Water allocation plan nearly ready for public consultation
The Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board will soon be inviting feedback on their draft Water Allocation Plan (WAP) for the Musgrave and Southern Basins prescribed groundwater reserves.
It is expected that the plan will be out for public consultation in coming weeks. It is being reviewed by the Crown Solicitor’s Office to ensure it is consistent with requirements of the relevant legislation and will be released following favourable review.
In preparation for the public consultation process, the Board has contacted licencees and persons with a keen interest in water management.
Meetings in Port Lincoln and Elliston were held last week, with the support of an independent facilitator, to provide an update on progress of the WAP development, an overview of key features of the new plan and opportunities to participate in the engagement process.
Presiding Member Heather Baldock said the board planned to advertise widely to launch the public consultation.
“The board will provide various opportunities and forums for people to participate,” she said.
“Hard copies of the draft plan and fact sheets will be sent by post to all licencees and interested parties.”
“Our website will also have a number of documents available for downloading and hard copies will be available to be viewed at key offices.”
The draft plan has been prepared over several years in collaboration with the board’s Water Resources Advisory Committee, persons with a keen interest or stake and the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.
“We also plan to hold two public open house forums, one in Port Lincoln and the other in Elliston, to inform those interested on the contents of the plan and assist in preparing written submissions,” Heather said.
“All submissions must include a real name and address and may be made public.”
Find out more about the Draft WAP or contact Prabodh Das, Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula on (08) 8688 3111.
