Delivering improvements to water management

Jo Palmer,Minister for Primary Industries and Water

Tasmanians should be proud that this Government is providing record investment to sustainably manage our water resources and protect environmental values.

Today we are releasing the four-year Implementation Plan for the Rural Water Use Strategy, which outlines the actions to be taken to improve the security, quality and resilience of our water resources both now and into the future.

The first Rural Water Use Strategy Report Card highlights the progress made in strengthening partnerships and securing additional funding to deliver sustainable water management outcomes for Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government has identified the key sustainable water management challenges and we are getting on with the job with recent achievements including:

  • Securing more than $1.8 million in joint Australian and Tasmanian Government funding for three freshwater science research projects to support evidence-based policy and decision making in relation to climate change predictions in water yield modelling; groundwater risk assessment and water accountability by water users.
  • Investing $1.5 million to deliver the actions from the Rural Water Use Strategy, released in 2021, and establish the River Health Advisory Project.
  • Employing three new positions within NRE Tas to manage the River Health Advisory Project and assist with implementing the 29 actions outlined in the Rural Water Use Strategy. The positions are: Water Resource and River Health Scientist; Water Management and Freshwater Engagement Officer; and Project Manager Rural Water Use Strategy Implementation.
  • Establish the Rural Water Round Table made up of water users, stakeholders and environmental managers to provide direction and advice on appropriate, sustainable water use including river health monitoring and management.
  • Delivering the first Rural Water Use Strategy Report Card, released in April 2022, which highlights the progress made under the Rural Water Use Strategy in strengthening partnerships and securing additional funding to deliver sustainable water management outcomes for Tasmania.
  • Agreement has also been reached on establishing a Water Managers and Data Custodian Working Group involving key water managers across the state, including Hydro Tasmania, TasWater and the Bureau of Meteorology. The Working Group has a focus on improving data sharing, accessibility and coverage of hydrological measurements, water quality and river health to support a range of ongoing water management activities.

The Rural Water Use Strategy Report Card and the 2022-2025 Rural Water Use Strategy Implementation Plan can be viewed online at: www.nre.tas.gov.au/rural-water

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