The Northern Territory Government has released the Ti Tree Water Allocation Plan 2020 – 2030 which outlines how water resources will be allocated and how licensed water use will be regulated, ensuring water resources in Central Australia are managed sustainably.
Sustainable use of the Northern Territory’s water resources is crucial for the health of the rivers, waterways, ecosystems and culture that rely on them now and into the future.
The plan balances the needs of competing water users, while protecting and maintaining environmental and cultural values in the Ti Tree Water Control District.
The plan applies to all surface and groundwater within the Ti Tree Water Control District with users able to trade their water with other licence holders within the district.
It provides clear guidance on the water that is available for allocation under a licence for development in the area and the water that is required to maintain key environmental and cultural assets that are equally important to the region and those communities that depend on it.
The plan also establishes rules around trade and which areas are more sensitive to the impact of extraction.
Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Eva Lawler, said, “Water is a precious resource and we need to manage it responsibly to ensure its sustainability – we know how important it is to protect the thousands of jobs in the tourism, fishing, cattle and agriculture industries that rely on the health of our precious water systems.”
