News Bulletin
Indigenous
Water Policy Group (IWPG) 12th Meeting Report
“2011 looks to be a very exciting time for Indigenous
water policy. NAILSMA will be working through its Indigenous Water
Resource Program to secure meaningful outcomes in terms of
community participation in managing water resources at all levels
and setting a course toward community benefits”, said
Joe Morrison, NAILSMA CEO.
The Indigenous
Water Policy Group (IWPG) convened its 12th Meeting in
Cairns, 29th November to 1st December 2010. The objective was to
develop a strategic plan to deliver a set of objectives based on
its new funding arrangement with the National Water Commission
until June 2012.
At the meeting, the IWPG reviewed its current IWPG framework and
role and objectives, and reviews and updates were provided on the
NAILSMA Indigenous
Community Water Facilitator Network (ICWFN), relevant
research initiatives, and the progress of policy positions. Future
research and policy opportunities and direction were identified and
discussed in light of the next 18 months of operation.
The IWPG acts in an advisory capacity to the NAILSMA Board through
the IWPG Chair. The IWPG has made recommendation to the NAILSMA
Board for the position of its Chair and to instate a Deputy Chair
as a new position during its next term of funding.
IWPG members currently include individuals nominated at the
Mary River
Forum and founding IWPG members. (See the NAILSMA website
for full listing of current
members .) Expanding the IWPG membership was considered and
recommendation has been given to the NAILSMA Board on its
definition of the IWPG business boundaries. Membership will then be
determined based on this criteria. The IWPG aims to progress
membership prerequisites in time for its next meeting.
The IWPG has come a long way since it was initiated in 2006. The
IWPG reviewed and refined its Terms of Reference to include the
Mary River
Principles and to clearly articulate the IWPG’s
direction as an advocate for sustainable use of resources to
support Indigenous livelihoods and economic development.
The IWPG will update its communication materials to reflect its
future role and objectives before its next meeting.
Key priorities for the next 18 months include overseeing
consultancies to define and qualify Indigenous commercial water
allocations from the consumptive pool provided in water plans.
Consultations will begin in the Northern Territory and Queensland
before commencing work in the Kimberley. Consultancies will be
coordinated with a series of IWPG hosted meetings and forums that
will include a wide range of Indigenous community, agency and
entity interests, as well as government and wider stakeholder
interests.
The relevant state and territory government water agencies will be
engaged in all stages of the consultancies. While informal
engagement will be maintained through participation at meetings,
workshops and forums,
formal advice will be provided once consultations are completed
with the intent of advancing legislative change toward appropriate
water reform that better considers Indigenous interests.
To assist the delivery of consultancies and to ensure the
appropriate policy direction, the IWPG has recommended to the
NAILSMA Board that a Steering Group be convened to inform the
development of the Indigenous commercial water allocations. The
Steering Group would oversee regional sub-committees (in NT, Qld.
and WA) working directly on developing and delivering
consultancies.
The IWPG plans to next meet around April 2011. The confirmed date
will be posted on the IWPG web
page where you can also find out more about the
project.
The IWPG is funded by the National
Water Commission
Photo: Attendees at the 12th IWPG meeting in Cairns December
2010
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