Towards prioritising regional groundwater assessments using the national hydrogeological inventory of Australia  


Authors / CoAuthors

Lewis, S. | Evans, T. | Lai, E | Lester, J. | Catherine Flower | Scott Lawson

Abstract

<div>Geoscience Australia's Exploring for the Future Program (EFTF) is supporting regional and national-scale initiatives to address Australia’s hydrogeological challenges using an integrated geoscience systems approach. An important early step in the EFTF groundwater program focused on developing a national hydrogeological inventory of Australia’s major groundwater basins and fractured rock provinces. The inventory has its roots in the seminal 1987 Hydrogeology of Australia map, the first continental-scale map of groundwater systems and principal aquifers (Jacobson and Lau, 1987). Seeking to enhance and modernise the supporting information base for the national map, the inventory combines a curated selection of geospatial data attributes supported by focused narrative on the geology and hydrogeology of each basin and fractured rock province.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The national hydrogeological inventory has a broad range of benefits for Australian groundwater users, managers and policy makers. These include the provision of an updated knowledge base covering the hydrogeology and groundwater systems of the major hydrogeological provinces of the nation, as well as important contextual information. The extensive catalogue of knowledge contained in the inventory also enables an objective approach to identify and prioritise areas for further regional assessment.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Based on analysis of data compiled for the national inventory, the Lake Eyre Basin in arid central Australia was the first region prioritised for more detailed hydrogeological assessment during EFTF. The integration of a variety of basin- to national-scale geoscience datasets enabled significant advances in geological and hydrogeological understanding and the development of a new geological model for the three main basin depo-centres, namely the Tirari and Callabonna Sub-basins, and the Cooper Creek Palaeovalley. The geological modelling has further supported a range of hydrogeological applications, including substantial improvements in the number of bores with aquifer attribution, as well as the first regional watertable map across the basin. Abstract submitted and presented at the 2023 AGC NZHS Joint Conference Auckland, NZ (https://www.agcnzhs2023conference.co.nz/)

Product Type

document

eCat Id

148677

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  Resource provider

 

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Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)  
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia

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Keywords

( Project )
  • EFTF – Exploring for the Future
  • groundwater
  • hydrogeology
  • Lake Eyre Basin
  • National Hydrogeological Inventory
theme.ANZRC Fields of Research.rdf
  • Groundwater hydrology
  • Published_External

Publication Date

2023-12-11T05:12:55

Creation Date

2023-08-06T02:00:00

Security Constraints

Australian Government Security Classification System    

Classification - unclassified

Legal Constraints

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence    

Use - license otherRestrictions

Status

completed

Purpose

The purpose of this abstract is to submit to the organising committee of the 2023 Australasian Groundwater Conference (AGC), to be held in New Zealand in late November 2023. The intention is to have the abstract accepted to enable an oral presentation on this topic at the conference.

Maintenance Information

asNeeded

Topic Category

geoscientificInformation

Series Information

Australasian Groundwater - New Zealand Hydrological Society (AGC NZHS) Joint Conference Auckland NZ 28 Nov - 1 Dec 2023, Auckland, NZ

Lineage

<div>This product is a short conference abstract written by the lead author based on existing knowledge of work undertaken for both the National Hydrogeological Inventory and Lake Eyre Basin detailed hydrogeology inventory, as part of Exploring for the Future Program. Minor edits may be required based on review feedback before the abstract is submitted to the conference organisers for consideration of inclusion on the speaking program at the 2023 Australasian Groundwater Conference in New Zealand in November 2023.</div>

Parent Information

Extents

[-44, -9, 112, 154]

Reference System

Spatial Resolution

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Link to Conference Page  

Link to Abstract (page 132)  

Download Presentation (pptx) [39.4 MB]  

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