AUSTRALIAN WATER REFORMS FRAMEWORK
Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) 1994
Australian National Water Initiative 2004
Neil Power Chairman
Australian National Groundwater Sub Group
Pre-conditions for Groundwater Governance
• Robust legislation • Statutory water management plans • Transparent decision making processes • Water Accounting - Monitoring &
Compliance • Community consultation with groundwater
users and interested groups
Objective of COAG Reforms 1994
By 2001, achieve a water industry
that is economically efficient and ecologically sustainable, and
which delivers better environmental outcomes
The COAG Strategic Framework for Water Industry Reform
Cost Recovery & Pricing
Water Allocations &
Trading
Institutional Reform
Environment & Water Quality
Public Consultation
Five Elements:
Sustainable Management
CoAG Water Reforms–Key Elements COST RECOVERY AND PRICING u Full cost recovery for water planning and management
INSTITUTIONAL REFORM u Separate role/functions of regulators, groundwater managers from service providers
WATER ALLOCATION AND TRADING u Water entitlements (water licences and allocations) separated from land title u Trading of water entitlements
CoAG Water Reforms–Key Elements ENVIRONMENT AND WATER QUALITY u Environment a legitimate user of water u Integrated resource management-surface water and groundwater
PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND EDUCATION u Consult public when change is proposed to water management plans
IMPLEMENTATION u Payments to States if reforms implemented
NWI Inter-Governmental Agreement 2004
Objective To achieve a nationally-compatible,
market, regulatory and planning-based system
--- of managing surface and groundwater resources for rural and urban use ---
--- that optimises economic, social and environmental outcomes, and ---
--- is able to adapt to future changes in the supply and demand for water
NWI OUTCOMES § Nationally compatible water access entitlements – water licences
and allocations
§ Transparent water planning
§ Water plans with provisions for environmental water needs
§ Over-allocated resources returned to sustainable extraction
§ Removal of barriers to trade in groundwater licences and allocations
§ Water accounting – metering, compliance
§ Recognise connectivity – surface and groundwater
§ National Water Commission overviews implementation of NWI actions by States over 10 years
NWI Water Reforms Australian Government Water Act (2007) u Australia Bureau of Meteorology to become national water data manager including groundwater – national databases, set standards
NWI National Water Planning Guidelines 2012 u Specific provisions relating to groundwater u Impacts of land use change u Mining and groundwater
Water Reforms Conclusions
• Reforms have been very effective in Australia
• Good commitment by all levels of Government
• Major reforms have been completed within the agreed timetables
• Groundwater has been recognised as a major water resource requiring specific management measures