Water review consultation open
| This week marks the first stage of consultation for a review and revision of the Water Allocation Plan for the Southern Basins and Musgrave Prescribed Wells Areas. This plan is a document that sets out the rules for managing the take and use of prescribed groundwater resources.
Under the plan, there are a number of licenced users, including SA Water who use their licence to supply mains water to households, farms and businesses across Eyre Peninsula. With the latest monitoring and scientific assessments indicating that groundwater resources in these areas will no longer be able to sustainably meet the demands for water supply on Eyre Peninsula, it is expected that licence allocations will be reduced. Water licence holders and stock and domestic groundwater users from the two areas, plus mains water users across the region, are encouraged to take part in the review via YourSAy. This can be as simple as adding a comment on our interactive map, taking a quick poll survey, or taking some more time reviewing resources and filling out a 6-question survey or sending us a written submission. This consultation will be completed in mid-December and will inform the preparation of a draft revised plan. Another round of consultation will take place mid next year on that draft revised plan, with the revision set to be completed by the start of 2026, ready for new licences to be issued by the Department for Environment and Water by mid-2026. This review is vitally important for the sustainability of Eyre Peninsula groundwater resources. The latest data is showing us that if we leave the allocations as they are, there is the potential for irreversible damage caused by salinisation from seawater getting into the basins or drawing saline water up from the underlying aquifer. I encourage everyone who would be affected by this to look at the consultation on YourSAy before it closes on December 16.
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