Surface water management plans
In this assessment, surface water management plans include plans that provide
the detail behind the allocation of surface water between water users and the
environment. The development of area-specific surface water management plans
requires a detailed understanding of local water use, water use practices,
environmental water requirements and water availability within a single surface
water management area.
Some regions have developed regional water management plans that cover more
than one surface water management area, but contain a similar level of detail
as an area-specific plan.
Community involvement is an important part of the water management planning process.
In areas not covered by any water management plans, water-sharing arrangements
are governed by state legislation, without detailed investigations having been
carried out on the availability and use of the local resources or environmental
water requirements. The lack of specific management arrangements in an area
could indicate either low levels of water development, or a lack of resources
to invest in developing a water area management plan for the area.
Approximately one third of Australia is managed for surface water on a regional
or statewide policy basis, with the remainder of the country managed by more
specific surface water management plans at the catchment and subcatchment scale.
Water management across Australia has changed in recent years; in 1994 the
Council of Australian Governments agreed to water reforms to make water management
more consistent across Australia. The more recent NWI builds on that framework
and provides for improved water reform.
Related links
Surface water management plans is discussed in more detail in the following
sections:
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