E M B A R G O E D

PRESS STATEMENT

Not to be published or  broadcast before 5 .00pm  Tuesday 10" August 1982

by the Minister for National Development and Energy  82/45

NATIONAL WATER RESEARCH COUNCIL

The Minister for National Development and Energy, Senator

Garrick, today announced the Government’s decision to establish

a National Water Research Council and arrangements for  improving the co-ordination of research within Commonwealth

research agencies. This follows a close examination of recent

reports on water research in Australia by a Commonwealth/States

working group of the Australian Water Resources Council, CSIRO .

and the Bureau of Mineral Resources respectively. The Australian-

Science and Technology Council was also consulted in these matters.

The Government has agreed to terms of reference for the Council

as follows: -  Ã¢ÂÂ

.  advise on goals for water research in Australia;

.  maintain a continuing overview of water research in

Australia with a view to developing an overall '

balanced national water research effort; .  assess on a continuing basis national needs and .

recommend national research priorities; .  recommend on funds necessary to implement a .

balanced program of research and development;

.  evaluate appropriate research and demonstration  programs and projects, and recommend funding for

individual projects; and .

.  advise on an effective program of technology

transfer from the research and demonstration, sectors

to operating authorities and users.

In reaching its decision, the Government has acknowledged concerns

within the community which justify the upgrading of .water

research in Australia. These"reflect increasing competition

between urban, industrial, agricultural and recreational demands

for water supplies; escalating pressures on existing supplies

from major new energy and energy-related developments; increasing

salinity problems, particularly in the Murray Valley and in

Western Australia; excessive use and pollution of underground Â·

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water resources in some areas where they provide the sole source  of water for numerous purposes, and health and environmental

implications of water pollution. .

The need for a National Water Research Council has "been discussed  with the States and, at a recent meeting of the Australian Water

Resources Council, they promised their full co-operation in this  important new initiative.

The Government will shortly consider the membership of the Council  It will cover a wide range of user, management and research  experience, and it is hoped that the Council will very quickly .

be able to contribute its aggregate expertise in advice to the .   Government on research needs, priorities and programs. The .  .

Department of National Development and Energy will provide .

technical and administrative support for the Council. ;

Up to $400,000 will be provided this year in initial allocations

for research projects assessed to be a high national priority  by the National. Water Research Council. This will be in addition  to $600,000 for on-going projects in the Australian Water

Resources Council’s current triennialÃ¢ÂÂresearch program.

At the same time, the co-ordination,of water research within  Commonwealth agencies will be improved. The Minister for National  Development and Energy and the Minister for Science and Technology  will have a joint role in formulating the overall nature and

direction of the Commonwealth agencies’  water research programs.

The Ministers will be kept advised, on a continuing basis by a

Water Research Liaison Committee, comprising the Secretary of  the Department of National Development and Energy and the  Chairman of CSIRO. Similar arrangements have proved very  effective in energy research and development.

f  Ã¢ÂÂ  '  Ã¢ÂÂ

The recent CSIRO reorganisation to establish a Division of Water  and Land Resources Research, a Division of Groundwater Research,

a Centre of Irrigation Research.and provide increased resources

for water research in>its Division of Soils further indicates the

Government’s determination to ensure, as far as practicable, that

planning for the future management of water resources can proceed  on an effective long-term basis.  A

3.

The Government believes that its current initiatives in water  research will enable an orderly expansion of established research

organisations. This represents a far more practical and cost-

effective approach to meet the challenge of water research needs  to the end of the century than by establishing new institutions.

In this way, our current expertise, long experience and .   institutional arrangements related to water research matters .

will be further developed to provide a more complete understanding  of water management problems unique to Australia..

The Government's response to the water research reports,  as

indicated above, and the current study to develop a perspective  on Australia's water needs and problems to the year 2000, clearly  manifest our determination to ensure that water supply  difficulties - in terms of both quantity and quality - do not

constrain national development. .

Canberra  10 August 1982

Enquiries: L. Devin (062) 45-3532 (BH)  (062) 54-7130 (AH)

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