Barossa Water Allocation Plan Amendment

Consultation has concluded. Thanks for your contributions.

Share your views about how to manage water resources in the Barossa to help shape the Barossa Water Allocation Plan amendment.

What's being decided?

The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board is amending the Barossa Water Allocation Plan, a document that sets the rules for the sustainable use of prescribed water resources. The Board is seeking community discussion and input into the proposed management options designed to address declining water reliability, ecosystem health and cultural and amenity values. Following this pre-consultation phase, the amended Barossa Water Allocation Plan will be open for formal consultation.

Background

The Barossa Water Allocation Plan (the Plan) is a legal document that provides responsible, fair and equitable water allocations for users of surface and ground water, while maintaining the health of our landscapes and ecosystems.

Work on amending the Plan began in 2016 and is influenced by another significant project, the Barossa Water Security Strategy. This pilot project, led by the Department for Environment and Water, began in 2020 in response to increasing water security stress identified by industry and water users in the Barossa and Eden Valleys. Modelling has provided information about the current and future availability of water, the impacts of different levels of extraction, and the effects of climate change on local water resources. If no action is taken, it is expected that the reliability of water will continue to decline, as will cultural and amenity values and ecosystem health.

The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board is seeking the community’s input to help shape the amended Plan, including the proposed management options. The amended Barossa Water Allocation Plan is expected to be ready for formal consultation in 2023, providing the community and stakeholders with another opportunity to provide feedback.

Get involved

Find out more:

Have your say by:

What are the next steps?

We will consider your feedback to finalise a management framework, which will be presented at a forum in 2023 (details TBC). The framework will be included in the draft Barossa Water Allocation Plan Amendment, which will enter formal consultation in 2023.

Share your views about how to manage water resources in the Barossa to help shape the Barossa Water Allocation Plan amendment.

What's being decided?

The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board is amending the Barossa Water Allocation Plan, a document that sets the rules for the sustainable use of prescribed water resources. The Board is seeking community discussion and input into the proposed management options designed to address declining water reliability, ecosystem health and cultural and amenity values. Following this pre-consultation phase, the amended Barossa Water Allocation Plan will be open for formal consultation.

Background

The Barossa Water Allocation Plan (the Plan) is a legal document that provides responsible, fair and equitable water allocations for users of surface and ground water, while maintaining the health of our landscapes and ecosystems.

Work on amending the Plan began in 2016 and is influenced by another significant project, the Barossa Water Security Strategy. This pilot project, led by the Department for Environment and Water, began in 2020 in response to increasing water security stress identified by industry and water users in the Barossa and Eden Valleys. Modelling has provided information about the current and future availability of water, the impacts of different levels of extraction, and the effects of climate change on local water resources. If no action is taken, it is expected that the reliability of water will continue to decline, as will cultural and amenity values and ecosystem health.

The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board is seeking the community’s input to help shape the amended Plan, including the proposed management options. The amended Barossa Water Allocation Plan is expected to be ready for formal consultation in 2023, providing the community and stakeholders with another opportunity to provide feedback.

Get involved

Find out more:

Have your say by:

What are the next steps?

We will consider your feedback to finalise a management framework, which will be presented at a forum in 2023 (details TBC). The framework will be included in the draft Barossa Water Allocation Plan Amendment, which will enter formal consultation in 2023.

  • Barossa Water Allocation Plan Amendment Survey

    The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board invites you to participate in the pre-consultation survey regarding management options for the Barossa Water Allocation Plan amendment. Your responses will be considered as part of the amendment that is currently in progress.

    The survey contains questions regarding the 8 management options (listed below) that are outlined in the Barossa Water Allocation Plan amendment fact sheet #5 ‘Issues and Management Options’. Please read this fact sheet prior to completing the survey.

    1. Thresholds that represent unacceptable resource condition
    2. Adaptive allocations in line with resource condition 
    3. Provision of additional flows through the system
    4. Threshold flow rates for watercourse extractions
    5. Voluntary actions to improve flows
    6.  Reduced water access entitlements to reflect reduced resource capacity 
    7. Dam volume reductions
    8. Dam removals

    You are welcome to provide responses to any/all questions for any/all management options. All feedback will be considered.

    The proposed objectives for the Plan are:

    1. Set acceptable resource condition limits
    2. Minimise impact on security of access
    3. Protect water dependent ecosystems
    4. Allow for flexible and variable use
    5. Manage at an appropriate scale
    6. Consider First Nations interests

    Consultation has concluded. Thanks for your contributions.

  • Submissions

    Please submit your submission about the Barossa Water Allocation Plan Amendment by uploading a document with your feedback.

    Consultation has concluded. Thanks for your contributions.