Possible new coal seam gas and mining activities Coal seam gas operations focus on geological strata that are deeper than where most current groundwater use and monitoring occurs. Groundwater is typically accessed from shallow alluvial aquifers for irrigation and domestic use.
Moree Grafton
Narrabri
A series of new deep monitoring bores – drilled to depths between 100m and 300m – were completed in 2013 and 2014 in the Bulga, Broke and Merriwa areas of the Hunter Valley, and the Spring Ridge and Gunnedah areas in the Namoi Valley. Drilling is currently underway in the Narrabri area prior to moving into the Gloucester area for completion in 2015. Further priority areas for the next tranche of deep monitoring bore construction between 2016 and 2020 are shown on the map. The number and location of the bores will be determined through a rigorous assessment of hydrogeology, current and potential resource development and an inventory of existing industry water monitoring. A further expansion to the public surface and groundwater quality monitoring programs – targeting the aquifers and rivers identified as the most sensitive and potentially at risk from water quality and quantity impacts – is also planned. The expanded drilling and water quality monitoring programs will create new data that establishes baseline conditions for aquifers and rivers in the target basins. The data will be used to undertake risk assessment, cumulative impact modelling and ongoing review of the water impacts, including any due to coal seam gas and mining activities.
a water monitoring framework approach Other projects are also being undertaken to support the Strategy, which collectively comprise the NSW Water Monitoring Framework. These include the Baseline Water Data project, led by the Land and Water Commissioner, which is communicating facts on water to the community, and a number of other projects addressing monitoring standards and data quality. The Framework also improves the mapping of NSW groundwater systems and the communication of valuable water information. Under the new Water Monitoring Framework, industry water data will be incorporated into the data acquisition and management system operated by the Office of Water. Standards will be developed to ensure the quality and
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Gloucester Dubbo BASINS
coal mining
Gunnedah
coal seam gas activity
Clarence-Moreton
Muswellbrook
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3 Newcastle
priority area
Sydney Gloucester
LOCALITY MAP Sydney
major towns Wollongong
N Priority areas for expanded water monitoring in NSW.
water website Industry water data
water database
Other government agency data
NSW Environmental Data Portal
WaterLive mobile app
NSW Office of Water data
Water data collection, management and access. integrity of the data collected by industry so that the information is consistent and accurate.
Understanding the data
How will the community access the new data and information?
accessible, reliable and, most
The Office of Water operates a comprehensive water database that is accessible through the web and via a mobile phone application. The website and the app will be enhanced to allow access to the new data and to further improve ease of use.
A primary objective of the Strategy is
A State Whole-of-Environmental Data Portal will also be developed and hosted by the Division of Resources and Energy. All existing and newly acquired data from other NSW agencies and the private sector as part of the NSW Water Monitoring Framework will be accessible via the portal.
There is growing community demand for data to be more transparent, importantly, easy to understand.
to provide information such as maps, graphs and interpretive reports to help the community decipher and understand the data. In addition, the data will be measured against the water management objectives and limits set under project conditions or approvals. This article was provided by the Department of Primary Industries NSW Office of Water. For more information please go to: www.water.nsw.gov.au
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