February 2005 Briefing Sessions

1
February 2005 Briefing Sessions Draft
Regulations Using Water for Recreational Purposes
2
Objectives of Briefing Session

• To introduce the proposed Regulations, its
  context, and outline the intent therewith
• To provide opportunity for discussion and input
  into final draft to be published for broader
  public review

3
Context of Regulations

• INTRODUCTION
• Use of water for recreational purposes recognized
  as one of 11 water uses i.t.o Section 21 of the
  National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998)

4
Context of Regulations

• AIM
• To achieve as for the other mainly consumptive
  uses, sustainability and equity in the manner,
  purpose and extent to which water is utilized for
  recreational purposes

5
Context of Regulations

• DWAFs COMMITMENT
• An approach of integrated water resource
  management
• Ensuring that resource managers, policy makers,
  communities and the recreation industry work
  together
• Based on a common goal sustainability and
  equity

6
Context of Regulations

• DWAFs CHALLENGE
• Use is most often regarded as an elitist use
• A non-consumptive use not carrying the
  traditional focus of managing water quality and
  quantity impacts
• DWAF needs to ensure that the use of water for
  recreational purposes is recognized as an
  important and significant use of water that can
  contribute meaningfully to achieving the
  objectives of Government and the National Water
  Act e.g. beneficial use, contributing to BEE
  poverty alleviation etc.

7
Context of Regulations

• DWAFs ROLE includes inter alia
• Establishing an appropriate regulatory
  environment
• Establishing and providing for sustainable and
  equitable water-based recreational opportunities
• Ensuring that the quality of water resources
  utilized for such activities is acceptable
• Ensuring that the environmental and operational
  factors that could influence the safe utilization
  of water for recreational purposes are
  communicated to these users timeously

8
Context of Regulations

• As part of establishing a regulatory environment
  an OPERATIONAL POLICY was compiled via an
  internal and external stakeholder engagement
  process
• Subject Using water for recreational purposes
• Purpose Defining governments overall and
  DWAFs particular responsibility regarding
  this water use and establishing fundamental
  principles, policy, objectives and strategies for
  regulating recreational water use
• Authority Sections 3 of National Water Act
  trusteeship mandate for ensuring sustainable
  and equitable water use management
• Status Version 1.1 in principle approved by
  the DWAF Water Resource Functional Management
  Committee on the 26th of August 2004

9
Context of Regulations

• OPERATIONAL POLICY AIM
• Create a harmonious balance between
• Resource management by ensuring equitable and
  beneficial use of water and associated resources
  for recreational purposes based on sound
  environmental management principles
• Community beneficiation by ensuring equitable
  community participation and beneficiation
• Industry involvement by meeting the needs and
  requirements of the water user in a co-operative
  manner
• Clarified policy by ensuring just public
  administration and service deliver based on sound
  policy

10
Context of Regulations

• OPERATIONAL POLICY STATEMENTS
• Based on these aims and principles set by the NWA
  and among other the NEMA the Operational Policy
  comprises of 9 policy statements
• Recognizable in the outline of the draft
  Regulations

11
Resource Planning

• Water and associated resources are protected,
  conserved, developed, managed, controlled and
  utilized in an environmentally sound and
  equitable manner based on integrated resource
  management plans developed in association with
  stakeholders

12
Safety
The use of water for recreational purposes will
be safe, both from a resource as well as an
industry perspective
13
Authorization
The use of water for recreational purposes is
appropriately authorized
14
Equitable Access

• The use of water resources for recreational
  purposes shall benefit and contribute to the
  sustainable livelihood of communities

15
Communication and Capacity Building
The objectives of the NWA, the policy and its
implementation programme will be communicated and
stakeholders appropriately empowered through
capacity building initiatives
16
Linkages and Institutionalization
Appropriate institutions are established and
effective co-operative linkages developed to
ensure among other the sustainable management of
the use of water for recreational purposes
17
Legal Framework
The use of water for recreational purposes and
its regulation comply with all relevant
legislative requirements
18
Monitoring and Evaluation, Information Management
The use of water for recreational purposes is
monitored, evaluated and audited in terms of both
performance and compliance, and information
pertaining to this use is managed in a user
friendly and effective manner in order to promote
the sustainable utilization and management of
water resources.
19
Context of Regulations

• OPERATIONAL POLICY IMPLEMENTATION / EMPOWERMENT
  TOOLS
• Regulations key regulatory tool to empower the
  implementation of the Operational Policy
• Operational Guidelines (Resource planning
  Authorization and Institutionalization)
• Management systems (Performance, Compliance and
  Information Management)
• Programmes, Projects
• Institutionalization via MOU/MOAs etc.