Politics, socio-economics and water allocations: a note on the limits of Integrated Water Resources Management

Abstract

In this article we explore the usefulness of an Integrated Water Resources Management philosophy in the formulation of the Murray-Darling Basin plan. Trends towards amalgamating a number of policy objectives into a single planning instrument and the role of complexity and the so-called ‘systems thinking’ and ‘integration’ are considered. The article goes beyond the Murray-Darling and compares similar policy trends in urban water planning, particularly in Victoria. We conclude that integrated water resource management, as a broad policy philosophy, is not presently delivering efficacious outcomes in both rural and urban settings.