NatStats ‘08 Conference“The importance of water data for

National Water Reform”

Ken MatthewsChairman and CEO

National Water CommissionFriday, 21 November 2008

Outline

• The National Water Initiative and the data issue• Why is water data important? • The new role for the BoM. BoM / ABS

collaboration. • Issues in water reform requiring better data.

Background: Some relevant NWI requirements

All governments have agreed to:• adequate measuring, monitoring and reporting

systems for our water• development of water accounting standards,

standardised reporting formats, water resource accounts

• benchmarking of water accounting systems• Improved and nationally consistent metering

Background: NWI Commitments on Data

The States and Territories have agreed to:

i. Improve coordination of data collection and management systems to facilitate sharing of information

ii. Develop partnerships in data collection and storage systems

iii. Identify best practice in data management systems for broad adoption.

Water Data: why is it important?

1. The NWI and the NWC emphasise evidence and

data-based decision making.2. Reform will only stick if the case can be demonstrated.

Sustainable water resources management

Good water information is the key

Management

Trading Planning

Entitlements Environment

Infrastructure

• variable quality and reliability• lagged and dated!• fragmented and incomplete• lack standards for collection and analysis• lack standards for access, transfer and

aggregation of data• lack a culture of data sharing• Insufficiently regionalised, geo-tagged

Problems with Australia’s Water Data

Inadequate for decision-makingInsufficient for public confidence

• understanding and identifying water issues• forecasting water availability and consumption• water policy formulation• water system modelling and other science needs• NWI-consistent water planning• water infrastructure investment planning• decision-making about water resource use

Improved water data for …

• day-to-day management of water• effective operation of water markets• compliance and enforcement• water accounting and public reporting• performance benchmarking across the water

sector• monitoring and review of water management

decisions• & accountability of water decision-makers

Improved water data for…

• New capacity; additional resources• $460m over 10 years• $10m AWRIS start-up funding• Legislation for mandatory data standards

collection and reporting

New Water Data Role for the BoM

Historic initiative

ABS / BoM roles

• BoM: physical hydrology and water data standards and architecture

• ABS: water supply and use in the economy• collaboration on the national water account. • Data integration (science, economic, social) is a

serious unmet need in the water sector

BoM has an historic chance to deliver data differently…

• collaboration to encourage user input and integration• “Make the data available” – a lost opportunity• “Actively making the most of the data” – new paradigm to

• actively promote value adding to data, • actively building users into data design• actively championing novel data applications, • nurturing new data users,

• i.e., intellectual leadership in water knowledge applications as well as good service delivery in water data provision

The Water Reform Cycle

Assessment/AuditNWC

Policy ImplementationState & Commonwealth

Departments

Issue Identification(“Diagnosis”)

NWC

Policy Development(“Prescription”)

Ministers, State & Commonwealth Departmental Advisors

Diagnosis Incubation Acceptance Handover

The NWC and the Water Data IssueNWI identifies water data deficiencies

NWC describes the data problem in its Baseline Assessment

NWC convenes National Water Data Summit

Water Ministers note need for action

Water for the Future dedicates $450m to the BoM

The “Big Six” Challenges – Water Reform 2008-09

1. Resolving over-allocation

2. Adjustment of Australia’s irrigation industry

3. Improving management of water-dependantenvironmental assets

4. Securing urban water supplies

5. Implementing the MDB reforms

6. Finding new Commonwealth/State working relationships in waterA

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The NWI – more relevant than ever Over-allocation… Sustainable levels of extraction… Balancing consumptive use and environmental water… Managing climate change risks… Water-induced adjustment… Longer term water planning… Institutional reform… Introducing water trading… Improved Accounting for water…

The NWI and data deficiencies• Over-allocation…• Sustainable levels of extraction… • Balancing consumptive use and

environmental water… • Managing climate change risks… • Water-induced adjustment… • Longer term water planning… • Institutional reform…• Introducing water trading… • Improved accounting for water…

The Central Issue in Water in AustraliaHow much water is

available?

How much for the

environment?

How much forconsumptive

use?

How much for each alternative consumptive

use?How much for each alternative consumptive

use?How much for each alternative consumptive

use?

In particular, better data needed for:1. Specifying secure water entitlements2. Undertaking transparent, statutory water planning3. Specifying statutory provisions for the environment4. Specifying, and managing to, sustainable levels of

extraction5. Facilitating water trading6. Benchmarking and improving accountability of players7. Addressing water-induced adjustment

* Source: National Water Initiative

• How much water is available in different parts of the country today (and how does it compare with history)?

• How much water is likely to be available in the coming days, weeks, months and years? Distribution?

• How much water is the environment getting? Where?• How is water quality changing?• How much water is being intercepted by farm dams and

various land management changes? Where?• How much water is being traded? Where and when is water

being traded?

Some of the questions we still need to answer

Some of the questions we still need to answer

• What and where are the environmental assets?• Which and where are the stressed water systems? • Which and where are the most water-dependent

communities? (social assessments)• Better understanding of the economics of water-

dependent industries. • For all the above: baseline, trend, and forecasting data at

national, regional, basin, catchment and local levels• …plus integration (biophysical, social, economic, regional)

Key messages today• More than most sectoral reform processes, water reform

has made a feature of the data issue• There are still many gaps and deficiencies in current water

data• Improved water data is sorely needed for many water

management functions and many water policy issues• There is an historic opportunity for the BoM to play a

leadership role in maximising the value of Australia’s water data. This would require close collaboration with ABS.