About the area
The Newlingrook Groundwater Management Area (GMA) covers a layered aquifer sequence of sand and gravel, mixed with silts and clays and is centred on the Gellibrand River, where it partially underlies the South West Limestone GMA.
The water authority responsible for managing groundwater in the Newlingrook GMA is Southern Rural Water.
The Newlingrook GMA Local Management Plan applies to groundwater resources for all formations below the surface.
More information on groundwater management can be found on the Southern Rural website.
Groundwater level trends
In 2023-24, a trend for Newlingrook could not be determined towards the end of the year due to data availability, however it was rising in the prior quarter ending March 2024.
Table 1: Groundwater level trends, Newlingrook GMA
Response to water availability
Groundwater restrictions
There were no restrictions on licensed use in the Newlingrook GMA in 2023-24.
Entitlements and use
Groundwater entitlements have been issued for licensed (non-urban) use and urban supply to the Otway System (Carlisle) in the Newlingrook GMA. Groundwater is also available for domestic and stock use.
Entitlement volumes
Table 2: Groundwater entitlements at 30 June, Newlingrook GMA
Available water and take
The table below shows the total water available and taken under entitlements, and estimated domestic and stock use in 2023-24. Total water available under entitlements is the sum of opening carryover, allocation issued and the net trade in or out of water.
Estimated domestic and stock use is calculated based on an assumed usage per registered bore per year. In this GMA, the assumed usage is 1.5 ML usage per bore per year.
More information on groundwater use and availability has been detailed in How we account for
Table 3: Groundwater availability and take, Newlingrook GMA
Compliance
Compliance against water entitlements is reported for this groundwater management unit (GMU) in 2 areas:
- entitlement issued: that the volume of entitlements issued in the GMU does not exceed relevant permissible consumptive volumes (PCVs) or has not increased without appropriate approvals
- water extracted: that 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
There was an allowed increase in the total entitlement volume from the previous year
There was an overall increase of 3 ML.
Entitlement volume did not exceed the PCV
The volume of entitlements (1,961 ML) in the Newlingrook GMA did not exceed the PCV (1,977 ML).
Total volume extracted under licences was within the available volume
The total volume extracted under licences (3 ML) was within the volume available for the year (1,961 ML).
Table 4: PCV vs total entitlement volumes, Newlingrook GMA
Management responsibilities
Management of water in the Newlingrook GMA is undertaken by Southern Rural Water.
| Authority | Management responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Southern Rural Water |
|
