Groundwater study of the Mullewa townsite

A groundwater study was carried out in the townsite of Mullewa, Western Australia. It aimed to accelerate the implementation of effective salinity management options. The study consisted of a drilling investigation, installation of a piezometer network, groundwater flow modelling and a flood risk analysis

Groundwater study of the Carnamah townsite

Report on a hydrological investigation of Carnamah townsite in Western Australia to establish present groundwater levels and to provide a groundwater monitoring network so that any future risk of salinity could be assessed

Groundwater study of the Goomalling townsite

A groundwater study was undertaken in the townsite of Goomalling, Western Australia. The study consisted of a drilling program to install a network of groundwater monitoring bores. This report documents background information for the town and its catchment, the hydrogeological investigations, conclusions on the town\u27s salinity risk and recommendations for improved water management

Groundwater study of the Perenjori townsite

A groundwater study of the townsite of Perenjori. It aimed to accelerate the implementation of effective salinity management options. The study consisted of drilling investation and installation of a piezometer network, a pumping test, groundwater flow modelling and a flood risk analysis

Groundwater investigation on Victoria location 8565, East Binnu

Describes a drilling investigation undertaken for the East Binnu area within Victoria location 8565, Western Australia. Groundwater monitoring bores were installed to assess the risk of dryland salinity developing if after clearance of native vegetation, the area is used to grow annual crops and pastures. The investigation confirmed that the risk of further salinity development in this location is extreme

Hydrogeology of the Gillingarra Palaeochannel

Previous groundwater investigations had identified the presence of palaeochannel sediments under the Capitela Valley in the Perth Basin, about 25 kilometres south-west of Moora. The sediments of this Capitela Palaeochannel were thought to form a discrete aquifer of good quality groundwater suitable for agriculture. To improve our understanding of the Capitela Palaeochannel, its distribution, water quality and potential as a groundwater resource, we undertook an airborne electromagnetic (AEM) geophysical survey of the area in December 2012. This led to the discovery of a palaeochannel located in the Darling Range between Gillingarra and New Norcia, and we named this the Gillingarra Palaeochannel. The Gillingarra Palaeochannel warranted further investigation so we undertook a drilling program to validate the geophysical interpretation and to obtain information about the aquifer’s hydraulic and geochemical properties. As part of the program, we installed 16 monitoring bores and a production bore at nine sites, during October 2013 to February 2014. Drilling results show that the Gillingarra Palaeochannel is up to 197 metres (m) deep, up to 1.18km wide and at least 18km long, and is mostly composed of coarse sand. We conducted test pumping of the production bore to estimate the Gillingarra Palaeochannel’s parameters and potential bore yields. The bore produced about 700 kilolitres per day of brackish quality water — 307 millisiemens per metre electrical conductivity, or 1700 milligrams per litre total dissolved solids — suitable for livestock watering. We estimate the annual recharge to the aquifer to be about 0.85 gigalitres per year and the brackish groundwater in storage to be 4.6GL. We discovered that, although they seem to be aligned, the Gillingarra Palaeochannel is not connected to the shallower Capitela Palaeochannel. The rising groundwater levels and salinity developing along the Bindoon–Moora Road and Midlands rail line is due to discharge from the Gillingarra Palaeochannel. Despite not being an extensive groundwater resource, this aquifer will be able to provide a valuable local source for livestock watering and some agriculture for the Gillingarra – New Norcia area

The Rise of Post-truth Populism in Pluralist Liberal Democracies: Challenges for Health Policy

Recent years have witnessed the rise of populism and populist leaders, movements and policies in many pluralist liberal democracies, with Brexit and the election of Trump the two most recent high profile examples of this backlash against established political elites and the institutions that support them. This new populism is underpinned by a post-truth politics which is using social media as a mouthpiece for ‘fake news’ and ‘alternative facts’ with the intention of inciting fear and hatred of ‘the other’ and thereby helping to justify discriminatory health policies for marginalised groups. In this article, we explore what is meant by populism and highlight some of the challenges for health and health policy posed by the new wave of post-truth populism

Groundwater investigation Buntine-Marchagee Natural Diversity Recovery Catchment

A groundwater investigation was initiated in the Buntine-Marchagee Natural Diversity Recovery Catchment 200 kms north-east of Perth, Western Australia in 2002. The investigation aimed to install a regional groundwater monitoring network and characterise the regolith throughout the catchment. Drill site selection was based on establishing a series of transects to enable construction of hydrogeological cross-sections to enhance conceptual understanding of the catchment

Hydrological hazard assessment for irrigated agriculture in the Irwin focus area

The Midlands groundwater and land assessment project aimed to identify 2000–3000 hectare precincts suitable to develop intensive irrigated horticulture. The primary focus area was at Irwin, where the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation investigated groundwater resources and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development undertook a multi-faceted site assessment. This report describes the hydrological hazards assessment for the Irwin focus area. The Irwin focus area is located on fertile loam and clay flats associated with the Irwin River. In the east, it encompasses the Irwin River valley floor and the western boundary loops to the south of the Irwin River to capture an area of alluvial clays. The Gingin Scarp forms a boundary between the east and west parts of the focus area. We used groundwater data from resource condition monitoring in the Arrowsmith Hydrozone to assess the hydrological hazards in the Irwin focus area and guide more intensive field investigations. We undertook a shallow drilling program to investigate the profile and to sample and monitor the watertable in the western part of the Irwin focus area. Monitoring bores were established at 13 sites on the alluvial clay flats. The shallow drilling program was complemented with ground-based electromagnetic surveys. A vehicle-mounted system was developed to record electrical conductivity measurements from Geonics™ EM38 and EM31 instruments. Historical groundwater level monitoring in the Irwin River valley indicates consistently rising groundwater levels east of the Gingin Scarp in the Arrowsmith Hydrozone. This trend and shallow depth to groundwater poses a significant risk of dryland salinity developing in this landscape. This existing hydrological hazard, rising groundwater and salinity, makes the eastern part of the focus area unsuitable for irrigated horticulture. West of the Gingin Scarp, the soil profile under the alluvial flats that extend south of the Irwin River is dominated by stiff, moist, grey clay that becomes red-brown or mottled brown and pale grey clay with depth. While the surface soils are not salt-affected, there is significant salt storage at depth, starting from about 3m to about 7–10m. Since groundwater is not rising in this area the regolith salt storage is not a hazard for dryland agriculture. However, if irrigation water is applied and groundwater rises, it will become a significant hazard. The hydraulic properties of the alluvial clays could not be closely observed during the investigation because of the absence of recharge due to low rainfall. However, the drill cuttings of heavy, moist clay indicate that there is low hydraulic conductivity or permeability. If the surface soils were to become saline from irrigation, they would likely remain saline because of the limited leachability of the clays

Deep drains : a case study and discussion

Typically, deep, open drains are about 2 in deep and about 1 in wide at the base and dug with a backhoe or excavator. The movement of groundwater is controlled by two factors. One is the physical ability of the material to transmit fluid. Permeability is the measure used to describe the ability of a material to transmit fluid through pores and cracks. It depends largely upon porosity (the percentage of the total volume of thematerial that is pore space) and the degree of interconnectedness of the pore spaces. The other factor controlling groundwater flow is gradient. George (1985) found that it was important to detemine the factors or profile characteristics controlling groundwater flow, such asthe depth of permeable or impermeable layers, in order to calculate appropriate drain design