Theme 4: Taking Action

Topic: Water Policies

Managing our water

Water resources in South Australia must be managed effectively to ensure they are sustainable for both current and future use. We must protect ecosystems (including their biodiversity) that depend on these water resources. Water is used for a variety of purposes including domestic water supply, irrigation, industrial use, mining, tourism and sustaining ecosystems. Water resources management must balance the needs of all water users.

South Australia's water resources are managed via legislation polices and inter-government agreements. The Government has a responsibility to ensure that water is managed to achieve optimum social and economic benefits but at the same time is environmentally sustainable.

For an excellent overview on how South Australia's water resources are managed click here www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/water/index.html

State Overview

South Australia has a strong legislative framework through the Water Resources Act 1997 and the NRM Act 2004 providing water resources management measures. These include:

• Prescription of a water resource
• Restrictions on water use
• Development and implementation of catchment water management plans
• Development and implementation of water allocation plans for all prescribed water resources in the State
• Extensive community consultation during the preparation of all water plans
• Review of the condition of the State's natural resources (including water resources)
• Compilation, maintenance and updating of information concerning the State's natural resources.

Inter-government agreements overview

South Australia has established partnerships with upstream States to recognise and protect its legitimate interests in its natural resources. In particular, South Australia has good collaborative arrangements and formal agreements in relation to the River Murray, the Lake Eyre Basin, the Great Artesian Basin and the groundwaters of the South East, which we share with Victoria.

More recently South Australia has signed the Intergovernmental Agreements, which give effect to the National Water Initiative, aiming to achieve more compatible water management systems across much of Australia.

Legislation

Water resources in South Australia are managed through a number of different acts including the Water Resources Act, the Waterworks Act, the Sewage Act, the Environment Protection Act, the Development Act, the Local Government Act, the River Murray Act and the Natural Resource Management Act. Marine water resources are also included and managed through the Coast Protection Act and the Fisheries Act.

For additional information, visit: www.watercare.net/water_legsn.php

Student Activity Ideas

• Students to research the different ways in which South Australia's water resources are managed.
• In groups, students to prepare a presentation for the class that deals with an aspect of water management (eg. prescription, licensing, water caps etc)
• Visit parliament house to see where water legislation is passed.
• Research the organisations that manage our water resources? What do they do? What impact have they had on the environment?

Enquiry Learning

• Why is it important to manage our water resources?
• How are the needs of the environment represented in water policies?
• How does South Australia manage its water resources?
• Which organisations have a responsibility to manage our water resources?
• What can we do to support the management of our water resources?

Internet Resources

Type	Description	Resources Covering the Topic
Easy	Water Proofing Adelaide.	SA Water www.waterproofingadelaide.sa.gov.au/ main/about.htm
	About natural resource management in the Murray-Darling Basin.	Murray-Darling Basin Commission www.mdbc.gov.au/naturalresources/ about/about_basin.htm
	Comprehensive links site to a range of organisations, governments and institutions concerned with water from across the world.	Australian Water Links members.optushome.com.au/ davidhope/AustralianWaterLinks.htm
	Inter-governmental agreements on water policy.	Government of South Australia Department for Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/water/ agreements/index.html
	State of the Environment Reporting at State and Federal level. Providing information on the state of all sectors of the Australian environment.	State of the Environment - Australia www.ea.gov.au/soe/index.html State of the Environment - South Australia www.deh.sa.gov.au/soe2003/ index.html
	A comprehensive review of Australia’s water resources management. Achieving sustainable management.	Environment Australia audit.ea.gov.au/ANRA/water/docs/ national/Water_Sust_Mgmt.html
	Centre for comparative water policies and law. Includes a useful links page.	University of South Australia business.unisa.edu.au/commerce/ waterpolicylaw/projects/default.asp
	Examines international issues about equality of access water, including policy commitments from governments.	Right to Water www.righttowater.org.uk/code/ Policy.asp

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