Water Allocation Planning Practices and Lessons Learned in Australia

Water planning is a key means of achieving the objectives of Australia’s National Water Initiative and one of the most important tools for achieving sustainable extraction of water. This paper reports on lessons learned about water allocation planning by water planners and stakeholders around Australia, based on experience since the COAG water reforms in 1994. Eleven case studies from States and the Northern Territory are used to illustrate the strengths and challenges of planning processes in delivering desired outcomes. Observations are made about areas needing further development. This paper summarises the main findings of a project undertaken for the National Water Commission in mid 2007