The Lake Eyre Basin (Kati Thanda) is Australia’s largest river basin, extending across four state and territory jurisdictions and supports significant environmental and cultural values. Alluvium Consulting, in collaboration with Natural Capital & Climate and Acclimate Partners, was engaged by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment to prepare a draft Strategic Plan for the Basin. The project included extensive research and consultation with various stakeholders, including state and territory government officials, scientific and community advisory committees, and key Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups.

The objective of the project was to develop a ‘quadruple bottom-line’ strategic plan that balances environmental, social, cultural, and economic factors, as a draft for public consultation. The project also entailed a review of the Basin’s governance arrangements, leading to recommendations for governance reforms to improve the effectiveness of these governance arrangements, including stakeholder engagement, and associated decision-making processes.

After the draft plan was released for public consultation, feedback was incorporated and the final Strategic Plan was adopted by all Basin governments and published.