Tiwi Islands water allocation plan
Project details
| Objective: | To enable the Northern Territory Government to employ an Indigenous water planner. The water planner will develop a water allocation plan for the Tiwi Islands over the next two years |
| Funding: | $300 000 plus applicable GST |
| Jurisdiction: | Northern Territory |
| Commencing: | January 2009 |
| Completion: | January 2011 |
About the project
The Australian Government is contributing funds to the Northern Territory Government to employ an Indigenous water planner for two years. The water planner will develop a water allocation plan for the Tiwi Islands where there are forestry and groundwater extraction pressures on the resource.
The Tiwi Islands water plan will be the first developed for a water system entirely within Aboriginal land. The methodology and processes developed will provide lessons for other plans in Indigenous lands and also for areas where there is a mixture of land tenure and ownership.
The Tiwi Islands water allocation plan will also be a case study for the development of tools and guidelines for water planning that will be developed in the separately funded Water Planning Processes: Lessons, gaps and adoption project.
Project benefits
This investment will enable the Northern Territory Government to undertake the development of the Tiwi Islands water allocation plan immediately. It provides an opportunity to develop tools and guidelines that support other Indigenous water allocation plans and other water sharing plans that recognise Indigenous access to water resources. This project will be one of the first steps into the water planning profession for Indigenous people in Australia.
Progress
Nil to date.