In June 2017, Barwon Water acknowledged that the historic management of periodic groundwater pumping activities at the Barwon Downs borefield, that were conducted between 1982 and 2016 to supplement water supplies, had led to a reduction in groundwater contribution from the Lower Tertiary Aquifer into select reaches of Boundary Creek, a tributary of the Barwon River.

Since early 2020, Barwon Water has been implementing a remediation and environmental protection plan (REPP) for Boundary Creek, Big Swamp and surrounding environment to identify and address the impacts caused by the historical management of groundwater pumping activities at the Barwon Downs borefield.

In line with the adaptive management approach, the REPP has evolved over time in response to additional knowledge gained from monitoring and/or additional investigations, as well as in response to community, stakeholder and regulator feedback. A copy of the REPP can be found in the document library.

A key component of the REPP is the Boundary Creek and Big Swamp Remediation Plan, that outlines the controls and actions that have and will be implemented to:

• Ensure no further harm from Barwon Water’s historic groundwater pumping or remediation actions.

• Protect the water quality and ecological values of the Barwon River.

• Improve the water quality and streamflows within Boundary Creek.

• Improve the ecological values of Big Swamp.

These controls and actions remain in place until Barwon Water can demonstrate to Southern Rural Water, as the regulator, that successful remediation has been achieved.

The REPP is also underpinned by a comprehensive environmental monitoring program that aims to monitor how the groundwater and surface water system and ecological receptors are responding, and/or identify the need for any contingency measures.

Barwon Water no longer holds a groundwater extraction licence and has since decommissioned the Barwon Downs borefield.

Barwon Water is committed to keeping the local community and key stakeholders informed regarding the progress of remediation and to sharing the findings and outcomes of the plan.