TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE REPORTING TO ENHANCE SUSTAINABILITY

The Sustainability The Sustainability ChallengeChallenge

The challenge

The project vision is for…

“…an irrigation industry that applies triple-bottom-line reporting for continuous

improvement and enhanced sustainability”.

Sustainability Challenge Project Concurrent and converging components

Knowledge about

sustianability and irrigation

TBL Framework

SI’s, their selection and use

Case study Organisation

Analysis

Participatory Method

Evaluation Method TBL

reporting review

Case Study

Learning

Workshops & Planning

TBL Reporting

and evaluation

Case Study Evaluation

Irrigation Sustainability AssessmentGuidelines

Irrigation Sustainability Assessment

1. Irrigation sustainability principles

2. High-level objectives

3. Linkages between each high-level objective and:

Subcomponents

Operational objectives

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4. Indicators and performance measures

Irrigation Sustainability Principles

1. Ensuring the health of the supply river and groundwater/drainage systems, and maintaining extractions at sustainable levels

2. Using, conserving and enhancing the land/water/ biota resources in irrigation areas and associated areas, now and into the future

3. Maintaining the economic and social services and benefits to rural and associated urban communities that enhances the quality of life, now and into the future

Lower two tiers of generic component tree modifiable by users to suit local Lower two tiers of generic component tree modifiable by users to suit local conditions/concerns provide flexibility, and direct links to MI business management conditions/concerns provide flexibility, and direct links to MI business management

plans/activitiesplans/activities

ISAF AND MI BUSINESS PLANNING1. Irrigation sustainability principles

2. High-level objectives – based on

issues of concern for stakeholders

3. Component tree of each H-L objective

Subcomponents

Operational objectives

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4. Sustainability indicators

MI - Management plans/activities of irrigation company such as: Business plan, LWMP, etc

Activities - KPI’s

Business objectives

‘Business Scorecard’A business management approach links discussion of overall strategic directions with each business unit’s goals; allows input from staff on business objectives as well as performance indicators

Strategic Directions Document

Business Unit Plan

Individual and team performance plans

Corporate Plan

Executive performance Plan

Strategic Plan

Overview of sustainability issuesEnvironmental issues / objectives

In BSC plan Downstream impacts on water resources

Degradation of irrigated lands – e.g. salinity

Maintain water quality Weeds

Catchment target implications Disjointed biodiversity areas

Added to BSC Climate change – reduce greenhouse emissions

WUE & groundwater recharge

Climate change – seek energy efficiencies

Root zone salinity / depth of groundwater

Other Ecosystem services opportunities Sub optimal understanding of impacts of irrigation

Biophysical state of Murrumbidgee & Tumut Rivers – upstream in and downstream impact

Long term viability of perennial horticulture

Lack of land use capability information

Overview of sustainability issuesEconomic issues / objectives

In BSC plan Reduced allocations to area Maintain profitability of irrigation farming

Water trade Increased legislative requirements – influence legislation

MI governance

Added to BSC Long term infrastructure – financial security

Minimise impacts of water competition / maintain attractiveness

Other Attract / maintain value adding industries

Maintain / grow diversity of agricultural industry

Sustaining growth of businesses

Maintain / grow diversity of industries

Benchmarking performance with other irrigation areas

Overview of sustainability issuesSocial-political issues / objectives

In BSC plan Employment security within company

Added to BSC Add to quality of life in region

Attract skilled & unskilled labour

Gain/influence community acceptance of irrigation

Other Declining services: health, education & transport

Employment security in region Rural unemployment

Change in population demographics

Reduce poverty / equitable wealth distribution

Diminishing political significance Image of irrigation in wider community

Reduced government support / input into NRM

Controlling development demand

ISAF and the Urban case study

Successful application with Lower Nepean Hawksbury Water Users Assoc,

primary producer and cut flower irrigators Councils Water provider

4 tier framework adapted to 5 step worksheet

5 Step ProcessStep 1 Adopt or develop principles that

define irrigation sustainability

Irrigation Sustainability Principles (ISAF)

1…etc

New sustainability principled (if needed)

Step 2 Adopt or develop high-level objectives to give more detail about sustainability in irrigation

High level objectives (ISAF)

1…etc

New high level obj (if needed)

Step 3 List the issues with regard to irrigation sustainability, that your organisation would like to improve

Step 4 Turn these issues into objectives for your organisation

Objectives that will help our organisation improve our irrigation sustainability

Indicators for each objective

1.

2.

Step 5 Develop indicators for each objective that will show progress towards sustainability.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Urban response to framework

Responses to evaluation of the process 100% of participants thought it relevant 100% of participants thought it a useful process 94% of participants thought the process easy to use

Readily usable and logical process, good for planning specific action from general ideas about sustainability.

Plain language version needed Electronic format would be good

Final products – Report Series

1. TBL Approach and Irrigation Sustainability Assessment (Mid May) • The triple bottom line approach and performance reporting in the Australian

irrigation industry,• Irrigation Sustainability Assessment Framework• Indicators of performance and their criteria for selection.

2. Case Study Experience (Mid May) • Murrumbidgee Irrigation Case Study,• Lower Burdekin Case Study,• Urban Case Study,• Murray Irrigation Limited and their move to sustainability reporting

3. Integrated reporting processes (Early June)• Participatory approach to performance reporting• Evaluating performance reporting across each case study

4. Sustainability Reporting For Irrigation - TBL recipe / glossy (June 30)• background, ISAF and indicators, how to …,• appendix case study summaries