How do we prevent running out of water in the future?

How do we prevent running out of water in the future?

Many parts of the upper Namoi Valley ran out of water for the first time during the last drought. This situation is likely to occur again. The slopes of the upper Namoi Valley are an important area that feeds water into the Murray Darling system. This area will be affected by many predictable changes that will influence our ability to secure water for which we are not adequately prepared.

Changes that will affect the residents of our region include:

• Changing rainfall and increasing temperature affecting community welfare, agriculture, and industry;
• Changes to agriculture, industry, and livelihoods; and
• Major policy changes to environmental, water and agricultural governance rules and administration.

The region will need better planning and coordinated community strategies to thrive under these future conditions. Better ways to understand, use and manage water in our landscape and deal with many variables will affect our choices.

After a series of consultative discussions, organisations from our region, including Tamworth Regional Landcare Association, Tamworth Regional Council, the University of New England, a number of community organisations and regional landholders, have established an alliance to collaborate and create a more powerful approach to managing water issues in our landscape.

The participants in the upper-Namoi "Water in the Landscape" alliance invite you to this launch to hear what we intend and discuss possible priories.

Kim McConville

Project Manager

University of New England

wili@TRLA.org.au

0408230365