Water Symposium: Spotlight on Legal and Regulatory Reforms
Bringing together the law, science, economics, indigenous knowledge and the environment, you will explore at this Water Symposium how these disciplines come together to create and implement reforms in the management of water. You will gain an update on current prosecutions of non-compliant participants. Learn about local government and Irrigator response to the reforms. Then gaze into the future at proposed reforms of flood plain harvesting and a reimagined National Water Initiative. 222N01
Description
Attend and earn 7 CPD units including:
6 units in Substantive Law
1 unit in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Chair: Celine Steinfeld, Director, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists
REFORMING WATER ALLOCATION, COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT
9.00am to 9.15am OPENING ADDRESS: Strengthening Compliance and Enforcement
Presented by The Hon. Troy Grant, Inspector-General of Water Compliance (IIGWC
9.15am to 10.00am Compliance, Enforcement and Prosecution for Unlawful Water Take in NSW
- Update on NRAR regulatory priorities
- Outline of recent compliance campaigns and monitoring
- Outcomes in recent NRAR Court cases
Presented by Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator
10.00am to 10.45am Transforming the Water Story
- Challenging settler-colonial water narratives
- Speaking as Country
- Embedding First Nations knowledge and management systems in law and policy
Presented by Grant Rigney, Chair, Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations MLDRN
10.45am to 11.15am PANEL ANALYSIS: Commonwealth and NSW Regulators: Putting the Pieces of the Regulation Puzzle in the Right Place
Facilitator: Celine Steinfeld, Director, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists
Panelists:
The Hon. Troy Grant, Inspector-General of Water Compliance (IIGWC)
Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator
11.15am to 11.35am Networking Morning Tea Break
INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE
Chair: Ilona Millar, Partner, Baker McKenzie
11.35am to 12.20pm Law, Society and Water: The Role of Local Government in National Reform
- Defining ‘Basin Governments’
- Legitimising diverse water uses for a vibrant and sustainable future for rural and regional Australia
- Policy frameworks to create aligned benefits across all jurisdictions
- The future of water sharing in Australia
Presented by Mark Lamb, CEO, Murray Darling Association
12.20pm to 1.05pm Connection Not Conflict: Moving Towards a Sustainable Future
- Moving from a ‘war’ over water management and policy to a ‘win-win’ outcome
- The role of modified eco-systems such as farms to supporting the environment
- How irrigated agriculture can be part of the solution for healthy rivers
- A rundown of some innovative ideas and projects that demonstrate co-beneficial private land and water use
Presented by Claire Miller, CEO, NSW Irrigators’ Council
1.05pm to 1.55pm Networking Lunch
WATER, SCIENCE AND THE LAW
Chair: Ballanda Sack, Special Counsel, Beatty Legal
1.55pm to 2.45pm INSIGHTS FROM THE PANEL: Q & A with the Experts
Facilitator: Ballanda Sack, Special Counsel, Beatty Legal
Panellists:
Richard Beasley SC, 9 Wentworth Chambers
Professor Richard Kingsford, Professor of Environmental Science, Director of Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales
Emma Carmody, Managing Lawyer - Freshwater, Environmental Defenders Office
Professional Skills
2.45pm to 3.30pm The Health of the Rivers of the Murray Darling Basin
- Ecological health of floodplains
- Management accountability for delivering environmental water
- Measuring changes in rivers
Presented by Professor Richard Kingsford, Professor of Environmental Science, Director of Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales
3.30pm to 3.50pm Networking Afternoon Tea Break
3.50pm to 4.35pm Reimagining the National Water Initiative (NWI)
When The NWI was established in 2004, it emphasised the importance of creating tradeable water rights and returning over-allocated water resources to an environmentally sustainable level of take.
- Discuss the prevalence of over allocation and unsustainable water management across different Australian jurisdictions
- Analyse the impact of water markets on Indigenous water dispossession in the Murray-Darling Basin
- Evaluate the Productivity Commission recommendations made in 2021 regarding the next generation of the NWI
- Discuss additional measures that may assist in achieving sustainable water management and water justice
Presented by Emma Carmody, Managing Lawyer - Freshwater, Environmental Defenders Office
4.35pm to 5.15pm CLOSING ADDRESS: What to Do With a Problem like NSW? Water Law Reform in the Lead up to 2023
- What can Parliament do when the Government is a bad faith actor?
- Where to with Floodplain Harvesting reforms?
- How will water shape a pre-election year
Presented by Justin Field MLC, Independent Member, NSW Legislative Council
Presenters
Dr Celine Steinfeld
Dr Celine Steinfeld is the Director of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a not for profit organisation with the goal of linking science to public policy. She previously led the Wentworth Group's water program having specialised in water policy and management in large river basins. Her honours and PhD focused on river management in the Murray-Darling Basin at the University of New South Wales. She won the University Medal in 2008, the NSW Government Peter Cullen Postgraduate Scholarship in 2009 and the international River Management Young Achievers Award in 2012. After graduating, Celine worked in policy implementation at the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. She is a visiting fellow at UNSW Sydney's Centre for Ecosystem Science.
The Hon. Troy Grant
Following a 30 year career of public service in Government, Law Enforcement, Emergency Services, Social Justice, community & charity, the Honourable Troy Grant was announced as Interim Inspector-General of Water Compliance by Minister for Water the Hon Keith Pitt MP on 16 December 2020 and was appointed the Inspector-General of Water Compliance on 05 August 2021. Mr Grant who has lived and worked in the Northern & Southern Basins for over 40 years served in the New South Wales Police Force for 22 years, achieving the rank of Inspector and holding many roles including major crime investigation, intelligence, community policing, human resources, and project management. Entering the New South Wales as the Member for Dubbo, Mr Grant held a number of Ministerial positions, became Deputy Premier of NSW in 2014. During his time in Parliament, Mr Grant’s portfolios spanned Natural Resources, Arts, Justice, Police and Emergency Services, Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Tourism. In the Natural Resources portfolio, Mr Grant over three years managed complex land and water issues involving a diverse range of stakeholders including as Chair of the Land & Water Advisory Panel leading the NSW consultation process across the Basin and Chairing the Forest Industries Taskforce. He the first member to speak Wiradjuri language in the NSW Parliament. Mr Grant retired from the NSW Ministry on 2 April 2019 and has been Managing Director of Perspective Advisory Services since May 2019.
Ilona Millar
Ilona is the head of Baker McKenzie's Global Climate Change practice and a Partner in the Sydney environmental markets practice. Ilona has 20 years' experience advising on natural resources law. Ilona has a diverse range of experience in environmental law and policy and a strong background in all aspects of water management. Ilona is listed among the best lawyers for Climate Change and Environmental Law by Best Lawyers Australia, featuring in the Australian Financial Review. Ilona sits on the board of the NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator, which oversees compliance with water legislation in NSW.
Grant Barnes
As Chief Regulatory Officer at the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) my focus is on leading the implementation of compliance and enforcement operations and building regulatory capacity. Specifically, NRAR is responsible for ensuring effective, efficient, transparent and accountable regulatory measures for natural resources management. We must also maintain public confidence in the enforcement of the natural resources management legislation. I am an advocate of the importance of sound regulatory practice underpinned by rigorous evidence and a robust policy-making environment. I am motivated by the challenges facing public policy organisations managing complex, interrelated issues of increasing difficulty and sophistication.
Claire Miller
Claire Miller has almost 40 years of experience immersed in complex operating environments where policy, politics, community values, ecological sustainability and economic imperatives clash. Claire has dealt with a wide range of controversial policy issues, including water, climate change and energy, environment, agriculture and regional development, employment, onshore gas mining, and planning. She was a journalist with The Age for more than 20 years before joining the Victorian Government as a senior ministerial water policy adviser, and then working with agricultural industry groups and regional communities. Claire has a Masters Degree in Environmental Studies and is a director on the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority board.
Ballanda Sack
Ballanda Sack is Special Counsel at Beatty Hughes & Associates. Beatty Hughes & Associates is a boutique law firm based in Sydney specialising in Environmental and Planning Law. Ballanda has acted for consent authorities and objectors in water management and coastal protection related planning appeals. She has advised State and local government agencies on climate change and coastal risk management issues. Ballanda has a strong background in water licensing requirements for mining, extraction and waste management operations and surface water and groundwater impact assessment for mining and other development projects.
Justin Field
Justin Field has been a member of the Legislative Council since 2016 and has focussed his parliamentary advocacy on water and natural resource management issues. Prior to entering the Parliament, Justin worked for a number of environmental NGOs focused on the impact of coal seam gas and coal mining on local communities and the environment and he was instrumental in the early strategy of the Lock the Gate movement. Justin served as an officer in the Australian Army (Australian Intelligence Corps) between 2000 and 2007, attaining the rank of Captain. He graduated from Duntroon in June 2001. Justin holds a Bachelor of Arts from Deakin University and majored in International Relations. Justin is married to Melissa and has a five year old son, Banjo and outside of parliament and politics spends his time doing long distance triathlons, surfing and is an avid vegetable gardener.
Emma Carmody
Dr Emma Carmody is the Managing Lawyer of the Freshwater Team at the Environmental Defenders Office and Legal Advisor to the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Switzerland. Emma has over 15 years' experience in Australia and abroad advising a diverse range of clients including international organisations, governments, NGOs, Traditional Owners, farmers, conservation groups and scientists on all aspects of water law and policy. In 2018, she was awarded the Dunphy Award for "most outstanding environmental effort of an individual" at the NSW Environment Awards in recognition of her work as a water lawyer.
Professor Richard Kingsford
Professor Richard Kingsford is a river ecologist and conservation biologist who has worked extensively across the wetlands and rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin and Lake Eyre Basin. He worked with many different communities and governments across this region. His research has influenced the policy and management of rivers in Australia, including through involvement on state and federal advisory committees. He also leads a reintroduction or rewilding project, Wild Deserts, in Sturt National Park (NSW), collaborating on the Platypus Conservation Initiative and Red-Listing of Ecosystems. He is also researches effective ways of implementing effective conservation actions through developing adaptive management approaches and engagement with communities.
Richard Beasley SC
Richard Beasley SC came to the Bar in 1997, and was appointed silk in 2011. From January to February 2019, Richard was Senior Counsel Assisting the Murray Darling Basin Royal Commission. In June 2018 he was appointed by the NSW Minister for Local Government as Commissioner to the Blue Mountains Public Inquiry. In 2016 he was commissioner for the Auburn City Council Public Inquiry. Outside of the law, Richard is the author of five novels. His most recent book published in February 2021 is Dead in the Water. A very angry book about our greatest environmental catastrophe. . . the death of the Murray-Darling Basin.
Testimonials
Impressive lineup of speakers. Valuable insights and information
This conference was the highlight of 2020 from a professional perspective
Venue
Cliftons - Spring Street
Level 3, 10 Spring Street
Sydney 2000
NSW
Australia
Parking Information
Parking not included in you registration. Here are some options below.
Secure Park 20 Bond Street - click here for rates
Wilson Park 1 O'Connell Street - click here for rates
Wilson Park 31 Bond Street - click here for rates
Directions
Nearby Public Transport:
Train Stations - Wynyard 400m OR Martin Place 500m
Bus Interchange - Clarence Street 450m
Ferry - Circular Quay 1.2km