National Water Commission's Stakeholder Forum

More than 50 irrigation, environment, indigenous, urban water, research and industry representatives attended the National Water Commission's Stakeholder Forum on 7 May to  review the emerging findings in the Commission's 2009 assessment of water reform progress.

The one-day forum provided an opportunity for key water stakeholders to be briefed on the major reform findings emerging from the assessment and to provide input to the report.  This step follows the release of a discussion paper and a public submissions process. The first of two rounds of consultations on the report with the parties to the NWI - the Australian, state and territory governments - has also commenced. The key focus of the biennial assessment is the review of national and state progress towards the objectives set out in NWI, including effective water planning, resolution of overallocation and overuse, management of surface and groundwater resources, clear, compatible and secure water entitlements, improved environmental water outcomes and the assignment of the risks associated with changes in water availability. According to the National Water Commission's communique from the forum, participants provided confirmation and new insights into the progress of national water reform, such as:

• Renewed emphasis on the need to take better account of likely climate change, particularly in light of science and policy trends and developments since the 2004 agreement
• Limitations on water sector skills and capacity issues, and the contribution of this to the delays and crucial shortfalls in water reform efforts
• The need for better communication about reform benefits
• Potentially unrealistic expectations concerning the Murray Darling Basin Authority Basin Plan
• Urgent requirement for governments to invest sufficient resources to implement the ambitious water reforms on the ground
• Continuing overallocation and overuse in catchments
• Suspension of water plans
• Lack of effective Indigenous involvement in water planning and reform.
• New trends and developments such as the need to extend the entitlement regime to cover the mining industry and 'new' water sources (stormwater, recycled water), better coordination of buybacks and infrastructure renewal investments, and urban water institutional reforms.

Stakeholders considered some 'forgotten areas' of the NWI such as risk assignment, and compliance and enforcement.  These may warrant clarification and strengthening. The forum also discussed the challenges facing rural communities, noting that uncertainty over future water availability and environmental water recovery is adding to the structural adjustment pressures that now constitute the single biggest obstacle to a successful reform agenda. Find out more about the National Water Commission's 2009 Stakeholder Forum