Action item 7.8b
Progress
Complete.
Approved by decision makers.
Recommendation implemented.
That the following measures be mandated to ensure that any onshore shale gas development does not cause unacceptable local drawdown of aquifers:
- that relevant WAPs include provisions that adequately control both the rate and volume of water extraction by the gas companies;
- that gas companies be required, at their expense, to monitor drawdown in local water supply bores; and
- that gas companies be required to immediately ‘make good’ and rectify any problems if the drawdown is found to be excessive.
Completed
Action item update
Implementation
The draft Georgina Wiso water allocation plan allocates water amongst declared beneficial uses within the estimated sustainable yield of the water resource. This will specifically allocate water available to the petroleum activity as a maximum water extraction volume for the gas industry in the plan area.
The plan is supported by the water regulatory framework in place in the Territory, including policy that stages the release of water and conditions in water extraction licences that manage drawdown impacts.
More information is available on the DEPWS website.