Groundwater Management

In 1998, new groundwater management arrangements were put in place on the recommendation of the State Groundwater Council, following wide consultation with the farming community.

The new arrangements seek to maximise development opportunities, yet ensure that groundwater resources are managed in a sustainable way.

Sustainable Management
Sustainable management of groundwater resources is crucial to the economic viability of many of the State's farming enterprises. The new management arrangements are an important step forward, providing for the management of the resource at a local level and enabling the farming community in particular to maximise development opportunities.

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

Groundwater Management Areas (DSE Website external link) To view the information PDF requires the use of a PDF reader. This can be installed for free from the Adobe website (external link).

Related Links on VRO...

Groundwater Resource Maps
- Groundwater Basins
- The Groundwater Resource
- Private G'water Extraction Bores

G'water Quality - Beneficial Use

Rights to Water:- licencing
Bore Construction Requirements

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