Transcript Water PowerPoint Presentation

Phase 1 Bioregional Assessments:
NRM funding for data assessment
Office of Water Science and Independent Expert Scientific Committee
Farm Irrigation (DSEWPaC) Murray-Goulburn (J. Baker) Murrumbidgee River Corridor (J. Houldsworth)
River Murray at Bunyip Reach (J. Baker) Rainwater tank (M. McAulay) Agriculture in the Murray-Darling Basin (J. Baker)
Background
$200 million for establishing a science based
framework to research/assess potential impacts of coal
seam gas and large coal mining on water resources.
Including undertaking bioregional assessments
A National Partnership Agreement (NPA) with the
states, currently Qld, NSW, SA
Establish the Independent Expert Scientific
Committee
Interim Committee established pending appointment
of statutory Committee
www.environment.gov.au
Bioregional Assessments
The Committee has three key roles:
Provide advice on projects
Oversee bioregional assessments
Oversee research on potential water-related impacts
Bioregional assessments: scientific analysis of ecology,
hydrology and geology of an area to inform potential risks
to water resources as a result of developments
Bioregional Assessments: involve the Office of Water
Science, relevant state/territory government agencies,
NRM bodies, other providers
www.environment.gov.au
Bioregional Assessments
Bioregional assessments will be run in 2 parts.
Part 1: data acquisition and knowledge sharing. Funding for
NRMs that are underlain by coal seam gas and coal reserves
– NPA states only.
QLD x 10
Burdekin; Desert Channels; Fitzroy; SW Qld; MaronoaBalonne; Condamine; SE Qld; Southern Gulf; Burnett Mary;
Cape York
NSW x 13
Border Rivers Gwydir; Northern rivers; Namoi; Central West;
Hunter Central; Hawkesbury-Nepean; Sydney Metro;
Southern Rivers; Murrumbidgee; Murray; Western; Lower
Murray-Darling; Lachlan
SA x 4
South Australia Arid Lands; Alinytjara Wilurara; South East;
South Australia Murray-Darling Basin
www.environment.gov.au
Bioregional Assessments Part 2
Part 2: detailed assessments to provide better
information for decision-makers to ensure protection of
water resources. First 5 regions for bioregional
assessments:
Northern Inland
Catchments
incorporating the Namoi, Border Rivers-Gwydir, Maranoa-Balonne and
Macquarie-Castlereagh (coal basins underlying : Gunnedah, Surat, Bowen
and Sydney Basin)
Lake Eyre Basin
underlain by the Galilee, Cooper and Eromanga coal bearing basins
Northern Sydney
Gloucester Basin
encompassing the Hunter Central Rivers NRM region
Southern Sydney
Basin
encompassing Southern Rivers, Sydney Metro, Hawkesbury-Nepean
NRM regions
Clarence-Moreton
Basin
encompassing South East Queensland and Northern Rivers NRM regions
www.environment.gov.au
www.environment.gov.au
Part1 and NRM involvement
Funds for NRM groups to:
 identify environmental/water assets and potential
risks to these assets from coal seam gas and coal
mining
inform on knowledge gaps of hazards and risks to
regional water resources associated with coal seam
gas and coal mining
Will provide a baseline of information for bioregional
assessments and contribute to information platform for
use by NRMs and governments.
www.environment.gov.au
Part 1 Bioregional Assessments: Key deliverables
NRMs to be consulted to contribute to:
Identifying water assets, by commenting and advising
on a map of water assets in their NRM
A spreadsheet identifying relevant data sets held by
the NRM.
Identify possible hazards from coal seam gas and
coal mining on assets, why they are perceived as
threats or hazards and identify knowledge gaps e.g.
data required to understand impacts.
www.environment.gov.au
Conclusion/Questions
Further information can be found at:
http://www.environment.gov.au/coal-seam-gasmining/index.html
bernadette.o’[email protected]
02 6274 1978
www.environment.gov.au