Water resource planning
Water resource plans play an important role in achieving the aims of the Basin Plan, and build on existing state arrangements for water planning.
By June 2019 State government agencies must develop water resource plans for 36 catchment areas with set sustainable diversion limits. During 2016, the MDBA and the states identified that progress in developing the plans had been slower than expected and was falling behind schedule. To address this, they have developed a program that sets out how they will work together to develop and assess the plans up to 2019, and are considering options for further streamlining the process. As of end of June 2016, none of the 36 plans have been approved. Governments will need to prioritise work on these plans in 2017.
During 2015–16, Queensland consulted with the MDBA on the Warrego–Nebine–Paroo plan. The final plan which was submitted in November 2016 was the first water resource plan to be brought forward for assessment. South Australia also has made significant progress on its three plans. In November 2016, South Australia submitted the draft Murray Region water resource plan to the MDBA for comment. The Australian Capital Territory continued to develop its plans and undertook public consultation. Victoria commenced consultation on its water resource plan areas through a comprehensive risk assessment process. New South Wales has formed a dedicated project management team for developing its plans.
Under the Basin Plan, water resource plans must consider a range of matters, including risks to economic and social uses of water resources, fish, birds and native vegetation, and the health of water dependent ecosystems, water quality, Aboriginal values, maintaining the integrity of groundwater aquifers and how environmental watering is planned. Each water resource plan must also set out local water planning rules for water users, how much water is allowed to be used in each year (the sustainable diversion limit), and how use will be measured and monitored.
Aboriginal peoples engagement in water resource planning
The Basin Plan provides opportunities for Aboriginal perspectives to be heard. The Basin Plan requires water resource plans to identify Aboriginal people's objectives and outcomes based on their values and uses, and Aboriginal communities and organisations are to be included in developing water resource plans. Water planners are increasingly working with Aboriginal people and organisations including Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) and Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN). Representatives of MLDRIN and NBAN meet twice a year to increase Aboriginal involvement in water planning, develop cross-cultural relationships and support networking across Basin Aboriginal Nations.
State governments also have a number of initiatives to improve engagement of Aboriginal people in water resource planning, including partnerships that directly engage with Traditional Owners in the respective water resource areas. The value of these partnerships is gaining national recognition, as demonstrated through the 2015 Australasian River prize awarded to the Ngarrindjeri Nation for their innovative and integrated approach to water management. This has led to several positive outcomes. For example, working groups have been established to discuss and improve Aboriginal involvement across state borders — acknowledging that Aboriginal Nation boundaries do not align with state borders.
As part of the preparation of the Warrego–Paroo–Nebine water resource plan, NBAN delegates advised the Queensland government on appropriate cultural protocols, meeting locations and how to get people involved in developing the water resource plan. This approach helped provide Aboriginal people with culturally safe opportunities to understand and have input to the water resource plan and improve cross-cultural relationships.
Another example is the important relationships that MLDRIN has built with the Australian Capital Territory, South Australian and Victorian government agencies. Agencies in these states have used the Aboriginal Waterways Assessment methodology, developed under the Basin Plan, as a way to develop effective partnerships with Traditional Owners. The Aboriginal Waterways Assessment methodology records and describes the cultural health of sites important to Traditional Owners. In 2016–17, the Aboriginal Waterways Assessment methodology will be rolled out in Queensland.
Case study
Respectful involvement of Indigenous communities
Water is the lifeblood of the Aboriginal nations of Australia. Aboriginal communities possess a deep spiritual and cultural connection with their lands and waters and the health of these environments is key to their personal health and wellbeing. Respectful involvement of Aboriginal communities is key to ensuring an adaptive and inclusive Basin Plan.
An unhealthy Basin is one which is detrimental to the lives of all communities, particularly Aboriginal communities living along rivers and wetlands. It is therefore essential that a holistic and collaborative approach is taken to address issues within the Murray–Darling Basin.
Through an initiative of the South Australian government, representatives of nine Aboriginal Nations from South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria and other community representatives met in April 2016 to collaborate and share information on water management and use.
During the workshop Aboriginal Nations resolved that they need additional support to properly engage in water planning and management, and for planning to be focused on a holistic one-river approach and done in a culturally appropriate way to build a better future for the Basin. Attendees also highlighted that planning needs to be led by Nations and that traditional boundaries and cultural connections between Nations should be properly recognised, as these do not necessarily align with state boundaries.
As result of the workshop, the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources in conjunction with Aboriginal Nations is proposing the use of a country-based planning approach to help establish collaborative and adaptive partnerships with Aboriginal Nations in water resource planning and management.