Perth
22.1 Groundwater allocation announcements

The volume recognised in the water accounting statements (284,520 ML) represents the total water allocation for groundwater supply to individual users in the Perth region during the 2012–13 year. The volume comprises:

• water announced for groundwater allocation; and
• new licences and other variations that were granted during the 2012–13 year.

This line item refers to all groundwater supply in the region not related to urban water systems or irrigation schemes. These water supply licences are divided into licence entitlement purposes. The following figure shows the annual allocation announcement for each licence purpose for the 2012–13 year.

Graph of annual allocation announcement for each licence purpose for the 2012–13 year

Most of these licences are issued to licence holders for periods of generally between one and ten years, with an annual abstraction amount specified and with annual compliance arrangements in place.

The total groundwater allocation announcement is assumed to equal 100% of the annual entitlement.

As at 30 June 2013, a number of groundwater licences had been issued in perpetuity. The average annual allocation of these licences is small (less than 1% of the total annual groundwater allocation). These licences are not subject to most of the compliance arrangements that the other licences have and do not have an anniversary date. The licence anniversary date for these licences is deemed to be 30 June 2013 for the purposes of calculating the annual allocation for the 2012–13 year. Almost all of these licences were issued more than ten years ago.

There is no uncertainty associated with this value.

The volume of groundwater allocation announcements for the 2011–12 year has changed from that presented in the 2012 Account. Please refer to Restatement of comparative information in the 'Water accounting policies' for more information.