Development and Damage: Water and Landscape Evolution in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

This paper investigates the interconnection of changes in the institutional framework to promote water development and subsequent alterations to natural landscapes that have occurred over much of Victoria's history. Specifically, a clear correlation is demonstrated between institutional and natural landscape changes, and environmental degradation. Throughout Victoria's history, each phase of water development ushered in by changes to the institutional arrangements signalled more significant changes to natural landscapes, highlighted by the acceleration of infrastructure construction to harness water supplies and more intensive use of water. As water-supply development became more intense, the natural landscape changes that accompanied this development led to the alteration of delicate ecological systems that had evolved over thousands of years, leading to an acceleration of environmental degradation. The link between changes in institutional structures for water development and the impacts of this on natural landscapes in terms of the promotion of degradation is a much-neglected yet significant part of understanding current environmental problems. In this way, this analysis can provide knowledge regarding how institutions can have significant impacts on the state of nature.