In May 2018, a high-level delegation from China Water Exchange (CWEX), the Ministry of Water and business executives, attended a five-day study tour focused on water trading in the southern Murray-Darling Basin region. They learned how water markets were a key strategy in assisting Australia to manage the millennium drought, and how Australia’s cities adapted.
The study tour – led by ICE WaRM with Australian Water Partnership (AWP), Marsden Jacob Associates and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) – provided initial exposure to Australia’s water rights and trading systems and included policy elements of Australian water markets as well as on the ground experience in implementation and management.
Australia is a global leader in the development of water markets and CWEX faces challenges that Australian water market experience can support solutions to such as the operation of water trading and market information platforms sustainable water allocation and licensing frameworks.
Delegates and organisers are looking forward to developing a longer-term relationship where China – Australia share information on water rights, trading, regulation and other matters which can assist water security.