DEECA

About the area

  • The Kiewa Groundwater Management Area (GMA) extends from the Bogong High Plains to Wodonga and comprises the Kiewa River catchment from west of Falls Creek. Including the Kiewa, Yackandandah and Running Creek tributaries.
  • Rural centres within the boundary include Killara, Yackandandah and Mount Beauty.
  • The water authority responsible for managing groundwater in the Kiewa GMA is Goulburn-Murray Water.
  • The Kiewa GMA Local Management Plan applies to groundwater up to a depth of 200 m below the natural surface, or up to 50 m below the base of the Tertiary surface. This is because the deepest Tertiary age alluvial sediments are less than 150 m thick.

Table 1: Groundwater level trends, Kiewa GMA

Groundwater restrictions

There were no restrictions on licensed use for the Kiewa GMA in 2021-22.

Entitlements and use

Groundwater is available for licensed (non-urban) supply and for domestic and stock use.

Entitlement volumes

Table 2: Groundwater entitlements at 30 June, Kiewa 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, Kiewa 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 (3,107 ML) in the Kiewa GMA did not exceed the PCV (3,852 ML).

Total volume extracted under licences was within the available volume

The total volume extracted under licences (310 ML) was within the volume available for the year (3,109 ML).

Table 4: PCV vs total entitlement volumes, Kiewa GMA

Management responsibilities

Management of water in the Kiewa 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.