- Contents
- Chapter One Developing the Basin Plan
- Chapter Two Protecting and enhancing
water resources - Chapter Three Delivering water efficiently
and equitably - Chapter Four Using best-practice
financial, management and
governance systems - Financial statements
- Appendixes
- Murray-Darling Basin Commission:
final report - Glossary and Index
MDBA Corporate Plan 2009–2013, Basin Plan Objective 10: Effectively engage stakeholders
Engaging with stakeholders
Background
Stakeholder engagement is a major focus for the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA).
There are a number of statutory drivers for MDBA engagement, with the Water Act 2007 (Cwlth) specifying requirements for engaging stakeholders in the development of the Basin Plan. MDBA must consult with the Basin Officials Committee (see
page xvi), Basin states, the Basin Community Committee (see page xvii), and undertake other consultation as appropriate.
The Basin Plan will require a comprehensive process of community consultation and input, and socioeconomic assessment.
During all phases of the plan’s development, MDBA will engage with non-government stakeholders, including the people, communities and industries of the Basin, mainly through a Basin Community Committee and its specialist subcommittees. In addition, other advisory committees may be established and other forms of consultation undertaken.
MDBA will also work closely with all Basin states and their agencies, and with key conservation, Indigenous and industry bodies. As a high priority, MDBA will work in consultation with the Basin Community Committee to work out the best ways of engaging with stakeholders.
Stakeholder engagement in three broad areas — community and environment; Indigenous; and government agencies — offers an opportunity for MDBA to draw on stakeholder knowledge and to build their capacity to participate in, adapt to and implement the current and future Basin planning processes.
The priority for 2008–09 was to establish processes to support the development and implementation of an integrated ‘best practice’ stakeholder engagement strategy for the effective engagement of the B’s stakeholders in the development of the Basin Plan.
To date, the Chair of the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, the Executive, and other MDBA experts have given numerous presentations to industry, government and community groups on the development of the Basin Plan. This consultative process will expand with the implementation of the stakeholder engagement strategy.
In June 2009, the Basin Plan concept statement and an accompanying fact sheet were released. The concept statement was the first document about the Basin Plan to be published by MDBA. It explains the key elements and approach being taken in developing the plan. Hard copies have been widely distributed and the document is available on MDBA’s website (see <http://www.mdba.gov.au/files/publications/basin-plan-concept-statement.pdf or <http://www.mdba.gov.au/basin_plan/concept-statement.
Community and environment
Work was carried out to identify and prioritise stakeholder groups to facilitate effective engagement. Engagement activities have begun, with various MDBA staff, including the Executive, making presentations at stakeholder forums on both Basin Plan issues and engagement processes.
Approximately 100 meetings, workshops and conferences have been attended by MDBA staff and members of the Executive to discuss these issues with stakeholders.
Indigenous
Engagement with Indigenous stakeholders has continued the work begun in The Living Murray initiative’s Indigenous Partnerships Program (see page 33) to ensure that Indigenous issues are addressed in the Basin-wide stakeholder engagement strategy.
Government agencies
The focus has been on facilitating meetings with all the Basin states and developing protocols and arrangements for future engagement. Close cooperation with the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts through regular meetings and information sharing was also a priority.