Daly: Future outlook
Future prospects
This section looks forward 12 months and considers what water assets, claims and commitments might affect the region's water resources.
Table N22 shows that there is a deficit of available water assets over water liabilities and future commitments that are expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date.
| Volume ML | |
| Total water assets as at 30 June 2015 | 220 |
| less water assets not available to be accessed, taken, or delivered: | |
| dead storage | (0) |
| less total water liabilities as at 30 June 2015 | (110,346) |
| Subtotal | (110,126) |
| less future commitments expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date | |
| expected diversion of surface water | (9,000) |
| expected extraction of groundwater | (26,000) |
| Surplus/deficit of available water assets over water liabilities and future commitments expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date | (145,126) |
| add expected net inflows within 12 months of the reporting date | |
| net aquifer recharge | (600,000) |
| Surplus/deficit of available water assets and expected future inflows over water liabilities and future commitments expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date | (745,126) |
The expected diversions and extractions are based on abstractions made during the 2014–15 year. Expected net recharge into the groundwater aquifers over the next 12 months will be in deficit. According to the Bureau's Climate outlook, it is expected to be a relatively dry wet season across the region, similar to the 2014–15 year. Based on 2014–15 year data, this is expected to result in discharge from the aquifers (approximately 1,000,000 ML) exceeding recharge (approximately 400,000 ML). This deficit makes up the majority of the total deficit of available water assets expected to be settled on 30 June 2016.
The expected deficit of water assets is shown in Table N22 is based on available water asset data. Total water assets in Table N22 only represents total water in the Copperfield Dam; the volume of water in rivers and aquifers could not be quantified, so these assets are not included.
Contingent water assets and contingent water liabilities
Contingent water assets
The Department of Land Resource Management sets extraction limits on groundwater aquifers to protect groundwater-dependent ecosystems. The volume of water that is beyond this extraction limit is considered a contingent water asset for aquifers in the region; however, there is currently not enough information available regarding groundwater resources in the Daly region to allow for a volumetric estimate.
Contingent water liabilities
An important provision of the Water Allocation Plan: Tindall Limestone Aquifer, Katherine relates to the provision of water for future economic development. The plan provides that if native title is recognised on a application within 5 years of the commencement of the plan the relevant parts of the plan would be amended to include 680 ML for Indigenous commercial development. The rationale for this is that a successful native title application may result in the acquisition of land by Indigenous people. If the application is successful Indigenous-owned land overlying the Tindall aquifer would increase by approximately 2%. In relative water terms this equates to 680 ML.