[An idiosyncratic perspective on ….] The Australian Water Reform Story Professor Rob Vertessy Global Change Advisory and University of Melbourne 1 waterpartnership.org.au
Australia has a highly variable climate and hydrology The Australian Water Reform Story 2 waterpartnership.org.au
Asian Water Development Outlook 2016 3 waterpartnership.org.au
Two key publications on water reform in Australia The Australian Water Reform Story 4 waterpartnership.org.au
30 Years On – Progress (Urban) Drinking water consistently safe and of high quality • • Reduced per capita water consumption Sophisticated, high-performing water utilities • Full cost recovery in most urban systems • • Independent economic regulation of water pricing Climate resilient water sources introduced • The Australian Water Reform Story 5 waterpartnership.org.au
30 Years On – Progress (Rural) • Robust water entitlement and allocations regimes • Mature water markets functioning • Extraction limits set in the Murray Darling Basin • Comprehensive water sharing plans in place • Massive improvements in efficiency of irrigation • Serious river salinity problems redressed • Large environmental water reserves established The Australian Water Reform Story 6 waterpartnership.org.au
Water reform is tough WATER IS CONTESTED – CONCEDED – COMPLICATED The Australian Water Reform Story 7 waterpartnership.org.au
Narratives underpinning waves of Australian water reform • Public health • Community safety • Economic efficiency • Financial viability • Stakeholder participation • Sustainable water use • Environmental water The Australian Water Reform Story 8 waterpartnership.org.au
Australian water reform success factors: joining the dots Commitment to research and information Stakeholder engagement *** A compelling narrative *** Aligned leadership and statesmanship Evidence based policy with measured implementation The Australian Water Reform Story 9 waterpartnership.org.au
At a time of crisis, our leaders want clear answers to simple questions 1. How much water is available today, relative to the past? 2. Is this drought normal and could it get worse? 3. Who is entitled to use water and how much are they using? 4. How much water is being allocated to the environment? 5. How much water is being lost to evaporation and leakage? 6. How is climate change impacting on our water resources? The Australian Water Reform Story 10 waterpartnership.org.au
New federal water law: Water Act 2007 The Australian Water Reform Story 11 waterpartnership.org.au
Five new functions for the Bureau of Meteorology 1. Set national standards for water data. 2. Authority to mandate the supply of water data from ~180 agencies. 3. Assist water data collecting agencies to improve their monitoring systems. 4. Invest in mission-oriented water information research and development. 5. Provide a range of value-added water information products and services for the nation. This involved: • Initial funding of $400 m over ten-years • Including $80 m in new hydrologic monitoring with data collecting agencies • Including $30 m for R&D with CSIRO (they co-invested an additional $20 m) • Employing 140 new water and IT specialists in the Bureau of Meteorology • On-going funding of $25 m per year after 10 years The Australian Water Reform Story 12 waterpartnership.org.au
Moving data through systems into information services Data >> Systems >> Services The Australian Water Reform Story 13 waterpartnership.org.au
Over 25 freely accessible online information services www.bom.gov.au/water The Australian Water Reform Story 14 waterpartnership.org.au
Water Data Online The Australian Water Reform Story 15 waterpartnership.org.au
Daily assessment of Australia’s hydrologic state Set in the context of 118 years of data The Australian Water Reform Story 16 waterpartnership.org.au
The National Water Account Tracing the ownership, supply, trade, use and loss of water • Reported annually since 2010 • Uses national accounting standards • Covers ~80% of the population • Accounts for ~75% of water used The Australian Water Reform Story 17 waterpartnership.org.au
Seasonal Streamflow Forecasts (3 months) • Flow forecasts available for over 200 sites • Forecasts updated every month • Presented on national television each month The Australian Water Reform Story 18 waterpartnership.org.au
Economists assessed an excellent return on investment The Australian Water Reform Story 19 waterpartnership.org.au
The World Water Data Initiative United Nations High Level Panel on Water World Bank Group GOAL “Guidance for societies to have better and more equitable access to water data and tools, and capacity to use this information, to manage water better” http://www.bom.gov.au/water/about/publications/document/Good- Practice-Guidelines-for-Water-Data-Management-Policy.pdf The Australian Water Reform Story 20 waterpartnership.org.au
Australian water reform success factors Commitment to research and information Stakeholder engagement A compelling narrative Aligned leadership and statesmanship Evidence based policy with measured implementation The Australian Water Reform Story 21 waterpartnership.org.au
Water reform is never finished: Outstanding areas of vigorous debate • Concern about illegal water take in some areas • Doubt about the benefits of environmental watering • Skepticism about the net benefit of irrigation water efficiency improvements • Confusion about how to respond to climate change • Argument over best options and timing for supply augmentations Reconciling such concerns requires good water information to support compelling narratives … and further reform The Australian Water Reform Story 22 waterpartnership.org.au
For further information on this presentation, contact: Professor Rob Vertessy – robert.vertessy@mac.com The Australian Water Partnership is supported by the Australian Government www.waterpartnership.org.au 23 waterpartnership.org.au
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