A collaboration of 88 partners representing diverse industries and communities across the Murray-Darling Basin has resulted in the launch of over two dozen industry-led initiatives through the One Basin CRC — and it’s just the beginning. That’s according to Professor Seth Westra, Director of Research at the One Basin CRC, who provided an end of year project update during the December Partner Briefing.

“Describing 2024 as a significant year would be an understatement,” Professor Westra said. 

“Our team has expanded, new partners have joined, and our project offerings continue to grow and respond to the needs of Basin communities and end users. The briefing provided our partners with an opportunity to see the vast potential before them,” Prof Westra said.

“It was encouraging to see the level of engagement from our partners, and we hope this inspires further collaboration, especially as we introduce new project types such as the Partner Action Groups, designed to foster rapid problem-solving across organisations,” he said.

With more than two dozen projects spanning four core programs — Foresight and Decisions, Technology and Opportunity, Adaptation and Innovation, and First Nations —the scale and goals of the research is critical to the collective success of the CRC and builds on the ongoing partnerships to deliver real impact for the Murray-Darling Basin.

“Through feedback from our partners, the One Basin CRC’s research programs have continually evolved,” Prof Westra said. 

“The briefing showcased the breadth of what our partners are achieving together and how that’s changed over time,” Prof Westra said. 

“Many of our inaugural QuickStart projects have now finished, and it’s rewarding to see how the groundwork laid by our partners has blossomed into new initiatives. The collaborative network is expanding, and new opportunities are emerging,” he said.

One of these key changes in the research included the new First Nations program, which was formally introduced earlier this year; lead by First Nations Research Lead Professor Troy Meston. These projects aim to integrate traditional knowledge to address climate change and enhance water health.

“The partner briefing was an excellent opportunity to celebrate the successes of 2024, such as the development of the First Nations program to truly deliver First Nations-led research, and invite partners to get involved in upcoming opportunities for 2025,” Prof Westra said. 

“While we’ve made significant strides, we’ve only scratched the surface. There are many other avenues for engagement, including our PhD and internship pathways,” Prof Westra said.

“We’re eager to continue our work into 2025 and look forward to bringing everyone along on this exciting journey.”

Watch the partner briefing here.