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Gnangara Mound

Gnangara Mound - a unique water resource

The Gnangara Mound is Perth's largest source of groundwater, stretching from Gingin in the north to the Swan River in the south. It is commonly referred to as the superficial (shallow or unconfined) aquifer overlaying deeper confined aquifers.

The Gnangara Mound supplies water for a number of different purposes including:

  • Supporting local wetland and lake ecosystems;
  • Supplying up to 60% of Perth's drinking water;
  • Supplying irrigation for horticulture and agriculture in the Wanneroo and Swan areas; and
  • Supplying irrigation for public open space and garden bores.

Wetland and groundwater levels on the Gnangara Mound have been under considerable pressure in recent years due to a combination of:

  • A drying climate (less rainfall);
  • Dense vegetation (native and pine plantations) limiting recharge; and
  • Abstraction for irrigation and public water supply.

In particular, the drop in groundwater levels has impacted a number of different groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) on the Gnangara Mound.

In a few areas, decreasing groundwater levels also have the potential to expose acid sulfate soils, which can significantly reduce water quality.

The Department of Water is managing the groundwater resource by controlling abstractions that might affect the environmental values associated with groundwater dependent ecosystems.

Click here for more background and details of the Gnangara Mound.
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Click here for information about the Gnangara Sustainability Strategy.
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Click here for more information about planning for the Gnangara groundwater areas.
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Click here for information on Metering on the Gnangara Mound.

Click here for information on Review of ministerial conditions on the groundwater resources of the Gnangara Mound.
Please note: A number of errors were detected in Appendix E of this report. The report was amended and a revised edition made available for downloading on 17 January 2008. If you have any queries please contact Megan McGuire at the Department of Water.
 
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Adobe Portable Document Format Environmental Management of Groundwater Abstraction from the Gnangara Groundwater Mound, 2003 - 2004
Document Size: 2217756 bytes
Publish Date: 10-NOV-2005 10:32 AM
This report is submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in accordance with the implementation conditions for two proposals: Gnangara Groundwater Resources (EPA Bulletin 817, Ministerial Statement No. 438 - Assessment 697), and Groundwater Resource Allocation East Gnangara (EPA Bulletin 904, Ministerial Statement No. 496 - Assessment 932).  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Environmental Management of Groundwater Abstraction from the Gnangara Groundwater Mound, 2004-2005
Document Size: 1418557 bytes
Publish Date: 25-JUN-2007 09:50 AM
The Department of Water (Water and Rivers Commission) submits annual and triennial reports to the Environmental Protection Authority as required by Ministerial Statements No.'s 438 and 496. This report for the period 2004 - 2005 reviews the Department's compliance with Ministerial conditions and commitments concerning environmental management of groundwater abstraction from the Gnangara Groundwater Mound. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Environmental Management of Groundwater Abstraction from the Gnangara Mound July 2000 – June 2003
Document Size: 2662694 bytes
Publish Date: 03-MAR-2004 10:34 AM
This report is submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority in accordance with the implementation conditions for two proposals: Gnangara Groundwater Resources (Assessment 697, Statement No. 438), and Groundwater Resource Allocation East Gnangara (Assessment 932, Statement No. 496). These proposals set out plans for the management of the Gnangara groundwater mound located north of Perth. This report sets out details of environmental monitoring and management of the groundwater mound over the period June 2000 - June 2003 and compliance with the implementation conditions.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Environmental Protection Authority Response to Section 46 Review Stage 1b Report
Document Size: 105721 bytes
Publish Date: 12-DEC-2002 10:36 AM
The EPA response to the Section 46 Review of Environmental Conditions on Management of the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds - Stage 1b Report.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Environmental Protection Authority Response to Section 46 Review Stage 1 Report
Document Size: 81675 bytes
Publish Date: 12-DEC-2001 10:38 AM
The EPA response to the Section 46 Review of Environmental Conditions on Management of the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds - Stage 1 Report.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format EPA Progress Report 2003 - Section 46 Review of Environmental Conditions on Management of the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds
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Publish Date: 12-DEC-2003 10:39 AM
The 2003 Progress Report for Stage 1B of the Section 46 Review was submitted to the EPA in December 2003. The Peer Review Group who advise the then Commission commented on the Draft Progress Report which was prepared in November 2003. The Water and Rivers Commission then provided a response to the Peer Review Group's comments on the Draft 2003 Progress Report. These documents can be found in this file.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Framework for Developing the Jandakot Water Resources Management Strategy
Document Size: 9170894 bytes
Publish Date: 01-DEC-2004 10:40 AM
This report summarises the completed work and recommends an outline for the preparation of a water resource management strategy (WRMS). It deals mainly with water quality issues. Water quantity will be addressed in a Stormwater Management Strategy and be dealt with as part of the preparation of the final WRMS that will be regional over the whole JSP area.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Gnangara Land Use and Water Management Strategy
Document Size: 99786 bytes
Publish Date: 06-JUN-2004 10:41 AM
To protect the quality of the valuable groundwater resources in the Gnangara Mound from possible contamination, the Department is working in cooperation with a number of other government agencies in preparing the Gnangara Land Use and Water Management Strategy (GLUWMS).  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Managing a sustainable future for the Gnangara groundwater resources: analysis of stakeholder issues and perspectives
Document Size: 178030 bytes
Publish Date: 28-SEP-2005 10:43 AM
Prepared by Beckwith & Associates for the Department of Environment. 
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Peer Review Group Comments on Section 46 Review 2002 Progress Report to the EPA.
Document Size: 125907 bytes
Publish Date: 11-NOV-2002 10:44 AM
In 2002 the then Water and Rivers Commission engaged a three member Peer Review Group to provide independent expert advice on technical and process aspects of the Section 46 Review. The Peer Review Group's provided advice to the Commission on the 2002 Progress Report to the EPA.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Report on consultations with the Combined Metropolitan Native Title Working Group regarding the Aboriginal Heritage values of the Gnangara Water Mound
Document Size: 281244 bytes
Publish Date: 01-JUL-2005 10:50 AM
On 1 June 2005, Estill & Associates (Estill) on behalf of the Department of Environment (DoE) confirmed the engagement of Fisher Research Pty Ltd (Fisher Research) to consult Elders of the Combined Metropolitan Native Title Working Group (CMNTWG) regarding the Aboriginal heritage values of the Gnangara Water Mound (GWM).  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Section 46 Progress Report (July 2005) - State of the Gnangara Mound
Document Size: 3856261 bytes
Publish Date: 08-AUG-2005 10:46 AM
This report has been prepared to provide information on progress during 2004–05 with reviewing environmental conditions that apply to management of the groundwater resources of the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EPA) section 46 review process.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Section 46 Review of Environmental Conditions on Management of the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds - Progress Report 2002
Document Size: 5008130 bytes
Publish Date: 11-NOV-2002 10:47 AM
This report has been prepared to provide information on progress with reviewing environmental conditions that apply to management of the groundwater resources of the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Section 46 Review of Environmental Conditions on Management of the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds - Stage 1 Proposal for Changes to Conditions
Document Size: 3943180 bytes
Publish Date: 08-SEP-2004 10:49 AM
The Department of Environment proposed amendments to some of the Ministerial Conditions that govern the management of Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds. In accordance with the Environmental Protection Act, a report was prepared by the Department to outline the proposed amendments and the associated changes within the existing Section 46 Review process. The report was available for a public review period of 4 weeks from 15 September 2004 to 13 October 2004.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Section 46 Review of Environmental Conditions on Management of the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds - Stage 1 Report to the Environmental Protection Authority
Document Size: 2251601 bytes
Publish Date: 11-NOV-2001 10:51 AM
This report presents the results of the Stage I investigations, the expected performance in meeting environmental criteria in 2001-2003 and outlines the specific management strategy to be applied to minimise transgressions.  
 
Adobe Portable Document Format Study of groundwater related Aboriginal cultural values on the Gnangara Mound, Western Australia
Document Size: 2342171 bytes
Publish Date: 01-NOV-2005 10:53 AM
Prepared by Estill and Associates for the Department of Environment