Catchment management -setting the scene

John WilliamsCommissioner, NSW Natural Resources Commission

22 August 2011

Integrated catchment management

Setting the scene:

1. What is it?

2. Why is it important?

3. What are our expectations?

4. What do we want from it?

5. What is working well?

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Basic principles:

1. Take a holistic approach to management of land, biodiversity, water and community resources at the water-catchment scale

2. Involve communities in planning and managing their landscapes

3. Find a balance between resource use and resource conservation

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What is it?

My vision

Integrated action, based on sound science, to manage water in the landscape for all users, for now and the future.

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Why is it important?

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Deckchair reshuffles

Different world views

Too complex

Monitoring and

Evaluation

Water planning

Land use planning

Stewardship

Natural Resource

TARGETS

Regulation and planning

Land use

Infrastructure

Natural resource

management

Population Climate Shift/Change

Economic growth

and

other

DRIVERS

AUDITMonitoring

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Target setting

What are our expectations?

All players are clear on what they’re planning for

They work together at multiple scales using best available knowledge

Have systems in place to drive continuous improvement

In NSW, we use the state-wide targets and the Standard for NRM to provide clarity on our expectations

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In NSW, the NRC has found:

1. Framework in place

2. Good projects (90% delivery)

3. Continuity of institutions

4. Strength of CMAs

5. Shift in thinking towards resilience

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How we are going?

Priorities for the future

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Foundations established for successful landscape management

Priorities for next period of CAP implementation

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Some examples from New South Wales:

1. Aligning water planning and catchment planning

2. Upgrading catchment action plans

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What is working well?

Alignment of water planning andcatchment planning

1. Co-operation between water and catchment planners

2. Strong ‘alignment’ possible

3. Plans based on common values, information and risk assessments

4. Solving state issues at local scale

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Benefits of integrated

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catchment management

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CMA-

Catchment Action Plan

State Targets

Common River

SystemAsset

NSW Office of Water

-Water

Sharing Plan

Upgrading catchment action plans

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Structured, collaborative adaptive planning process

Uses best available information to develop targets and actions for building resilient landscapes

Collaborative whole of government and community plan

Future of upgraded CAPs

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Co-operation is not enough by itself!

Provide space for innovation

Be clear on your scale of intervention

Focus on continuous improvement and formal adaptive management

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Conclusion: setting the scene

Lessons for co-operative relationships:

1. Whole of government – whole of community

2. Collaboration is hard work

3. Alignment with existing plans

4. Spatial representation

5. Agreed roles and responsibilities

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