The department has started work on a number of regional water plans to support the state water plan. The areas will generally align with Regional Development Commissions, with some variations.
Regional water plans will consolidate available water information and identify necessary actions. Priorities depend on current water usage, resource development pressure and knowledge of water resources in respective water regions. The first regional plan was developed for the South West and others are well-advanced.
The Department manages the Rural Water Planning Program which implements the initiatives under the State's Rural Water Plan. The focus of the plan is to:
- encourage self-sufficiency in water supply
- improve the reliability, continuity and quality of on-property water supply, and
- provide rural communities with reliable emergency water supply arrangements.
The plan also delivers farm water planning and technical support, water deficiency arrangements, strategic public water supplies in dryland agricultural areas, and assistance schemes.
Regional water plans are strategic in nature with a long term-planning horizon. The plans are an important tool to implement the policy objectives of the State Water Plan 2007. Regional plans are designed to be regionally-focused, providing an overview of major challenges, a vision of the region's water future and an action plan
The plans will not make final decisions with respect to any specific water allocation or approval for the development of a new water source. Existing approval processes will continue to apply to these decisions, although they are expected to align with the direction of a regional water plan.
Information about the range of services available to assist farms and pastoral water consumers is available here.
For more information, contact the Department of Water on freecall 1800 780 300 or email ruralwater@water.wa.gov.au.