measures implemented. This will generally require the use of modelling tools which are now becoming commonplace. This is illustrated diagrammatically below. Although not always unrecognised, the original intent of the NWQMS was to provide for integrated water resource planning and management. It encompasses the protection of a wide range of values, environmental as well as other outcomes (e.g. drinking water ‘public benefit’ supply, recreation, cultural and spiritual). Although its primary focus was on water quality management one of the and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh core documents, ‘The Australian and Marine Water on flow management (see Sn. 8.2.3.7). Quality’ provides limited guidance Recommendation Progress revision of the NWI Guidelines for Water Planning and ‘Policy by COAG in 2012) to reflect an integrated approach to Management’ (endorsed water planning, by inclusion of other stressors such as water quality. This is similar to the recommended action to explore whether: the preparation of a module to the NWI Policy Guidelines for Water Planning and Management is required to assist in the integration of water quality and water quantity planning and (Sn. in National Water Reform: Preparation for the management. 4.2, ‘Next Steps Future’). Other issues There are a number of other issues some of which may fall outside the terms of reference for the review, but can have a dramatic impact on the uptake and implementation of water reform. The current paradigm is that water for environmental purposes is as an entitlement ‘held’ similar to other entitlements. This has resulted in the need for a bureaucracy (‘environmental water and somewhat convoluted decision making processes (subject to political holder’) pressure) on how best to use this environmental water. It would be preferable, and more consistent with objective planning if licences gained for environmental purposes were surrendered and converted into appropriate conditions in the water resource plan (‘planned environmental water’). The description of water resource planning in the glossary fails to recognise the requirement in the Murray Darling Basin for the water resource plan to incorporate a quality ‘water management providing limited alignment between water quantity and quality planning. plan’, The current modelled baseline for is misleading. Fundamentally, it is based ‘natural’ flows on the removal of infrastructure; it does not model flow under the natural vegetated condition of the catchment. This approach has contributed to the view that by ‘interception’
measures implemented. This will generally require the use of modelling tools which are now becoming commonplace. This is illustrated diagrammatically below. Although not always unrecognised, the original intent of the NWQMS was to provide for integrated water resource planning and management. It encompasses the protection of a wide range of values, environmental as well as other ‘public benefit’ outcomes (e.g. drinking water supply, recreation, cultural and spiritual). Although its primary focus was on water quality management one of the core documents, ‘The Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality’ provides limited guidance on flow management (see Sn. 8.2.3.7). Recommendation Progress revision of the NWI ‘Policy Guidelines for Water Planning and Management’ (endorsed by COAG in 2012) to reflect an integrated approach to water planning, by inclusion of other stressors such as water quality. This is similar to the recommended action to explore whether: the preparation of a module to the NWI Policy Guidelines for Water Planning and Management is required to assist in the integration of water quality and water quantity planning and management. (Sn. 4.2, ‘Next Steps in National Water Reform: Preparation for the Future’). Other issues There are a number of other issues some of which may fall outside the terms of reference for the review, but can have a dramatic impact on the uptake and implementation of water reform. The current paradigm is that water for environmental purposes is ‘held’ as an entitlement similar to other entitlements. This has resulted in the need for a bureaucracy (‘environmental water holder’) and somewhat convoluted decision making processes (subject to political pressure) on how best to use this environmental water. It would be preferable, and more consistent with objective planning if licences gained for environmental purposes were surrendered and converted into appropriate conditions in the water resource plan (‘planned environmental water’). The description of water resource planning in the glossary fails to recognise the requirement in the Murray Darling Basin for the water resource plan to incorporate a ‘water quality management plan’, providing limited alignment between water quantity and quality planning. The current modelled baseline for ‘natural’ flows is misleading. Fundamentally, it is based on the removal of infrastructure; it does not model flow under the natural vegetated condition of the catchment. This approach has contributed to the view that ‘interception’ by
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