The results are in for the Inspector-General of Water Compliance’s (IGWC) annual Community Sentiment Survey, revealing growth in confidence in water management but a need for more community education on the Murray-Darling Basin.
The Inspector-General of Water Compliance, the Honourable Troy Grant, commissioned ORIMA Research’s report to monitor community and water license holder sentiment towards the Basin Plan (2012) (Cth).
“It’s a report card on the IGWC; I have to be accountable to the Australian public if I’m holding people to account as an integrity agency,” Mr Grant said. “The report shows that communities basin-wide are recognising the value of an independent oversight body for water management.”
The survey was conducted at the end of 2023, a time of public debate around water legislation amendments against the backdrop of a charged water system not in drought.
“Unsurprisingly, water licence holders’ sentiment towards Basin water management and the Basin Plan declined, although overall awareness of the plan increased,” Mr Grant said.
“I’m listening to what the community has to say and am prepared to act on the key lessons highlighted through this report for areas to work on. It’s critical we learn and improve.”
Community sentiment towards water management in the Basin is now more positive compared to the first IGWC-commissioned survey results from 2022.
“All participants strongly supported the enforcement of rules and regulations for the health of our waterways,” Mr Grant said.
“Unsurprisingly, compliance isn’t front of mind when river systems are charged, but responsible water management is crucial for a healthy Basin in inevitable dry times.”
Substantial gaps in understanding remain. The survey shows that 73 per cent of the community does not realise they live in the Murray Darling Basin, compared to 77 per cent in the previous survey.
“Knowledge on the Basin is superficial,” Mr Grant said. “There’s awareness of local rivers but not their connection to a bigger system; more education is needed on the Basin’s value.”
The next community sentiment survey will be conducted in the spring of 2024.
Image: Australian Stock/stock.adobe.com
