Water management
Water management across Australia is a complex process that differs for each
state and territory and involves governance at the national, state, river basin
(such as the Murray-Darling Basin) and local government level. The management
regimes for surface water and groundwater systems still differ in most places
and the connectivity between the two systems is not always recognised.
For this reason, groundwater and surface water are reported on separately in
this section.
The source of water has influenced the style of water resource management,
with the differences most obvious in how the boundaries are set for the management
areas in each of the states. Drier parts of the country without well-developed
surface systems are dependent on groundwater as a primary source of water.
One result is that the principal unit of management is the groundwater management
unit in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.
In contrast, in the higher rainfall, well-drained parts of the country, surface
water has dominated water resource management, with groundwater being developed
after surface waters were allocated. In most of the eastern states, groundwater
is now highly developed where it is economical to develop (where it has higher
yields and lower salinity). In relative terms, Tasmania is a jurisdiction where
groundwater is still an undeveloped resource in terms of extraction and use.
Management in these other states is dominated by surface water basins and catchments
that are used to delineate surface water management areas.
Water levels in a piezometer as part of a water management plan.
The principal water management agencies for each jurisdiction are listed
in the table below. This table does not include the regional licensing authorities
for each state, the metropolitan and non-metropolitan urban authorities or
the catchment management authorities, which are delegated powers for water
management under various Acts. These powers generally include management of
the day-to-day use of the resource through licensing and regulation of supply,
treatment and use. Where appropriate, these sub-jurisdictional authorities
were consulted to ensure the most accurate information was obtained.
The External Territories are managed by the Australian Government Department
of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS). Because, the External Territories
of Australia were not included in the Australian Water Resources Assessment
2000 they are not covered by defined water management areas. However,
AWR 2005 wanted to include the External Territories to begin the process of
understanding water management in those areas.
In general, water management in the External Territories of Australia is rudimentary,
with little in the way of planning or assessment. Because the External Territories
are islands, almost all of the water resources are groundwater. The level of
water use ranges from minimal (a number of the External Territories are uninhabited)
to well-developed in areas such as Norfolk Island and Christmas Island that
contain a permanent population and significant tourist visitation. In these
areas, water is managed to ensure continuing access to the resource.
The External Territories of Australia consist of the following areas:
- Christmas Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Norfolk Island
- Ashmore and Cartier Islands
- the Coral Sea Islands
- Australian Antarctic Territory
- Heard and McDonald Islands
- Macquarie Island
In addition to the External Territories, DOTARS manages the Jervis Bay Territory,
which is on the South Coast of New South Wales. The water management regime
in the Jervis Bay Territory is based on the water legislation of the Australian
Capital Territory. While operating under a defined legislative framework, consumptive
water use in the Jervis Bay Territory is generally small, with most of the
water in the territory used by the environment.
Water management agencies applicable to each state and territory
Related links
Water management is discussed in more detail in the following sections:
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