Appendix 2 - Mandatory Reporting | Next >

Appendix 2 - Mandatory reporting

Occupational health and safety

The Occupational Health and Safety Committee was established under the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 to help the Authority:

The Occupational Health and Safety Committee continued to meet as required throughout the year.

The Authority’s Health and Safety Representatives continued to play an active role in helping the Authority provide a healthy and safe working environment for all employees. Maintaining the skills of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee is an important aspect of the Authority’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy.

As part of the Authority’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy, all employees and their family members have access to an employee assistance programme that provides confidential and free counselling. The Authority receives quarterly reports on use of the programme.

The Authority provided voluntary influenza vaccinations free of charge for employees and volunteers in May 2007.

During 2006–07 there were no incidents that required reporting under section 68 of the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991.

Freedom of information

Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 requires all government agencies to publish a statement setting out the organisation’s role, its structure and functions, details of documents available for public inspection and facilities to access documents. Details of the Authority’s structure and functions is available for public inspection through the Authority’s library and website at <www.nationalcapital.gov.au>.

Documents the Authority holds which may be available for inspection under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 include records and files on administration, correspondence, contracts, financial statements, plans and project details and decisions of the Authority. The Authority received four requests for information during the year. At 30 June 2007, the Authority had one outstanding request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. Enquiries and requests under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 should be made to: The FOI Officer National Capital Authority GPO Box 373 Canberra ACT 2601 Telephone: 61 2 6271 2888 Facsimile: 61 2 6273 4427 Email: foi.officer@natcap.gov.au

Advertising and market research

In accordance with amendments to the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, all Australian Government departments and authorities are required to set out, in their annual reports, details of amounts paid by or on behalf of them during the year to advertising agencies as well as market research, media advertising and direct mail organisations. This information is presented in Table 26.

Table 26: Advertising and market research, 2006-07

Organisation Value (incl. GST)
Canberra Kids Pty Ltd $100.00
Australia’s Open Garden Scheme $185.00
Attorney-General’s Department $429.00
Sensis Pty Ltd $539.47
Australian Science Festival $550.00
City News (Macquarie Publishing Pty Ltd) $556.00
Spress $616.00
Around Canberra Magazine $730.00
TW Media Pty Ltd $750.00
Seek Limited $1 028.50
Capital Educational Tours $1 210.00
Australian Media Group $1 372.25
Department of Territory and Municipal Services $1 500.00
Holiday Happenings $1 500.40
Australian Capital Tourism Corporation $1 710.01
Royal Australian Institute of Architects $2 189.00
Southern Cross Ten $2 417.14
Kidfriendly Pty Ltd $2 761.00
Hardie Grant Magazines $2 850.01
Lear Marketing $3 008.50
Reflections Media Pty Ltd $3 333.00
National Capital Attractions Association $5 630.90
Australian Public Service Commission $5 314.56
Universal McCann $64 438.53
HMA Blaze Pty Ltd $72 729.25
Total $177 448.52

Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance

The Authority is responsible for planning Canberra’s future development through planning and approval processes that preserve the special character of the national capital for all current and future Australians. Section 516A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) requires government agencies to publish a report on their environmental and ecologically sustainable development (ESD) performance.

How the activities of the Authority accord with the principles of ESD (section 516A(6)(a))

The Authority’s purpose is to manage the Australian Government’s continuing interest in Canberra’s planning and development as the national capital. ESD considerations are incorporated into the Authority policy framework, such as the National Capital Plan and the Authority Environment Policy 2002.

The Authority Corporate Plan 2005–10 Vision is ‘a national capital which symbolises Australia’s heritage, values and aspirations, is internationally recognised, and worthy of pride by Australians’. While ESD principles are not explicitly stated in the Corporate Plan they are aligned to the goals the Authority has set to achieve its vision and, through these goals, are integrated into all business operations.

The following Corporate Plan goals reflect the intentions of the ESD Integration Principle and the Intergenerational Principle:

The Authority has in place other formal guidelines to facilitate staff consideration of ESD and the principles of ESD when undertaking the diverse activities of the Authority. These guidelines are the Risk Management Framework and the Guidelines for Events in the National Capital.

Risk Management Framework – The framework the Authority has adopted strengthens decision making in the public interest and places more emphasis on consultation and communication.

It respects core Public Service Values such as honesty, integrity and probity at all levels, and contributes to improved results by managing risk proactively. Integrated risk management also supports a whole-of-government view based on rational priority setting and principles of responsible spending.

Events in the National Capital – These guidelines include environmental impact as one of the assessment criteria for evaluating the appropriateness of a proposed event.

How the administration of legislation by the Authority accorded with the principles of ESD (section 516A(6)(a)) Planning the Capital

The Authority is established by and operates under the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988. The Authority functions, established under the Act, include preparing, administering and constantly reviewing the National Capital Plan.

National Capital Plan – Under the National Capital Plan, matters of national significance include ‘development of a city which both respects environmental values and reflects national concerns with the sustainability of Australia’s urban areas’. One of the key objectives of the National Capital Plan is to ‘support and promote environmentally responsible urban development practices’.

Works approval – As part of the Authority’s role under section 12 of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 the Authority approves works within the Designated Areas of the National Capital Plan. During 2006–07 the Authority approved 93 development approval applications relating to a place within the Commonwealth Heritage List and/or the Register of the National Estate.

Department of the Environment and Heritage advice – During 2006-07 the Authority made one referral to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources under section 28 of the EPBC Act for Block 22, Section 32 Yarralumla.

Internal heritage impact assessments were prepared for Reconciliation Place Artworks, Anzac Parade Amenities, and Commonwealth Place Kiosks.

As well, during 2006–07 the Authority:

Heritage management plans – During 2006–07 the Authority prepared heritage management plans for the Parliament House Vista, York Park Oak Plantation, High Court of Australia and National Gallery of Australia Precinct and Old Parliament House Gardens Precinct.

The Authority has progressed consultancies to prepare heritage management plans for Changi Chapel, General Bridges Grave, Parkes Place and the National Rose Gardens.

Heritage assessments have been completed for Lake Burley Griffin and adjacent lands (comprising Stirling Ridge, Yarramundi grasslands, Lindsay Pryor Arboretum, Cypress Hill, Kings and Commonwealth Avenue bridges and Scrivener Dam), the Canberra Central Parklands, Block 22, Section 32 Yarralumla and Blocks 1 and 2 Section 44 Yarralumla.

Enhancing the Capital – During 2006–07 the Authority undertook works within the Parliament House Vista and the Old Parliament House Gardens – both being places included on the Commonwealth Heritage List. The works within these areas included:

Maintaining the Capital – During 2006–07 the Authority undertook maintenance within the Parliament House Vista, which is included on the Commonwealth Heritage List. Places individually listed within the Parliament House Vista and which were subject to maintenance were:

The Authority also undertook maintenance works on the Australian–American Memorial, Russell, which is listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List.

Lakes Ordinance 1976 – On the Minister’s behalf the Authority administers the National Land Ordinance 1989 and applied provisions, including the Lakes Ordinance 1976 which is considered to have ESD relevance. In administering the Lakes Ordinance 1976, one of the Authority’s statutory responsibilities is to manage the inland water resource of Lake Burley Griffin in a sustainable manner to protect its ecology and national significance. In so doing, the Authority undertakes a range of measures to manage Lake Burley Griffin for a variety of functions and in accordance with management objectives that reflect community, economic and ecological values.

How the outcomes specified in a relevant Appropriations Act contribute to ESD (section 516A(6)(b))

The Authority’s vision, which is reflected in the its Portfolio Budget Statements, is to achieve ‘a national capital which symbolises Australia’s heritage, values and aspirations, is internationally recognised, and worthy of pride by Australians’. While not explicitly specifying an ESD contribution, the outcome broadly reflects the intentions of ESD.

Effect of the Authority’s activities on the environment (section 516A(6)(c))

The Authority uses 8 per cent Green Energy on all of its contestable sites managed under the Whole-of-Government Energy Contract.

Other initiatives – In addition to the formal arrangements in the above plans, procedures, programmes and guidelines, the Authority has established a number of other initiatives that are intended to minimise the impact of its activities on the environment. They include:

National Capital events – The Authority runs events and issues permits to others to run events. One of the most significant environmental effects of these activities is waste generation. In late 2003 the Authority introduced recycling bins at its own events and requires other events operators to do likewise.

Capital Works projects – For all major Capital Works projects, the Authority undertakes environmental assessments in accordance with the requirements of the EPBC Act to determine whether referral to the Environment Minister is necessary.

Managing National Land – The Authority manages a number of sites containing species that are on the list of nationally threatened species and threatened ecological communities declared under the EPBC Act. Ongoing management of these sites is guided by action plans prepared by Environment ACT in accordance with the Nature Conservation Act 1980.

Measures being taken by the Authority to minimise the impact of its activities on the environment (section 516A(6)(d))

The Authority has undertaken a range of measures that will minimise the impact of its activities on the environment. They include:

Water Quality Monitoring – The Authority has an ongoing comprehensive water quality monitoring programme for the lake. Information is reported on the Authority website.

Lake Burley Griffin Recreation Policy – The purpose of this policy is to address key recreational management issues for the lake and establish the Authority’s objectives for managing water-based recreation and enable it to manage use of the lake in an effective manner that promotes its national significance.

National Land management – The Authority undertook a number of measures in 2006–07 to minimise the impact of its land management activities on the environment. They included:

 

Appendix 2 - Mandatory Reporting | Next >