Projects in the Natural Environment
Water Resources
The assessment of social and micro economic impacts associated with potential changes in water allocation, use and infrastructure have been significant areas of research for EBC over the past 15 years.
Research has been undertaken for Australian and State Governments and has often focussed on identifying the potential impacts of changes in water policy amongst local landholders, industry and communities. Social research within this context is often exceedingly complex and new qualitative and quantitative research methods have been developed to specifically identify and assess both social and economic impacts.
Recent Reports and Publications
- A survey of beliefs about permanent water trading and community engagement in NRM in the Loddon Campaspe irrigation region of Northern Victoria (2006).
- The social implications of permanent water trading in the Loddon Campaspe irrigation region (2006).
- Social issues and impacts associated with permanent water trading in Northern Victoria (2005).
- The development of social impact and community consultation guidelines as operational protocols for the Central Register of Water Recovery Measures (2005).
- Consideration of social issues during the design of competitive instruments for water trading (2004).
- Development of a framework for social impact assessment in the Living Murray with particular reference to the Murray Irrigation Area of NSW (2003).
- Summary identification of potential social impacts associated with increasing environmental flows targeting the Murray Mouth and the Lower Murray River (2003).
- Review of economic and social water resource planning scenarios: Approach and resource requirements (2002).
- Summary social impact assessment: Border Rivers (QLD) Water Resource Plan (2002).
- Assessment of the social and economic impacts associated with the proposed water sharing plan for the Kangaroo River Catchment (NSW) (2001).
- Assessment of the social and economic impacts associated with the proposed water sharing plan for Wandella Creek Catchment (NSW) (2001).
- TRC-Analysis for the Condamine-Balonne water allocation and management plan (WAMP) (2000).
- Social assessment survey of irrigators in the Burnett WAMP Region (2000).
- TRC-Analysis for the Burnett water allocation and management plan (WAMP) (2000).
- The identification of water dependency and community sensitivity indicators for the Condamine Balonne WAMP (1999).
- The social impacts of dairy industry deregulation and water reform on dairy farmers and communities in the Bega Valley (1999).
- TRC-Analysis for the Barron water allocation and management plan (WAMP) (1999).
- TRC-Analysis for the Logan water allocation and management plan (WAMP) (1999).
- Social impact assessment and TRC-Analysis. An application of TRC-Analysis to water resource management (1999).
- An evaluation of five redesigned accounts: Registered pensioners, registered seniors, interim account, service charges account and statement of account (1994).
- The value of water: Attitudes towards farm water supply amongst farmers in Western Australia (1993). Fenton, D.M. & Syme, G.J. (1993). Perceptions of equity and procedural preferences in water allocation decisions. Society and Natural Resources, 6(4), 347-360
- Bates, B.C., Milech, D., Syme, G.J., & Fenton, D.M. (1989). Establishment of dam safety criteria and evaluation of dam safety: A multi-attribute utility approach. Australian National Committee on Large Dams Bulletin.