Communities Caring for Water Conference 2023

Announcement of the postponement of the Communities Caring for Water Conference 2023

We hope you’re doing well and are actively involved in your community activities. We are writing to let you know with regret that the ‘Communities Caring for Water Conference 2023’, organised by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) in collaboration with The Rivers Trust, which was originally planned for November 2023, will be postponed to a later date in 2024. However, the new date is not yet confirmed.

The decision to reschedule the conference was made primarily for two reasons – the delay in the publication of the River Basin Management Plan (2023-2027) and changes to the timelines of the Community Water Development Fund (CWDF) for 2024.

The ‘Communities Caring for Water Conference’ is an important national platform for community groups to showcase their successful water-related projects and initiatives from all over the country. Additionally, it’s a valuable opportunity to present on the latest developments in water, climate, and biodiversity policy and action.

Having the published River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) in advance of the conference is important because it will provide accurate and up-to-date information. The Plan plays a significant role in guiding our discussions and shaping community actions to protect and enhance our waters. Having access to the final RBMP will greatly improve the impact and outcomes of the conference.

Also, proposed changes to the Community Water Development Fund closing date for 2024 have required us to adjust our planning and scheduling. A recent survey of LAWPRO CWDF grantees showed that more time was needed to complete projects within a calendar year. To accommodate this, LAWPRO plans to open the 2024 call for CWDF applications in September, with a closing date in December 2023. This will allow successful grant awards to be announced in February 2024.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to a ‘Communities Caring for Water Conference’ in 2024 and once we have a date, we will be sure to let you know.

Additionally, we will provide more information on the changes to the Community Water Development Fund at the earliest opportunity.