The Rockliff Liberal Government is continuing to deliver improvements in water management for Tasmanians.
Today the Government is releasing the Rural Water Use Strategy Progress Report 2023 to highlight this year’s key achievements, which include:
- Development of a new Groundwater Risk Assessment Tool to support groundwater management decisions;
- Phase 1 of work to incorporate contemporary climate change projections in water management;
- Establishment of the Water Managers and Data Custodians Working Group which is facilitating collaboration and sharing of water information, including river health and water quality data;
- Commencement of the design of a new statewide water quality monitoring program; and
- Review of surface water and groundwater monitoring networks managed by NRE Tas to prioritise future investment.
Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jo Palmer, said completing these activities will ensure the water management framework is fit for purpose and can support development in irrigated agriculture while addressing challenges and emerging risks around water quality and changing climate.
“Water security plays a critical role in supporting the Tasmanian Government’s Agri-Food Plan and target to sustainably grow the farmgate value of agricultural production to $10 billion by 2050,” Minister Palmer said.
“The total investment allocated to deliver current projects under the Rural Water Use Strategy is now $5.68 million, with the Tasmanian Government investing $4.46 million and the Australian Government committing $1.22 million.
“Tasmania’s Rural Water Use Strategy is being delivered by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas), in collaboration with key water stakeholders, and takes a science based and long-term approach to looking after the State’s freshwater.
“The Government will continue to work with key water stakeholders to progress important activities under the Strategy over the next 2 years.”
To view the 2023 progress report, visit: https://nre.tas.gov.au/water/water-legislation-policies-and-strategies/rural-water-use-strategy
