Sustainable Management of Water Resources in the Mount Lofty Ranges

Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia

Total funding: Australian Government contribution is $13.9 million over five years. Total project cost is $51.3 million over 10 years, with $32.4 million from the South Australian Government over 10 years and $5 million from industry over two years.

About the project

The Mount Lofty Ranges is the second major water source for South Australia behind the River Murray. It is also a rapidly growing region where farms producing up to $440 million in agricultural produce a year sit alongside important wetlands and river systems.

The Sustainable Management of Water Resources in Mount Lofty project will release some of the pressure on stressed water systems in the area by putting in place new comprehensive management systems. These systems will formalise water allocation arrangements for all water users, put in place clear water access entitlements, and address water quality and pollution. These new systems will provide clear direction on water management for all water users in the region and are a model for other regions facing similar issues. The project will assist South Australia to meet their commitments under the National Water Initiative.

Project benefits

The Mount Lofty Sustainable Water Management project will:

improve water quality
increase certainty of current and future water supplies for the community, business and the environment
reduce barriers to new investment and development, and
protect important water ecosystems.

Progress

Nine discussion papers examining the future of a Water Allocation Plan for the Western Mount Lofty Ranges were released for public comment in 2007. These covered a range of topics including environmental water requirements, permits for new dams, well permits, forestry, aquifer storage and recovery, recycled and imported water and reef runoff.

The Water Allocation Plans for both the Western Mount Lofty Ranges and the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges are largely completed, and are currently under review, prior to being released for public consultation in the latter half of 2010.

Existing applications for groundwater allocations for the Mount Lofty Ranges area have been processed which is a necessary step prior to adoption of the water allocation plans.

Further information for each of the water allocation plans can be accessed here:

Water Smart Australia projects are funded by the Australian Government's Water for the Future initiative.