A moratorium has been declared on dealing with new licence applications to take surface and ground water in the Wet Tropics. Public Information sessions are currently being run across the region. The draft Wet Tropics Water Resource Plan will (but is not limited to):

• define the availability of water for any purpose;
• provide a framework for sustainability of managing and taking water;
• provide a framework for establishing water allocations, and water trading;
• investigate and outline strategies to reverse where practicable, degradation in natural ecosystems, including stressed rivers; and
• Regulate the taking or interfering with water in a watercourse, lake, spring or underground water.

Creek in poor condition – Wondecla. Photo by Terrain NRM.

A community reference panel is being established and Terrain is currently negotiating with DERM (Department of Environment and Resource Management) to secure better support for community engagement in the statutory Water Resource Plan process.
If you have any questions about how we can support your involvement, contact Fiona Barron on (07) 4042 1576.