Water – important to us all, so have your say....

There is a lot going on with water planning in our region and I think it is timely to provide an update on the processes so far. I hope that most of you are aware that Terrain  has been contracted by Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) to assist with community engagement in the statutory Water Resource Planning (WRP) process.

Water resource planning is the state government's process for addressing the allocation and security of supply i.e quantity. There is a separate process around water quality via Healthy Water Management Plans and that will be updated in the next e- news.

The WRP is prepared under The Water Act by DERM and aims to provide a framework to:

• secure supplies for existing users
• provide flow strategies that support stated ecological outcomes
• provide a water allocation and management strategy for the 10-year life of the plan
• provide a foundation for future planning.

Terrain's role is all about helping to ensure people have good access to the process and identification and resolution of key matters as they emerge. Tasks include:

• Keeping a wide range of stakeholders up to speed with information about the WRP process
• Organising, and facilitating, catchment meetings to provide further opportunity for discussion about the WRP.
• Working with Traditional Owner organisations and representatives to organise specific Indigenous meetings
• Providing a number of written reports to DERM in various stages of the WRP process in regard to critical issues that need resolution and solutions being sought by the community.

Terrain is working hard to ensure we provide access to information and workshops, however I want to strongly encourage everyone to keep informed on the progress of the Water Resource Plan and provide direct input.

Terrain also encourages all key sectors and organisations to ensure they develop their own clear response to the emerging WRP as well as their own direct communications with DERM about WRP issues.

Most recently, the second round of community meetings was held in locations throughout the region in the first and third weeks of August 2011. Terrain organised and facilitated meetings in; Ingham, Tully, Innisfail, Malanda, Ravenshoe, Gordonvale, and Mossman with 12 -24 people attending each meeting. DERM presented information on the WRP process including; information about consultation undertaken to date, the groundwater use surveys which have been undertaken as well as the progress on the Socio-Economic study, the Ecological Asset identification process and Report and the hydrological modelling. Detailed meeting notes were recorded and these will be made available on the Terrain website as well as being provided directly to meeting participants.

Terrain is also supporting the WRP Community Reference Panel to work with Industry Groups to provide further detail on industry needs (crop requirements) for water use data. This will ensure that industry input is based on an accurate and available local data for the region's agriculture water needs. This information is important to help DERM with the allocation of water across the region. A meeting was held in South Johnstone in late July with several of the industries represented and we are continuing to work with other industries to support them in the provision of this detailed information. DERM have been receptive to working with stakeholders and have undertaken targeted engagement when requested by stakeholders, within their available resources. I understand that there are some separate processes taking place with industry bodies.

It is expected there will be a further Community Reference Panel meeting in late October-early November when DERM will present information in the Draft Reports. In the meantime DERM are continuing with their vast amount of work required for the preparation of a Draft WRP and the Reports that will be released in early 2012. These Reports include:

• Overview Report (plain English guide to WRP)
• Socio-Economic Report
• Indigenous Report (looking at cultural values and requirements for water)
• Environmental Assessment Report (Technical Assessment Panel)
• Hydrology Report (results of scenario runs & hydrological modelling)
• Community Reference Panel Report.

Once the Draft WRP is released there will be opportunities for the community to make comment through formal submissions.

Again, I would like to emphasise how important it is, that everybody ensures they are informed about the WRP and seek to engage in the process, either directly or through the members of the Community Reference Panel. This plan is about the region's future arrangements for water, a resource critical to us all.

Further information can be found at the DERM website.

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For further detail on Terrain's role in the process and meeting notes go to the Terrain website.