Strategic Water Information and Monitoring Plan, Tasmania

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Strategic Water Information and Monitoring Plan, Tasmania Strategic Water Information and Monitoring Plan, Tasmania Prepared by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Version: 1.5.4 September, 2010 Strategic Water Information and Monitoring Plan, Tasmania This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence, except where otherwise noted. © Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania, 2010 Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, June 2010 1 Strategic Water Information and Monitoring Plan, Tasmania Contact details David Thorp Strategic Water Information Coordinator Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Phone: 03 6233 9648 Email: [email protected] Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, June 2010 2 Strategic Water Information and Monitoring Plan, Tasmania Acknowledgements The contribution of the following organisations in preparing this document is gratefully acknowledged: Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment, Hydro-electric Corporation (Hydro Tasmania), Hobart Bureau of Meteorology, Southern Water, Burnie City Council, Clarence City Council, Cradle Mountain Water, Devonport City Council, Ben Lomond Water, Forestry Tasmania, Glenorchy City Council, Hobart City Council, Huon Valley Council, Inland Fisheries Service, Launceston City Council, NRM Cradle Coast, NRM North, NRM South, Rivers & Water Supply Commission, and Onstream. Disclaimer: Whilst the Department has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information and data provided, it is the responsibility of the data user to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of information provided. The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment, its employees and agents, and the Crown in the Right of the State of Tasmania do not accept any liability for any damage caused by, or economic loss arising from, reliance on this information. The opinions expressed in the document are based on the available information for compiling the report and to meet the requirements of the SWIMP program but do not necessarily represent those of the Department, the contributors or the Tasmanian Government. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, June 2010 3 Strategic Water Information and Monitoring Plan, Tasmania Foreword The issue In recent years water has become a pressing public policy issue for Australian society. As water demand increases and supply dwindles, the strain on existing water supplies has reached new heights. Protracted drought and mounting evidence of climate change have added momentum behind a growing community and political will to see improvements in both our understanding of water resources and the way we manage them. The challenge Better management of water poses a national challenge, requiring a coordinated response. Our ability as a community to reach agreement on the tough issues relies on access to accurate, reliable water information that is freely available and of the highest standards. Key to making these decisions and arriving at sound policy is a definitive water data source that stands above reproach. Australian Aligned with this need, the Australian Government assigned the Bureau of Government Meteorology (the Bureau) responsibilities under the Water Act 2007 to response compile and deliver comprehensive water information for the country. As part of the Australian Government’s long term framework for water security, Water for the Future, $450 million was allocated to the Bureau over 10 years to deliver the Improving Water Information Program. This program includes development and maintenance of an integrated, national water information system which will be freely accessible to the public. Details of the full suite of Bureau objectives and deliverables can be found at www.bom.gov.au/water . A partnership Vital to the success of the Bureau’s mission is the partnership and model… cooperation of all State and Territory Governments and all water data collecting organisations in each jurisdiction. One of the vehicles for effective collaboration is the Jurisdictional Reference Group for Water Information (JRGWI), established to provide regular input to the Bureau’s activities, and bringing to the table the experience and wisdom of respected senior officials from across the water sector. …and putting The Modernisation and Extension of Hydrologic Monitoring Systems it into practice Program (the M&E Program) is an $80 million fund administered by the Bureau and available to organisations named under the Water Regulations 2008. The M&E Program is aimed at improving technologies employed by those who collect water information, and enabling better approaches to data transfer and standardisation. Coordination activities are also supported through the M&E Program via funding for Strategic Water Information Coordinators (SWICs) in each State and Territory. SWICs have been tasked with bringing together key stakeholders in their jurisdiction to distil State/Territory priorities in water data collection, and to set these out in a series of Strategic Water Information and Monitoring Plans (SWIMPs). Strategic The SWIMPs provide a framework for describing where we are going and plans… how we will get there. Each SWIMP has been produced with a whole of jurisdiction focus to encapsulate the current state of play in water information and monitoring, describe the gaps, issues and opportunities that exist, and articulate a series of priorities, strategies and actions that will bring us closer to the end vision of better water information for all. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, June 2010 4 Strategic Water Information and Monitoring Plan, Tasmania …and how Through the M&E Program the Bureau is able to assist the States and they contribute Territories to get closer to our agreed view of what constitutes a fit-for- to the solution purpose hydrologic observing system in each jurisdiction. The Bureau looks to the SWIMPs to provide guidance on how best to invest M&E Program funds to achieve this goal. In this regard, the SWIMPs are a vital product. The future In closing, the Bureau appreciates the energy and expertise that has been applied in the preparation of this SWIMP, and thanks all of the officers that have participated in its development and review. Our special thanks go to the lead author of the SWIMP, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment. Dr Rob Vertessy Deputy Director (Water) Bureau of Meteorology 9th June 2010 Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, June 2010 5 Strategic Water Information and Monitoring Plan, Tasmania Table of Contents Executive Summary .............................................................................................................11 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................13 2 History of Water Infrastructure and Monitoring in Tasmania ........................................15 2.1 Potable Water Supply ..............................................................................15 2.2 Hydro Electricity .......................................................................................17 2.3 Irrigation...................................................................................................19 2.4 Surface Water Monitoring.........................................................................20 2.5 Ground Water Monitoring .........................................................................23 3 Section A: Water Information Questions & Drivers ......................................................26 3.1 Water Information Questions....................................................................28 3.1.1 How much water is there right now and where is it? ...............................28 3.1.2 How does it compare with history?..........................................................28 3.1.3 How much water will we have tomorrow, next month, next year?............29 3.1.4 How much water is the environment getting?..........................................29 3.1.5 What quality is the water, and how is water quality changing?................29 3.1.6 Is the data fit for purpose? ......................................................................30 3.2 Water Information Drivers and Supportive Programs ...............................30 4 Section B: Current Water Monitoring Networks and Management Regimes ...............34 4.1 Telemetry.................................................................................................35 4.2 Category 1 data – Surface Water .............................................................35 4.3 Category 2 data - Groundwater ................................................................38 4.4 Category 3 data - Storage Monitoring.......................................................40 4.5 Category 4 data - Meteorological .............................................................41 4.6 Category 5 data - Water use and metering...............................................43 4.6.1 Requirement for Water Meters................................................................43 4.6.2 Tasmanian Water Metering Initiative (TWMI) ..........................................43 4.6.3 Tasmanian Water Use Management Project (TWUMP) ..........................44 4.7 Category 6 data - Water Rights, Allocations
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