“Localism” as an approach to community participation in Australian water planning

Abstract

Sharing of water between competing uses of surface and groundwater systems across Australia is based on water plans. Based on adaptive management, planning involves the use of participatory processes to achieve a balance between consumptive and in-stream uses of water. Tensions between different stakeholders and values are particularly evident where overallocated water systems are required to be returned to an environmentally sustainable level of extraction, as shown in current processes for a Basin Plan in the Murray-Darling. Parliamentary enquiries have called for the incorporation of "local" approaches in water planning to ease these tensions. Two recent projects identify barriers and bridges to collaborative water planning, and in a variety of contexts, trial practical tools to address issues identified by stakeholders and agencies. Major findings include identification of factors that improve community confidence of plans. These results have implications for water planning in other countries especially where the science is contested, social values are uncertain and communities diverse.

The Metagovernance of Australian Aater Policy: Practices, Rationales and Outcomes

“…It actually meant we could flag 'if you do this, the consequences will be that' so we had on the record a dialogue about what we were going to be saying. MDBA and the department knew what we would be saying if they did this or that (industry, 31) That approach helped to build trust with the leadership of the peak bodies, if not their In essence, localism was about strengthening stakeholder participation, from information provision and consultation to collaboration (Tan, 2012). This was endorsed by the House of Representatives Inquiry into the Impact of the Guide to the Basin Plan (House of Representatives, 2011).…”