Water Reform in the 21st Century Seminar

29 October 2003
Charles Sturt University
Wagga Wagga NSW

This seminar explored the implications of CoAG's National Water Initiative to deliver a robust framework for water access entitlements for water users, river health and government.The Initiative stated that jurisdictions will establish a robust, transparent regulatory water accounting framework that protects the integrity of entitlements. The current (2003) entitlement, allocation and trading mechanisms used to manage water contain serious omissions that need to be resolved. As a general rule both the way current entitlements are defined and the way trading arrangements are arranged could not be defined as robust.

What does the word robust mean in a policy context? What are the features of a robust system? How much change is needed if robust systems are to be put in place? What would be the best way to sequence these reforms so that gains are greatest and costs to both government and community are minimised and benefits maximised. How could such reforms be put in place with a minimum of concern?

Report from the seminar

Compiled by Prof. Kath Bowmer

Some critical issues

(See powerpoint presentations for a full description of the water policy context, MDBC needs, CSIRO Healthy Country Research and CSU Research Capacity)

� Kevin Goss for the Murray Darling Basin Commission described the appointment of an environmental manager and the establishment of an environmental water account as part of the Living Murray Process. Advice will be required on how to manage this water.

� Fruitful areas for research include:

o The incorporation of smart river operations into river management

o An understanding of whole river function in environmental water allocation (as well as water for icon sites)

o Options for public investment in on-farm infrastructure to

o Improve water use efficiency

o Options for adaptation to climate change and climate variability

o Options for forestry in catchments, particularly placement to optimise effects on salinity and water yield (the London was given as a good practice case study)

� Matt Linnegar of Rice Growers pointed out that models of community and industry engagement were not included in the presentations �he expects that OECD and other models should be prominent and alternatives explored. (The Rice Industry is developing an Environmental Champions program for example).

� Please see the UNESCO HELP leaflet on a global network of catchments to improve the links between hydrology and the needs of society. Shahbaz Khan is to be congratulated on achieving Reference Basin Status for the Murrumbidgee �seen as demonstrating best practice. We could build on this initiative.

Group Deliberations

Groups met for an hour after the workshop and were asked to consider some of the following issues:

� Innovation and opportunities

� Application of current or emerging proposals to management or policy

� How to achieve synergy across groups to achieve outcomes desired

� Key partners

� Mechanisms to involve students

Each group reported back to the workshop as follows:

Irrigation Cloud

� We should enhance our strengths

� New joint projects could be developed in the following topics: groundwater description and management; water use efficiency in vines; soils and irrigation

� In order to broaden our impact we should involve industry ( such as Murray Goulburn and other Water Corporations , States, ACIAR, UNESCO)

� CSIRO, CSU and other partners should consider scientific exchanges

� Joint scientific papers and position papers should be planned

� Students (Honours to PhD levels) could be co-supervised

� New CRCs can be used to foster partnerships (Irrigation Futures, Value-added Rice Based Systems, Viticulture)

� Social researchers and issues need to be included from the beginning

� Incentives to co-operation include access to facilities for CSU partners (wine was listed!)

� Web page and email lists can be used to improve communicate

Landscape Systems and Integrity/ River Health Clouds

� Emphasis should be given to large-scale land use and climate change/variability. Systems approaches need to be enhanced.

� Priority areas for research are:

o Afforestation (impact on runoff and water balance);

o Better agricultural practices to achieve better outcomes for the river (environmental flows and reduced salt load)

o Improved biodiversity values in the landscape-including integrated planning for remnant bushland, native grasslands and crops

o Implementation of land stewardship

� Capacity of existing CSU staff was a cause of concern. Appointment of more post-doctoral fellows to work jointly with the partners was proposed as a useful strategy.

Human Perceptions, Value and Behaviour Cloud

� This area is regarded as critical because decisions often hinge on people�s values and perceptions

� Fear often impacts on decisions (e.g. the Plains Wanderer effect)

� Processes for good communication and engagement are required (this may change according to issue and region)-for example there are major differences in urban and rural approaches and perceptions

� We need to explore models of behaviour change-a task suitable for CSU psychologists?

� Application and adoption of knowledge depends on values and attitudes so this ought to be a component of all projects and proposals

Nature and Use of Knowledge and Information

� Valuable resources are available (e.g. the Regional Archives)

� There is poor take-up of scholarships at honours/doctoral levels-CSIRO top-ups may help

� The media could be used more effectively �e.g. Nick Klomp as science correspondent. Also the School of Visual and Performing Arts can offer exhibitions, design, visualisation, theatre etc

� Information technology can be used to provide cross disciplinary communication and outreach to the region

� IT and the Spatial Analysis Network could also support the CMA�s in the region, noting that information in the right format is critical for decision-making

Governance, Institutions and Policy Mechanisms

� Governance is a researchable topic!

� People think differently about what they want and what they value

� Concepts of equity and fairness need to be incorporated

� Local government role and instability is a critical component

� Social impact research may add options � method of financial support and structural adjustment could be researchable topics

Reflective practice on integration

� Partnerships should look for synergy, connections and collaboration rather than competition-collaborative arrangements are crowded so we need to look for a unique advantage

� Need to be able to explain to the research purchaser what the value adding is (Kevin Goss for the MDBC questioned the intelligent purchaser-ethical provider model, and as a purchaser felt that he should not be expected to be over-intelligent!)

� The move to integrated approaches is required to find acceptable options for large complex river and landscape problems. We need to move from the classical science approach (systematic, certain, controlled, low risk) to the integrated approach (serendipity, uncertainty, participatory, high risk)

� The emergence of the Catchment Management Authorities is a unique opportunity for the University/CSIRO partnership in its region

� A leadership role in supporting catchment management and community/industry engagement should be aspired to �nationally and internationally (see UNESCO HELP an opportunity to build on).

Water