Future water security
Water resources on Eyre Peninsula are precious and need to be managed sustainably. This includes watercourses, lakes, dams, wetlands and watercourse habitat, springs, soaks, and catchment landscapes. Some activities can have adverse impacts on the health and condition of water resources, the ecosystems that depend on them, as well as on downstream and other water users. Our Water Affecting Activity Control Policy sets out the principles for managing water infrastructure and water take.
Considerable forethought and planning is required to collect and move water across a farm effectively. There are many things to consider. From the shared experience of farmers and experts, find out about some of the things to consider.
- This establishing new dams manual contains information about siting, designing, construction and management of new dams.
- Priority issues for stock water supply systems fact sheet.
- This two-page document outlines tips to consider for installing water reticulation schemes.
- Farm managers near Cleve have designed an innovative 'water on wheels' portable sheep watering truck (pictured below).
Case studies
- Supplying fresh water for cattle in Wanilla by repositioning of watering points and paddock subdivision.
- Centralising watering points in Elliston cuts down on stock travel.
- Remote monitoring of water usage and the multiple benefits realised for a Darke Peak property.
- Using a water plan for a Cleve property allowed for effective decision-making and assisted in setting the property up for future sustainable farming.
- Sheeted catchments meet future water needs for a Wharminda family business who share the details of how they created a reliable water source.
- Learnings from Creating a water action plan workshop with farmers in the Cowell region are shared including the new information that landholders gained to help with water management.
- This clip demonstrates the benefits of establishing sheeted catchments to secure good quality and cost-effective water.
Find out all you need to know about the legalities and permits required for water on your property on our water affecting activities page.
We also provide a free salinity water testing service and recommends that water sources such as bores, dams and wells are salinity tested twice a year.