Information report for the Oolloo dolostone aquifer water allocation plan / Dept. of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport.

This document is designed to introduce stakeholders and the community to the water allocation planning process for the Oolloo Aquifer. The Oolloo aquifer lies wholly within the Daly Roper Water Control district, stretching beneath the Daly river from southwest of Katherine and extending northwest to just beyond the Douglas River. Key assessments are to define the extent and capacity of the aquifer, to estimate future consumptive use and Indigenous stakeholders aspirations and build a model of the aquifer to predict ground and surface water levels under extraction regimes. The plan is for all licences to be issued by late 2010.
http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/water/oolloo/index.html

The future of tropical rivers: which vision is the most sustainable?

Garnett, S and Collier N. 2008
RiPRaP (River and Riparian Lands Management Newsletter) n. 33 pp.41-42.
http://lwa.gov.au/products/pn20694
TRaCK Project 1.1: Scenarios for tropical rivers and coasts: integrating the TRaCK research program

Wangamaty (Lower Daly River) Management Plan

ECOZ Environmental Services, (2004?)
The Wangamaty Landcare Group (WLG) initiated this study to investigate the adoption of an integrated management plan for the Lower Daly region. Recommendations include:

• implemention of a 5 year Weed Action Plan
• development of an up to date legislative framework and planning instrument to identify and rectify gaps in dealing with resource management issues
• recommendations for managing riparian zones, rainforest and wetlands
• identification of monitoring needs
• professional development with the WLG
• water allocation plan and natural resource management strategy
• pest animal study
• strategic fire management plan

Copy available for loan: NRETAS and DPI Library

Daly River Catchment ? towards an integrated catchment management

Andrew S. Wygralak
ASEG Extended Abstracts Volume 2006 Number 1, ASEG2006 - 18th Geophysical Conference
The Daly River catchment has good soils and is earmarked for the future agricultural development. The NTG placed a Moratorium on major developments, pending completion of an Integrated Regional Land Use Plan. The aim, based on analysis of hydrological, biological, environmental and social studies, is to develop a balanced holistic catchment management approach. Most of the multidisciplinary studies of the catchment completed till now were conducted without sufficient attention paid to the interconnection between economic, environmental, social and cultural aspects of the river catchment management. As a result no integrated catchment management plan has as yet been proposed. Further research is needed to fill the existing knowledge gaps.

http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/267/paper/ASEG2006ab200.htm

Katherine Regional Weed Management Strategy 2005-2010

Department of Natural Resources,

Environment and the Arts Weed management is complex enough without trying to deal with coordination across layers of Government, land tenure and land uses in the Katherine region. This strategy will provide a common focus for all land managers and stakeholders to work towards common community issues while also addressing their own priority issues on a property, district or catchment basis through their own plans. It also provides the fundamental framework for succession planning so future land managers and government officers have a documented plan, which will provide direction and focus and prevention of “re-inventing the wheel”. The action plan will also identify gaps, which need to be addressed in the region if weed management is to be successful.
The Katherine Weed Management Strategy’s overriding purpose is to provide a healthier and more productive landscape where the impacts of weeds are minimised. The strategy is pro-active ensuring the Katherine region’s current weed status is maintained or enhanced.

Daly Region Community Reference Group Executive Summary

This report identifies key issues for managing the values and natural resources of the Daly Region and recommends principles, guidelines, processes and actions for dealing with them.
This executive summary contains recommendations from the Community Reference Group, Northern Territory Agricultural Association, NT Cattlemen's Association (NTCA) and the Amateur Fisherman's Association of the NT Inc.

Adaptive Management of Ecologically Sustainable Development in the Douglas-Daly Region: The Adaptive Management Plan

Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association
GHD, NTCA and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry
The plan provides a “blueprint” for the conduct of adaptive management in the Douglas-Daly. It documents the area of land and issues over which it has application. It identifies the stakeholders and the procedures they use in conducting management of the plan, in determining their priorities, in establishing adaptive management programmes and in disseminating improved management procedures.
The plan relates to: that area of land defined by the ADMA Farms Area, the Stray Creek blocks, the Tipperary Group of Stations and Jindare Station in the Douglas-Daly Region (Fig. 1); the support industries, residents and school of this part of the Daly River catchment; and the ecological, social and economic relationships between that land and the remainder of the Daly Basin, and the people who live on and/or have a material interest in ensuring the ecologically sustainable development of that land. The adaptive management plan is developed and implemented through consensus among stakeholders. The stakeholders are members of the Douglas Daly Community Development Association Inc.

Copy available for loan at NRETAS and DPI Library

Demographic Profile of the Daly River Region

D. A. Griffith

This Demographic profile of the Daly River has been produced for the Daly River Expert Reference Group. The data provided is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Population and Housing 2001 Census data. The report supplies data on the population, housing, household income, individual income, employment profile, workforce profile, industry profile, education profile and visitors and mobility profile.

The data presented provides a detailed understanding of the region and its inhabitants, which could be used to support the development of an integrated Regional Land Use Plan for the Daly River Region.

Monitoring and Evaluation Trials, Northern Territory Region, Phase 1 report, November 2004

National Land and Water Resources Audit and Northern Territory Government, 2005
The Daly region is the Northern Territory’s National Monitoring and Evaluation Framework trial region. DIPE is undertaking the trial as there is no specific regional NRM body for the Daly region. The NT Landcare Council is the overarching organisation responsible for NHT and NAP in the NT in the absence of regional NRM bodies. At this stage, neither the NT nor the Daly region has accredited NRM plans. Development of an integrated NRM Plan (the Plan) for the NT NHT Region is currently underway. The report provides information on the importance of the region, Current and Recent NRM Initiatives in the Region, and the Key Regional Issues.

Daly Region Community Reference Group Draft Report

This is a report of the Daly Region Community Reference Group, which has been prepared with the assistance of the Daly Region Expert Reference Group. This draft Report outlines the processes the Community Reference Group chose to follow in consulting people with interests in the Terms of Reference Area, an area of over 2 million hectares. It outlines the issues which were raised as being of concern to the community and sets out the ways in which the Group has dealt with identifying the values of the Focus Area and the interactions between them.
This report provides an overview of the Daly Region, Inventory, Values, risk assessment and management, key risks to ecological sustainability and adaptive management.

NT NRMB project to undertake Environmental Management Plans.

T. West
NTHA
A proforma for a EMP has been developed to be used in the 'Sustainable Practices Implementation in NT Agriculture' project.

Collaborative Water planning in Australia's tropical north

P.-L. Tan, M. Ayre, J. Mackenzie, S. Jackson, P. Oliver and W. Proctor
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems
This research project aims to provide clear accessible ways for people to contribute to decisions on water use by identifying pathways for comunity participation in water use.
http://www.track.gov.au/research.html

A model approach to water resource planning for sustainable development in northern Australia Katherine/Daly and Darwin regions

National Water Commission
This project will establish a model approach to ensuring that water allocation planning for northern Australian tropical river catchments is based on the best practicable water resource and water use information. To achieve this, the project will: review and modify water metering processes; develop comprehensive scientific models on available water resources and water allocation plans will then be developed based on information gathered from the project.
The project will provide water users, regulators, planners and the community with reliable information about water use and impacts on water resources; ensure water us used efficiently and within allocated limits; boost knowledge and understanding of how surface and groundwater fluctuations impact on high value aquatic ecosystems such as the Daly River region and establish a best practice and model approach that can be applied to other regions in northern Australia.
This project delivers on the Australian Government's commitment to improve water management as outlined in Securing Australia's Water Future at the 2004 election.

Identify Aquatic Priorities for Inland Waters Across the Northern Territory

M. Kraatz, P. Jolly, M. Douglas and P. Lloyd
This project will provide information to enable more integrated decision making and planning relating to the Territory's inland aquatic ecosystems. It will review current information about these ecosystems (including wetlands, waterways and groundwaters), determine gaps in critical information for planning for sustainable resource use, prioritise research and monitoring work to fill these gaps and identify catchments and groundwater aquifers at risk from salinity, nutrients, toxins or sediment pollution, and recommend appropriate action. The work will be assisted by an Advisory Group with technical expertise to ensure all necessary information is gathered and assessed appropriately. The work will be done in collaboration with proposed projects under IW1 and IW2 assessing water monitoring requirements and environmental and cultural values. Analytical and risk assessment reporting will identify research and monitoring requirements for improving the information base for future natural resource management and the protection of inland waters.

Indigenous values and river flows

S. Jackson, M. Finn and E. Woodward
This project will work with Aboriginal communities to document the social significance of water and quantify the economic benefits households derive from their use of aquatic resources. The identification of the value of river flows and river health to indigenous people will be used to assess the potential impacts of altered flow regimes.
http://www.track.gov.au/research.html

Building better indigenous participation : new ways of involving indigenous people in planning for our water and land resources

N. Collier and H. Hunter-Xenie
CDU
This research will enable governments and catchment authorities to more clearly understand indigenous aspirations within mainstream water planning processes, leading to more inclusive policy making. Pilot study will be with indigenous people in the Daly River Catchment.
http://www.track.gov.au/research.html