DEECA

About the area

  • The Wa De Lock Groundwater Management Area (GMA) covers a shallow sand aquifer with silts and clays centred on the Avon River, where it partially overlies the Sale WSPA, Rosedale GMA and Stratford GMA.
  • The water authority responsible for managing groundwater in the Wa De Lock GMA is Southern Rural Water.
  • The Central Gippsland Shallow Aquifers Local Management Plan incorporates the Wa De Lock GMA, and details three management zones where the plan applies to groundwater resources for all formations between the surface and 25 m below the surface.
  • More information on groundwater management can be found on the Southern Rural WaterExternal Link website.

Table 1: Groundwater level trends, Wa De Lock GMA

Groundwater restrictions

There were no restrictions on licensed use for the Wa De Lock GMA in 2021-22.

Entitlements and use

Groundwater entitlements have been issued for licensed (non-urban) use, salinity control extraction and urban supply to Boisdale and Briagolong in the Wa De Lock GMA. Groundwater is also available for domestic and stock use.

Entitlement volumes

Table 2: Groundwater entitlements at 30 June, Wa De Lock 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, 1.5 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, Wa De Lock 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 (29,124 ML) in the Wa De Lock GMA did not exceed the PCV (30,795 ML).

Total volume extracted under licences was within the available volume

The total volume extracted under licences (1,965 ML) was within the volume available for the year (29,292 ML).

Table 4: PCV vs total entitlement volumes, Wa De Lock GMA

Management responsibilities

Management of water in the Wa De Lock GMA is undertaken by Southern Rural Water.

AuthorityManagement responsibilities
Southern Rural 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.