The development of new Groundwater Management Plans, one for the Loddon Highlands Water Supply Protection Area (WSPA) and the other for the Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA, is well underway, with the two Consultative Committees recently undertaking successful study tours of their regions.
The Consultative Committees, which are responsible for developing draft Groundwater Management Plans, comprise representatives of local landholders, the North Central Catchment Management Authority, local government, Environment Victoria, regional urban water corporations and Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW).
G-MW's Acting Managing Director, Shane McGrath, highlighted the value of the study tours, which visited local irrigation enterprises, water storages, monitoring sites and springs in the upper Loddon and lower Campaspe regions.
"An on-the-ground perspective is important to the development of a management plan and is vital to increasing a Consultative Committee's understanding of the issues and challenges that each plan will need to address," said Mr McGrath.
The aim of a Groundwater Management Plan is to ensure groundwater resources are managed in an equitable and sustainable manner. "To achieve this aim, the respective Consultative Committees will need to consider a range of management issues, including establishing trigger levels and associated seasonal restrictions, arrangements for transfer and carryover of water entitlements, and monitoring and reporting requirements," Mr McGrath said.
While each new Groundwater Management Plan will manage groundwater extraction, it will also need to consider important regional assets such as springs, creeks and other natural features which depend on groundwater for their survival.
The tours have already assisted each Consultative Committee by building on their understanding of water trading options, security of water, environmental needs and the importance of promoting sustainable regional development.
The Loddon Highlands WSPA and Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA Consultative Committees are supported by G-MW and the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
For more information on Groundwater Management Plan development in each area please contact Bob Knowles at Goulburn-Murray Water, Tatura on phone (03) 5833 5437.
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