Water security took centre stage in Cairns on May 27th as government, industry, and community leaders came together for the Regional Water Forum: Water Security and Resilience for the Tropical North. The event focused on the urgent need to secure reliable and sustainable water sources for communities across Northern Queensland.
Supported by the TNQ Drought Hub and delivered by Regional Development Australia Tropical North, the forum featured keynote speaker Mr Sean Dillon MP, Assistant Minister for Primary Industry Development, Water and Western Queensland. The day brought diverse voices into the room including local councils and First Nations and agricultural stakeholders, all sharing insights into the growing challenges and opportunities in regional water management.
Presentations explored the current state of water infrastructure, planning, and policy, painting a clear picture of the risks posed by a drying climate, increasing demand, and aging systems. Panel discussions and breakout workshops encouraged participants to dive deep into collaborative, forward-thinking solutions to enhance water resilience.
SATSIE Program Lead Jim Turnour summed up the forum: “It was an important event for the region bring diverse stakeholders together to share their knowledge, experience and perspectives on water security. There are huge challenges facing communities with aging infrastructure and significant opportunities for development from water resources if sustainably activated. With our changing climate, it’s essential we get it right and the forum brought people together to share and start to work together across sectors and governments.”
As Northern Australia continues to experience mounting water pressures, the forum was a timely reminder that proactive planning, innovation and cross-sector collaboration are essential to ensure long-term water security.
