Australian Natural Resources Atlas

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Water resources - Management and Development - Queensland

Location map of Lockyer - Helidon

Groundwater Management Unit: Lockyer - Helidon

Introduction

Management Context:

The Lockyer-Helidon GMU receives only moderate amounts of recharge, and in some areas groundwater use is in excess of yield. Groundwater levels in the GMU have fallen up to

2.5 m over the peiod of monitoring. Although no issues of groundwater deterioration are reported, the long term viability of irrigation in the GMU is dependent upon both the quality and quantity of the resource. Hence it is important that monitoring continues.

Priority issues

Declining Water Levels

 YES

Salt Water Intrusion

 NO

SALINISATION

 

Dryland

 NO

Irrigation

 NO

Groundwater

 NO

Surface Water

 NO

Urban

 NO

Point Source Pollution

 NO

Diffuse Source Pollution

 NO

Subsidence

 NO

Artificial Recharge (ML/yr)

 no data

Ecosystems Protection

 NO

Surface Water Interaction

 NO

Management Plans

 NO

Defined Minimum Water Level

 NO

Comments on Management Responses

2020 Management Response:

A maximum forecast use estimate of 1500 Ml/yr in 2020 is based upon the sustainable yield and desired level of management in the GMU.

2050 Management Response:

A maximum forecast use estimate of 1500 Ml/yr in 2050 is based upon the sustainable yield and desired level of management in the GMU.

See QLD Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report for a review of management responses.

Assessment of monitoring in Lockyer - Helidon

Efficacy of the network:

The current monitoring network for the Lockyer-Helidon groundwater management unit consists of 20 observation bores with a proposed quarterly monitoring frequency. Water level monitoring is ongoing since 1945 while water quality data exists from 1946 to 1996 and is ongoing but informal.

Data management requirements:

Queensland groundwater monitoring data, including water level and water quality, is stored within the Groundwater Database (GWDB) system. The new GWDB system uses web technology and is available through the Department's intranet. The database is managed at a district level, with respect to the collection and entering of water monitoring data and is accessed statewide.

Protective management:

Future management of the Lockyer-Helidon GMU aims at maintaining a long-term, sustainable resource requiring water quantity and quality monitoring to be conducted. Protective management requirements for the GMU include:

- Proclamation of the area

- Licensing irrigation, industrial and stock bores and introducing allocation bases on groundwater modelling and quantification.

- Improving the current water level monitoring network

- Improving the current water quality monitoring network

Options for monitoring:

At present the Lockyer-Helidon GMU has had no reliable quantification of sustainable yield and relies on estimates of groundwater use. It is considered imperative to conduct a water use survey or metering a representative suite of properties. This would allow for comprehensive aquifer assessment enabling reassessment of the sustainable yield and development potential of the GMU. This could be done with the involvement of the Lockyer Catchment Coordinating Committee.

See QLD Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report for a review of monitoring.

What is the estimated demand for groundwater?

Sustainable Yield

Comment about sustainable yield figure: 

The Lockyer-Helidon Creek GMU has an estimated sustainable yield of 1500 Ml/yr. This estimated is based on the assessed sustainable yields computed for adjacent aquifers with analogous aquifer properties.

Sustainable yield:

ML/yr

Threshold year for sustainable year:

1,986 

Abstraction Volume 1996/1997:

1,500 ML 

Current Resource development categorisation:

 

Estimated Use in 2020

Comment:

 

Estimated use in 2020:

1,500 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

0 

Resource development categorisation:

 

Estimated in 2050

Comment:

 

Estimated use in 2050:

1,500 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

0 

Resource development categorisation:

 

What assumptions were used in this assessment

Development Potential:

Current estimates of use in the Lockyer Helidon GMU indicate that the groundwater resource is fully committed. Hence there is no potential to develop the resource.

Estimate of Use:

Forecast use estimates in the years 2020 and 2050 are based upon the sustainable yield and desired level of management in the GMU.

Data Availability,Gaps and Recommendations

Data Availablility:

Groundwater monitoring is currently conducted in a network of 20 observation bores. These provide limited water quality and quantity information within the alluvium. Salinity monitoring data is available for 18 bores since 1991 and has become informal. No groundwater metering is conducted in the GMU.

Current Gaps and Recommendations:

Data Gaps: Water level data is generally complete with some short gaps in sampling. The major downfall of the network is the limited number and coverage of bores. The reduction in salinity monitoring and irregularity of sampling has concerns for the management and future of the monitoring.

Recommendations: Addition of extra water level and improved water quality monitoring, possibly from incorporation of disused private bores into the current network, would enhance management of the Tenthill Creek GMU. Water quality requires an improved network and sampling strategy.

Future Gaps:

The Lockyer-Helidon GMU requires improved water level and quality monitoring. Reinstallation, or reinstatement of disused bores, would enhanced resource management and allow evaluation of groundwater quality and quantity fluctuations.

Further information

Key

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