Water Allocation Plan

172 Pages·2013·4.82 MB·English

Water
Allocation Plan
Western Mount Lofty ranges
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92356 WMLR Water Allocation Plan COVER FIN PRINT.indd 1 9/10/13 9:07 AM
Licensed under Creative Commons
Attribution 3.0 Australia License
www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au
Copyright Owner: Crown in right of the State of South Australia 2013
© Government of South Australia 2013
Produced by: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board
Maps produced by: Department for Water (now Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources)
Projection: Transverse Mercator
Datum: Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994
source: Department for Water (now DEWNR)
92356 WMLR Water Allocation Plan COVER FIN PRINT.indd 2 9/10/13 9:07 AM
Water
Allocation Plan
Western Mount Lofty ranges
Western Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plan  |  3

Contents
1. Introduction 8 3.3. Northern Adelaide Plains PWA 63
3.4. Barossa PWRA 65
1.1. The Prescribed Area 8
3.5. Marne Saunders PWRA 65
1.1.1. Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed 8
Water Resources Area 3.6. Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA 65
1.1.2. Little Para Proclaimed Watercourse 8 3.7. River Murray Prescribed Watercourse 66
1.2. McLaren Vale Prescribed Wells Area 8
4. Assessment of demand on 67
1.3. Water allocation planning 11 water resources
1.3.1. Water licences and allocations 11
4.1. Needs of water users 67
1.3.2. Existing users 11
4.2. Demand 67
1.3.3. New use 11
4.2.1. Historical demand 67
1.4. Water resources and catchments in the 11
4.3. Present demand 69
Prescribed Area
4.3.1. Water use for licensed purposes 69
1.4.1. Types of water resources 11
4.3.2. Water use for non-licensed purposes 72
1.4.2. Central Hills Catchments 12
4.4. Climate change 73
1.4.3. Willunga Basin and Fleurieu 16
4.5. Future demand 73
Peninsula Catchments
1.4.4. Watercourses across the plains 20 5. Capacity of the water resources 74
in the Prescribed Area
2. Needs of water-dependent ecosystems 23
5.1. Capacity of underground water 74
2.1. Introduction 23
5.2. Underground water extraction limit 74
2.1.1. Environmental water requirements 23
and provisions 5.3. Capacity of surface water and watercourse water 84
2.1.2. Water-dependent ecosystems 23 5.4. Surface water and watercourse water 84
extraction limits
2.1.3. Flow regime 23
5.5. Diversion limits 85
2.2. Environmental water requirements 25
5.6. Capacity of watercourses across the plains 121
2.2.1. Underground water-dependent 25
ecosystems 5.7. Watercourses across the plains extraction limits 121
2.2.2. Determining environmental 25 6. Water Allocation criteria 126
water requirements
6.1. Objectives 126
2.2.3. Measuring environmental 47
6.2. General allocation criteria 126
water requirements
6.3. Allocation of underground water 126
2.2.4. Capacity of the water resource to meet 53
environmental water requirements 6.4. Allocation of surface water and watercourse 128
water (not from a watercourse across the plains)
2.2.5. Environmental water quality requirements 55
6.5. Allocation of water from watercourses 132
2.3. Environmental water provisions 56
across the plains
2.3.1. Acceptable level of risk 56
6.6. Variation of water licences 134
2.3.2. Determination of environmental 56
water provisions 7. Transfer criteria 135
2.3.3. Environmentally sustainable 57
7.1. Objectives 135
extraction limit
7.2. General transfer criteria 135
2.3.4. Underground water-dependent 57
7.3. Transfer of underground water allocations 135
ecosystems
7.4. Transfer of surface water and watercourse 136
2.4. Environmental water requirements and 58
water allocations
provisions for wetlands
2.4.1. Fleurieu Wetlands 58 8. Permits 137
2.4.2. Central Hills wetlands 60 8.1. Objectives 137
2.5. Environmental water requirements and 60 8.2. General permit criteria 137
provisions for watercourses across the plains
8.3. Well permits 138
2.5.1. Environmental water provisions from 62
8.4. Draining and discharging water into a well 139
SA Water reservoirs
8.5. Water storages and diversions 141
3. Effects on other water resources 63 8.6. Commercial forestry 144
3.1. McLaren Vale PWA 63
3.2. Central Adelaide PWA 63
Western Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plan  |  5
9. Monitoring and evaluation 147 Figure 5.1 Underground water management zones 75
of the South Para River catchment
10. Recommendations for other plans 153
Figure 5.2 Underground water management zones 76
or legislation
of the Little Para River catchment
10.1. Introduction 153
Figure 5.3 Underground water management zones of 77
10.2. Development regulations 153 the River Torrens catchment
10.3. Better Development Plan Project 153
Figure 5.4a Underground water management zones 78
10.4. Council development plans 153 of the (Northern) Onkaparinga catchment
10.5. Land and Business (Sale and Conveyancing) 154
Figure 5.4b Underground water management zones 79
Regulations 2010
of the (Southern) Onkaparinga catchment
11. Abbreviations 155 Figure 5.5 Underground water management zones 80
of the Fleurieu Peninsula catchments
12. References 156
Figure 5.6 Surface water management zones of the 86
Appendix A – Glossary 157 Little Para River catchment
Figure 5.7 Main watercourses of the 87
Appendix B – Other figures 166
Little Para River catchment
Appendix C – F- values for Fleurieu 168 Figure 5.8a Surface water management zones of 88
Peninsula catchments the (Northern) South Para River catchment
Figure 5.8b Surface water management zones of 89
Appendix D – Fleurieu Peninsula 169
the (Eastern) South Para River catchment
Catchments mean annual rainfall
Figure 5.8c Surface water management zones of 90
Appendix E – Unit threshold flow rates 170 the (Central) South Para River catchment
for Fleurieu Peninsula catchments Figure 5.9 Main watercourses of the South Para 91
River catchment
FIGURES
Figure 5.10a Surface water management zones of 92
Figure 1.1 Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA 9 the (Eastern) River Torrens catchment
Figure 1.2 Catchments in the Western Mount 10 Figure 5.10b Surface water management zones of 93
Lofty Ranges PWRA the (Western) River Torrens catchment
Figure 1.3 South Para River catchment 12 Figure 5.11 Main watercourses of the 94
Figure 1.4 Little Para River catchment 13 River Torrens catchment
Figure 1.5 River Torrens catchment 14 Figure 5.12a Surface water management zones of 95
the (Upper Northern) Onkaparinga
Figure 1.6 Onkaparinga River catchment 15
River catchment
Figure 1.7 Willunga Basin catchment 16
Figure 5.12b Surface water management zones 96
Figure 1.8 Myponga River catchment 17
of the (Northern) Onkaparinga
Figure 1.9 Hindmarsh and Inman Rivers catchment 18 River catchment
Figure 1.10 Fleurieu Coastal catchment 19 Figure 5.12c Surface water management zones of the 97
(Central) Onkaparinga River catchment
Figure 1.11 Gawler River Prescribed Watercourse 21
Figure 5.12d Surface water management zones of 98
Figure 1.12 Little Para Proclaimed Watercourse 21
the (Southern) Onkaparinga River catchment
Figure 1.13 River Torrens/Karrawirra Parri 22
Figure 5.13 Main watercourses of the Onkaparinga 99
Prescribed Watercourse
River catchment
Figure 1.14 Onkaparinga River Prescribed Watercourse 22
Figure 5.14a Surface water management zones of 100
Figure 2.1 Flow types 24
the (Northern) Willunga Basin catchment
Figure 2.2 Reach types 27
Figure 5.14b Surface water management zones of 101
Figure 2.3 Fleurieu wetlands 59 the (Western) Willunga Basin catchment
Figure 2.4 Central Hills wetlands 61 Figure 5.14c Surface water management zones of the 102
Figure 3.1 Neighbouring Prescribed Areas 64 (Central) Willunga Basin catchment
Figure 5.14d Surface water management zones of the 103
Figure 4.1 Estimated total irrigated land area by 70
(Southern) Willunga Basin catchment
crop type
Figure 5.15 Main watercourses of the Willunga 104
Basin catchment
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Figure 5.16 Surface water management zones of 105 Table 4.5b Irrigation land use change in the 71
the Fleurieu Peninsula catchment Fleurieu Peninsula Region 1970-2004
Figure 5.17 Main watercourses of the Myponga 106 Table 5.1 Underground water extraction limits in 81
River catchment the South Para River catchment
Figure 5.18 Main watercourses of the Hindmarsh 107 Table 5.2 Underground water extraction limits in 81
and Inman Rivers catchment the Little Para River catchment
Figure 5.19 Main watercourses of the Fleurieu 108 Table 5.3 Underground water extraction limits in 82
Coastal catchment the River Torrens catchment
Figure 5.20 Watercourse water management zones of 122 Table 5.4 Underground water extraction limits in 83
the Gawler River Prescribed Watercourse the Onkaparinga River catchment
Figure 5.21 Watercourse water management zones of 123 Table 5.5 Underground water extraction limits in 83
the Little Para Proclaimed Watercourse the Fleurieu Peninsula catchments
Figure 5.22 Watercourse water management zones 124 Table 5.6 Extraction and diversion limits for the 109
of the River Torrens/Karrawirra Parri surface water management zones of the
Prescribed Watercourse South Para River catchment
Figure 5.23 Watercourse water management zones 125 Table 5.7 Extraction and diversion limits for the 111
of the Onkaparinga River surface water management zones of the
Prescribed Watercourse Little Para River catchment
Figure B.1 Third order (and above) watercourses 166 Table 5.8 Extraction and diversion limits for the 112
surface water management zones of the
Figure B.2 Third order (and above) watercourses 167
River Torrens catchment
underlain by Permian Sand Aquifers
TABLES Table 5.9 Extraction and diversion limits for the 114
surface water management zones of the
Table 2.1 Flow types 24
Onkaparinga River catchment
Table 2.2 Reach types 26
Table 5.10 Extraction and diversion limits for the 117
Table 2.3 Native and exotic fish species in the Prescribed 29 surface water management zones of the
Area and their functional groupings Willunga Basin catchment
Table 2.4 Environmental water requirements for fish 30 Table 5.11 Extraction and diversion limits for the 119
in the Mount Lofty Ranges surface water management zones of the
Table 2.5 Environmental water requirements for 36 Fleurieu Peninsula catchments
macroinvertebrates in the Mount Table 5.12 Extraction limit for the watercourse water 121
Lofty Ranges management zone of the Gawler River
Table 2.6 Environmental water requirements for 41 Table 5.13 Extraction limits for the watercourse water 121
plants in the Mount Lofty Ranges: Two-part management zones of the Little Para
table: 1 Semi-aquatic functional groups; Proclaimed Watercourse
2 Aquatic functional groups
Table 5.14 Extraction limits for the watercourse water 121
Table 2.7 Measurable indicators 48 management zones of the River
Table 2.8 Measurable indicators passed 53 Torrens/Karrawirra Parri
Table 4.1 Irrigation land use change in the 68 Table 5.15 Extraction limits for the watercourse 121
Central Hills region 1970–2000 water management zones of the
Onkaparinga River
Table 4.2 Irrigation land use change in the 68
Fleurieu Peninsula region 1970–2000 Table 8.1 Water affecting activities 137
Table 4.3 Capacity of reservoirs in the Prescribed Area 69 Table 9.1 Regional NRM Plan 20 year targets 148
Table. 4.4 Irrigated area of crops – existing user 70 Table 9.2 Monitoring, evaluation and 149
applications by catchments in the review framework
Prescribed Area Table 9.3 Underground water monitoring 151
Table 4.5a Irrigation land use change in the Central 71 Table 9.4 Surface water and watercourse monitoring 151
Hills region 1970–2004
Table 9.5 Schedule of reporting 152
Western Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plan  |  7
1 Introduction
1.1. the Prescribed area 1.1.2. Little Para Proclaimed
The Prescribed Area managed by this water allocation plan (this Watercourse
plan) covers the water resources of: Western Mount Lofty Ranges By proclamation made pursuant to the Water Resources Act
Prescribed Water Resources Area (PWRA) and the Little Para 1976 on 19 January 1978, Little Para River was declared to be a
Proclaimed Watercourse. ‘proclaimed watercourse’. Little Para Proclaimed Watercourse,
The three types of water resources in the Prescribed Area managed which is a prescribed watercourse for the purposes of the NRM
by this plan are underground water, surface water and watercourses. Act, extends from a point upstream of Little Para Reservoir to Port
Wakefield Road (Figure 1.1).
1.1.1. Western Mount Lofty Ranges
A water allocation plan has never been adopted for Little Para
Prescribed Water Resources Area Proclaimed Watercourse, and because it is directly hydrologically
By regulation made pursuant to the Natural Resources connected to water resources in the Western Mount Lofty Ranges
Management Act 2004 (NRM Act) on 20 October 2005, the PWRA, it is included in this plan.
wells, surface water and watercourses in the following areas were The portion of Little Para Proclaimed Watercourse that is upstream
declared to be prescribed water resources: of the Little Para Reservoir is located within Western Mount
• Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Wells Area (PWA) Lofty Ranges PWRA (Little Para River catchment – Figure 1.1) and
is managed in the same way as the other watercourses in that
• Western Mount Lofty Ranges SurfaceWater Area
area. The portion of Little Para Proclaimed Watercourse that is
• Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Watercourses.
downstream of Little Para Reservoir is managed in the same way as
These areas are collectively referred to as ‘Western Mount Lofty the other watercourses across the Adelaide Plains.
Ranges PWRA’ and cover a total area of approximately 2750 km2
from Gawler in the north, to Middleton and across to Cape Jervis 1.2. McLaren VaLe Prescribed
on the south coast (Figure 1.1).
WeLLs area
Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA has been divided into
McLaren Vale PWA is located wholly within the boundaries of the
eight catchments based on surface water catchment
Prescribed Area. By regulation made on 24 December 1998, all
boundaries (Figure 1.2):
existing and future wells within McLaren Vale PWA (which
• South Para River catchment included the former Willunga Basin PWA) were declared to be
• Little Para River catchment prescribed wells.
• River Torrens catchment The first water allocation plan for McLaren Vale PWA (providing
for the allocation of underground water) was adopted in
• Onkaparinga River catchment
2000. Following a review of that plan in 2003, the Minister for
• Willunga Basin catchment
Environment and Conservation adopted a new water allocation
• Myponga River catchment plan for the McLaren Vale PWA on 17 February 2007.
• Hindmarsh and Inman rivers catchment This plan does not replace or otherwise affect the water allocation
• Fleurieu coastal catchment. plan for McLaren Vale PWA, or water licences to take underground
water in that area. The allocation of underground water in
The Western Mount Lofty PWRA also includes three watercourses
McLaren Vale PWA, and transfers and other dealings with water
as they cross the Adelaide Plains to Gulf St Vincent:
allocations in that area,will continue to be assessed against the
• Gawler River – downstream of the junction of North Para
objectives and principles in the water allocation plan for McLaren
River and South Para River
Vale PWA. Surface water and watercourse water in Willunga Basin
• River Torrens/Karrawirra Parri – downstream of Gorge Weir
catchment will be allocated in accordance with the objectives and
• Onkaparinga River – downstream of Clarendon Weir. principles in this plan.
These watercourses, together with the portion of Little Para
Proclaimed Watercourse that is downstream of Little Para Reservoir,
are referred to as ‘watercourses across the plains’.
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figure 1.1 Western Mount
Lofty ranges PWra
Western Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plan  |  9
figure 1.2 catchments in Western
Mount Lofty ranges PWra
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