News

Draft Basin Plan released for consultation period

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority today made available the draft Basin Plan for public comment. The Authority Chair, Craig Knowles said the draft Basin Plan was the next step in restoring balance to the basin. "After nine months of talking to people across the Basin and listening to their ideas I am confident we can move toward a sensible and balanced plan."

Guide to the National Water Commission's Assessment

The National Water Commission has released its comprehensive assessment of water reform progress in Australia, calling on governments to stay the distance on their reform commitments.

Launching the report today, Commission Chair Ms Chloe Munro said, 'This independent report shows that actions under the National Water Initiative have made water use more efficient, sustainable and secure - and this helped Australians weather the worst drought on record.'

National Water Commission releases water reform report card

The National Water Commission will today release the 2011 Assessment of Australian water reform. This report is the third Biennial Assessment delivered by Australia's lead agency for driving national water reform under the National Water Initiative.

West Pilbara desalination plan deferred

The Western Australian State government has formed an agreement with mining giant Rio Tinto that means the company will forfeit its annual water entitlements from the Millstream aquifer and construct a new borefield at Bungaroo Valley. The agreement has also meant the State government will defer its $370 million West Pilbara Desalination Plant.

Frameworks, on-ground methodologies & new opportunities for M&E

Monitoring and evaluating to report the impact of the investment made in land, biodiversity and water continues to be challenging and fragmented across programs and regional, state and national scales. An upcoming conference will discuss M&E projects in light of the need for consistency and integration, with the objective of enabling NRM programs to report more effectively about the impact of the investment they make.

If Water Were Wine...

National Water Commission Chair Chloe Munro poses the question: if Australia's urban water holdings were transformed to wine, would we manage them better?

First come water policy sparks internal stoush

The Western Australian Government's first come, first served policy on water allocation is being criticised from within its own ranks. A Nationals' MP has joined farmers and the conservation council in speaking out against the arrangement.

Join the Basin Community Committee

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is calling for expressions of interest for the second term of the Basin Community Committee (BCC).

Independant review of the National Water Commission commences

The National Water Commission will be reviewed to assess the effectiveness and continuing appropriateness of its roles in promoting water reform objectives and outcomes.

A framework for managing and developing groundwater trading

A new report from the National Water Commission sets out a framework for groundwater trading to optimise benefits to water users and ensure possible risks are properly managed.