On 11 May 2010 the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts announced a new initiative to address the environmental information needs of the nation. The National Plan for Environmental Information is the first step toward a long-term commitment to reform Australia’s environmental information base and build this critical infrastructure for the future.
The plan will coordinate and prioritise the way the Australian Government collects, manages and uses environmental information. It represents a long-term approach to building and improving our environmental information base. In the first four years, the initiative will:
- establish the Bureau of Meteorology as the Australian Government authority for environmental information
- formalise arrangements to coordinate priorities and activities across government
- review existing information resources, and environmental information activity
- begin building priority national environmental datasets and the infrastructure to deliver them.
To find out more click here.
The first stage of the National Water Market System website www.nationalwatermarket.gov.au is now available. The National Water Market System will strengthen Australia’s water market through efficient management of improved state and territory water registers, water transactions and availability of market information.
Hurry, hurry, hurry…….you have three days left to register for the Knowledge for Managing Australian Landscapes: the legacy of Land & Water Australia Conference. This event will be held on the 18 and 19 of May (yes, next week!), and it promises to be a wonderful occasion. To offer even further incentive, Andrew Campbell is giving a bottle of wine to every fifth person to register from Wednesday to Friday this week. For more information click here.
A Community of Practice has been established to support those active in the field of environmental water management, whether their involvement is through practice, management, policy development or research. The Community of Practice is about facilitating the exchange of knowledge, sharing experiences and developing a sense of community that will strengthen the profession and practice of environmental water management. The project is funded by the National Water Commission, with the Australian Water Association’s Ann Hinchcliffe, managing this great initiative. As a Steering Committee member of this project, I encourage you to get involved. For more information go to the website.
Siwan.
International Riverfoundation’s 2010 Riverprize awards are now open.
Organisations (big and small) working on the restoration of rivers across Australia are encouraged to apply, applications close 14 May 2010.
Applying for Riverprize – the world’s most prestigious river restoration award – brings recognition, reward and support to those who have developed and implemented outstanding, visionary and sustainable programs in river management.
The International Thiess Riverprize is valued at AUD$350,000, and the National Riverprize at AUD$200,000 (the latter funded by an Australian Government grant under its Water for the Future plan).
Winners are announced during the 13th International Riversymposium – the preeminent international conference on freshwater resources management – which will be held in Perth (11-14 October 2010).
Nomination forms and entry guidelines are available at International Riverfoundation’s website.
Information and knowledge management, Resources | Bruce Boyes | 
15 May 2010 6:39 pm | 
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