November 2015 Issue 75 ACROSS THE OUTBACK Montecollina Bore Well maintained bores last longer The SAAL NRM Board would like to remind water users in the 01 BOARD NEWS SA Arid Lands region who have a bore under their care and 01 Well maintained bores last longer control to undertake simple, routine maintenance to reduce 02 LEB partnership wins world’s highest river management honour risks to water supplies, prevent costly and inconvenient 04 LAND MANAGEMENT breakdowns, and to meet their legal obligations. 04 Innovative ‘Spatial Hub’ lands in The region’s largest water resource is the The review of 289 artesian bores in the Far South Australia Great Artesian Basin (GAB) which provides North Prescribed Wells Area was undertaken 05 Grader workshops help fight soil a vital supply of groundwater for the to establish a comprehensive picture of the erosion continued operation of our key industries condition of the artesian bores in South 06 Women’s Retreat hailed a success (tourism, pastoral, mining, gas and Australia. petroleum) and to meet the needs of our It highlighted that maintenance needs to 07 THREATENED SPECIES communities and wildlife. improve. 07 Are Ampurtas making a comeback? To safeguard the sustainability of the In recent decades, governments, industry 08 SA ARID LANDS – IT’S YOUR GAB and other groundwater aquifers the and individuals have invested significantly PLACE Far North Prescribed Wells Area Water in bore rehabilitation and installing piped Allocation Plan was adopted in 2009 after a reticulation systems to deliver GAB water 12 VOLUNTEERS planning process led by the Board under the efficiently. Natural Resources Management Act 2004. 14 PEST MANAGEMENT The GAB Sustainability Initiative 14 Arkaba Station: goats just don’t add The Water Allocation Plan provides for has supported water users to install up responsible, fair and equitable water infrastructure – pipes, tanks and troughs – allocations for all groundwater users and that are the responsibility of the water user 15 Properties measure goat damage sets out the rules for managing the take and to maintain, to protect the investment and 16 WILD DOG MANAGEMENT use of this prescribed water. to ensure wise water use. 17 ANIMAL HEALTH The Board funded the Department of Well maintained bores and efficient water Environment, Water and Natural Resources use contribute to maintaining the pressure 18 OUTBACK COMMUNITY to undertake a bore audit in 2013-15. in the GAB. Continued on page 02… www.nrm.sa.gov.au BOARD NEWS …continued from page 01 Maintenance is particularly Natural waterpoints (mound important for artesian NATIONAL DRIVERS FOR BORE springs) rely on good pressure. bores, where groundwater MAINTENANCE is stored under pressure and Mound springs are central to there is more strain on the the cultural beliefs and stories The Great Artesian Basin Strategic Management infrastructure. of many Aboriginal groups; Plan – a 15 year national plan led by the Australian played a pivotal role in the Water licences issued under the Government to guide governments and water users exploration and settlement of Far North Prescribed Wells Area on the management of the GAB water resources – has South Australia; and are home Water Allocation Plan, require been reviewed and is about to be rewritten. Of the 31 to many endemic plants and licensees to reticulate water findings, six have relevance to bore and delivery system animals and refuges for native through closed, water-tight maintenance: fauna. delivery systems. It is also a requirement of the licence that Finding 2: The Basin is widely recognised as a nationally- So, if you have a bore under these reticulation systems are important water resource. Challenges remain in your care and control, what well maintained. changing the behaviour of some water users, including are your responsibilities? those who continue to have free-flowing bores and bore As infrastructure deteriorates It is in the interest of all water with age, operation and site drains. users to ensure pressure and conditions, regular maintenance Finding 4: If the remaining free flowing bores in flows are sustained to meet can extend the ‘working life’ of the Basin – estimated at up to 300 bores – are not current and future industry, a bore and reduce the risk of rehabilitated, it is likely that there will be ongoing local community and environmental breakdown. or regional declines in artesian pressure to the detriment needs. Poor maintenance of of bore capping efforts elsewhere in the Basin. If you are responsible for headworks is often a precursor Finding 5: To address the large number of remaining to valve, fittings and pipework a bore (known as a ‘well’ free-flowing bores and bore drains that are still to be failure and can in some cases rehabilitated, as well as ongoing maintenance of existing in the Natural Resources lead to catastrophic failure. Basin infrastructure, longer-term funding sources must Management Act 2004) The SAAL NRM Board is keen be found to ensure a financially sustainable approach you must ensure that it to work with bore owners in to recovering artesian pressure and minimising water is properly maintained; providing them with the ‘know wastage. how’ to maintain their bores. this includes the casing, Finding 9: The ongoing uncontrolled discharge of water Timely, low cost maintenance from groundwater bores into open bore drains impacts lining, and screen, and will extend the ‘working life’ on the Basin’s environmental health (eg through pest the mechanism (if any) of the bore – a clear financial and weed infestations). Ensuring bore discharge enters to cap the bore. incentive. closed, well-maintained water systems should be a SAAL NRM Board, DEWNR, priority for Basin management and bore rehabilitation. Australian Government Finding 15: It is important that arrangements are in place to effectively manage overall extraction of Basin water resources, to protect the rights of water users and groundwater-dependent ecosystems. WATER ALLOCATION PLAN – OUR Finding 16: Across the Basin, there is a lack of long term GUIDING OBJECTIVES data on water extractions, usage and sustainability of the system. The lack of water extraction data means we In managing water in the region, the Board is guided by often rely on groundwater models to support policy seven objectives in the current Water Allocation Plan. To: decisions, which themselves are data poor. Management 1. Provide adequate water for existing users decision making is therefore undertaken at relatively 2. Ensure stock and domestic allocation for pastoral high risk. leases The SAAL NRM Board has been involved in the early 3. Ensure petroleum production is not restricted by co- stages of the review of the Great Artesian Basin Strategic produced water restrictions Management Plan. A draft is expected to be out for 4. Maintain natural springs and soaks consultation in 2016. 5. Provide adequate water supplies for future In the meantime, a copy of the review document Future development Directions for the Management of the Great Artesian Basin is available at www.environment.gov.au 6. Clearly define water supply rights and responsibilities 7. Ensure judicious use of water You can download a copy here www.naturalresources. sa.gov.au/aridlands 02 | Natural Resources SA Arid Lands BOARD NEWS Representatives of the cross- border Lake Eyre Basin partnership accepting the 2015 Thiess International Riverprize HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? The SAAL NRM Board has reprinted the GAB Bore Maintenance Field Guide for Artesian Bores to give guidance on best practice maintenance of bores and associated pipelines. Topics covered are well head maintenance and minor repair, pipeline maintenance and repair LEB partnership wins and common problems to look out for in your reticulation systems. world’s highest river Those responsible for artesian bores in the Far North Prescribed Wells Area will soon receive a copy management honour of this handbook and the GAB Well Condition Review Summary Australia’s Lake Eyre Basin partnership took out the Report. prestigious 2015 Thiess International Riverprize in For any bore(s) under you care and control a report containing an recognition of the unique cross-border alliance of assessment of the condition of the community, government and natural resources management headworks and associated surface bodies that share responsibility for its health. infrastructure, together with recommendations on maintenance The world’s highest honour for river The LEB partnership will also join with the will also be made available. management, these awards – in place since Okavango River Basin Water Commission For further information on 1999 – recognise the river that has achieved in Africa to share experiences in managing outstanding results in management, two of the great river basins of the how to maintain the bores on restoration or protection. world where cultural, economic and your property, your rights and environmental values depend fundamentally responsibilities, or to obtain extra The Lake Eyre Basin partnership was up on river flows. copies of the handbook, please against just two other finalists – Austria’s contact Natural Resources SA Arid River Mur and the Jordan River which flows For further information on the LEB through Jordan, Palestine and Israel. Lands 8648 5300. partnership see Across The Outback The winner was announced in front of an (December 2014) where Janet wrote international audience of river practitioners about the partnership after it was at the International Riversymposium in awarded the 2014 Australian Riverprize. Brisbane in September and Janet Brook (Presiding Member, SA Arid Lands NRM South Australian Arid Lands NRM Board, Desert Board) accepted the award on behalf of the Channels Queensland, Territory NRM, Lake Eyre partnership. Basin Community Advisory Committee and Lake Eyre Basin Scientific Advisory Panel The $300,000 prize money comes on top of the $200,000 the partnership won for the 2014 Australian Riverprize, and will be spent on initiatives that support the sustainable management of this unique catchment.