- Author Waltham, N., Irvine, D., Rolfe, J., Williams, Y., Burrows, D
- Publish date 11 May 2023
- Type Report
- ISBN 978-1-922437-46-4
- Documents
- Water Security program
- Water
Summary
The CRCNA partnered with the Northern Australian Universities Alliance to fund research into key issues for sustainable utilisation of water resources in Northern Australia.
This program has identified four key focal nodes where pressure for increased water utilisation is high – Gilbert (QLD), Daly-Katherine (NT), Ord (WA), and lower Fitzroy (QLD) – to be the focal nodes for this research program. To determine the most appropriate research questions for each focal node, we undertook a co-design phase with relevant regional stakeholders in each focal node. This co-design phase and its outcomes are described here. The result includes the generation of 15 research projects that are now proposed for funding under the Water Security for Northern Australia program.
A second implementation phase of this program is now underway, as the Water Security for Northern Australia – Implementation Phase
Projects
Water Security for Northern Australia program: Co-design phase
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.