SEMINAR: CWR Presents

Water management is a key issue confronting government, the mining industry and the wider Pilbara community.

This presentation will focus on three current developments in Pilbara water management: preparation of water allocation plans (mainly for the coastal alluvial groundwater resources); the Department of Water and an inter-agency working group considering the issue of providing for the on-use of mine dewatering surplus; and preparation by the Environmental Protection Authority of a guidance note on environmental and water assessments relating to mining operations in the Fortescue Marsh area.

Biographical note

Alex Gardner is Associate Professor of Law at The University of Western Australia where he teaches Administrative Law, Environmental Law and Water Resources Law to undergraduate and postgraduate students. He is also Adjunct Professor at the Australian National University College of Law where he teaches Water Resources Law to postgraduate students. In 2010 he began teaching in the interdisciplinary postgraduate program of the International Water Centre and in 2011 he began teaching Water Law in the University of Queensland postgraduate law program.

Alex researches in Natural Resources and Environmental Law, with a special focus on Water Resources Law. He is the lead author with Richard Barlett and Janice Gray of Water Resources Law, July 2009. He is also one of three legal academics participating in the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, established in 2009 with funding from the Australian Research Council and the National Water Commission: http://www.groundwater.com.au/ . Alex maintains an environmental law practice, assisting the Environmental Defenders Office (WA) for many years as well as private firms and companies. In recent years, he has advised the Government of Western Australia on water resources legislative reform and, in alliance with consulting firms, has advised the Australian Government on issues in the Murray Darling Basin. He is a senior sessional member of the State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia.

Lauren Butterly graduated with First Class Honours from UWA Law School and completed her honours dissertation in the area of water law. Following graduation, Lauren served as the Principal Associate to Chief Justice Wayne Martin of the Supreme Court of WA and then worked in the Resources team of Blake Dawson’s [now Ashurst] Sydney office. In January 2012, Lauren was invited to take up a research and teaching appointment at UWA Law School. Her research focuses on the legal and policy challenges of addressing cumulative impacts of the water used by mining operations in the Pilbara.

PS* This seminar is free and open to the public & no RSVP required.

****All Welcome****