lntegrated Resource Planning; A National Show Case

The Power and Water Authority is responsible for the supply of utility services to all centres throughout the Northern Territory. The supply of electricity, water and sewerage services requires strategic management practices. PAWA has a further responsibility in the appropriate utilisation of the finite fossil fuel reserves that are exploited to supply these services. PAWA conducts responsible management of the finite resources through Integrated Resource Management. This involves strategic planning of the projected utilisation of these resources and calculations of demand situations. The Authority in 1995 is embarking on enhancement of this process through a holistic community approach. Alice Springs, located in Central Australia is a prime example of where the application of IRP will be unique. The attributes of the arid location; extreme summer heat, frosty winter conditions, minimal rainfall, and phenomenal evaporation rate and an abundance of solar energy. With the community being subject to these conditions there is a fair degree of awareness of these conditions and the possible effects if there is waste. The amalgamation of these factors; the community size and the associated infrastructure create a prime situation for the application of IRP. There is a finite natural gas supply, there is a finite ancient water supply and the solar insolation rate is the highest in Australia. With these attributes the Authority, the community, the Northern Territory and Australia has the opportunity to develop a national show case of IRP. This technology can be utilised elsewhere in Australia let alone become an export commodity.