appropriate were approved by management and implemented. 2.3 Implement waste reduction and minimisation actions as outlined in the SCA WRAPP Plan Target: 100% compliance with timeframes specified in the SCA WRAPP Plan All key reporting requirements have been considered and the majority of actions commenced in accordance with the timeframes of the WRAPP plan. Priority had been given to key actions under the WRAPP plan to address the 2013 waste audit recommendations. Key actions implemented since that audit was undertaken include: actions to reduce waste to landfill a communications / waste education plan has been drafted waste education in public spaces and liaising with building managers and cleaning staff to ensure correct recycling for office waste development of a waste process table for effective waste data collection and reporting communicating actions such as providing a summary of waste audit findings to staff, publishing articles on waste management initiatives on the intranet and development of WRAPP fact sheets development and implementation of integrated waste management contracts for the Penrith Office building to help reduce contamination levels in waste streams and improve resource recovery. implementation of a new office recycling system for the Penrith office building establishment of a green lease office working group for the Penrith building, comprised of the building manager and tenants implementation of waste management initiatives under the Penrith building s green lease plan (in line with NSW Government best practice) The WRAPP plan was not revised during given the changes to the WRAPP reporting requirements and the introduction of the Government Resource Efficiency Policy (GREP). It is intended to develop a Sustainability Management Plan for WaterNSW by the end of Report to the NSW Government on progress of the SCA WRAPP Plan biennially Target: WRAPP Plan progress report prepared by 31 August 2013 and June 2015 The biennial WRAPP progress report was submitted to the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) by 31 st August OEH has advised that the WRAPP reporting requirements have now been replaced by the GREP reporting requirements, and agencies are no longer required to provide a WRAPP Report as at June Objective three - minimise the environmental impact of the SCA s use of energy 3.1 Determine SCA carbon footprint Target: Report on SCA carbon footprint in Annual Report

4 The SCA has determined its carbon footprint during the period July 2008 to December 2014 and reported results in its Annual Reports. The carbon footprint has been calculated and was reported as part of the 2014 SCA Annual Report (July to December 2014), but will not be included in the WaterNSW Annual Report (January to June 2015). Note: Carbon footprint has been calculated for the first six months but not for the second six months. Scope one and two emissions data is not available until October 2015 to enable the carbon footprint to be calculated. Also note that the carbon footprint has not been included in the six-monthly WaterNSW Annual Report for Minimise energy consumption Target: Implement and report on agreed initiatives annually The focus for continued to be the maintenance and sustainability of implemented initiatives. The Energy Coordinator continued to monitor energy consumption in office buildings and worked closely with water supply operators to ensure that the lowest possible amount of electricity was used in the SCA s day-to-day supply operations. Where possible, the SCA has incorporated energy saving measures in its capital upgrade projects. For example, the upgrade of the Burrawang Pumping Station electrical systems incorporates the installation of a variable speed drive (VSD) motor that has the potential for significant energy savings. Other energy management initiatives undertaken include: Subscribing vehicles to the Greenfleet program Continuing to monitor industry development in mini-hydropower generation through the attendance of industry seminars and workshops Investigating external proposals to generate hydroelectricity using the water supply assets. Table 1: Electricity consumption for the past four years in kilowatt hours Electricity consumption for the past four years in kilowatt hours Office buildings 466, , , ,760 Public buildings 104,231 92, , ,849 Other facilities 73,249 70,131 85,402 67,466 Water supply infrastructure 6,555,977 9,669,613 9,381,519 27,191,895 Shoalhaven drought transfers Infrastructure roadways 21,878 21, ,905 Total electricity 7,222,120 10,332,620 10,105,670 27,904,875

5 Table 2: Energy comparisons for the past two financial years in Gigajoules Energy comparisons for the past two financial years in Gigajoules Total energy (GJ) Change in GJ% Costs of energy ($) Electricity 26,000 37, % 2.25% 1,039,336 1,548,509 Petrol 1,315 1, % % 47,786 55,485 Auto distillate 6,684 6, % 3.56% 230, ,565 (diesel) Bio fuel (B20) Wood Gas Total 33,999 45, % 1.76% 1,317,964 1,840,559 Table 3: Greenhouse gas emissions comparisons (carbon dioxide tonnes equivalent) Energy type Greenhouse gas emissions comparisons (CO 2 tonnes equivalent) Greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gas emissions % % change Electricity 5,441 8, Petrol Auto distillate (diesel) Bio fuel (B20) Wood Gas Total 6,001 8, Report to the Commonwealth Government on NGERS indicators annually NGERS report will be submitted to the Commonwealth Government on 31 October This information can be collated only in August/September 2015 after final quarterly bills are received. 3.4 Report energy consumption to Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services The report on energy consumption to the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services will be submitted through the OSCAR reporting system on 31 October This information can only be collated in August/September 2015 after final quarterly bills are received.

6 3.5 Report energy consumption to Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) The report on energy consumption will be sent to WSAA by in October This information will be collated in August/September 2015 after final quarterly bills are received. 3.6 Report to IPART on the National Water Initiative (NWI) Environmental Indicators annually The SCA will report to IPART on the three NWI Environmental Indicators in October 2015, as per the Reporting Manual. The indicators are listed below. Table 4: NWI Environmental Indicators Item No NWI Indicator Tonnes of CO2-e Tonnes of CO2-e/ML E9.1 GHG Emissions -Water E11.1 Net GHG Emissions -Other E12.1 Total Net ML Supplied 520,958