- W a t e r f a l l s -

Welcome to the first edition of the Water for a Healthy Country Update. Why 'Waterfalls'? – well Elinjaa Falls near Millaa Millaa features on our poster, so I thought it was a good place to start - and swimming behind the water curtain of a waterfall is always fun and gives you a different perspective.  Many different perspectives and lateral thoughts will be needed as we strive to reach the Flagship goal of 10 times increase in water benefits.

This newsletter introduces just some of our research and achievements.  Since our launch in May, the Flagship has rolled out a portfolio of projects across the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Murray, SW Western Australia and key cities.  Much of course remains to be done, most projects are continuously fine tuning their science design and delivery pathways.  Emerging issues and new questions keep  - well emerging! 

Equally importantly, while many partnerships are in place, there are many more to develop and maintain across universities, Cooperative Research Centres, public and private research agencies and various Government agencies if we are to effectively collaborate on the water issues facing Australia. These partnerships will enable a scale and complexity of research effort around water resources research not seen before in Australia.  

Our research program has been given further strength and guidance through the appointment of an Advisory Council, chaired by former Director of the Murray Darling Basin Commission, Don Blackmore. The Advisory Council comprises some of Australia’s pre-eminent authorities on water research and management and is already hard at work thinking through the urban challenge in close partnership with the Water Services Association of Australia.

By the next edition of the newsletter I will provide the web link to our Science Investment Plan. The plan is further refining and focusing our research investment and innovation across CSIRO and partners.  The Plan specifies, based on our understanding of the key water challenges facing Australia, the areas of growth, of proposed increase investment.  If you are interested in a working draft email Warwick on warwick.mcdonald@csiro.au.

I welcome your comments and input to this newsletter and most importantly on the research presented. Please feel free to contact me or the science leaders featured for further information.

Colin Creighton
colin.creighton@csiro.au

Update Home

Waterfalls - Message from the Director

Model solutions for Great Barrier Reef

Helping Perth recycle waste water

Australians become water experts at home

Knowledge grows for Murray flow

The Water for a Healthy Country Flagship is a CSIRO initiative and part of the National Research Flagships program that aims to deliver scientific solutions to advance Australia's most important national objectives. One of the largest scientific initiatives ever mounted in Australia, it aligns closely with the Federal Government's National Research Priorities. The initiative brings together our national research resources to deliver breakthroughs in fields ranging from healthcare to light metals and the environment.