DEECA

About the area

The Wy Yung groundwater management area (GMA) covers a shallow sand and gravel aquifer with silts and clays centred on the Mitchell River.

The water authority responsible for managing groundwater in the Wy Yung GMA is Southern Rural Water.

The Wy Yung GMA Local Management Plan details 3 management zones where the plan applies to groundwater resources for all formations between the surface to 25 m below the surface.

More information on groundwater management can be found on the Southern Rural Water website.External Link

Table 1: Groundwater level trends, Wy Yung GMA

Response to water availability

Groundwater restrictions

There were no restrictions on licensed use in the Wy Yung GMA in 2024-25.

Entitlements and use

Groundwater entitlements have been issued for licensed (non-urban) use in the Wy Yung GMA. Groundwater is also available for domestic and stock use.

Entitlement volumes

Table 2: Groundwater entitlements at 30 June, Wy Yung GMA

Available water and take

The table below shows the total water available and taken under entitlements, and estimated domestic and stock use in 2024-25. Total water available under entitlements is calculated as the sum of: opening carryover from the prior year (where available), allocation issued during the reporting year, and the net trade in or out of water, across all entitlements. The level of allocation issued is reduced if there are any restrictions in place.

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 per bore per year.

More information on groundwater use and availability has been detailed in How we account for groundwater.External Link

Table 3: Groundwater availability and take, Wy Yung 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 in 2024-25

Entitlement volume did not exceed the PCV

The volume of entitlements (7,462 ML) in Wy Yung GMA did not exceed the PCV (7,463 ML).

Total volume extracted under licences was within the available volume

The total volume extracted under licences (416 ML) was within the volume available for the year (7,462 ML).

Table 4: PCV vs total entitlement volumes, Wy Yung GMA

Management responsibilities

Management of water in the Wy Yung GMA is undertaken by Southern Rural Water.

AuthorityManagement responsibilities
Southern Rural Water
  • Managing groundwater resources.
  • Developing and implementing groundwater management plans.
  • Issuing licences for groundwater use and bore construction.
  • Administering water for domestic and stock use.