The objectives of the Lake Eyre Basin Scientific Advisory Panel are to:
- Provide scientific advice to the Ministerial Forum on matters relevant to the management of water and related natural resources of the Basin.
- Develop and maintain communication and links with the Basin community and broader scientific community.
- Provide advice and input into the monitoring and evaluation of river condition and the development of policies and strategies to help achieve the sustainable management of the Basin.
Under each of these objectives, the SAP has the following strategic priorities.
Objective 1: Provide scientific advice to the Ministerial Forum on matters relevant to the management of water and related natural resources of the Basin
- Inform the Ministerial Forum of opportunities for developing new policies and programs to address Lake Eyre Basin water and related NRM issues, of impediments to existing policies and programs and priorities for investment in management.
- Provide advice and assistance to the Ministerial Forum in developing the form and means of delivering and evaluating the programs necessary to ensure the objectives of the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement are met.
- Alert the Ministerial Forum to emerging water and related NRM issues in the Lake Eyre Basin.
- Provide advice to the Ministerial Forum on Basin-wide or cross-jurisdictional water and related NRM polices, programs or practices referred to it by relevant government agencies.
Objective 2: Develop and maintain communication and links with the Basin community and broader scientific community
- Assist with the dissemination of scientific and technical information that will assist with the sustainable management of water and related natural and social resources of the Lake Eyre Basin.
- Assist establishing links with the Basin community, scientific community and all levels of government to promote a mutual understanding of the requirements of the management of the natural and social resources of the Basin to assist in critical decision making.
Objective 3: Provide advice and input into the monitoring and evaluation of river condition and the development of policies and strategies to help achieve the sustainable management of the Basin
- Alert the Ministerial Forum to current knowledge gaps and the strategic scientific investigations required for underpinning future management decisions in relation to the Basin.
- Provide advice to the Ministerial Forum in relation to the identification of requirements for the effective monitoring of the condition of the rivers and catchments with the Lake Eyre Basin.
- Assist in the development of policies and strategies for the management of the Lake Eyre Basin.
