An evaluation of the Western Australian region of Midwest’s groundwater resources has confirmed that there will be no change to water allocation limits across key groundwater areas.

 

Department of Water Executive Director Science and Planning Greg Davis said despite an increase in Midwest water demand and licences, water remained available from most aquifers in the Midwest areas of Jurien and Arrowsmith.

 

“In the Arrowsmith area, which extends north to Geraldton, south to Morrison and east to Three Springs, demand increased due to water for mining and industry,” Mr Davis said.

 

“In the Jurien area, spanning south of Morrison and east to Moora, there was a small decrease in the volume of water licensed.

 

“Water is still generally available from all the Jurien subareas, including high use resources Watheroo, Nambung and Dinner Hill, where water is more than 70 per cent allocated.”

 

The Jurien area had a total allocation limit of 94.6 gigalitres (GL) and 189.25 GL was set for the Arrowsmith area.

 

 

Evaluation statements for the Jurien groundwater allocation plan and the Arrowsmith groundwater allocation plan are available on the Department of Water websitewww.water.wa.gov.au. The evaluations investigated the extent to which the allocation plan objectives were met from August 2010, when the plans were released, to August 2011.