Delivering Sustainability through Risk Management

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:52:24 +0000

This project was designed to achieve an improved level of adoption of ecological risk assessment and risk management methods in the Australian irrigation industry and in regulatory agencies. Adoption of risk-based approaches is considered to be vital if the industry is to achieve its goal of long-term sustainability.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

UMO45

Host Organisation:

Monash University

Researchers:

Prof Barry T Hart

Subjects

Subjects:

Monitoring and Assessment

Landscape Management

Salinity

Soils

Water (General)

Catchment Management

Irrigation

Keywords:

Policy

Information Management

Project Information

Outcomes:

The National Program for Sustainable Irrigation established an Ecological Risk Assessment framework for assessing the ecological risks associated with Australian irrigation systems. This new decision support tool should assist the Australian irrigation industry in quantifying and prioritising the ecological risks from their activities, and also to better focus their management actions to minimize these risks.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

The adoption of risk-based approaches is considered to be vital if the industry is to achieve its goal of long-term sustainability. This project is a logical extension of an earlier NPSI project (UMO40) that developed an Ecological Risk Assessment framework for the Australian irrigation industry (Hart et al., 2005).

Aims:

To extend the development and knowledge management of the Irrigation Ecological Risk Assessment project to allow the protocols to be adopted nationally
To trial in 4 irrigation regions and provide training courses to foster adoption.
To engage with planning authorities and regulators at regional, state and Commonwealth levels as an input into policy development and application.

Coordinating Deep Drainage Research in the Northern Darling Basin

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:01:48 +0000

This project will provide coordination and information exchange as necessary between the various stakeholders to optimise the various deep drainage projects outcomes. This task will be achieved by having 2 groups.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

CRD2

Host Organisation:

Cotton Research & Development Corporation

Researchers:

Nicky Schicy

Subjects

Subjects:

Irrigation

Rivers and Wetlands

Keywords:

Information Management

deep drainage

Project Information

Outcomes:

An understanding of the current knowledge on deep drainage by all participating researchers in Northern Darling Basin deep drainage
An agreed position by researchers and primary stakeholders , (Community groups, Catchment Authorities, commodity groups, investors, regulatory and policy organizations) of future research activities necessary
Primary stakeholders informed of the research progress and the implications for their particular interest
That stakeholders agree to a continued coordinated approach

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Land and Water Australia was part of a syndicate determining the research requirements into deep drainage in the Northern Darling Basin. As part of the research Clive Lyle Consulting and Aquatech Consulting produced a report, Better Catchment Planning and Water Resources Management (January 2002). There was substantial debate on their recommendations with varying acceptance, particularly from the MDBC. Over time some of these differences have been resolved and further investment into research has been provided by GRDC, CRDC and the Australian Cotton CRC.

The report recommended a peak Management Committee to provide overall research coordination. The membership of this group should include representatives of funders, key industries, R&D providers, Catchment Management Boards and organisations legally responsible for water. The Convenor is recommended to be a basin wide or national organisation.

Aims:

Develop an agreed understanding by peak stakeholders of deep drainage in the Northern Darling Basin
Develop clear and agreed gaps in knowledge and how to overcome them

Location

State & NRM Region:

New South Wales

Queensland

Locations:

Northern Darling Basin

All in Information Management

Delivering Sustainability through Risk Management

Coordinating Deep Drainage Research in the Northern Darling Basin