WATER RESOURCES SERVICES

Australians Unified – Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water Portfolio

Water Resources Services leads Australia’s national approach to water security, river system management, groundwater protection, and sustainable water use. It delivers science, policy, regulation, and community partnerships that ensure Australia’s water resources remain healthy, reliable, and resilient in a changing climate.

The division works with states and territories, First Nations communities, scientists, irrigators, industry, and environmental groups to protect water systems, support communities, and secure Australia’s long‑term water future.

 

OUR ROLE

Water Resources Services exists to:

  • Manage national water resources and river systems

  • Strengthen water security for communities, agriculture, and industry

  • Deliver water policy, regulation, and compliance

  • Support climate‑resilient water planning and adaptation

  • Protect groundwater, wetlands, and environmental flows

  • Provide hydrological and water quality science

  • Partner with First Nations groups on water rights and management

The division ensures Australia’s water systems remain sustainable, equitable, and climate‑resilient.

 

Water & Resources

Problem Summary

Over‑extraction, poor compliance and weak transparency undermine river health.

Detailed Reform Plan

Rebuild trust and sustainability in Basin management.

Policy Actions

  • Strengthen compliance and enforcement powers

  • Improve environmental flow management

  • Increase transparency in water allocations

  • Modernise Basin modelling and monitoring

Implementation Pathway

  • Independent compliance review

  • Basin‑wide data integration

  • Transparent allocation reporting

  • Long‑term river health targets

Reform Murray–Darling Basin Governance

Problem Summary

Over‑extraction, poor compliance and weak transparency undermine river health.

Detailed Reform Plan

Rebuild trust and sustainability in Basin management.

Policy Actions

  • Strengthen compliance and enforcement powers

  • Improve environmental flow management

  • Increase transparency in water allocations

  • Modernise Basin modelling and monitoring

Implementation Pathway

  • Independent compliance review

  • Basin‑wide data integration

  • Transparent allocation reporting

  • Long‑term river health targets

OUR STRENGTHS

Scientific & Hydrological Strengths

  • Strong capability in hydrology, water modelling, and river system science

  • Trusted national water policy and regulatory frameworks

  • Established partnerships with states, territories, and research bodies

  • Proven ability to deliver large‑scale water recovery and restoration programs

  • Leadership in climate‑resilient water planning

Sovereign Strengths

  • Critical to national water security and food production

  • Essential for community wellbeing and environmental health

  • Supports international commitments on water and climate

 

OUR WEAKNESSES

Structural Weaknesses

  • Ageing water monitoring and gauging infrastructure

  • Fragmented data across jurisdictions and catchments

  • Slow modernisation of digital water management tools

  • Limited long‑term funding certainty

  • Under‑resourced regional and remote operations

Operational Weaknesses

  • Workforce shortages in specialist hydrology and water policy roles

  • Rising complexity of climate‑impacted water systems

  • Limited outreach to vulnerable and remote communities

  • Increasing demand for rapid water assessments and modelling

 

OUR THREATS

External Threats

  • Climate change increasing droughts, floods, and water scarcity

  • Over‑extraction and declining groundwater levels

  • Pollution, salinity, and water quality degradation

  • Biodiversity loss in rivers, wetlands, and floodplains

Internal Threats

  • Resource constraints

  • Outdated monitoring technologies

  • Workforce fatigue and retention challenges

  • Limited surge capacity for major water events

OUR OPPORTUNITIES

Strategic Opportunities

  • Modernise national water monitoring and digital platforms

  • Strengthen climate‑resilient water planning and modelling

  • Expand groundwater protection and recharge programs

  • Improve First Nations partnerships and water rights recognition

  • Enhance international leadership in sustainable water management

Operational Opportunities

  • Recruit and retain specialist hydrologists and water planners

  • Improve digital analytics and real‑time water data systems

  • Strengthen partnerships with industry, agriculture, and research bodies

  • Expand community and regional engagement

 

4. BETTER INTEGRATION WITH GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY & COMMUNITY

One national water management ecosystem

Key Actions

  • Integrated data‑sharing platforms

  • Stronger partnerships with agriculture, industry, and research bodies

  • National community and regional engagement

  • Shared analytics and intelligence systems

Outcome: A more coordinated, community‑connected water network.

 

5. A HEALTHIER, MORE RESILIENT AUSTRALIA

Protecting rivers, groundwater, wetlands, and communities

Key Actions

  • Climate‑resilient water planning

  • Environmental flows and river restoration

  • Groundwater protection and recharge programs

  • Public transparency and open data

Outcome: A healthier, more sustainable national water environment.

THE FUTURE‑READY WATER RESOURCES SERVICES

A national blueprint for water security, environmental health, and climate resilience

 

1. FASTER, MORE ACCURATE WATER MONITORING SYSTEMS

Strengthening national water intelligence

Key Actions

  • Modern digital water monitoring systems

  • Faster water assessment and reporting pathways

  • Improved hydrological modelling and forecasting

  • Strengthened coordination with states and territories

Outcome: A more agile, responsive national water management system.

 

2. STRONGER SOVEREIGN WATER CAPABILITY

Building Australian capability for long‑term water security

Key Actions

  • Specialist hydrology and water science teams

  • National water data and modelling platform

  • Strengthened oversight and governance

  • Expanded climate and catchment analysis

Outcome: A more resilient, future‑focused water system.

 

3. A MODERN, RESILIENT WATER RESOURCES WORKFORCE

Supporting the people who protect Australia’s water future

Key Actions

  • Workforce wellbeing and retention programs

  • Specialist training pathways

  • Diversity and inclusion initiatives

  • Modern digital and scientific tools

Outcome: A strong, supported water management workforce.

CONDENSED YEARLY COSTING MODEL — WATER RESOURCES SERVICES

Baseline + Uplift Investment Framework

 

BASELINE FUNDING (Already Provided)

  • Core water operations: $0.34B

  • Hydrological science & monitoring: $0.12B

  • Water policy, regulation & compliance: $0.09B

Total Baseline Funding:

$0.55B per year

 

PHASE 1 — FOUNDATION (Years 1–2)

Annual uplift: $0.40B – $0.56B 2‑year uplift total: $0.80B – $1.12B

 

PHASE 2 — ACCELERATION (Years 2–4)

Annual uplift: $0.56B – $0.76B 3‑year uplift total: $1.68B – $2.28B

 

PHASE 3 — EXPANSION (Years 4–6)

Annual uplift: $0.72B – $0.96B 2‑year uplift total: $1.44B – $1.92B

 

PHASE 4 — FUTURE‑READY (Years 6–10)

Annual uplift: $0.92B – $1.20B 4‑year uplift total: $3.68B – $4.80B

 

TOTAL INVESTMENT SUMMARY

6‑YEAR TOTAL

  • Uplift: $3.92B – $5.32B

  • Baseline: $3.30B

Total 6‑Year Investment:

$7.22B – $8.62B

10‑YEAR TOTAL

  • Uplift: $7.60B – $10.12B

  • Baseline: $5.50B

Total 10‑Year Investment:

$13.10B – $15.62B