Daly: Water access and use
Approximately 95% of the region's water entitlements were for individual users, primarily for agricultural purposes. Water use decreased from the previous year, which reflects the above-average wet-season rainfall across the region.
For further information on water rights and water use within the region during the year scroll down this page or click on the links below:
Water rights, entitlements, allocations and restrictions
Surface water rights
Figure S6 Surface water allocation for water resource plan subareas in the 2016–17 year
- There are approximately 35 surface water licences in the region, mostly for water sourced from the Katherine River. More information is available on the Bureau's Water Markets Dashboard.
Figure S7 Surface water allocations and diversions in the Daly region for the years ending 30 June, from 2012–2017
- Surface water allocations for individual users and the urban system were the same as last year.
- The large increase in surface water allocation in 2013–14 was due to a number of new licences being granted that year for the Katherine River, primarily for agricultural purposes.
- Actual diversions to individual users and the urban system decreased in 2016–17, which could be attributed to the above-average wet season rainfall that decreased users' reliance on water supplied directly from the rivers during the year.
- The estimated volume of water diverted under other statutory rights also remained unchanged.
Figure S8 Surface water allocation to individual users for each licence purpose
- 63% of the surface water allocation is for individual users. These licences primarily relate to water use for agricultural purposes.
Groundwater rights
Figure S9 Groundwater allocation for water resource plan subareas in the 2016–17 year
- There are approximately 180 groundwater licences in the region, mostly for water sourced from the Oolloo Dolostone, Tindall limestone and Jinduckin groundwater areas. More information is available on the Bureau's Water Markets Dashboard.
Figure S10 Groundwater allocations and extractions in the Daly region for the years ending 30 June, from 2012–2017
- Groundwater allocations for individual users increased from last year, largely based on an expected increase in dry season flow in Katherine River.
- Actual extractions for individual users also increased, despite the above-average wet season rainfall. The increase is likely to represent an increase in metered data available.
- Allocations and extractions for the urban system remained unchanged from last year. Town supply generally changes little from year to year.
- The estimated volume of water extracted under other statutory rights also remained unchanged.
Figure S11 Groundwater allocation to individual users for each licence purpose
- 98% of the groundwater allocation is for individual users. Similar to surface water, these licences primarily relate to water use for agricultural purposes.
Water use
Economic benefit
- For a summary of the water volumes allocated for various economic purposes within the Daly region, refer to Surface water rights and Groundwater rights above.
Social and cultural benefit
- The Daly River region is highly significant to the Aboriginal people and their way of life. Many sacred sites have been recorded along the Daly River and its tributaries, and many traditional practices continue to this day.
- The interests of Aboriginal people in water planning are represented by their participation in water-planning processes, such as the Daly River Management Advisory Committee, and through the conducting of studies and assessments that are used to inform the development of water plans.
- The water allocation plans for the Daly region—the Water Allocation Plan: Tindall Limestone Aquifer (Katherine) and the Water Allocation Plan: Oolloo Aquifer (draft)—recognise Aboriginal rights and interests in water and provide for Aboriginal interests through measures to limit extraction of groundwater (see Environmental water provisions below).
- A more detailed description of the cultural water provisions for the Daly region are provided in Part 3 of each of the water allocation plans.
Environmental benefit
Environmental water provisions
- Environmental water provisions have been established for the Tindall aquifer based on a minimum flow requirement in the Katherine River.
Figure S12 Environmental water provisions for the Tindall aquifer
- Water provisions are defined based on a model-predicted flow rate at the end of the dry season on 1 November along the Katherine River.
- The flow on 1 November is equated to an annual groundwater discharge volume from the Tindall aquifer into the river. The proportion of discharge reserved for environmental benefit is based on this volume. The remainder of the annual groundwater discharge is allocated for extraction for consumptive use.
- A more detailed description of the environmental water provisions for the Tindall aquifer is provided in Part 4 of the Water Allocation Plan: Tindall Limestone Aquifer (Katherine).
Environmental water outcomes
Figure S13 Environmental water outcomes for the 2016–17 year
- The environmental water provisions for the 2016–17 year for the Tindall aquifer were based on a normal-to-wet year classification and a predicted annual groundwater discharge of 111,383 ML.
- Based on the observed flow on 1 November 2016, groundwater discharge from the aquifer into the river was approximately 52,000 ML, much lower than predicted.
- Only 11,800 ML was actually taken from the Tindall aquifer for consumptive use (see Figure S5 in the 'Water stores' note), which means that more than 70% of the year's groundwater discharge was for environmental benefit.
- If consumptive users had extracted their full allocated volume from the aquifer (33,383 ML) during the 2016–17 year, the discharge volume reserved for environmental benefit would have been lower than the required 70%.