Water security and resilience for the Tropical North

James Cook University (JCU) Cairns was recently the meeting place for a vibrant hub for cross-sector dialogue and collective ambition on water. Regional leaders, policymakers, urban water supply representatives and industry organisations gathered for the Regional Water Forum: Water Security and Resilience for the Tropical North.

Appreciating the opportunity to be invited and energised to be in a room filled with passionate voices advocating for sustainable, equitable water outcomes in Northern Australia, Young Water Professional attendee Samantha Guy shares her reflections of the event.

Hosted by Regional Development Australia Tropical North, and supported by the TNQ Drought Hub, the forum highlighted not just the challenges, but also the capacity and momentum in the region to shape a more water-secure future.

Opening the forum, Professor Hurriyet Babacan, Chair of Regional Development Australia Tropical North, offered an Acknowledgement of Country and welcomed participants. Professor Allan Dale, from the JCU Cairns Institute, chaired the forum and set the scene with reflections on the strengths of the Tropical North’s water sector from seasonal water abundance to the region’s deep well of skills and knowledge as key contributors to shaping a secure water future.

Shared challenges, local perspectives

Harnessing multiple perspectives, the forum explored current water challenges across the region and the water sector, building a shared understanding of complex planning regimes.

The conversations reflected how water security in the Tropical North is shaped by layered responsibilities, infrastructure constraints, climate extremes, and the competing demands of urban community, agricultural and industrial water users.

Powerful contributions reminded attendees that this region holds some of the nation’s most strategic water assets – particularly in the context of drought resilience and national food security. The speakers included:

• Sean Dillon MP, Assistant Minister for Primary Industry Development, Water and Western Queensland
• Ingrid Fomiatti Minnesma, Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water
• Amanda Hancock, Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils
• Katrina Savo, Director, Environment and Sustainability, Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council
• Ben Baillie, Manager, Water and Wastewater, Douglas Shire Council
• Cr Amy Eden, Mayor, Cairns Regional Council
• Josephine Rafferty, Local Government Association of Queensland
• Jim Turnour, The Cairns Institute, JCU
• Sonja Johnson, CEO, Regional Development Australia Tropical North
• Joe Moro, Chair, FNQ Growers
• Alicia Kennedy, General Manager, Water and Energy, Queensland Farmers’ Federation
• Michael Hughes, General Manager, Water Resources, Sunwater

Realities on the ground: the infrastructure cliff

Among the most powerful contributions were those grounded in lived experience. Katrina Savo from Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council offered a picture of water challenges in remote communities, from ageing infrastructure and lack of baseline data to cultural protocols impacting supply due to increased demand from visitors.

Her call for support from regulatory bodies to help Indigenous communities realise their right to water was clear: “We’re doing our best with what we have, but we can’t do it alone.”

The need for equitable support resonated strongly with those working across councils and water utilities. Josephine Rafferty from Local Government Association Queensland shared recent findings related to the broader 77 Queensland councils struggling to maintain service delivery.

She emphasised the importance of partnership: “A strong water future in the north requires a collaborative approach, backed by appropriate investment and policy settings.”

State government perspectives

Speakers from the Queensland Government, including Sean Dillon MP, Assistant Minister for Primary Industry Development, Water and Western Queensland, and Ingrid Fomiatti Minnesma from the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water outlined the water planning framework and highlighted the current review of 23 water plans across the state.

She encouraged stakeholders to engage in shaping future water allocation processes and reiterated the Department’s commitment to place-based planning.

“Effective planning comes from understanding the place – its people, its values, and its unique circumstances,” she said. “There’s no one-size-fits-all.”

Urban water planning: Cairns Council update

Cairns Mayor Cr Amy Eden shared an update on the Cairns Regional Council’s water strategy, including the newly endorsed Water Efficiency Strategy 2026–2035.

This soon to commence revision, builds on its predecessor, with a new Advisory Group due to be established to ensure broad stakeholder engagement and technical input as the region prepares for growth.

A pathway forward

The forum served as a timely reminder that water security is not a siloed issue, it touches health, culture, food, housing, investment and sovereignty. The solutions require all of us.

The clear takeaway: technical fixes alone are not enough. It's through communication, relationships, and coordinated planning that we can unlock more inclusive and effective pathways forward.

To find out more about the event visit the RDATN website where you can access speaker presentations, read detailed outputs from the event and check out other news publications from the event: https://www.rdatropicalnorth.org.au/regional-water-forum-2025/