DEECA Victorian Water Accounts 2022-23

About groundwater

Groundwater is found in the spaces and fractures in rock and sediment beneath the ground’s surface, known as aquifers. Groundwater held in an aquifer can be pumped to the surface for use.

This page reports on statewide groundwater use, entitlements and compliance, and trade for 2022-23.

We report on groundwater availability and use across two different reporting units: groundwater catchments and groundwater management units (GMUs). These can be found in the groundwater local reports.

Victoria has 20 groundwater catchments, 8 in the north and 12 in the south.

Within groundwater catchments, GMUs are typically smaller management units that are either water supply protection areas (WSPAs) or groundwater management areas (GMAs). There are 54 GMUs: 44 are GMAs and 10 are WSPAs.

Groundwater resources that are licensed and used outside a WSPA or GMA are reported as outside management units.

More information:

Groundwater resources are explained in Water resources.
Water management is detailed in How is water managed?
Groundwater accounting is detailed in How do we account for water?

2022-23 overview

Restrictions on use

There were fewer restrictions on groundwater use than the previous year.

GMU changes

There was one gazetted change to GMUs - the Glenelg WSPA was abolished.

Water use

Less groundwater was taken for consumptive purposes than the previous year.

In 2022-23:

there were more rising and fewer declining groundwater level trends than the previous year
there were 3 GMUs that were subject to restrictions on groundwater use, one fewer than during the previous year
there was one gazetted change made to GMUs - Glenelg WSPA was abolished in August 2022. All licences in this area are now managed and reported as outside management units
a similar volume of groundwater was available to take under entitlements as the previous year
there was less groundwater taken for consumptive purposes than the previous year
there were fewer temporary and permanent trades of groundwater take and use licences than the previous year.

Groundwater level trends

Groundwater systems are dynamic and adjust continually to short-term and long-term changes in climate, groundwater withdrawal, and land use. Groundwater trends are one type of measure that can give an indication of the condition of the groundwater resource, somewhat similar to storage levels for surface water. Trends in groundwater levels reflect differences between the amount of water flowing into (recharge) and out of (discharge or extraction) an aquifer.

For more information on why we report on groundwater levels, see Keeping track of Victoria’s water.

In the Accounts, groundwater level trends for GMUs have been determined based on monitoring data from key bores in the State Observation Bore Network. Trend determinations are made quarterly by comparing each reading to a previous reading in the same season 5 years prior. That is, a summer record is compared to the summer record from 5 years earlier to account for seasonality.

Groundwater resources are actively managed. For more detail on management responses, visit the Goulburn-Murray Water, Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water and Southern Rural Water websites.

2022-23 groundwater level trends

In the June quarter of 2022-23, there were more rising and fewer declining groundwater level trends than the previous June quarter.

Of 10 WSPAs, 3 were categorised as stable and 7 as rising, compared to 5 stable, 3 rising and 2 declining in the previous year.

Of 40 GMAs, 17 were categorised as stable, 17 as rising and 6 as declining, compared to 20 stable, 10 rising and 10 declining in the previous year.

Table 1: Groundwater level trends

Groundwater management unit ^{1, 2, 3}	2021-22				2022-23
Groundwater management unit ^{1, 2, 3}	Sep-21	Dec-21	Mar-22	Jun-22	Sep-22	Dec-22	Mar-23	Jun-23
Groundwater management area
Barnawartha	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising
Broken	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Stable	Stable	Stable
Bungaree	Stable	Stable	Rising	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Stable
Cardigan	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Central Victorian Mineral Springs	Stable	Declining	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Colongulac	Stable	Declining	Stable	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Stable
Corinella	Rising	Rising	Rising	Stable	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising
Frankston	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Rising
Gellibrand	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Gerangamete	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Giffard	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Jan Juc	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining
Kiewa	Stable	Declining	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Lancefield	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Stable	Stable	Stable	Declining
Leongatha	Stable	Stable	Rising	Stable	Rising	Rising	Stable	Rising
Lower Ovens	Stable	Declining	Stable	Declining	Declining	Rising	Stable	Declining
Merrimu	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising
Mid Goulburn	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Stable	Stable	Stable
Mid Loddon	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Rising	Rising	Declining
Moe	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining
Moorabbin	Rising	Rising	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Murrayville	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Nepean	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Newlingrook	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Orbost	Declining	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Paaratte	Stable	Rising	Stable	Declining	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Portland ⁴	Stable	INS-DATA	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Rosedale	Stable	Declining	Stable	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining
Shepparton Irrigation Region	Declining	Declining	Stable	Stable	Declining	Stable	Stable	Stable
South West Limestone	Stable	Rising	Stable	Declining	Rising	Declining	Declining	Stable
Stratford	Declining	Declining	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Strathbogie	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Tarwin	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Upper Goulburn	Rising	Rising	Rising	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Upper Murray	Stable	Stable	Rising	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising
Wa De Lock	Declining	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Wandin Yallock	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
West Goulburn	Stable	Declining	Stable	Stable	Declining	Stable	Stable	Stable
West Wimmera ⁵	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
West Wimmera - Neuarpur subzone 1 ⁶	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining
Wy Yung	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Water supply protection area
Condah	Rising	Rising	Rising	Stable	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising
Deutgam	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Katunga	Declining	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Koo Wee Rup	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising
Loddon Highlands	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Lower Campaspe Valley	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising
Sale	Declining	Declining	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Upper Ovens River	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Rising	Stable	Stable
Warrion	Rising	Stable	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Yarram ⁷	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Stable	Declining	Stable

Show notes

Table 1: Groundwater level trends

Groundwater management unit ^{1, 2, 3}	2021-22	2022-23
Groundwater management area
Barnawartha	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising
Broken	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Stable	Stable	Stable
Bungaree	Stable	Stable	Rising	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Stable
Cardigan	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Central Victorian Mineral Springs	Stable	Declining	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Colongulac	Stable	Declining	Stable	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Stable
Corinella	Rising	Rising	Rising	Stable	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising
Frankston	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Rising
Gellibrand	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Gerangamete	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Giffard	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Jan Juc	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining
Kiewa	Stable	Declining	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Lancefield	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Stable	Stable	Stable	Declining
Leongatha	Stable	Stable	Rising	Stable	Rising	Rising	Stable	Rising
Lower Ovens	Stable	Declining	Stable	Declining	Declining	Rising	Stable	Declining
Merrimu	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising
Mid Goulburn	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Stable	Stable	Stable
Mid Loddon	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Rising	Rising	Declining
Moe	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining
Moorabbin	Rising	Rising	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Murrayville	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Nepean	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Newlingrook	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Orbost	Declining	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Paaratte	Stable	Rising	Stable	Declining	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Portland ⁴	Stable	INS-DATA	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Rosedale	Stable	Declining	Stable	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining
Shepparton Irrigation Region	Declining	Declining	Stable	Stable	Declining	Stable	Stable	Stable
South West Limestone	Stable	Rising	Stable	Declining	Rising	Declining	Declining	Stable
Stratford	Declining	Declining	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Strathbogie	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Tarwin	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Upper Goulburn	Rising	Rising	Rising	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Upper Murray	Stable	Stable	Rising	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising
Wa De Lock	Declining	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Wandin Yallock	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
West Goulburn	Stable	Declining	Stable	Stable	Declining	Stable	Stable	Stable
West Wimmera ⁵	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
West Wimmera - Neuarpur subzone 1 ⁶	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining
Wy Yung	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Water supply protection area
Condah	Rising	Rising	Rising	Stable	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising
Deutgam	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable
Katunga	Declining	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Koo Wee Rup	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising
Loddon Highlands	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Lower Campaspe Valley	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Rising	Rising	Rising
Sale	Declining	Declining	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Upper Ovens River	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Rising	Stable	Stable
Warrion	Rising	Stable	Stable	Stable	Rising	Rising	Rising	Rising
Yarram ⁷	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Declining	Stable	Declining	Stable

Response to water availability

The amount of water available for consumptive and environmental uses will vary from year to year. The water entitlement and planning frameworks include mechanisms that come into play when water is scarce. The aim is to conserve and share water between users in response to seasonal variability and water shortages. These mechanisms include restrictions to licence volumes in groundwater systems.

Groundwater licences are all-year licences. Management plans for some GMUs may include water levels that will trigger restrictions to reduce the volume of water users can take under their licence.

Groundwater restrictions

In 2022-23, entitlement holders in 3 GMUs were subject to restrictions on groundwater use, one fewer than during the previous year. Restrictions are expressed as a percentage (below 100%) of the licence volume that the licence holder is allocated for the year. The restrictions were as follows:

Campaspe groundwater catchment - Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA, 75%
Goulburn Broken groundwater catchment - Katunga WSPA, 70%
West Wimmera groundwater catchment - Neuarpur subzone 1 in the West Wimmera GMA, 80%.

Water use

In Victoria, groundwater can be taken from aquifers under entitlements issued and authorised under the Water Act 1989. Generally, water is allocated to either water corporations or to individuals, both of which are issued take and use licences. In addition to this, there is one groundwater bulk entitlement issued to Barwon Water for urban supply to the Greater Geelong area.

The Act also enables individuals to take water for domestic and stock use from groundwater without a take and use licence.

For the most part, use - irrigation/commercial, urban and power generation - of groundwater is metered. Domestic and stock use is estimated based on the number of domestic and stock bores in each GMU and outside management unit.

More information on groundwater accounting and use is detailed in How we account for groundwater.

Total use and use by type

The total groundwater use across the state including domestic and stock use was 217,739 ML, which was less than the volume used in 2021-22 (289,741 ML) (Figure 2 and Table 2).

Please note, the total use and total entitlement volumes are slightly different in Table 2, Table 3 and Figure 3 due to rounding.

Use in groundwater management units (GMAs and WSPAs):

There was 832,458 ML of licensed entitlement and 170,711 ML of metered use (compared to 852,788 ML of licensed entitlement and 245,157 ML of metered use in 2021-22)
There was 22,675 ML of estimated domestic and stock use (compared to 22,825 ML in 2021-22).

Use in outside management units:

There was 116,699 ML of licensed entitlement and 16,800 ML of metered use (compared to 100,524 ML of licensed entitlement and 14,164 ML of metered use in 2021-22)
There was 7,553 ML of estimated domestic and stock use (compared to 7,595 ML in 2021-22).

Use by type

In 2022-23, groundwater was used for:

irrigation/commercial purposes*: 155,494 ML (71% of total use)
urban purposes: 8,276 ML (4% of total use)
power generation: 23,741 ML (11% of total use)
domestic and stock purposes: 30,288 ML (14% of total use). This estimate is based on a count of 18,058 domestic and stock bores in Victoria that were less than 30 years old (considered to be currently active) in 2022-23 (compared to 18,205 in 2021-22).

* Note: Data for the irrigation and commercial categories are reported together as they cannot be separated for groundwater use.

Figure 2 and Table 2 show the volumes of groundwater use by type.

Table 2: Groundwater diverted for different consumptive uses

Groundwater management unit	Irrigation / commercial (ML)	Urban (ML)	Power generation (ML)	Domestic and stock (ML)	Total
Barnawartha GMA	4	0	0	68	72
Broken GMA	366	0	0	716	1,082
Bungaree GMA	1,993	10	0	123	2,126
Cardigan GMA	195	513	0	99	807
Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA	1,061	29	0	1,992	3,082
Colongulac GMA	573	0	0	71	644
Condah WSPA	1,170	25	0	99	1,294
Corinella GMA	24	0	0	47	71
Cut Paw Paw GMA	0	0	0	5	5
Denison GMA	2,922	0	0	101	3,023
Deutgam WSPA	212	0	0	59	271
Eildon GMA	189	0	0	624	813
Frankston GMA	884	0	0	42	926
Gerangamete GMA	86	0	0	5	91
Giffard GMA	1,628	0	0	152	1,780
Glenormiston GMA	856	0	0	51	907
Jan Juc GMA	119	0	0	5	124
Katunga WSPA	9,041	50	0	1,536	10,627
Kiewa GMA	356	0	0	414	770
Koo Wee Rup WSPA	2,637	0	0	609	3,246
Lancefield GMA	212	0	0	42	254
Leongatha GMA	13	0	0	44	57
Loddon Highlands WSPA	4,003	718	0	738	5,459
Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA	10,855	101	0	752	11,708
Lower Ovens GMA	3,266	199	0	2,126	5,591
Merrimu GMA	0	0	0	12	12
Mid Goulburn GMA	1,735	0	0	234	1,969
Mid Loddon GMA	11,762	0	0	300	12,062
Moe GMA	252	0	0	108	360
Moorabbin GMA	622	0	0	255	877
Murrayville GMA	5,049	107	0	64	5,220
Nepean GMA	3,090	0	0	1,842	4,932
Newlingrook GMA	0	21	0	2	23
Orbost GMA	168	0	0	3	171
Outside management units	15,921	879	0	7,553	24,353
Paaratte GMA	0	311	0	2	313
Portland GMA	0	2,350	0	3	2,353
Rosedale GMA	5,244	0	5,099	213	10,556
Sale WSPA	7,381	1,869	0	368	9,618
Shepparton Irrigation Region GMA	10,817	0	0	1,826	12,643
South West Limestone GMA	20,047	517	0	2,550	23,114
Stratford GMA	474	0	18,642	26	19,142
Strathbogie GMA	451	0	0	458	909
Tarwin GMA	0	0	0	309	309
Upper Goulburn GMA	840	0	0	968	1,808
Upper Murray GMA	351	74	0	394	819
Upper Ovens River WSPA	857	1	0	270	1,128
Wa De Lock GMA	3,625	65	0	356	4,046
Wandin Yallock GMA	336	0	0	50	386
Warrion WSPA	2,297	0	0	156	2,453
West Goulburn GMA	1,021	0	0	180	1,201
West Wimmera GMA	11,825	419	0	808	13,052
Wy Yung GMA	444	0	0	12	456
Yarram WSPA	8,220	18	0	386	8,624
Total 2022-23	155,494	8,276	23,741	30,228	217,739
Total 2021-22	225,155	9,468	24,698	30,420	289,741

Groundwater management unit	Irrigation / commercial (ML)	Urban (ML)	Power generation (ML)	Domestic and stock (ML)	Total
Barnawartha GMA	4	0	0	68	72
Broken GMA	366	0	0	716	1,082
Bungaree GMA	1,993	10	0	123	2,126
Cardigan GMA	195	513	0	99	807
Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA	1,061	29	0	1,992	3,082
Colongulac GMA	573	0	0	71	644
Condah WSPA	1,170	25	0	99	1,294
Corinella GMA	24	0	0	47	71
Cut Paw Paw GMA	0	0	0	5	5
Denison GMA	2,922	0	0	101	3,023
Deutgam WSPA	212	0	0	59	271
Eildon GMA	189	0	0	624	813
Frankston GMA	884	0	0	42	926
Gerangamete GMA	86	0	0	5	91
Giffard GMA	1,628	0	0	152	1,780
Glenormiston GMA	856	0	0	51	907
Jan Juc GMA	119	0	0	5	124
Katunga WSPA	9,041	50	0	1,536	10,627
Kiewa GMA	356	0	0	414	770
Koo Wee Rup WSPA	2,637	0	0	609	3,246
Lancefield GMA	212	0	0	42	254
Leongatha GMA	13	0	0	44	57
Loddon Highlands WSPA	4,003	718	0	738	5,459
Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA	10,855	101	0	752	11,708
Lower Ovens GMA	3,266	199	0	2,126	5,591
Merrimu GMA	0	0	0	12	12
Mid Goulburn GMA	1,735	0	0	234	1,969
Mid Loddon GMA	11,762	0	0	300	12,062
Moe GMA	252	0	0	108	360
Moorabbin GMA	622	0	0	255	877
Murrayville GMA	5,049	107	0	64	5,220
Nepean GMA	3,090	0	0	1,842	4,932
Newlingrook GMA	0	21	0	2	23
Orbost GMA	168	0	0	3	171
Outside management units	15,921	879	0	7,553	24,353
Paaratte GMA	0	311	0	2	313
Portland GMA	0	2,350	0	3	2,353
Rosedale GMA	5,244	0	5,099	213	10,556
Sale WSPA	7,381	1,869	0	368	9,618
Shepparton Irrigation Region GMA	10,817	0	0	1,826	12,643
South West Limestone GMA	20,047	517	0	2,550	23,114
Stratford GMA	474	0	18,642	26	19,142
Strathbogie GMA	451	0	0	458	909
Tarwin GMA	0	0	0	309	309
Upper Goulburn GMA	840	0	0	968	1,808
Upper Murray GMA	351	74	0	394	819
Upper Ovens River WSPA	857	1	0	270	1,128
Wa De Lock GMA	3,625	65	0	356	4,046
Wandin Yallock GMA	336	0	0	50	386
Warrion WSPA	2,297	0	0	156	2,453
West Goulburn GMA	1,021	0	0	180	1,201
West Wimmera GMA	11,825	419	0	808	13,052
Wy Yung GMA	444	0	0	12	456
Yarram WSPA	8,220	18	0	386	8,624
Total 2022-23	155,494	8,276	23,741	30,228	217,739
Total 2021-22	225,155	9,468	24,698	30,420	289,741

Entitlements and compliance

Entitlements

Entitlements provide the basis for how water is shared. The total volume of entitlements changes each year as new entitlements are issued, or existing entitlements are modified. All GMUs have a permissible consumptive volume (PCV), which limits the volume of groundwater that can be allocated. In areas that have reached the PCV and allocated all available groundwater within the limit, no new entitlements are created unless water savings are made, and so there is no net increase in entitlement volume.

More information on groundwater management arrangements is detailed in How we account for groundwater.

Groundwater entitlements and use from each GMA and WSPA are detailed in Table 3.

In 2022-23, the total licensed entitlement volume for Victoria was 949,157 ML. This was slightly lower than the amount available in 2021-22 (953,312 ML).

Available water and take

Total groundwater available under entitlements represents the volume of groundwater that was available to be taken. This item is the sum of: opening carryover, allocation issued and the net trade in or out of water. The level of allocation issued is reduced if there are any restrictions in place.

In 2022-23 (Table 3 and Figure 4):

962,976 ML was available to take under entitlements (962,456 ML in 2021-22)
187,512 ML was taken under entitlements (259,321 ML in 2021-22).

Groundwater entitlement and groundwater taken for consumptive use

In Table 3:

permissible consumptive volume (PCV) sets the total volume of groundwater that may be licensed and taken in a GMU. PCVs are declared by the Minister for Water through an order published in the Victoria Government Gazette
licensed entitlement volume shows the volume of entitlements for each GMU as at the end of the water year
the water available and taken under licenses section show the total volume of groundwater available for extraction during the water year, and the volume of licensed use in GMUs and outside management units. Total water available under entitlements is the sum of: opening carryover, allocation issued and the net trade in or out of water
the compliance section shows how much groundwater was taken as a percentage of the PCV and whether there was any licensed entitlement available
estimated domestic and stock use is based on the number of domestic and stock bores in each GMU and outside management unit within each water corporation area.

The accounting method is explained further in How we account for groundwater.

Figure 5 shows the licensed entitlement, licensed use and domestic and stock use for the last 5 years.

Table 3: Groundwater entitlements and groundwater taken for consumptive use

Groundwater management unit	Entitlement volume (ML)		Water available and taken under licences (ML)					Compliance			Domestic and stock		Total use (licensed + domestic and stock) (ML)
Groundwater management unit	PCV	Licensed entitlement	Carryover	Water allocated	Net trade	Total water available	Water taken under licences	Water taken as % of PCV	Water taken as % of licensed entitlement	Licence volume available under PCV (ML)	No. of domestic and stock bores ¹	Estimated use (ML)	Total use (licensed + domestic and stock) (ML)
Goulburn-Murray Water
Groundwater management areas
Barnawartha GMA	2,100	375	-	375	-	375	4	0%	1%	1,725	34	68	72
Broken GMA	3,732	2,941	-	2,976	-	2,976	366	10%	12%	791	358	716	1,082
Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA	6,024	5,201	-	5,213	-	5,213	1,090	18%	21%	823	996	1,992	3,082
Eildon GMA	1,496	695	-	695	-	695	189	13%	27%	801	312	624	813
Kiewa GMA	3,852	3,107	-	3,107	-	3,107	356	9%	11%	745	207	414	770
Lower Ovens GMA	25,200	19,875	-	19,875	-	19,875	3,465	14%	17%	5,325	1,063	2,126	5,591
Mid Goulburn GMA	12,470	12,465	2,485	12,463	-	14,948	1,735	14%	14%	5	117	234	1,969
Mid Loddon GMA	34,037	33,927	9,743	33,927	-	43,669	11,762	35%	35%	110	150	300	12,062
Shepparton Irrigation Region GMA ²^{, 3}	n/a	185,575	-	185,737	-	185,737	10,817	n/a	6%	n/a	913	1,826	12,643
Strathbogie GMA	1,660	1,373	-	1,373	-	1,373	451	27%	33%	287	229	458	909
Upper Goulburn GMA	8,568	6,110	-	6,130	-	6,130	840	10%	14%	2,458	484	968	1,808
Upper Murray GMA	7,674	3,496	-	3,532	-	3,532	425	6%	12%	4,178	197	394	819
West Goulburn GMA ⁴	n/a	3,013	298	3,037	-	3,336	1,021	n/a	34%	n/a	90	180	1,201
Water supply protection areas
Katunga WSPA ⁵	60,577	60,201	-	42,140	-	42,140	9,091	15%	15%	376	768	1,536	10,627
Loddon Highlands WSPA	20,697	20,483	3,029	20,502	-	23,530	4,721	23%	23%	214	369	738	5,459
Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA ⁶	55,875	55,860	12,734	42,029	-	54,763	10,955	20%	20%	15	376	752	11,707
Upper Ovens River WSPA ⁷	n/a	3,596	-	3,430	(101)	3,329	858	n/a	24%	n/a	135	270	1,128
Outside management unit
Outside management units - Goulburn-Murray Water	n/a	15,150	-	15,156	-	15,156	1,591	n/a	11%	n/a	711	1,422	3,013
Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water
Groundwater management areas
Murrayville GMA	11,005	9,755	2,272	9,755	-	12,027	5,156	47%	53%	1,250	32	64	5,220
West Wimmera GMA ⁸^{, 9}	57,409	53,330	12,778	49,222	-	62,000	12,244	21%	23%	4,079	404	808	13,052
Outside management unit
Outside management units - Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water	n/a	9,603	-	9,603	-	9,603	1,047	n/a	11%	n/a	150	300	1,347
Lower Murray Water
Outside management unit
Outside management units - Lower Murray Water	n/a	5,000	-	5,000	-	5,000	333	n/a	7%	n/a	0	0	333
Southern Rural Water
Groundwater management areas
Bungaree GMA	5,334	5,293	-	5,293	-	5,293	2,003	38%	38%	41	82	123	2,126
Cardigan GMA	3,967	3,889	-	3,885	-	3,885	708	18%	18%	78	66	99	807
Colongulac GMA	4,695	4,400	-	4,401	-	4,401	573	12%	13%	295	47	71	644
Corinella GMA	2,550	662	-	662	-	662	24	1%	4%	1,888	31	47	71
Cut Paw Paw GMA	3,650	521	-	521	-	521	0	0%	0%	3,129	3	5	5
Denison GMA	18,502	18,499	-	18,499	-	18,499	2,922	16%	16%	3	67	101	3,023
Frankston GMA	3,200	2,670	-	2,670	-	2,670	884	28%	33%	530	28	42	926
Gellibrand GMA ¹⁰	0	0	-	0	-	0	0	0%	0%	0	0	0	0
Gerangamete GMA	239	238	-	238	-	238	86	36%	36%	1	3	5	91
Giffard GMA	5,689	5,689	-	5,689	-	5,689	1,628	29%	29%	0	101	152	1,780
Glenormiston GMA	2,698	2,636	-	2,636	-	2,636	856	32%	32%	62	34	51	907
Jan Juc GMA ¹¹	14,250	14,250	-	14,250	-	14,250	119	1%	1%	0	3	5	124
Lancefield GMA	1,485	1,378	-	1,378	-	1,378	212	14%	15%	107	28	42	254
Leongatha GMA	6,500	1,813	-	1,813	-	1,813	14	0%	1%	4,687	29	44	58
Merrimu GMA	451	8	-	8	-	8	0	0%	0%	443	8	12	12
Moe GMA	8,200	3,761	-	3,762	-	3,762	252	3%	7%	4,439	72	108	360
Moorabbin GMA	2,700	2,624	-	2,624	-	2,624	622	23%	24%	76	170	255	877
Nepean GMA	6,110	6,110	-	6,110	-	6,110	3,090	51%	51%	0	1,842	1,842	4,932
Newlingrook GMA	1,977	1,958	-	1,958	-	1,958	21	1%	1%	19	1	2	23
Orbost GMA	1,217	1,217	-	1,217	-	1,217	168	14%	14%	0	2	3	171
Paaratte GMA	4,606	3,159	-	3,159	-	3,159	311	7%	10%	1,447	1	2	313
Portland GMA	7,795	7,794	-	7,794	-	7,794	2,350	30%	30%	1	2	3	2,353
Rosedale GMA ⁸^{, 12}	22,372	23,730	-	18,067	-	18,067	10,343	46%	44%	(1,358)	142	213	10,556
South West Limestone GMA ¹³	n/a	81,171	23,682	81,171	-	104,853	20,564	n/a	25%	n/a	1,700	2,550	23,114
Stratford GMA ⁸^{, 12}	27,686	31,863	-	19,869	(10)	19,859	19,116	69%	60%	n/a	13	26	19,142
Tarwin GMA	1,300	58	-	58	-	58	0	0%	0%	1,242	206	309	309
Wa De Lock GMA ⁸	30,795	29,121	-	29,124	-	29,124	3,690	12%	13%	1,674	237	356	4,046
Wandin Yallock GMA	3,027	3,025	-	3,025	-	3,025	336	11%	11%	2	33	50	386
Wy Yung GMA ⁸	7,463	7,462	-	7,462	-	7,462	444	6%	6%	1	8	12	456
Water supply protection areas
Condah WSPA	7,475	7,470	-	7,470	-	7,470	1,195	16%	16%	5	66	99	1,294
Deutgam WSPA	5,100	5,082	-	5,082	-	5,082	212	4%	4%	18	39	59	271
Koo Wee Rup WSPA	12,915	12,565	-	12,566	-	12,566	2,637	20%	21%	350	406	609	3,246
Sale WSPA	21,238	21,203	-	21,138	-	21,138	9,250	44%	44%	35	245	368	9,618
Warrion WSPA	14,086	14,073	-	14,120	-	14,120	2,297	16%	16%	13	104	156	2,453
Yarram WSPA	25,690	25,688	-	25,688	-	25,688	8,238	32%	32%	2	257	386	8,624
Outside management unit
Outside management units - Southern Rural Water	n/a	86,946	-	87,373	10	87,383	13,830	n/a	16%	n/a	3,887	5,831	19,661
Total 2022-23		949,157	67,021	896,057	(101)	962,976	187,512		20%	42,412	18,058	30,228	217,740
Total 2021-22		953,312	66,055	896,782	(380)	962,456	259,321		27%	61,084	18,205	30,420	289,741

Show notes

Table 3: Groundwater entitlements and groundwater taken for consumptive use

Groundwater management unit	Entitlement volume (ML)	Water available and taken under licences (ML)	Compliance	Domestic and stock	Total use (licensed + domestic and stock) (ML)
Goulburn-Murray Water
Groundwater management areas
Barnawartha GMA	2,100	375	-	375	-	375	4	0%	1%	1,725	34	68	72
Broken GMA	3,732	2,941	-	2,976	-	2,976	366	10%	12%	791	358	716	1,082
Central Victorian Mineral Springs GMA	6,024	5,201	-	5,213	-	5,213	1,090	18%	21%	823	996	1,992	3,082
Eildon GMA	1,496	695	-	695	-	695	189	13%	27%	801	312	624	813
Kiewa GMA	3,852	3,107	-	3,107	-	3,107	356	9%	11%	745	207	414	770
Lower Ovens GMA	25,200	19,875	-	19,875	-	19,875	3,465	14%	17%	5,325	1,063	2,126	5,591
Mid Goulburn GMA	12,470	12,465	2,485	12,463	-	14,948	1,735	14%	14%	5	117	234	1,969
Mid Loddon GMA	34,037	33,927	9,743	33,927	-	43,669	11,762	35%	35%	110	150	300	12,062
Shepparton Irrigation Region GMA ²^{, 3}	n/a	185,575	-	185,737	-	185,737	10,817	n/a	6%	n/a	913	1,826	12,643
Strathbogie GMA	1,660	1,373	-	1,373	-	1,373	451	27%	33%	287	229	458	909
Upper Goulburn GMA	8,568	6,110	-	6,130	-	6,130	840	10%	14%	2,458	484	968	1,808
Upper Murray GMA	7,674	3,496	-	3,532	-	3,532	425	6%	12%	4,178	197	394	819
West Goulburn GMA ⁴	n/a	3,013	298	3,037	-	3,336	1,021	n/a	34%	n/a	90	180	1,201
Water supply protection areas
Katunga WSPA ⁵	60,577	60,201	-	42,140	-	42,140	9,091	15%	15%	376	768	1,536	10,627
Loddon Highlands WSPA	20,697	20,483	3,029	20,502	-	23,530	4,721	23%	23%	214	369	738	5,459
Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA ⁶	55,875	55,860	12,734	42,029	-	54,763	10,955	20%	20%	15	376	752	11,707
Upper Ovens River WSPA ⁷	n/a	3,596	-	3,430	(101)	3,329	858	n/a	24%	n/a	135	270	1,128
Outside management unit
Outside management units - Goulburn-Murray Water	n/a	15,150	-	15,156	-	15,156	1,591	n/a	11%	n/a	711	1,422	3,013
Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water
Groundwater management areas
Murrayville GMA	11,005	9,755	2,272	9,755	-	12,027	5,156	47%	53%	1,250	32	64	5,220
West Wimmera GMA ⁸^{, 9}	57,409	53,330	12,778	49,222	-	62,000	12,244	21%	23%	4,079	404	808	13,052
Outside management unit
Outside management units - Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water	n/a	9,603	-	9,603	-	9,603	1,047	n/a	11%	n/a	150	300	1,347
Lower Murray Water
Outside management unit
Outside management units - Lower Murray Water	n/a	5,000	-	5,000	-	5,000	333	n/a	7%	n/a	0	0	333
Southern Rural Water
Groundwater management areas
Bungaree GMA	5,334	5,293	-	5,293	-	5,293	2,003	38%	38%	41	82	123	2,126
Cardigan GMA	3,967	3,889	-	3,885	-	3,885	708	18%	18%	78	66	99	807
Colongulac GMA	4,695	4,400	-	4,401	-	4,401	573	12%	13%	295	47	71	644
Corinella GMA	2,550	662	-	662	-	662	24	1%	4%	1,888	31	47	71
Cut Paw Paw GMA	3,650	521	-	521	-	521	0	0%	0%	3,129	3	5	5
Denison GMA	18,502	18,499	-	18,499	-	18,499	2,922	16%	16%	3	67	101	3,023
Frankston GMA	3,200	2,670	-	2,670	-	2,670	884	28%	33%	530	28	42	926
Gellibrand GMA ¹⁰	0	0	-	0	-	0	0	0%	0%	0	0	0	0
Gerangamete GMA	239	238	-	238	-	238	86	36%	36%	1	3	5	91
Giffard GMA	5,689	5,689	-	5,689	-	5,689	1,628	29%	29%	0	101	152	1,780
Glenormiston GMA	2,698	2,636	-	2,636	-	2,636	856	32%	32%	62	34	51	907
Jan Juc GMA ¹¹	14,250	14,250	-	14,250	-	14,250	119	1%	1%	0	3	5	124
Lancefield GMA	1,485	1,378	-	1,378	-	1,378	212	14%	15%	107	28	42	254
Leongatha GMA	6,500	1,813	-	1,813	-	1,813	14	0%	1%	4,687	29	44	58
Merrimu GMA	451	8	-	8	-	8	0	0%	0%	443	8	12	12
Moe GMA	8,200	3,761	-	3,762	-	3,762	252	3%	7%	4,439	72	108	360
Moorabbin GMA	2,700	2,624	-	2,624	-	2,624	622	23%	24%	76	170	255	877
Nepean GMA	6,110	6,110	-	6,110	-	6,110	3,090	51%	51%	0	1,842	1,842	4,932
Newlingrook GMA	1,977	1,958	-	1,958	-	1,958	21	1%	1%	19	1	2	23
Orbost GMA	1,217	1,217	-	1,217	-	1,217	168	14%	14%	0	2	3	171
Paaratte GMA	4,606	3,159	-	3,159	-	3,159	311	7%	10%	1,447	1	2	313
Portland GMA	7,795	7,794	-	7,794	-	7,794	2,350	30%	30%	1	2	3	2,353
Rosedale GMA ⁸^{, 12}	22,372	23,730	-	18,067	-	18,067	10,343	46%	44%	(1,358)	142	213	10,556
South West Limestone GMA ¹³	n/a	81,171	23,682	81,171	-	104,853	20,564	n/a	25%	n/a	1,700	2,550	23,114
Stratford GMA ⁸^{, 12}	27,686	31,863	-	19,869	(10)	19,859	19,116	69%	60%	n/a	13	26	19,142
Tarwin GMA	1,300	58	-	58	-	58	0	0%	0%	1,242	206	309	309
Wa De Lock GMA ⁸	30,795	29,121	-	29,124	-	29,124	3,690	12%	13%	1,674	237	356	4,046
Wandin Yallock GMA	3,027	3,025	-	3,025	-	3,025	336	11%	11%	2	33	50	386
Wy Yung GMA ⁸	7,463	7,462	-	7,462	-	7,462	444	6%	6%	1	8	12	456
Water supply protection areas
Condah WSPA	7,475	7,470	-	7,470	-	7,470	1,195	16%	16%	5	66	99	1,294
Deutgam WSPA	5,100	5,082	-	5,082	-	5,082	212	4%	4%	18	39	59	271
Koo Wee Rup WSPA	12,915	12,565	-	12,566	-	12,566	2,637	20%	21%	350	406	609	3,246
Sale WSPA	21,238	21,203	-	21,138	-	21,138	9,250	44%	44%	35	245	368	9,618
Warrion WSPA	14,086	14,073	-	14,120	-	14,120	2,297	16%	16%	13	104	156	2,453
Yarram WSPA	25,690	25,688	-	25,688	-	25,688	8,238	32%	32%	2	257	386	8,624
Outside management unit
Outside management units - Southern Rural Water	n/a	86,946	-	87,373	10	87,383	13,830	n/a	16%	n/a	3,887	5,831	19,661
Total 2022-23		949,157	67,021	896,057	(101)	962,976	187,512		20%	42,412	18,058	30,228	217,740
Total 2021-22		953,312	66,055	896,782	(380)	962,456	259,321		27%	61,084	18,205	30,420	289,741

Figure 6: Urban groundwater use by groundwater catchment

Figure 6: Urban groundwater use by groundwater catchment

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Figure 7: Irrigation groundwater use by groundwater catchment

Figure 7: Irrigation groundwater use by groundwater catchment

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Compliance

Compliance against groundwater entitlements is reported in these Accounts in 3 areas:

entitlement issued: that the volume of entitlements (not applicable for domestic and stock water use) issued in a GMU (either a WSPA or a GMA) does not exceed the PCV or has not increased without appropriate approvals
water taken: that the volume of water taken under entitlements during the year does not exceed the total water available to licence holders in that year
bulk entitlement provisions: that holders of entitlements do not breach any provisions that are documented in their bulk entitlement orders.

PCV compliance is not assessed in the following 6 GMUs:

Rosedale and Stratford GMA: current compliance assessment criteria are not applicable. Coal mine licences are physically located in the area, however due to a lack of clarity about the inter-aquifer behaviour of resources, it is not possible to assign or assess licence volume and extraction against the Rosedale or Stratford GMA PCV.
Shepparton Irrigation Region GMA: there is no PCV as there is no limit on the total volume of shallow groundwater entitlement available.
South West Limestone GMA: the PCV has not been gazetted. The South West Limestone GMA includes the areas of the former Nullawarre and Yangery WSPAs, and the Hawkesdale and Heywood GMAs, as well as the areas outside the former GMUs but included within the South West Limestone GMA boundary. The PCVs for the 4 GMUs have not been revoked and still apply. PCV volumes are 22,741 ML for Nullawarre, 14,352 ML for Yangery, 16,161 ML for Hawkesdale and 8,500 ML for Heywood.
Upper Ovens River WSPA: a PCV is not required because the management plan prevents additional entitlements or an increase in entitlement volume from being issued, except by trade.
West Goulburn GMA: there is no PCV, but there are individual zone caps set. The total recorded use in the West Goulburn GMA in 2022-23 was 1,021 ML, 34% of the total licensed volume.

For West Wimmera GMA, Wy Yung GMA, Nepean GMA, Rosedale GMA, Stratford GMA and Wa De Lock GMA, the PCV that applies is the sum of the PCVs for all zones within each GMA.

Key points on compliance against entitlements

Entitlement issued

There was an allowable net increase in the total entitlement volume from the previous year. See note below.

Licensed entitlement volume

The licensed entitlement volume did not exceed the relevant gazetted PCV for each GMU, where compliance can be assessed (explanations under the Compliance section).

Total volume of licensed groundwater

The total volume of licensed groundwater used in each GMU was within the volume available for the year.

Individual bulk entitlements

Individual bulk entitlement holders complied with all provisions in their entitlements.

Note to increase in total entitlement volume:

All increases have been made in accordance with the relevant rules and appropriate approvals. See explanations in the groundwater local reports for the Central Victorian Mineral Springs groundwater management area (GMA), Eildon GMA, Rosedale GMA, Upper Ovens River water supply protection area and the West Wimmera GMA.

Trade

Groundwater can be traded via the trade of take and use licences. Outside of declared water systems, take and use licences allow water to be taken from unregulated surface water systems or groundwater to be used on the land defined in the licence.

For further information:

Surface water trade for 2022-23 is covered in Statewide surface water.
An introduction to the water trading framework in Victoria can be found in How is water managed?
A more detailed breakdown of water trade for 2022-23 can be found in the Victorian Water Trading 2022-23 Annual Report.

Groundwater trade

Trades as part of land transfers were the most common type of groundwater take and use licence trade.

In 2022-23 (Figure 8 and Table 4):

the volume of temporary groundwater trade was 10,956 ML, lower than in the previous year
the volume of permanent groundwater trade (not as part of a land transfer) was 1,979 ML, lower than in the previous year
most groundwater take and use licence trades were as part of land transfers, with 317 trades amounting to 44,485 ML. This is a lower entitlement volume across a smaller number of trades than in the previous year.

Table 4: Trade of groundwater take and use licences in groundwater management units

Region	Temporary trade	Permanent trade (not as part of a land transfer)	Trade as part of a land transfer
Northern Victoria	6,549	46	503	10	22,604	129
Southern Victoria	2,521	44	1,471	18	17,682	175
Western Victoria	1,886	7	5	1	4,199	13
Total 2022-23	10,956	97	1,979	29	44,485	317
Total 2021-22	15,399	117	4,121	58	49,193	365

Region	Temporary trade	Permanent trade (not as part of a land transfer)	Trade as part of a land transfer
Northern Victoria	6,549	46	503	10	22,604	129
Southern Victoria	2,521	44	1,471	18	17,682	175
Western Victoria	1,886	7	5	1	4,199	13
Total 2022-23	10,956	97	1,979	29	44,485	317
Total 2021-22	15,399	117	4,121	58	49,193	365

In 2022-23, there was a higher volume of groundwater entitlement temporarily traded than permanently traded.

Across the trade types of temporary trade and land transfer, northern Victoria had the highest combined volume traded. For the permanent trade (not as part of a land transfer) type, there was a higher combined volume in southern Victoria. The lowest volume of trade across all trade types was in western Victoria.

There was more trade in groundwater take and use licences than trade in surface water take and use licences during 2022-23. For information on surface water trade, visit Statewide surface water.

Water supply

There are 18 water corporations that provide water supply services to Victorian towns and irrigation systems. Explore how we account for water flowing through these systems in 2022-23.

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Local water reports

Explore the local water reports by surface water, groundwater or water supply.

Surface water

This is water that occurs or flows on land. Explore the reports on statewide surface water availability, use, compliance and trade for 2022-23.

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Groundwater

On this page:

About groundwater

2022-23 overview

Restrictions on use

GMU changes

Water use

Groundwater level trends

2022-23 groundwater level trends

Table 1: Groundwater level trends

Response to water availability

Groundwater restrictions

Water use

Total use and use by type

Table 2: Groundwater diverted for different consumptive uses

Entitlements and compliance

Entitlements

Available water and take

Groundwater entitlement and groundwater taken for consumptive use

Table 3: Groundwater entitlements and groundwater taken for consumptive use

Figure 6: Urban groundwater use by groundwater catchment

Figure 7: Irrigation groundwater use by groundwater catchment

Compliance

Key points on compliance against entitlements

Entitlement issued

Licensed entitlement volume

Total volume of licensed groundwater

Individual bulk entitlements

Trade

Groundwater trade

Table 4: Trade of groundwater take and use licences in groundwater management units

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Water supply

Local water reports

Surface water

Victorian Water Accounts 2022-23

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Region	Temporary trade		Permanent trade (not as part of a land transfer)		Trade as part of a land transfer
Region	Volume (ML)	Number of trades	Volume (ML)	Number of trades	Volume (ML)	Number of trades
Northern Victoria	6,549	46	503	10	22,604	129
Southern Victoria	2,521	44	1,471	18	17,682	175
Western Victoria	1,886	7	5	1	4,199	13
Total 2022-23	10,956	97	1,979	29	44,485	317
Total 2021-22	15,399	117	4,121	58	49,193	365