ANZECC Revision 2010 – Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is ANZECC 2000 and why is it being revised?
The ANZECC 2000 guidelines provide methods for setting appropriate limits on pollutant concentrations to protect different types of water bodies. They recommend developing criteria that are locally appropriate for specific ecosystem types. Where this is not possible, the guidelines provide default ‘trigger values’. Exceedence of these concentrations is intended to trigger further investigations or management responses. In many situations in New Zealand, where resources do not permit development of site-specific concentrations, the trigger values are used.
The ANZECC guidelines are an important source document used by regional councils, consultants and other resource management practitioners to guide water management decision-making. The guidelines have no statutory status, except where this is given in some regional plans, but are widely used to develop water quality objectives (e.g. in regional plans) and make decisions on contaminant concentrations for discharge permits.
The guidelines have a strong scientific basis. They were developed through a rigorous process drawing on leading scientists and resource managers in both countries. This makes them a reliable and authoritative source. Resource managers in New Zealand have long experience with the guidelines. The joint Australia/New Zealand basis for the guidelines means they are seen as an independent source.
Feedback from the New Zealand central and regional governments, Australian state and territory jurisdictions, and other guideline users have indicated that ANZECC 2000 is an essential reference document that is used for multiple purposes in water quality management. In many jurisdictions the guidelines have been incorporated into relevant environmental policies, plans, legislation, and/or regulations. They also provide a mechanism for developing guidelines for specific waterbodies.
The Guidelines need to be kept up-to-date to ensure they retain their value as a best practice tool for water quality management. They have not been updated since 2000. Since then, substantial new data, information and methods have become available, while some errors in the document have also been identified but not corrected.
2. What is being revised?
The scope of the revision includes:
- updating water quality guideline trigger values for toxicants – based on new toxicity data
- updating trigger values for physico-chemical stressors – based on more comprehensive regional ‘reference’ water quality data acquired over the past ten years (or, since 2000)
- reviewing all statistical procedures
- revising the Monitoring and Reporting Guidelines to ensure consistency with ANZECC 2000 revisions
- making the guidelines easier to understand and use.
An Introduction to the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality
The Overview of the Guidelines, found on the Environment Australia website, is a good place to start if you are unfamiliar with their extent and application, both in Australia and New Zealand.
3. Who is undertaking the revision?
Approval to revise ANZECC 2000 has been provided by Australian and New Zealand Environment Ministers through the Environment Protection Heritage Council and Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in consultation with the National Health and Medical Research Council. The revision is being overseen by a Joint Steering Committee with six Working Groups focussed on:
- Introduction and Framework, Delivery of Guidelines, Coordination and Integration
- Biological Assessment and Monitoring and Assessment
- Physical and Chemical Stressors
- Toxicants and Sediment Quality
- Monitoring and Reporting
- Primary Industries
An approach for incorporating cultural and spiritual environmental values is being considered. There is indigenous peoples’ representation from Australia and New Zealand on the Joint Steering Committee.
4. What is the timing for the revision?
The revision is being implemented in three phases over three years.
- Phase I (Detailed project planning and selected high priority revision tasks) October 2009 to the second half of 2011
- Phase II (main revision tasks) to the end of 2012
- Phase III (ongoing maintenance and updating) in 2012 – 2013
5. What opportunities will stakeholders have to comment and participate in the revision?
There will be opportunities for stakeholders to engage during the revision process and to formally comment on the revised guidelines. There are a number of technical issues to be addressed which require targeted engagement with specific audiences. These stakeholders are currently being identified by the Working Groups.
A broader stakeholder engagement process will also be undertaken in Phase 1 and 2 on more general issues such as delivery and useability. A formal public consultation will also be undertaken and advertised to ensure all relevant stakeholders are adequately informed. Stakeholder engagement will include websites, existing stakeholder networks (i.e. Australia Water Association Database and EnviroInfo) or direct contact. Further details will be advised as they come to hand.
6. If I want more information on the revision where can I get it from?
Regular updates on the revision process and opportunities for stakeholder engagement will be updated on the Australian Government’s water quality web pages, and the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment’s website. If you would like to receive email updates on revision progress please register your interest.
7. Why is New Zealand jointly revising ANZECC 2000 with Australia?
New Zealand has partnered with Australia in preparing the ANZECC guidelines since 1992.
Given the relatively small size of the New Zealand science community and research resources, New Zealand will gain significant benefit from continuing to partner with our Australian counterparts to revise these guidelines.
Continued cooperation on the guidelines will contribute to an established and mutually beneficial relationship with Australia in sharing scientific and resource management knowledge.
Last updated: 25 November 2010
