6.1 Recommendation 

Secure long-term water supply for urban, rural, environmental and cultural users by developing a national approach to water security, including independent national ownership. 

Proposed sponsor: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 

Supported by: State and territory water departments

When this should impact:

Where this should impact:

6.1.1 Achieve a common approach to water security planning by developing a new National Water Initiative incorporating a national water security framework. A national water security framework must include an agreed definition of 'water security' within a whole-of-system context and provide an approach to assessing risks and opportunities. 

Proposed lead: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 

Supported by: State and territory water departments

Ensure a consistent national approach to water security by developing and committing to a renewed National Water Initiative that incorporates a national water security framework. 

Proposed lead: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 

Supported by: State and territory water departments

Ensure long-term water security challenges and risks are understood and opportunities identified on a nationally consistent basis by developing a national water security framework. A national water security framework must include: 

•  a definition of 'water security' within a whole-of-system context (including urban and rural systems), with reference to: safety, quality, quantity and for meeting users' needs over time on an economic, environmental, social (including cultural) and governance basis 

•  a method to measure the water security of a place or catchment over time and incorporate best available demographic, scientific and economic data. This method should also be capable of identifying water deficits or surpluses. 

Proposed lead: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 

Supported by: State and territory water departments

Improve reliability of water accounting within the total system by maintaining registers of all water entitlements and allocations aligned to the renewed National Water Initiative. Mineral and petroleum industries should also be incorporated within entitlement and planning arrangements under a renewed National Water Initiative. 

Proposed lead: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 

Supported by: State and territory water departments

Meet the needs of water users into the future and ensure long-term water security objectives are considered in strategic decision-making. This includes:

•  incorporating the national water security framework into business case development for state, territory and nationally significant water infrastructure proposals

•  incorporating the national water security framework into existing national infrastructure investment assessment frameworks, including the Infrastructure Australia Assessment Framework and the National Water Grid Investment Framework.

Proposed lead: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Supported by: State and territory water departments, Infrastructure Australia, National Water Grid Authority

Ensure ongoing commitment and application of the national water security framework by assigning independent ownership of the National Water Initiative, including the national water security framework.

Proposed lead: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Supported by: State and territory water departments, National Water Grid Authority

6.1.2 Normalise water-efficient practices and decisions by increasing water literacy in communities and businesses.

Proposed lead: Communities

Supporting by: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, water utilities

Champion water-wise behaviours and increase water literacy. This includes water-wise campaigning and voluntary reporting of water use in business processes.

Proposed lead: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Supported by: Communities

Support community and businesses to embed a water-wise culture. This includes ongoing public education to improve water literacy and rebates on water-efficient products. Regulatory bodies must implement pricing structures that signal the full value of water and an economic water conservation method backed by community engagement.

Proposed lead: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Supported by: State and territory water departments

Increase transparency of water consumption and dependency (water footprint) by disclosing meaningful water data in environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting.

Proposed lead: Professional associations, such as Australian Institute of Company Directors, Governance Institute of Australia, CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants ANZ

Supported by: Department of Finance, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, Australian Securities Investment Commission, Australian Stock Exchange

6.1.3 Meet users' long-term water needs by ensuring that all options are fully evaluated in infrastructure planning.

Proposed lead: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Supported by: State and territory water departments, state and territory planning departments

Strengthen resilience of water supply infrastructure and meet outcomes for users' long-terms needs by:

•  removing policies that unnecessarily restrict water supply options, including bans that prevent suitably treated wastewater or stormwater from augmenting potable water supplies, and bans that prevent the urban use of rural water

•  removing mandates, targets and subsidies for the use of certain types of water, including recycled water

•  removing regulatory barriers that discourage recycled water investments

•  ensuring that water infrastructure planning decisions consider all options for expanding water supply fully and transparently. This includes determining the optimal mix of water supply options with consideration given to the national water security framework.

Proposed lead: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

Supported by: State and territory water departments, state and territory planning departments, state and territory essential service economic regulators

Ensure water infrastructure decisions meet users' long-term needs through removing community perception barriers to the use of alternative water sources, particularly recycled water for drinking, by:

•  publicising a position of support for alternative water sources, especially recycled water for drinking

•  running public education and engagement campaigns on the benefits and risks of recycled water for drinking, including how water travels through the water cycle. Public education campaigning must be based on recognised positive messaging and avoid language or images that might cause stigma or negative reactions

•  partnering with influential community representatives or businesses to champion the use of recycled water for drinking.

Proposed lead: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Supported by: State and territory water departments, water utilities

6.1.4 Improve the long-term reliability of water infrastructure to meet future needs and expectations by advancing whole-of-life asset management and preventative maintenance.

Proposed lead: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Supported by: State and territory water departments

Support maturity for water service providers in asset management and long-term planning by coordinating a national centre of excellence for resource sharing, and coordination of partnerships.

Proposed lead: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Supported by: State and territory water departments

Coordinate asset management planning and support progression towards whole-of-life asset management in regional water utilities by facilitating regional partnerships or alliances (collaborative arrangements). Collaborative arrangements must support members to achieve predictive asset management plans through addressing skill shortages, sharing resources and improving data collection.

Proposed lead: State and territory water departments