Cliff Hignett, Naracoorte (retired soil and water consultant) Your Say, Naracoorte Community News

The Naracoorte Water Allocation Plan (WAP) meeting (14/8/24) was well attended, 90+ people. The purpose of the meeting was to alert irrigators that the WAP was failing to protect the groundwater resource and was in urgent need of revision.

When the WAP was set up (in 2013) land owners received an ‘Allocation’, in theory – their maximum share of the resource.

Then they were authorised to use some part of that allocation on a year by year basis. In 2022, even though total usage was only half total allocation, water was being extracted much faster than it was being replaced, and bore levels have been dropping.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board (LCLB) displayed a small part of the vast array of data and tools now available to document what is happening to our underground water.

For example: measurements of water heights in over 550 bores – some measured from the 1970’s. This data is available via the WaterConnect website for anyone who wants to check their own bores.

Across the SE, 80 per cent of bores showed water levels dropping – many falling 1 metre in 5 years. Most show some recovery in winter, but not enough to bring bores back to historical levels.

Clearly water extraction needs to be reduced. But: who will reduce water use, by how much, and when will they start? Will the ‘pain’ be shared equally or will some have to give up water rights for others to expand. Discussion covered the usual bogeymen.

• ‘bloody gov-mint scientists, interfering in our business again’.
• ‘It’s the blue gum plantations’.
• ‘It’s the drains carrying the water out to sea’.
• ‘Industry and towns are using all the water’.
• ‘what about mining’,
• ‘the aquifer is 100m deep – it will be 100 years before it is used up – so not our problem’.

LCLB answered each of the points raised:

• Falling water tables exist across all the LC. Factors affecting the water tables are different in each of the WAP areas but LCLB now have accurate and tested models that can predict both recharge and usage for different land uses under different meteorological conditions. Yes, they do account for forests and drains.
• Industry and towns are allocated 3 per cent and don’t use all of that – their usage is insignificant.
• There are no operating mines in the LC at present. If there mines need water, then they will have to buy it like anyone else.
• If the water level drops
  (a) there are 3000 users of ‘stock and domestic water’ who will need to deepen their bores every year or two.
  (b) water from deeper in the aquifer is more saline – all bores will degrade
  (c) some tourist attractions (like picanninie ponds, water filled caves, the Blue Lake …) rely on groundwater staying near the surface. 

This whole discussion is about the best way to ‘share’ a scarce resource.

The LCLB have organised a series of meetings so stakeholders can duke it out to decide who will give up some water to protect the long term viability of all water using industry in the LC. This meeting was the beginning of this process.

LCLB hope for a new WAP by 2027. (Note the LCLB don’t use terms like ‘duke it out’ they are setting up a transparent, consultative, democratic, process.)

This is the same situation for Murray Darling water users in the 1990’s.

Faced with endless arguments between water users all along the river, the government put water on the market – then let industry bid the price up till those making the most $/litre survived (cotton and almonds), and everyone else got to sell their water rights and retire. Towns along the river are still adjusting to the population shift.

The LC situation is a bit different in that our water cant move very far – so each WAP area will need to find its own solution.

At least the LCLB data sets and models mean that those who want to play the ‘blame game’ will know exactly how many hectares of forest is equivalent to how many centre pivots, or how many hectares of grapes.

There is still a big risk that the industries with the deepest pockets will get a larger slice of the cake.

I would strongly advise water users to:

• Attend these meetings.
• Know how your business could survive on groundwater with greater salinity that needs to be pumped from a greater depth each year. (This is the ‘do nothing’ scenario – where you will be in 20 years if the current situation continues. Water based tourist attractions? They will be dry in a year or two.)
• Know the effect on your business, of a modest cut in water usage – say 20 per cent. (20 per cent is my guesstimate of the water savings needed to fix the problem for a large number of bores in the centre of the area. I am sure LCLB would be happy to calculate a specific figure for your bore or your district)
• Talk to your neighbours – is there any chance of them agreeing to a modest cut.
• Find out who might be bidding against you if your groundwater was put on a market. How much could you pay for water and still have a viable business?
• Be aware that a small action taken NOW will have much greater benefit than actions that are delayed. (The LCLB consultation is expected to reach a conclusion in 2027, but I would not advise putting any money on that) 

Good luck – you’re going to need it!

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.