Improving Groundwater Planning by Needs Analysis

Abstract

The Condamine River and associated groundwater system in Queensland is experiencing pressure on its water resources. Over twenty groundwater users and managers were interviewed to establish their opinions and needs about groundwater planning. Such a thorough stakeholder analysis completed prior to water planning can usefully inform and improve processes. The most important finding from this research was identifying stakeholder support for the development of practical tools that target the priority issues of over-allocation and climate variability and change. Tools recommended as a result of this research include groundwater conceptualisation through visualisation and animation, systems to improve water use efficiency, climate variability matrices, and social-economic assessment incorporated in decision support frameworks to assist in trade-offs.