1.1.4.4 Groundwater planning and use


The Cooper subregion lies in both Queensland and SA. Different approaches to groundwater planning and management operate in the two jurisdictions. Due to the importance of GAB discharge springs listed as endangered under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) the recovery plan for these springs is taken into account by jurisdictions in managing GAB groundwater. The recovery plan for the community of native species dependent on natural discharge of groundwater from the GAB (Fensham et al., 2010) is a joint plan by the SA, Queensland, NSW and Commonwealth governments. The overall objective of the recovery plan is to maintain or enhance groundwater supplies to GAB discharge spring wetlands, maintain or increase habitat area and health, and increase all populations of endemic organisms. Of relevance to groundwater planning is the plan’s stated objective to ensure flows from springs do not decrease (lower than natural variability) and are enhanced in some areas.

Groundwater monitoring network bores located in the Cooper subregion are shown in Figure 27. The monitoring network only monitors aquifers in the GAB. There is no groundwater monitoring done by government agencies for aquifers in the geological Cooper Basin.

Figure 27

Figure 27 Locations of monitoring bores in the Cooper subregion

Data: Bureau of Meteorology (Dataset 1)

1.1.4.4.1 Queensland groundwater management

Groundwater in Queensland is managed under Queensland’s Water Act 2000 through subsequent water resource plans (WRP) and resource operations plans (ROPs) (Queensland Government, 2014a, 2014b, 2014c), or through declared sub-artesian areas under the Water Regulation 2002. ROPs provide the operational details to meet the goals of WRPs, including monitoring and reporting. The applicable WRP or sub-artesian area outlines the licence requirements for the take of water as well as the permit requirements to construct bores.

A licence is generally required for:

  • extraction of groundwater for purposes other than stock and domestic use within proclaimed or declared areas (WRP areas, declared sub-artesian areas)
  • taking artesian water for any purpose and from any location.

Within the Cooper subregion a licence is required for taking water for stock and domestic purposes from the GAB.

WRPs are generally catchment based and in the Cooper subregion regulate groundwater hydraulically linked to surface water. The Great Artesian Basin WRP differs in that it applies to artesian water and connected sub-artesian water in an area that spans parts of several surface water catchments. The Water Resource Plan (Great Artesian Basin) was published in 2006 (Queensland Government, 2014c). The GAB WRP applies to regional scale aquifers that span a large part of Queensland and many surface water catchments. The management areas of the GAB WRP that cover the Cooper subregion are the Warrego and Central management areas.

The Greater Western sub artesian area established under the Queensland Water Regulation 2002, covers the Winton and Mackunda aquifer system, the Lake Eyre Basin and other Cenozoic aquifers, as well as groundwater in the Cooper Basin hydrogeological system. A water entitlement, water permit or seasonal water assignment notice are not required for stock and domestic water, or water for a prescribed activity.

Groundwater management for petroleum activities is dealt with by the underground water management framework under Queensland’s Water Act 2000. This framework includes a requirement for baseline assessments and preparation of underground water impact reports, as well as the provision of make good obligations. Petroleum and gas operators have the right to take associated water under Queensland’s Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 as part of the processing and extraction of petroleum and gas.

Groundwater in the Cooper subregion is managed under the WRPs described in Table 8 along with the general reserves set aside for water management areas relevant to the Cooper subregion. As there is not a single management unit that considers the general reserves for the Cooper subregion, they must be inferred from four plans that overlap with the subregion. Unallocated water volumes in WRPs may already have been partially or fully released or applied for. Those seeking access to unallocated water might also need to wait for an unallocated water release to occur before they are able to apply for the water.

1.1.4.4.2 South Australia groundwater management

In SA groundwater is managed under SA’s Natural Resources Management Act 2004. Water allocation plans (WAPs) are developed by natural resource management (NRM) boards for each prescribed resource in their region. The Far North Prescribed Wells Area (PWA) covers the part of the Cooper subregion which lies in SA and extends to cover a large portion of the state. The Cooper subregion lies within the Central zone of the Far North PWA.

The Far North PWA WAP (SA Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board, 2009) is achieved by limiting or excluding new bore development and undertaking to limit drawdown in the vicinity of springs. A management approach based on an acceptable fall in artesian head has been adopted. Under the Far North WAP, a pool of GAB water for consumptive use solely by the petroleum industry has been set aside for use as co-produced water. This allocation is set at 60 ML/day.

Table 8 Queensland water resource plans and groundwater management areas


Water resource plans

Relevant groundwater management area or zone

unallocated water for water licences in the management area or zonea

Great Artesian Basin Water Resource Plan (2006) covers artesian water and connected sub-artesian water, while connected springs includes 25 spatial GMAs, each with several stratigraphic GMUs.

The Great Artesian Basin Water Resource Plan includes some of the aquifers found in the Cooper subregion, within the Central and Warrego West management areas.

16. Central GMA – 7 GMUs covering Toolebuc Formation – Base of Eromanga Basin

17. Warrego West GMA – 7 GMUs covering Toolebuc Formation – Base of Eromanga Basin

16. Central – 1000 ML

17. Warrego West – 1000 ML

Cooper Creek Water Resource Plan (2011) covers recharge springs, surface water, and sub-artesian groundwater that is hydraulically linked to surface water.

Nil, but Water Resource Plan refers to protected watercourses, waterholes and lakes, which may have implications for hydraulically connected groundwater

NA

Georgina and Diamantina Water Resource Plan (2004) covers surface water and sub-artesian groundwater that is hydraulically linked to surface water.

Nil

NA

Source: Compiled from National Water Commission (2013); Queensland Government (2014a;2014b; 2014c; 2014d)

GMU: Groundwater management unit

GMA: Groundwater management area

NA means ‘data not available’

aThere is a 10,000 ML state reserve shared across all management areas of the GAB that could be applied for in the subregion (Queensland Government, 2014c).

Last updated:
5 January 2018
Thumbnail of the Cooper subregion

Product Finalisation date

2015

ASSESSMENT