Overview
The Natural Resources Management Act 2004 (the Act) requires the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board (the Board) to prepare a water allocation plan (WAP) for each of the prescribed water resources in its area. A WAP is a statutory instrument that will be used for various purposes in the administration of the Act; in particular, to guide the granting of licenses to take water and the transfer of a license and/or water allocation.
A WAP for the Angas Bremer Prescribed Wells Area (PWA) was adopted on 2 January 2001 by the then Minister for Water Resources, Hon Mark Brindal MP. In accordance with the Water Resources Act 1997 the Board is required to review this plan within five (5) years. The Board reviewed the 2001 plan in 2005 and determined that a new plan was required for the Angas Bremer PWA.
In addition to this, the surface water, watercourse water and groundwater of the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges (EMLR) was prescribed on 8 September 2005, and the Board is now commencing the process of preparing a WAP for the area. As the Angas Bremer PWA now falls within the boundaries of the EMLR prescribed watercourse and surface water area a single WAP will be prepared to cover both areas. For simplicity the combination of these areas will be referred to as the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resources Area (EMLR PWRA).
The Committees are supported by Martin Stokes (Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation - DWLBC) and Lyz Risby (SA Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board).
Community consultation is a central part of the water allocation planning process, and as a first step, the Board appointed two Community Advisory Committee and continue to work with the Angas Bremer Water Management Committee Inc.
The Committees play a key advisory role to the Board by developing policies for water sharing and management taking into consideration social, economic and environmental needs. The Committees represent different areas, industries, skills, interests and experience.
Questions on the EMLR licensing process should be directed to Martin Stokes, Manager of Licensing with the Department for Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation on (08) 8339 9802
EMLR Newsletter 2 (1.1mb)
As part of the development of the WAP, a series of Discussion Papers have been developed examining different Water Affecting Activities (WAA), the issues associated with these activities and proposed policies designed to aid sustainable development of water resources while minimising impacts to other water users and the environment.
Feel free to review the Discussion Papers and provide feedback. Response sheets are attached to the documents for your convenience, alternatively you can provide your own written submission to Lyz Risby, PO Box 4, Strathalbyn SA 5255.
All comments received will be collated and considered for inclusion to the draft WAP. Your responses are greatly appreciated.
Groundwater Reports
Surface Water Reports
Surface Water Groundwater Interactions
Angas Bremer Website
Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges Fish Inventory (5.3mb)
Environmental Water Requirements: The Board has embarked on a program to determine the Environmental Water Requirements of the fourteen catchments in the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges. Each stream is divided into reaches and environmental assets are recorded within each reach (eg. locations of native fish populations). The Environmental Water Requirements of each asset are determined and these are scaled up to represent water requirements at the catchment scale. The Board will then work with local communities to develop best management practices, thereby ensuring that the environment gets the water it needs.
Capacity of the Surface Water and Groundwater Resources: As part of the Prescription process the Board has initiated a number of investigation examining the capacity of the surface water and groundwater resources. The next stage of the investigation is to estimate the current level of demand on the resources including stock and domestic demand. Other investigations being undertaking include identifying surface water and groundwater interaction through hydro-geochemical analysis and better understanding the behaviour of fractured rock aquifers using geophysical techniques. The outcomes of the investigations will aid development of the policy in the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges water allocation plan.
Lyz Risby
Project Officer - EMLR Water Policy
SA Murray-Darling Basin NRM Board
Ph: 8536 4482 - Mob: 0427 970 142
Fax: 8536 8126 or
Email to: lyz.risby@samdbnrm.sa.gov.au