State Environmental (Cockburn Sound) Policy Review

Overview

Funding for three years has been provided to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) to review the SEP: State Environmental Policy for Cockburn Sound. This review aims to consider whether the SEP’s current level of support for environmental values in Cockburn Sound is sufficient, and to ensure the SEP addresses cumulative impacts in the Sound over coming decades.

This is the first stage of public consultation that DWER will conduct during the course of the review of the SEP.

What is the SEP?

The State Environmental (Cockburn Sound) Policy (SEP), first released in 2005, was developed to guide environmental regulation, protect environmental values and improve water quality. The SEP established an environmental framework with annual monitoring and reporting requirements delivered through the Cockburn Sound Management Council (CSMC), supported by the then Department of Environment. In 2015, the SEP was contemporised to include cultural and spiritual values and a revised Terms of Reference of the CSMC.

Why does Cockburn Sound need a SEP?

The Cockburn Sound is one of a very few natural embayments on the west coast of Australia, with a high variety of recreational use and environmental value. It is critical habitat for a variety of marine species including west coast pink snapper, the resident dolphin population, seagrass meadow health, little penguins and local populations of other fish and invertebrates. Historic industrial pollution prior to the 1980s resulted in severe water quality issues and the loss of 75 per cent of seagrass in the system. Since its implementation in 2005, the SEP has successfully improved water quality in Cockburn Sound.

In the next decades, Cockburn Sound will experience cumulative impacts and changing pressures such as population growth and climate change. Additionally, the Sound may host a range of developments like the Western Trade Coast expansion, Westport development, Henderson expansion, AUKUS and the Submarine Rotational Force - West program. The SEP's environmental framework will guide environmental regulation, protect environmental values and improve water quality through all of these changes.