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Groundwater Management HandbookSeptember 2006 First Edition

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FOREWORD

The Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG) region currently has a population ofapproximately 1.3 million people and continues to grow. A combination of factors includingpopulation growth in the SCCG region, combined with tighter water restrictions placed onSydney residents, triggered SCCG to investigate the issues and needs surroundingalternative water supplies, of which groundwater was the main option considered.

Throughout 2004, it became apparent to the SCCG that there was increased interest fromresidents, industry and Local Government in:

Obtaining information on Sydneys groundwater resources.

Using groundwater resources as an alternative water supply.

Improving the understanding and knowledge of sustainable groundwater managementwithin Local Government.

In response to these emerging groundwater issues across the region, the SCCG undertook asurvey of its member Councils. The survey sought information with respect to the SCCGmember Councils major needs and issues, particularly with a view to addressing howgroundwater is currently considered in the assessment of development proposals.

The survey identified a number of important needs and issues on which SCCG memberCouncils sought further advice and clarification. Most notably was the question of when, orindeed if, the integrated development assessment process is triggered by proposals withregard to groundwater issues.

SCCG formed a Groundwater Working Group in April 2004 to address issues identified in thegroundwater survey. The philosophy behind the development of the Handbook was to:

Provide Councils and other stakeholders with a document that deals specifically with themanagement and assessment of groundwater resources.

Provide Councils with a document that provides clear technical information to guideprofessional staff through the assessment process.

Provide additional education resources for representatives from industry and thecommunity.

As a result of the survey and contributions from Groundwater Working Group members,SCCG has developed this Groundwater Management Handbook A Guide for LocalGovernment. The Handbook is focussed on the member Council areas included in theSCCG region, in particular the geological and hydrogeological settings that dictate thepatterns of groundwater occurrence. Because these settings are specific to the SCCGregion, much of the discussion in the Handbook may not be relevant to other areas of thestate. However, parts of the Handbook dealing with legislation and information that havecarriage state-wide could conceivably be utilised by other Councils in the development oftheir own guidance documents. Councils of the SCCG region are encouraged to adopt ordevelop the information in this Handbook into their core planning and environmentalmanagement systems. This will promote recognition of the importance of local and regionalgroundwater resources, the protection of groundwater dependent ecosystems, the

prevention of contamination and will encourage sustainable use.