Lake Eyre Basin Rivers Assessment Implementation Plan Project: Milestone 3 Report Governance arrangements for the lebra

LEBRA Implementation Plan Report 3: Governance arrangements

Lake Eyre Basin Rivers Assessment Implementation Plan Project

Milestone 3 Report: Governance arrangements for the LEBRA Revised December 2009

Richard Price Martin Thoms Samantha Capon Doug Watkins

About Kiri-ganai research
Kiri-ganai Research Pty Ltd is a Canberra based company that undertakes consultancy and analytical studies concerned with environmental policy, industry performance, natural resource management and sustainable agriculture. Our strength is in turning knowledge gained from public policy, markets, business operations, science, and research into ideas, options, strategies and response plans for industries, governments, communities and businesses.

Kiri-ganai Research Pty Ltd

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CANBERRA ACT 2601

AUSTRALIA

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www.kiri-ganai.com.au
Project team
The LEB River Assessment Implementation Plan Project is managed by Kiri-ganai Research Pty Ltd. The project team comprises Dr Richard Price, Professor Martin Thoms and Dr Samantha Capon. Doug Watkins contributed to the “pressure’ indicators section in the appendix.
Acknowledgements
The project team gratefully acknowledges the many individuals who are giving their valuable time, insight and knowledge during meetings with the consultants as this project progresses. We have been impressed by the professionalism of all the people that we have met and spoken to so far, and we trust that their passion and commitment to achieving a positive contribution to the Lake Eyre Basin is reflected in this report.
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum and its sub committees; the Australian Government; or the Queensland, South Australia and Northern Territory governments.

While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the above parties do not accept responsibility for any errors, accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.

Care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this report is reliable and that the conclusions reflect considerable professional judgment. Kiri-ganai Research Pty Ltd, however, does not guarantee that the report is without flaw or is wholly appropriate for all purposes and, therefore, disclaims all liability for any loss or other consequence which may arise from reliance on any information contained herein.

Contents

Abbreviations vii

Overview viii

Consultant’s observations about current governance and implications for the LEBRA viii

Interim recommendations x

1. Background 12

Purpose of the report 12

Scope of the report 12

2. A review of existing governance in the context of the LEBRA 14

Background: a unique institutional arrangement 14

The vision, principles and values of the Lake Eyre Basin 15

LEB policy framework and LEBRA implications 17

The governance framework and LEBRA implications 19

LEB Knowledge Strategy and LEBRA implications 23

LEB Communication Plan and LEBRA implications 24

Previous reviews considering LEB institutional arrangements 25

3. Principles for good governance in the LEB 29

Good governance 29

Pressure-State-Response approach to the LEBRA: implications for governance 33

Adaptive management and LEBRA governance 37

Triple loop learning and LEBRA governance 40

4. The revised LEBRA methodology 42

Purpose of the LEBRA 42

Taking a resilience approach to the LEBRA 42

Proposed indicators and methods 44

5. Options for the management and governance of the LEBRA 49

Preliminary 49

Government leadership option 49

Community leadership option 51

Technical leadership option 54

Collaborative assessment option 55

External assessment option 57

6. The recommended model and timeline 60

The collaborative model 60

The timeline 63

7. Next steps 65

References 66

the title of the report addressed; 72

how the recommendations have been considered in developing the Methodology/Implementation Plan; 72

any further action required. 72

a) identify the monitoring already being undertaken within the Lake Eyre Basin which will be included in the Implementation Plan; 72

b) identify the recommendations from previous LEBRA work that will be included in the Implementation Plan; 72

c) identify the indicators that were suggested in Method for Assessing the Health of Lake Eyre Basin Rivers that will be included in the Implementation Plan; 72

d) identify linkages with national monitoring, evaluation and reporting frameworks; 72

e) identify monitoring actions that can be undertaken immediately – summarise their methods and costs; 72

f) identify monitoring actions that require further research and development; and 73

g) advise on the appropriateness of reporting on a ten year basis or other timeframe. 73

a) reporting requirements; 73

b) the role of the Lake Eyre Basin Scientific Advisory Panel; 73

c) the role of Government officers; 73

d) the role of Regional Natural Resource Management groups; 73

e) links with Bureau of Meteorology; 73

f) scientific review of the program; 73

g) Quality assurance/quality control; 73

h) research and development issues independent of the assessment. 73

a) the organisation committed to providing funding or support; 73

b) the funding or support to be provided; 73

c) the source of the funding or support; and 73

d) duration of commitment 73

a) Organisation of the workshop (location to be agreed with the Steering Committee, will be a capital city). 74

b) Attendance and presentation at the workshop which will include: 74

Appendix B: LEBIA policies and key strategies 75

Appendix C: Summary of Knowledge Strategy questions 77

Appendix D: LEB communication plan 79

79

Appendix E: Action Plan recommendations on LEB governance 80

Appendix F: Recommendations and Ministerial Forum agreed responses to the 2007 review of the LEBIA 86

Appendix G: Stakeholders consulted to date 90

Appendix H: The revised LEBRA methods 91

Fish assemblage diversity indicator 92

Colonial waterbirds diversity and breeding indicator 99

Riparian vegetation structure indicator 103

Wetland vegetation condition indicator (DIWA wetlands) 107

Physical habitat indicator 112

Water quality indicator 116

Hydrology indicator 121

Pressure Indicators 127

Setting Thresholds of Potential Concern (TPCs) 130

List of Tables

Table 1: LEB policies and LEBRA implications 15

Table 2:Successful structural principles and institutional practices for 27

remote governance

Table 3: Proposed governance principles in relation to the LEBRA 29

Table 4: Pressures and sources of pressure on the LEB 30

Table 5: Conduits to desired responses to LEBRA findings 32

Table 6: Indicators to be included in the Lake Eyre Basin Implementation Plan 42

Table 7: Summary of options for the governance of the LEBRA 54

Table 8: Suggested composition and roles of LEBRA parties 55

Table 9: Suggested implementation timeline for the LEBRA 58

List of figures

Figure 1: LEB institutional arrangements (LEBMF interpretation) 17

Figure 2: Conceptual framework for institutional relationships in the LEB 20

Figure 3: Responses the LEBRA should seek to elicit 31

Figure 4: TPCs as boundaries of the desired state 35

Figure 5: The Strategic Adaptive Management (SAM) process 36

Figure 6: Aspects of triple loop learning 36

Figure 7: Flow chart of the Collaborative Assessment option for the LEBRA 57