Working to improve river and wetland health
Media release - 26 September 2011
National Water Commissioner Professor Stuart Bunn today launched a national report on the Framework for the assessment of river and wetland health at Riversymposium in Brisbane.
Professor Bunn said, 'This framework can be used to compile a consistent and comparative picture of river and wetland health across Australia.
'This is important because it allows governments to better prioritise investments in river and wetland health projects and the delivery of environmental water.'
As stated in its recent report, The National Water Initiative - securing Australia's water future , the National Water Commission strongly supports environmental water purchases and recognises the positive outcomes they are delivering in the Murray-Darling Basin.
'However,' said Professor Bunn, 'the Commission also found that governments need to improve how they monitor the ecological results of environmental watering.
'This is essential to build community confidence in the benefits of recovering water for wetlands and rivers', said Professor Bunn.
The development of this practical framework is a step towards being able to produce an authoritative national assessment of river and wetland health that brings together the results of existing monitoring programs conducted at state, territory and basin scales.
Professor Bunn said, 'The framework uses a comprehensive model based on seven river and wetland health components that range from catchment disturbance through to water quality and the condition of fish and other aquatic species.
'The framework has now been successfully tested by experts and found to be suitable for use around the country.'
'The National Water Commission developed the framework in cooperation with states and territories. It is now up to governments around Australia to use the framework to improve the way they assess and monitor river and wetland health', said Professor Bunn.
The Commission urges all parties to work together to implement the framework and produce the first nationally-consistent reports on the condition of our rivers and wetlands.
View the full report: Framework for the assessment of river and wetland health (FARWH)