The Goyder Institute for Water Research will deliver a new water Research Hub in the nationally and internationally important Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region of South Australia.
The provision of $8 million of Commonwealth funding was jointly announced in Goolwa by the Minister for the Environment and Water, Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, and South Australian Deputy Premier and Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Hon Dr Susan Close. Goyder Institute Deputy Director, Dr Alec Rolston, was in attendance for the announcement.
The funding will be provided for the Goyder Institute to deliver a four-year research program through the Hub, working with First Nations, local communities, governments and scientists to develop critical knowledge to support the health of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region into the future.
Minister Plibersek explained that “an important part of the Goyder Institute’s work will be to develop relationships with First Nations, communities and industries to harness ideas to improve management of this ecologically important area”.
The Hub will initially enter an establishment phase, working closely with all stakeholders to develop a four year research program which will investigate the ecological, cultural, economic, and social values of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth and provide knowledge to support climate adaptation so that the key values are maintained into the future.
Independent Chair of the Goyder Institute, Prof. Barry Hart said: “The Institute is delighted to be able to continue to play a significant role in supporting the future health of the Coorong and Lower Lakes region. We are committed to working collaboratively with First Nations, local communities, local, state and commonwealth governments and our research partners and collaborators to deliver world-class research to inform the management of this iconic and vital region of the Murray-Darling Basin.”
Institute Director, Dr Kane Aldridge added: “This new initiative builds on our recent successful and highly collaborative research for the Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin Program. It will build on our previous experience and expertise in delivering multidisciplinary research collaborations to work with local stakeholders in building up the knowledge base needed for the challenges that lie ahead in maintaining the health of the system into the future”.
Minister Plibersek said “The projects the Goyder Institute undertake in the next 4 years will consider all these complex interdependencies to make sure we can manage these precious resources in a way that best meets the needs of our rivers and wetlands, our communities and our industries”.
Dr Aldridge concluded “We thank all those involved to-date, particularly the advocacy of Rebekah Sharkie MP and Deputy Premier Susan Close and local community members. The Institute is proud to work in partnership with the Australian and South Australian governments, First Nations, local communities and the world-renowned scientists of our research partners and collaborators to deliver this Research Hub. Working together, we will improve the knowledge base to inform management decision-making and prepare for a changing climate across the Basin”.
For more information about the Hub please contact Institute Deputy Director, Dr Alec Rolston: alec.rolston@goyderinstitute.org.
