DEECA
Groundwater Management Unit

Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA

In this area

Surface water basin: Campaspe, Loddon, Werribee

Water corporation: Central Highlands Water, Coliban Water, Goulburn-Murray Water

Groundwater catchment: Campaspe, Loddon

About the area

  • The Central Victorian Mineral Springs Groundwater Management Area (GMA) covers parts of the upper Loddon and upper Campaspe groundwater catchments.
  • Rural centres in the area include Daylesford, Trentham, Tylden, Woodend, Newstead, Maldon, Castlemaine, Harcourt, Malmsberry, Kyneton, Redesdale and Heathcote.
  • The water authority responsible for managing groundwater in the Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA is Goulburn-Murray Water.
  • The Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA Local Management Plan applies to groundwater resources up to a depth of 200 m below ground surface, or to 50 m below the base of the basalt or deep lead, whichever is greater.
  • More information on the GMA can be found on the Goulburn-Murray WaterExternal Link website.

Table 1: Groundwater level trends, Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA

Groundwater restrictions

There were no restrictions on licensed use for the Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA in 2021-22.

Entitlements and use

Groundwater entitlements have been issued for licensed (non-urban) use and urban supply to Daylesford and Trentham in the Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA. Groundwater is also available for domestic and stock use.

Entitlement volumes

Table 2: Groundwater entitlements at 30 June, Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA

Available water and use

The table below shows the total water available and used under entitlements, and estimated domestic and stock use in 2021–22. Total water available under entitlements is the sum of: opening carryover, allocation issued and the net of the in/out trade of water.

Estimated domestic and stock use is calculated based on an assumed usage per registered bore per year. In this GMA, 2 ML usage per bore per year is assumed.

More information on groundwater use and availability has been detailed in the How do we account for groundwaterExternal Link section.

Table 3: Groundwater availability and use, Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA

Compliance

Compliance against water entitlements is reported for this groundwater management unit (GMU) in two areas:

  • entitlement issued: the volume of entitlements issued in the GMU does not exceed relevant PCVs or has not increased without appropriate approvals
  • water extracted: the volume of water taken under entitlements during the year does not exceed the total water available to licence holders.

Key points on compliance against entitlements

Entitlement volume did not exceed the PCV

The volume of entitlements (5,116 ML) in the Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA did not exceed the PCV (6,024 ML).

Total volume extracted under licences was within the available volume

The total volume extracted under licences (1,222 ML) was within the volume available for the year (5,115 ML).

Table 4: PCV vs total entitlement volumes, Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA

Management responsibilities

Management of water in the Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA is undertaken by Goulburn-Murray Water.

AuthorityManagement responsibilities
Goulburn-Murray Water
  • Manages groundwater resources.
  • Developing and implementing groundwater management plans.
  • Issues licences for groundwater use, bore construction, and surface water diversions.
  • Administers domestic and stock use.