NatStats ‘08 Conference
“The importance of water data for
National Water Reform”
Ken Matthews
Chairman and CEO
National Water Commission
Friday, 21 November 2008
Outline
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The National Water Initiative and the data issue
Why is water data important?
The new role for the BoM. BoM / ABS
collaboration.
Issues in water reform requiring better data.
Background: Some relevant NWI
requirements
All governments have agreed to:
• adequate measuring, monitoring and reporting
systems for our water
• development of water accounting standards,
standardised reporting formats, water resource
accounts
• benchmarking of water accounting systems
• Improved and nationally consistent metering
Background: NWI Commitments on Data
The States and Territories have agreed to:
i.
Improve coordination of data collection and
management systems to facilitate sharing of
information
ii. Develop partnerships in data collection and
storage systems
iii. Identify best practice in data management
systems for broad adoption.
Water Data: why is it important?
1. The NWI and the NWC
emphasise evidence and
data-based decision making.
2. Reform will only stick if the
case can be demonstrated.
Sustainable water resources
management
Infrastructure
Environment
Entitlements
Good water
information
is the key
Trading
Planning
Management
Problems with Australia’s Water Data
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variable quality and reliability
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lagged and dated!
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fragmented and incomplete
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lack standards for collection and analysis
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lack standards for access, transfer and
aggregation of data
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lack a culture of data sharing
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Insufficiently regionalised, geo-tagged
Inadequate for decision-making
Insufficient for public confidence
Improved water data for …
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understanding and identifying water issues
forecasting water availability and consumption
water policy formulation
water system modelling and other science needs
NWI-consistent water planning
water infrastructure investment planning
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decision-making about water resource use
Improved water data for…
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day-to-day management of water
effective operation of water markets
compliance and enforcement
water accounting and public reporting
performance benchmarking across the water
sector
monitoring and review of water management
decisions
• & accountability of water decision-makers
New Water Data Role for the BoM
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New capacity; additional resources
$460m over 10 years
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$10m AWRIS start-up funding
Legislation for mandatory data standards
collection and reporting
Historic initiative
ABS / BoM roles
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BoM: physical hydrology and water data
standards and architecture
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ABS: water supply and use in the economy
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collaboration on the national water account.
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Data integration (science, economic, social) is a
serious unmet need in the water sector
BoM has an historic chance to deliver
data differently…
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collaboration to encourage user input and integration
“Make the data available” – a lost opportunity
“Actively making the most of the data” – new paradigm to
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actively promote value adding to data,
actively building users into data design
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actively championing novel data applications,
nurturing new data users,
i.e., intellectual leadership in water knowledge applications as well as
good service delivery in water data provision
The Water Reform Cycle
Assessment/Audit
NWC
Policy Implementation
Issue Identification
(“Diagnosis”)
State & Commonwealth
Departments
NWC
Policy Development
(“Prescription”)
Ministers, State & Commonwealth
Departmental Advisors
Diagnosis
Incubation
Acceptance
Handover
The NWC and the Water Data Issue
NWI identifies water data deficiencies
NWC describes the data problem in its Baseline Assessment
NWC convenes National Water Data Summit
Water Ministers note need for action
Water for the Future dedicates $450m to the BoM
Adjusting to Climate Change
The “Big Six” Challenges – Water
Reform 2008-09
1. Resolving over-allocation
2. Adjustment of Australia’s irrigation industry
3. Improving management of water-dependant
environmental assets
4. Securing urban water supplies
5. Implementing the MDB reforms
6. Finding new Commonwealth/State working
relationships in water
The NWI – more relevant than ever
 Over-allocation…
 Sustainable levels of extraction…
 Balancing consumptive use and environmental water…
 Managing climate change risks…
 Water-induced adjustment…
 Longer term water planning…
 Institutional reform…
 Introducing water trading…
 Improved Accounting for water…
The NWI and data deficiencies
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Over-allocation…
Sustainable levels of extraction…
Balancing consumptive use and
environmental water…
Managing climate change risks…
Water-induced adjustment…
Longer term water planning…
Institutional reform…
Introducing water trading…
Improved accounting for water…
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The Central Issue in Water in Australia
How much water is
available?
How much
for the
environment?
How much for
consumptive
use?
How much for each
alternative consumptive
How much
for each
use?
alternative consumptive
use?
How much
for each
alternative consumptive
use?
In particular, better data needed for:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Specifying secure water entitlements
Undertaking transparent, statutory water planning
Specifying statutory provisions for the environment
Specifying, and managing to, sustainable levels of
extraction
5. Facilitating water trading
6. Benchmarking and improving accountability of players
7. Addressing water-induced adjustment
* Source: National Water Initiative
Some of the questions we still need to
answer
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How much water is available in different parts of the country
today (and how does it compare with history)?
How much water is likely to be available in the coming days,
weeks, months and years? Distribution?
How much water is the environment getting? Where?
How is water quality changing?
How much water is being intercepted by farm dams and
various land management changes? Where?
How much water is being traded? Where and when is water
being traded?
Some of the questions we still need
to answer
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What and where are the environmental assets?
Which and where are the stressed water systems?
Which and where are the most water-dependent
communities? (social assessments)
Better understanding of the economics of waterdependent industries.
For all the above: baseline, trend, and forecasting data at
national, regional, basin, catchment and local levels
…plus integration (biophysical, social, economic, regional)
Key messages today
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More than most sectoral reform processes, water reform
has made a feature of the data issue
There are still many gaps and deficiencies in current water
data
Improved water data is sorely needed for many water
management functions and many water policy issues
There is an historic opportunity for the BoM to play a
leadership role in maximising the value of Australia’s
water data. This would require close collaboration with
ABS.