National Water Account 2019

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Key findings

Climate and water

Water Accounting Statements

Supporting information

Region description

Reference information

Adelaide: Water Management

Surface water and groundwater management

Water legislation

• Water resources, including watercourses in the Adelaide region, are managed according to South Australia's Natural Resources Management Act 2004 (the Act), which is administered by the South Australian Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation.
• The Act aims to promote sustainable and integrated management of the State's natural resources and to provide for the protection of the State's natural resources. The Act sets the framework for water planning and management including provisions for declaring a water resource to be prescribed and the development of water allocation plans.
• South Australia's Water Industry Act 2012 consolidates legislation relating to water supply throughout South Australia to deliver a more efficient, competitive, and innovative industry. It facilitates planning in connection with water demand and supply and aims to regulate the water industry through the regulation of prices, customer service standards, and technical standards, and also by providing performance monitoring of the water industry.
• The key objectives of the legislation are outlined in Part 1 (3) of the Water Industry Act 2012.

Water management plans

• The Act enables the water resources of an area to be prescribed. Water allocation plans are then developed that set principles and objectives for the management of the prescribed water resources. Water-affecting activities that do not pertain to the taking of water from prescribed water resources are provided for through water-affecting activity permits.
• The South Australian Department for Environment and Water coordinates the adoption of water allocation plans by the South Australian Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, and administers the plans following adoption.

Figure R9 Surface water management areas in the Adelaide region

• There are two water allocation plans currently in place for surface water resources in the Adelaide region: the Barossa Prescribed Water Resources Area (PWRA) Water Allocation Plan and the Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA Water Allocation Plan.

Figure R10 Groundwater management areas in the Adelaide region

• There are four water allocation plans currently in place for groundwater resources in the Adelaide region: the Barossa PWRA Water Allocation Plan, the McLaren Vale Prescribed Wells Area (PWA) Water Allocation Plan, the Northern Adelaide Plains PWA Water Allocation Plan, and the Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA Water Allocation Plan. The Central Adelaide Plains PWA does not have an operational water allocation plan currently in place.
• The Murray–Darling Basin Natural Resource Management Board is also relevant to the Adelaide region because of its responsibility for developing the River Murray Prescribed Watercourse Water Allocation Plan.

Environmental water management

• Environmental water in the Adelaide region is managed under the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 (the Act).
• The South Australian Department for Environment and Water is the principal regulatory agency established to manage environmental water in the Adelaide region on behalf of the Minister.
• The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resource Management Board has an active role with respect to the management of natural resources within the Adelaide region pursuant to section 29 of the Act. The Act requires water allocation plans to include: an assessment of the capacity of the water resources to meet environmental water requirements; information about water that is to be set aside for the environment; and a statement on the expected environmental outcomes to be delivered.

Cultural water management

• Water use for cultural benefit is considered a basic right in the Adelaide region. These rights are described in the Act and the Australian Government Native Title Act 1983.
• The Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA Water Allocation Plan includes a specific section on Indigenous water needs. The plan outlines that 'Access to, and use of, water from prescribed water resources by Indigenous people for the purpose of social, cultural, or spiritual use is exempt from licensing, provided they do not stop, impede or divert the flow of water'.

Organisations responsible for water management

• The organisations responsible for water management in the Adelaide region are shown below.