http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/newsindex.html Latest news from the University of New South Wales Connected Waters Initiative en-au The causes of south-eastern Australia's longest, most severe and damaging droughts have been discovered, with the surprise finding that they originate far away in the Indian Ocean. Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/indianoceandrought.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/indianoceandrought.html CWI researchers received further recognition from IAH following the recent International Congress at Toyama, Japan. Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/iah2008bestoralprize.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/iah2008bestoralprize.html UNSW will take a senior role in the new $60 million National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT), announced today by the Federal Government. Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/unsw_wins_major_role.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/unsw_wins_major_role.html The UNSW Connected Waters Initiative was well represented at the recent International Congress of the International Association of Hydrogeologists. Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/toyama_2008.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/toyama_2008.html Technology under development at UNSW could offer new hope to farmers in drought-affected and marginal areas by enabling crops to grow using salty groundwater. Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/saltwater_solution.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/saltwater_solution.html The largest ever survey of the health of Australia's vital wetlands has begun, with a team of environmental researchers from UNSW conducting a special aerial survey of waterbirds across the continent. Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/wetlandssurvey.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/wetlandssurvey.html A leading CSIRO scientist has called on Australia's agricultural scientists, educators and industries to rise to the emerging challenges facing global food security. Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/agricultural_revolution.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/agricultural_revolution.html As the nation's water resources run low, a new technology for detecting toxic heavy metals in water has opened the way for safer use of groundwater and recycling. Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/breakthrough_in_water_safety.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/breakthrough_in_water_safety.html New technology developed by Environmental Biotechnology CRC researchers provides water quality field-test results in minutes, better than current more time-consuming laboratory-based techniques. Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/clean_water_in_minutes.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/clean_water_in_minutes.html A new tender to purchase water entitlements to help restore the health of Murray-Darling Basin rivers and wetlands will open next Monday, Minister for Climate Change and Water, Penny Wong, announced today. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/next_water_buyback.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/next_water_buyback.html Climate change has robbed Western Australia of a sustainable underground water supply and WA must start regarding its underground water as a minable commodity. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/mining_wa_water_future.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/mining_wa_water_future.html The federal and state governments have been urged to establish an independent advisory panel of expert geoscientists to provide a high-level 'early warning system' for environmental crises. Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/geoscientific_expert_panel_needed.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/geoscientific_expert_panel_needed.html The Queensland Government's management of floodplains on the environmentally important Paroo River has been called into question by a new study by UNSW researchers. Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/paroo_river_threatened.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/paroo_river_threatened.html New research by the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre has found that remote Aboriginal communities are much better at managing their water supply to keep it safe and clean if they are given the responsibility of looking after it and setting the Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/desert_lifeblood.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/desert_lifeblood.html The Rudd Government today announced a new tender to purchase water in the Queensland section of the Murray-Darling Basin to return to our rivers. Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/queensland_water_buyback.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/queensland_water_buyback.html A million litres of water, 500 tonnes of gravel and a wave machine the size of a two-storey building are being used by scientists to simulate a full-scale 'beach' within the laboratory. Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/bringingthebeach.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/bringingthebeach.html Groundwater researchers have recently been recognised by a sponsorship award and commendations from the International Association of Hydrogeologists NSW Branch. Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/awardsforresearchers.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/awardsforresearchers.html The NSW Government's new draft floodplain harvesting policy is a welcome start, but implementation will present considerable challenges says a leading UNSW environmental scientist. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/floodplainpolicygood.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/floodplainpolicygood.html The UNSW Water Research Laboratory and School of Civil & Environmental Engineering conducted the recent series of groundwater workshops held by Cotton Catchment Communities CRC in NSW and Queensland. Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/groundwaterworkshops.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/groundwaterworkshops.html Sea-surface temperature fluctuations and changes in atmospheric circulation patterns have been identified as key factors leading to declining rainfalls in south-eastern Australia since 1950. Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/understandingdecliningrain.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/understandingdecliningrain.html Community attitudes towards recycled water are undergoing a massive change for the better, according to a new University of Melbourne report. Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/publicacceptance.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/publicacceptance.html The Rudd Government's $50 million water buy back will secure entitlements to 35 billion extra litres of water for Murray Darling Basin rivers, Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong. Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/government_water_purchase.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/government_water_purchase.html Professor Richard Kingsford is a member of the Federal Government's stakeholder consultative advisory committee for the Commonwealth Government's commitment to buy water for the Murray-Darling Basin. Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/unswscientistadvising.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/unswscientistadvising.html The Australian Government will establish a $12.9 billion long-term water investment and reform program. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/australiangovtinvest.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/australiangovtinvest.html Australia's National Water Commissioners met recently in Brisbane to discuss progress on water planning across the nation and agreed that no Australian jurisdiction can yet claim to have a fully effective water planning system. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/thewayahead.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/thewayahead.html Three-quarters of eastern Australia's millions of resident and migratory shorebirds have disappeared in just one generation. Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/shorebirdnumberscrash.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/shorebirdnumberscrash.html UNSW Water Research Laboratory (WRL) has constructed a unique rainfall simulator for commercial and research applications. Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/rainsim.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/rainsim.html Eligible organisations have been invited to submit proposals for funding under the new $30 million Centre for Groundwater Research and Training. Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/30millioncall.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/30millioncall.html A landmark study by a team at the University of New South Wales has mapped more than 2,000 km of levee banks, channels and storages on the floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes. Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/floodplain.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/floodplain.html Adelaide will host the next international gathering of scientists and professionals in the International Conference on Water Resources and Environment Research (ICWRER) series. Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/wdu2008.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/wdu2008.html UNSW and the Water Research Laboratory were represented at the recent Groundwater Quality GQ07 conference held in Perth from December 2-7, 2007. Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/GQ07.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/GQ07.html The Australian Government today announced plans to establish a $30 million Centre for Groundwater Research and Training to build knowledge and skills to support groundwater policy and management. Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/30million.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/30million.html A research team from UNSW was awarded the Cotton CRC Science Award for Science and Innovation at the recent science forum conducted by the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC in Narrabri, NSW. Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/prize.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/prize.html An aerial survey by UNSW researchers reveals that waterbirds and water have vanished from the northern reaches of Macquarie Marshes wetland, north of Dubbo. Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/birds.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/birds.html Serious gaps in water supply planning in some parts of Australia must be addressed if adequate water supplies are to be maintained in the face of uncertain future water availability and demand. Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/urban.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/urban.html A comprehensive $82 million National Groundwater Action Plan initiated by the National Water Commission launched by the Australian Government. Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/nationalgroundwater.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/nationalgroundwater.html With Australia's future climate predicted to be hotter and drier, Australian researchers are thinking more creatively about our cities' water supplies. Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/goodenough.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/goodenough.html The Khmer kings who created the world's most extensive medieval "hydraulic city" surrounding Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat were the architects of its eventual environmental collapse. Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/khmer.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/khmer.html Three myths may be preventing Australia from achieving a secure water future an environmental economist has told the recent Water Matters Colloquium held at The Australian National University. Sat, 25 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/myths.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/myths.html The Australian Government will provide $80,000 to the Centre for Groundwater Studies (CGS) for the review and rewriting of educational materials for Australian Groundwater School training courses. Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/cgsfunding.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/cgsfunding.html Thanks to a national network of recording stations, Australia can keep a detailed watch on how much rain falls, how much water is stored in dams and even an idea of how much water flows in most rivers. Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/doublecounting.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/doublecounting.html National Water Commission Chairman Ken Matthews and Commissioner Peter Cullen have released findings of the second stage of baseline assessment of water resources for the National Water Initiative. Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/advancingmanagement.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/advancingmanagement.html Annual streamflow into the Murray-Darling Basin is likely to fall by 10-25% by 2050 and by 16-48% by 2100 according to a leading Australian expert on the effects of climate change on our river systems. Mon, 21 May 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/climaterivers.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/climaterivers.html Using bore water on ovals and parks may seem prudent in a drought, but unregulated use of underground aquifers could lead to environmental disaster, according to leading Australian groundwater experts. Wed, 24 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/unseen_crisis.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/unseen_crisis.html Climate change and bush fires pose a major threat to alpine water security. Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/fireinsnow.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/fireinsnow.html The National Water Commission has released a national seasonal water outlook report showing the impact that drought conditions are having on our water resources. Thu, 26 Oct 2006 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/nationaloutlook.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/nationaloutlook.html Mr Gary Johnston CEO of Jaycar Electronics has donated $1 million to create Australia's first Chair of Water Management and help forge a research team of scientists and engineers based at UNSW. Wed, 12 Apr 2006 00:00:00 +1100 http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/cwilaunch.html http://www.connectedwaters.unsw.edu.au/news/cwilaunch.html