Results of the 2021 QWMN Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Tender

The 2021 QWMN RDI tender (open 30 March – 14 May) sought responses to the following five challenge statements (CS):

• Improving impact through stronger links between water models and real-world outcomes
• Improving treatment and communication of climate issues in Queensland water models
• Linking water models to innovative knowledge and information
• Optimising groundwater management through a system approach
• Regional case study: North-west Queensland.

As in previous years there was strong response to the tender with more good quality applications than there was available funding, a good problem for funders, less so for those drafting the proposals.  Following the evaluation process, the following five projects have been established:

• Stream bank erosion modelling in the Great Barrier Reef catchments – Stage 2 (CS1&3)

Delivery Partners: Alluvium Consulting, The University of Melbourne

• A gamified digital twin of a trading scheme for sediment and nutrients in South-east Queensland to improve health of waterways and Moreton Bay (CS3)

Delivery Partners: Aurecon, Deltares, Griffith, GHD, Costello Consultancy, CSIRO

• Landscape-focused digital twin for local engagement in water governance in monsoonal river systems (CS1,3 &5)

Delivery Partners: Australian National University, Northern Gulf Resource Management Group

• A framework to marry models and data: even an imperfect match can be valuable (CS1&3)

Delivery Partners: The University of Queensland, Queensland Department of Resources (Paddock to Reef Modelling), Queensland University of Technology, Alluvium Consulting)

• Re-imagining a water model (Source) as an experiential multiplayer game: A case study in nitrogen offsetting in Moreton Bay (CS1&3)

Delivery Partners: The University of Queensland, BTN, Alluvium Consulting, Healthy Land and Water).