6 Water
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What you will read in this chapter
• Reform 6.1: Securing our water future - What Australia needs to do to be certain water resources will meet the nation's needs into the future.
• Reform 6.2: Valuing water to create liveable communities - Reforms that will deliver resilience, liveability and health benefits to the community and improve access to high-quality water services for all Australians.
| Key messages • As with many other infrastructure classes, water management is the responsibility of states and territories. The Australian Government has a role in facilitating engagement between states and territories to improve water resource management. • Water is critical for liveable cities and healthy environments. It is also a key economic enabler. • All Australians have a right to safe, reliable water and wastewater services.1 This is essential to meet basic human needs and vital for strengthening outcomes for health, wellbeing, economic prosperity and sustainable development. • The security of Australia's water resources is under increasing pressure from climate change, weather extremes, population growth, changing user expectations, changing land use and ageing infrastructure. • During 2019 and 2020, drought, extreme bushfires, floods and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how severe these pressures are. • With water security the most pressing issue for the sector, there needs to be a consistent and clear national approach to defining and understanding the risks. • The water sector, communities, businesses and governments must all shift in the way they view and value Australia's water resources. Empowering the community will encourage efficient behaviours and attitudes when water is plentiful and when it is scarce. • This country must extend access to alternative sources of water and diversify its water supply portfolio. Governments must remove outdated barriers that prevent access to all options for water supply. |