Following the 43rd International Congress of the International Association of Hydrogeologists which was held in Montpellier (France) in September 2016, a two day French-Australia Workshop on Groundwater Management took place with 30 French attendees and 13 Australian attendees from SA, NSW, WA, Vic, BoM, MDBA and ANU.
Case studies were presented on various aspects of groundwater management from both countries, and further discussions allowed a comparative analysis to be conducted by the French and Australian water professionals, supported by a small group of academics. This presentation will identify some of the similarities in management philosophy and technical methodologies, but also fundamental differences in management approaches which are mainly related to the population, climate, the role of the State and the community and also market mechanisms. Some topics for future collaboration are also suggested.