Western Australia’s Water Reform Program
Water is the State’s most valuable resource, providing our communities with drinking water, food and recreation opportunities. Our water resources are essential for Western Australia’s economic development.
Given the importance of water, we need to give greater recognition to its economic, social and environmental values and find ways to use it more efficiently and effectively.
To achieve this, the Western Australian Government has embarked on an important water reform program to improve water management.
The reform program was initiated by the Irrigation Review prepared by the Irrigation Review Steering Committee, which led to a public consultation document A Draft Blueprint for Water Reform in Western Australia.
Following many workshops around the State and extensive consultation with the Western Australian community, the State Government has now released:
The blueprint contains 72 recommendations addressing the following:
- Statutory water management plans
- Water access entitlements
- Metering
- Water licence administration fees
- Water trading
- Water use efficiency
- Integrated land and water planning
- Increased self management
The reforms will bring significant economic and environmental benefits and help secure Western Australia’s water future.
They are an integral part of the State Water Strategy and the State Water Plan and will help to form Regional Water Plans. The reform process has been given greater urgency and direction with Western Australia's signing of the National Water Initiative in April 2006.
Please contact the Department of Water if you require further information. Licensing hotline: 1800 464 956 or email: waterreform@water.wa.gov.au
