Michael Douglas, Brendan Edgar, Jim Donaldson

1. Michael Douglas, Brendan Edgar, Jim Donaldson

2. Outline • Background, problem, approach • Major findings and implications • LWA’s contribution

4. Mimosa

5. >60% of Australia’s water resources

6. Heffernan touted the Ord as the next food bowl

7. Ord stage 2 sldie

8. Research to underpin sustainable management • Likely to be more development in northern Australia • Need to avoid the mistakes made in the south • Lack of basic knowledge of the full implications of options • => Clear need for research

9. TRaCK’s Aim To provide science and knowledge that governments, communities and industries need for the sustainable management of Australia’s tropical rivers and estuaries 

10. TRaCK Research Consortium • Over 80 researchers from 18 organisations • CDU, GU, UWA, UQ • JCU, ANU, Uni. Canberra • North Australian Indigenous Land & Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) • CSIRO, eriss, AIMS, GeoScience Australia • NT, WA, Qld Governments

11. TRaCK Program 27 Research projects, 2006-10 • Why do people value tropical rivers? • How do tropical rivers differ across the region? • How do tropical rivers work (physical and biological processes)? • What are the economic opportunities for Indigenous people? • How can we make good decisions about managing tropical rivers? • How can we ensure uptake of this research?

12. Where is TRaCK working? Darwin Region Daly Mitchell Fitzroy Flinders

13. Outline • Background, problem, approach • Major findings and implications • LWA’s contribution

14. Why do people value tropical rivers? • National and Catchment scale: • For the Indigenous people, environment and recreational use • Moderate expansion of irrigated agriculture. • Local community scale: • Harvesting and consuming aquatic resources can make a substantial contribution to Indigenous household economies.

15. Daly seasonal calendar

16. How do tropical rivers differ across the region?

17. Socio-economic profiling TRaCK Project 3.1: Stoeckl, Larson, Alexandritis, Stanley, Carson, Taylor • Demographic Characteristics • Economic Parameters • Individual Wellbeing • Infrastructure and Services • Institutional Arrangements • Environment and Culture

18. Ecohydrological regionalisation Stable summer baseflow (rainfall) Predictable summer highly intermittent Extreme harsh summer intermittent Stable summer baseflow (groundwater)

19. Hyrtl’s Catfish Biodiversity surveys

20. High conservation value aquatic ecosystems (HCVAE) using river biodiversity data Fish Dave Wilson Neil Armstrong Turtle Dave Wilson

21. How can we make good decisions? • Trial of collaborative approaches in NT water allocation planning process

22. Outcomes of the TRaCK program • Improved knowledge • New tools and approaches • High level end-user engagement

23. Outcomes of the TRaCK program • Improved knowledge • New tools and approaches • High level end-user engagement • Increased capacity • Researchers: • 30 new research staff, 15 postgraduates • Tropical regions, Cross-cultural environments • End users: • Water managers

24. Capacity building with Indigenous catchment groups • Supported development of Indigenous catchment groups • Training: Governance, Research skills, Presentation skills

25. Outcomes of the TRaCK program • Improved knowledge • New tools and approaches • High level of end-user engagement • Increased capacity • Indigenous partnerships

26. Outcomes of the TRaCK program • Improved knowledge • New tools and approaches • Increased capacity • High level engagement • Indigenous partnerships • Improved management

27. How will this research make a difference? • Informing policy debate • Wild Rivers Qld, Living Rivers NT, Northern development • Assessment and planning: Regional • Northern Taskforce (ONA, NWC) • North Australian Water Futures Assessment (DEWHA, NWC) • Kimberley & Cape York Heritage Assessments (DEWHA) • Assessment and planning: Catchment/aquifer • Environmental flow assessments • Water allocation planning processes (NT, WA and Qld Departments) • Monitoring • River & Wetland Health (DEWHA & NWC, NT, WA, Qld Govt, NRM Groups, Kowanyama Land and Natural Resource Management Office) • Working on Country Ranger Program (DEWHA) • Opportunities for Indigenous enterprises • Water markets and water rights

28. Where to next for TRaCK? • Originally planned as a 10 year program • Support for a continuation beyond 2010 • TRaCK consortium UJV • Co-ordinate funds from a range of sources • North Australian Biodiversity Hub • Expands the scope of TRaCK – Catchment to Coast • Biodiversity patterns • Threats to biodiversity and ecosystem resilience • Planning for conservation and management • Biodiversity values and Indigenous livelihoods • Ecosystem health assessment • Knowledge management and adoption

29. Outline • Background, problem, approach • Major findings and implications • LWA’s contribution

30. TRACK History: 2004 • 2004 • LWA Tropical Rivers Forum, Darwin • LWA Ecosystem Processes Project (CDU, GU, UWA) $30k • Develop conceptual models of ecosystem processes • Scope a larger program of research • Identify opportunities for integrated research • 2005 • Develop TRaCK Prospectus with LWA • Submit CERF application with LWA as host organisation • 2006 • NAILSMA join consortium • CERF funding • NWC funding • Qld Smart state

31. LWA Contribution • Big picture vision for R&D • Scoping studies • Seeding funds for developing ideas

32. Daly River Fish and Flows Project

33. Bayesian Belief Network Model

34. LWA Contribution • Big picture vision for R&D • Scoping studies • Seeding funds for developing ideas • Multidisciplinary, cross-program

35. TRaCK end-users/funders • >$34m program • ~$ 23 m cash • Dept. Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts • National Water Commission • Queensland Government • Land and Water Australia • Fisheries R&D Corporation • > $11m in-kind • Qld, NT, WA Governments • Regional NRM and Catchment groups • Indigenous organisations (Land councils, communities) • Industry e.g. Fisheries • Environment NGO’s

36. LWA Contribution • Big picture vision for R&D • Scoping studies • Seeding funds for developing ideas • Multidisciplinary, cross-program • Brokering funding partnerships

37. TRaCK’s Governance structure Land and Water Australia Board Project Co-ordinators

38. LWA Contribution • Big picture vision for R&D • Scoping studies • Seeding funds for developing ideas • Multidisciplinary, cross-program • Brokering funding partnerships • Reputation, governance, management

39. How can we ensure uptake of this research? • Knowledge and Adoption Theme • Staff, strategy and implementation plans • Communication products/activities • Active engagement of end users • Clear pathways for adoption • e.g. Planning processes, monitoring programs

40. LWA Contribution • Big picture vision for R&D • Scoping studies • Seeding funds for developing ideas • Multidisciplinary, cross-program • Brokering funding partnerships • Reputation, governance, management • Knowledge & Adoption

41. LWA Contribution • Big picture vision for R&D • Scoping studies • Seeding funds for developing ideas • Multidisciplinary, cross-program • Brokering funding partnerships • Reputation, governance, management • Knowledge & Adoption • Commitment to the North • Enduring influence – Kate, Brendan, John, Andrew, Me