All in Policy

Developing institutional arrangements of Indigenous participation in the National Water Initiative

superuser — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:10:14 +0000

This LWA funded project developed a research program for the Indigenous Water Policy Group to cover identified information gaps and key issues. The themes included: identification of Indigenous water rights; interactions between water markets and the customary sector; examination of international experience, frameworks and models; Indigenous economic position in water use and markets; representation on environmental bodies; communication; and scrutiny of water services, maintenance and delivery. The project was based on the observation that while the National Water Initiative offers some economic opportunity for Indigenous communities, the NWI provisions are discretionary.

IDs and People

Program:

Social and Institutional Research Program

Program Theme:

Social and Institutional Research

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

0071001

Host Organisation:

Land and Water Australia

Subjects

Subjects:

Indigenous

Water (General)

Keywords:

Policy

Water

Economic

Indigenous

group

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

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.

Northern Australia Irrigation Futures

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:53:14 +0000

This project will deliver a framework for use by policy makers, regulators, managers, and investors to ensure irrigation is developed in a sustainable manner across northern Australia. Stage I of the project will involve development of the full project team, key client/stakeholder/collaborative network, and detailed work plan and budget. Stage II will involve carrying out the work plan agreed to in Stage I.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

CDS23

Host Organisation:

CSIRO Land and water

Researchers:

Dr Keith Bristow

Subjects

Subjects:

Climate (General)

Landscapes

Native Vegetation

Soils

Water (General)

Irrigation

Keywords:

Policy

Tropical

Decision Support Systems

Ecological Management

Project Information

Outcomes:

A more informed and knowledgeable community and irrigation industry able to capture advantage of key biophysical and socio-economic features when designing and implementing irrigation developments in northern Australia
Whole of system irrigation management practices that meet catchment goals thereby safeguarding the health and services of surface and groundwater systems, wetlands, estuaries and marine environments
Regional adoption of new State policies that support development and management of sustainable irrigation schemes and practices
A sustainable irrigation industry in northern tropical Australia that delivers a wide range of economic and social benefits whilst minimising environmental impacts

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Irrigation is fundamental to the Australian economy and the reality is that further irrigation developments will occur in northern (tropical) Australia. An opportunity exists to address new developments in a proactive way by designing irrigation systems to fit specifically within the northern Australian environment, thereby minimising the risk of mistakes and problems experienced by irrigation schemes in other parts of the country.

Aims:

To delineate key landscape attributes (including soil & water resources, climate, vegetation, rivers, near shore marine environments, & where appropriate links to people, industries, markets) relevant to ecologically sustainable irrigation across northern Australia.
To use key landscape attributes to develop sustainability indicators and associated management criteria covering a range of scales (field, farm, district, irrigation scheme, catchment) for northern Australia.
To develop an overall framework that, through their involvement, is embraced by policy makers, regulators, investors and managers, to help ensure any irrigation is managed in a consistent, ecologically sustainable manner in northern Australia.
To use a number of linked case studies and stakeholder input to support and inform development and testing of the framework.
Through provision of a robust framework, contribute tools and knowledge to support considered debate, decision making and long term strategic planning for northern Australia & Australia as a whole.

Location

State & NRM Region:

Queensland

Northern Territory

Locations:

Daly River

Ord River

Burdekin River

Northern Australia