NATIONAL WATER KNOWLEDGE AND
RESEARCH PLATFORM
September 2012
Published by Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Endorsed by COAG Standing Council on Environment and Water (SCEW)
© Commonwealth of Australia 2012
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ISBN 978-1-921733-68-0
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through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.
2
Contents
Part 1 - Introduction .............................................................................. 5
1.1 Background ...................................................................................................... 5
Part 2 - Objectives and scope for the Platform ................................... 5
2.1 Objectives ......................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Scope ............................................................................................................... 6
2.2.2 Alignment with other national initiatives and strategies ........................................... 6
Part 3 – Ensuring coordinated research effort for priority research
and best returns on investment .............................................. 7
3.1 National principles for water knowledge and research ................................ 8
3.2 Focal groups .................................................................................................... 8
3.3 Government protocols for priority knowledge and research investments . 8
3.4 National Water Knowledge Symposium ......................................................... 9
3.5 Knowledge, information and data management and access ..................... 10
3.5.1 Data and information gaps ...................................................................................... 11
Part 4 - National water research themes ........................................... 11
Appendix A: Characteristics of the National Water Knowledge and
Research strategy as identified in the 2008-11 COAG work
program on water ................................................................... 13
Objectives ............................................................................................................. 13
Research themes ................................................................................................. 13
Other requirements .............................................................................................. 13
Appendix B: National water research themes.................................. 15
B.1
Research Theme 1 – Environmental water ........................... 15
B.1.1 Objective ..................................................................................................... 15
B.1.2 Aquatic ecology/ecosystem health ........................................................... 15
B.1.3 Groundwater ............................................................................................... 16
B.2
Research Theme 2 - Water quality......................................... 16
B.2.1 Objective ..................................................................................................... 17
B.2.2 Water quality ............................................................................................... 17
B.2.3 Management of contaminated and low quality water .............................. 17
3
B.3
Research Theme 3 – Social and economic and institutional
reforms .................................................................................... 18
B.3.1 Objective ..................................................................................................... 18
B.3.2 Water planning knowledge and information needs ................................. 18
B.3.3 Water markets and pricing ........................................................................ 19
B.3.4 Regulation and institutional arrangements .............................................. 19
B.4
Research Theme 4 – Future water availability...................... 19
B.4.1 Objective ..................................................................................................... 19
B.4.2 Climate change impacts ............................................................................ 20
B.4.3 Interception ................................................................................................. 20
B.4.4 Understanding water resource impacts, proving unknown water
resources and finding alternative water sources .................................. 20
B.5
Research Theme 5 – Irrigation water use efficiency ............ 21
B.5.1 Objective ..................................................................................................... 21
B.5.2 Irrigation knowledge needs ....................................................................... 21
B.6
Research Theme 6 – Hydrology and hydrological modelling22
B.6.1 Objective ..................................................................................................... 22
B.6.2 National Hydrological Modelling Strategy ................................................ 22
B.6.3 Hydrology assessment .............................................................................. 22
B.6.4 Future needs ............................................................................................... 23
B.7
Research Theme 7 – Urban water systems .......................... 23
B.7.1 Objective ..................................................................................................... 24
B.7.2 Long-term supply and demand ................................................................. 24
B.7.3 Integrated urban water management ........................................................ 25
B.8 Research Theme 8 – Groundwater .............................................. 25
B.8.1 Objective.................................................................................................... 25
B.8.2 Groundwater and groundwater dependent ecosystems ....................... 25
Appendix C: Current activity in major government-led
programs/initiatives across priority knowledge and research
themes ..................................................................................... 27
4
PART 1 - INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
In November 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to the
development of a National Water Knowledge and Research Platform (the Platform) to
establish priority research themes, ensure coordinated research effort, and ensure the best
possible returns from new knowledge investments.
This document and its priority research themes are intended to serve as a national platform to
inform future initiatives and investments by all governments and to influence industry and
community water management practices.
Research themes were developed by drawing on input from senior officials from relevant
Commonwealth, state and territory agencies, and from leading experts covering water related
policy and research disciplines.
This document comprises three key parts:

objectives and scope;

principles to enhance communication, co-ordination and collaboration across priority
research themes and ensure the best possible returns on investment; and

eight key research themes.
PART 2 - OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE FOR THE PLATFORM
2.1 Objectives
The high level objective of the Platform is to:
Develop a targeted water research and knowledge platform so that key decisions on water
policy, management and use in Australia can be based on best available and continuously
improving knowledge and information.
The overall objectives of this Platform are to:

identify national priority water knowledge and research needs to assist decision making for
water management;

define principles to improve collaboration in the procurement and supply of priority water
knowledge and research activities; and

define principles to facilitate improved water knowledge management and uptake,
including through more open access to information and improved communication
strategies.
These overall objectives capture the original objectives identified by COAG in 2008 (Appendix
A).
The principles and protocols identified in this document, together with the national priority
water knowledge and research themes are intended to form an agreed, national framework for
future collaboration, investment and information management.
5
2.2
Scope
The principles and protocols identified in this Platform to enhance communication,
co-ordination and collaboration are designed to apply to all government investments in the
priority knowledge and research themes and topics identified in this Platform.
In defining the thematic framework for the Platform, this document identifies knowledge and
research themes across a range of disciplines and research needs required to improve and
inform more efficient and sustainable management and use of surface and ground water
resources and their dependent ecosystems. As such the Platform extends beyond the natural
sciences, for example hydrology and hydrogeology, to incorporate economics, social science
and information management. It is intended to cater to the needs of water users and
managers in public and private sectors, as well as the needs of industry and the wider
Australian community.
The document identifies national priority water knowledge and research needs for the next five
years. It is proposed that the identification of knowledge and research gaps and opportunities
within the Platform occur on an ongoing basis. A major review of the Platform will occur five
years from the date of adoption and will be undertaken by the Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) in consultation with research
providers and end-users.
The Platform does not seek to describe governance models, funding options or budget for the
supply of research services. It focuses on identifying priorities and establishing consistent
approaches for obtaining and using research in priority areas.
2.2.2 Alignment with other national initiatives and strategies
This Platform is to be informed by, and potentially influence, other knowledge and research
initiatives. These include:

The National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) provides a national approach
to improving water quality in Australia's waterways. The NWQMS aims to protect the
nation's water resources by improving their quality, reducing pollutants and at the same
time supporting the businesses, industry and communities that depend on water for their
continued development. This Platform makes reference to the NWQMS under Research
Theme 2 – Water quality.

The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) is an Australian
Government initiative that aims to develop National Adaptation Research Plans to identify
critical information gaps, synthesise existing and emerging research on climate change
impacts and adaptation, undertake research on national priorities and maintain key
adaptation research networks. This Platform makes reference to NCCARF under
Research Theme 4 – Future water availability: demand and supply.

The National Framework for Climate Change Science (NFCCS) identifies national climate
change science priorities for the coming decades. This Platform makes reference to the
NFCCS under Research Theme 4 - Future water availability: demand and supply.

The Primary Industries Standing Committee (PISC) Water Use in Agriculture National
Research and Development Strategy aims to ensure Australia's agriculture research,
development and extension capacities are aligned nationally with future industry needs, to
initiate collaboration that strengthens Australia's position in international markets and to
6
ensure that research, development and extension delivery is both more efficient and
effective. This Platform makes reference to the PISC Strategy in Research Theme 5 –
Maximising the productivity and efficiency of water use in irrigation.

The National Hydrological Modelling Platform (NHMP) is a COAG initiative intended to
ensure that future water planning and management is informed by the use of best practice
modelling. This Platform makes reference to the NHMP in Research Theme 6 – Hydrology
and hydrological modelling.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) National Water Information Program (NWIP) aims to
make water information as comprehensive and accessible as weather information. This
Platform makes reference to the NWIP under Research Theme 6 – Hydrology and
hydrological modelling.

The National Water Skills Strategy (NWSS) was published by COAG in 2009 to identify the
skills and capacity building requirements in the water sector. The NWSS focus is to
encourage and work with industry to build demand for and uptake of state and national
training programs so that the water sector can take full advantage of the pre-existing
opportunities available through existing government programs. To avoid duplication with
the NWSS, this Platform does not separately address water skills and capacity building.

The National Plan for Environmental Information (NPEI) is a whole-of-government initiative
designed to coordinate and prioritise the way the Australian Government collects,
manages and uses environmental information. As such, it represents a long-term approach
to building and improving Australia’s environmental information base. This Platform makes
reference to the NPEI under Section 4.2 Knowledge, information and data management
and access.

The 2011 Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure (2011 Roadmap) aims
to identify Australia’s national research infrastructure priority areas. The 2011 Roadmap is
led by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
(DIISRTE). This Platform does not make specific reference to the 2011 Roadmap.

The Interim Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining
is an Australian Government initiative that has been established to ensure that future
decisions about the potential water-related impacts of coal seam gas and large coal mining
activities are informed by substantially improved science and independent expert advice.
This Platform makes reference to the IIESC on Coal Seam Gas and Mining under Theme
8 – Groundwater and groundwater dependent ecosystems.
PART 3 – ENSURING COORDINATED RESEARCH EFFORT FOR PRIORITY RESEARCH
AND BEST RETURNS ON INVESTMENT
A key consideration is to ensure that all research and development investment by
governments under this Platform delivers the best return on investment. There is a need to
consider protocols that will result in enhanced collaboration by funding agencies when
commissioning, conducting and adopting research across the priority research themes, subject
to resource constraints, especially for longer-term interdisciplinary research. There is also a
need for better information and knowledge management systems, protocols and standards,
including a greater commitment to making data, information and knowledge publicly accessible
(particularly for publicly funded work).
7
3.1 National principles for water knowledge and research
One of the benefits of a National Water Knowledge and Research Platform is to ensure that
each jurisdiction can derive the best possible value for money from its research and
development investments in the priority themes.
The following principles are proposed to guide the implementation of this Platform nationally,
improve uptake by participating providers and entail a shared commitment by all research
purchasers and providers in pursuit of the objectives of the priority research themes:

collaboration among research purchasers, providers and users to be actively promoted;

water data, research and knowledge funded by the public sector to be made publicly
accessible (including free public access to reports commissioned under the Platform);

knowledge and research gaps and opportunities to be reviewed on an ongoing basis and
undertake continual monitoring and evaluation to ensure that research and knowledge is
demand driven;

capacity building to ensure that end-users are aware and engaged in the entire research
development processes to be promoted;

immediate and longer term objectives to be balanced;

procurement to adopt a value-for-money approach to wherever possible;

integrated, multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral approaches to research and information
gathering to help inform management application of outcomes to be promoted;

applied and theoretical research to be balanced;

communication and adoption strategies to be incorporated from the outset of new
programs, projects or suites of projects that will identify who is responsible for
implementation and monitoring components of the project or program; and

Australia’s expertise to be promoted internationally and international experience to be
leveraged where relevant.
3.2 Focal groups
To assist in the implementation of principles to enhance communication, co-ordination and
collaboration of priority research, focal groups will be established for each priority research
theme identified in this Platform. Each jurisdiction will have opportunity to nominate members
to represent their jurisdiction on the procurement, communication and adoption of the priority
research for that particular theme. The focal group member lists will be managed by the Water
Thematic Oversight Group Secretariat and nominations from each jurisdiction will be called for
following the adoption of this Platform.
3.3 Government protocols for priority knowledge and research investments
To ensure that the national principles outlined above are adopted, the following protocols will
apply to collaborative government investments established under this Platform, under the
priority knowledge and research themes identified in this Platform:
8

Attachment A: Framing and procurement of research
The focal group contact for each jurisdiction will be responsible for communicating with other
jurisdictions on the research being proposed. At the framing stage of the research, the focal
group member for the jurisdiction proposing the research will have the opportunity to provide
details of the proposed research project to all other focal group members. This will provide
opportunity for other jurisdictions to provide feedback and potentially opportunity to co-invest
or partner in the research. The focal group contact may also invite other jurisdictions to be
involved in the selection process to identify and select the research provider that will deliver
the best value-for-money.

Attachment B: Conduct of the research
The focal group contact will provide updates on the progress and outcomes of the research
and acquired knowledge with other focal group members at regular intervals.

Attachment C: Communication and adoption of research
The presumption is that all priority research products will be made public. Where it is
appropriate, the research will be presented at the National Water Knowledge Symposium.
3.4 National Water Knowledge Symposium
As one way of informing and promoting research collaboration, a biennial National Water
Knowledge Symposium will be considered.
Under the aegis of the National Water Knowledge and Research Platform, the Symposium
would provide a forum for purchasers and providers of work in each priority research theme to
present issues and findings to a national audience, including policy makers, researchers,
water industry, water users and other interested stakeholders. As such, the Symposium will:

provide policy-makers with an up-to-date overview of research outcomes, adoption and
emerging issues;

provide a forum for policy makers to express their research needs and provide feedback to
the research community;

reduce the risk of duplication in research products;

serve as a vehicle for knowledge exchange between researchers, research providers,
policy officers and industry leaders; and

inform participants of new opportunities to collaborate and derive maximum benefit from
available research funds.
Symposium proceedings would be published to further improve knowledge sharing and
reporting of symposium outcomes. These proceedings would also contain a list of research
programs and how they align with the Platform.
The Symposium could be convened biennially and self-funded on a not-for-profit basis.
Hosting responsibility could be shared by interested jurisdictions, ministries and major national
research institutions on a rotating basis.
9
3.5 Knowledge, information and data management and access
A number of systems already in existence provide a means to access water-related
knowledge, information and data. Collectively and individually, these varying repositories of
knowledge, information and data serve a useful ‘portal’ function. This Platform does not seek
to create new systems but to provide ready access to existing systems. Useful water
knowledge and information systems and databases include:

Australian Agriculture and Natural Resources Online (AANRO);

NRM Toolbar;

BoM water information and accounting;

National Water Market System;

National Groundwater Information System (BoM, under development);

Environmental Water Information Program (ERIN);

Sustainable yields projects (CSIRO);

Sustainable Rivers Audit (MDBA);

Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN);

State and territory water information and data management/access web applications
include:
-
Western Australia – Water Resources Information Catalogue
(http://kumina.water.wa.gov.au/waterinformation/wric/DataRequestPage.asp)/.
-
Queensland – Water information website
(http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/water/index.html)
- New South Wales – Water information website
(http://www.waterinfo.nsw.gov.au/)

-
Victoria – Water Resources Data Warehouse
(http://www.vicwaterdata.net/vicwaterdata/home.aspx)
-
South Australia – Water Connect website
(https://www.waterconnect.sa.gov.au/)
-
Australian Capital Territory – Water information website
(http://www.environment.act.gov.au/water)
-
Northern Territory – Water information website
(http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/water/index.html)
-
Tasmania – Water Information System of Tasmania
(http://water.dpiw.tas.gov.au/wist/ui)
National Land and Water Resources Audit (NLWRA) legacy products
(http://www.environment.gov.au/land/nlwra/index.html)
10

Australia Water Association library
(http://www.awa.asn.au/awalibrary/ViewAWAlibrary.aspx)

Water Quality Research Australia limited library
(http://www.wqra.com.au/publications/document-search/)
The case for further development of systems to support improved access to knowledge,
information and data will be considered under this Platform on an as-needs basis, taking into
account the development of the National Plan for Environmental Information (NPEI), to be
delivered jointly by DSEWPaC and BoM (http://www.environment.gov.au/npei/index.html).
The NPEI initiative brings together all Australia’s efforts in national environmental information,
building and maintaining this critical information infrastructure for the future. The NPEI will
coordinate and prioritise the way the Australian Government collects, manages and uses
environmental information. It represents a long-term approach to building and improving our
environmental information base. In the first four years (to 2013-14), the initiative will:

establish the BoM as the Australian Government authority for environmental information;

formalise arrangements to coordinate priorities and activities across government;

review existing information resources, and environmental information activity; and

begin building priority national environmental datasets and the infrastructure to deliver
them.
3.5.1 Data and information gaps
A key need to be addressed in more detail under each research theme concerns hydrological,
ecological and socio-economic data needs and gaps. One of the initial tasks of focal groups
would be to identify data and information needs and develop a forward work plan.
Where nationally consistent standards and protocols for such data do not exist, agreement will
be sought from all governments to develop these.
PART 4 - NATIONAL WATER RESEARCH THEMES
A summary of the priority water research themes and issues for the Platform are presented in
Appendix B. The themes have been developed in consultation with leading experts,
jurisdictions and agencies covering water-related policy and research disciplines. Eight
themes have been indentified including:

Environmental water

Water quality

Economic and institutional reforms

Future water availability

Irrigation water use efficiency

Hydrology and hydrological modelling

Urban water systems
11

Groundwater
It is proposed that individual implementation strategies be tailored to further inform investment
under each theme.
Many of the issues identified here are cross-cutting in nature (as drivers and impacts, or as
possible management or research responses) and will relate to more than one theme.
The identification of a theme does not imply that every jurisdiction, research provider or end
user is seeking to invest more in that area of research. However, it does imply a need to test
the adequacy of existing resources. As such the themes identified here will assist in informing:

potential new investments – particularly collaborative investments – by relevant partner
governments; and

a strategic approach to sharing, disseminating and evaluating new knowledge and
information arising from both new and existing research investment.
Considerable investment has been made by Commonwealth, state and territory governments
across a wide range of research initiatives in recent years. Appendix C provides a brief
summary of existing programs that fit within the water knowledge and research identified here.
12
APPENDIX A: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NATIONAL WATER KNOWLEDGE AND
RESEARCH STRATEGY AS IDENTIFIED IN THE 2008-11 COAG WORK PROGRAM ON
WATER
Objectives
The National Water Knowledge and Research Platform will:

deliver research and knowledge that is relevant to and informs the implementation of water
policies for the governments of the day;

inform water policy development in a timely way (i.e. before decisions are made);

look forward beyond the election cycle and immediate or emergency measures and
consider both short and long-term objectives;

ensure the efficient use of resources devoted to research and knowledge exchange (avoid
duplication);

ensure interoperability of methods and equipment that underpins research to facilitate
standardisation and comparative, nationally consistent outcomes;

create effective links with related disciplines and sectors, in particular land
use/management and climate research;

provide an enduring information base; and

facilitate access to water knowledge and translated outcomes.
Research themes
Priority actions under the following major themes should be incorporated:

hydrology and hydrological modelling;

climate change adaptation and climate science;

aquatic ecosystem health – indicators, water needs and ecological modelling;

social and economic research (including impacts of reforms);

information technology and management;

land use change - impacts on water resources;

irrigation (priorities to be elaborated); and

urban water (priorities to be elaborated).
Other requirements
The National Water Knowledge and Research Platform will give consideration to:

relevant cross-sector linkages, particularly to Natural Resource Management and
Agriculture and emerging climate change related polices and information;

adoption, consultation and communication strategies;
13

skills and capacity building requirements;

governance models; and

funding options and budget.
14
APPENDIX B: NATIONAL WATER RESEARCH THEMES
B.1
RESEARCH THEME 1 – ENVIRONMENTAL WATER
A central part of the national water reform agenda is focused on all governments
implementing, planning and management regimes that recognise the legitimate need of the
environment as a user of water resources.
Providing for the water needs of freshwater-dependent ecosystems and environmental assets
is a core water planning commitment for states and territories under the National Water
Initiative. In this regard the Australian Government also has a role in the Murray-Darling Basin
with the development of a new Basin Plan, and in terms of the role of the Commonwealth
Environmental Water Holder.
Continuing research and knowledge development is required by water planners and
environmental managers to inform the development of water sharing plans, the management
of environmental water holdings and assets, and monitoring the outcomes of environmental
watering and changed hydrological regimes over time.
B.1.1 Objective
The objective of the environmental water research theme is to:
Improve understanding of aquatic ecosystems, including their economic, social and cultural
values and responses to watering regime options, including at the broader landscape scale.
B.1.2 Aquatic ecology/ecosystem health
Australia has strong research capabilities in aquatic ecology, however, much of the research
capacity is widely dispersed as individuals, state government environmental and water
resource agencies, Commonwealth agencies and small teams across universities. This has
generally constrained the ability to develop systems-level understanding at the drainage
division or basin scale. Furthermore, the tendency to focus on individual aspects of an
ecosystem, rather than using a systems approach, has made it difficult for managers to apply
ecological knowledge to major water management decisions.
There is significant scope to improve capacity to predict the responses of aquatic ecosystems,
(including estuarine systems), to changes in flow regimes or to particular flow events; a need
that is particularly apparent in over-allocated systems. This is an area where improved
scientific knowledge, coordinated at the national level would have a particularly significant
impact. It is also linked to the potential for further improvement in hydrological modelling
capability.
The need to better understand the economic, social and cultural values of aquatic ecosystems
has been identified as requiring further knowledge and research. This is important to the
development, implementation and valuation of environmental watering plans.
Priority knowledge and research needs include:

rigorous approaches to quantify the extent and distribution, water requirements (incl. low
flows), and nature of aquatic ecosystems, by classification;

thresholds in natural ecosystem variability and ecosystem responses to different surface
and groundwater flow regimes;
15

improved understanding of best practice environmental water and how to maximise
benefits from environmental works and measures;

improved understanding of ecosystem processes, connectivity and ecological response
functions at all scales (i.e. basin/aquifer to local);

identification of the ecological character, environmental values and ecological
requirements of aquatic ecosystems and key risks to those systems;

managing aquatic ecosystems in a changing climate;

economic valuation methods and decision support tools to assist in prioritisations (in space
and time), management and evaluation of ecosystem/ecological responses;

monitoring and evaluation (particularly long-term targeted ecological research and
monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and rapid, cost effective tools and indicators for
assessing ecological response to environmental flows or altered groundwater availability);
and

improved integration of aquatic ecology/ecosystems health into natural resource
management (NRM), water and biodiversity conservation planning.
B.1.3 Groundwater
Governments and experts have consistently raised the improved understanding of
groundwater and groundwater dependent ecosystems.
Priority knowledge and research needs in addition to the ones listed in 3.1.2 include:

improved identification, mapping, classification and understanding of groundwater
dependent ecosystems;

improved methods for assessing the requirements of groundwater dependent ecosystems;

improved knowledge of connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems
(including coastal water systems); and

improved understanding of the characteristics of confined aquifers with respect to
groundwater dependent ecosystems.
B.2 RESEARCH THEME 2 - WATER QUALITY
National knowledge to underpin a robust and national approach to water quality regulation and
management is required. The NWQMS provides a national approach to improving water
quality in Australia's waterways. The Australian Government is working in cooperation with
state and territory governments to protect the nation's water resources by improving their
quality, reducing pollutants and at the same time supporting the businesses, industry and
communities that depend on water for their continued development.
16
B.2.1 Objective
Improve understanding of water quality impacts, human consumption and relationships
between land use and water quality.
B.2.2 Water quality
Priority knowledge and research needs include:

improved technologies for real-time, cost-effective in-situ and/or remote water quality
monitoring of both natural flows and drinking water supplies (e.g. communication for
remote station water quality monitoring collection, analysis, data storage and
communication);

improved understanding of water quality ecological impacts and thresholds, and the
influence of surface water and groundwater flow regimes on water quality;

exploring the interaction of a broader range of environmental factors, such as soil types,
vegetation type and condition, topography and land use on water quality;

improved understanding of anthropogenic impacts on water quality (e.g. cold water
pollution, environmental watering, aquifer injection, aquifer connection through drilling,
bushfires, effects of changing land use on sediment and nutrient transport) and options for
managing/mitigating those impacts (e.g. the contribution of riparian areas to water quality),
predicting and monitoring water quality; and

impacts of climate change on water quality and strategies to mitigate.
B.2.3 Management of contaminated and low quality water
The management of contaminated and low quality water requires further knowledge and
research, including:

improved understanding of the management of water in highly disturbed industrial sites
(e.g. tailings dams, coal seam gas (CSG) saline ponds, low pH storages, in-situ leaching),
including the identification of the physical and chemical parameters that could be used to
model in-storage and accidental release scenarios, such as conservative tracers,
watershed parameters and evaporation from concentrated storages;

improved understanding of the utilisation of lower quality water (e.g. saline water
remediation) for both urban and rural use and disposal of residual low quality water (e.g.
by-products of mining operations);

understanding the impacts of deteriorating water quality on infrastructure; and

better understanding of standards for saline water dumps to prevent environmental harm.
17
B.3
RESEARCH THEME 3 – SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL
REFORMS
B.3.1 Objective
The objective of the social and institutional research theme is to:
Improve understanding of the opportunities, costs and benefits arising from water policy and
institutional reform, and improve capability to optimise water planning and investment
outcomes.
B.3.2 Water planning knowledge and information needs
In order to enhance the quality and resilience of water planning outcomes, continued
improvement in knowledge is required across a range of areas as follows:



socio-economic information to inform state water resource plan requirements and
development, including:
o
socio-economic impact assessment techniques;
o
the impact of other drivers (such as drought, commodity prices, Australian dollar,
carbon market, innovation, competing sectors) and the role of the water market;
o
socio-economic monitoring and evaluation of changes arising from water reform
(including community vulnerability and adaptive capacity) and impact mitigation
strategies;
o
integrating water use measurement technologies with other developing technologies for
measuring carbon and energy use;
o
improved understanding of the non-market economic values associated with water
resources;
o
cost-effective compliance and enforcement methods (e.g. remote sensing);
biophysical information to inform water planning, including:
o
severe event impact assessment and management, including floods and severe
droughts;
o
understanding natural processes of salinity in the environment (especially in relation to
soil profiles and watercourses to diffuse and/or point source loadings that may be
introduced) managing the export of salinity from land;
o
management and regulation of interception (e.g. large scale plantations, deep rooted
perennials, dewatering, co-produced water in gas and petroleum industry);
o
integration with NRM plans/processes, (e.g. riparian management; salinity), and land
use planning (e.g. the effects of land use change on water resources, water quality and
freshwater ecosystems);
social information to inform water planning, including:
o
improved understanding of water knowledge, attitudes and behaviours issues;
18
o
social drivers of water management (e.g. the behaviours for engagement in water
policy); and
o
cultural information to inform water planning, including drawing on and using
indigenous knowledge, including understanding cultural water values.
B.3.3 Water markets and pricing
Increased knowledge and understanding of issues associated with the pricing and trading of
water include:

potential for the development of water entitlements and trade, including urban water sector
and groundwater systems;

better understanding of the potential for novel products in the water market (e.g. derivative
products such as leasebacks or options);

social and economic benefits and impacts of water trading;

cost recovery performance and transparency in urban water & infrastructure pricing, and
developer charges; and

costs and benefits of various approaches to managing urban demand (e.g. pricing of
various water sources, water conservation, restrictions and efficiency measures).
B.3.4 Regulation and institutional arrangements
Knowledge and research to inform institutional arrangements, including:

potential for further structural and competition reform in the water sector, including:
-
obstacles to investment by the private sector; and
-
potential for reform relating to drainage and flood mitigation.

Cost effectiveness of water management practices including investments in water use
efficiency and water sensitive urban design;

market-based approaches for achieving environmental outcomes (e.g. water quality and
water savings offsets); and

improved inter-jurisdictional arrangements regarding managing shared water resources
and aquatic ecosystems.
B.4
RESEARCH THEME 4 – FUTURE WATER AVAILABILITY
B.4.1 Objective
The objective of the future water availability research theme is to:
Improve understanding of climate change and inform adaptation strategies, interception
impacts, unknown/alternative water resources other influences on future water availability
supply and demand pressures.
19
B.4.2 Climate change impacts
This section does not seek to duplicate the work outlined in the NFCCS. In addition, the
National Adaptation Research Plans developed by the NCCARF seek to complement the
priority research areas in this strategy. However, there is a continuing need to enhance
capability in understanding and projecting the impacts of climate change and variability on
future water availability, water quality and management options, including:

narrowing uncertainties in climate change projections and finding strategies to deal with
this uncertainty;

improved knowledge on the separation of climate change impacts from variability and over
allocation;

increased understanding of the climate impacts on water quality, recharge processes for
unconfined and deep/confined aquifers and ecosystem health;

resilient regional and local responses to climate variability and climate change (e.g.
improved linkage between climate modelling and how this information is incorporated into
water planning);

enhanced capability to link climate modelling with hydrological, catchment and ecological
response modelling and data, and to project climate change impacts on current and future
surface and groundwater resource availability and reliability (e.g. understanding basic
catchment hydrology and impacts of elevated CO2 and temperature on catchment
behaviour); and

identification of further knowledge gaps.
B.4.3 Interception
Further opportunity exists to improve knowledge around the water yield and quality impacts of
interception activities on water resources. This includes:

improved capability to incorporate a wider range of interceptions (such as large scale
plantations, deep rooted perennials, soil and vegetation management measures aimed at
retaining water ‘on-farm’) and associated policy responses into water plans; and

informing and managing tradeoffs between water planning and other planning and
approval processes.
B.4.4 Understanding water resource impacts, proving unknown water resources and
finding alternative water sources
Further opportunity exists to improve understanding of the implications of extraction on water
resources, the identification and assessment of poorly known water resources and knowledge
of alternative sources:

improved understanding of the impacts of extractive industries and dewatering on water
resources, monitoring impacts over time and associated measures to mitigate impacts
(including handling of extracted saline groundwater and water in mining dust suppression
activities);
20

improved understanding of the role of infrastructure development in accessing alternative
water sources;

understanding the extent and distribution of currently limited knowledge water resources
(particularly in arid zone); and

mapping and modelling of hydro-geological activity of aquifers in the Great Artesian Basin
and Canning Basin considering current water pressures, impacts of future activities and
the connectivity and recharge of confined and connected aquifers.
B.5
RESEARCH THEME 5 – IRRIGATION WATER USE EFFICIENCY
B.5.1 Objective
The objective of the irrigation water use efficiency research theme is to:
Improve scope to adopt new technologies and develop sustainable irrigation systems and
districts.
B.5.2 Irrigation knowledge needs
Increased adoption of existing technologies and innovation and ‘next generation’ technology
such as:

understanding barriers to adoption of new knowledge by irrigators and irrigation system
operators and development of decision support tools to help overcome barriers;

understand the impacts of improved irrigation efficiency on total water balance and salinity;

testing of new technologies in untested environments (e.g. different soil types, use of
highly saline water); and

further gaps and opportunities in water efficient technologies – water storage, managed
aquifer recharge, transmission and on-farm use.
Further consideration of possible irrigation futures is also proposed, in particular:

long term options for irrigation futures in (i) existing irrigation districts and (ii) new
developments (e.g. Northern Australia, Tasmania); and

understanding the potential social, economic and ecological dimensions of new
approaches to irrigation development (e.g. mosaic-style irrigation model being examined
by Northern Australia Irrigation Futures project, conversion from gravity to pressurised pipe
systems).
A PISC Water Use in Agriculture Research, Development and Extension Strategy is being
developed under the National Primary Industries Research, Development and Extension
Framework. The PISC Strategy covers both irrigated and rainfed systems from on-farm and up
to sub-catchment scale. While this Platform does not explicitly cover rainfed systems as the
utilisation of water resources is restricted to the proportion of the rainfall that becomes a water
resource, it covers a broader range of issues and will inform the PISC Strategy.
21
B.6
RESEARCH THEME 6 – HYDROLOGY AND HYDROLOGICAL MODELLING
B.6.1 Objective
The objective of the hydrological modelling research theme is to:
Improve capability in tools, techniques and assessment to inform planning and management
decision-making in surface and groundwater resources.
B.6.2 National Hydrological Modelling Platform
One of the key directions in water policy, management and research in Australia is the quest
to be able to look at, understand and manage water systems as a whole - catchments,
irrigation schemes, urban water grids, environmental assets, and surface/groundwater
interactions.
The NHMP is a COAG initiative intended to ensure that future water planning and
management is informed by the use of best practice modelling. Work on a nationallyconsistent modelling capability is well underway through eWater Ltd.
This new hydrologic modelling capability will require continued development over time in order
to meet new and emerging needs. Emerging future needs are discussed below.
B.6.3 Hydrology assessment
The National Water Information Program, managed by the BoM, aims to make water
information as comprehensive and accessible as weather information. One of the products to
be produced under this Program is the annual National Water Account (NWA). This account
will provide information on volumes of water traded, extracted and managed for economic,
public and environmental purposes across Australia. The NWA is expected to evolve over time
and become more comprehensive in scope and geographic coverage.
In addition, the Australian Bureau of Statistics prepares a Water Account Australia which
consists of physical and monetary water supply and use tables. The aim of the Water Account
Australia is to integrate data from different sources into a consolidated information set making
it possible to link physical data on water to economic data, such as that in Australia's National
Accounts.
Improved coverage of hydrology assessment and monitoring is required, including:

water assessment in priority areas to assist monitoring, modelling and reporting of water
quantity and quality;

hydrologic modelling requirements for resources outside the eWater Ltd suite of models;

improved groundwater modelling over long time periods;

hydrology data (including digitisation of historical observational data) to underpin effective
modelling;

enhanced remote sensing assessment techniques, including integration of remote and
observation data;

modelling of significant multipurpose drainage networks; and
22

enhanced capability in flood modelling and forecasting.
B.6.4 Future needs
The need for continued development of new knowledge and tools includes improved and
better-integrated modelling tools and capabilities. In this regard there is likely to be a
continuing need over time to build further on the modelling capability under development by
eWater Ltd and its contributing partners. Improved and better-integrated modelling capability is
likely to be required to better understand:

ground water resources and surface and groundwater interactions;

ecological demand and response to better inform environmental watering;

river/catchment and wetland/floodplain processes (including ‘interceptions’ and the impacts
of land use change, and nutrient cycling);

improved capability to inform flood and drought risk assessment, mitigation and
management response;

groundwater modelling, monitoring and data;

understanding modelling in a data poor environment, reducing the risks from incomplete
data sets;

saline intrusion;

improved understanding of the impacts of managed aquifer recharge;

solute transport and hydro chemical models; and

projected impacts of climate change over time.
The opportunity to further integrate socio-economic impact assessment with hydrological
modelling also needs to be explored.
B.7
RESEARCH THEME 7 – URBAN WATER SYSTEMS
Increasing population and a concentration along the eastern seaboard and south-western
Australia will put existing urban and regional water supply, water management systems and
water dependent ecosystems under enormous strain, even in the absence of extended
drought or climate change. Significant achievements in water sensitive urban design (WSUD)
have been achieved in some urban area, however, further research and knowledge is
required. Stormwater research programs for WSUD are well advanced but WSUD related
groundwater research programs and interaction with surface water systems have fallen
significantly behind. Furthermore, the last decade or so of extended drought has severely
tested existing water security arrangements and environmental water requirements for many
regional and remote communities increasing the need to look at recycled water to supply fit for
purpose water.
Meanwhile the technology, diversity and cost-effectiveness of alternative water supply sources
is significantly influenced by research and development.
23
The flood mitigation capability of existing and (where applicable) proposed new infrastructure,
combined with a review of dam safety arrangements, is also an issue that could potentially
benefit from research investment.
Attention has also been focussed on the water and wastewater needs of remote indigenous
communities, many of which have endured substandard service quality over an extended
period.
B.7.1 Objective
The objective of the managing urban water supply risks is to:
Improve capability to optimise urban water systems policy and investments, in preparation for
extended drought, climate change and population growth, and in response to current demand,
while not degrading the condition of aquatic ecosystems affected by the urban footprint.
B.7.2 Long-term supply and demand
Improved planning for current and future demand for water and wastewater services, and for
investment in cost-effective safe and secure supply options, including:

long-term scenario planning and risk identification, including climate change and variability;

improve the tools for demand/supply planning and management, (including assessment of
stormwater harvesting, desalination, shallow groundwater and recycling augmentation
options);

critically assess all water supply options for urban communities; including technological
advancement in alternative water sources, storage (e.g. managed aquifer recharge across
a broad range of aquifers) and water treatment (including small scale systems);

knowledge gaps regarding health risks and guidance requirements for fit-for-purpose water
sources recycled from various sources (e.g. recycled effluent, reclaimed CSG water);

improved dissemination and uptake of new and existing knowledge and learning from
international and Australian experience/research;

improve identification of new supplies, in addition to improving water management of
existing supplies;

improve water management knowledge and skills needs in regional, rural and indigenous
communities, including the use of new technologies; and

management, ownership and liability of decentralised water supply systems including
recycled water and storm-water (this is a significant issue which is limiting the adoption of
this option of water supply).
24
B.7.3 Integrated urban water management
Water is the key element to create water sensitive cities that have sustainable water security,
are more liveable, greener and cooler. The creation of water sensitive communities requires
the integration of:

water sensitive urban design, incorporating:
-
ways of reducing run-off;
-
ways of increasing use from shallow groundwater systems for fit for purpose use;
-
collection of stormwater for supply augmentation;
-
improved understanding of the cumulative impacts of new and existing urban
development on water quality, waterway health and coastal ecosystems and their
relationship with other land uses and how to minimise or ameliorate them;
-
the impacts of new and existing urban development on flood risk and coastal
inundation;
-
policy, land use planning and regulatory approaches;

collective urban water management;

improved understanding of the management and protection of drinking water catchments;

flood risk identification and mitigation; and

dam safety.
B.8 RESEARCH THEME 8 – GROUNDWATER
B.8.1 Objective
The objective of the groundwater theme is:
To improve understanding of groundwater and groundwater dependent ecosystems.
B.8.2 Groundwater and groundwater dependent ecosystems
Priority knowledge and research needs include:

improved identification, mapping, classification and understanding of groundwater
dependent ecosystems;

improved methods for assessing the requirements of groundwater dependent ecosystems;

improved knowledge of connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems
(including coastal water systems);

improved understanding of the characteristics of confined aquifers with respect to
groundwater dependent ecosystems;
25

improved understanding of water quality ecological impacts and thresholds, and the
influence of groundwater flow regimes on water quality;

potential for the development of water entitlements and trade for groundwater systems;

improved understanding of the impacts of extractive industries (such as coal seam gas and
coal mining) and dewatering on water resources, monitoring impacts over time and
associated measures to mitigate impacts (including handling of extracted saline
groundwater in mining dust suppression activities);

mapping and modelling of hydro-geological activity of aquifers in the Great Artesian Basin
and Canning Basin considering current water pressures, impacts of future activities and
the connectivity and recharge of confined and connected aquifers;

improved groundwater modelling over long time periods;

improved and better-integrated modelling capability to better understand groundwater
resources and surface and groundwater interactions, groundwater modelling, monitoring
and data, improved understanding of the impacts of managed aquifer recharge;

improved tools for demand/supply planning and management or urban water including
shallow groundwater; and

critically assess all water supply options for urban communities; including technological
advancement storage (e.g. managed aquifer recharge across a broad range of aquifers).
26
APPENDIX C: CURRENT ACTIVITY IN MAJOR GOVERNMENT-LED
PROGRAMS/INITIATIVES ACROSS PRIORITY KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH THEMES
Knowledge and Research
Theme
Priority
Knowledge/Research
Needs
Current activity (major
government led programs)
Research Theme 1 Environmental water
Aquatic ecology/ecosystem
health
Water for a Healthy Country,
Water for the Future,
National Environmental
Research Program (NERP),
Caring for our Country,
Invasive Animals CRC,
The Living Murray,
Native Fish Strategy,
Murray Darling Freshwater
Research Centre,
ARC Centre of Excellence for
Environmental Decisions,
CSIRO Water for a Healthy
Country Flagship,
National Strategy for the
Conservation of Australia’s
Biodiversity,
Aquatic Ecosystems Toolkit –
incorporating the Australian
National Aquatic Ecosystems
(ANAE) Classification
Scheme, the High Ecological
Value Aquatic Ecosystem
(HEVAE) Framework and the
Integrated Ecological
Condition Assessment (IECA)
Framework for Aquatic
Ecosystems,
Reef Water Quality Protection
Plan,
South East Queensland
Healthy Waterways
Partnership,
Ecosystem and Resource
Sciences (QLD) South
Australian Aquatic
Ecosystems Monitoring,
Evaluation and Reporting
Program and Aquatic
Ecosystem Condition Reports
(EPA, SA),
Eastern Aerial Waterbird
27
Survey (Australian Wetlands
and Rivers Centre, UNSW),
MDB Futures (UC),
Environmental Flow
Response Monitoring and
Modelling Program (NSW),
Wetlands Monitoring Program
(NSW),
Resource Condition
Monitoring, Evaluation and
Reporting Program (NSW)
Research Theme 2 - Water
quality
Research Theme 3 -
Water quality
Water for the Future,
National Water Quality
Management Strategy,
Water Quality Research
Australia,
National Centre for
Environmental Toxicology,
Caring for Our Country (Reef
Rescue),
Science for Great Barrier
Reef Water Quality Protection
Plan (Qld),
Fitzroy Basin Monitoring
Program,
Adelaide Coastal Water
Study for the Adelaide
Coastal Water Quality
Improvement Plan (EPA, SA),
Aquatic Ecosystem Condition
Reports for the Mount Lofty
Ranges Watershed Water
Quality Improvement Plan
(EPA,SA),
Coorong Murray Mouth Lower
Lakes (CLLMM) Murray
Futures Program (DENR,
SA),
State Water Quality
Assessment & Monitoring
Program (NSW)
Management of
contaminated and low
quality water
National Water Quality
Management Strategy,
Acid Drainage Management
(Lower Murray) (EPA, SA),
State Algal Management
Strategy (NSW)
Water planning knowledge
Basin Plan (MDBA),
28
Economic and institutional
Research Theme 4 - Future
water availability: demand
and supply
& information needs
NERP (TRaCK), Water
Assessment- Ecosystem and
Resource Sciences (QLD
gov.),
Urban Water Security
Research Alliance, TRaCK,
MDB Futures (UC),
Australian Water Recycling
Centre of Excellence;
The Economic Viability Of
Recycled Water Schemes For
Non-Potable Water Use.
Water markets and pricing
NERP (Environmental
Economics);
Regulation and institutional
arrangements
Productivity Commission;
Urban Water Security
Research Alliance;
A planning and decision
making support tool for the
irrigation districts of South
West Western Australia
Climate change impacts
Australian Climate Change
Science Framework, SEACI
(1&2),
Centre for Australian Weather
and Climate Research
Framework,
National Climate Change
Adaptation Research Facility
(NCCARF) (National Climate
Change Plan: (Freshwater
Biodiversity),
IOCI,
Australian Rainfall and
Runoff,
CSIRO Climate Adaptation
Flagship, Queensland
Climate Change Centre of
Excellence,
Development of an Agreed
Set of Climate Projections for
SA,
Goyder Institute for Water
Research (SA),
DFW Groundwater Program:
Model potential impacts from
climate change on priority
29
water resource areas (SA)
Interception
Understanding water
resource impacts, proving
unknown resources and
finding alternative water
sources
Water for the Future (CSG
Water Feasibility Study,
Namoi Water Study),
Health Headwater CSG
Water feasibility Study,
Facilitating Long Term
Outback Water Solutions
(FLOWS) Initiative;
Goyder Institute for Water
Research and DFW (SA);
An optimisation tool to
support contemporary water
supply planning in WA.
Research Theme 5 Maximising the productivity
and efficiency of water use
in irrigation
Irrigation knowledge needs
Water for the Future, Rural
Research and Development
Corporations (irrigation),
National Program for
Sustainable Irrigation,
National Strategy for the
Conservation of Australia’s
Biodiversity,
South East Queensland
Irrigation Futures Program,
Rural Water Use Efficiency 3
(Qld),
Healthy HeadWaters Water
Use Efficiency Project (Qld).
Research Theme 6 –
Hydrology and hydrological
modelling
National Hydrological
Modelling Platform
eWater Ltd,
Water Assessment –
Ecosystem and Resource
Sciences (QLD gov.)
Hydrology assessment
Accounts and water resource
forecasting (BoM),
Australian Bureau of
Statistics Water Account
Australia,
Hydrological Monitoring and
Modelling Program (NSW)
Future needs
eWater Ltd,
Environmental Biotechnology
CRC,
Centre for Ecohydrology,
WA Geothermal Centre of
30
Excellence
Research Theme 7 Managing urban water
supply systems
Research Theme 8Groundwater and
groundwater dependent
ecosystems.
Long-term supply and
demand
Water for the Future,
National Centres of
Excellence for Desalinisation
and Recycling,
Water Quality Research
Australia,
Urban Water Security
Research Alliance,
Smart Water Research
Facility,
Ecosystem and Resource
Sciences (QLD),
Metropolitan Water Plan
(NSW),
Water Sensitive Cities (from
July 2012) (WA).
Integrated urban water
management
Water for the Future;
Water Quality Research
Australia;
Super Science Initiative,
Water Quality Research
Australia,
Urban Water Security
Alliance,
International Water Centre,
Interim Water Sensitive
Urban Design Targets for
Greater Adelaide,Goyder
Institute for Water Research
(SA);
Stormwater Strategy – The
Future of Stormwater
Management (DFW, SA),
Metropolitan Water Plan
(NSW),
CRC for Water Sensitive
Cities (Cites as Water Supply
Catchments) (WA),
National Urban Water and
Desalination Plan (WA).
Groundwater
Super Science Initiative
(groundwater monitoring
sites),
Water for the Future (Broken
Hill Managed Aquifer
Recharge Project),
National Centre for
31
Groundwater Research and
Training,
Atlas of Groundwater
Dependent Ecosystems,
National Groundwater
Information System,
Healthy Headwater CSG
Water Feasibility Study;
DFW Groundwater Program
(SA),
GDE mapping program
(NSW),
Resource Condition
Monitoring,
Evaluation and Reporting
Program (NSW),
Water Smart Australia: Perth
Shallow Groundwater
Systems Investigation;
South West Groundwater
Areas Shallow Groundwater
systems investigation;
Dunsborough-Bunbury Local
Area Groundwater Model;
Pilbara Coast groundwater
study,
Collie Mine Voids study,
Raising National Water
Standards: Midwest
Groundwater Dependent
Ecosystems project,
Fitzroy River surface water
groundwater interactions
study,
Interim Independent Scientific
Expert Committee on Coal
Seam Gas and Coal Mining
projects to improve scientific
understanding of the potential
water-related impacts of coal
seam gas and/or large coal
mining developments.
32