Anglesea aquifer extraction comes under scrutiny

THE ongoing use of the Anglesea borefield as a supplemental supply source during drought is up for review.

Barwon Water has begun its assessment of the groundwater site that will culminate in a report submitted to the state government ahead of a decision on the water authority’s extraction entitlement beyond 2024.

Environmental triggers and an extensive monitoring and assessment program are part of the bulk entitlement, with an updated groundwater model and more than a decade of data set to help inform the review.

Barwon Water operated the site from November 2019 and June 2020 when its water storage levels had depleted, with the borefield on standby since.

The underground aquifer is about 700 metres below ground and extends from the Otway foothills to the Southern Ocean. It consists of seven production bores across two sites and was established in 2009 following the millennium drought.

Barwon Water general manager of planning, delivery and environment Seamus Butcher said the borefield had played an important role in securing water supply for the Geelong, Surf Coast, and Bellarine Peninsula regions in recent years, but the authority would scrutinse its longer-term sustainability.

“We are strongly committed to the sustainable management of the Anglesea borefield and keeping the Anglesea community informed about its use.

“Our priority is to protect the environment while providing high quality, affordable drinking water to our customers.

“The bulk entitlement review is not about seeking to increase extraction volumes but rather helping to confirm how much water we can continue to take sustainably in the future if we need to meet demand in dry times when surface water storages are low. It will ensure that measures are in place for the protection of groundwater-dependent ecosystems into the future.”

The borefield water source and its assessment process is separate to one from which former Anglesea coal mine operator Alcoa trialed extraction to convert the site into a water body – but the bulk entitlement review will incorporate data from both groundwater sites.

“Using all available information – as well as factoring in other groundwater users – will ensure our bulk entitlement review is as robust as possible,” Mr Butcher said.

Barwon Water said it would host community conversation events for locals to have their say on the review before it finalises its report next year.