A review of water-related science and research capability across the Queensland Government, requested by the Queensland Chief Scientist, concluded that there were insufficient resources allocated for R&D modelling and strategic positioning to address future requirements by governments.
In response to these findings in 2017 the Queensland Government launched the Queensland Water Modelling Network (QWMN) to improve the state’s capacity to model its surface water and groundwater resources and improve the quality of models. Since then, the QWMN has initiated more than 16 collaborative projects, from cataloguing major water models used by the Queensland Government through to improving integration between agricultural and water catchment models.
The QWMN provides tools, information and collaborative platforms to support best-practice use of water models, and the uptake of their results by policy makers and natural resource managers. QWMN also aims to build the capacity of the water modelling and use sector, encouraging engagement between modellers, end-users, researchers, among others.