BSA is committed to working with government and industry to achieve a coal seam gas industry that has minimal environmental, economic and social impacts and preserves groundwater resources for future generations.
The Great Artesian Basin
Importance of the Great Artesian Basin
The Great Artesian Basin is an aquifer system that underlies more than 20% of Australia. It’s a vital water source of some 200,000 people and under pins $3.5 billon of annual agricultural production. Since 2007 the GAB has been managed under the GAB Resource Operations Plan (ROP). The plan protects flows to springs and base flow to watercourses; it protects existing allocations and provides a process for new allocation to be made in areas of available water.
New allocations identified in the plan for future use are 23,000ML of general reserve and 10,000 ML for projects of State or regional significance. The plan ensures that any release of any new water from the basin does not put at risk the natural assets of springs and any future development will be managed within sustainable levels.
However, the Coal Seam Gas industry – which could potentially extract up to 350,000 ML of groundwater per year (equal to about two-thirds of Sydney Harbour) – is exempt from complying with the GAB ROP. BSA views this as unacceptable and irresponsible.
