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| National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality |
| Jurisdiction | Australia |
| Formed | 2000 |
| Parent agency | Natural Heritage Trust of Australia; Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia) |
| Budget | A$ multi-year funds |
National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality The National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality was a strategic Australian initiative addressing salinity and water quality degradation across the Murray–Darling Basin, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria (Australia), Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory. Established in response to national reviews and intergovernmental agreements such as the Council of Australian Governments accords and the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia, the Plan linked federal, state, and local action with scientific institutions including the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and universities like the University of Melbourne and the University of Adelaide.
The Plan emerged amid mounting evidence from inquiries such as the Senate of Australia inquiries and scientific assessments by the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia), Australian Academy of Science, and CSIRO that rising dryland and groundwater salinity threatened assets in the Murray–Darling Basin and catchments like the Goulburn River and Murrumbidgee River. Policy drivers included commitments under the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment and outcomes from the Australia–New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council. High-profile reports by the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and briefs to ministers such as those from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia) reinforced linkage to agricultural productivity in regions exemplified by Griffith, New South Wales and infrastructure in the Riverina.
The Plan set targets for reversing trends identified in studies by CSIRO Land and Water and assessments by the Australian National Audit Office, aiming to protect surface water and groundwater used by communities in locations like Adelaide, Canberra, and Hobart and industries in regions including Shepparton and Central Queensland. Objectives aligned with commitments under the National Water Initiative and sought to integrate actions with catchment management bodies such as Murray–Darling Basin Authority and regional organisations like Landcare Australia and Catchment Management Authorities (Victoria). Scope encompassed rural salinity, irrigated agriculture, urban stormwater, and riverine ecosystems including those in the Macquarie Marshes.
Governance arrangements drew on intergovernmental mechanisms including the Prime Minister of Australia's endorsements via the Council of Australian Governments, and program administration by agencies such as the Department of the Environment and Energy (Australia) and state departments like NSW Department of Primary Industries and Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (Victoria). Partnerships extended to non-governmental organisations including Australian Conservation Foundation, Environmental Defenders Office (Australia), and community groups like Greening Australia. Legislative context referenced instruments such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and state water acts like the Water Act 2007 (Australia).
Major interventions included on-ground works funded through programs akin to Natural Heritage Trust of Australia initiatives, salinity remediation projects in the Mallee (Victoria), recharge control in the Swan Coastal Plain, and riparian restoration in the Gippsland and Nutrient Management pilots in the Latrobe Valley. Technical measures incorporated tree planting partnerships with Greening Australia, engineering works by state agencies, and research collaborations with CSIRO and universities such as University of Sydney, University of Western Australia, and University of Queensland. Capacity building involved training with organisations such as Landcare Australia and community groups in towns like Dubbo and Wagga Wagga.
Implementation combined federal funding mechanisms via agencies like the Australian Government Department of Agriculture with delivery by state bodies including the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (Western Australia), local councils such as Murray River Council, and catchment management authorities including NSW Catchment Management Authorities. Stakeholder roles included industry bodies like Grains Research and Development Corporation, Irrigation Australia, and research partners such as Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. Indigenous engagement referenced organisations like the National Native Title Tribunal and local Aboriginal corporations in regions such as Torres Strait Islands and Koori communities.
Monitoring frameworks used methods developed by CSIRO, data from the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia), and reporting through intergovernmental reviews coordinated by Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (Australia). Evaluations invoked audits by the Australian National Audit Office and program reviews by panels including experts from the Australian Academy of Science and representatives of stakeholders like Australian Farmers organisations. Outcomes were tracked for catchments such as the Barwon River, Hawkesbury–Nepean, and Cooper Creek using indicators comparable to those in the National Water Initiative.
Funding was channelled from federal appropriations endorsed through the Parliament of Australia and matched by state allocations from governments including New South Wales Government and Victorian Government. Financial management involved agencies such as the Australian Treasury and grant administration by the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia, with additional philanthropic and private sector partnerships involving entities like Australian Pork Limited and regional investment from councils in areas such as Murraylands.
Challenges included coordination across jurisdictions noted by critiques from the Australian National Audit Office and policy analysts associated with the Grattan Institute, climatic variability documented by the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia), and implementation capacity in remote regions such as Kimberley (Western Australia). Impacts reported included improved salinity control in parts of the Murray–Darling Basin, enhanced riparian vegetation in the Gwydir Wetlands, and augmented community stewardship through Landcare networks. Outcomes influenced subsequent national programs including the Murray–Darling Basin Plan and informed water policy reforms under the National Water Initiative.