The Environmental Protection Authority has urged the public to contribute their views during its review of the environmental management of Cockburn Sound.

EPA Chairman Paul Vogel said he encouraged the public and interested groups to take part in the review of the 2005 State Environmental Policy (SEP), which guides the environmental management of the Sound, 20km south of Perth.

“Cockburn Sound is the most intensively used marine embayment in Western Australia,’ Dr Vogel said.

“This area is highly valued by the community for its ecological and recreational attributes."

“The public comment period on the Draft State Environmental Policy is an opportunity to put forward views in response to the proposed changes to the existing policy.”

Proposed amendments to the Policy include:

• a focus on strengthening monitoring and reporting requirements and improving cooperation between the various public authorities involved in the management of Cockburn Sound;
• clarification of certain implementation aspects of the policy, such as the assessment of ports, harbours and marinas;
• cultural and spiritual values in order to protect such values within Cockburn Sound;
• environmental quality criteria for industrial water supply for the desalination plant in Cockburn Sound.

Dr Vogel said the EPA would work closely with the Cockburn Sound Management Council (CSMC), the Department of Environment Regulation and other interested groups to ensure that the revised policy provided an effective framework for the environmental planning and management of the Sound.

The Draft SEP 2013 can be viewed on the EPA’s consultation hub at https://consultation.epa.wa.gov.au

Public comments close January 24, 2014.

The EPA and the Minister for Environment will then review the revised documents before they are formally considered by the Minister for Environment.

Media Contact: Nadia Miraudo, Fiona Adolph 0400 866 450