“In northern Australia the key need is to define what assets exist where and to develop water management strategies that prevent the kind of mistakes that have been made in the south.”
- Strategic Science Framework for the National Water Commission.
This project will draw on existing research by Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge research hub (TracK). Assessments of how the community participated in water planning for the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland, and the Ord River Region in Western Australia have been carried out.
In addition, TRaCK researchers will pilot various tools and techniques in Cape York, northern Queensland and the Darwin area, Northern Territory.
This research is known as the Collaborative Water Planning Project.
Developing new approaches for water planning
The Collaborative Water Planning project will develop new approaches to water planning in Australia’s tropical north.
It is part of TRaCK - the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge research hub. TRaCK brings together leading tropical river researchers and managers from across Australia to focus on the sustainability of rivers and catchments from Cape York to Broome.
In this research project we are looking at ways to improve these collaborative approaches to water planning to improve ways to involve communities, industry and the public; and to include social, cultural and economic values in water planning, especially those held by Indigenous people.
Phase 1 reviewed water planning practices in Australia and overseas. It assessed how the community participated in water planning for the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland, and the Ord River region in Western Australia.
Phase 2 will pilot various tools and techniques used in water planning in northern Queensland and the Northern Territory. The tools will have been used elsewhere in similar situations. Successful tools and techniques that foster collaboration will be widely promoted. Training materials and guidelines will be developed to help others learn how to adopt them.
- Download the Archer Basin Case Study Flyer
- Download the Howard East Case Study Flyer
- Download the Phase 2 Summary Report
Report Summaries
Water Planning in Australia’s Tropical North Phase 1 Summary report (PDF, 2.66 MB)
Water Planning in Australia’s Tropical North Phase 2 Summary Report (PDF, 1.88 MB)
Full Reports
Volume 1: Collaborative Water Planning Literature Review (PDF, 1.61 MB)
Volume 2: Best Practice Strategies and Techniques in Dispute Resolution (PDF, 380 kB)
Volume 3: Water Planning: Legal & Policy Analysis (PDF, 1.27 MB)
Volume 4a: Water Planning in the Gulf of Carpentaria Report (PDF, 1.13 MB)
Volume 4b: Water Planning in the Ord River Report (PDF, 1.03 MB)
Volume 5: Guide to Monitoring and Evaluating Public Participation (PDF, 424kB)
Newsletters
On Track Newsletter #1 (PDF, 2.24 MB)
On TRaCK Newsletter #2 (PDF, 690 KB)
