Sustainable water resources development in northern Australia: the need for coordination, integration and representation

摘要

The Australian government's push to develop northern Australia identified water security as crucial in underpinning any new agricultural developments. Compliance of the current water resources planning frameworks in the three northern Australian jurisdictions - Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory - with the National Water Initiative is reviewed. An updated approach to water resource development in northern Australia is then proposed that could involve the Australian government taking a greater coordinating role. Four key requirements of this new approach are then discussed: new coordinating legislation (for example, a Northern Australia Water Act); greater involvement of First Nations communities; a more coordinated and integrated water resource planning process; and improved and more transparent processes for water infrastructure funding.