Media Releases

An atlas for south-west Victoria launched today will help people understand the complex system of groundwater use and management, according to Water Minister Peter Walsh.
“This atlas provides information in words and graphics that readers can easily grasp, while using new mapping technology,” Mr Walsh said.
“Groundwater is a valuable resource, but its potential is hidden. This atlas will help change that.”
Member for Western Victoria David O’Brien, representing Mr Walsh, today launched the atlas in Bungaree. He said the atlas had been described as “groundwater gold”.
“During the drought, interest in groundwater across the region grew considerably,” Mr O’Brien said.
“But groundwater is very complex, often described in unfamiliar technical language and hard to understand. Many people also don’t understand how it is managed.
“This atlas contains strong messages about groundwater use and management in south-west Victoria and paints a picture of groundwater that we have never seen before.”
The atlas is a result of the Southern Groundwater Futures project run by Southern Rural Water.
Southern Rural Water’s general manager – strategic and technical – Graham Hawke said many people were involved in developing the atlas, including stakeholders who participated in a reference group and more than 100 water users and members of the public who attended workshops to look at the draft atlas.
“We believe this atlas will give anyone who is interested a good understanding of the state of groundwater and its use in south-west Victoria,” Mr Hawke said.
The atlas is one of three to be developed across Southern Rural Water’s area as part of the $1 million project and is now available online at www.srw.com.au