- Author CRCNA and research partners
- Publish date 25 May 2026
- Type Report
- Documents
- Water: Making Water Work program
Summary
This impact evaluation summarises the outcomes of CRCNA project: A.7.2122008 – Mobilising strong water governance arrangements.
This project examined the governance, operational and market arrangements needed to support the expansion of irrigated agriculture in the lower Fitzroy following the delivery of new water infrastructure, particularly Rookwood Weir. While additional water availability created significant development opportunities, fragmented governance arrangements, inconsistent operating models and limited water market transparency constrained efficient water allocation and reduced confidence for irrigators and prospective investors.
Working closely with irrigators and regional stakeholders, the project identified barriers to effective water management and developed practical pathways for reform. Outputs included recommendations on water pricing and metering, analysis of governance and market design options, and a practical guide to water trading in the lower Fitzroy to improve market participation and decision-making.
Expected longer-term impacts include more efficient water allocation, lower transaction costs for irrigators, stronger investor confidence in irrigated agriculture development and improved coordination between water owners, operators and users. By strengthening the institutional foundations of the lower Fitzroy irrigation sector, the project helps de-risk future agricultural investment and improve the long-term productivity of regional water infrastructure.
Projects
Making Water Work program: Mobilising strong water governance arrangements
The development of irrigated agriculture in the lower Fitzroy has been accelerated by the completion of Rookwood Weir, which adds significant new water supplies to an already complex system that includes the Fitzroy Barrage, Eden Bann Weir and unsupplemented water sources. While this creates new opportunities for agricultural growth and investment, the fragmented governance arrangements across multiple water owners and operators, limited market transparency, and weak coordination among water users have constrained efficient water management and allocation. This project examined the governance, operational and market arrangements needed to support a more effective and coordinated irrigation sector in the lower Fitzroy. Working with irrigators and key stakeholders, the research identified barriers to efficient water use, including limited irrigator representation in decision-making, inconsistent management arrangements across water schemes, and underdeveloped water trading mechanisms that restrict market participation and investment. The project explored practical pathways to strengthen cooperation between stakeholders, improve access to market information, support more effective water trading, and enhance governance structures as the irrigation sector develops. Outputs included guidance for water market participants, analysis of governance reform options, and recommendations to address operational and pricing barriers affecting water access and use. By improving coordination, transparency and market function, the project aimed to support more efficient water allocation, stronger stakeholder participation, and greater confidence for existing irrigators and new investors in the lower Fitzroy.