Free Flow

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conomic

evelopment

and

ater

modelling frameworks to use all available data, and

establishing clear links to inform groundwater plan-

ning, policy and management.

Targeted investigations and sustained monitor-

ing are also key to understanding hydrogeology and

groundwater flow processes, as well as the connectiv-

ity of groundwater systems with other water resources.

This in turn requires investment in meters, monitor-

ing and compliance regimes which take into account

the system’s characteristics, the level of use, potential

demand and associated levels of risk.

There is a degree of urgency in having these meas-

ures in place quickly because demand for groundwater

continues to increase as Australia’s population grows.

Intensive mining development in Australia over the past

decade, together with the development of new energy

sources and technologies, has also intensified usage and

the impacts on groundwater resources.

The mining and energy sectors are heavily depend-

ent on groundwater as a water source, particularly in

arid parts of Australia. They are now also using high-

salinity groundwater through desalination, making use

of resources previously considered unusable or of low

beneficial value.

and territory jurisdictions. It is a collaborative approach which aims

to capitalize on significant advances already made and provides

a strategic vision for groundwater security and sustainability for

future generations.

The plan is expected to be finalized by the end of 2013 and focuses

on three priority objectives: sustainable extraction and optimal use,

providing investment confidence, and planning and managing now

for the future. Following endorsement of the National Groundwater

Strategic Plan, state and territory jurisdictions will develop actions to

better coordinate and improve groundwater management in Australia.

A key element of any successful strategic planning programme

is knowledge, and that requires extensive research to build a deep

understanding of the resource and its many variables. Due to their

underground nature, groundwater systems are highly complex,

which makes sustainable extraction regimes challenging to define.

Advancing the science of modelling to better understand and

predict intricate groundwater processes is essential. While model-

ling has improved considerably in Australia over the past 10

years, there are many technical and policy issues still to address in

order to improve reliability and to find the right balance between

simplicity and complexity. The development of national model-

ling guidelines has been an integral part of a coordinated effort

to achieve leading practice in groundwater modelling. Future

priority areas highlighted in the strategic plan include integrating

Champagne Springs in the Kimberley region of Western Australia: securing Australia’s groundwater future is a complex challenge

Image: NCGRT