Engaging with local communities to enable more informed decision-making on water security
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The problem
Fresh water is a limited resource . As such , water security – maintaining sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water – can become a highly charged issue for regional and rural towns grappling with drought , climate change and community-use conflicts .
State and territory governments have the primary responsibility for managing water , with federal policies also playing a role . However , affected local communities are often not consulted .
Our solution
Engaging in inclusive decision-making with local communities is key to making informed choices on environmental issues , such as water security , says Professor Matthew Kearnes from UNSW ’ s School of Humanities & Languages .
Matthew Kearnes researches vernacular understandings of , and responses to , technological , scientific and environmental change . He explores diverse forms of public participation in issues , such as climatic change , bio-nanotechnology , geoengineering and water treatment and supply . He works with the UNSW Global Water
Institute , a world-leader in water research , innovation and pragmatic problem-solving .
He led a public engagement exercise in Uralla , on the New South Wales Northern Tablelands , to facilitate community discussions on how to best achieve water sustainability for the region . The shire experienced a water crisis in 2019 / 2020 exacerbated by drought and an arsenic spike in dam water , raising questions about the region ’ s future water security .
Matthew Kearnes conducted community consultation interviews and stakeholder focus groups , in collaboration with community climate change organisation ZNET , to measure sensibilities around water security options . The project promoted inclusive decisionmaking and community education to enable more informed choices . This engagement model is applicable more broadly in towns facing water security and other environmental issues .
Matthew Kearnes is also collaborating on a project analysing the proposed raising of the Warragamba Dam wall , exploring the role of narrative in responding to socio-environmental controversies . The project will develop new resources for enhancing community understanding and involvement in complex environmental issues .
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