AUSTRALIAN WATER REFORMS FRAMEWORK Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) 1994 Australian National Water Initiative 2004 Neil Power Chairman Australian National Groundwater Sub Group
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