Consultation and collaboration - Integrated Water Resource Planning - page 82

or sexual orientation; single parents; or those with physical disability. In fact,
it has often been said that the most important stakeholder is the one you leave
out!
Stakeholder analysis
A stakeholder analysis provides the basic understanding of the characteristics
and issues of the people likely to be affected or interested in water resource
planning. Such an analysis provides the foundation for preparation of a
Community Engagement Plan. Traditional techniques of consultation favour
well-organised and well-educated people and groups with good commu-
nications skills. So it is important to also identify those who are at risk of
being poorly represented and identify appropriate protocols and best ways
to consult with them. It may require an introduction through a religious
leader; men talking only to men, women to women; or initial engagement
with custodians of particular land. In some cases, legislation or policy
specifies categories of people to be involved. In Australia, the National Water
Initiative pays special attention to engaging Indigenous peoples, in recog-
nition of their past disenfranchisement in decision-making, and in the spirit
of reconciliation (see Box 4.5). South Africa, too, acknowledges the need for
redistribution and reconciliation.
Box 4.5: Australia's National Water Initiative requirements for
Indigenous engagement in the water planning process
The National Water Initiative requires jurisdictions to provide for
Indigenous access to water resources through planning processes, and
to include Indigenous customary, social and spiritual objectives in
water plans. Native Title interests are to be taken into account and
Indigenous water use and interests assessed and addressed in plans.
Under the National Water Initiative there is an expectation that the
environment and other public benefits will be identified as specifically
as possible within water resource planning frameworks. According to
the National Water Initiative, access by Aboriginal people to benefits
related to water is to be achieved by water planning processes that:
O include Indigenous representation in water planning, wherever
possible;
O incorporate Indigenous social, spiritual and customary objectives
and strategies for achieving these objectives, wherever they can be
developed;
O take account of the possible existence of native title rights to water
in the catchment or aquifer area;