AGS320 Water Policy and Management (EM) (8)

CSU Discipline Area: Agricultural and Horticultural Studies (AGHOR)

Duration: One session

Abstract:

This subject is structured in three modules each of three Units. In Module 1, Units 1 to 3 provide the context and introduction to water quantity and quality including trends in water supply, climate change and risks to water resources in Australia. In Module 2, Units 4 to 6 explore water use and demand including the value of water to the environment, irrigation agriculture and urban uses, water use efficiency and recycling. In Module 3, Units 7 to 9 focus on water policy and planning including principles of water reform, current developments in water policy and catchment-based decision-making.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations

Session 2
Distance	Wagga Wagga

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: AGS320

Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Enrolment restrictions:

Enrolment is restricted to students in Emergency Management courses.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

- be able to demonstrate an understanding of the water cycle including climate change and variability, risks to supply, and interaction of surface and groundwater
- be able to demonstrate an understanding of the value of water (quality and quantity) to different users
- be able to describe key regional, national and international issues
- be able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of aquatic ecology and allocation of water for the environment
- be able to explain water use efficiency and management of water in sustainable agriculture (dryland and irrigation)
- be able to demonstrate an understanding of urban and industrial water use; effluent management and recycling (rural and urban)
- be able to describe the principal issues underpinning the development of water policy in Australia, future challenges, and roles and responsibilities of government, agencies, communities, industry and individuals
- be able to describe approaches to integrated catchment management and regional decision-making in Australia

Syllabus:

The subject will cover the following topics:

Module 1

Unit 1
An introduction and overview of trends in water policy and management including:
- pressures (population and changing demography, climate change; land use change; rainfall-runoff relationships)
- status of water (storage, surface and groundwater reserves, new sources of water)
- social, economic and environmental aspects; consumptive use(urban, industry, power, agriculture, mining, tourism); recreation and aesthetics; cultural and indigenous significance; river health and water for the environment
- planning: balancing supply and demand; introduction to policy instruments; sticks and carrots
- audit and status reports - National Land and Water Resources Audit, State of the Environment
- case studies of hotspots and topical issues including Murray Darling Basin, Northern Australia, South East Queensland, Peel Harvey; Gnagara Mound and Yarragadee Aquifer Perth, coastal and estuarine

Unit 2
- frameworks for integrating supply and demand; stocks and flows
- hydrological characteristics (seasonality, connectivity, comparison of natural and regulated hydrographs); hydrological variability in Australian inland rivers, especially the Murray-Darling system;
- climate variability and change
- surface and groundwater interaction
- land and water interactions: effects of native vegetation clearing and afforestation on surface and subsurface hydrology and on water quality; risks to water supply in Australia-land use change and climate change
- options for water and catchment management in a holistic context

Unit 3
- salinity, eutrophication, turbidity and suspended particles, trace metals, pesticides, pathogens, endocrine disruptors
- effluents and drainage
- guidelines for drinking, effluents, drainage, environmental protection, irrigation, re-use

Module 2

Unit 4
- river, wetland, floodplain and estuarine condition
- environmental flow
- selection of condition indicators
- monitoring responsibilities
- institutional arrangements and responsibilities

Unit 5
- international food security and export of virtual water
- meaning and assessment of sustainable production in Australia
- responsibilities, planning, incentives, regulation, green labelling
- irrigation water use efficiency;
- property rights and trading

Unit 6
- water for urban use: towns and cities, industry, power, mining
- improved efficiency and water-saving strategies
- new water sources: desalination, rural-urban transfer
- reuse and recycling
- rural effluent management.

Module 3

Unit 7
- roles and responsibilities
- Council of Australian Governments Water Reform Framework
- water for the environment
- water audit and cap
- costing and pricing, property rights and trading

Unit 8
- The National Plan for Water Security
- Labors election plan
- new arrangements for the Murray Darling Basin
- re-emphasis on urban water
- dealing with water scarcity and climate change

Unit 9
- planning frameworks and processes for adaptive management
- principles of catchment care
- tools to support decision making at catchment level: economic, social and environmental considerations; choice modelling, multicriteria analysis, modelling
- best practice case studies.

Back