Options for an Indigenous Economic Water Fund (IEWF)

Presenter: Phil Duncan, Gomeroi Nation, New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council 15 pages Contains footnotes OPTIONS PAPER for the First Peoples\u27 Water Engagement Council (FPWEC) DATED 20 APRIL 2012 Abstract: This paper highlights the options for a path forward to establish an Indigenous Economic Water Fund (IEWF) through acquisition of water entitlements1 by indigenous people in systems where the consumptive pool is fully allocated. The water allocation that comes from indigenous holdings in the consumptive pool is an important mechanism for enabling Indigenous communities to achieve economic development and as such is a legitimate strategy for ‘Closing the Gap’. The proposed path forward requires action and support from indigenous people: establish a body to champion the IEWF strategy and hold water entitlements; develop a strategy based on governing principles of defining the gap to be closed and relate it to key elements of water entitlements i.e. location, volume, purpose and control; and do the feasibility - identify currently held water entitlements and desired water entitlements - gather support (lobbying government etc); - facilitate appropriate governance around holding water entitlements; - consider acquisition of water entitlements options to deliver water allocation; and - identify necessary management and infrastructure capacity to facilitate management of, access to and use of water allocation by indigenous Australians