Encouraging Water Compliance within Communities Project

The purpose of the ‘Encouraging Water Compliance within Communities’ project was an investigation of the motivations of authorised water users, and barriers they experience in appropriately managing their water take, including compliance with the Water Act 2000. 

Why is this important?

Rural Queensland water users have always known the importance of responsible and sustainably managing one of our most precious resources – water. An important part of managing the water system is ensuring that this limited resource is used fairly.

The responsible and sustainable management of water is vital for Queensland to ensure positive outcomes for all stakeholders, including future generations. This project was sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME).

What did we do?

This project has used a literature review, targeted focus groups and an innovative scenario-based survey to provide insight into barriers, motivators and attitudes towards water compliance. The use of situational simulations has allowed researchers to investigate how different interventions may work in the real world.

What did we find out?

1. Plain speaking is preferred: Participants in the workshops indicated that clear, matter-of-fact language is the best way to speak about water resources.
2. Barriers to sustainable use: Often decisions are heavily influenced by external factors that are not under the control of water users.
3. Practical motivation: Participants in the workshops identified that managing water responsibly is important, but that this goal can sometimes be in competition with other more practical goals around business success.
4. Different types of people: There are distinct differences between what motivated people in how they use water.
5. The personal touch matters: While there were avenues now for digital communication, more personal forms of communication still had a place in helping them manage their water use.
6. Looking after the family and community: It is important to consider not only the main person who is being communicated with, but also the network to which they belong.
7. There is a place for more data: Most participants indicated that they would be open to receiving additional data on water use in the future.
8. Flexible arrangements: Many participants in the workshops also indicated that flexible arrangements would better help them to manage their water use needs now and in the future, for instance, being able to work more closely with the Department on a water allocation.
9. Transparency: It was indicated that more transparency in how the water system works and where the water comes from/is going to, would be useful.
10. Water users are business people: Just like other business owners, many water users are interested in ways to increase the success and profitability of their businesses, but do not want paperwork and reporting requirements to be burdensome.
11. Open to more communication: Many of those involved in this study voiced the desire for more engagement with the Department – with options to get in touch via different channels to share ideas and suggestions for QLD’s water management strategy.
12. Easy access to the right information at the right time: Information is the backbone on which business decisions are made, but information can come from many sources. In the workshops, desire was expressed for a ‘one stop shop’ of relevant and up-to-date information that is easily accessible to guide decisions.

For more information about this project please email kate.letheren@qut.edu.au