Water Security for Northern Australia program: Implementation phase

Project locations: Gilbert catchment NQ, Lower Fitzroy catchment CQ, Daly catchment NT, Ord River Irrigation Area WA

Project partners: Northern Australia Universities Alliance - James Cook University (JCU) ; CQUniversity ; Charles Darwin University (CDU)

Project summary and impacts

The Water Security for Northern Australia Program is a collaborative partnership between the CRCNA and the Northern Australia Universities Alliance (NAUA), delivering targeted research to support sustainable water resource development across northern Australia.

Building on the co-design project that identified key challenges affecting water security, agricultural development and equitable water use across four focal nodes: the Gilbert catchment in north Queensland, Lower Fitzroy catchment in central Queensland, the Daly catchment in the Northern Territory, and the Ord River Irrigation Area in Western Australia.

Through stakeholder-led co-design, 15 priority research projects were identified to address region-specific and cross-cutting challenges related to water availability, environmental management, agricultural productivity, supply chains and Indigenous access to water resources. These projects are grouped into four interconnected work packages spanning cross-regional research, water quality and environmental outcomes, water availability, cropping systems and alternative economic opportunities.

The program is generating practical knowledge to improve water planning, development assessment and environmental management, while identifying opportunities to increase the economic value of water use across northern Australia. Research outcomes are intended to support more informed decision-making, reduce uncertainty and monitoring costs, improve water use efficiency, strengthen supply chain understanding and expand opportunities for Indigenous participation and benefit.

Beyond the research itself, the program is building stronger connections between universities, industry, government, Traditional Owners and regional communities. This collaborative approach is helping to strengthen research capability, improve communication between stakeholder groups and support more effective, less contested water resource decision-making across northern Australia.

Visit the Northern Australia Universities Alliance page: https://naua.edu.au/projects/water-security-alliance/