Level of surface water entitlements relative to sustainable yield

For the Level 1 Assessment jurisdictions were asked to advise on the level of development relative to the sustainable yield in those surface water management areas where sustainable yields had been determined (refer to table below and accompanying map). Four levels of development were defined as follows:

• low level of development-sum of water access entitlements is less than 30 per cent of sustainable yield
• moderate level of development-sum of water access entitlements is between 30 per cent and 70 per cent of sustainable yield
• high level of development-sum of water access entitlements is between 70 per cent and 100 per cent of sustainable yield
• overallocated-sum of water access entitlements is more than 100 per cent of sustainable yield

The states and territories have reported that 189 surface water management areas have had their sustainable yield determined and that three of these 189 areas are classified as being overallocated. This compares to the numbers reported in the Australian Water Resources Assessment 2000 , where 34 out of 325 areas (11 per cent) were classified as overallocated.  From the information collated and analysed for AWR 2005, it is not clear if this reduction in the number of areas reported by the states and territories as overallocated and highly developed, is due to management actions or to changes in definitions of sustainable yield.

Specific observations can also be drawn from the responses from each jurisdiction:

• The Australian Capital Territory is a net exporter of surface water, with development being relatively low compared to the sustainable yield.
• Sustainable yield has been determined for all surface water management areas in the Northern Territory . Development is primarily low, with just one surface water management area (Darwin/Blackmore River) with a high level of development.
• South Australia has reported that only seven surface water management areas have a calculated sustainable yield, but has reported on the development status of all areas. Sixteen surface water management areas have a moderate level of development, and two have a high level of development.
• Of Tasmania 's 33 surface water management areas where the sustainable yield has been determined, 26 (79 per cent) of surface water management areas have a low level of development relative to the sustainable yield, and four (12 per cent) have a moderate level of development. A further three (nine per cent) of surface water management areas have a high level of development relative to sustainable yield. None of the surface water management areas is considered to be overallocated.
• Thirty-eight of Western Australia 's 44 surface water management areas (86 per cent) have a low level of development relative to the sustainable yield. A further four surface water management areas are at a high level of development, and two areas are considered to be overallocated

Addressing overallocation is an objective of all Parties to the National Water Initiative (the Australian Government and all states and territories) who seek to:

Complete the return of all currently overallocated or overused systems to environmentally-sustainable levels of extraction (NWI objective iv). The National Water Commission is undertaking further work, through the Australian Water Resources 2005, to develop a series of indicators to further develop joint understanding of issues of level of development and allocation.

Level of surface water development July 2004 - June 2005

Note: 'low' level of development = 0-29%, 'moderate' level of development = 30-69%, 'high' level of development = 70-100% and 'overallocated' = >100%.

Level of surface water development July 2004 - June 2005

Download high resolution Map:

Level of surface water development July 2004 - June 2005. (1.6 Meg)

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Interactive Maps:

Click on the links below to create and customise your own versions of the maps (e.g. add or remove layers) using the Map Maker tool on the Australian Natural Resource Atlas website:

• ANRA Map Maker Surface Water data

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