Summary

The project brought together the collective expertise of three universities based in northern Australian – James Cook University, Charles Darwin University and Central Queensland University- which have recently formed the Northern Australia Universities Alliance (NAUA).

The NAUA partners collaborated to undertake a program of stakeholder engagement and research needs analysis across four focal catchments (rereferred to as Nodes).  The aim was to design, develop, and cost a cohesive and impactful 3.5-year research program that addresses the core priorities of stakeholders in these 4 focal catchments.  The identified catchments are:

• Wider Tindal Basin, NT
• Douglas Daly and Roper River, NT
• Lower Fitzroy Basin/Gilbert River Catchment QLD
• Kimberley-Ord Irrigation Scheme, WA

The research involved gaining a better understanding of the constraints to agricultural and water resource development. The project team engaged with key stakeholders and government agencies to identify priority issues for further research, which informed and the development of a suitable research plan.

The research approach primarily consisted of desktop analysis, literature review, stakeholder engagement, and meetings. No new primary data was expected to be generated during the initial six- month phase in this proposal. However, the activities undertaken during this phase resulted in a coherent research program that directly responds to the priorities identified during the development phase.

Expected outcomes

The outcome of the project was the collaborative development of an integrated, co-designed, and stakeholder-supported research program across four geographic nodes. This program is intended to inform future research, development, and extension (RD&E) activities within the CRCNA/NAUA water security program of works.