Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plan

The Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges (EMLR) Prescribed Water Resource Area is in the Hills and Fleurieu and Murraylands and Riverland landscape board regions.

As this area predominantly falls in the Hills and Fleurieu region, enquiries relating to this Water Allocation Plan should be directed to Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu.

The Water Allocation Plan (WAP) for the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resources Area was first adopted in 2013*.

As required in the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, WAPs must be reviewed every 10 years. The Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board commenced the evaluation of the Eastern (and Western) Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plan in 2023 and is currently compiling feedback gained through significant community consultation and scientific findings. Find out more about the review here.

*The current WAP was developed by the former South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board in collaboration with the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges Community Advisory Committee and key stakeholders.In 2019 minor changes were made to the WAP by the Minister for Environment and Water to ensure it was Basin Plan compliant. None of these changes affected individual rights to take or use.

The Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resources Area falls within the catchment area of the Murray-Darling Basin and the WAP has been accredited under the Basin Plan. Water user’s obligations to the Basin Plan are met by complying with the local water allocation plan.

Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plan (PDF)

Find out more information about what a WAP is and why they are important.

Maps of the area

The WAP covers the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges prescribed area and incorporates the Angas Bremer Prescribed Wells Area.

• Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges WAP Prescribed water resources area
• Underground Water Management Zones
• Surface Water Catchments

Water Licensing

For more information on water licensing including obtaining allocations and/or transferring or varying licences in the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resources Area, contact Water Licensing on 8595 2053 or visit the Department for Environment and Water website.