Water’s Edge Inspector-General of Water Compliance

In this episode of Water’s Edge: if 2023 was a year of climate opposites, then what’s ahead for 2024 and what does it mean for the Murray-Darling Basin? 
Get the answers from this episode’s guest, Professor Albert Van Dijk from the Australian National University, who led the 2023 Australia’s Environment Report.   
Plus, the Inspector-General of Water Compliance Troy Grant takes the report off the page and into the Murray-Darling Basin. 
And hear from Narromine grower Tim Gainsford as a one of the people putting this into practice in the Basin. 
Got a question you’d like answered in Water’s edge? Email it to us at contact@igwc.gov.au, with the subject line ‘Water’s Edge podcast’. 
Water’s Edge is produced by the independent Inspector-General of Water Compliance.  
Reports: 
2023 Australia’s Environment Report: ausenv.tern.org.au/aer.html 
Global Water Monitor 2023 Summary Report: globalwater.online/globalwater/report.html 

According to the IGWC’s Annual Community sentiment survey, only 15% of people know that the ACT is actually a part of the Murray-Darling Basin. While the ACT makes up a small portion of the Basin compared to other states, it still brings significant economic and environmental benefits to the Basin. In this final episode of season 2 of Water’s Edge, we chat to Dr Su Wild-River. Su is the ACT’s delegate on the Regulatory Leaders Forum, and from the ACT Environmental Protection Authority.

77% of the general population doesn’t know whether they live in the Murray-Darling Basin, despite it being the country’s largest areas of agricultural production - the food bowl producing a third of Australia’s food supply. 

Join us for this episode of Water’s Edge, as we learn more fun facts about how people in the Basin feel about water management through the Inspector-General of Water Compliance’s annual community sentiment survey. 

Episode guests are Deputy Inspector-General of Capability Bridgett Leopold and Assistant Director of Intelligence and Engagement Rachel McNamara. 

Read about the Steady as it Flows report: Steady as it flows – An assessment of River Murray operations and environmental water management (PDF 4.90 MB)

Read our annual community sentiment survey: https://www.igwc.gov.au/publications/annual-survey

Were you at this year’s AgQuip? Celebrating 50 years of Australia’s largest agricultural field days, the Inspector-General went along for the first time, to speak to people about the work that we do. We also learnt about what some of the issues are in the community and how it’s affecting people around water compliance and regulation. 

We’re now heading to Riverland Field Days, and then straight to Henty after that so we’d love to hear from you.

Join us for part two of our chat with Grant Barnes from the NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator, and Deputy Inspector-General of Water Compliance Daniel Blacker.

The role of the independent Inspector-General of Water Compliance is to deliver trust and transparency in the management of Murray-Darling Basin resources, and ensure the highest standard of accountability for all involved in the use and management of Basin resources. Often, the role of the Inspector-General is confused with the role of state agencies such as the Natural Resources Access Regulator, or NRAR, in NSW. When the role of the Inspector-General was established, it was noted in the legislation that the role was not intended to duplicate the role of other agencies. The Inspector-General aims to oversight and monitor agencies, ensuring they are complying with the Basin Plan and Water Act. The role of state agencies like NRAR is to enforce and prosecute individuals.

Joining us on today’s episode of Water’s Edge is NRAR’s Chief Regulatory Officer Grant Barnes, and our Deputy Inspector-General of Water Compliance Daniel Blacker.

Learn more about NRAR: https://www.nrar.nsw.gov.au/
Visit the IGWC’s website: https://www.igwc.gov.au/