Summary

The Gilbert River catchment is one of the four nodes in the Water Security for Northern Australia program. The catchment holds environmental, cultural and economical values, which is mostly attributed to the river system and permanent waterholes that stretch the length of the catchment.

The floodplain and estuary support a rich diversity of wildlife, a thriving economy and tourism sector for the region. Protection of these values is important, so the outcomes of this project will support informed development decisions in the catchment, to ensure the natural values are protected into the future.

For more detailed information on project research topics, objectives and activity please read the attached factsheets for the WSNA Gilbert River catchment.

Node contact: Assoc Prof Nathan Waltham TropWATER email: nathan.waltham@jcu.edu.au

Background:

This Water Security for Northern Australia (WSNA) program is being delivered through a partnership between the CRCNA and the Northern Australia Universities Alliance.

The WSNA program will develop and implement a series of research projects which address problematic issues which are constraining sustainable water resource utilisation in four key precincts or focal nodes across Northern Australia. These focal nodes are (Gilbert catchment (QLD), Daly River (NT), Ord River Irrigation Area (WA) and Lower Fitzroy catchment (QLD)).

These focal nodes were selected by the CRCNA based on prior assessments and consultation indicating they are likely locations of further water resource development pressure.  In order to develop such a series of research projects, it was first required that the relevant stakeholders in each focal node be engaged in a co-design process.

The four focal nodes were developed through a 5-month engagement phase and now report to regional stakeholder advisory groups: Co-design phase of the Water Security for Northern Australia.

Expected outcomes

• Floodplain, rivers and tributary aquatic flora and fauna inventory.
• Persistence and extent of waterholes in the catchment and tributaries, and groundwater contribution.
• Examining the ecosystem services gained and loss for proposed development areas.
• Indigenous values mapping and water resource enterprise production identification.