Commission-sponsored water seminar series
Events for 2012
January
February
Dr Jane Roberts - Environmental Flow Recommendations: joining the dots
2nd Feb 2012 11:00am-12:00pmVenue: National Water Commission (NWC) Seminar Room, Level 3, 95 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra
Jane Roberts speaks on the RNWS-funded update of a book she co-authored with Frances Marston, “Water Regime for Wetland and Floodplain Plants”, and will reflect on lessons from this work for environmental water management and the use of science in water management.
Scott Lawson, GHD Pty Ltd - Groundwater responses to the 2010-11 floods
21st Feb 2012 11:00am-12:00pmVenue: National Water Commission (NWC) Seminar Room, Level 3, 95 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra
High rainfall and significant flooding associated with a recognised La Niña weather pattern occurred in many areas of Australia during late 2010 and early 2011. These events marked the end of a long term drought for many areas, and are significant benchmarks for developing our understanding of Australia’s hydrological cycle and its seasonal and long-term variations.
Episodes of high rainfall and flooding provide an opportunity to recognise responses in groundwater levels that may be associated with groundwater recharge – an aspect of the hydrological cycle that is critical for our water supplies, but is very difficult to measure. The Commission funded GHD Pty Ltd to undertake an assessment of groundwater level responses that occurred in selected regions of Australia during and following the flooding events, and identify links between those responses and various aspect of the local aquifer water balance. The results of this project will be presented and discussed at this science seminar.
March
Penny Winbanks & Elissa McNamara - South West Victoria Groundwater Atlas: bringing groundwater to the surface
26th Mar 2012 2:00pm-3:00pmVenue: National Water Commission (NWC) Seminar Room, Level 3, 95 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra
Groundwater is a valuable resource, but is often misunderstood. It is complex, often described in unfamiliar technical language and hard to visualise. To improve the community’s understanding of groundwater, the South West Victoria Groundwater Atlas breaks groundwater down into words and graphics that are easy to understand. In developing the Atlas, two distinct processes emerged – content development and community engagement – both with individual challenges. In presenting this work Penny and Elissa will reflect on the framework, process and outcomes of this groundbreaking project.
April
Tim Kirby - Significance of new capability in water information and accounting
11th Apr 2012 11:00am-12:00pmVenue: National Water Commission (NWC) Seminar Room, Level 3, 95 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra
A national-scale picture of water use, availability, and commitments can now be obtained via the new online National Water Account, which was recently developed by the Bureau of Meteorology. While a ‘National Water Account’ might conjure images of grey-suited, balding tax accountants, in reality this is an exciting area of development for water managers that is well worth staying on top of. The NWA will make water information more consistent and comparable, to support water planning and management in line with the NWI.
Tim Kirby will discuss how an accounting model is being built for water information, and how reports and understanding are changing as water accounting begins to mature. He will highlight significant elements and areas to keep a watch on.
Phil Duncan - Benefits of indigenous access to water – closing the gap
30th Apr 2012 11:00am-12:00pmVenue: National Water Commission (NWC) Seminar Room, Level 3, 95 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra
The First Peoples of Australia have maintained strong and vital relationships with their lands and waters since the Dreamtime (Creation). The land and the water give us life – our livelihoods, our cultural identity and our spiritual well-being. We have responsibilities to our lands, territories and waters and they sustain us in turn. As Aboriginal people, we do not divide water into separate environmental economic cultural, social and spiritual components – we see the inherent relationships between these aspects and know that they form an inseparable whole.
Phil Duncan will discuss the benefits of indigenous access to water in closing the gap and the achievements of the First Peoples’ Water Engagement Council.