Aquifer argument

AN APPLICATION to extract water from a rural aquifer has sparked outrage among residents opposed to the proposed Noonamah Ridge development

Tipperary Station manager David Warriner ,at a local creek that is fed by an aquifer under the station , talks about the possibility of new dams and irrigation in the top end of the Northern Territory , near Adelaide River, south of Darwin.

AN APPLICATION to extract water from a rural aquifer has sparked outrage among residents opposed to the proposed Noonamah Ridge development.

An advertisement was placed in the NT News last week to advise a notice of application was made by Noonamah Ridge developers Intrapac to extract 571ML of water a year from an aquifer for public water supply. The aquifer in question is a Wildman Siltstone Formation, which can sustain 1057ML per year.

Nelson Independent Member Gerry Wood put forward a motion last week to put the application on hold until the Environment Protection Agency commented on the Environmental Impact Statement submitted by Intrapac.

“When that is done the Minister should call a meeting of his Department, local residents and the proponent to fully explain what is being proposed and what effect that licence, if approved, may have on the groundwater levels in the area,” Mr Wood said.

“When all the information is made available, residents can make an informed decision before they say whether they either support the application or don’t support the application.”

The topic will be discussed at the next Parliament sittings in April. The application for the licence states there were not any water extraction licences currently issued for the aquifer, however an application was approved for 700ML last year, for aquaculture.

On a Humpty Doo community Facebook page, Independent Member for Goyder Kezia Purick said: “The environmental studies said take bore water first, then town water would be developed. My view, based on the sustainable level of water and the fact that there are so many people reliant on bores, [is to connect to] town water first.”

The public can provide comment in writing to the Controller of Water Resources by close of business on April 14. The address is PO Box 496, Palmerston, NT 0831.