Groundwater resource management and diversion licensing, river and catchment dam diversion licensing, and support of key environmental management strategies are rural functions of GWMWater.

Groundwater is a precious resource particularly in the west of the GWMWater region.

With no regulated water supply system and limited opportunities for catchment runoff, landholders are dependent on good quality, reliable water particularly from the limestone aquifer for stock and domestic, and in some areas irrigation use.

A number of groundwater bores provide a water supply to 15 towns in the south-east, south-west and west of GWMWater’s region.

Some groundwater resources in the region are of poor quality, with salinity levels well above those suitable for human or stock consumption.

Licences 

Before a bore can be constructed an application form must be completed and forwarded to GWMWater for approval. Once a licence has been issued by GWMWater, a licenced driller must be engaged to construct the bore.