Monitoring & Resourcing

Monitoring is a key issue. There is a lack of baseline data that is publicly available – many bores outside the Condamine Alluvium Groundwater management area have not been monitored. There is a serious lack of confidence by water users that the cumulative impacts are being adequately assessed.

Even for the monitored bore levels, determining baseline data over the long term is difficult. The levels fluctuate significantly and now, with allocations being cut again - the variables will change. Even with modelling, it will be difficult to effectively report long term trends.

The current requirement is that if the water levels drop more than two metres in uncompacted aquifers – like the Condamine Alluvium – and five metres in compacted aquifers – like the Hutton Sandstones – this triggers an investigation. This is where the make good provisions come into play.

Independent monitoring – assessing cumulative impacts - is essential.

The Qld Water Commission is armed with the responsibility to manage the groundwater “make good” provisions if the trigger thresholds are reached. Both water quality and quantity should be addressed in this process. The QWC needs to be adequately funded and staffed to be able to carry out this very important role.

Landholders would also like to see more compliance officers in the field monitoring the activities of companies and their contractors.