Ms Mary Gurrie:

Regarding local authorities and their water management role, the resourcing of local authorities and the allocation of those functions are not matters for the EPA. The local authority water programme was established in recent years to increase resources and local authorities are focused on priority areas for action and on restoring water quality therein. There is probably a recognition of a need to protect our water quality. We are seeing many declines in water quality. It is important that we stop these declines so that we can achieve our water framework directive objectives.

Although resourcing is not a direct matter for the EPA, there is an action in the draft river basin management plan, to be led by the Department, that involves reviewing local authorities' resources in terms of their water protection functions. I would refer the Senator to that.