AWA Policy Forum
Bringing together people who work across water together from around the country, the AWA’s National Policy Forum provided an opportunity to interrogate some of the thorny problems of water reform, while providing a springboard for future progress.
For Watertrust Australia Principal Kane Aldridge it was an invaluable opportunity to be in the same room as water policy professionals from across the country.
“It was the first time in several years that a national forum has been held with people that are working in this highly complex space. To be able to share those lessons that are happening across the country was really, really valuable,” he said.
“For me there were several moments that resonated strongly with our work at Watertrust, such as the importance of cross-sector dialogue, the value of multi-pronged approaches and the need to set clear outcomes and take everyone along for the ride.”
“The Forum provided an environment where people could, more openly share their personal perspectives of the particular sort of water policy process that they've been going through, rather than getting caught up in the trade-off, which is where things get really difficult.”
Leading up to its National Policy Forum in March, a series of thought pieces were published which were designed as conversation starters to take shape during the event. The series discussed how issues like climate change, population growth and aging infrastructure will increasingly impact water reform in Australia.
In that context the challenge at hand is just a scientific or technical one, but the ability of institutions to make legitimate, durable decisions in the face of uncertainty, competing values and uneven impacts. This is exactly where Watertrust Australia’s work becomes so important.
Want to know more? Call Kane: 0458 976 999
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