Water in Northern Australia
Fast Facts
Northern Australia has:
- a large proportion of Australia's intact rivers, wetlands, rainforests, eucalypt savannas and native grasslands
- around two-thirds of Australia's runoff
- highly seasonal rainfall, with intense monsoonal rains in summer and little rain through winter.
Yellow Water Lagoon in Kakadu National Park, NT.
John Baker and DSEWPaC
The Australian Government established the Northern Australia Water Futures Assessment (the assessment) to provide the information needed to inform the development and protection of northern Australia's water resources, so that development is ecologically, culturally and economically sustainable.
The geographical area considered by the assessment stretched more than 3,000 km, from Broome in the west to Cairns in the east. This area included three drainage divisions:
The area also included a large proportion of Australia's intact rivers, wetlands, rainforests, eucalypt savannas and native grasslands. Around two-thirds of Australia's runoff occurs in northern Australia. Rainfall is highly seasonal, with intense monsoonal rains in summer and little rain through winter.
The assessment focused on those catchments identified by jurisdictions as likely to experience hydrological change due to water resource development or climate change.
The assessment was a multidisciplinary program delivered jointly by the Department and the National Water Commission, in close collaboration with relevant state and territory government agencies. The assessment was comprised of four components:
- Water Resources program (the CSIRO Northern Australian Sustainable Yields project)
- Ecological program
- Cultural and Social program
- Knowledge Base program
The assessment was completed in June 2012 and the findings made available for decision-makers and the community.
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