Natural Resource Management : Challenges and Opportunities for the Catchment Management Authority

Although the formation of a regional working group has overcome many difficulties in the Fitzroy Basin with regard to wtaer reform issues, problems with on-going monitoring of the system and its environmental outcomes have been recognised. It is suggested that a new stakeholder monitoring group be funded to adopt baseline monitoring techniques and risk based decision support tools. Such an outcome would lead to greater ownership of and commitment to environmental change by stakeholders and catchment groups. Furthermore, the process could provide an effective blueprint to the State government to affect a smooth process of review and transition from one set of plans to the next. It is felt that the suggestion of a funded stakeholder group focused on baseline monitoring and RBDST’s could provide the key to affecting appropriate monitoring, prioritisation of required changes, environmental criteria improvement and effective managerial programs