Improving water usage and achieving sustainable policies.
Description/objectives:
Chile and Australia face a similar challenge with respect to the management of scarce water resources – how to develop policy frameworks that balance the demands of industry and domestic consumers while minimising impacts on the environment and the economy.
Like Australia, Chile must deal with a mismatch between the geographical distribution of natural water resources (primarily in the south) and location of industries and most domestic consumers (in the north and centre). Policy-makers and the water industry must also take into account the effects of climate variability (such as that caused by El Niño and La Niña) in developing long-term sustainable plans for the future.
Basin management has proved a major challenge for all stakeholders in Australia, particularly with respect to the vital Murray-Darling basin, which generates around 40 per cent of national income derived from agricultural production. Australia now has a vastly more efficient water management system, which provides important economic benefits to regions and local communities.
This session will explore the water catchment priorities and challenges in Australia and Chile from an industry and regulatory perspective, including by sharing experiences in the regulation of national water markets and in catchment management.
SPEAKERS
Director of the Monash Sustainability Institute (MSI)
Speaker - Australia
Acting President for the National Agricultural Society
Speaker – Chile
