Introduction “ Water has conventionally been managed within administrative rather than natural boundaries, in a fragmented rather than holistic manner and in technocratic rather than participatory way” (The University of Sydney 2006, p. 1). Management of catchment and coastal areas remains a multifaceted task. Catchment and coastal zone needs an integration of social, culture and ecological alongside economically viable elements of these factors to ensure sustainable management (Stocker, Kenchington & Wood 2012, p. 29). Moreover, major stakeholders and other interest groups should cooperate on various issues to realise sustainable development objectives for catchment and coastal zone. Prior to launching an integrated management initiative, it is imperative to understand why water management is critical in Australia. A number of activities took place after the settlement of Europeans in Australia. There was massive clearing, grazing, cropping, drainage and dredging for mineral resources. These activities had far-reaching implications on the hydrological and environmental attributes of the country’s waterways (Pigram 1986, p. 77). The observed changes brought about water issues under scrutiny in Australia. Australia is classified among the driest continents on the Earth due to the amount of rainfall received and its runoffs relative to other states. In addition, Australia has experienced several cases of severe droughts with long-lasting rainfall scarcity, for instance, the droughts of 1979 to 1983, which had led to calamitous impacts on the environment, people and the economy (Pigram 1986, p. 33). Nevertheless, Australia has emerged as the second best country after the US in terms of water consumption per capita (930Kl/capita) (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2014). In addition, the country has the best water storage capacity per person, which is necessary for sustainable agricultural activities and water supplies for domestic consumption, particularly during prolonged dry seasons (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2014). Water is necessary to sustain life. For centuries, water has been a fundamental tool in develop and advancement of human civilisation (Pigram 1986, p. 3). It is estimated that that the Earth has approximately 14 million cubic meter as the total volume of water (USGS 2014). Despite water abundance on the Earth’s surface, a small percentage of fresh water is available for human consumption while a greater percentage is found at wrong places (Pigram 1986, p. 3). Back to basics: Management We understand that water is necessary for life and it is only available in small quantity. Water, however, is a renewable resource (Smith 1998, p. 83). Oceans are responsible for supplying water to inland waterways through hydrological processes such as evaporation and precipitation. Hence, factors that influence water availability, including coastal and catchment zones are imperative for sustainability. At the beginning of the industrial period, pollutants from various industrial sources started to affect the environment negatively. Climate change has been identified as a critical issue in the degradation of coast and catchments. In addition, there are noticeable changes such as extreme weather, rise