National Management of GAB

The Great Artesian Basin covers four states; NSW, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory. What happens in one state can impact another and yet the states, using different criteria not a standard approach, decide where development can take place. Environmental studies for individual developments do not assess the impacts in other states, or the cumulative impacts on the whole GAB.

Similar to the Murray Darling River system which also covers four states, the water in the GAB has been exploited by successive state governments to fill the coffers with no regard for overall impacts. Without independent management the states bicker over water allocations for short term economic benefit, disregarding long term effects.

Risks to the GAB

Pilliga gas well

A paper published by the CSIRO in 2011 stated that ‘mining, manufacturing, and other industries use about 20% of all water consumed in Australia’. It recognised the fast growing mining industry, the risks it posed by discharging large quantities of water into the environment, and the resulting water management challenges.

Rob Banks’ outlines some of the risks to the Great Artesian Basin in an executive summary in his report on the Great Artesian Basin, published in December 2014.

Origins of the GAB’s Water

Since 1900 some of Australia’s and the world’s most respected scientists have argued about the origins of the water in the Great Artesian Basin. The common assumption was that any water taken out was replenished by rainfall.

Traditionally, the recharge for the GAB has been thought to be 30% of the basin, and that it was significant. The recently published information contained in this report shows clearly that effective recharge (>1 mm/yr) is only 6% of the GAB. (SoilFutures Report, p. 23)

Recent studies reveal that three theories apply to different sections of the basin and although it is replenished by rainfall it is at an alarmingly slow rate compared to the amount of water being taken out. The following are the three theories of the origins of the water in the GAB -

Rob Banks Researches the GAB

Coonamble NSW

Anne Kennedy, an advocate and campaigner for the protection of the Great Artesian Basin, was introduced to soil scientist Rob Banks by Penny Blatchford. Anne employed Rob to do a similar report to Penny’s, on the Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL 238) which covered her property near Coonamble in the West Pilliga district.

Part of Penny’s and Anne’s PELs were on the Great Artesian Basin’s (GAB) recharge areas. Anne’s PEL covered part of the Coonamble lobe area, where artesian water is the only reliable water source. After completing Anne’s study, the NSW Artesian Bore Water Users Association commissioned Rob to study the recharge and discharge areas of the GAB in NSW and the potential risks from CSG.

Meeting a Geomorphologist

Liverpool Plains

Robert Banks is a professional soil scientist and geomorphologist. If you’re like me, you’ll ask, “What’s that?” and now I can tell you, it’s someone who interprets how landscapes have evolved. I spoke with Rob in Gunnedah at the start of my gas tour to The Pilliga and southern Queensland.

Earlier I had studied the maps and read his report on recharge and connectivity in the Great Artesian Basin (GAB). I needed some points explained as my aptitude for understanding all things scientific is woeful. Luckily my brains trust has a science background, and this saved Rob from having to answer my first round of inane questions. But that’s what this blog’s about, getting me to understand how the GAB works and how it is being impacted by agriculture and industry. If I can understand it, anyone can!

Lots happening in CSG & coal

A lot has happened in the CSG and coal industries since I last wrote on my blog.

Fortunately, this month AGL’s leases over some of the Hunter and Sydney catchment areas have been bought back by the government and the proposed Camden Northern Expansion Project will not proceed.  Hoorah!

Unfortunately, AGL intends to continue with the Gloucester Project, which is in a very wet environment, where within a 100 metre square coal seam, there may be ten major faults running through to the surface. Boo!