FENNER CONFERENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Water, population and Australia's urban future
The Shine Dome, Canberra, 15–16 March 2007

Conference aims and objectives

The overall aims of the 2007 Fenner Conference were:

  1. to advance understanding of the population and environment nexus in Australia; and

  2. to assist policy development and rational community debate by providing sound scientifically-based information about population and environment.

Specific objectives – with particular reference to Australia's urban and peri-urban areas – included:

  • providing an update on population growth and settlement patterns;

  • examining population impacts on water and explore the role of water as a determinant of population size and distribution;

  • gaining government and industry perspectives on the water-population connection;

  • exploring innovative technical solutions for water management in Australia; and

  • engaging influential people from the government and business sectors as active participants in the Conference.