G-MW sets usage record

(Ground water is frequently referred to as “ancient”, meaning it has been in underground aquifers for many thousands of years, sometimes as long as 10,000. Ground water was once a little like oil, poke a stick in the ground a there it was, but like oil, this is becoming rarer and more difficult to access.

Countries all around the world, especially those more populous places such as China and India, have had noticeable and drops in their ground water supply; drops measured in metres, not just centimetres as the recharge of those aquifers is far less than the amount of water being extracted.

The water could once be scooped from a well and other easily accessible places by hand, but now it can only be sourced through the use of a pump that can lift water for metres from below the ground – Robert McLean.)

Goulburn-Murray Water recorded the
highest ever use of groundwater
 in the 2015-16 season.

Goulburn-Murray Water recorded the highest ever use of groundwater in the 2015-16 season.

G-MW acting manager of groundwater and streams Matt Pethybridge said the increased use of groundwater could be attributed to past seasons’ dry conditions and reduced availability of surface water.

‘‘This highlights the importance and reliance of groundwater resources to irrigators to enable them to manage during dry seasons,’’ Mr Pethybridge said.

‘‘The greatest use was in the Lower Campaspe Valley where 81 percent, or 45Gl, of groundwater entitlement, was extracted compared to a typical use of between 30 to 65 percent.

Read the Country News story - “G-MW sets usage record.”

Cilmate change not considered in ground water decision

Tom Crothers - ground
water decision to aid
 the big end of town.

Ground water is a scarce resource.

The scarcity of Australia’s underground water seems to escape decision makers in Queensland who are about to give miners deregulated access to billions of litres.

Much of Australia’s ground water is considered to be “ancient” and the aquifers from which this water will be taken filled over thousands of years and climate change has altered the circumstances that once allowed for their recharge.

An ABC story: “Great Barrier Reef threatened by Queensland plan to let miners take billions of litres of groundwater, says Marine ParkAuthority” says that proposal have drawn criticism from the state's local government association, landholders and scientists.

Tom Crothers, head of the Queensland Government's Water Allocation and Planning group until 2011, said the bill would benefit companies proposing to mine coal in the Galilee Basin in central Queensland.

"The four mines that have been approved already will take potentially up to 1,770 gigalitres of water, that is over three-and-a-half Sydney Harbours, during their life," the former bureaucrat said.

"These are all bits of legislation aiding the big end of town – the mining industry. And what happens is the little guy suffers, the landholders suffers."

Mr Crothers said the bill would affect the Great Artesian Basin.