Governance and Participation in Catchment Management in Victoria
Natural Resource Management (NRM) in Australia has undergone a conceptual and operational shift away from 'command-and-control' regulatory methods towards increased reliance on voluntary and self-regulatory approaches. The change has involved an increasing 'responsibilisation' of individuals, firms and communities in respect of NRM. As part of this shift, over the last decade government-community partnership programs have developed in support of NRM across Australia. Prominent examples are Landcare and Salt Action. Partnerships have also developed with and between non-government organisations and private industry.
This research is concerned with the changing role of governments and other social actors within the governance of NRM. The research aims to identify and analyse the roles played by different stakeholders in catchments management and analyse what implications that may have for NRM delivery, particularly focussing on the notions of social capital and the emerging governance arrangements needed to deliver improved environmental outcomes. The research is interested in how Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) have been developing partnerships and encouraging participation by local communities/stakeholders in the process and delivery of NRM (and what the limitations are to these).
The objectives of this study are:
- To examine the changing patterns of governance for the delivery of NRM in Australia, focusing on the social, economic and environmental factors driving change
- Through
a case-study investigate:
- How a CMA is undertaking its role as a regional agency responsible for developing community-based collaborative NRM;
- Other important actors within the catchment, including various stakeholders, networks, partnerships and associations that are influencing NRM;
- The roles and relationships of these groups with each other and with the CMA;
- The extent to which concepts and discourse of partnership and participation are being used and how they are being used;
- The extent to which various stakeholders are interested in collaboration and participation (i.e. what costs and benefits stakeholders feel they are receiving from investing time and effort in working with others? Do they feel there have been tangible results?)
A component of the research - 'Effective Partnerships for the Management of Water Resources' - has received support from a Monash University Faculty of Arts Research Initiatives Grant (2003)
Principal Investigators:
Chris Cocklin and Jacqui Dibden
Project
Officer: Naomi Mautner
Email: naomi.mautner@arts.monash.edu.au