Indigenous Community Water Facilitators Network
Project details
| Objective: |
To establish a community-based network to advance Indigenous engagement in the research and management of tropical rivers, water use and conservation across northern Australia. |
| Funding: |
Up to $4 787 000 plus applicable GST from the Australian Government towards cost associated with supporting the work program. Total value of the project is $7 187 000 with $2 400 000 being contributed by the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA). |
| Jurisdiction: |
Multi State |
| Commenced: |
November 2007 |
| Completion: | November 2011 |
About the project
This proposal will establish a community-based network to advance Indigenous engagement in the research and management of tropical rivers, water use and conservation across northern Australia. It will act as a catalyst to ensure that Indigenous interests are articulated, encouraged and incorporated into water policy. It is envisaged that this network will work closely with the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) consortium, the NAILSMA Indigenous Water Policy Group, the National Water Commission and state and territory jurisdictions.
Project benefits
This proposal will address key challenges encountered in implementing the National Water Initiative in Australia's north. It will complement existing coordinated action and increase regional knowledge and capacity to underpin water planning for both surface water and groundwater systems, including the capacity of communities to participate in water planning and management processes.
Progress
October 2011
Commission funding for the Indigenous Community Water Facilitators Network (ICWFN) Project has come to an end.
The ICWFN was an initiative of the North Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) and was supported by the Commission as a pilot program.
The project established a network of six regionally based Indigenous Community Water Facilitators to operate across northern Australia in the:
- Kimberley Region Western Australia
- Katherine and Daly River Catchments in the Northern Territory
- Gulf (Gregory River)
- Cape York Region, Queensland.
Project partners included: Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation, Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, the Kimberley Land Council, and the Northern Land Council.
Evaluation
An independent consultant was commissioned to evaluate and report on the project.
He found that the project led to increases in skills, knowledge, confidence and participation of key Traditional Owners (TOs), Land Councils and selected Indigenous community groups for water planning.
The changes were in line with desired outcomes identified in the project concept.
The project has gathered pace recently in the Gulf, Cape York and Top End regions with increased levels of engagement of TOs, Land Councils and Indigenous community members in water discussions and planning.
There is more to do, and in the words of one TO interviewed:
“It’s only very early – it does take time and people are dealing with a complex issue and after 3 years there has been traction in addressing governance and water by Indigenous people” – TO
Key findings from the evaluation are:
- The model of having a Northern Australia professional support base with regionally based facilitators supporting water planning participation by Indigenous individuals and organisations has worked.
- The engagement process for increasing participation of Indigenous people in water planning has established momentum in all regions and with all Land Councils. There is strong desire for facilitory and coordination support to continue
- Water and country planning considerations are seen to go together. A planning process based around a process that identifies; water and country values (economic, environmental, cultural and social); state and trend in condition; threats/opportunities; feasibility of change; and costs/benefits needs to be developed
- Partnership arrangements between a northern Australia (NAILSMA) coordinating and professional support unit and individual Land Councils have worked, however such arrangements require time, focus, rigorous communication processes and partnership building investments
- The contractual accountability to the Australian Government for the water facilitation project was held by NAILSMA and having an indigenous organisation coordinating and delivering professional support clearly worked.
Based on these findings NAILSMA will be seeking funding for a further iteration of the ICWFN.
July 2010
Facilitators are working actively with Indigenous communities throughout northern Australia to build the capacity of the communities to participate in water planning processes undertaken by state and territory governments. Facilitators are based in the Fitzroy and Ord River catchments in Western Australia, the Daly River catchment in the Northern Territory and in the Gulf, Mitchell and Wenlock River catchments in Queensland.