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conomic

evelopment

and

ater

There are concerns about the cumulative effect on the Great

Artesian Basin (GAB) and other aquifers from both traditional

mining and the rapid expansion of coal seam gas and geothermal

energy programmes, and planned shale gas mining. These risks

have been recognized nationally, with the Australian Government

investing AU$200 million to fund the Independent Expert Scientific

Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development.

The committee is charged with delivering scientific advice to deci-

sion makers on the impact that coal seam gas and large coal mining

may have on Australia’s water resources.

The GAB is one of the largest and deepest artesian basins in the

world, stretching over 1.7 million square kilometres and providing

the only reliable source of freshwater throughout much of central

and eastern inland Australia. It is of cultural significance to many

indigenous Australians, and numerous communities and sensitive

ecosystems depend on it for survival.

While steps have been taken to limit extraction and to improve

the integrity of wells in Australia, adverse impacts can be significant

before they become apparent. There are concerns that in some cases

such drawdowns may be irreversible in terms of aquifer depletion,

water quality degradation and pollution.

As Australia searches for new water options to meet increasing

demands, conjunctive use has emerged as a cost-effective alterna-

tive to reduce reliance on traditional water supplies. Groundwater is

increasingly being used in conjunction with surface water and other

water sources, such as treated stormwater and recycled wastewaters,

and as a storage medium through managed aquifer recharge schemes.

Such approaches provide increased water supply flexibility and

security, particularly during periods of drought. But they also raise

questions about combined management of water sources, which

have traditionally been managed separately, and issues surround-

ing water ownership and water property rights.

A further concern arising from the huge increase in groundwater

use in Australia is the impact on the quality of the water. The draft

National Groundwater Strategic Plan highlights a paucity of infor-

mation in this area. Increased extraction poses a serious risk to many

groundwater systems due to inter-aquifer leakage or accessions of

more saline irrigation drainage – issues which should be taken into

account when setting sustainable extraction limits.

Similarly, seawater intrusion due to a greater demand for fresh

water along Australia’s increasingly populated coastal rim is also

a largely unknown factor. Such scenarios require a much better

balance between quantity and quality in groundwater hydrology,

with learnings embedded in planning and management processes.

To support consistent groundwater management across Australia,

the Bureau of Meteorology is developing a national information system

to collate and standardize groundwater information. It aims to deliver

uniformity in data sets between jurisdictions, with quality information

readily available to water authorities through a common platform.

Access to such data helps underpin good governance and allows

the development of more efficient regulatory processes for a risk-

based management system. The goal is cost-effective water planning

which reaches a balance between competing economic, social and

environmental interests, while protecting the long-term sustainabil-

ity of groundwater systems.

It is critical that those who use the resource have clarity in respect

of the legal nature of water entitlements, and that the rules and costs

governing its extraction are transparent and accountable. Water

reforms in Australia since the mid 1990s have resulted in state and

territory jurisdictions moving towards agreed principles

for water management through legally enforceable plans,

but inconsistencies still persist. Further work is now

needed to better understand the nature of these differ-

ences, in order to secure a truly harmonized approach.

The adoption of fully integrated development

approval systems by jurisdictions will ensure that issues

are addressed holistically between regulatory agencies,

providing greater levels of community confidence.

This is particularly important where groundwater is

connected to other water resources or dependent envi-

ronments, and where multiple developments have a

cumulative impact.

With groundwater out of sight and for many out

of mind, raising awareness of its value to society, our

economy and environment is vital to achieving public

acceptance of policies and regulation for better manage-

ment and sustainable use. Australia is a land renowned

for long periods of devastating drought followed by

intermittent periods of higher rainfall and floods, when

pressure to secure our precious groundwater reserves

inevitably eases. But we must not relax our commitment.

There is an urgent need to shatter the misconception

that groundwater is a more or less unlimited resource.

Australia is on track to more than double its water use by

mid-century and there are no new big water resources to

be found. It is imperative that as a nation we become far

smarter in the way we manage what we have.

Research and training

Since it was established in 2009 the NCGRT has played a central

role in expanding Australia’s knowledge of its groundwater

systems. The centre represents a significant investment in

groundwater capacity building through a comprehensive research

and training programme which cuts across disciplines.

Headquartered at Flinders University in Adelaide and

co-funded by the Australian Research Council and National

Water Commission, the NCGRT is addressing a national skills

shortage in groundwater expertise through extensive training

and up-skilling. It currently has about 140 chief investigators,

postdoctoral researchers and PhD candidates, and promotes

global collaboration between nearly 200 Australian and

international researchers who are undertaking projects

conducted by the centre. Strong collaborative links have been

developed with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial

Research Organisation (CSIRO), universities and other

research institutions in Australia and overseas, as well as with

industry and government partners.

Research at the NCGRT is focused on major national

groundwater management issues identified by resource

managers and industry, and includes field-based projects

that deliver research in support of management and policy

needs. The research is grouped into key areas around the

characteristics of aquifers and aquitards, hydrodynamics

and modelling, surface water and groundwater interactions,

and interactions between groundwater, vegetation and the

atmosphere. A fifth research stream is investigating the social,

economic, legal and policy dimensions of groundwater resource

management, including community attitudes. It provides vital

integration between social and biophysical research.

The NCGRT is a wide-ranging research centre that is

instrumental in helping to shape innovative and effective policy

and governance for the sustainable management of Australia’s

groundwater future.