The Central Adelaide Prescribed Wells area of the Adelaide Coastal Plain extends from Outer Harbour in the north to Noarlunga in the south and the Mount Lofty Ranges in the east. It is bounded by the Gulf St Vincent, the Northern Adelaide Plains Prescribed Wells Area and the Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resources Area.
The Central Adelaide Prescribed Wells area was prescribed by regulation made pursuant to section 125 of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 (NRM Act) on 7 June 2007.
The regulation does not apply if the water from the well is only used for domestic purposes including the irrigation of less than or equal to 0.4 hectares of land (backyard bores) or for watering stock (other than stock subject to intensive farming).
The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board has prepared a concept statement for the Central Adelaide Water Allocation Plan. The concept statement is the first step in the development of a water allocation plan (WAP). It sets out the proposed content of the WAP, the issues to be investigated and the consultation to be undertaken. A summary brochure is also available.
The concept statement does not explore issues in detail, or provide solution as this will be done as part of the process to prepare the plan.
The Board is now developing a draft Water Allocation Plan in accordance with the Concept Statement and will be setting up industry reference groups to support the development of the WAP. These groups will meet on an as needs basis to provide input into the development of policy options within the water allocation plan. The reference groups will ensure the involvement of water users in the development of policy and will ensure that policy is locally relevant.
A range of discussion or issue papers will also be developed to provide the stakeholders and the community with key information and to provide the basis for discussions with the community on a range of policy options for inclusion in the draft WAP.