The Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board are commencing a review of the region’s Water Allocation Plan.
This comes after an investigation revealed underground water resources in the southern basins won’t be able to meet the EP’s water needs in the short-term.
The Board’s General Manager Jonathan Clark says all climate-dependent water resources in the country are under stress – and our region is struggling.
“On Eyre Peninsula, we’ve got fairly unique and precious fresh underground water resources, which are recharged purely by rainfall that filtrates through the soil and into the aquifer, Mr Clark says.
“We’ve seen a steep change in the rainfall recharge relationship in those aquifers, which has seen water levels decline across the board and, in some cases, salinity levels increasing.”
This threatens irreversible damage, which prompted the immediate Plan revision.
“Once you’ve drawn salt water – particularly the seawater – into the aquifer, it’s pretty much there to stay, and that’s something that we would like to avoid.
“If we can avoid that, Uley South can continue to form an important part of the region’s water supply network.”
The revised plan will provide guidance for the management of water in the region for the next decade.
“The revision process will involve updating the Plan with any new and improved science and investigations that have been undertaken, it’ll involve revealing the policies and provisions within that Plan to see if they’re working – and if they’re not, making amendments.
“We’re also required to engage with the community as part of that Plan revision and development which we will be doing over the coming months.”
Find out more here.
