Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce Work Plan
Project details
| Objective: | This project will support the taskforce to better understand the opportunities for new and sustainable development in Northern Australia and the potential impacts of these opportunities. |
| Funding: | $0.785 million plus applicable GST |
| Jurisdiction: | Northern Australia |
| Commencing: | July 2009 |
| Completion: | Complete. Read the final report. |
Map courtesy of DEWHA
The Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce is a high-level independent group of Australian experts drawn from broad areas, including indigenous, business, science, conservation, agriculture, and the minerals and energy resource industries. The Taskforce examined the potential for new developments in northern Australia that rely on significant local or regional water resources, and consulted with stakeholders in the north to identify opportunities for further development.
The objective of the assessment was to provide an enduring knowledge base to inform decisions about development of northern Australia's water resources, so that development proceeds in an ecologically, culturally and economically sustainable manner. Development schemes must also be consistent with the principles of the National Water Initiative (NWI).
The Work Plan project explored a range of development scenarios and land use change activities, and their effect on a range of critical sustainability criteria. The first criterion examined was water and how it related to broader land management. This study formed the lens through which the other criteria were viewed and analysed. By completion, the project established principles and guidelines for the sustainable development of northern Australia.
About the project
The Australian Government engaged consultants to undertake research to:
- identify the sustainable capacity of the river systems and/or drainage basins to support increased consumptive water use
- identify economic development and diversification opportunities which rely on access to locally or regionally significant water resources
- identify the potential impact of such development opportunities
- identify incentive, market, regulatory or planning instruments that could be used to assist, control or influence development, so that it proceeds in a manner consistent with the principles of the NWI
- recommend governance arrangements for the effective management of water resources that cross jurisdictional boundaries.
Project benefits
The project established and illustrated principles and guidelines for the sustainable development of northern Australia. It enabled the taskforce to meet its end-of-year reporting requirements, based on its terms of reference.