The development of a State Water Plan is a high priority for Government. The Plan will outline Government’s commitment to strategically and effectively manage our limited and vital water resources. It will describe the linkages with other important values such as health, lifestyle, land use planning, prosperous communities, a healthy environment, regional and sustainable development. Importantly, the State Water Plan will adopt a whole of water cycle approach.
The planning horizon will be to 2030 to integrate with land and source development timetables where possible.
The Plan will establish broad water management objectives for Western Australia. These will consider times of water resource abundance and scarcity, recognising the impact of expected climate variation. The objectives for the strategic management of water resources will be of relevance to the community and all water users.
In essence, it will provide a framework for the community, water users and other stakeholders to understand, engage and assess progress towards the strategic management of water in Western Australia.
The State Water Plan will include three major components -
1. Water Policy Framework
2. Water Planning Framework
3. Water availability & use around the State, current and future demand
The Water Policy Framework has been drafted and was released for public comment in April 2006.
The Water Planning Framework and information on water availability and use are included along with the Water Policy Framework in the Draft State Water Plan released by the Minister for Water Resources on 15 October 2006. It is anticipated that the State Water Plan will be finalised and released by Government in 2007.
As part of the consultation process on the development of the State Water Plan, the State Water Planning Review Panel was established as an expert external panel. The Review Panel first met on 2 February 2006 to discuss the Draft Water Policy Framework.
The Review Panel met to review the draft Water Planning Framework and development of the South West Water Plan on 17 August 2006.
