Client Challenge
The Murray–Darling Basin faces escalating water security risks—persistent recovery shortfalls, increasing climate variability, rising demand, and heavy dependence on surface-water solutions that cannot store water across time. Basin governments and industry partners needed a clear, evidence-based foundation to understand whether water banking could address these challenges, what opportunities it offered at Basin, regional and local scales, and what policy, regulatory and investment barriers would need to be overcome.
Yvette’s Solution
Yvette provided policy expertise within the project working group and led engagement with policymakers to share emerging opportunities for water banking and practical pathways for progress. This engagement increased awareness of water banking as a credible, under-used tool and helped promote informed exploration of key barriers, next steps, and options to lift its policy profile and outcomes.
She developed a policy white paper that distilled complex technical research into a strategic, accessible analysis of water banking’s feasibility, benefits and risks. Drawing on scientific and technical evidence, she positioned water banking within emerging policy windows, integrating feasibility considerations with clear, practical recommendations for Basin-wide implementation. She also contributed to discussion papers and fact sheets to help partners translate complex technical concepts into accessible materials for government, industry and community audiences.
Customer Benefit
The One Basin CRC gained a clear, evidence-based foundation to guide the next stages of its Water Banking for Enhanced Drought Resilience project, alongside strengthened engagement with key policy audiences. The white paper, discussion papers and fact sheets supported a shared understanding of water banking’s potential to improve drought resilience, support agricultural and community outcomes, and strengthen long-term water security across the Murray–Darling Basin.
Importantly, the policy engagement helped catalyse discussion among governments and agencies on regulatory barriers, priority use cases and pathways for implementation, equipping decision-makers, industry and researchers with credible advice to inform pilot design, stakeholder engagement, and future policy and investment decisions.