At present major opportunities exist within the Australian water industry. The recent drought has highlighted the need for investments in water projects to ensure long term supplies.

Desalination, water recycling and infrastructure projects are being investigated by state governments around Australia.

There is a growing trend towards the outsourcing of water and wastewater management by public water utilities. Approximately 80 per cent of capital works undertaken by public utilities are now being delivered through the private sector¹. Types of contracts include build-own-operate-transfer, design-build-operate and operations and maintenance contracts.

Major industrial water users in Australia's minerals, petroleum, energy, pulp and paper industries are investing in water recycling and water use efficiency to ensure supplies where water is essential to production processes².

In rural areas, the Australian Government has recognised the importance of efficient and more productive water use for agricultural production, allocating A$5.9 billion over 10 years to modernise irrigation infrastructure.

¹ Australian Water Association 2006, Water, Vol. 33, No. 8.
² ACIL Tasman 2007, Water Reform and Industry: Implications of recent water intiatives for the minerals, petroleum, energy, pulp and paper industries.