Water in Northern Australia
Fast Facts
Northern Australia has:
- a large proportion of Australia's intact rivers, wetlands, rainforests, eucalypt savannas and native grasslands
- around two-thirds of Australia's runoff
- highly seasonal rainfall, with intense monsoonal rains in summer and little rain through winter.
Yellow Water Lagoon in Kakadu National Park, NT.
John Baker and DEWHA
The Australian Government has established the Northern Australia Water Futures Assessment (the assessment) to provide the science needed to inform the development and protection of Northern Australia's water resources, so that development is ecologically, culturally and economically sustainable.
The geographical area being considered by the assessment stretches more than 3,000 km, from Broome in the west to Cairns in the east. This area includes three drainage divisions:
The area also includes a large proportion of Australia's intact rivers, wetlands, rainforests, eucalypt savannas and native grasslands. Around two-thirds of Australia's runoff occurs in Northern Australia. Rainfall is highly seasonal, with intense monsoonal rains in summer and little rain through winter.
The assessment will focus on those catchments identified by jurisdictions as likely to experience hydrological change due to water resource development or climate change.
The assessment is a multidisciplinary program being delivered jointly by the Department and the National Water Commission, in close collaboration with relevant state and territory government agencies. The assessment is comprised of four components:
- Water Resources program (the CSIRO Northern Australian Sustainable Yields project)
- Ecological program
- Cultural and Social program
- Knowledge Base program
The assessment will release work incrementally until its completion in 2012 and will result in a comprehensive and enduring knowledge base, which will make information available to decision-makers and the community.
Publications
- Northern Australia Water Futures Assessment - Fact sheet - 2009
- Ecological Assets of Northern Australia Study - Final Report - 2009
- Review of existing cultural and social initiatives, and key groups and organisations across northern Australia associated with water - Final Report - 2009
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