Water allocation planning is part of how we understand and manage water resources. We manage water use by issuing water licences under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. Water allocation plans guide our licensing decisions.
Water allocation plans set out how much water is available from a particular resource or area, how much water needs to be left in the system and what conditions will be applied to licences in the local area.
To access our current allocation plans, please click on the links below:
Our process for water allocation planning
We follow a consistent and transparent process for developing allocation plans across the state. We develop non-statutory plans that reflect the intent of the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 and the National Water Initiative.
To access the detailed guide to our allocation planning process, click here.
To access the brief overview of our allocation planning process, click here.
Our current planning priorities
We set a state-wide planning program each year in accordance with our guide to allocation planning. Our priorities are based on three triggers for planning:
• pressures on the resource
• government commitments
and
• government priorities.
Our planning priorities for 2012 are:
| Region |
Plan |
Current stage |
Implementation |
| Kimberley region |
Ord River surface water |
plan development |
2012 |
| La Grange groundwater |
plan implementation and evaluation |
ongoing |
| Broome groundwater |
programming |
TBC |
| Pilbara region |
Pilbara groundwater |
plan development |
2012 |
| Mid West region |
Arrowsmith groundwater |
plan implementation and evaluation |
ongoing |
| Carnarvon Artesian Basin groundwater |
plan implementation and evaluation |
ongoing |
| Exmouth groundwater |
programming |
TBC |
| Jurien groundwater |
plan implementation and evaluation |
ongoing |
| Lower Gascoyne surface and groundwater |
plan implementation and evaluation |
ongoing |
| Goldfields region |
|
|
|
| Kwinana-Peel region |
Cockburn groundwater |
plan implementation and evaluation |
ongoing |
| Murray groundwater |
plan release |
2012 |
| Rockingham – Stakehill groundwater |
plan implementation and evaluation |
ongoing |
| Serpentine groundwater |
programming |
TBC |
| South West Coastal groundwater |
plan initiation |
2012 |
| Swan Avon region |
Canning River surface water |
plan release |
2012 |
| Gingin groundwater |
plan development |
2012 |
| Gnangara groundwater |
plan implementation and evaluation |
ongoing |
| Perth South – Jandakot groundwater |
programming |
TBC |
| South West region |
Kemerton groundwater |
plan implementation and evaluation |
ongoing |
| Lower Collie surface water |
plan release |
2012 |
| Preston River surface water |
programming |
TBC |
| South West groundwater |
plan implementation and evaluation |
ongoing |
| Upper Collie surface water and groundwater |
plan implementation and evaluation |
ongoing |
| Warren-Donnelly surface water |
plan release |
2012 |
| Whicher area surface water |
plan implementation and evaluation |
ongoing |
| South Coast region |
Esperance groundwater |
plan implementation and evaluation |
ongoing |
| Albany groundwater |
programming |
TBC |
Evaluating allocation plans
We regularly evaluate water allocation plans and publish the results online. Plan evaluations are used to improve how we allocate, license and monitor water resources across the state.
For current plan evaluation statements, see each allocation plan page, using the links above.
Further information
For more information on individual plans, or our guide to the allocation planning process, please visit the links above. Alternatively you can contact Allocation Planning at allocation.planning@water.wa.gov.au or 08 6364 6587.