Water regulation worries laid bare in new audit

Key public authorities are failing to tackle worsening water quality in Sydney’s key reservoir, NSW’s auditor has warned in a report highly critical of the state’s EPA.

10 July, 2018

New ‘blueprint’ for major project delivery

A partnership between state and local governments, water utilities, land management and community groups has enabled the most efficient delivery of a large urban waterway project, officials say.

31 May, 2018

Local governments tackle water waste

Extensive community education programs and the use of smart technologies are among the tools being used by “water wise” councils in Western Australia.

14 May, 2018

Size no obstacle to innovation for water bodies: report

State and local government water utilities are turning to new technology and partnerships with private and community groups to meet supply challenges arising from population growth and climate change.

20 April, 2018

Drought-ridden councils spearhead water collaboration

Faced with a dwindling water supply, Queensland’s agricultural powerhouse, the Lockyer Valley, is bouncing back through a unique council-led partnership.

16 April, 2018

International acclaim for Sydney water re-use project

The designers of Sydney Park’s wetlands, created on 40 hectares of former landfill, have again been recognised for their innovative approach.

3 April, 2018

Case study: organisations seek efficiencies through ‘integrated approach’

A shared online mapping tool and the provision of real-time data for both planners and field crews are among the first solutions a local council and water authority aim to develop together.

19 March, 2018

Opinion – Murray Darling debacle shows the failure of federalism

The current standoff over water allocations in the Murray Darlin Basin is as good an example as you could ever find of how Australia’s federal system is broken. The Murray Darling Basin Plan was supposed to be the epitome of how Australia’s states and territories could work with each other and the Federal Government for […]

15 February, 2018

$60 million reef funding ‘will make little difference’

It didn’t take long. On Monday the Federal Government made a big deal out of investing $60 million over 18 months to “set in motion” a major research and development program for the restoration of the Great Barrier Reef. Within 24 hours the plan was attacked by environmentalists, marine scientists and the Greens as too […]

22 January, 2018

New report supports water return to lower Murray Darling

Opponents of releasing more water into the Murray Darling river system for environmental purposes have suffered a defeat. A new independent report says the plan to add 450 gigalitres (GL) annually to the 2750 GL currently released will be good for the environment and have overall socioeconomic benefits. The 300 page report was commissioned by […]

22 January, 2018

The battle over Tasmania’s water

The unedifying battle between the Tasmanian State Government and TasWater over who will control the state’s water and sewerage services has been shunted out beyond the next state election, due to be held by May 2018. Premier Will Hodgman’s Liberal Government (there are no Nationals in the Tasmanian Parliament) has tried to take control from […]

3 December, 2017

SA goes it alone on Murray-Darling Royal Commission

South Australia will launch its own Royal Commission into the allocation of water under the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement. The moves follows a number of damning reports on allegations of water theft and mismanagement, and what the South Australian Government regards as a coverup by the Federal and NSW Government. The issue has been brewing for […]

26 November, 2017

Five years on, Murray Darling plan ‘eroded’

It is five years ago today (22 November) since the announcement of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. But not everybody is happy. The Basin Plan is the latest attempt to reconcile the many demands on water from the extensive river system. It was agreed to at the time by the six governments with jurisdiction over the […]

22 November, 2017

PIRSA wins public sector management prize

South Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has won the top prize at this year’s Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Sector Management. The Gold award was given for PIRSA’s South Australian River Murray Sustainability (SARMS), a $265 million program funded by the Australian Government under a National Partnership Agreement, which is […]

15 November, 2017