Resources development or instream protection? The case of Queensland,Australia

Summary In Queensland, Australia, instream resources planning ranges from "fragmentary" to overlooked. But the State of Queensland, with engineer dominant water management, is only a little behind some other Australian States and Western countries in evaluating the environmental uses and values of river systems. Management is pragmatic about its abundant water endowment! Highly contrasting biophysical environments, from arid to tropical rainforest, as well as a dominance of ephemeral river systems should not preclude instream assessment. The new coastal $A430 million, Burdekin Falls Dam, the "1800's dream" has radically altered that river and delta region for economically amorphous agricultural purposes and, seemingly, to encourage crocodiles to recreate. In comparison, the "urbanised" Brisbane River is the focus of southern state water use competition issues such as flooding, eutrophication, turbidity, public access, preservation of river islands, sand and gravel mining, and recreation. A veritable host of river related management authorities preside!Dr Diana Day is trained as a fluvial geomorphologist and a water policy analyst. Her research has focused on natural resources management especially related to water and soil/land assets. Dr Day is an editor of the newAustralian Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. Her many publications include a recent book entitledWater and Coal -Industry, Environment and Institutions in the Hunter Valley, N.S.W., published by The Australian National University, Canberra, where until recently she was a Research Fellow. Dr Day is currently a Water Planner in the public sector.