<div>Groundwater systems hosted within Cenozoic rocks and sediments are vitally important for supporting communities, industries and the environment throughout central Australia's Kati Thanda – Lake Eyre Basin (KT–LEB). Through the Exploring for the Future Program, Geoscience Australia has completed the first regional hydrogeological assessment across this vast inland-draining catchment. Working across jurisdictional boundaries in SA, NSW, NT and Queensland has enabled us to generate significant new hydrogeological insights and develop enhanced knowledge of fundamental groundwater systems and processes, particularly within the KT–LEB's major depositional centres of the Callabonna and Tirari sub-basins, and the Cooper Creek Palaeovalley. New geological modelling has improved our understanding of the extent, depth and thickness of the Cenozoic sediment packages which host the basin's major hydrostratigraphic units, such as the Eyre Formation (regional aquifer) and Namba Formation (regional aquitard). Other investigation highlights include the development of the first whole-of-basin regional watertable trend and depth to groundwater maps and a major increase in the proportion of groundwater bores updated with information on hydrogeological province and/or source aquifer attribution. The key findings and outcomes of this study have illustrated the value of Geoscience Australia's approach to regional hydrogeological assessments, delivering consistent frameworks and enhancing the availability and quality of data and information to improve management and decision-making of Australia's major groundwater systems.</div><div><br></div><div>Citation: Lewis SJ, Evans TJ, Bishop C and Halas L (2024) Regional hydrogeological assessment of the Kati Thanda - Lake Eyre Basin, central Australia. In: Czarnota K (ed) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra. </div>

<div>Abstract to present results so far from Upper Darling floodplain EFTF module at Australasian Groundwater Conference (AGC) in Perth</div> This presentation was given at the 2022 Australasian Groundwater Conference 21-23 November (https://www.aig.org.au/events/australasian-groundwater-conference-2022/)

<div>This data package is a key output from the integrated, basin-scale hydrogeological assessment of South Nicholson-Georgina as part of Geoscience Australia’s National Groundwater Systems project in the Exploring for the Future program.&nbsp;This comprehensive desktop study has integrated numerous geoscience and hydrogeological datasets to develop a new whole-of-basin conceptualisation of groundwater flow systems and recharge and discharge processes within the regional unconfined aquifers of the Georgina Basin.</div><div><br></div><div>This data release includes an ESRI geodatabase and ESRI shapefiles with associated layer files:</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Georgina Basin watertable trend surface</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Georgina Basin reduced standing water level (RSWL) contours</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Regional scale groundwater divides</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Groundwater flow paths</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bores with aquifer attribution and water level information where available</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hydrochemistry data for bores and springs, and aquifer attribution (where available)</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Basin boundary extents</div><div><br></div><div>For more information and detail on these products, refer to associated report, Dixon-Jain et al. (2024).</div><div><br></div><div>Dixon-Jain, P., Bishop, C., Lester, J., Orlov, C., McPherson, A., Pho, G., Flower, C., Kilgour, P., Lawson, S., Vizy, J., Lewis, S. 2024. Hydrogeology and groundwater systems of the South Nicholson and Georgina basins, Northern Territory and Queensland. Record 2024/37. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/149730</div>

Groundwater is critical to Australia’s future economic development and is the only reliable water source for many regional and rural communities. It also sustains environmental and cultural assets including springs and groundwater-dependent ecosystems. The demand for groundwater in Australia is expected to increase with population growth, economic development and climate change. Geoscience Australia, in partnership with Commonwealth, State and Territory governments is delivering national and regional groundwater investigations through the Exploring for the Future (EFTF) Program to support water management decisions. Geoscience Australia’s groundwater studies apply innovative geoscience tools and robust geoscientific workflows to increase knowledge and understanding of groundwater systems and assessment of groundwater resource potential for economies, communities and the environment. Through integrating geological and hydrogeological data, airborne electromagnetic and ground-based geophysical, hydrogeochemical and remote sensing data, we have developed new geological and hydrogeological conceptual models and identified potential managed aquifer recharge sites in a number of areas across Northern Australia. The EFTF program is focussed on improving our understanding of Australia's groundwater through a National Groundwater Systems project as well as two regional-scale groundwater investigations in Southern Australia. We are commencing an inventory of Australia’s groundwater systems in onshore basins that includes a compilation and broad interpretation of hydrogeological information. This is the basis for the collation and curation of nationally seamless groundwater information to support informed decision making and water resource coordination across jurisdictions. All data and value-added products are freely available for public use via the Exploring for the Future Data Discovery portal (https://portal.ga.gov.au/). This Abstract was submitted to the 2022 Australasian Groundwater Conference 21-23 November (https://agc2022.com.au/)

The Exploring for the Future program Showcase 2024 was held on 13-16 August 2024. Day 4 - 16th August talks included: <b>Session 1 – Deep Dives into the Delamerian</b> <a href="https://youtu.be/09knAwPnD7s?si=acdu6pQgIj7DNlnj">Scaffold to success: An overview of the Delamerian Orogen, and its crustal and lithospheric architecture</a> - Chris Lewis <a href="https://youtu.be/5GQC5f5IkWc?si=rLPqxoZFkxGAEPEf">Only time will tell: Crustal development of the Delamerian Orogen in space and time</a> - David Mole <a href="https://youtu.be/PhdIYE49eqU?si=d7acyv5rbTW_wTiO">Is it a big deal? New mineral potential insights of the Delamerian Orogen</a> - Dr Yanbo Cheng <b>Session 2 – Deep dives into Birrindudu, West Musgrave and South Nicholson–Georgina regions</b> <a href="https://youtu.be/DEbkcgqwLE8?si=sBKGaMTq_mheURib">Northwest Northern Territory Seismic Survey: Resource studies and results</a> - Paul Henson <a href="https://youtu.be/k9vwBa1fM9E?si=VOG19nBC1DAk-jGH">Tracing Ancient Rivers: A hydrogeological investigation of the West Musgrave Region</a> - Joshua Lester <a href="https://youtu.be/Du1JANovz8M?si=1XEOF87gxhSP9UF3">Water's journey: Understanding groundwater dynamics in the South Nicholson and Georgina basins, NT and QLD </a>- Dr Prachi Dixon-Jain <b>Session 3 – Groundwater systems of the Curnamona and upper Darling-Baaka River</b> <a href="https://youtu.be/nU8dpekmEHQ?si=WygIzefKNzsU4gUA">Groundwater systems of the upper Darling-Baaka floodplain: An integrated assessment</a> - Dr Sarah Buckerfield <a href="https://youtu.be/AKOhuDEPxIA?si=ebradAT6EBwHhPQ_">Potential for a Managed Aquifer Recharge Scheme in the upper Darling-Baaka floodplain: Wilcannia region</a> - Dr Kok Piang Tan <a href="https://youtu.be/epUdD8ax2FQ?si=_aMO_e_ZDZESgLOR">Aquifer alchemy: Decoding mineral clues in the Curnamona region</a> - Ivan Schroder Exploring for the Future: Final reflection – Karol Czarnota Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity – Andrew Heap View or download the <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/149800">Exploring for the Future - An overview of Australia’s transformational geoscience program</a> publication. View or download the <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/149743">Exploring for the Future - Australia's transformational geoscience program</a> publication. You can access full session and Q&A recordings from YouTube here: 2024 Showcase Day 4 - Session 1 - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nuIQsl71cY">Deep Dives into the Delamerian</a> 2024 Showcase Day 4 - Session 2 - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N3dIZRAcHk">Deep dives into Birrindudu, West Musgrave and South Nicholson–Georgina regions</a> 2024 Showcase Day 4 - Session 3 - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ddvLAnUdOI">Groundwater systems of the Curnamona and upper Darling-Baaka River</a>

<div>This report brings together data and information relevant to understanding the regional geology, hydrogeology, and groundwater systems of the South Nicholson – Georgina (SNG) region in the Northern Territory and Queensland. This integrated, basin-scale hydrogeological assessment is part of Geoscience Australia’s National Groundwater Systems project in the Exploring for the Future program. While the northern Georgina Basin has been at the centre of recent investigations as part of studies into the underlying Beetaloo Sub-basin, no regional groundwater assessments have focused on central and southern parts of the Georgina Basin since the 1970s. Similarly, there has been no regional-scale hydrogeological investigation of the deeper South Nicholson Basin, although the paucity of groundwater data limited detailed assessment of the hydrogeology of this basin. This comprehensive desktop study has integrated numerous geoscience and hydrogeological datasets to develop a new whole-of-basin conceptualisation of groundwater flow systems and recharge and discharge processes within the regional unconfined aquifers of the Georgina Basin.</div><div><br></div><div>Key outputs arising from this study include: (1) the development of a hydrostratigraphic framework for the region, incorporating improved aquifer attribution for over 5,000 bores; and (2) publicly available basin-scale groundwater GIS data layers and maps, including a regional watertable map for the whole Georgina Basin. This regional assessment provides new insights into the hydrogeological characteristics and groundwater flow dynamics within the Georgina Basin, which can aid in the sustainable management of groundwater for current and future users reliant on this critical water resource.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

<div>As part of the $225 million Exploring for the Future programme, Geoscience Australia have undertaken an investigation into the resource potential of the Officer-Musgrave-Birrindudu region. Part of this project focusses on characterising palaeovalley groundwater resources within the West Musgrave region of Australia. This GA Record is a technical report detailing the science undertaken as part of the Musgrave Palaeovalley groundwater project. The project aimed to improve understanding of the region's palaeovalley architecture, groundwater quality, and overall hydrogeology to support responsible water resource management. The most significant work undertaken included three-dimensional modelling of palaeovalley architecture, groundwater characterisation using hydrochemistry, groundwater model conceptualisation and a detailed review of local groundwater around remote communities in the region. This work will underpin responsible groundwater management into the future.</div>

<div>This dataset comprises hydrochemistry results for groundwater, surface water, and rainwater samples collected as part of the Upper Darling Floodplain groundwater study. Associated methods, interpretation, and integration with other datasets are found in the Upper Darling Floodplain geological and hydrogeological assessment (Geoscience Australia Ecat ID:149689). This project is part of the Exploring for the Future (EFTF) program, an eight-year, $225 million Australian Government funded geoscience data and precompetitive information acquisition program. The dataset contains 68 groundwater samples, 17 surface water samples, and four rainwater samples. Groundwater samples are from the Cenozoic formations within the alluvium of the Darling River, the Great Artesian Basin, and the Murray geological basin. Surface water samples are from the Darling River, and rainwater samples were taken within the study area. Subsets of the samples were analysed for major ions and trace metals, stable isotopes of water (δ2H and δ18O), radiocarbon (14C), stable carbon isotopes (δ13C), strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) isotopes, chlorine-36 (36Cl), noble gases, and Radon-222. The results were used to inform a range of hydrogeological questions including aquifer distribution and quality, inter-aquifer connectivity, and groundwater-surface water connectivity.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div>

<div>Geoscience Australia, in partnership with Commonwealth, State and Territory governments is delivering national and regional groundwater investigations through the Exploring for the Future (EFTF) Program to support water management decisions. Geoscience Australia’s groundwater studies apply innovative geoscience tools and robust geoscientific workflows to increase knowledge and understanding of groundwater systems and assessment of groundwater resource potential for economies, communities and the environment.&nbsp;</div> This presentation was given at the 2022 Australasian Groundwater Conference 21-23 November (https://agc2022.com.au/)

<div><strong>Output Type: </strong>Exploring for the Future Extended Abstract</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Short Abstract: </strong>Communities and ecosystems along the Darling-Baaka River have been impacted by critical water shortages and water quality issues including high salinity, algal blooms, and fish kills due to declining surface water flows. The river is characterised by naturally highly variable flows and is the primary water source for the region, but extraction and a meteorological drying trend associated with climate change have caused declines in discharge of 53–73% since the advent of post-settlement agriculture and industry. Understanding of the spatial extent, quality, and useability of lower salinity groundwater within the surrounding Darling Alluvium, which could provide an alternative and potentially more sustainable water source, was previously limited. Here we present the findings of an integrated study combining modelled ground and airborne geophysical data, groundwater and surface water levels, hydrochemistry, lithology, and remote sensing data to delineate groundwater systems and understand the geological and hydrological controls on their occurrence. The resolution and breadth of datasets acquired and collated permit mapping of the key factors controlling occurrence and quality of groundwater aquifers, namely basement topography and hydrostratigraphy, groundwater-surface water dynamics, and inter-aquifer connectivity. On this basis the study area can be sub-divided into regions with distinctive aquifer distribution and quality, recharge mechanisms, and pressure gradients between aquifers. We also showed that the groundwater levels in the unconfined aquifer have declined, an expected outcome of the decline in discharge in the Darling-Baaka River which forms the primary recharge mechanism for the alluvial aquifers. These outputs have direct implications for key management questions including location and quantity of potentially useable groundwater, risk of saline groundwater up-coning or discharging to the river, and likelihood of groundwater extraction impacting river flows and groundwater dependent ecosystems.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Citation: </strong>Buckerfield, S., McPherson, A., Tan, K.P., Walsh, C., Buchanan, S., Kilgour, P., Suckow, A., Raiber, M., Symington, N. & Pincus, J., 2024. Groundwater systems of the Upper Darling-Baaka River Floodplain. In: Czarnota, K. (ed.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://doi.org/10.26186/149718</div>