07-07-10: Community water resource management summary released.
A summary report has been released relating to a ‘Community Led Water Resource Management’ workshop hosted by The Upper Taieri Water Resource Management Group and the Sustainable Farming Fund in March 2010 (original news article here>).
A key aim of the event was to gain national cohesion over the important issue of water resource management, clarifying the role of community involvement when setting policies for managing water. The release of the summary report will help reinforce ideas and satisfy this aim.
The report highlights the potential of a community-led approach to managing water resources and the growth in this approach:
'Around the country communities are getting on with water resource management in an emerging movement of community led initiatives.'
The most successful examples demonstrate genuine community engagement where management groups have gained the trust of the wider community. This situation can take time to evolve. This is where the assistance of an experienced facilitator or co-ordinator can really help.
Based on the workshop sessions, the report identifies five essential elements of a successful community led approach to water management:
- Progressive governance.
- Informed management and allocation.
- Inclusive stakeholders.
- Multifunctional infrastructure
- integrated water quality.
Each of these elements is explored in detail using case studies to illustrate specific points.
A further section explores 'enablers' and a final conclusion neatly summarises the document.
