Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    • Reducing transport emissions
    Photo of commercial laundry focused on a washer and dryer

    Energy Ratings labels

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    2023-24 May Budget

    2023-24 Budget

    The 2023-24 Budget has been delivered. Find out what's been announced.

    Find out what's been announced

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Water
  3. Water policy and resources
  4. National water basins, regions and development
  5. Great Artesian Basin
  6. Current and past Commonwealth funding

Sidebar first - Water

  • Great Artesian Basin
    • Current and past Commonwealth funding
    • Great Artesian Basin Stakeholder Advisory Committee
    • Economic output of groundwater dependent sectors in the Great Artesian Basin
    • Great Artesian Basin Lynn Brake Scholarship
    • Great Artesian Basin Strategic Management Plan

Current and past Commonwealth funding

Current Commonwealth Funding

Improving Great Artesian Basin Drought Resilience

On 19 August 2018, we announced an ongoing investment in effective and collaborative Great Artesian Basin management. Up to $36.9 million over six years was committed to improve the water security and drought resilience of the Great Artesian Basin.

The Improving Great Artesian Basin Drought Resilience (IGABDR) program will provide up to $27.6 million of matched funding from the Australian Government and Basin jurisdictions over five years from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2024.

Projects eligible for IGABDR funding are divided into two categories - infrastructure and non-infrastructure.

Infrastructure projects include:

  • Rehabilitation or decommissioning of ageing or failed bores which are freely flowing water
  • Installation of water meters or pressure monitoring equipment.
Uncapped (free flowing) bores contribute to major water waste. Credit: The Land
Uncapped (free flowing) bores contribute to major water waste. Credit: The Land

Non infrastructure projects include:

  • Project management, auditing, marketing and communication programs
  • Compliance programs
  • Activities to encourage landholders to adopt best practice approaches
  • Studies to improve the development and implementation of water management arrangements.

To date, the program has provided $21.79 million of Australian Government funding for the completion of 122 projects. These projects have delivered about 16,438 ML/y of water savings.

Example of headworks and piping system to reduce bore wastage and maintain groundwater head pressure. Credit: Bruce Keogh, DNR Qld 2018
Example of headworks and piping system to reduce bore wastage and maintain groundwater head pressure. Credit: Bruce Keogh, DNR Qld 2018
IGABDR Achievements to date and planned delivery for 2023-24
  Achievements to date from 2019/20 ‑ 2022/23 Planned delivery in 2023-24
Infrastructure projects 83 17
Kilometres of piping installed 576 -
Non-infrastructure projects 40 2
Est annual water saving (M/y) 16,438 5,084
Australian Government contributions ($mil) 21.79 5.86

Past Commonwealth Funding

Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative

The Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative (GABSI) was delivered in partnership by the Australian, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australian and Northern Territory governments to provide funding support to the repair of uncontrolled bores. The program has contributed to the increase in water pressure in Great Artesian Basin springs and the sustainable management of water resources within the Basin.

GABSI ran for 17 years from 1999 to 30 June 2017. Over 4 phases, the Commonwealth investment of $124 million delivered:

  • The upgrade of more than 750 bores
  • 21,391 km of aged bore drains decommissioned
  • 31,547 km of new efficient pipe drains installed
  • More than 250 GL of water savings per year.
Overview of GABSI Achievements
Jurisdiction NSW SA Qld Total
Total GABSI funding ($mil) 48.7 11.49 64.7 124.9
Annual water saving (ML/y) 68,830 48,961 135,420 253,211
Number of bores controlled 311 51 397 759
Kilometres of bore drains removed (km) 8,558 342 12,491 21,391
Kilometres of piping installed (km) 15,063 344 16,140 31,547

The Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee developed a Briefing Note on the GABSI Program with the achievements and the future vision.

Interim Great Artesian Basin Infrastructure Investment Program (2017 to 2020)

Up to $8 million of Australian Government funding was made available to Basin jurisdictions for the Interim Great Artesian Basin Infrastructure Investment Program (IGABIIP) from 2017 to 2019. Projects under IGABIIP focussed on recovering water and maintaining water pressure within the Basin. This was done through replacing old bores operating in an uncontrolled state with controlled bores and efficient water systems.

A further $6.4 million was provided in 2019-20 to match Queensland Government funding to deliver additional projects in Queensland, including the restoration of critical infrastructure assets.

Under IGABIIP 16 infrastructure projects and one compliance activity were funded with $1.8 million of Commonwealth funding. This delivered eight piping and eight rehabilitation, redrill and plugging projects. These projects saved a combined total of around 3.05 GL of Basin water per year.

Other direct and indirect benefits to Basin communities include:

  • sustaining cultural heritage values
  • improved utilisation of productive land and farm businesses
  • restoration of native vegetation
  • improved water quality
  • health of stock during drought
  • reduced on-farm infrastructure costs.
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 10 July 2023

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.