The Tintinara Coonalpyn groundwater resource is currently managed under a water allocation plan (WAP). The current WAP for the Prescribed Wells Area (PWA) was adopted by the Honorable John Hill on 22 January 2003. Currently the 2003 WAP is undergoing its five yearly review as required by the Natural Resources Management Act 2004.
Prescribed Wells Area Background
The Tintinara Coonalpyn PWA is located in the Upper South East of South Australia, approximately 200 kilometres south east of Adelaide and covers an area of 3,423 km2 . The PWA includes the Hundreds of Archibald, Carcuma, Coneybeer, Coombe, Lewis, Livingstone, Makin, McCallum, and Richards and incorporates the major towns of Coonalpyn and Tintinara.
The climate in the Tintinara Coonalpyn PWA is typical of the South East; hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The average annual rainfall in Tintinara (1900 to 2007) is 462 mm with annual evaporation estimated at 1,670mm. In Coonalpyn the average annual rainfall (1887 to 2007) is slightly less at 452mm.
A total of 8,036hectares of irrigated crops were grown in the Tintinara Coonalpyn PWA in 2005/06, representing 2.3%of the total land area in the PWA. The major irrigated crop in the Tintinara area is pasture, covering 4,473 ha closely followed by seed production at 2,439 which is a regionally significant and valuable industry. Other irrigated crops include horticulture (627 ha), fodder (246 ha) and cereal (169 ha). A small area of other vegetable crops and vines are also grown in the district.
The Prescribed Resource
The prescribed water resources of the Tintinara Coonalpyn Prescribed Wells Area consist of two distinct underground water aquifer systems, a regionally unconfined limestone aquifer and an underlying confined aquifer system.
Review of the Current WAP
Concept Statement
The concept statement for the review of the Tintinara Coonalpyn 2003 WAP was released for a 6 week consultation period on 25th October 2007. The consultation on the concept statement concept statement was the first step in the development of the new WAP. The concept statement sets out the proposed content of the new WAP including the investigations and consultation to be undertaken. The concept statement will act as a guide for the review of the WAP and does not explore issues in detail or provide solutions as this will be undertaken during the review and drafting of the new WAP.
Hydrogeological Review of the Tintinara Coonalpyn Prescribed Wells Area (PWA)
As part of the WAP review process a study on the condition of the groundwater resources for the PWA has been completed. The study reviewed groundwater level and salinity trends, groundwater monitoring and the possible impacts of the taking and use of water from the PWA on any other water resource. The final report is available from the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation website, and a summary of the reports findings for the confined and unconfined aquifers is available below. The report provides information and recommendations that will form the basis of policy developed for the new WAP.
Development of the Draft WAP for the Tintinara Coonalpyn PWA
Following the release of the concept statement for the review of the current WAP and the release of the Hydrogeological Review of the Tintinara Coonalpyn PWA the SE NRM Board and Tintinara Coonalpyn WAP Committee will be developing policy options for inclusion in the new WAP. As part of the policy development process the SE NRM Board and the Tintinara Coonalpyn WAP committee will be requesting comment and input from the community in the near future and will endeavour to widely advertise the release of any information. All comments and input received from the community during the WAP development process will be considered by the SE NRM Board and the Tintinara Coonalpyn WAP committee in the development of the draft WAP