Managing groundwater abstraction in the palaeochannels of Western Australia: Inter generational equity and other challenges

摘要

The palaeochannel aquifers in the semi-arid Goldfields region of Western Australia extends over an area 750km by 300km, and represents infilling of an ancient integrated drainage system dating from about 50 million years ago. The palaeochannels form the main aquifer systems of the Goldfields region, supplying process water to gold and nickel mines, and contain about 4.000GL of groundwater in storage - of mostly saline to hypersaline water quality. The palaeochannel groundwater resources are not considered as renewable in the same context as groundwater resources in areas that receive substantial annual rainfall. In this respect, sustainability should not be equated with the preservation of potentially non-renewable water resources, but should allow the use of these resources during times when it is most beneficial to do so. This paper will outline the groundwater management principles of the palaeochannel groundwater resources and in particular, the potential and planned depletion of the storage component of the palaeochannel aquifers, and its acceptability in the long term and from an intergenerational equity perspective.