CSIRO Sustainable Yields

At the Murray-Darling Basin Water summit, convened by the former Prime Minister on 7 November 2006, it was agreed to:

"Commission the CSIRO to report progressively by the end of 2007 on sustainable yields of surface and groundwater systems within the Murray-Darling Basin, including an examination of assumptions about sustainable yields in light of changes in climate and other issues".

Goulburn-Broken Region 

CSIRO has released its Sustainable Yield Report relating to the Goulburn Broken Region. 

Key findings inculde:

• Average surface water availability under the historical climate is 3233Gl/year.  At the current level of development 1606Gl/year (or 50%) of this is diverted for use.  Groundwater use is 92GL/year or 10% of total water use.
  
• If the recent (1997-2006) climate were to continue, average suface water availability would be reduced by 41% and the volume of water diverted for use within the region would be reduced by25%.
  
• The best estimate (or median) climate change by 2030 would reduce average surface water availability by 14% and would reduce the volume of water diverted for use within the region by 6%.
  
• Future development of commercial plantation forestry is expected to be negligible. 
  
• An 8% growth in farm dam capacity by 2030 is expected which would have a minor (less than 1%) impact on river inflows.
  
• Groundwater extraction is expected to grow by 67% by 2030 to become around 16% of total water use.

For further Information visit CSIRO's website for the Goulburn Broken Region.

Click here to download a summary report of the Goulburn-Broken Region.

Campaspe Region:

CSIRO has released its Sustainable Yield Report relating to the Campaspe Region.

Key findings inculde:

• Average surface water availability under the historical climate is 275Gl/year and under current development 36% of this is diverted for use.  Groundwater use is about 29Gl/year or 9% of total water use.
  
• If the recent (1997-2006) climate were to continue, average surface water availability would be reduced by 54% and the volume of water diverted for use within the region would be reduced by 26%.
  
• The best estimate of climate change by 2030 would reduce average surface water availability by 16% and would reduce the volume of water diverted for use within the region by 5%.
  
• Future development of farm dams would reduce average annual run off by 1.5%.
  
• Groundwater extraction is expected to increase by over 10% by 2030.

For further information visit CSIRO's website for the Campaspe Region

Click here to download a summary report of the Campaspe Region