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South West groundwater plan area

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The South West groundwater areas are about 200 kilometres south of Perth, in the south-west of Western Australia.

South West groundwater resources

The South West groundwater areas water management plan covers the groundwater resources of the Bunbury, Busselton-Capel and Blackwood groundwater areas.

The aquifers included are the confined Leederville, Yarragadee, Lesueur Sandstone, Sue Coal Measures, Cattamarra Coal Measures aquifers and the unconfined superficial aquifer.

Water planning in the South West groundwater areas

Go to plan

We have developed a draft plan for water resources in the South West groundwater areas.

The plan was open for a three-month public comment period which has now closed. We will be releasing the statement of response, addressing comments on the plan, and the final plan later this year.

We have received funding from the Australian Government's Water Smart Australia program to improve our understanding and management of South West groundwater resources. For more information on our Water Smart Australia projects please click here [link to follow].

Why has the department prepared a plan for South West groundwater?

The South West is one of the fastest growing areas in the state. Groundwater in the South West is in high demand. Increasing demand is leading to competition for water resources from the confined aquifers. Planning is needed to provide users with access to water and security, while meeting the needs of the environment in a drying climate.

How can I access the information on South West groundwater that the department has produced?

We are committed to making our technical information that is used in the planning process available to the public.

Please click on the links below to access the main reports relevant to the South West groundwater areas:
  The South West groundwater management plan
Adobe Portable Document Format Reviewing the allocation limits for the South West groundwater areas
Document Size: 1724231 bytes
A description of how the allocation limits were reviewed and updated for the South West groundwater areas. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format South West groundwater areas monitoring program
Document Size: 1717574 bytes
The groundwater resoucre monitoring program for the South West groundwater areas.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format South West groundwater areas water management plan: Draft for public comment
Document Size: 4484317 bytes
The public comment period on the draft South West groundwater plan has now closed. We will be releasing the statement of response, addressing comments on the plan, and the final plan later this year. 
 

  Community fact sheets
Adobe Portable Document Format Fact sheet 5 - Trading
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This fact sheet provides information on trading in the South West. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Fact sheet 4 - Licensing
Document Size: 63493 bytes
This fact sheet provides you with guidance and what you need to consider when submitting a groundwater license in the South West. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Fact sheet 3 - Frequently asked questions
Document Size: 70310 bytes
This fact sheet provides answers to frequently asked questions. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Fact sheet 2 - Water availability
Document Size: 1467510 bytes
This fact sheet provides information on the water availability for the South West groundwater areas. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Fact sheet 1 - Water management plan - South West
Document Size: 660084 bytes
This fact sheet provides information on what a water management plan is and what it means for the South West. 
 

  Economic reports
Adobe Portable Document Format Economic Issues Study Report - Horticulture
Document Size: 329609 bytes
This study was prepared as part of an assessment of future water needs from the South West Yarragadee Formation. Economic Consulting Services. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Economic Issues for the South West Yarragadee Water Formation
Document Size: 61184 bytes
Highlights the findings of the study conducted by Economic Consulting Services. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Economic Issues Study Report - Dairy
Document Size: 434282 bytes
This report outlines the economic issues and predicted groundwater requirements of the Dairy industry in the states South West. Primary Consulting Services. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Economic Issues Study Report - Viticulture
Document Size: 304039 bytes
This report details the water requirements of the viticultural industry within the Blackwood Groundwater Area. Albert Haak & Associates Pty Ltd.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format South West Yarragadee – Blackwood Groundwater Area: Economic Value Study
Document Size: 601900 bytes
By Economic Consulting Services. This report explores the economic considerations associated with an application from the Water Corporation to abstract 45 GL/yr from the South West Yarragadee Formation.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format South West Yarragadee – Blackwood Groundwater Area: Economic Value Study
Document Size: 1626336 bytes
Prepared by ECS Consulting for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Reasonable Regional Needs, South West Water Supply Development Position Paper
Document Size: 396601 bytes
Prepared by Strategen for Water Corporation.  
 

  Ecological reports
Adobe Portable Document Format Ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area
Document Size: 34038 bytes
Prepared by URS for Water and Rivers Commission 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA - Stages 1 and 2 - Part A
Document Size: 1669906 bytes
Prepared by URS for Department of Environmental Protection Water and Rivers Commission. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA - Stages 1 and 2 - Figures
Document Size: 18973210 bytes
Prepared by URS for Department of Environmental Protection Water and Rivers Commission. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA - Stages 1 and 2 - Appendices A - L
Document Size: 9440815 bytes
Prepared by URS for Department of Environmental Protection Water and Rivers Commission. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Baseline study on the fish and fauna in the Blackwood River and its tributaries receiving discharge from the Yarragadee Aquifer
Document Size: 6061497 bytes
The aim of this study was to document the fish and freshwater crayfish in the Yarragadee discharge area of the main Blackwood channel and in those tributaries that receive discharge from the Yarragadee aquifer, and compare the results with those areas outside the Yarragadee discharge zone. The study was conducted during the summer low-flow period with the aim of identifying potential impacts of reductions in groundwater baseflow on the in-stream fauna during this period.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Coastal Plain Wetlands Map
Document Size: 452113 bytes
Prepared by Survey Graphics for the Department of Environment. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Determination of Ecological Requirements for wetland and terrestrial vegetation - Southern Blackwood and Eastern Scott Coastal Plain - Monitoring results
Document Size: 529778 bytes
Baseline Vegetation Monitoring Results & Monitoring Protocol - Groundwater dependent ecosystem criteria sites on the Southern Blackwood Plateau and Eastern Scott Coastal Plain. A Report to the DoW by R. Loomes, R. Froend & M. Bertuch, Edith Cowan University. CEM report no. 2005-07, March 2006 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Determination of Ecological Requirements for wetland and terrestrial vegetation - Southern Blackwood and Eastern Scott Coastal Plain - Final report
Document Size: 3247651 bytes
A Report to the DoE by R Froend & R Loomes, CEM report no. 2005-07, Edith Cowan University, March 2006 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Blackwood River: Refining Ecological Water Requirements for the Allocation Planning Process (Nannup to Hut Pool)
Document Size: 1054065 bytes
An analysis by the University of Western Australia's Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management of the flow volumes required to maintain dissolved oxygen levels in pools of the Blackwood River between Nannup and Hut Pool. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format A summary of investigations into ecological water requirements of groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the South West groundwater areas EWR 3
Document Size: 2007061 bytes
This Department of Water report summarises the work that has been done to date to identify groundwater-dependent ecosystems, describes high value systems and determines ecological water requirements for wetlands, terrestrial vegetation and some river baseflow systems in the Bunbury, Busselton-Capel and Blackwood groundwater areas. It will feed into the South West Groundwater Allocation Plan that is currently being developed by the Department as well as give context to Water Corporation’s licence assessment to draw 45GL of water per year from the South West Yarragadee Aquifer.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Ecological Water Requirements of Blackwood River and Tributaries – Nannup to Hut Pool
Document Size: 4145002 bytes
Prepared by Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Review of the flora and vegetation on the South West Yarragadee project areas – report
Document Size: 199635 bytes
Prepared by Mattiske Consulting Pty Ltd for Water Corporation 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Review of the flora and vegetation on the South West Yarragadee project areas – figures
Document Size: 11173681 bytes
Prepared by Mattiske Consulting Pty Ltd for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Review of the flora and vegetation on the South West Yarragadee project areas – appendices
Document Size: 802777 bytes
Prepared by Mattiske Consulting Pty Ltd for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Review of the botanical values on the South West Yarragadee project areas – report
Document Size: 394999 bytes
Prepared by Mattiske Consulting Pty Ltd for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format South West Yarragadee – Assessment of vegetation susceptibility and possible response to drawdown
Document Size: 190612 bytes
Prepared by Froend, Bowen and Associates for Water Corporation. 
 

  Hydro-geological reports
Adobe Portable Document Format Construction, calibration and application of the South West Yarragadee Aquifer Model v2.0
Document Size: 6306480 bytes
Water Corporation document. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format South West Yarragadee Hydrogeological investigations and evaluation – Southern Perth Basin
Document Size: 69456522 bytes
Water Corporation document. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Lake Quitjup Hydrology Study report
Document Size: 5432632 bytes
Prepared by URS for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Interpretation of SWAMS 2.0 groundwater modelling results for regional areas of water table decline – prepared Water Corporation
Document Size: 26597539 bytes
Water Corporation document. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Hydrogeological assessment of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems of the Blackwood River Area – report
Document Size: 163993 bytes
Prepared by URS for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Hydrogeological assessment of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems of the Blackwood River Area: figures
Document Size: 14922130 bytes
Prepared by URS for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Hydrogeological assessment of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems of the Reedia Wetlands – report
Document Size: 138234 bytes
Prepared by URS for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Hydrogeological assessment of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems of the Reedia Wetlands – figures
Document Size: 7973209 bytes
Prepared by URS for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Hydrogeological assessment of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems of the Reedia Wetlands – appendices
Document Size: 13009069 bytes
Prepared by URS for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Hydrogeological assessment of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems at St John Brook – report
Document Size: 109502 bytes
Prepared by URS for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Hydrogeological assessment of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems at St John Brook – figures
Document Size: 4227518 bytes
Prepared by URS for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Hydrogeological assessment of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems at St John Brook – appendices
Document Size: 10904623 bytes
Prepared by URS for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Blackwood River Valley model: figures
Document Size: 17010025 bytes
Prepared by URS for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Blackwood River Valley model: report
Document Size: 3351653 bytes
Prepared by URS for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Assessment of the Hydrogeology, drainage and potential effect on the water table of drawdown in the Yarragadee aquifer report
Document Size: 821948 bytes
Prepared by Rockwater for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Assessment of the Hydrogeology, drainage and potential effect on the water table of drawdown in the Yarragadee aquifer figures
Document Size: 3671606 bytes
Prepared by Rockwater for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format HG 19 - Hydrogeology of the eastern Scott Coastal Plain
Document Size: 2032011 bytes
This Department of Water report documents a groundwater investigation completed in April 2006, as part of the State Groundwater Investigation Program. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format South West Yarragadee - Blackwood Groundwater Area, Water Study Report - Main Report
Document Size: 3501862 bytes
By Strategen. This report has been prepared to describe the state of knowledge of the groundwater resources of the Blackwood Groundwater Area (as at March 2004). 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format South West Yarragadee - Blackwood Groundwater Area, Water Study Report - Figures
Document Size: 4195990 bytes
By Strategen. Figures related to the South West Yarragadee - Blackwood Groundwater Area, Water Study Report. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format South West Yarragadee - Blackwood Groundwater Area, Water Study Report - Appendices
Document Size: 6141428 bytes
Strategen 
 

  Social reports
Adobe Portable Document Format Social Impact Assessment report for the Water Corporation Proposal to source water from the South West Yarragadee as part of the Sustainability Evaluation for the proposal
Document Size: 2589757 bytes
Prepared by Synnott Mulholland Management Services Pty Ltd for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Social water requirements for the Blackwood groundwater area EWR 2
Document Size: 5563329 bytes
This Department of Water report identifies the social values associated with water dependent features in the Blackwood Groundwater Area and describes the social water requirements to support those values. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format A Survey of Aboriginal Social Water Requirements for the Southern Blackwood Plateau and the Scott Coastal Plain, Southwest Western Australia
Document Size: 2343843 bytes
An independent study that attempts to define the water regimes needed to maintain the social and cultural values of the traditional owners of groundwater-dependent ecosystems of the southern Blackwood Plateau and Scott Coastal Plain. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Cultural Values Study Report
Document Size: 15599745 bytes
A study of the Aboriginal cultural values associated with the Blackwood Groundwater Area. Brad Goode & Associates.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Social Values and Impact Study
Document Size: 18499 bytes
This study forms part of the community involvement process and social analysis for the Sub-Regional Water Management Plan for the Blackwood Groundwater Area. 
 

  South West Yarragadee development proposal - Water Corporation documents
Adobe Portable Document Format Sustainability Evaluation Scoping Report South West Yarragadee Water Supply Development [Final draft]
Document Size: 2604717 bytes
Prepared by Strategen for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Watercourse crossing permit for the South West Yarragadee Water Supply Development
Document Size: 113925 bytes
Water Corporation document. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Sustainability Evaluation/ERMP Scoping Report South West Yarragadee Water Supply Development
Document Size: 1158014 bytes
Prepared by Strategen for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format ERMP public notice for the South West Yarragadee Water Supply Development
Document Size: 296737 bytes
Public notice placed by Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format South West Yarragadee Water Supply Development: Sustainability Evaluation/Environmental Review & Management Programme Executive Summary
Document Size: 2750598 bytes
Prepared by Strategen for Water Corporation. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format South West Yarragadee Water Supply Development: Sustainability Evaluation/Environmental Review & Management Programme Response to Public Submissions
Document Size: 4049727 bytes
Prepared by Strategen for Water Corporation. 
 

  Other reports
Adobe Portable Document Format Groundwater management in the South West – Bunbury, Busselton-Capel and Blackwood groundwater areas – findings of stakeholder workshops May 2006
Document Size: 543444 bytes
The results of the stakeholder workshops conducted in the South West in 2006 on future groundwater allocation options for the region. The terms for searching (metadata) other than the document’s title are: Yarragadee (or South West Yarragadee), Community consultation, Public involvement, stakeholder workshops, Multi-criteria analysis.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Sustainability assessment of the South West Yarragadee Water Supply Development
Document Size: 591779 bytes
Independent report commissioned by the State Water Council to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format South-West Yarragadee Aquifer: Peer Review Panel Report on South-West Aquifer Modelling System
Document Size: 1794533 bytes
Prepared by Environmental Resources Management for the Department of Environment 
 

Further information

For licensing information, please contact the South West Regional office in Bunbury. Phone 08 9726 4111.

For planning information, please contact the Department of Water’s Water Allocation Planning branch. Phone 08 6364 7600 or email allocationplanning@water.wa.gov.au.