--- title: Northern Australia water research to receive $5 million funding boost description: The Australian Government has provided $5 million through the CRCNA to support university research into water use.  image: https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/northern-australia-water.jpg --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - 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Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said research into sustainable water use is crucial for the [development of Northern Australian](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/partnerships/northern-territory-in-the-running-for-new-water-crc) communities and industries. “Water security is crucial to the development of northern Australia and this research will pave the way to grow and transform existing sectors and create new ones,” he said. “This research is about getting sustainable water supplies for the health and wellbeing of northern communities, and for successful agriculture and aquaculture industries.” ## Research to influence policy Special Envoy for Northern Australia and Queensland Senator Susan McDonald said the research will also influence policy across all levels of government. “The Morrison-Joyce Government is committed to building water storage to support heavy industry, tourism and agriculture, but we need cooperation at state and council level to ensure this can happen,” she said. “The benefits of storing water for people, crops and livestock are enormous and this will be backed up by the cooperative study we’ve announced.” CRCNA CEO Anne Stünzner said the investment partnership will help to deliver a program of works across several transformative water research initiatives to enable sustainable development. “This co-investment is a vital opportunity to demonstrate that agricultural growth and environmentally healthy and sustainable ecosystems can coexist in a water context,” she said.  Charles Darwin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman said: “This exciting partnership will put the Territory at the forefront of water infrastructure and security research — and ensure a sustainable future for northern Australia”.  ## Harnessing local knowledge Furthermore, the new cross-university partnership in water research will harness the collective, local knowledge of all three universities and maximise water security into the future, James Cook University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding said. “Being based in the north, all three universities share both the context and operating challenges that are unique to northern Australia to push the boundaries of water research to help secure water supply and security to northern Australia for years to come,” she said. CQUniversity Australia Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Klomp said the partnership was a strong example of institutions working together for the future sustainability of Northern Australia, which is experiencing fast-paced growth.  “Northern Australia makes up almost half the landmass of our vast continent, with an urgent need for new knowledge and innovative solutions across environmental, industrial and cultural dimensions,” he said. [ Research ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/research) [ Charles Darwin University ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/charles-darwin-university) [ Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/cooperative-research-centre-crc) [ Water Security ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/water-security) [ James Cook University ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/james-cook-university) [ Queensland ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/queensland) [ Northern Territory (NT) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/northern-territory) [ CQ University ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/cq-university) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=Northern%20Australia%20water%20research%20to%20receive%20$5%20million%20funding%20boost&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/northern-australia-water-research-to-receive-5-million-funding-boost) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/northern-australia-water-research-to-receive-5-million-funding-boost) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/northern-australia-water-research-to-receive-5-million-funding-boost) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/northern-australia-water-research-to-receive-5-million-funding-boost) ## RELATED NEWS [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/wastewater-nutrients.jpg?width=352&name=wastewater-nutrients.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/electrodialysis-trial-saves-energy-and-recovers-wastewater-nutrients) ### [ Electrodialysis trial saves energy and recovers wastewater nutrients ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/electrodialysis-trial-saves-energy-and-recovers-wastewater-nutrients) Jonathan Bradley A trial at Urban Utilities’ Luggage Point Resource Recovery Centre has pioneered an energy-saving technique for extracting… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/electrodialysis-trial-saves-energy-and-recovers-wastewater-nutrients) [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/urban-utilities-luggage-point.jpg?width=352&name=urban-utilities-luggage-point.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/leading-research-partnership-bolsters-its-strength) ### [ Leading research partnership bolsters its strength ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/leading-research-partnership-bolsters-its-strength) Cecilia Harris Industry and research partnerships are crucial to bolstering innovation, and Urban Utilities and the University of Queensland are… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/leading-research-partnership-bolsters-its-strength) [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/qaehs-kevin-thomas.jpg?width=352&name=qaehs-kevin-thomas.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/queensland-wastewater-sampling-research-partnership-receives-two-year-extension) ### [ Queensland wastewater sampling research partnership receives two-year extension ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/queensland-wastewater-sampling-research-partnership-receives-two-year-extension) Cecilia Harris A partnership between Queensland Health and The University of Queensland’s world-leading Queensland Alliance for Environmental… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/queensland-wastewater-sampling-research-partnership-receives-two-year-extension) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. 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