Integrated Resources Planning in Australia - Innovative Planning and Management Approaches in Practice

With much of Australia currently in the grip of one of the worst droughts on record, the focus on balancing supply and demand through the use of Integrated Water Resource Planning approaches has never been more important. Where once it was sufficient to plan for new dams, the falling reliability of traditional surface water supplies and the threat of global warming, which most believe will further reduce rainfall, has led to an acute focus on the role of water conservation, water recycling and rainwater use in securing the water future for both major cities and towns.

This paper provides an overview of the innovative new planning frameworks and modelling approaches that have been developed to support the Integrated Water Resources Planning effort.