Kimberley Regional Water Plan 2010–2030
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Government of Western Australia Department of Water Kimberley Regional water plan 2010–2030 Supporting detail Looking after all our water needs December 2010 Kimberley regional water plan Supporting detail Draft for public comment Looking after all our water needs Department of Water December 2010 Department of Water 168 St Georges Terrace Perth Western Australia 6000 Telephone +61 8 6364 7600 Facsimile +61 8 6364 7601 www.water.wa.gov.au © Government of Western Australia 2010 December 2010 This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non- commercial use or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Department of Water. ISBN 978-1-921736-03-2 (print) ISBN 978-1-921736-04-9 (online) Recommended reference citation is: Department of Water 2010, Kimberley regional water plan: Supporting detail: Draft for public comment, Department of Water, Perth, Western Australia For more information about this report, contact: Senior Program Coordinator (Kimberley office), phone: 08 9166 4100, or Regional water planning (Perth office), phone: 08 6364 7119 Disclaimer This document has been published by the Department of Water. Any representation, statement, opinion or advice expressed or implied in this publication is made in good faith and on the basis that the Department of Water and its employees are not liable for any damage or loss whatsoever which may occur as a result of action taken or not taken, as the case may be in respect of any representation, statement, opinion or advice referred to herein. Professional advice should be obtained before applying the information contained in this document to particular circumstances. This publication is available at our website <www.water.wa.gov.au> or for those with special needs it can be made available in alternative formats such as audio, large print, or Braille. Kimberley regional water plan: supporting detail Contents Contents ..................................................................................................................... iii 1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background information ......................................................................................................2 2 Water planning in the Kimberley .............................................................................. 3 2.1 Context................................................................................................................................3 2.2 Planning framework ............................................................................................................3 2.3 Government responsibilities and priorities related to water ............................................... 3 2.4 Water reform .......................................................................................................................4 2.4.1 Water resource management legislation ................................................................................ 5 2.4.2 Statutory water allocation planning ......................................................................................... 6 2.4.3 Consumptive pools and water access entitlements ................................................................ 6 2.4.4 Addressing over-allocation...................................................................................................... 7 2.4.5 Water resource accounting ..................................................................................................... 7 2.4.6 Trading of water entitlements .................................................................................................. 7 2.4.7 The physical transfer of water ................................................................................................. 8 2.4.8 Indigenous perspectives in water reforms .............................................................................. 8 2.5 Addressing Indigenous disadvantage ................................................................................ 8 2.6 Native Title and Aboriginal heritage legislation .................................................................. 9 3 The process and community involvement ............................................................. 10 3.1 The principles ...................................................................................................................10 3.2 The stakeholders ..............................................................................................................10 3.3 The approach ....................................................................................................................10 3.4 The process ......................................................................................................................11 3.4.1 The water forum .................................................................................................................... 11 3.4.2 Engagement with regional groups and people ...................................................................... 12 3.4.3 Subregional discussion papers ............................................................................................. 12 3.4.4 Draft Kimberley regional water plan ...................................................................................... 13 3.4.5 Supporting detail ................................................................................................................... 13 4 Subregional approach and overviews ................................................................... 14 4.1 Ord subregion: overview and future directions ................................................................. 14 4.1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................... 16 4.1.2 Water resources and ecology ............................................................................................... 18 4.1.3 Current water use and management .................................................................................... 19 4.1.4 Stakeholder overview and planning activities ....................................................................... 20 4.1.5 Regional hotspots ................................................................................................................. 21 4.1.6 Issues of significance ............................................................................................................ 22 4.2 North Kimberley subregion: overview and future directions ............................................ 25 4.2.1 Regional setting .................................................................................................................... 25 4.2.2 Natural values ....................................................................................................................... 27 4.2.3 The water resources ............................................................................................................. 29 4.2.4 Current water use and management .................................................................................... 30 4.2.5 Stakeholder overview ........................................................................................................... 31 4.2.6 Planning processes and current initiatives ............................................................................ 31 4.2.7 Regional hotspots ................................................................................................................. 32 4.2.8 Issues of significance ............................................................................................................ 33 4.3 La Grange subregion: overview and future directions ..................................................... 35 4.3.1 Background ........................................................................................................................... 35 Department of Water iii Department of Water 4.3.2 The water resource ............................................................................................................... 36 4.3.3 Current water use and management .................................................................................... 36 4.3.4 Stakeholder overview and planning activities ....................................................................... 37 4.3.4 Issues of significance ............................................................................................................ 37 4.4 Fitzroy subregion: overview and future directions ............................................................ 40 4.4.1 Natural values associated with the water resource ............................................................... 43 4.4.2 The water resource ............................................................................................................... 44 4.4.3 Historical development of water resources ........................................................................... 45 4.4.4 The ‘pipeline from the north’ ................................................................................................. 47 4.4.5 On-going challenges ............................................................................................................