Over 6,000 megalitres of unused water recovered in Katherine
A total of 6,047 megalitres of unused water entitlements were recently recovered from 9 water licence holders in the Katherine Limestone Aquifer Water Allocation Plan area.
Across the Northern Territory there are more 600 water extraction licences that enable land holders to use more than 600,000 megalitres (ML) per year of water for the economic development of the Territory. However, in many regions much of this water isn’t being used. In fact, on average less than 50% of the maximum water entitlements through licences are taken out in any one year, and in some areas, it is much less.
To ensure that water is available for economic development all water licences have a condition that licence holders ‘must extract’ most of their entitlement for at least three consecutive years. If this is not met the Controller of Water Resources (Controller) is able to recover unused water entitlements from licence holders. What happens to the water when it is recovered depends on the water resource. Water is returned in order of the priority, firstly to support environmental and cultural values, the Aboriginal water reserve and then for use to support all other economic development in the region.
During 2023 - 24, the Katherine Tindall Limestone Aquifer was identified as a priority water resource to recover unused water as only 32% of the licence entitlements were being used and there was not water available through the water allocation plan. While most licences in the plan area are under used, the recovery campaign focused on the largest and most underutilised licences. Over more than 6 months the department, on behalf of the Controller, sought to understand the water plans and requirements of selected licence holders as part of the recovery process.
Ultimately at the completion of the campaign a total of 6,047 ML of unused water was recovered from nine water licences within the plan area. This meant that for Katherine Tindall Limestone Aquifer, 127 ML was returned to support environmental and cultural values, 3, 235 ML was allocated to Aboriginal water reserve and the remaining 2,575 ML may be available for economic development. The availability of water from Katherine Tindall Limestone Aquifer will be more carefully considered through the development of new water allocation plan for the region during 2024 - 2026.
Recovery of unused licensed entitlements is integral to the effective management and allocation of water resources in the Northern Territory.
