Water Pollution in Canberra, Australia - Case Study Example

Water Pollution in Canberra Australia Name Institution Date Water Pollution in Canberra Australia Introduction In recent times water pollution has become a major concern in Canberra Australia. Is estimated that about 37.50% of water pollution is experienced in Australia. Water pollution in Australia is as old as humanity. Water pollution dates back to the establishment of white settlers colonies in South Wales. Due to rise in population and the growth in industrialization water pollution increased. The absence of significant anti pollution laws to govern the quality of water supply was also a contributory factor in experience of increased water pollution. With the effects of increased water pollution the Australian government saw the need to come up with legislation that will enact laws that will govern issue of water pollution so as to minimize its effects on the country. There are also various governing challenges that are facing water pollution as an environmental issue that also needs to be fully addressed in order to ensure quality supply of water. Thus the paper seeks to examine water pollution as a case study in Canberra Australia. The paper will also discuss water pollution as an environmental issue while identifying problems within the governance structures and analyzing how the shortcomings can be successfully dealt with (Chappell & Norberry 1992). Water Pollution in Canberra Australia In the 19th Century the first ever environment related legislations were enacted to protect Australia against water pollution and its adverse effects to its growing population. However the first laws that were enacted were aimed at facilitating the advancement and utilization of natural resources rather than protecting the natural environment. The main target was pollution that was the role of the public health especially in eliminating water-borne diseases (Connell, 1993). Due to public outcry in the 1960s in regards to the adverse effects of unregulated industrialization as waterways were being converted into disposal sites for wastes from industries, Clean Waters Act 1970 was enacted (NSW). The scope of pollution laws latter increased with the growth of population and expansion in the industrialization process in Australia. Harsh penalties were also enacted in the process of minimizing water pollution and enhancing the quality of water supply (Grabosky & Braithwaite 1986). Environmental Governance and governing challenges Environmental governance involves the protection of the ecology against harm such as pollution. This involves protection of both the soil, air and water resources. Our main concern is the protection of the environment against water pollution and enhancement of quality supply of water. Water is an essential natural resource for humanity hence the need to enact certain legislations that will ensure its protection and availability of quality supply of water. The concept environmental governance therefore entails the associations and connections amongst both the government and nongovernmental arrangement, measures and principles during which authority and accountability are applied in creating environmental resolutions. In Canberra Australia the governance issue in regards to water pollution legislation involves several actors with various responsibilities (NSW, 1990).The actors can be demonstrated as shown below; The national laws that encompass national water laws originate from the ministries. Environmental issues and water related aspects are implemented by independent regional authorities that are accountable for water quality and quantity regulation through permits taxes and rates. The departments are regarded to undertake a minor role in water related issues while the municipalities are responsible for water decontamination and drinking water supplied by semi private companies. The major challenge experienced in Canberra Australia is the translation of government national policies into tangible regional and local action in terms of implementation of existing legislations. This was experienced as a result of the existence of discharge fee system introduced by the Australian government. While this was an important economic incentive in order to control water contamination the program was faced with a lot of challenges. In many regions there was limited implementation, and wide spread nonconformity by municipal sewerage authorities. The lack of implementation at both the local and regional level was instituted by a number of factors. Lack of clear politics coupled with long term view and realistic objectives, there was also absence of good organization in the sense that there was lack of clear roles and responsibilities to facilitate coordination. There was also lack of enough capacity at both the regional and local level and the existence of unsustainable funding. Due to lack of sustainable funding the governance legislation policies were difficult to implement without funding. Some of this legislation with time lost meaning leading to more water pollution being experience in Canberra Australia (Lipman, 1991). Another governance challenge may arise as a result of value conflicts and contested knowledge. This may arise in form of underpinning interests in the provision of quality water supply to the population in relation to the control and minimizing water pollution in general. In Australia water pollution has risen due to conflicting value and contested knowledge especially among the major actors in the process of preventing water pollution. These actors include the government and nongovernmental organizations that engage in the competition of provision of quality water supply to the public. There is also conflicting value and knowledge in the both the national and regional forms of government in the prevention of water pollution and minimization (Connell, 1993). Institutional barriers have also been regarded as the major impeding factor as far as the issue of environmental governance is concerned. In Canberra Australia since the industrialization period and the effects of industrialization especially its contribution to water pollution many legislations and laws have been enacted to protect the environment against pollution especially water pollution. Despite the fact that the industrialization process brought about both positive and negative influences on the environment and the lives of people it was regarded as the major cause of water pollution. This was as a result of industries emitting their waste products into the rivers and other water resources that caused water contamination. Therefore as a result certain institutions were mandated to protect the water resources. These institution that were both governmental and nongovernmental came up with certain policies and laws that aimed at reducing water pollution in Australia. For instance certain environmental Acts proposed the introduction of stiffer and harsher penalties to those that were guilty of water pollution and other forms of environmental issues. The introduction of the Environmental Offences and Penalties Act was also enacted whereby those found guilty could pay hefty fines to the government. Thus prosecution was viewed as the most effective tool in securing compliance of the Acts and laws in general. However despite the importance of these legislation in curbing water pollution and other environmental issues the was a lot of institutional barriers in terms of its implementation process (Mateluwich, 1991). Regulatory agencies officials were much less passionate about the prosecution process together with its results. For this reason prosecution was regarded as time consuming of agency staff and financial process. This was due to the lengthy process that the process of prosecution involved. Hence the process of prosecution was critic sized as many of its critics believed that the magistrates were awarding minimal fines and some believed that the process also could jeopardize aggressive associations with industry that were harmful in achieving environmental protection. Thus there was a challenge in the institutional barriers in terms of failure to prosecute and awarding minimal fines to those found guilty of environmental laws especially industries. Competing interest is also another governing challenge in Canberra Australia. The competing interests can be traced back to the industrialization process whereby despite the government effort to reduce water pollution expansion of industries was also encouraged for the benefit of the state as a whole. Regulating water pollution and supply of quality water to its soaring population was essential. There was also need to a good relationship to be created between the national government and the expanding industries in terms of environmental protection. This therefore resulted to the government enacting laws and legislation that would protect its water resources against emissions from industries that was a major cause of water pollution at the time (Connell, 1993). There are a variety of barriers to decentralized governance. The lack of strong provincial standards that aims at protecting water quality together with aquatic habitat. There is also reluctance to create governance institutions to implement policies of water quality and minimizing the rate of water contamination. The lack of financial support for the new governance procedure is also another barrier that needs to be addressed in Canberra to effective conservation of water resources. Financial support is essential for enactment of certain regulations and laws that will govern the water policy implementation. The challenge of multijurisdictional and multi-level governance arrangements due to the fact that Australia has a federal system of governance and therefore different levels of jurisdiction and roles related to water management and protection (Andreen, 2006). Water governance barriers can be eradicated or addressed through the system of delegated water governance partnership that is considered as a fresh approach to water management. Due to the local variation of water as a resource and jurisdictional disparity delegation of water governance may serve as an important remedy in Canberra Australia. However, excellent governing principles should be put into consideration on whether and the method of delegation and implementing partnership in the process of conservation of water as a resource. Good governance is essential for an efficient performance of organizations. Enforcement of rules while adapting the required rules and legislations helps in ensuring accountability. Thus through an improved governance system will lead to a more efficient and cost effective service provision. An excellent water governance system entails inclusiveness of all stakeholder/actors, participation, and the rule of law and quality decision making processes. The sustainability of the quality of water and eradication of water pollution as an environmental issue can be addressed through the enactment and implementation of favourable environmental laws and legislations. The implementation of such legislations should be initiated by the actors in water sector so as to enhance its efficiency. The government should also play a role in regards to a good political environment that will enable such regulations to be implemented. It is due to lack of political good will that many policies that were meant to benefit the water sector in Canberra never kicked off in its implementation stage. Thus through political good is fundamental for enactment of regulations. There should also be distinction between the roles of government structures in the implementation of such policies. Clear distinction between the roles of national government, local authorities and other nongovernmental organizations should be made clear for efficient and successful implementation of the process. Enough funds should also be allocated to the water sector through the ministry of water and other interested parties to ensure full implementation and sustainability. For sustainability to be achieved enough funds should be available to set up necessary regulations and implement such regulations for the benefit of the state water resources (Hussey & Dovers 2007). Review of pollution legislations should also be conducted regularly in order to ensure sustainability. The review process should take place in every Australian jurisdiction to ensure consistency and uniformity in virtually every part of Australia. The review process will aid in addressing such issues as relating to environmental protection laws, environmental auditing, environmental protection policies; civil remedies and alternative dispute resolution that are important issues in curbing water pollution in Canberra Australia and help in the management of water resources effectively (Scheierling 1995). Conclusion Water pollution in Canberra Australia has been experienced through many decades and challenges in the governing structures have also been evident. These challenges come about as a result of the system of governance especially in the water management and protection. So far many laws and legislations have been enacted so as to solve such challenges and ensure eradication of water pollution. Since Australia has several levels of jurisdiction that have various roles to play in the water management system and conservation it is important that such levels are interrelated to ensure sustainability f the whole region as opposed to one jurisdiction. Water is an essential natural resource and therefore the need to ensure that there is quality water supply and the risks of contamination reduced to minimal levels. Thus sine the industrialization process a lot has changed in the water management in Canberra Australia. Laws and legislations have been enacted to ensure quality supply of water. Governing challenges in regards o the environmental issue cannot be ignored and much effort should be made in addressing such challenges as the paper has recommended avoiding conflicting interests and values. 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