WWF's working draft for Model Water Reform Bill
15 Jun 2004
Water is Australia's most pressing natural resource issue.
When the Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) meets next week, a framework for Australia's water future will be decided. WWF-Australia believes this National Water Initiative can and should deliver one of the most significant reforms since Federation. The National Water Plan must deal with the past and set a framework for the future.
The National Water Initiative must secure Australia's water future for the natural environment and for the health and prosperity of all Australians.
WWF's checklist-in-brief for the National Water Initiative
- Establish a fully independent national water board - The Australian Water Board;
- CoAG to establish a National Water Commission/Catchment Management Authority (or similar) to implement the national framework and set national standards and targets;
- State Governments to establish fully resourced Regional Catchment Management Authorities;
- Develop 'whole-of-system' water resource planning, which accounts for all significant water use across landscapes, above and below the ground, and across state borders;
- Develop Statutory Water Plans that are transparent, consultative, informed by science, and reviewed every 10 years, with a risk assignment frame - work which is understood by all parties;
- Develop National Water Accounting, Measurement and Monitoring Standards;
- Produce publicly available water accounts for all water use at all scales;
- Establish secure water titles and a public register of titles;
- Immediately audit the status of allocation and river/aquifer health of all surface and groundwater systems;
- Commit to 'balancing the water books' within 10 years;
- Provide public funds to ensure fair treatment with reforms;
- Recognise the increase in value, security and tradeability of entitlements with reforms (water users who benefit can make a contribution to water recovery);
- Legally recognise and clearly define environmental allocations so that fundamental ecosystem functions are maintained in perpetuity;
- Environmental Water Managers and Trusts to maximise environmental outcomes;
- A well coordinated knowledge strategy for water;
- Immediately set caps to prevent deterioration or over-allocation in currently healthy working rivers; and
- Implement a national policy to protect high conservation value systems.
