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Watertrust recently brought together a diverse group of stakeholders interested in the management of water in the Snowy Mountains to hear inspiring stories of how novel policy-making processes in British Columbia, Canada have transformed water management and massively improved outcomes for stakeholders.

It is difficult at the best of times to manage Adelaide's precious water resources to meet the domestic, environmental, cultural, and industrial demands. Once the added pressures of climate change and projected population growth are factored in, the need to rethink its future management becomes essential. That's why Watertrust has been working closely with stakeholders from across Greater Adelaide's water sector to co-design future water management arrangements.

In late 2022, an interim Working Group of First Nations leaders was convened by Watertrust to help shape a Ministerial roundtable with the Hon Tanya Plibersek. Watertrust continued to support the Working Group as it explored the potential need and options to strengthen First Nations' participation in water policy reform nationwide. As part of that work, the Working Group sought a landscape map of organisations in Australia that have a role in furthering First Nations water rights and interests.

Watertrust Australia enjoyed a strong 2023 as we continued to build trusted relationships with a wide diversity of stakeholders across Australia, and achieved breakthroughs with our unique positioning and skillset.
Our first Annual Review showed how the value of our independent status and focus on inclusive processes is resonating with many. This has now evolved to Watertrust playing a vital role in initiatives across a range of policy issues and geographies, providing a solid foundation to overcoming barriers to water and catchment policy reform.

Watertrust Australia recently submitted a response to the Productivity Commission’s Murray-Darling Basin Plan: Implementation Review 2023 – Interim Report, recommending more guidance on approaches to inclusive decision-making.