Communiqués
National water commission stakeholder reference group
Communique
20 April 2007
National Water Initiative still the main game
Peak water, industry, business, farming, local government and environment groups this week reaffirmed that the National Water Initiative provides the best opportunity to improve water management and secure more sustainable water resources for Australia.
Meeting in Canberra the National Water Commission's Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG) highlighted the importance of the National Water Initiative (NWI) to achieving much improved water management across Australia and reiterated the pivotal role of the National Water Commission in driving implementation of the NWI.
SRG members were briefed on progress to date against the Prime Minister's National Plan for Water Security and that this plan was a key opportunity to give effect to the reforms in the NWI.
The Reference Group identified a number of key national water reform priorities. These included the need for further improvements to NWI-consistent water planning across Australia; the need to better clarify water entitlements—particularly bulk entitlements—and environmental allocations; the need for further effort to realise water sensitive urban design and urban water reform objectives; and that building human capacity and the technical skills to deliver reforms is critical.
The Reference Group agreed that the NWI is still the 'main water reform game in town' and that it is vital that the National Water Commission continue to play its public (and behind the scenes) roles in driving water reform actions.
The Reference Group noted that following the reorganisation of Australian Government water agencies, the Commission had retained its assessment and programme management roles and will continue to report independently to the Council of Australian Governments on national water issues and progress against the NWI. A new Environment and Water Resources portfolio has been created as a result of the reorganisation, with Malcolm Turnbull the responsible Minister.
A number of presentations were made to the Reference Group including an update on the Prime Minister’s National Plan for Water Security, progress on the CSIRO’s sustainable yield project for the Murray Darling Basin and updates on the biennial assessment of progress against the National Water Initiative, and the Australian Water Resources 2005 assessment. An update on the Water Smart Australia and Raising National Water Standards Programmes highlighted the important role these programmes are playing in supporting NWI objectives. Many projects are addressing specific areas of the NWI, are identifying and addressing knowledge gaps in areas like monitoring and measuring water resources and also assisting to build capacity across the water sector.
'SRG members are very conscious of the rapidly changing landscape in water management in Australia and were pleased to be given the opportunity to better understand how the National Plan for Water Security aligns with the NWI,' SRG Chair, Commissioner Peter Corish said.
'Although there are very disparate groups represented at the SRG there was consensus about the need to retain the central place of the NWI and the shared national objectives embedded in it and a strong commitment among the groups to help carry forward the implementation of the NWI reforms.'
Members attending the meeting included the Australian Bankers' Association, Australian Conservation Foundation, Australian Local Government Association, Australian Water Association, Crawford Fund, Irrigation Association of Australia, Minerals Council of Australia, National Farmers' Federation, National Water Commission, Queensland Farmers' Federation, Water Services Association of Australia and the World Wildlife Fund. The Business Council of Australia is also a member organisation.
For enquiries please contact:
- Kim Ulrick, NWC Communications Manager
- Phone: 02 6102 6023 / 0412 786 945
- www.nwc.gov.au
