Bushfire recovery support and resources now available for land managers affected by the Deep Creek and Nangkita fires.
Review of the 2013 Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plans
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- Project status Completed
Water Allocation Plan Reviews: Eastern and Western Mount Lofty Ranges
The Eastern and Western Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plans (WAPs) were reviewed between 2022 and 2024 to understand how well they are working and what updates are needed.
The review identified important insights about water availability, ecosystem health, and future planning needs. These findings are now guiding updates to ensure the region’s water resources remain sustainable for generations to come.
Full copies of the reports are available for download.
Updating the Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plans
The water allocation plans for the Mount Lofty Ranges are now being revised. Find out what’s changing, how the process works, and how you can have your say.
Findings of the review
The 2013 Water Allocation Plan's successfully:
- Created a framework for water licensing and trading.
- Introduced additional controls on dam development.
- Set strategies to reduce the impact of dams on catchment flows.
The reviews also found that:
- Groundwater resources are currently stable in most areas.
- Water-dependent ecosystems are declining in many parts of the region due to altered flow patterns caused by water storages and diversions.
- First Nations involvement is essential, bringing knowledge and perspectives that will strengthen planning and outcomes.
- Water resources are over-allocated in several areas.
- Climate change is affecting the timing and quantity of rainfall, requiring updated data and analysis methods.
- More information and new approaches are needed to manage forestry, and stock and domestic water use in the future.
The Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board is responsible for the review and amendment of the Eastern and Western Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plans (WAPs) in accordance with the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. The implementation of the plans is a shared responsibility with the Department for Environment and Water.