Tiwi Island Economic Development - Bio-Physical Resources of North East Bathurst Island (Technical Report).

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).A preliminary land, water and biodiversity investigation in late 2013 identified several areas across the Tiwi Islands as potentially suitable for agricultural land. The area targeted for detailed survey was selected in collaboration with other Northern Territory Government departments and traditional owners. The resulting study area targeted an area of 14 000 ha on north east Bathurst Island. The associated technical report describes the bio-physical resources for the study area, including; geology, geomorphology, groundwater, surface water, land resources, flora, fauna and crop suitability.Part 1 OVERVIEW; 1 - Introduction -- Part 2 BIO-PHYSICAL RESOURCES -- 2. Geology -- 3. Geomorphology -- 4. Groundwater -- 5.Surface Water -- 6. Land Resources -- 7. Biodiversity -- Part 3 PLANT INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES -- 8. Crop Suitability -- 9. References -- 10. Appendices

Assessment of major spring systems in the Oolloo Dolostone, Daly River

This project examines various aspects of the Oolloo aquifer and parts of the water cycle that act on it. NRETAS used drilling and reconnaissance geological mapping to better define the extent of the aquifer and its relationship to adjacent geological formations. Tools such as down-hole imaging, drill core reflectance spectroscopy logging and chemical analyses of the rock were utilised to learn more about the rock and how the aquifer was formed. Individual springs were mapped by field surveys, while spring discharge was quantified and geographically located by conducting detailed stream gaugings. Rapids were also mapped and a longitudinal survey of the Katherine/Daly River was made in February 2011 when the river was in flood using GPS and a depth sounder. The results of the latter survey are not presented here as the processing of the data was incomplete at the time of writing of this report.Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).Executive Summary -- Introduction -- Geology and Hydrogeology -- Hydrochemistry of the Oolloo aquifer -- Surface Water ? Groundwater Interaction -- Groundwater Recharge -- Soil hydraulic properties of land units associated with the Oolloo Dolostone -- Rainfall Runoff Partioning -- Discussion -- Acknowledgements -- References

Great Artesian basin (NT) Water Allocation Plan 2013 - 2023 - DRAFT

The Northern Territory Government is committed to the long term management of water resources. Water Allocation Plans (WAPs) provide the framework for sustainable water management and allocation strategies which are developed in consultation with the community. This enables regional development to be balanced with the conservation of the Northern Territory?s water resources. WAPs are made under s.22B of the Water Act 1992(NT) (the Act). The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is Australia?s largest water resource and one of the largest artesian roundwater basins in the world. It extends over 1.7 million km2 or 22 % of the Australian continent and underlies large areas of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory (See Figure 1). The GAB Water Control District (the District) in the Northern Territory covers just less than five per cent of the total GAB. To date, water extraction in the District has been mainly used for domestic purposes by the community and for watering stock. There are also mining and gas exploration1 activities currently occurring in the area and these could have significant impacts on future water use in the District. A WAP will help ensure that this regional development continues to proceed on a sustainable basis. The GAB Strategic Management Plan was developed by the GAB Consultative Council for the whole of the GAB in 2000 with a key objective of encouraging legislative and administrative frameworks for sustainable water management and water use within the GAB. The Strategic Management Plan was adopted by all Governments responsible for GAB management. This Plan has been developed to assist the Northern Territory to meet its obligations under the GAB Strategic Management Plan. This Plan will regulate management of all water extraction required to be licensed under the Act for the whole of the District as shown in Figure 2. The District has been geographically defined to encompass the Northern Territory portion of the GAB. However, the Plan applies to both surface and groundwater resources, including but not limited to the water in the GAB aquifer, within the District. This Plan takes effect from the date of its declaration by the Minister for Land Resource Management (the Minister), and will remain in force for a period of 10 years. In accordance with the Act, the Plan must be reviewed at intervals not longer than five years.Part One: Background -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Water Allocation Planning Policy and Process -- 2.1 The Water Act and policy framework -- 2.2 National Water Initiative -- 2.3 GAB Strategic Management Plan -- 2.4 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act -- 2.5 Community Consultation -- 3. The GAB Water Control District -- 4. The Resource -- 4.1 Climate -- 4.2 Surface water -- 4.3 Geology -- 4.4 Hydrogeology -- 4.5 Pressure -- 4.6 Groundwater storage -- 4.7 Recharge -- 4.8 Discharge -- 4.9 Regional water balance -- 5. Water Use -- 5.1 Current licensed groundwater use -- 5.2 Current unlicensed groundwater use -- 5.3 Current cultural use -- 5.4 Current environmental use within District -- 5.5 Current environmental use outside District -- 5.6 Future prospects for use -- 5.7 Potential impacts of extraction -- Part Two: Licensing Framework -- 6. Objectives and Strategies -- 7. Water for non-consumptive purposes -- 8. Consumptive Pool -- 8.1 Surface water -- 8.2 Groundwater from the J aquifer -- 8.3 Other groundwater resources -- 9. Permits for water extraction -- 9.1 Surface water extraction and interception -- 9.2 Groundwater -- 10. Licences for water extraction -- 10.1 Licensing under the Act -- 10.2 Licensing under the Plan -- 10.3 Interstate consultation -- 10.4 Transfer of licences as result of property sale -- 10.5 Assignment of Risk -- 10.6 Fees and Charges -- 10.7 Emergency powers to limit rights to take water -- 11. Water trading -- 11.1 Rules -- 12. Limitations and assumptions -- 12.1 Climate change -- 12.2 Protection of environmental and cultural values -- 13. Review of this plan -- 14. Monitoring and Performance Evaluation -- 14.1 Implementation targets -- 15. Glossary and Abbreviations -- 16. References -- Appendix 1: Standard Licence Terms & Condition -- Figures -- 1. Great Artesian Basin -- 2. Land Tenure - Water Control District -- 3. Wetlands and surface water catchments -- 4. Groundwater flow direction -- 5. Hydrogeological Map -- 6. Cross section A-B-C -- 7. Bore Location Map -- Plates -- 1. Salt lakes near Poeppels CornerMade available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT)

Rapid Creek flood Study : addedum 1

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).This report should be reviewed with the Rapid Creek Flood Study report, report number 14/2013

Wetlands of the Alice Springs Water Control District

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).This report describes wetlands of the Alice Springs Water Control District (ASWCD). The primary purpose of this report is to support water allocation planning in the ASWCD, so that the natural values of surface waters can be given due consideration. The report provides a summary of the district?s wetlands that will also be useful for people with a general interest in nature and wetlands. The different types of wetland that occur are described with examples, along with known biological values. Wetlands of particular conservation significance are described.Introduction -- Background Information -- Wetlands Types and Examples -- Characteristics and Significant Biota -- Wetland Condition and Invasive Species -- Significant Wetlands -- Reference

Modelling of Surface Water Extraction in the Lower Reaches of the Roper River

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).The objective of htis study wa to model ans report the resultant flows in the Roper River at specific due to surface water extraction on river flow dynamics of the Roper River between Judy Crossing (G9030010 / G9035122) and Red Rock (G9030250) using the existing coupled surface water grouundwater model

1

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).A groundwater assessment project was undertaken in the region between the King River north of Mataranka and south to Daly Waters as part of the Land and Water Suitability Assessment Program. The project, known as the Larrimah Study, sought to gather information which would improve the understanding of assessment of the resource in the Tindall Limestone aquifer underlying the region.Report cover -- Executive summary -- Table of Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Geology and Geological Setting -- 3. Hydrogeology -- 4. Groundwater Extraction Scenario Evaluation -- 5. Conclusion -- 6. Recommendations -- 7. References -- 8. Appendices

Groundwater resource assessment of the Whites Formation at Acacia Hills.

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).This report collates existing data and undertakes a desktop hydrogeological assessment to provide an estimate for recharge to the Whites Formation in the Acacia Hills Region. The intent of this work is to identify data gaps and required information to enable water resources planning to be undertaken for the groundwater system.Introduction -- Hydrogeology -- Water Usage -- Recharge Estimate -- Conclusions and Recommendations -- References

Agricultural Land Suitability Series, Report 2

This report describes the dominant landform, soils and vegetation of the Wildman River Area, Northern Territory. The study area covers 343km2 and is located approximately 100km south-east of Darwin via the Arnhem Highway and is situated between the Mary River and Kakadu National Parks. The primary purpose of the investigation was to map, describe and evaluate soil landscapes to inform future irrigation development in an area with identified potential for groundwater extraction. The soil and land suitability investigation was undertaken in 2015.Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).Executive Summary, 1. Introduction, 2. Methodology, 3. Landscapes, 4. Land Units, 5. Soil, 6. Vegetation, 7. Land Evaluation, 8. Management Considerations, 9. References, Appendix A-H

Gisela Lamche & Julia Schult

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).The macrophytes of six lagoons in the Darwin region were recorded over a period of approximately one year. Results showed a large variety of plant species per lagoon and a strong individuality of lagoon plant lists. A total of 160 plants was recorded, 49 of which were aquatic or aquatic/terrestrial. Only six species were found in all six lagoons. The group of introduced plants totalled 26. The general paucity of information on wetland plants in lagoons and billabongs in the Top End was pointed out. Water quality parameters were measured during the plant surveys. No relation between plant species composition and water quality were found. Neither was a relation between land use in the lagoon catchment and plant species composition observed. A wetland health indicator based on plant species richness and the presence of declared weeds was calculated. Two of the lagoons reached the highest score being classed as ?largely unmodified?. Three lagoons ranked as ?slightly modified? and one lagoon ?moderately modified?. These scores were based on data collected during one wet season. More data would be needed to assess the validity and suitability of the indicator and its weighting of the components of species richness and weeds. It is assessed that the current macrophyte indicator is not ideal due to the high variability in data collection and the large effort required in the field. Suggestions are made to trial weeds or vegetation cover as indicators for wetland health.Acknowledgements: The project was financially supported by the National Land and Water Resources Audit, Project DN8. Dave Wilson was invaluable in the field due to his great knowledge of local aquatic plants as well as many other creatures. Many people participated in the field work and we would like to thank Julia Fortune, George Maly, Daryl Browne and Angela Estbergs. Ben Stuckey and Phil Short from the NT Herbarium provided the identification service for the macrophytes collected in the field, which is gratefully acknowledged. We also thank Donna Lewis and Ben Stuckey for advice on the never ending discussion on aquatic and floodplain versus terrestrial plants. Most macrophyte photographs were taken by Dave Wilson.6 lagoons in the Darwin region are: Girraween, Herbert, Knuckey North East, McMinns, Waterlily and Woodford