Wee dram of Fitzroy Basin experience flowing to Scotland
Published on 25 March, 2010
European countries could learn a thing or two from scientists and policy makers involved in the giant Fitzroy River Basin.
The Queenslanders face complicated issues, including droughts, floods and run-off to the Great Barrier Reef, yet they seem to have good synergy in their relationships.
That's according to Professor Mike Bonell, Chair in Catchment Science from the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the University of Dundee, who has visited CQUniversity for talks with researchers and officers from the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).
It was fitting that the meeting also took place on the UN-led World Water Day (March 22) where the global importance of water is recognised. Therefore the gathering could be regarded as an informal Fitzroy Basin-University of Dundee contribution towards that event.
Professor Bonell has until a few years ago been associated with establishing a worldwide program ensuring river basin scientists in both the developed and developing worlds are aware of legal and policy trends when planning projects. The program is known as UNESCO IHP (International Hydrological Program) - HELP (Hydrology for the Environment, Life and Policy).
The visitor said he was visiting Australia as part of an EU-Australia initiative to examine how various levels of government are interfacing science with water law and policy.
He noted that Australia had "a good record at a global level for its transdisciplinary research team approach" to river catchment science, with staff from a number of institutions involved, despite the competitive academic spirit.
"Australia despite all its hardships and dealing with very crucial and critical environmental issues is doing very well at a global level in terms of transdisciplinary teams," he said. "I want to take back messages to Scotland about what Australians are doing in the Murray Darling, here in the Fitzroy and in Perth."