Improving management of Victoria’s groundwater resources (PDF~2.5MB)

Groundwater is a critical and highly reliable resource throughout Victoria. It supports many communities and businesses, as well as parts of the natural environment.

This policy paper outlines how the existing arrangements for managing groundwater will be extended to help Victoria balance the needs of current and future water users, and the environment, into the future. Management will be based on whole aquifer systems, rather than areas of actual or potential intensive groundwater extraction. This will allow groundwater systems to be managed more effectively from where surface water recharges aquifers, to the areas where water is extracted, and on to where groundwater discharges to waterways, wetlands, estuaries and the sea.

Managing adverse water resource impacts of land use changes (PDF~1.3MB)

Large-scale increases in some land uses can change the way water moves through the landscape and affect other water users and the environment. This is particularly true during dry years. Deep-rooted vegetation can intercept water before it reaches waterways and groundwater, and in some areas can draw water directly from shallow aquifers.

This policy paper outlines the Government’s approach to managing the adverse water resource impacts of land use vegetation changes in Victoria. It aims to:

• improve information about water use by different land uses to inform water management decisions
• allow more intensive management responses to be targeted to areas where they are needed.

The approach will:

• extend Victoria’s existing approach to water management
• allow Victoria to meet obligations under the National Water Initiative
• ensure South Australia and Victoria can manage these issues compatibly in areas along the shared border.