Summary of groundwater management frameworks

A summary of the water management framework applicable to groundwater management units in each of the jurisdictions is given in the table below. The map below shows the location of those units and illustrates the status of the groundwater management plans, where applicable.

New South Wales

In New South Wales, there are five water sharing plans for the state's main groundwater resources; these plans are expected to be gazetted by July 2006. The remaining areas will be covered by groundwater macro plans, which are planned for release in July 2007.

Northern Territory

Within the Northern Territory , seven groundwater management units are covered by a regional or area management plan. Only one plan is finalised at this stage. The remainder of groundwater management units within the Northern Territory are managed under statewide policy.

Queensland

Highly developed groundwater areas in Queensland are managed under a water resource plan, which is implemented through a corresponding resource operations plan. Those groundwater management units in Queensland that do not have a groundwater management plan are managed either through:

  • a formal management arrangement between the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water, local councils and mining interests (e.g. Bluewater & North Stradbroke Island), or
  • the Wild Rivers Act 2005.

South Australia

In its 59 water management areas, South Australia has 15 approved management plans, one draft management plan and 11 further plans in progress. Twelve areas are managed by statewide policy, 20 by regional area plans, and 27 by area management plans.

Tasmania

Each of Tasmania 's 17 groundwater management units are currently managed under statewide policy and do not have individual groundwater management plans. Although there are no groundwater specific management plans in place, provisions for managing groundwater resources have been included as appropriate in water management plans for surface water catchments.

Victoria

In Victoria there are 62 groundwater management units and three unincorporated areas covering the state. Of the 62 groundwater management units, 24 are gazetted as water supply protection areas under the Water Act 1989 . Groundwater management plans will be written for all of the 62 groundwater management units. The three unincorporated areas are managed under statewide policy. Twenty-two of the 24 declared water supply protection areas had plans at the final or draft stage at June 2005.

Western Australia

In Western Australia , major water planning and management activities tend to cover groundwater resources because these are better suited to being developed than surface water. More than half of the groundwater management units in the state are managed by regional, subregional or local area management plans, depending on the level of management required. The remaining groundwater management units are managed under statewide policy.

Status of groundwater planning

State or territory
ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA National
Total number of groundwater management units 1 90 55 34 59 17 65 46 367
Statewide policy 1 0 46 21 12 17 3 18 118
Regional or area manage-ment plan (status) Final 0 6 1 9 15 0 8 14 53
Draft 0 47 2 0 1 0 14 3 67
In Progress 0 32 3 3 11 0 0 8 57
Not planned but Requires a plan 0 3 1 0 0 0 40 1 45
Does NOT require a plan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other 0 0 2 0 20 0 0 0 22
No data provided 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 5

Status of groundwater planning. Click to download a high resolution PDF of this map.
Status of groundwater planning

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Status of groundwater planning (2.1 Meg)

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Last Updated 18/10/2006