School aids professional body to value water

The School of Property, Construction and Project Management at RMIT University has partnered with the Australian Property Institute in running the first professional certificate for specialist water valuers.

Associate Professor James Baxter, who is a Life Fellow of the Australian Property Institute (API), was part of the team that developed the certificate.

“With the unbundling of water rights from farmland, and a distinct water market now established, there are real issues surrounding the valuation of this new asset class,” Associate Professor Baxter said.

“The API are aware of the problems. They contacted the School with a view to being part of the educational program, an invitation that was gladly accepted as part of its community outreach responsibility.”

The three-day, intensive program was held at Echuca, in the heart of Victoria’s irrigated farming country. There were 42 attendees, mostly from Victoria.

The accreditation process will be finalised in the form of professional interviews.

The program attracted a wide array of first-class presenters covering the history of water use and delivery in Victoria.

“Given the Copenhagen conference, there was plenty to talk about in respect of climate change and politics,” Associate Professor Baxter said.

For Associate Professor Baxter, it was an opportunity to meet many graduates again, some from more than 20 years ago.

“A couple of students remarked that I had never given them high distinctions in their student days. I had to tell them that they had never written as well, or been on top of their subject in such a way back then!”

The certificate is expected to run again this year and over the next few years as demand dictates.

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