Implications for Future Water & River Management
Abstract
The new regional arrangements for NRM under the NAPSWQ and NHT2 programs are ushering in a new approach to natural resource planning. River, water and catchment management plans completed in previous years will not necessarily be the model or template for such plans in the future. The two authors are leaders in a national NRM practice that has recently completed over eight such planning exercises across three States, in addition to extensive experience with water managers and water or river planning.
The following issues are explored:
- What is the new ‘era’ of NRM? What are its essential features, and what implications does this have for river and water planning?
- To what extent does the new framework assist better integration of ecology, social and economic factors?
- What do new elements of target setting and an investment strategy mean for river and water management? How will this require us to do things differently in the future?
- The realities of NRM planning for regional organisations and communities: dealing with new challenges, making headway and making new structures and relationships work. Are there implications for water and river management?
It is certainly not ‘business as usual’ for catchment bodies, river management, water management groups, and all levels of government and industry. The paper explores both the emerging approaches, and the implications for specific stakeholder groups relevant to water and river management.
Authors
Susanne Cooper & Dr Nick Fleming