Groundwater in the Otway region
For years Otway Ranges’ local residents have been concerned about the impacts of increased extraction of groundwater in the Otway region – including from aquifers at Barwon Downs and Anglesea.
Since the drought of 1982-83, Barwon Water has been extracting large volumes of groundwater for use in Geelong. The water is extracted from aquifers 500 to 600 metres below ground level, at the Barwon Downs borefield. The water is treated and then conveyed to Geelong where in dry years it accounts for up to 70 percent of Geelong’s water usage
Local group Otway Water has worked tirelessly to explain to community, agencies, authorities and governments alike the numerous social and environmental problems caused by the groundwater extraction.
On their website they explain that “One of the hardest things to deal with regarding the issues of groundwater extraction in … the Otways has been finding a government body prepared to take the concerns of the ‘local landholder and residents’ seriously. As a consequence a multitude of residents had taken the decision to attempt to carry out work that government statutory bodies have failed to do.”
While there are a myriad of issues and various watercourses potentially affected by the pumping of groundwater, recent efforts have been focussed on the plight of Boundary Creek and the Big Swamp.
Despite the ongoing peat fire at Big Swamp and massive reductions in stream flows in the area, the previous state government failed to take any adequate action on this issue.
The Coalition state government has promised to “Ensure local groundwater users are active participants in the development and ongoing review of Groundwater Supply Protection Area management plans”. What this will mean in practice for the future management of water in the Otway Ranges is yet to be seen.
For more details about the impacts of groundwater extraction in the Otways, click on the links below, and check out the books at the Otway Water website.
