March 4, 2009
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, has announced new federal funding totalling $7,576,000 for groundwater management.
Funding for the projects is from the National Water Commission's $82 million National Groundwater Action Plan, which undertakes projects to improve groundwater knowledge and guide the groundwater reforms agreed to under the National Water Initiative.
Senator Wong announced the funding for three projects:
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, has announced new federal funding totalling $7,576,000 for groundwater management.
Funding for the projects is from the National Water Commission's $82 million National Groundwater Action Plan, which undertakes projects to improve groundwater knowledge and guide the groundwater reforms agreed to under the National Water Initiative.
Senator Wong announced the funding for three projects:
- $5.4 million for atlas of ecosystems dependent on groundwater
- $876,000 to help protect New South Wales groundwater quality
- $1.3 million to improve groundwater management in regional Australia
$5.4 million for atlas of ecosystems dependent on groundwater
Senator Wong announced funding of $5.4 million to develop a comprehensive national 'atlas' of groundwater-dependent ecosystems on March 2.
"Many ecosystems depend on groundwater to support their plants and animals – but until now, little has been known about the location of these ecosystems and exactly how much groundwater they need to survive," Senator Wong said.
"The first step in dealing with the effects of climate change on Australia's water resources is improving our knowledge of them.
"We need to better understand the relationship between groundwater and the health of the rivers, streams and wetlands that support vulnerable ecosystems.
"This $5.4 million project, to be managed by the National Water Commission, will establish a comprehensive 'atlas' of groundwater-dependent ecosystems across Australia.
"This will give water managers vital information about the ecological requirements of the groundwater systems they deal with."
Under the National Water Initiative, all governments around Australia have acknowledged the importance of groundwater and have committed to sustainably manage the use of both surface water and groundwater.
"Better understanding of groundwater systems will contribute to improved water planning and management, consistent with the Rudd Government's commitment to properly measure and manage our precious water resources," Senator Wong said.
"Many ecosystems depend on groundwater to support their plants and animals – but until now, little has been known about the location of these ecosystems and exactly how much groundwater they need to survive," Senator Wong said.
"The first step in dealing with the effects of climate change on Australia's water resources is improving our knowledge of them.
"We need to better understand the relationship between groundwater and the health of the rivers, streams and wetlands that support vulnerable ecosystems.
"This $5.4 million project, to be managed by the National Water Commission, will establish a comprehensive 'atlas' of groundwater-dependent ecosystems across Australia.
"This will give water managers vital information about the ecological requirements of the groundwater systems they deal with."
Under the National Water Initiative, all governments around Australia have acknowledged the importance of groundwater and have committed to sustainably manage the use of both surface water and groundwater.
"Better understanding of groundwater systems will contribute to improved water planning and management, consistent with the Rudd Government's commitment to properly measure and manage our precious water resources," Senator Wong said.
$876,000 to help protect New South Wales groundwater quality
Senator Wong announced $876,000 in funding to improve management of groundwater quality in highly-developed aquifers in New South Wales on March 3.
"As a result of drought and climate change, surface water in some parts of the Murray-Darling Basin is declining and groundwater is being pumped in increasing quantities as an alternative water source.
"Because pumping can lead to water moving between different levels of an aquifer, it can cause deteriorating groundwater quality either through changing salinity or chemical composition.
"This project will help water managers better understand and manage the impacts of pumping on the quality of groundwater resources."
The project will investigate up to seven groundwater management areas in New South Wales where there is risk of declining groundwater quality.
Research results will allow water managers to predict the impact of pumping on quality of water, enabling more informed decisions.
The project results will be used to provide more accurate estimates of the level of risk to groundwater quality in all Groundwater Management Units in New South Wales.
This scientifically-based evidence will influence future management decisions on sustainable yields and will be used in the development of New South Wales Water Sharing Plans.
Under the National Water Initiative, all governments of Australia have acknowledged the importance of groundwater and committed to specific actions including environmentally sustainable levels of extraction.
The project is co-funded by the New South Wales Department of Water and Energy, which is contributing in-kind support of up to $350,000.
"As a result of drought and climate change, surface water in some parts of the Murray-Darling Basin is declining and groundwater is being pumped in increasing quantities as an alternative water source.
"Because pumping can lead to water moving between different levels of an aquifer, it can cause deteriorating groundwater quality either through changing salinity or chemical composition.
"This project will help water managers better understand and manage the impacts of pumping on the quality of groundwater resources."
The project will investigate up to seven groundwater management areas in New South Wales where there is risk of declining groundwater quality.
Research results will allow water managers to predict the impact of pumping on quality of water, enabling more informed decisions.
The project results will be used to provide more accurate estimates of the level of risk to groundwater quality in all Groundwater Management Units in New South Wales.
This scientifically-based evidence will influence future management decisions on sustainable yields and will be used in the development of New South Wales Water Sharing Plans.
Under the National Water Initiative, all governments of Australia have acknowledged the importance of groundwater and committed to specific actions including environmentally sustainable levels of extraction.
The project is co-funded by the New South Wales Department of Water and Energy, which is contributing in-kind support of up to $350,000.
$1.3 million to improve groundwater management in regional Australia
On March 4, Senator Wong announced $1.3 million to better manage groundwater supplies from aquifers.
"Groundwater accounts for more than 30 per cent of our total water consumption - yet it is a finite resource which is only topped up or 'recharged' when surface water seeps into aquifers," Senator Wong said.
"Under the National Water Initiative, all governments around Australia have acknowledged the importance of groundwater and committed to a 'whole-of-water-cycle' approach to managing this valuable resource.
"To develop regional water sharing plans that take account of our groundwater resources, water managers need a consistent and reliable approach to determine the recharge rates that contribute to regional water balances.
"This is especially needed in regions where little is known about our underground water reserves.
"Better understanding of both groundwater and surface water systems will contribute to improved water planning and management, consistent with the Rudd Government's commitment to properly measure and manage our precious water resources."
The project, to be conducted by CSIRO, will develop two recharge reckoner tools and associated manuals that will enable water managers to improve their water balance models.
"Groundwater accounts for more than 30 per cent of our total water consumption - yet it is a finite resource which is only topped up or 'recharged' when surface water seeps into aquifers," Senator Wong said.
"Under the National Water Initiative, all governments around Australia have acknowledged the importance of groundwater and committed to a 'whole-of-water-cycle' approach to managing this valuable resource.
"To develop regional water sharing plans that take account of our groundwater resources, water managers need a consistent and reliable approach to determine the recharge rates that contribute to regional water balances.
"This is especially needed in regions where little is known about our underground water reserves.
"Better understanding of both groundwater and surface water systems will contribute to improved water planning and management, consistent with the Rudd Government's commitment to properly measure and manage our precious water resources."
The project, to be conducted by CSIRO, will develop two recharge reckoner tools and associated manuals that will enable water managers to improve their water balance models.
Further information on the project can be found at the NWC web site.
Source: Web site of the Australian Federal Minister for Climate Change and Water
Source: Web site of the Australian Federal Minister for Climate Change and Water