Water Resource Management

Groundwater Management Areas (GMAs)
Under the new management arrangements, the Department of Sustainability and Environment has undertaken an assessment of the groundwater resources in the State. Where groundwater has been intensively developed, or has the potential to be developed, Groundwater Management Areas (GMAs) are stablished and the sustainable yield of the groundwater resource estimated.

Monitoring of the groundwater resource in these areas is undertaken by DSE through its State Groundwater Monitoring Network and a close watch is kept on water levels and the amount of water allocated to groundwater users in the areas.

What's a Megalitre?

One Megalitre (ML) is 1 million litres, or 1,000 cubic metres
One Megalitre covers approximately 1 square kilometre to a depth of 1 millimetre
One Megalitre is approximately equal to 1 Olympic size swimming pool

Image: Groundwater management area April 2005

Groundwater Management Areas (DSE Website external link)
Adobe Acrobat is needed to download the above map

Related Links

A full text downloadable version of the former Land Conservation Council's Rivers and Streams Special Investigation - Final Recommendations (June 1991) (external link) is available on the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council website. These provide an ongoing framework for the use of rivers and streams in Victoria. Recommendations in the text have been edited to reflect government variations and amendments at the time of approval, and subsequent changes. The recommendations are categorised into Victorian heritage rivers, essentially natural catchments, representative rivers, other river values and public land water frontage reserves. These are based upon their scenic, recreational, cultural and nature conservation values.

Page Top