Australian Indigenous Water Roundtable
Project details
| Objective: | To establish and support a National Indigenous Reference Group for water issues. |
| Funding: | $450,000 from the Australian Government Raising National Water Standards Program |
| Jurisdiction: | National |
| Commencing: | 19 February 2009 |
| Completion: | 2012 |
Progress
About the project
The National Indigenous Reference Group will be chosen at a national meeting of approximately 50 Indigenous leaders in Adelaide in February 2009. The National Indigenous Reference Group will then meet on a regular basis for the following three years.
While the National Indigenous Reference Group will establish a forward work program, some matters demanding immediate attention include:
- identifying issues for consideration during the National Water Commission's Biennial review process
- developing a concept for cultural flows
- recommending a national position on the degree of Indigenous representation in water planning processes
- considering outcomes of the Indigenous Water Planning Forum (scheduled for 19 and 20 February 2009)
- developing a national position on Indigenous access to the consumptive water pool.
Project benefits
Putting in place an established and supported reference group will allow the Indigenous community to properly engage in water planning and will advance Indigenous access to water resources throughout Australia. The group is expected to make national representations on issues related to the National Water Initiative (NWI) and to the National Water Commission's findings in its Biennial Assessments.