Sustainability Report 2005-2006
Department of the Environment and Water Resources, 2007
Parks Australia Environmental Performance
Water
EN5: Total water use
Goals 2005-06
Install water metering in at least one additional park in 2006
Performance 2005-06 and trends
Water metering is in place for Kakadu headquarters and Jabiru houses. During 2005-06 Kakadu headquarters and Jabiru houses used 35 830 kilolitres. No additional water metering was installed in 2005-06 at Parks sites.
Booderee used 15 270 kilolitres compared with 11 020 kilolitres in 2004-05, an increase of 39%.
The Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) used 166 356 kilolitres compared to 146 508 kilolitres in 2004-05, an increase of 14%.
Kakadu, Booderee, ANBG and the Parks head office in the John Gorton Building in Canberra have water meters. Water meters are not yet in place at other Parks sites.
Commentary
Potable water in most parks is limited and needs to be carefully managed. The Director’s responsibilities also include three Botanic Gardens and a suitable water supply is required for their maintenance.
The ANBG has met water restrictions in the past three years. In order to increase efficiency of water use,
$180 000 was invested in a new computerised water management system in early 2006. No data about estimated volumes or dollars saved by this initiative are available.
At Uluru new toilet blocks have low flush systems to reduce water use in public toilets. Increases in water consumption at Booderee can be attributed to the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) implementing new and more accurate water metering, as well as the breakage and repair of some water mains during the year.
The increases at the ANBG can be explained by the climatic conditions during that year, including rainfall and evaporation levels. When restrictions were introduced, the gardens set a goal with ActewAGL to achieve a reduced annual usage against the nine year average from 1993-94 to 2001-02 (179 231 kl). This has been met since the 2002-03 year. More water was used in 2005-06 than 2004-05 because the climatic conditions were harsher, the reduced watering in 2004-05 did not meet the needs of the plants, and soil moisture levels needed to be re-established.
At Christmas Island, sprinkler use in the nursery is carefully monitored to reduce excess water use, and the timing of rehabilitation plantings were delayed until the onset of the wet season to reduce the need for follow-up watering.
Goals 2006-07
- Install water metering in at least one additional park in 2007.
Related Indicators
Contents
- Sustainability Report 05-06
- Executive summary
- Vision and strategy
- Our organisation
- Governance
- Policy and influence
- Environmental performance
- Social performance
- Economic performance
- Report assurance statement
- Case studies
- GRI index
Key
Links to another web site
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