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Groundwater research under way

Posted on October 17, 2008, 1:01pm

The South East National Water Initiative (NWI) Project is seeking community input to develop a new groundwater simulation model and guidelines for the future management of the South East’s precious water resources.

The project is expected to boost knowledge of the region’s groundwater resources and investigate options for more responsive management.

Project team leader Nick McIntyre said research work already undertaken for the project had provided valuable information that could be used to improve groundwater management.

“It is important that local communities get involved in this project, and provide us with their views on groundwater and how we could adapt management of the water resource to conditions prevailing at any given time,” Mr McIntyre said.

“Community members are encouraged to participate in a number of workshops to be held next month.”

Mr McIntyre said a groundwater flow model for the region would also be developed, drawing on research and development work already undertaken as part of the South East NWI Project.

“The development of this regional simulation model will include a detailed investigation in a pilot study zone in the upper south east area around Keith, Willalooka and Mundulla,” he said.

“This pilot study will allow us to test our resource knowledge and the management systems currently being developed, and to incorporate feedback received from the community during our November workshops.

“If we can test some alternative groundwater management scenarios for a pilot zone, we can use the lessons learnt for other areas in the future.”

Everyone with an interest in water management is encouraged to attend a series of workshops at Willalooka, Keith and Mundulla in November.

Participants will be able to meet the South East NWI Project team, receive information on current water resource conditions and provide input to the development and application of the groundwater flow model and future water management options.

For more information about the project or the workshops, contact the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation’s Mount Gambier office on 8735 1207.

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