A new report titled A Review of Tasmania’s Water Accountability Framework has been released, providing recommendations to improve water accountability in the state.
Water accountability underpins effective management of water resources and is important in providing credible information allowing evidence-based decision-making for the sustainable management of water resources.
The independent review of Tasmania’s Water Accountability Framework was commissioned as part of the Rural Water Use Strategy to understand where updates are needed to strengthen how water use is measured, managed and reported.
The report shows that the current framework has served Tasmania well however modernisation is required to meet challenges including changing climate, population growth, growing complexity in water management arrangements and increased demands on our water resource.
NRE Tas will now begin work implementing the 23 recommendations from the review. Eleven of these key recommendations are already underway through projects delivered under the Rural Water Use Strategy.
Opportunities for engagement with water managers and water users will be a key focus during the implementation of the recommendations which will be staged over a number of years to allow people to have their say and time to adapt to new requirements.
Read more on the Water Accountability Project.