Indigenous water characteristics
| Objective: | Undertake a series of think pieces and options papers on national issues affecting Indigenous water access and management. |
| Funding: | $300,000 plus applicable GST |
| Jurisdiction: | National |
| Commencing: | February 2011 |
| Completion: | December 2011 |
About the project
The Commission's 2009 Biennial Assessment noted that water to meet Indigenous social, spiritual and customary objectives is rarely clearly specified in water plans. It recommended the further exploration of Indigenous needs in relation to water access and management and of the mechanisms to meet those needs.
Recognition of Indigenous access to water is gaining traction within many jurisdictions. However, water allocations are ad hoc and jurisdictions are seeking guidance on better ways to appropriately recognise Indigenous interests.
The recently established First Peoples' Water Engagement Council, the Commission's Indigenous advisory council, will oversight the development of a series of discussion papers and position statements on a number of national issues affecting Indigenous water access and management.
The think pieces and options papers will identify Indigenous needs on water access and management, considering both cultural requirements and commercial interests. It will also examine the relationship between environmental flows and Indigenous social, spiritual and customary objectives.
Where position statements are produced, this project will also identify appropriate mechanisms to meet the needs identified and make recommendations at national and jurisdictional levels on how to provide for those needs.
The two studies will:
- present an overview of Indigenous requirements for water access and management, including both cultural and commercial requirements, and identifying regional differences
- explore options for a water access entitlement regime for Indigenous access to water for economic development purposes that takes into account existing entitlement holders
- explore the potential for "cultural flows" in Australia to provide for Indigenous water requirements
- identify the mechanisms currently employed by states/territories to provide for Indigenous interests in water
- identify the options for appropriate mechanisms for government agencies to meet the needs identified in the first part of the study based both on the NWI's objectives and the perspective of Indigenous people. It is expected that this part of the study will address both mechanisms for cultural and commercial allocations
- identify options/mechanisms through which Indigenous people may articulate their water requirements and discuss alternative approaches to meeting these requirements.
Project benefits
At a time when many jurisdictions are seeking guidance on mechanisms and practices to effectively engage with Indigenous people in water planning and management and to clarify and better understand Indigenous water needs, this project will provide ideas and options developed from an Indigenous perspective.
The First Peoples' Water Engagement Council understands Indigenous needs and aspirations and will apply this perspective to challenging water allocation and management issues.
The project aims to provide jurisdictional water managers with pragmatic and effective management options to provide equitable water access and entitlements to Indigenous people.