The Surface Hydrology Points (Regional) dataset provides a set of related features classes to be used as the basis of the production of consistent hydrological information. This dataset contains a geometric representation of major hydrographic point elements - both natural and artificial. This dataset is the best available data supplied by Jurisdictions and aggregated by Geoscience Australia it is intended for defining hydrological features.

This dataset maps the geomorphic habitat environments (facies) for 213 Queensland coastal waterways. This version of the dataset includes 73 newly mapped estuaries, classified as 'Near pristine'. The classification system contains 12 easily identifiable and representative environments: Barrier/back-barrier, Bedrock, Central Basin, Channel, Coral, Flood- and Ebb-tide Delta, Fluvial (bay-head) Delta, Intertidal Flats, Mangrove, Rocky Reef, Saltmarsh/Saltflat, Tidal Sand Banks (and Unassigned). These types represent habitats found across all coastal systems in Australia. Southern and central Great Barrier Reef lagoon coasts have a broad spectrum of river, tide and wave- dominated estuaries.

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A PowerPoint presentation showing regional interpretations of data from the Frome airborne electromagnetic survey, presented at a workshop on 30 November 2011 at the University of Adelaide, South Australia

No abstract available

Geoscience Australia has conducted four surveys in the Swan River Estuary to investigate benthic nutrient fluxes and their impact on water quality. Surveys were undertaken in March 2000, March 2001, September 2001 and October 2006, and both the upper and lower sections of the estuary were sampled. This report details the findings of the most recent benthic nutrient survey (October 2006) and compares benthic fluxes at selected sites during all four surveys. During the October 2006 survey, very high nutrient fluxes were recorded in the upper estuary muddy sites. Combined with very low denitrification efficiencies, large sediment nutrient pool sizes and hypoxic bottom waters, these muds are a significant source of bioavailable nutrients to the water column. Between 2000 and 2006 there has been a significant increase in the amount of organic matter decomposition and nutrient release from the muddy sediments in the upper estuary. A similar pattern is observed in the central basin, however, the change is not as severe. The shallow sandy margins of the lower estuary are sites of photosynthetic production, however, these differ between benthic and pelagic production depending on the light attenuation. When light is available at the sediment surface benthic production is evident, when light penetration is insufficient to reach the sediment surface pelagic production is more evident.

Geoscience Australia (GA) was invited by Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) in 2010 to participate in an evaluation of the Intermap IFSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture RADAR) data that was acquired as part of the Murray-Darling Basin Information Infrastructure Project Stage 1 (MDBIIP1) in 2009. This evaluation will feed into the business case for Stage 2 of the project. As part of the evaluation GA undertook the following: 1. A comparison of the IFSAR Digital Surface Model (DSM) and Digital Terrain Model (DTM) with a recent LiDAR acquisition, covering approximately 9000Km2 of the Lower Darling Region. It focused on assessment of the data over various land cover and terrain types and identified opportunities and issues with integrating IFSAR with LiDAR. 2. A comparison of the IFSAR Vegetation Canopy Surface (DSM minus DTM) with the Lower Darling LiDAR Canopy Elevation Model (CEM). 3. A comparison between currently mapped man-made and natural water bodies over the Murray-Darling Basin with the IFSAR derived products (water mask). 4. Application of the National Catchment Boundaries (NCBs) methodology to the IFSAR data and comparison with the delineated watersheds from PBS&J (Intermap's sub-contractor). This report outlines the findings of this evaluation based on the 4 items above MDBA requested.

With Australia's postwar immigration programme and the increased demand for food supplies, an expansion of Australia's rural industries is of primary importance, both to increase domestic food supplies and to obtain foreign exchange by export of primary produce. For such a development, the rainfall, surface and underground water resources are the factors of prime importance. In West Australia the difficulties met in finding water for farming purposes prevents rational development of many rural areas. Also, in some places town water supplies are insufficient or the water is saline. Water resources may be classified as follow: rain water from tanks or dams, water from bores or wells, water from old mine shafts (in mining districts), water from springs, [and] water from rivers. The present investigations are not concerned with the last two types of water supply. The following aims were set. 1. To test several types of instruments, to discover their limitations and ranges and the optimum conditions for their operations. 2. To estimate the accuracy of depth determination to discontinuities which might be related to the geology. 3. To investigate the possibility of distinguishing the nature of the discontinuities, for instance, decomposed granite, fresh granite, ground water level, etc., and the possibility of estimating whether ground water is fresh, brackish or saline. The tests areas were selected in the belief that sufficient bore information would be available to serve as controls. However, except at Austin Downs, near Cue, and at Big Bell, the bore information was generally insufficient, vague and unreliable. With the exceptions mentioned above, adequate records had not been kept. The purpose of the geophysical survey was not primarily to search for areas with favourable ground water occurrences but to test the resistivity method in areas where information on the occurrence of ground water was available from existing wells and bores. The order in which the tests are described in the report is: Wubin, Cue, Big Bell, Lake Grace and Kulkin.

Detailed geological investigations were made of two previously selected dam sites, B and A, in the Upper Cotter Valley. Site B1 is geologically suitable for the construction of a dam, but subsequent to the investigation it was found that the storage capacity of this site would be insufficient for Canberra's estimated requirements; hence the site is unlikely to receive further consideration. Site A appears suitable for the construction of a stable dam, though less suitable geologically than site B1. Five recommendations are submitted for consideration.

The Great Artesian Basin Research Priorities Workshop, organised by Geoscience Australia (GA), was held in Canberra on 27 and 28 April 2016. Workshop attendees represented a spectrum of stakeholders including government, policy, management, scientific and technical representatives interested in GAB-related water management. This workshop was aimed at identifying and documenting key science issues and strategies to fill hydrogeological knowledge gaps that will assist federal and state/territory governments in addressing groundwater management issues within the GAB, such as influencing the development of the next Strategic Management Plan for the GAB. This report summarises the findings out of the workshop.