Decision Making in Water Resources Policy and Management: An Australian Perspective

By Barry Hart

Decision-Making in Water Resource Policy and Management: An Australian Perspective presents the latest information in developing new decision-making processes. Topics covered include key aspects of water resources planning, recent water resource policy changes in irrigation, urban, and environmental considerations, the evolution of a water market, a number of case studies that provide real examples of improved decision-making, transfer of the Australian experience overseas, and challenges for the future.

Many countries are experiencing major water scarcity problems which will likely intensify with the continued impacts of climate change. In response to this challenge, there is increased worldwide focus on the development of more sustainable and integrated water resource policies. The Australian experience over the past three decades has led to major improvements in the decision-making processes in water resources policy and management, particularly in response to drought and climate change, providing a great model on which other nations can use and adapt. This information is essential to early to mid-career practitioners engaged in policy, planning and operational roles in all fields of water resource policy and management, and catchment management.

• Summarizes key results from three decades of changes in Australian water resource policy
• Illustrates how Australian knowledge is being used in other countries and how this might be expanded
• Provides international practitioners with real examples of where and how the Australian knowledge is assisting in other situations

• Language: English
• Publisher: Academic Press
• Release date: May 19, 2017
• ISBN: 9780128105245

Book preview

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Part 1

Introduction

Chapter 1

Water Resource Policy, Planning and Management in Australia—An Overview

J. Doolan⁎; B.T. Hart†,‡    ⁎ University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia

† Water Science Pty Ltd, Echuca, VIC, Australia

‡ Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Abstract

This chapter provides a brief introduction to water management in Australia, including an overview of the history of water management in Australia since European settlement. It focuses particularly on the last 30 years, during which Australian governments have been undertaking a program of major water reform, transitioning to a new paradigm of environmentally and financially sustainable water resource management providing high economic value to the nation. This chapter also sets the scene for the rest of the book and summarizes the following individual chapters that go into more detail about specific elements that have contributed to the implementation of the reform agenda.

Keywords

Irrigation; Urban and environmental water reform; Reform processes

Chapter Outline

Introduction

Phases in Australian Water Management

The Early Years—The Build and Supply Phase

The Reform Era

Key Elements of Australian Water Reform

Progress With Water Reform

The Millennium Drought (1997–2009)

The Process of Water Reform

Decision Making in Water Reform

The Australian Experience—International Applicability

Water Reform in Australia—The Future

References

Introduction

Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the world. It is renowned for its highly variable climate, with a history of recurrent droughts often punctuated by large floods. The long, dry periods have always been a major challenge for communities and governments as they sought to develop and use the nation's water resources to provide secure water supplies for cities and towns and promote economic growth.

Australia is a federation of six states and two major territories. Under the Australian Constitution, state and territory governments have responsibility for land and water management. Water in Australia is owned by the Crown and its management is vested in state governments. The Commonwealth government's role is one of oversight, facilitation, and investment, ensuring that the national interest is met, particularly in transboundary river and groundwater basins, like the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), the Great Artesian Basin, and the Lake Eyre