Groundwater Management Unit
Groundwater Management Unit: Moolort
Introduction
The groundwater resource characteristics for the Moolort groundwater managment unit are presented below. This includes technical detail on aquifer properties and water level change for key monitoring bores.
What is the character of Moolort's groundwater resource?
Vital Statistics:
| Area | 600 km2 |
|---|---|
| Total Water Allocated | 3,340 ML/yr |
| Total Water Used | 2,310 ML/yr |
| Average Salinity | 500 mg/L |
| Sustainable Yield | 6,650 ML/yr |
| Depth to top of aquifer | 5 m |
Aquifer Description:
The upper section of the fractured rock aquifer is unconfined where the unit outcrops near Campbelltown and Eddington, and semi-confined where overlain by the Shepparton Formation sediments. Comment on fracture flow & anisotropy.
Method used for determining sustainable yield:
The most reliable method for recharge to the aquifer was provided by the rainfall recharge method. The PAVs for the Zones of the Moolort GMA are : Zone 1 - 2,926 ML/year and Zone 2 - 3,752 ML/year. Two different rainfall figures were used for each zone.
The absence of monitoring data within the GMA does not however, allow an accurate determination of PAV to be made.
Assumptions used for allocating development categories:
The categorisation for this GMU was undertaken on the basis of the allocation and use volumes, compared with the sustainable yields. The total categorisation was undertaken for the entire GMU, and not on individual zones. Both allocations and abstractions are of medium development, in a category 2, however, in reality most allocation and abstraction occurs in zone 1 of the GMA, which would place this zone in a category 4, and zone 2 in a category 1.
Are groundwater levels changing?
Technical information on the key groundwater bores and monitoring stations is presented below, including hydrographs where available. Link to a discussion on groundwater levels and trends at a State level as it relates to dryland salinity.
| Bore ID | Start record | End record | Depth of bore (m) | Reduced level (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIC57539 | 24-Jun-87 | 24-Sep-99 | 70 | 424 |
| VIC64879 | 06-Mar-86 | 23-Sep-99 | 87 | 393 |
The following groundwater management units also occur in Lachlan Province:
- Alexandra (VIC)
- Araluen Alluvium and Weathered Granite (NSW)
- Ascot (VIC)
- Bell Valley Alluvium (NSW)
- Belubula River Alluvium (NSW)
- Billabong Creek Alluvium (NSW)
- Bullarook (VIC)
- Bungaree (VIC)
- Cudgegong Valley Alluvium (NSW)
- Glengower (VIC)
- King Lake (VIC)
- Lancefield (VIC)
- Lower Macquarie Alluvium (NSW)
- Mid Murrumbidgee Alluvium (NSW)
- Mid and Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Fractured (NSW)
- Molong Limestone (NSW)
- Mudgee Limestone (NSW)
- Murrumbidgee (ACT)
- Namadgi (ACT)
- Orange Basalt (NSW)
- Queanbeyan and Molonglo (ACT)
- Spring Hill Groundwater Supply Protection Area (VIC)
- Tourello (VIC)
- Unincorporated Area - Lachlan (VIC)
- Unincorporated Area - Lachlan Fold Belt Province (NSW)
- Upper Lachlan Alluvium (NSW)
- Upper Macquarie Alluvium (NSW)
- Wandin Yallock (VIC)
- Young Granite (NSW)
Further information
- Victoria Water Resources Assessment 2000 Report
- Victoria Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report
- For more information about water and other natural resource issues link to www.dse.vic.gov.au .
- Link to data available for download on the Groundwater management units and provinces - ARC/INFO export
- Link to Map maker to make a map using this information.
Key
Links to an another web site
Opens a pop-up window