Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
a plan is commissioned to determine optimal dam capacity, or how a dam
can be best operated to maximise economic and other benefits. In other cases
statements of objectives in plans are vague and general, thereby potentially
creating false expectations as stakeholders read into them more than is
actually to be delivered.
We argue that a planning process is more effective if the objectives are
explicitly and clearly stated in the early stages. Expressly understanding
and stating the objectives provides a transparent foundation for developing
management options and comparing them in relation to the extent they
contribute to or impact on all of the objectives. For example, the taking
of water for the objective of irrigated agriculture may result in reduced
achievement of other objectives relating to water quality and ecosystem
condition. If the criteria for comparing options are based around the level of
achievement of objectives it ensures that they are all properly considered.
Taking time to identify and consider objectives of stakeholders can also
focus on early agreement on common ground, where objectives are not
in competition and there are opportunities to achieve multiple objectives
concurrently. For example, preventing saline intrusion into groundwater
systems can provide both economic and environmental benefits. It can also
help participants to understand the full range of benefits that are being
sought. This can be continually referred to throughout the process to assist
parties to gain perspective and keep moving forward.
Where assessments of options is done based on the extent they affect objec-
tives, once a decision is made these assessments provide all stakeholders with
an understanding of the extent that their objectives are to be met or not.
This provides for transparency in decision-making and allows stakeholders to
make social and economic choices that are based on realistic expectations of
future availability of benefits from a water system.
Well-expressed objectives, outputs and associated performance indicators
also form the basis for a meaningful monitoring and evaluation program,
enabling the success of the plan to be measured and evaluated over time (see
chapter 9). Achievement of the objectives and outputs becomes the yardstick
for measuring success or failure.
Processes for determining objectives
A starting point for identifying potential objectives can be broader contextual
policy or legislation. For example, the internationally held goals of Integrated
Water Resource Management are (Lenton and Muller 2009: 7):
1 economic efficiency - to make scarce water resources go as far as possible
and to allocate water strategically to different economic sectors and uses;
2 social equity - to ensure equitable access to water and to the benefits from
water use, between women and men, rich people and poor, across different
social and economic groups both within and across countries;
