Permanent transfer of groundwater now available in the Mid-Loddon Groundwater Management Area

The permanent transfer of groundwater entitlement is now available in the Mid-Loddon Groundwater Management Area providing scope for future groundwater development.

The Mid-Loddon Groundwater Management Area, a region encompassing the towns of Carisbrook, Bridgewater, Serpentine and Calivil, was declared a water supply protection area under the Water Act 1989 in May 2004.  The declaration of a water supply protection area triggers the development of a groundwater management plan and prevents the permanent transfer of groundwater entitlement until a plan has been approved by the Minister for Water.

Local management rules have been prepared for the management of groundwater resources in the area, an action of the recently released Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy.  The rules seek to protect existing groundwater users and the environment while providing groundwater users with greater flexibility to manage their entitlement. 

The Mid-Loddon Groundwater Management Area Local Management Rules were endorsed by the Board of Goulburn-Murray Water for implementation from the 1st of July 2009 following extensive community consultation.

With the implementation of local management rules that support the management of Mid-Loddon groundwater, there is no need for a management plan to be developed and for the region to be managed as a water supply protection area (WSPA).  Accordingly the WSPA was abolished by the Minister for Water on 18th January 2010.

Goulburn-Murray Water's Executive Manager Water Resources, Mr Graeme Hannan said "The abolition of the water supply protection area now enables the new local management rules to be fully implemented, including the permanent transfer of groundwater entitlement."

"The ability to permanently transfer groundwater entitlement provides scope and flexibility for future groundwater development in an area where entitlement is capped" said Mr Hannan.

"It also enables new enterprises wishing to expand a chance to secure permanent entitlement through trade" he said.

The Mid-Loddon Groundwater Management Area Local Management Rules can be downloaded from the Goulburn-Murray Water website http://www.g-mwater.com.au or by calling Brendan Cossens on 0408 527 735.

 

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