DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Victorian Resources Online - Wimmera

Groundwater Areas

See also Statewide Groundwater Management

Neuarpur GSPA | Balrootan GMA


Groundwater Management Areas have been established as part of a framework for managing groundwater reserves in Victoria.
In the Wimmera Catchment Management Region there are two groundwater areas: In addition to these areas, a 40 kilometre wide strip centred on the Victorian / South Australian border is subject to a management agreement between the two states. Several more Groundwater Management Areas are under consideration.

In the Wimmera Region, groundwater is an important source of water for domestic and stock supplies and for irrigation use.

Managing Groundwater
In 1998, new groundwater management arrangements were put in place to maximise development opportunities, yet ensure that groundwater resources are managed in a sustainable way.

Management arrangements include Groundwater Management Areas (GMAs); Groundwater Supply Protection Areas (GSPAs); and Groundwater Management
Plans.
Note: Rural Water Authority boundaries are overlain on these maps, as these are the administrative authorities, rather than Catchment Management Authorities.

    Adjacent Regions...
  • Mallee
  • North Central
  • Glenelg-Hopkins
Related Links on VRO...

DPI Groundwater Information Notes
Provide information on the management and utilisation of groundwater for private land owners and water authorities.		Permissible Annual Volumes (PAVs)
For each GMA, a Permissible Annual Volume (PAV) has been determined. This is the volume of groundwater available for allocation and is based on ensuring the long-term sustainability of the resource.

Some GMAs may be divided into a number of zones, and a PAV may be set for each one.

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
Permissible Annual Volumes (PAVs) for Target Aquifers, Wimmera

Groundwater Area
Zones
Target Aquifers
depth from natural surface
Confined Aquifer?
PAV
(ML per year)
Neuarpur GSPA
1
50 to 175 metres
unconfined
6,233
Neuarpir GSPA
2
50 to 175 metres
unconfined
4,074
Balrootan GMA
-
60 to 125 metres
confined
998


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