Georgina Wiso Water Allocation Plan declared, slammed by environment groups

The Territory’s leading conservation body has slammed a water allocation plan as ‘reckless’. Here’s what the scheme involves.

The NT government’s decision to implement a water allocation plan that would remove resources from a region twice the size of Tasmania has been met with outrage.

Treasurer and Acting Environment, Climate Change, and Water Security Minister Eva Lawler on Friday declared the Georgina Wiso Water Allocation Plan – which would see up to 1.68 trillion litres of water over eight years taken from a 155,000 square kilometre region.

Water Resources Division Executive Director for the Environment, Parks and Water Security Department Amy Dysart said the plan prioritised water use for environmental and cultural purposes, among other “beneficial uses”.

“The plan presents a comprehensive understanding of the water resource informed by studies undertaken as part of the Strategic Regional Environmental and Baseline Assessment,” she said.

Three quarters of the water taken from aquifers that keep the Roper and Daly rivers flowing will be allocated to agriculture, aquaculture, cultural, industry, and mining activity each year.

Less than 10 per cent of the annual allocations would go to Aboriginal water reserves and 20 megalitres would go to environmental management zones.

Environment Centre NT executive director Kirsty Howey slammed the plan and said it could “spell disaster” for the Roper River, Mataranka, and Bitter Springs.

Ms Howey said the “reckless” plan was one of the worst water decisions made during the current term of government.

“Despite community and scientific outcry, the Northern Territory government is forging ahead, intent on handing out free water to its mates in the fracking and cotton industries at a gobsmacking rate, sacrificing communities and our precious free-flowing rivers in the process,” she said.

“This decision marks a line in the sand – Territorians cannot trust the Northern Territory government with our water.

“The declaration of this plan, after twelve months of complete silence from the government, and with none of the community’s or scientists’ concerns addressed, shows how little respect the government has for the people and rivers of the Northern Territory.”

The Georgina Wiso Water Allocation Plan’s estimated sustainable yield is calculated after prioritising water for non-consumptive uses.

“The majority of the water is retained in the environment to maintain important ecological functions and for cultural purposes and values of water in the region,” the report said.

“A comparatively low proportion of the water is allocated to the estimated sustainable yield and therefore available to take for drinking and sustainable development.”

Newly-minted Environment, Climate Change, and Water Security Minister Kate Worden has been contacted for comment.