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New report flags climate change impact

Posted on December 6, 2009, 9:09am and updated on December 7, 2009 at 10:42 am

A new document from the region’s peak government environmental management body claims overuse is the greatest threat to the region’s unconfined aquifer.

The report states irrigators are the largest user group, with more than 450,000 megalitres pumped from the resource each year.

It’s revealed plantation forestry is also putting pressure on the resource as a “significant net extractor”, sucking about 300,000 megalitres per year.

“If groundwater extraction exceeds the sustainable yield of the aquifer for long periods of time, then future opportunities for economic development of the resource will be compromised, social infrastructure (towns and businesses) will be threatened and groundwater dependent ecosystems will degrade or disappear through the progressive species loss,” the report warns.

The report released by the South East Natural Resources Management Board also reveals that groundwater quality is declining in the northern parts of the region, including the heavily irrigated Coonawarra area.

Alarmingly, between 2003-08, water tables have been falling generally between 0.1 and 0.2 metres across the region, while under some extensive bluegum plantations they have plummeted between 0.5 and 0.7 metres.

The plan attributed a string of dry years, extraction from irrigation, industry and domestic stock for the downward spiral, along with plantation timber forests.

“The implications of climate change has a double impact on the resource where reduced rainfall results in both reduced groundwater recharge, and also increased demand for supplementary watering of crops by irrigation with groundwater,” the management blueprint said.

The body’s draft regional plan, which includes a long list of management policies, has been released for comment.

A range of information sessions and public meetings will be held on the plan.

A rise in the annual NRM levy, charged through council rates, is proposed over a five-year period.

The plan also outlines the effects of climate change and threatened fauna species.

The report warns of more dangerous and frequent bushfires, changed surface water flows, reduced surface water and a fall in groundwater recharge because of climate change.

Fauna species listed as threatened include the orange-bellied parrot, the southern bent-wing bat, royal albatross, the blue whale, eastern barred bandicoot, the Australian sea lion and long-nosed potoroo.

“One of the core functions of the SE NRM Board is to create a region-wide NRM plan in consultation with the community to guide the future activities of all stakeholders in the region,” board general manager Hugo Hopton said.

He said the board would consider public comments and an amended plan would be sent to the minister for adoption.

Submissions must be lodged by February 2, 2010.

Information sessions include:
December 16 and 17: Centro Mount Gambier (9am-5pm).
December 9: Penola Tourist Information Centre (10am to 1pm).
December 9: Millicent Civic Centre (3pm to 5pm).

Formal public meetings will be held at the board’s Mount Gambier office on December 16, 7pm to 9pm; and at Settlers Tea Rooms, Naracoorte, on December 10 from 7pm to 9pm.

  • More information: Visit the SENRM Board website.
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