Water is the state’s most valuable resource, providing our communities with drinking water, food and recreation opportunities. Our water resources are essential for Western Australia’s economic development.
Given the importance of water, we need to give greater recognition to its economic, social and environmental values and find ways to use it more efficiently and effectively.
To achieve this, Western Australia has embarked on an important water-reform program to improve water management.
The reform program was initiated by the Irrigation Review prepared by the Irrigation Review Steering Committee, which led to a public consultation document A draft blueprint for water reform in Western Australia.
Following many workshops around the state and extensive consultation with the Western Australian community, A blueprint for water reform in Western Australia: Final advice to the Western Australian Government was released followed by the Government Response (to the blueprint).
The blueprint contains 72 recommendations addressing the following:
- statutory water management plans
- water access entitlements
- metering
- water licence administration fees
- water trading
- water-use efficiency
- integrated land and water planning
- increased self management.