River stewardship among irrigation farmers in the Murray–Darling Basin

This project seeks to support and promote the stewardship of the Murray-Darling Basin by land-owners, irrigators and community members. Based in the Goondiwindi hub, it will provide a case study of the cultural and social dimensions of water use and irrigation as well as the barriers to stewardship. This is a collaborative project which aims to foreground local voices, and form solutions which are mutually beneficial to both stakeholders and the Murray-Darling ecosystem. 

About this project

The Murray-Darling Basin is Australia’s most vital waterway and its long-term survival depends on collective stewardship. This project aims to deeply engage with local stakeholders in the development of sustainable solutions that support both regional livelihoods and the river ecosystem. The project recognises that collective, best-practice irrigation and water management can only be achieved when local culture, history and knowledge are understood and integrated into adaptation solutions.

This project will consider the role of irrigators and the local community in the Murray-Darling ecosystem. It will examine the role of the farmer in maintaining river health, as well as the role of the river ecosystem in maintaining healthy and productive farms and communities. It aims to move beyond generalisations and produce rich, context-specific ethnographic data which faithfully represents the views of the community and provides an honest account of the barriers to climate adaptation. The project will prioritise the presentation of local-knowledge production, connection and affect toward the changing climate, water use and river health and explore the existing stewardship efforts already being undertaken by the community. The project will consider and critique the roles of policy-makers and academia, with the goal of improving communication methods and knowledge sharing with local communities. Together, this project aims to leverage local perspectives to facilitate the co-design of sustainable and equitable river futures.

Researchers will collaborate directly with industry partners, irrigators, local community and other stakeholders in the production of this project. The project will employ a range of qualitative methods: long-form interviews, oral history, observation and job shadowing, and action research. Ultimately, the aim is for this research to be participatory and community-led. Researchers will actively explore avenues for collaboration and knowledge sharing among and between communities and other stakeholders.

Outcomes

● Develop a case study on water use and irrigation in Goondiwindi and its surrounds from an anthropological lens.
● Understand the needs of irrigators and community members with respect to industry, culture and identity.
● Explore the impact and role of irrigators on the Murray-Darling as well as existing stewardship strategies to develop best-practice adaptation strategies to promote community-led stewardship