The Living Moorabool: Evaluating the effects of Human-driving change on River Health
As Australia and the world confront the growing challenges of climate change, natural disasters and a growing population, water resource management has never been more important.
Research will play a large role in helping shape and manage water resources, now and into the future, particularly in Australia, where water resources are scarce and highly variable.
The Moorabool River is one of Victoria’s most important regional rivers. As well as providing drinking water for the expanding cities of Geelong and Ballarat, the river serves as a critical biodiversity corridor, a popular waterway for recreational purposes, and holds significance to its Traditional Owners.
It is, however, also a highly stressed river where the construction of farm dams, weirs, diversions, land-use change, and water extraction for both urban and rural use have all impacted the health of the Moorabool River. In 2017 the Victorian Government initiated the “Living Moorabool” project to deliver a healthy culture, environment, and community.
Based out of Deakin’s award-winning Geelong campus this PhD-level research is sponsored by Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, Barwon Water Corporation and Deakin University’s ‘Centre for Regional and Rural Futures’. We are seeking a suitably qualified environmental scientist with knowledge and interest in ecological and land-use change assessment, as well as community and social licence factors (such as cultural connection, stewardship), to undertake research on how interventions (such as the land-use change, river diversions, extraction, restoration activities) and social factors have impacted on the health of the Moorabool River. The candidate will utilise existing field monitoring systems and a variety of historical proxy data-sets and indicators to construct a vivid depiction of the river’s health; quantifying and pinpointing the relative impacts of interventions. Field-based surveys of local land-holders to evaluate the efficacy of various land management practices will compliment and strengthen the methodology.
The project is open to domestic students and international students currently based in Australia, and would be well suited to mid-career NRM or water professionals looking for a stimulating change, or to provide a competitive career edge.
Work directly with industry and receive a 3 year, 115k PhD
Scholarship package through WaterRA:
Open to domestic and international students.
*Water professionals are encouraged to apply
Open to domestic applicants currently based in Australia or International students able to relocate to Victoria, Australia by semester 1, 8 March 2021
All Applicants must meet the enrolment eligibility criteria at Deakin University with the successful applicant required to gain enrolment at Deakin University.
Enrolment and eligibility criteria found at: Domestic Students: http://www.deakin.edu.au/research/become-a-research-student International Students: http://www.deakin.edu.au/international-students
All completed applications forms must be submitted to Water Research Australia (WaterRA).
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview 25 February 2021.
64 Dennis Street, Colac VIC 3250
PO Box 159, Colac, VIC 3250
Hours: 8:30am – 5pm, Monday to Friday
T: 1800 002 262
E: info@ccma.vic.gov.au
BARWON WATER OFFICES
Hours: 8:30am – 5pm, Monday to Friday
All mail must be sent via our Colac office
PO Box 159, Colac, VIC 3250
T: 1800 002 262
E: info@ccma.vic.gov.au