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National Plan Research, Development and Technology Program and Policy

The National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious andHazardous Substances

National Plan Research and Development Strategy

Introduction

The National Plan mission is:

"to maintain a national integrated Government/industry organisational framework capable of effective response to oil and chemical pollution incidents in the marine environment and to manage associated funding, equipment and training programs to support National Plan activities."

In order to improve the effective and practicable response to oil and chemical ship-sourced pollution incidents in Australia, the National Plan needs the capacity to invest in research, development and technology projects.

For this to occur in a structured and coherent manner, the National Plan should be underpinned by an effective R, D&T strategic framework. This strategic framework should be based on, and complement, the mission statement and the National Plan Management Committee’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) including:

KPI 1.1: oversighting the National Plan’s administrative arrangements including the IGA & AMSA/AIP MOU; and, NPOG’s activities & work program;
KPI 1.3: reviewing and actioning relevant recommendations arising from audit / review / incident / exercise reports;
KPI 1.4: ensuring the National Plan’s response capability remains appropriate in light of changing risk levels and risk assessment of shipping in Australian waters and ports;
KPI 2.1: oversight development of the National Plan budget and other funding and cost related issues; and,
KPI 4.1: providing advice on the strategic implications for the National Plan arising from inter alia overseas developments associated with oil and chemical spill contingency and response planning; environment issues, etc.

Objectives (What we are trying to achieve)

The objectives of the National Plan’s R, D&T program are to:

provide a forum for addressing R, D&T issues of concern to National Plan members;
monitor relevant oil and chemical pollution R, D&T activities worldwide, identifying those applicable to Australia;
identify domestic R, D&T needs that may arise that are specific to Australian situations;
support those R, D&T activities on a cost benefit basis; and,
facilitate the implementation and further development of R, D&T initiatives.

Strategic Approach (Actions to take to achieve our objectives)

The strategic approach for the National Plan’s R, D&T program is to:

monitor relevant oil pollution and chemical R, D&T activities worldwide identifying those applicable to Australia;
identify domestic R, D&T needs that may arise that are specific to Australian situations;
advise NPOG of the key R, D&T outcomes and needs and priorities identified;
monitor progress of National Plan supported R, D&T projects;
ensure that relevant project outcomes and findings are incorporated into National Plan preparedness and response measures; and,
promote the Environmental and Scientific Coordinators forum and other applicable National Plan forums as a vehicle for introducing outcomes from international and national R, D&T projects.
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Guiding Principles

To provide the National Plan with a broad strategic framework in which to guide the identification, assessment, funding and implementation of R, D&T project proposals, NPMC should adopt the following guiding principles:

funding should only be provided for R, D&T projects in a discipline relevant to the National Plan preparedness and response;
R, D&T projects should only be funded following an identified need from stakeholders (governments, industry and/or the general public);
R, D &T projects need to demonstrate that they do not simply repeat previous work but seek to build on, or be substantially different to, prior international or domestic work;
cooperative and collaborative based approaches with other institutions and agencies both national and international should be supported consistent with Article 8 of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC);
projects involving both a “high” and “low” tech based approach that may have application both here in Australia and with our regional neighbours should be considered;
projects should include a communications component to keep responders informed of developments and outcomes (transfer of knowledge);
projects involving an innovative or novel approach should not be discounted because of such attributes. Indeed, innovative approaches should be supported where justified; and,
adoption of a flexible approach to matters falling outside of the above framework.

Funding

An effective and efficient response capability is not created merely by spending more on R, D&T projects. The Australian spill response capability and the National Plan’s R, D&T program needs to be tailored to suit our response framework and our existing circumstances – administrative, financial and environmental.

In general, as a group, the Government component of the spill response framework is not a large investor in R, D&T at the national level. However, NPMC should strive to achieve efficient and effective targeting of available funds to better achieve the mission statement, NPMC’s KPIs and identified National Plan project needs.

In considering the level of funding to allocate to R, D&T projects, NPMC should be guided by the National Plan Advisory Committee (NPAC 11) decision of 25 September 1998 that approximately 2.5% of the National Plan funds could be used for R, D&T projects in a financial year.

This should be considered as an indicative guide only and will need to be adjusted in view of both other National Plan priorities and the number and type of project proposals submitted for consideration.

Based on National Plan budgets over the previous 3 years, 2.5% of National Plan funds equates to approximately $50,000 to $105,000 per annum for the R, D&T Program. Within that same period National Plan R,D&T expenditure has ranged from $23,000 to $40,000 per annum.

Process

NPMC will continue to approve the strategic, policy-making and funding direction for the National Plan. National Plan funds should be allocated for research, development and technological projects by NPOG on an annual basis dependent upon priorities and other needs of the National Plan.

AMSA, as Managing Agency for the National Plan, will be responsible for any tender process, including a tender committee with National Plan stakeholders, consultancy/research contract(s), cost control and monitoring of project activities. All intellectual property issues, management, audit and administration requirements will be subject to AMSA's Board's directives, internal policies and management, administrative and legal directives.

Projects may be funded over a number of years with payment forwarded when agreed milestones have been met.

Further details on an indicative process and timetable to bring forward R, D&T projects are outlined at Annex A. [ PDF: 49Kb]

Currently Identified Priority Areas

The National Plan Research and Development Strategy adopted at NPOG 2, on 14 June 2001 outlined a range of priority areas for projects. Upon examination, the identified priority areas proved to be a succinct and useful summary for inclusion in the strategic framework. An outline of the National Plan’s currently identified priority areas for R, D&T projects is at Annex B.[ PDF: 39Kb]

Previously Funded Projects

NPMC, in considering the draft National Plan Budget for 2005-06 FY at its meeting in April 2006 requested inter alia that the strategic framework for National Plan research and development program should also provide information on previously funded R&D projects. A project summary is at Annex C. [ PDF: 131Kb] Copies of the project summary [ PDF: 131Kb] is also available.

Review

This strategic framework should be reviewed by NPMC as, and when required, but at least every 5 years to ensure that it remains targeted to, and addressing the needs of, the National Plan.

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last updated: May 2007