ADVERTISING FEATURE
SIGNIFICANT changes to water trading in unconfined groundwater aquifers have been made in the State’s South East.
Since the beginning of the month, groundwater in unconfined aquifers of the Lower Limestone Coast Prescribed Wells Area (LLC PWA) no longer has to stay with licence holders in the individual management area but can be traded to a wider audience.
Ruralco Water water broker Damien Heintze said he could help people get their heads around the changes.
“The biggest change has been the opening of permanent and temporary allocation trade of groundwater from the unconfined aquifer in the LLC PWA across all individual management areas,” he said.
“For example, where an irrigator was once only allowed to trade water within the region of Coles, they are now able to potentially trade this to any other management area that is under allocated.”
The development has been seen as a key tool for irrigators, managers of forestry plantations and any other groundwater licence holders to improve the way they manage their water and for a market value for this resource to be realised.
Trades are subject to the successful completion of a hydrogeological assessment, with water licence holders required to lodge an Allocation Transfer Form through the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.
Mr Heintze encouraged those looking for advice or help with understanding the changes to get in touch with Ruralco Water.
“Ruralco Water has brokers based right across the South East of SA to assist with trading of groundwater and for market advice,” he said.
“This is not just for the LLC PWA but also the Padthaway, Tintinara/Coonalpyn and Tatiara PWA’s.”
Trading water from LLC PWA can only be made when there are equivalent volumes or greater available in the receiving management area.
Details: Call Damien Heintze on 0419 473 153, or Ruralco on 1300 007 939, or visit ruralcowater.com.au.