The Loddon Highlands Water Supply Protection Area (WSPA) was declared in June 2010.
The area extends from Newlyn and Lake Burrumbeet in the south to Dunolly in the north incorporating the townships of Creswick, Newlyn, Smeaton, Learmonth, Ascot, Clunes, Talbot and Maryborough.
Facts and stats
Area: 2,800 km2
PCV: 20,697 ML
Allocations: 100%
Groundwater management
The Loddon Highlands WSPA Groundwater Management Plan was endorsed by the consultative committee and was approved by the Minister for Water on 21 November 2012.
The Plan provides protection for existing users and the environment by supporting a cap on licence entitlement; restricting the extraction of groundwater when triggered; and placing limits on the concentration of groundwater pumping.
The Plan will provide licence holders with the opportunity to better manage their entitlements through the introduction of carryover and permanent trade.
Real-time bore level information
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has developed a Water Measurement Information System, with data collected through the Regional Water Monitoring Partnerships.
To access data on the Loddon Highlands WSPA, follow these steps:
- Go to the Water Monitoring website.
- Click "Find a Site" under the "State Observation Bore Network" tab on the left; or the observation bore can be selected through the mapping function.
- Enter bore "138657" for Blampied zone; "138658" of "116382" for the Newlyn zone; "119342", "122152" or "119377" for the Ascot zone; and "WRK016266", "WRK016269" or "WRK016270" for the Waubra zone; then click "Search".
- A box will appear - click on the blue bore number you entered.
- Select the "data" tab. In the "Period" option, select a timeframe longer than today - i.e. select yesterday, last seven days, this month, etc.
- Select "Get output"
- Deduct 0.6m from the level, as the reading does not take into account the 0.6m of casing above the natural surface, eg. if the reading says 8.3m, then the actual water level is 7.7m below natural surface.
The relationship of groundwater levels to seasonal determinations is explained in the relevant management plan above.
Water Monitoring website.
Resources
Annual summaries
For further information or to obtain technical material relied upon for management arrangements, please contact the Groundwater and Streams section at GMW on 1800 013 357.