Great Artesian Basin shared water resource assessment
Project details
| Objective: |
To improve our understanding of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) system, including how quickly water moves through it and whether it recharges lakes and streams. |
| Funding: |
$6.25 million plus applicable GST has been jointly provided for the assessment through the National Water Commission's Raising National Water Standards Program and the Australian Government's Water for the Future Program. |
| Jurisdiction: |
New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia |
| Commenced: |
November 2010 |
| Completion: | December 2012 |
| Outputs: | Review of groundwater models and modelling methodologies for the Great Artesian Basin |
About the project
This project represents the first GAB wide assessment carried out in 30 years. It will provide critical information on historical, recent and likely future water availability in the Basin, particularly in light of the potential impact of climate change and increasing industry demands on the Basin's and alternate water resources. This information will help governments, industry and communities consider the environmental, social and economic aspects of the sustainable use and management of GAB water assets.
The assessment will:
- develop transparent, consistent and robust methodologies for determining the extent of available water resources in the aquifers of the GAB
- investigate the impacts of climate change and a range of 'development' scenarios or land use change activities on the GAB
- identify significant knowledge and information gaps.
Project benefits
At the completion of the project there will be:
- a better understanding of the complexities of the GAB water resources
- additional information for state water planners and managers to improve management within individual jurisdictions and across borders
- access to the most up to date knowledge of the GAB water resources
- a better understanding of the impacts that climate change and further development will have on GAB water resources.
More information
The project will use the information gathered from a number of GAB related projects funded by the National Water Commission:
- Sustainable groundwater allocations in the intake beds of the GAB in New South Wales
- Allocating water and maintaining springs in the GAB
- Northern Territory strategic assessment project
- Queensland strategic assessment and management of priority/stressed groundwater catchments - Identification of source aquifers to significant springs dependant on groundwater from the GAB
- Queensland inter-aquifer leakage
Further information is also available at: