7.20

Progress

25%

25% Complete.
Government approval of policy/process development.

That the Beetaloo Sub-basin SREBA must identify and characterise all subterranean aquatic ecosystems, with particular emphasis on the Roper River region.

Target completion date

Stage 3.
To be completed by end December 2022.

Reform area
Safeguarding water and the environment
Project action
Maintaining and monitoring ecosystem health
Lead agency
Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security

Action item update

Implementation progress

The Framework for Strategic Regional and Environmental Baseline Assessment: A guide to undertaking a Strategic Regional and Environmental Baseline Assessment (SREBA) in the Northern Territory was released in July 2020 and can be found here PDF (39.7 MB).

Government has determined a SREBA is required for the Beetaloo sub-Basin.  The region-specific Scopes of Work for various baseline studies will be approved by the Minister for the Environment.

The aquatic ecosystems final Scope of Work is now ready for Ministerial approval. This will include consideration of subterranean ecosystems, which will also be informed by baseline studies in the Water domain. Field work to commence in dry season 2021.

Work in the Beetaloo Sub-basin will be undertaken in cooperation with the Commonwealth Government's Geological and Bioregional Assessment program in that region, which has also funded additional ecological studies. A preliminary investigation of stygofauna in the Beetaloo Sub-basin has been completed under the GISERA program, and this will inform planning for additional stygofauna studies during the Beetaloo SREBA.