Centre for Comparative Water Policies and Laws
South
Australia is the driest state in the driest continent on Earth. What
better place to form the Centre for Comparative Water Policies and Law!
The Centre's aim is to encourage with, and be a focal point for, research into legal, economic, social, and cultural evaluation of Australian and International water policies and laws.The Centre’s research expertise areas include: Australian and International water laws and policies, water allocation policies, tradeable water rights, surface and ground water, water markets, corporatisation and privatisation of water utilities, water reuse laws and policies and environmentally sustainable development.
Major Research Projects:
Members of CCWPL presently are Chief investigators in an ARC Centre
for Excellence, 2009 to 2014, CRC for Irrigation futures, and International
Water Management Centre. Some current projects include:
- System harmonisation for water laws and policies case studies in NSW and SA (CRC Irrigation Futures), Key Researchers: Professor Jennifer McKay and Dr Ganesh Keremane
- Law reform in natural resources management in Australia (ARC Centre of Excellence), Chief Investigator: Professor Jennifer McKay
- Human rights and water reform in Indo-Gangetic basin (International Water Management Institute, India), Key Researchers: Professor Jennifer McKay and Dr Ganesh Kereman
History
The CCWPL Centre was established in 1998 in the former School of Law and
Legal Practice, as the Water Policy and Law Group (WPLG). It is a
multi-disciplinary endeavour comprising lawyers, engineers and scientists as
well as researchers from other divisions of the University of South
Australia.
The CCWPL is recognised as one of Australia’s leading national and
international research Centres and is the only research establishment
engaged in comparative water law and policy research in Australia.
The Centre is a research concentration of the Hawke Research Institute for
Sustainable Societies. The CCWPL has research affiliates in 20 countries and
has assisted State, Federal and International governments on water policy
and law issues.
The CCWPL has had nine PhD graduates in the last seven years with many more
in progress. Three of the last four have won prizes for best thesis from
University of South Australia, Australian Water Association and CRC
Irrigation Futures.