Water resources - Management and Development - Tasmania
Tasmania
What are the key water resource management issues facing Tasmania?
The following is a list of key surface water management issues (not listed in order of priority) for the State.
- Funding of future infrastructure developments.
- A strategy for long term water quality monitoring.
- Public education in relation to water resource issues.
- Implementation of the Water Management Act 1999.
- Provision of water for irrigation expansion.
- Farm dam development.
- Conversion of environmental water requirements into environmental water provisions.
- A clear and consistent approach to integrated catchment management.
- Enactment of dam safety legislation.
- Water pricing.
- Funding of monitoring for water quality, quantity and aquatic ecosystems.
The key groundwater management issues (in priority order) are:
- The need to license allocation volumes for high yielding bores;
- The requirement for additional groundwater monitoring and property data;
- Assessment of the impact of groundwater extraction on surface water sources;
- Requirement for groundwater management plans in key catchments.
- Assessment of contaminant impact on future resource development.
Future Directions
Tasmania historically has been heavily dependent on its water resources. This can be seen in particular in relation to its energy production, which is almost solely dependent on hydro electric power. Hydro power will continue to be of significance for both State power use and as a source of clean power that has the potential to be sent interstate via cable under Bass Straight.
In addition to hydro power, the State has a very strong irrigation industry geared to the production of crops, dairy products, orchards, grapes, poppies and essential oils to name a few. The trend in the State is to increase irrigation as many properties continue to diversify their activities.
With the enactment of the Water Management Act 1999, water management and development in the State must promote sustainable use and facilitate economic development of the States water resources. In undertaking this ecological processes and genetic diversity for aquatic ecosystems must be maintained.
In relation to groundwater management, the future direction will move from a reactive to a proactive management approach. This will be achieved by the implementation of Water Management Plans in strategic areas of the State.
Via its new legislation, the State now has a strong foundation to underpin its future direction in water resource management. This foundation along with the implementation of the COAG water reform agenda will provide a mechanism to help sustain water resource into the future.
Surface water resource management in Tasmania
Map of Tasmania's surface water management areas
Select a point on the map to find out more about that surface water management area.
The State is undertaking a number of initiatives in relation to surface water management. These include:
- development of water management plans;
- development of a draft policy on water transfers;
- development of a draft policy on environmental flows;
- government assistance with the environmental investigations for storage developments;
- state wide assessment of environmental water requirements;
- a rolling program of State of River Reports;
- conversion of old rights to water to allocations under the Water Management Act 1999;
- development of Protected Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives;
- Irrigation Partnership Program between State Government and private developers aimed at facilitating the development of water storages that are both economically and environmentally sustainable.
Groundwater resource management in Tasmania
Map of Tasmania's Groundwater Provinces
Select a point on the map to find out more about that groundwater province.
The implementation of the management requirements of the Water Management Act, 1999, will contribute to improved groundwater management into the future. A key aspect currently being considered is licensing of all high yielding bores. In addition the Groundwater Management Unit concepts developed as part of the Audit are likely to become a framework for management of groundwater. It is anticipated that the concept will be strengthened and expanded upon as part of the State's management of groundwater resources
Further information
- Tasmania Water Resources Assessment 2000 Report
- Tasmania Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report
- Link to data available for download on the:
- Link to the Map Maker to make a map using this information.
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