Indigenous aspirations on northern water
| Objective: | To develop knowledge and understanding on Indigenous social, cultural and economic aspirations with respect to land and water management and development in northern Australia. |
| Funding: | $800,000 plus applicable GST |
| Jurisdiction: | Multijurisdictional across northern Australia |
| Commencing: | February 2011 |
| Completion: | March 2012 |
About the project
The Australian Government established the Northern Australia Water Futures Assessment (NAWFA) to provide the science needed to inform the development and protection of Northern Australia's water resources, so that development is ecologically, culturally and economically sustainable.
Under NAWFA's Cultural and Social Program this project provides NAILSMA (the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance) with $800 000 to conduct four connected sub-projects that will develop knowledge and understanding on Indigenous social, cultural and economic aspirations with respect to land and water management and development in the north of Australia.
Outcomes relate to the over arching Indigenous objective of the NWI - that water access entitlement and planning frameworks should recognise Indigenous needs in relation to access and management. These projects are designed to articulate Indigenous needs across northern Australia in relation to access, management and entitlements.
The project outcomes will directly inform government initiatives and policy settings, Indigenous community initiatives, and inform a range of stakeholder interest groups and potential investors.
Project benefits
Project outcomes include:
- an enhanced understanding of north Australian Indigenous peoples' aspirations for economic development driven by their values, perceptions and priorities
- establishment of the range of economic development opportunities that could contribute to sustainable Indigenous livelihoods
- better knowledge on the inputs required to achieve a balanced triple bottom line outcome in northern Australian development i.e. ensuring socio-cultural aspects receive requisite recognition
- development of practical strategies to contribute to sustainable Indigenous livelihoods
- identification of research needs to support sustainable Indigenous livelihoods
- input to the creation of innovative government policy to support sustainable Indigenous livelihoods
- identification and setting of an Indigenous socio-economic research and development agenda and the identification of potential research partner organisations
- enhanced knowledge of regional governance structures and how they capture Indigenous social and cultural aspirations
- enhanced knowledge of traditional practises, use and means to integrate Indigenous knowledge with western science toward its application to water management, resource and economic development and policy decisions.
Image: plunge pool in northern Australia, courtesy of TRaCK.