Balancing Consumptive and Environmental Water Use –An Australian Perspective - Water and Agriculture: Sustainability, Markets and Policies - page 186

Figure 3. The Living Murray significant ecological assets
In addressing the environmental degradation of the Basin, the participating
governments have invested significant resources in building a solid foundation for
remediation activities. The Living Murray has been an effective model for co-ordinating
and managing a wide array of water-related projects and activities across the Basin. It
demonstrates the variety of issues, social, economic and environmental, that must be
addressed to balance consumptive, agricultural and environmental needs in a populated
area.
The commitment by governments towards intergovernmental agreements,
establishment of various bodies to execute the activities, the development of strategies to
direct future actions for discrete concerns, and measures to engage the community and
industries all denote enthusiasm for an all-encompassing approach to addressing water
issues in the Basin.
6. Case Study 2: The Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan
The Australian Great Barrier Reef (the Reef) on the east coast of Queensland is an
international tourism icon. Stretching over 2000 kilometres, comprising of approximately
3000 unconnected coral reefs, it is the largest and most complex coral and diverse reef
system in the world (ABS, 2003). It is also home to extensive seagrass beds, mangrove
forests, and sponge gardens. Many of the Reef's marine species rely on coastal freshwater