Charlotte Varcoe
AN amendment into the Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan is now underway.
The Limestone Coast Landscape Board announced the amendment late last month following an 18-month review period.
It found changes were necessary for the allocation plan to remain “appropriate” for the region.
The amendment is expected to focus on six key areas including new knowledge, sustainable allocation, environmental provisions, legislative and policy alignment, reducing administrative and licensing complexity and the water market.
The 2013 Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan served as the “cornerstone” for water policy reform in the region.
It converted area-based water licenses to volume-based ones and enabled the impacts of commercial plantation forestry to be managed through licensing.
South Australian Forest Products Association chief executive officer Nathan Paine said leading up to the latest election, the association called for an independent review into the allocation plan.
“That review has been completed by the Stakeholder Advisory Group in which we have a number of representatives along with representatives of other commodity groups,” he said.
“The advisory group has provided reports to the Landscape Board which has provided its recommendations to the minister.”
Mr Paine said the forestry industry would now look to engage with the review and the Landscape Board on the development of the new plan.
“We are working on finalising the data to continue that progress,” he said.
“The forestry industry is like all the commodity groups and have an interest across all of the recommendations.
“We want to ensure the data and the science around forestry water use is updated in accordance with the most recent science.”
Mr Paine said the industry also wanted to ensure there was a “long term sustainable” water resource available for the industry as well as the community.
“We will be looking to work along with the other commodity groups and other stakeholders on developing a comprehensively considered water allocation plan which sees the Limestone Coast grow into the future,” he said.
“As I understand, the Stakeholders Advisory Group will continue to provide industry and community-led contribution to the amendment to the plan and will continue to engage through that process.”
Mr Paine said it was important the process was driven by data and science.
“We will continue to assist and aid that process throughout water resources through the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation and then provide that to the landscape board for its consideration as part of developing the amendment,” he said.
Limestone Coast Landscape Board chairperson Dr Penny Schulz acknowledged the amendment would mean the allocation plan would change and “determining the necessary changes” would require “extensive consultation”.
“The amendment process is a pivotal stage for our region as we have an opportunity to put in place policy and actions to ensure a sustainable future for our region’s water resources,” she said.
“On top of the Stakeholder Advisory Group we look forward to once again working with our community, in particular licence holders, community members and industry and interest groups.”
Dr Schulz said the region had many industries and livelihoods which were dependent on the water resource with the environment and communities dependent on the same resource.
“We need to find a way to balance these competing interests to create a water secure future for all,” she said.
“Recognising the growing significance of climate change in water allocation planning, we acknowledge the added complexity it brings and this amendment will ensure that our evolving climate is duly accounted for.”
The Stakeholder Advisory Group met late last month to kick off the amendment process.
