Balancing Nation's Water Books - Biggest Challenge for new National Water Commission
11 Mar 2005
As the first official step in implementing the National Water Initiative is achieved, WWF-Australia has welcomed the appointment of the seven National Water Commissioners.
The National Water Initiative provides a plan that can deliver healthy surface and ground water systems, productive and efficient water use and sustainable urban and rural communities.
"It is the National Water Commission's job to drive the National Water Initiative and make sure funding and projects deliver results where they are most needed," said Dr Helen Foard, WWF-Australia.
Balancing the nation's Water Books by 2010 will be the National Water Commission's greatest challenge - it must be underpinned by world's best water resource accounting.
"As a priority the National Water Commission must address Australia's fundamental water questions: Where is it? How much is there? Who uses and owns the water?" Dr Foard said.
"It is likely that by simply measuring, managing and monitoring water delivery and use accurately we could save 100s, if not 1000s, of gigalitres of water across the country."
"The National Water Commission is poised to change Australia's water history - early strategic decisions on funding and implementation of the National Water Initiative will provide a good indication on whether it can succeed," Dr Foard said.
"Smart sequencing of water projects within the National Water Initiative framework will be critical to its success and the goal of sustainable water use in this country.
"The $2 billion Australian Water Fund must be allocated to meet the objectives of the National Water Initiative framework."
The first job of the National Water Commission is to audit the state of the nation's water resources and water governance arrangements.
"The audit will lay the foundation for identifying funding priorities and for benchmarking the implementation of the National Water Initiative."
"Everybody has a river they like to call their own, but too many Australians have seen their river, creek or spring deteriorate or disappear during their lifetime," Dr Foard said.
