Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Overview - New South Wales

Location map of Richmond Coastal Sands

Groundwater Management Unit: Richmond Coastal Sands

Introduction

Delineation of this area as a GMU arose from a NSW state-wide review of all aquifers as part of the NSW Water Reform process. The objective of the review was to identify aquifers which there was some risk that abstraction of groundwater could not be maintained in a sustainable way. The risk assessment was based on a set of weighted criteria which included current usage patterns, size, land use, apparent threats to groundwater quality and dependent ecosystems. Aquifers not included in existing GMUs, but which were deemed to be at high risk and for which there were data indicating a history of groundwater abstraction, have been incorporated as GMUs for the purpose of the NLWRA. In some cases the rate of groundwater abstraction is as yet only very small, and in all cases the degree of management effort applied is at a relatively low level pending implementation of appropriate procedures. In some cases these procedures will include the establishment of a local groundwater management committee with which DLWC will cooperate in the development of a groundwater management policy appropriate for that area. The area of this GMU is the area occupied by the alluvial deposits of the Wilson and Richmond Rivers and Myrtle Creek upstream of their confluence, and estuarine sediments downstream of their confluence. The estuarine sediments extend to the coastline, except for those areas in which there are coastal sand dunes which are placed in a separate GMU. There are also some areas of coastal dune sand within this estuarine part of the GMU, however. The GMU is a large part of the Richmond catchment, and there are several large towns within it, including Kogle, Lismore and Casino in the uppper parts of the alluvial areas and Ballina and Evans Head on the coast. Use of groundwater has not developed to a great extent. It is likely, however, that water usage is more than the recorded information would suggest because of a large number of unlicensed bores.

Vital Statistics:

Area: 1,970 Km2
Total water allocated: no data
Total water consumed: 6,586 ML/yr
Average salinity: 1,000 mg/l
Sustainable yield: 68,000 ML/yr
Depth to top of aquifier: 3 m

Further Information

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