The South West groundwater areas are about 200 kilometres south of Perth, in the south-west of Western Australia.
South West groundwater resources in the plan area
The South West groundwater areas allocation plan covers the groundwater resources of the Bunbury, Busselton-Capel, Blackwood and part of the South West Coastal groundwater areas.
The aquifers included are the confined Leederville, Yarragadee, Lesueur Sandstone, Sue Coal Measures, Cattamarra Coal Measures aquifers and the unconfined Superficial aquifer.
Water planning in the South West groundwater areas
We have completed an allocation plan for the groundwater resources in the South West groundwater areas. The South West groundwater areas allocation plan was released on the 4 June 2009 by the Minister for Water, in Bunbury. At the launch, we also released our Statement of response to the comments we received on the plan in 2008 during a three-month public comment period.
The plan contains new allocation limits to define water availability for the groundwater water resources in the plan area. It includes policies for how we will allocate and manage water resources and informs how we will monitor, measure and evaluate the objectives of the plan.
We have also received funding from the Australian Government’s Water Smart Australia program to improve our understanding and management of South West groundwater resources.
Why has the department prepared a water allocation plan?
The south west is one of the fastest growing areas in the state and groundwater in the south west is in high demand. This increasing demand is leading to competition for groundwater resources. Planning is needed to provide water users with secure water supplies, while meeting the needs of the community and the environment in a drying climate.
How can I access any of the information on South West groundwater area that the department has produced?
We are committed to making our technical information, which is used in the planning process, available to the public.
Please click on the links to access the following documents:
Allocation plan and supporting documents
South West groundwater areas allocation plan
Publish Date: 04/06/2009
South West groundwater areas allocation plan – statement of response
Publish Date: 04/06/2009
Reviewing the allocation limits for the south west groundwater areas
Publish Date: 11/03/2009
South west groundwater areas monitoring program
Publish Date: 01/12/2008
Management triggers and responses for groundwater dependent ecosystems
Publish Date: 01/12/2008
Blackwood groundwater area and subarea reference sheets
Publish Date: May/2009
Bunbury and South West Coastal groundwater subarea reference sheets
Publish Date: May/2009
Busselton – Capel groundwater area subarea reference sheets
Publish Date: May/2009
Ecological reports
Ecological water requirements of Blackwood River and tributaries : Nannup to Hut Pool
Publish Date: 10/10/2008
Review of the botanical values on the South West Yarragadee project areas
Publish Date: 10/10/2008
South West Yarragadee : assessment of vegetation susceptibility and possible response to drawdown
Publish Date: 10/10/2008
Blackwood River : refining ecological water requirements for the allocation planning process (Nannup to Hut Pool)
Publish Date: 26/09/2008
Determination of Ecological Water Requirements for wetland and terrestrial vegetation : southern Blackwood and eastern Scott Coastal Plain
Publish Date: 05/06/2008
Determination of Ecological Water Requirements for wetland and terrestrial vegetation : southern Blackwood and eastern Scott Coastal Plain : baseline vegetation monitoring results & monitoring protocol
Publish Date: 05/06/2008
A summary of investigations into ecological water requirements of groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the South West Groundwater Areas
Publish Date: 01/12/2006
Baseline study on the fish and fauna in the Blackwood River and its tributaries receiving discharge from the Yarragadee Aquifer
Publish Date: 22/09/2005
Ecological water requirements for the Blackwood groundwater area
Publish Date: 18/12/2003
Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood groundwater area, Western Australia, stages 1 and 2 main report, figures [maps and charts ] and appendices A - L
Publish Date: 23/06/2003
Social and cultural reports
Social impact assessment report for the Water Corporation proposal to source water from the South West Yarragadee as part of the sustainability evaluation for the proposal
Publish Date: 24/10/2008
A survey of Aboriginal social water requirements for the Southern Blackwood Plateau and the Scott Coastal Plain, Southwest Western Australia
Publish Date: 26/09/2008
Social water requirements for the Blackwood groundwater area
Publish Date: 01/02/2007
South West Yarragadee Blackwood groundwater area : Aboriginal cultural values study
Publish Date: 18/12/2003
Social values and impact study : the results of the south west and Perth community surveys : South West Yarragadee Blackwood groundwater area
Publish Date: 18/12/2003
South West Yarragadee Blackwood groundwater area : summary [Social values and impact study ]
Publish Date: 18/12/2003
Hydrological reports (or hydrogeological)
Construction, calibration and application of the South West Yarragadee aquifer model v2.0
Publish Date: 10/10/2008
South West Yarragadee : hydrogeological investigations and evaluation : Southern Perth Basin
Publish Date: 10/10/2008
Lake Quitjup hydrology study
Publish Date: 10/10/2008
Interpretation of SWAMS 2.0 groundwater modelling results for regional areas of water table decline
Publish Date: 10/10/2008
Hydrogeological assessment of groundwater-dependent ecosystem at St John Brook : report
Publish Date: 10/10/2008
Blackwood River Valley model: report
Publish Date: 10/10/2008
Assessment of hydrogeology, drainage and potential effect on the water table of drawdown in the Yarragadee aquifer
Publish Date: 26/09/2008
South-West Yarragadee aquifer : Peer Review Panel report on south-west aquifer modelling system ( SWAMS v 1.2.1 ) : final report to Department of Environment Western Australia
Publish Date: 17/05/2005
Hydrogeology of the eastern Scott Coastal Plain
Publish Date: 07/01/2003
Further information
For licensing information, please contact the South West Regional office in Bunbury. Phone 08 9726 4111.
For planning information, please contact the Department's Water Allocation Planning Branch. Phone 08 6364 7600 or email allocation.planning@water.wa.gov.au.