THE Federal Government has appointed a panel of scientists to advise it on the use of water purchased to restore the Murray Darling Basin wetlands and rivers.
Climate Change Minister Senator Penny Wong said the Environmental Water Scientific Advisory Committee would provide advice to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
It includes:
- Professor Angela Arthington, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University;
- Dr Ben Gawne, Director of the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre;
- Professor Richard Kingsford, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of NSW;
- Dr Mike Stewardson, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Melbourne;
- Associate Professor Keith Walker, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide;
- Associate Professor Robyn Watts, School of Environmental Sciences, Charles Sturt University.
"Members have been appointed on the basis of their expertise across a range of scientific disciplines, including hydrology, river and floodplain ecology, wetland ecology, ecological risk assessment and the management of aquatic ecosystems," Ms Wong said.
"The committee will provide expert advice on setting environmental watering priorities, monitoring the benefits of environmental flows, and identifying knowledge gaps."
Committee members have been appointed for an initial period of two years and will be chaired by Monash University Professor Barry Hart, who was also the chairman of Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Partnership - Science Advisory Panel.
