Under the bulk entitlement for the Anglesea borefield, Barwon Water has established a comprehensive Monitoring and Assessment Program (MAP) that has been independently reviewed by independent experts and approved by the Minister for Water.

The objective of the MAP is to protect environmental values and the health of groundwater dependent ecosystems, whilst also continuing to collect data to build our understanding of the long-term sustainability of groundwater resources in the Anglesea area.

The MAP was originally established in 2009 to address data gaps identified in the 2008 initial project impact assessment. In 2013, Barwon Water undertook a review of the bulk entitlement and MAP. This work was reviewed and endorsed by an independent Technical Advisory Panel and ultimately approved by the Minister for Water in 2014.

What has changed?

The review of the bulk entitlement and MAP conducted in 2013 (approved by the Minister in 2014) indicated that the areas most at risk of impact from operation of the Anglesea borefield were the Anglesea Swampland – rather than the Upper Anglesea River – and Upper Salt Creek catchments.

This resulted in additional monitoring being established in those areas to help ensure they are not impacted from operation of the Anglesea borefield.

When is the next review?

A review of the bulk entitlement and MAP is conducted at five yearly intervals from the date that groundwater extraction recommences. Based on Barwon Water activating the borefield this year (2019), the next review will be due to the Minister for Water in 2024.

The review is to inform the Minister about:

• the long term sustainability of groundwater resources in the area
• protecting the environmental values and health of groundwater dependent ecosystems
• improving resource management arrangements under the bulk entitlement.

Learn more

• View the information posters in the Document Library on the right hand side of this page