Knowledge and capacity building for the Groundwater Action Plan
Project details
| Objective: |
To provide targeted information to all managers and users, to improve certainty about groundwater and how it should be managed. |
| Funding: |
$2 million plus applicable GST from the Australian Government. |
| Jurisdiction: |
National |
| Commenced: |
1 June 2008 |
| Completion: |
30 June 2012 |
About the project
In general, groundwater in Australia is poorly understood compared to surface water. However, it makes up about 32 per cent of our 'sustainable' water resources and is currently under ever increasing pressure due to increases in extraction to compensate for declining surface water stocks. Given that groundwater is nearly always connected to surface water, unless we can improve our knowledge and understanding of this key resource, we are at risk of seriously over exploiting it. This would result in significant flow on reductions to surface water entitlement holders and the environment in many systems.
During the recent drought, pressure on our groundwater resources has become more severe and the risks of the over extraction of groundwater have increased significantly. Similarly, the risk of contamination of groundwater with saline or polluted water has also increased. However, at this stage the depth of information and knowledge about Australia's groundwater resources is limited.
The Australian Government is funding an ambitious package of projects to accelerate the assessment of Australia's groundwater resources and to harmonise definitional issues, governance and management practices. The knowledge and capacity building component of the Groundwater Action Plan is will ensure that the knowledge gained through the concurrent assessment initiative will be produced and transferred to policy makers, water planners, water managers and groundwater licence holders in a readily understandable formats including the internet, booklets, discussion meetings and guidelines. The knowledge transfer processes will cover issues such as harmonised definitions, information about specific aquifers and improved ways of managing groundwater resources particularly when these cross jurisdictional boundaries.
Project benefits
The improved knowledge of groundwater and its being available to managers and users will greatly enhance the sustainable use of the resource. Currently, there is often a knowledge vacuum about the impacts of groundwater extraction on the environment and on users of surface waters. Providing targeted information to all managers and users will greatly assist in the improved management of what are generally connected water resources. This information will improve certainty about the resource itself and how it should be managed.
Progress
Activities for the knowledge and capacity building project are being developed to improve awareness and management of groundwater issues.
Projects funded to date include:
- Scoping study for development of post graduate courses in Hydrogeology by flexible learning: Conducting a scoping study for the development of postgraduate courses in hydrogeology delivered by flexible learning.
- Teacher Earth Science Education Program - sponsorship of 'wet rocks' package: Developing and initiating a 'wet rocks' (groundwater) element of the Teacher Earth Science Education Program.
- Groundwater Essentials booklet: ($88,815 plus applicable GST)
- Scoping study for the development of a Groundwater website: ($20,000 plus applicable GST)
- Targeted groundwater workshop: ($300,000 plus applicable GST)