Water Resources Division

The Water Resources Division advises advises on and implements policies and programmes designed to ensure that water use is ecologically sustainable and provides the best economic and social outcomes for the Australian community.

The Division has two branches.

Water Policy Branch

The Water Policy Branch has responsibility for the development and implementation of water policies, programmes and legislation through:

National Water Initiative implementation
Water policy development - including COAG
Water markets/trading
Water measurement/accounting standards policy - coordinating with Bureau of Meteorology
COAG assessments of National Water Initiative implementation
Urban water policy
Water use appliance efficiency standards (WELS)
Water Ministers' Council Secretariat
Constitutional and legal issues - including Murray Darling Basin
Coordination with National Water Commission

Water Services Branch

The Water Services Branch has responsibility for the development and implementation of water policies, programmes and legislation through:

Irrigation efficiency programmes
Addressing overallocation and adjustment
Australian Water Fund - coordinate with the National Water Commission
Water Through Efficiency Tender - and other Lower Murray water recovery projects
Water efficiency technologies
Metering reforms (with Bureau of Meteorology) - irrigation, industry, domestic