Joint Environment and Conservation Position on Water Reform

A joint statement from a number of environmental and conservation NGOs was released on the 24th November, in response to the recent National Water Commission's Biennial Report. The statement highlights six key areas that COAG should focus on when it considers how to redress issues of implementation of the National Water Initiative and water reform in general.

ENVIRONMENT GROUPS’ STATEMENT ON NATIONAL WATER REFORM

The pace of water reform has slowed We call on the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to rapidly accelerate the delivery of existing national water reform commitments and end dangerous levels of water extractions from river and groundwater systems. Aquatic ecosystems are a life-support system sustaining millions of Australians. COAG’s failure to meet its national water reform commitments is contributing to the destruction of aquatic ecosystems, and threatening our well-being and prosperity. COAG must also address the rapidly growing threats to water quality, ecosystem health and water supplies from mining and infrastructure construction, particularly in NSW and Queensland. The National Water Commission (NWC) has prepared 68 recommendations aimed at improving the implementation of national water reform. The NWC has asked state and federal governments focus on six key recommendations at the COAG meeting in Brisbane on 7 December 2009.

Renewed action to implement National Water Reform

We call on COAG to take action to address the following key findings and recommendations from the NWC at their 7 December meeting:

Overallocation is still not dealt with – 15 years after state governments first promised to fix it (NWC, 2009). Address the overuse of water from rivers and aquifers by accelerating the recovery of water for the environment.
Forty per cent of promised water plans are still outstanding, and many others are suspended – caught short by climate change (NWC, 2009). All rivers and aquifers must be covered by water plans that deliver credible environmental outcomes based on good science and remain viable and meaningful under climate change and severe drought scenarios.
The NWC calls for the coordinated removal of all barriers to water trade, including the 4% rule (NWC, 2009). Remove volumetric constraints on water trading and enable water to be reallocated to the environment as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Environmental water lacks security, especially in drought (NWC, 2009). Provide optimal and legally protected environmental flows to all rivers and wetlands and ensure they are managed by well resourced environmental managers with a clear and accountable mandate to protect river health.
The pace of water reform has slowed, at just the time when climate change has raised the bar (NWC, 2009). Take action to ensure that the environment does not bear a disproportionate share of water reduction caused by climate change.
The Commission recommends a national strategy to foster the development of water sensitive cities (NWC, 2009). Urgently diversify urban water supplies by implementing demand management strategies and sustainable supply options including rainwater tanks, recycling and stormwater harvesting.