222893e

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WATERThere are concerns about the cumulative effect on the GreatArtesian Basin (GAB) and other aquifers from both traditionalmining and the rapid expansion of coal seam gas and geothermalenergy programmes, and planned shale gas mining. These riskshave been recognized nationally, with the Australian Governmentinvesting AU$200 million to fund the Independent Expert ScientificCommittee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development.The committee is charged with delivering scientific advice to decisionmakers on the impact that coal seam gas and large coal miningmay have on Australia’s water resources.The GAB is one of the largest and deepest artesian basins in theworld, stretching over 1.7 million square kilometres and providingthe only reliable source of freshwater throughout much of centraland eastern inland Australia. It is of cultural significance to manyindigenous Australians, and numerous communities and sensitiveecosystems depend on it for survival.While steps have been taken to limit extraction and to improvethe integrity of wells in Australia, adverse impacts can be significantbefore they become apparent. There are concerns that in some casessuch drawdowns may be irreversible in terms of aquifer depletion,water quality degradation and pollution.As Australia searches for new water options to meet increasingdemands, conjunctive use has emerged as a cost-effective alternativeto reduce reliance on traditional water supplies. Groundwater isincreasingly being used in conjunction with surface water and otherwater 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 andsecurity, particularly during periods of drought. But they also raisequestions about combined management of water sources, whichhave traditionally been managed separately, and issues surroundingwater ownership and water property rights.A further concern arising from the huge increase in groundwateruse in Australia is the impact on the quality of the water. The draftNational Groundwater Strategic Plan highlights a paucity of informationin this area. Increased extraction poses a serious risk to manygroundwater systems due to inter-aquifer leakage or accessions ofmore saline irrigation drainage – issues which should be taken intoaccount when setting sustainable extraction limits.Similarly, seawater intrusion due to a greater demand for freshwater along Australia’s increasingly populated coastal rim is alsoa largely unknown factor. Such scenarios require a much betterbalance 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 systemto collate and standardize groundwater information. It aims to deliveruniformity in data sets between jurisdictions, with quality informationreadily available to water authorities through a common platform.Access to such data helps underpin good governance and allowsthe development of more efficient regulatory processes for a riskbasedmanagement system. The goal is cost-effective water planningwhich reaches a balance between competing economic, social andenvironmental interests, while protecting the long-term sustainabilityof groundwater systems.It is critical that those who use the resource have clarity in respectof the legal nature of water entitlements, and that the rules and costsgoverning its extraction are transparent and accountable. Waterreforms in Australia since the mid 1990s have resulted in state andterritory jurisdictions moving towards agreed principlesfor water management through legally enforceable plans,but inconsistencies still persist. Further work is nowneeded to better understand the nature of these differences,in order to secure a truly harmonized approach.The adoption of fully integrated developmentapproval systems by jurisdictions will ensure that issuesare addressed holistically between regulatory agencies,providing greater levels of community confidence.This is particularly important where groundwater isconnected to other water resources or dependent environments,and where multiple developments have acumulative impact.With groundwater out of sight and for many outof mind, raising awareness of its value to society, oureconomy and environment is vital to achieving publicacceptance of policies and regulation for better managementand sustainable use. Australia is a land renownedfor long periods of devastating drought followed byintermittent periods of higher rainfall and floods, whenpressure to secure our precious groundwater reservesinevitably eases. But we must not relax our commitment.There is an urgent need to shatter the misconceptionthat groundwater is a more or less unlimited resource.Australia is on track to more than double its water use bymid-century and there are no new big water resources tobe found. It is imperative that as a nation we become farsmarter in the way we manage what we have.Research and trainingSince it was established in 2009 the NCGRT has played a centralrole in expanding Australia’s knowledge of its groundwatersystems. The centre represents a significant investment ingroundwater capacity building through a comprehensive researchand training programme which cuts across disciplines.Headquartered at Flinders University in Adelaide andco-funded by the Australian Research Council and NationalWater Commission, the NCGRT is addressing a national skillsshortage in groundwater expertise through extensive trainingand up-skilling. It currently has about 140 chief investigators,postdoctoral researchers and PhD candidates, and promotesglobal collaboration between nearly 200 Australian andinternational researchers who are undertaking projectsconducted by the centre. Strong collaborative links have beendeveloped with the Commonwealth Scientific and IndustrialResearch Organisation (CSIRO), universities and otherresearch institutions in Australia and overseas, as well as withindustry and government partners.Research at the NCGRT is focused on major nationalgroundwater management issues identified by resourcemanagers and industry, and includes field-based projectsthat deliver research in support of management and policyneeds. The research is grouped into key areas around thecharacteristics of aquifers and aquitards, hydrodynamicsand modelling, surface water and groundwater interactions,and interactions between groundwater, vegetation and theatmosphere. A fifth research stream is investigating the social,economic, legal and policy dimensions of groundwater resourcemanagement, including community attitudes. It provides vitalintegration between social and biophysical research.The NCGRT is a wide-ranging research centre that isinstrumental in helping to shape innovative and effective policyand governance for the sustainable management of Australia’sgroundwater future.[ 262 ]