Water allocation plan launched to manage South-West groundwater

A plan to help ensure a sustainable future of the Yarragadee aquifer and the South-West's other groundwater resources was released today by Water Minister Graham Jacobs.

The launch of the Department of Water's 'South West groundwater areas allocation plan' is the culmination of more than eight years of technical, planning and public consultation work and $15million dollars of Government investment.

Dr Jacobs said the plan aimed to provide users with security in their entitlements; protect the environment of the South-West from the impacts of groundwater abstraction; and identify how much water would be available for new commercial and private users.

"The aim is to manage water resources in the best interests of the whole community for now and into the future," he said.

"As the population of this region continues to grow so does commerce and local industry.

Therefore, we must strike a balance between the competing demands of regional development and the protection of natural assets."

The Minister said both environmental and human uses were sustainable under the current water regime but warned if more water was taken the resource could be stressed.

"The plan sets out a consistent approach to allocation and licensing of groundwater following the department's use of the latest and best science, as well as monitoring data; ecological, social and cultural assessments; and extensive community consultation and surveys of water users," he said.

"The substantial community input and the consultative and open process is reflected in the plan which addresses the most important issue voiced by the community - the need to carefully manage groundwater resources to protect the environment and the current users, who range from small domestic users to bigger agricultural and industrial consumers."

Dr Jacobs said the plan covered the Yarragadee aquifer as well as other groundwater resources, including the Leederville and superficial aquifers.

"Reduced rainfall and higher rates of abstraction has caused water levels in some of these aquifers to fall, and means we have to make better use of what is a finite resource," he said.

"The department will seek to reduce over-allocation by reviewing current licensees' use of water, and encouraging water efficiency.  Where investigations show that additional allocations are sustainable, current allocation limits may be amended.

"This means that new and existing commercial water users will have to consider how they can use water more efficiently; use alternative supplies; find fit-for-purpose water, or trade water."

The Minister said major issues raised by the community would be addressed by the department through planning processes and further scientific investigations. The community would be consulted on the ongoing work to review the plan.

The department would report regularly on the plan's commitments and describe how actions and objectives were being met.  This information would be made publicly available.

"I hope this will increase community confidence that future use is sustainable and that management will be continually improved as further investigations increase understanding of the resource," Dr Jacobs said.

"More than $7million will be invested through joint funding between the Department of Water and the Federal Government for further work so the plan can be updated in 2011-2012."

A copy of the 'South West groundwater areas allocation plan' and the department's statement of response to the public comment can be found at http://www.water.wa.gov.au/allocationplanning