Knowledge and capacity building project for the National Groundwater Action Plan
Total funding: $2 million plus applicable GST from the Australian Government.
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 overexploiting 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.
About the Australian Government Water Fund
The Australian Government Water Fund (the Fund) is a $2 billion investment in water solutions for current and future generations. The Fund is a major investment by the Australian Government in water infrastructure, improved water management, and better practices in the stewardship of Australia’s scarce water resources. It will create opportunities for industries, for investment and for jobs while at the same time protecting and restoring our environment. The Fund comprises three programmes—the $1.6 billion Water Smart Australia programme, the $200 million Raising National Water Standards programme and the $200 million Community Water Grants programme. The Community Water Grants programme was extended by $200 million in the 2007-08 Budget.