Baseline assessment of groundwater monitoring and management in Australia
Project details
| Objective: |
To improve groundwater management across Australia. |
| Funding: |
$1.5 million (plus applicable GST) |
| Jurisdiction: |
National |
| Commenced: |
November 2010 |
| Completion: |
May 2012 |
About the project
In late 2009, a Groundwater Forum convened by the Commission identified monitoring and management as priority issues. This project, comprising 2 studies, will investigate whether groundwater monitoring and management are adequately resourced.
- Assessment of groundwater monitoring infrastructure - this study will, in partnership with the Bureau of Meteorology:
- quantify the size, condition and value of Australia's current groundwater monitoring network
- assess whether monitoring systems are compliant with the NWI
- identify both current and best practice monitoring programs
- identify new technical monitoring options.
Where information is available, the study will report on current funding levels for the maintenance, planning and renewal of groundwater monitoring infrastructure.
- Assessment of the cost of managing groundwater - this study will assess the costs of managing groundwater resources and determine cost-recovery across the jurisdictions. This will provide water managers and planners with a yardstick to assess the resources they currently devote to managing their groundwater resources.
Project benefits
Project deliverables include two Waterlines reports targeted for use by water managers and planners.
More information
These projects have strong links to two National Groundwater Working Group projects being funded by the Commission:
- Assessing the value of groundwater to the Australian economy
- Considering future planning and management options for groundwater.