Author(s): James Hill
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Great Artesian Basin; Monitoring; Water saving; Bore rehabilitation; Bore drain
Abstract: Up until the 1950s, artesian water that came to the surface under natural pressure by the sinking of bores had been allowed to flow uncontrolled into open drains and creeks for distribution to stock. However, even in well-maintained drains, up to 95 per cent of this water was being wasted through evaporation and seepage from uncontrolled bore drains. Under the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative (GABSI) the Australian Government is investing in the order of $140 million over fifteen years (1999-2014) to accelerate work on the repair of these uncontrolled artesian bores and the replacement of open earthen bore drains with piped water reticulation systems, making wasteful use of GAB water a thing of the past. A decade of GABSI investment (1999–2009) has resulted in more than 450 flowing bores being rehabilitated and more than 15,000 km of bore drains eliminated. GABSI has installed more than 23,000 km of piping, tanks and troughs to deliver water to stock. This has resulted in returning 165,000 million liters of water back to the environment every year and continues to assist the recovery of artesian pressure in the Basin. A third phase of the GABSI Initiative continues to be delivered through state agencies and the Australian Government makes its contributions jointly with state governments and bore owners. Investments under GABSI have changed land management practices, minimizing the wasteful evaporation and seepage of artesian water discharged to bore drains. Through replacing bore drains with piped reticulation systems some landholders have reviewed their property management infrastructure, and substantially improved aspects of their land management capability.
Year: 2011