RESEARCHER’S FORUM

“Implications for Groundwater access, Extraction and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems”

March 2013

Acknowledgements

The GABCC would like to acknowledge the Forum Theme Leaders Dr Brian Smerdon, Assoc. Prof. Andy Love, Mr Travis Gotch and Mr Peter Baker for their considerable leadership and assistance during the planning and implementation of the GAB Researchers Forum. The Forum organising committee members (Lynn Brake, Moya Tomlinson, Saji Joseph, George Gates, and Alistair Usher) are to be commended for generously providing their time and expertise to assist the planning of the Forum. Last but by no means least Gayle Partridge and Paul Hardiman are also recognised for their energy and enthusiasm in the lead up to the Forum, and their active participation helping to successfully implement the event.

© Copyright Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee, 2013

The Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee Researchers Forum March 2013 is licensed by the Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee for use under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of agencies responsible for publishing the report, content supplied by third parties, and any images depicting people. For licence conditions see:

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Executive Summary

The Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee’s GAB Researchers Forum (the Forum) held 27 & 28 March 2013 in Adelaide brought together approximately 100 invited guests from a diversity of GAB sectors including research, government and industry for the purpose of sharing GAB related knowledge and experience, and potentially filling previously identified GAB knowledge gaps.

The Forum delivered the opportunity to communicate 22 presentations providing results of a diversity of significant contemporary GAB related research projects. These research results, together with other relevant research were consolidated in a subsequent workshop sessions. The outcome of the workshop session was to identify and prioritise contemporary GAB research and knowledge gaps, and then scope out potential research projects to address priority knowledge gaps.

The centerpiece of the Forum was the public release of two significant GAB Research Projects, the GAB Water Resource Assessment and NWC Springs Project, representing approximately $23M of Commonwealth, South Australian Government and stakeholder investment. The Projects were launched by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Secretary for Water, together with South Australian Minister for Water and River Murray, and directors from the respective research organisations and Chair of the GABCC.

The Forum combined the communication of hydrolgeological and ecological research outputs in a way that had not been attempted in previous GAB fora. Significant synergies and new perspectives were identified between and within both hydrogeological and ecological type research outputs. The Forum also provided an opportunity for collaborative linkages to be forged between specific GAB researchers and broader GAB stakeholders.

Context

The Great Artesian Basin (GAB)

The GAB is truly an iconic Australian water resource and still largely remains an unsung hero. It has sustained Aboriginal people for thousands of years and now supports a wide range of communities, enterprises and industries.

The GAB is one of the largest underground water reservoirs in the world. It underlies approximately one fifth of the Australian continent, encompassing largely arid and semi-arid landscapes to the west of the Great Dividing Range.

The GAB is a ‘confined’ groundwater Basin comprising a complex multi-layered system of water bearing strata (aquifers) separated by largely impervious rock units. The water yielded by the aquifers is predominantly fresh and in most areas under sufficient pressure to provide a flowing water source when tapped by the drilling of bores. Natural outflows occur at artesian springs. These artesian springs support a diverse array of wildlife in the arid regions.

The major issue in the GAB today is the sustainable use of its groundwater resources. In recent years, close to 600,000 megalitres per year of groundwater has been extracted by bores in the GAB, of which the pastoral industry accounts for over 85%. However, with potential extractive industry development within the GAB, the volume of co-produced GAB water is set to increase. A Strategic Management Plan for the GAB (the Plan) was released in September 2000 (

The Plan incorporates national policy principles on groundwater management, sustainability and biodiversity, and complements State and Territory water resource legislation. This helps to ensure that Basin-wide considerations and principles are kept in focus during detailed planning and implementation at the State, Territory and regional level.

Ongoing cooperative management of the GAB water resource by government, industries and communities, based on improved information, effective legislation, advanced technologies and strong partnerships will ensure sustainable use of the treasure that is Australia’s Great Artesian Basin.

Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee (GABCC)

The work of the GABCC is largely shaped by the Strategic Management Plan for the GAB. The GABCC was established early in2004 to replace the Great Artesian Basin Consultative Council, which ceased operation in December 2002.

The primary role of GABCC is to provide advice from community organisations and agencies to Ministers on efficient, effective and sustainable whole-of-resource management and to coordinate activity between stakeholders.

The GABCC is comprised of multi-sectoral representation from government, agriculture, environment, indigenous and industry tasked with advising on the sustainable whole-of-basin management of the Great Artesian Basin. One on the functions of the GABCC is to promote and foster ongoing knowledge and research of key GAB knowledge gaps. To this end the GABCC maintains a Research Development (R&D) prospectus (and funds a GABCC PhD Top-up scholarship program to foster engagement with early career academics promoting opportunities to fill these knowledge gaps).

Further information on the operation of the GABCC Research and Development prospectus may be found at

GAB Researchers Forum Background

One of the key stated objectives of the GABCC is to promote and foster ongoing knowledge and research of key GAB knowledge gaps. To meet these objectives the GABCC has previously implemented a range of events(including GAB research forums), the last of which occurred in 2005. On 27 & 28 March 2013 the GABCC sponsored a GAB Researchers Forum around a centrepiece of launching the findings of two significant GAB research projects, the Great Artesian Basin Water Resource Assessment and the Allocating Water and Maintaining Springs in the Great Artesian Basin project.

GAB Researchers Forum Aim

The aim of the Forum was to communicate a range of contemporary GAB research findings and facilitate discussion between research stakeholders. Attendees to the Forum received presentations on the key GAB research (including knowledge gaps and implications for management) whilst also being provided the opportunity to participate in targeted workshops.

New Great Artesian Basin Conceptualisations

The findings of the GAB Forum will guide government and community decision making and inform development of high quality water policy. The Forum findings are intended to inform resource planning, management and investment decisions through the provision of quality data that is reliable and fit-for-purpose.

Contemporary Great Artesian Basin Research

Great Artesian Basin Water Resource Assessment (GAB WRA)

The GAB WRA provides an analytical framework that may be used by governments, industry and communities to inform resource planning and management and investment decisions through the provision of quality, reliable and fit-for-purpose data. Prior to the initiation of the GAB WRA there was an increasing demand to understand the hydrogeology of the GAB water in light of recent extractive industry development within the Basin, including coal seam gas and mining, so it was considered timely to assess and update the latest geological and hydrological information to support its management.

GAB WRA at a glance:

  • A two and a half-year $6.25 million project to assess water resources in the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) has been completed by Australia’s key research organisation the CSIRO, in collaboration with Geoscience Australia .
  • This is the first comprehensive study of the GAB aquifers since 1980.
  • The Great Artesian Basin Water Resource Assessment builds on previous Sustainable Yields studies.
  • CSIRO lead the two and a half year Assessment, with significant contribution from Geoscience Australia. Important aspects of the work are being undertaken by Sinclair Knight Merz, Flinders University, South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, and MA Habermehl Pty Ltd.
  • The GAB WRA findings highlights that vertical groundwater movement is more important than previously thought, which will affect its management.
  • It is important to understand the complex structure of the GAB, because geological features such as faults, ridges, connection to adjoining geological basins determine the groundwater conditions, including pressure and salinity and how they respond to change.

Allocating Water and Maintaining Springs in the Great Artesian Basin (Mound Springs project)

  • The four-year $17 million Mound Springs project, funded by the National Water Commission and the South Australian and Northern Territory Governments, pulled together a number of project partners including: the South Australian Arid Lands NRM Board, Flinders University, Adelaide University, CSIRO, and the South Australian and Northern Territory Governments.
  • Recognising that sound water planning and management requires a sound knowledge base, this project has made substantial contributions to our scientific understanding of the GAB in practical ways that will assist water management into the future. In particular:
  • For the first time, the locations of all springs in the western margin of the GAB have been mapped and recorded, and baseline condition assessments undertaken. This provides an essential baseline against which to assess the effect of current and future management actions.
  • The biodiversity value of the iconic GAB springs has been reinforced through genetic analyses that identified 25 new species of invertebrates that are endemic to the springs. The springs are already known to support rare and endangered ecological communities that are recognised under the Commonwealth’s EPBC Act 1990.
  • The water balance for the NT and SA portions of the GAB has been refined using a number of scientific methods to estimate various types of recharge and discharge processes. This new information challenges long-held management assumptions that the GAB is in a steady state.
  • New and cost-effective techniques to monitor spring flow rates and ecosystem responses have been developed as a result of this project. These techniques will help provide the information that is needed for informed management decisions.
  • The project has also developed a risk assessment framework to assess the response of GAB springs and their unique ecosystems to reductions in aquifer pressure, either from long-term natural decline or human impacts.
  • Translating the project’s research findings into improved water planning and more sustainable management will be a significant and important challenge for the NRM board, governments, local communities and industry into the future.

GAB Researchers Forum - Methods

Forum Presentations

The Forum was divided into three themes including GAB from the east, GAB from the west and GAB ecology. A leader was nominated for each theme and Dr Brain Smerdon, Ass Prof. Andy Love and Mr Travis Gotsch as recognised experts in their respective fields, agreed to lead each of the respective themes.

Forum Presentation Themes

The titles of presentations provided under each of the three themes are listed in text boxes below.


Theme 1 Leader – Dr Brian Smerdon (Photo: Gayle Partridge) / Theme 1: Hydrogeology – GAB from the East
  • Interconnectivity within the Surat CMA.
  • Results of trial aquifer injection programs in the Surat Basin.
  • Modelling the impact of mining on groundwater - uncertainty and upscaling.
  • Summary of Office of Water Science projects and bioregional assessments in the GAB. Great Artesian Basin Water Resources Assessment – overview and key findings.
  • Great Artesian Basin Water Resources Assessment - updates to the geology of the GAB.
  • An integrated approach to geoscientific basin models using 3D formats and visualisation


Theme 2 Leader- Assoc. Prof. Andy Love (Photo: Gayle Partridge) / Theme 2 : Hydrogeology– GAB from the West
Upwards leakage around the southwestern margin of the GAB.
  • Mound Formation.
  • GAB recharge – South Australia. Diffuse recharge & mountain system recharge along the western margin of the GAB.
  • GAB recharge – Northern Territory.
  • Conceptual model uranium series.
  • Groundwater chemistry and acid sulfate soil issues.
  • Steady state and transient modelling issues.
  • Diffuse discharge.
  • models using 3D formats and visualisation

Theme 3 Leader - Travis Gotch
Photo unavailable / Theme 3: GAB Ecology
  • South Australian perspective, including summaries ofNWC project outcomes.
  • Towards a comprehensive database for the GAB springs with an update on recent progress in Queenslandand New South Wales.
  • Remote sensing advances in spring management.
  • Groundwater dependent ecosystems - mapping in the Qld GAB.
  • The Evolution and biogeographic history of the endemic invertebrate community inhabiting South Australian mound springs.
  • GAB spring fish management and conservation; a case study from Edgebaston, Queensland.
  • Impacts of CSG on springs in the Surat CMA.
  • Evaluating risks to GAB springs.

Forum Workshops

The remaining knowledge gaps were captured and were considered by attendees during group work exercises which would contribute to the update of the GABCC Research and Development (R&D) prospectus.

To progress key outcomes of the GAB Researchers Forum it was proposed that:

a) the ranked key research priorities and gaps, identified at Table 1, be used to update the GABCC Research and Development Prospectus, for the endorsement of the GABCC; and

b) That draft GAB research projects (see Table 2)be published on the GABCC website, and also be promoted to relevant agencies responsible for funding GAB related research.

Forum Workshop sessions

The workshop sessions were implemented in the final phase of the Forum to consolidate the skills and experience of all workshop attendees, and provide clear advice on research priorities and potential projects to be considered in GAB water policy and future rounds of GAB related research investment.

Workshop – Ranking of priority research gaps and scoping of potential research projects

Plate 3: Chair GABCC Technical Working Group – Mr Peter Baker

Forum Results

Contribution of sessions to GABCC R&D Prospectus

The GABCC has identified important knowledge gaps in a range of research areas and actively encourages students and researchers to provide proposals to address priority research questions grouped under the following five key knowledge streams below:

  1. Understanding the resource
  2. GAB access infrastructure
  3. Monitor and measure
  4. Higher value measure
  5. Valuing investment

In the tables below a brief summation of each Forum presentation (blue boxes) and potential research projects (red boxes) have been mapped to each of the five key knowledge streams identified under the current GABCC Research and Development prospectus.

Detailed abstracts for selected Forum presentations are at Appendix 3.

Gross Forum Outcomes

Knowledge Stream A – Understanding the resource

The structure and function of the GAB has been researched for more than a century. Natural discharge, and the ecology of springs and soaks, have also been investigated. Monitoring of bores have also contributed to knowledge about the GAB and its management. However, the GAB is a very extensive and complex aquifer system, and knowledge gaps still limit the reliability of management and investment decisions, particularly in relation to understanding or quantifying uncertainty around groundwater flow and groundwater surface water interaction.

Stream A - Presentations


Stream A – Potential Research Projects

a)Qualification and Quantification of horizontal and vertical structural controls on Groundwater Flow both within and between GAB aquifers and interconnected overlying and underlying aquifers

Management issue identified by research & describe how research will assist in managing the issue. / The purpose of the research is to enable more robust management that the structural complexity of the GAB. The research is relevant to the following management issues;
  • Closing the water balance
  • Harvesting upward leakage
  • Connectivity with underlying basins
  • Interpolation of monitoring data

Research description including literature review, field sampling or survey, field or laboratory experiments. Experimental methodologies, sample size and analysis tools. / Quantification of fluxes literature
  • Costelloeet al.
  • Harrington et al.
Mapping and Identification literatures
  • Seismic
  • Land sat and aerial photographs
  • GAB WRA

Stakeholders to be consulted /
  • Unconventional gas industry
  • Mining industry
  • Geoscience Australia
  • Office of Water Science

Identify how the proposed research relates to existing research, particularly any cross-disciplinary connections / Extension and collaboration with current projects looking at
  • Polygonal faulting (GAB WRA)
  • Diffuse discharge (AWMSGAB)
  • Evaporation (Uni of Melb)
Cross-disciplinary
  • Geophysics
  • Structural geologists
  • Hydrogeologists
  • Remote sensors

Describe your research design, including literature review, field sampling or survey, field or laboratory experiments. What methodology will you use throughout your project? How will you identify your research sample? How will you collect and analyze data? / Research is designed to estimate diffuse and vertical leakage attributed to Polygonal and regional faults.
Field sampling to involve multi-level coring and multi-sections.
Field or laboratory experiments to include traces, physical properties and hydraulic tests.
Include a rough cost estimate; the cost estimate should include people and resources / Significant drilling/analysis budget ($15M)
Staffing 5FTE for 3 years $3M
Total budget $18M
List any deliverables that are related to the research /
  • Mapping of structural/sections/fluxes
  • Conceptual models

b)– Qualification and Quantification of the Winton/Mackunda Aquifer and underlying aquitard. “A Portrait of the Rolling Downs Group, a neglected aspect of the GAB”