The Carnarvon Artesian Basin Water Management Plan area is located approximately 540 km north of Perth and covers approximately 115 000 km2 onshore. The basin is located along the coast in the state's mid-west region, extending from close to the Murchison River in the south to the mouth of the Fortescue River in the north.
Ground water resources in the plan area
The Carnarvon Artesian Basin Water Management Plan refers to the area where the principal aquifer, the Birdring Sandstone, is present. The Carnarvon Artesian Basin is located within the Gascoyne groundwater area but extends into the Pilbara groundwater area. The plan Includes six main hydrogeological formations (from shallowest to deepest): Windalia Radiolarite, Windalia Sand Member, Nannyarra, Birdrong, Kopke and Tumblagooda Sandstones.
Water planning in the Carnarvon Artesian Basin area
We have completed a management plan for the groundwater resources in the Carnarvon Artesian Basin area. The Carnarvon Artesian Basin water management plan was released in December 2007.
The plan contains allocation limits that define how much water can be abstracted from the water resource units each year. It includes policies for how we will allocate and manage water resources and informs how we will monitor, measure and evaluate the objectives of the plan.
Why has the department prepared this water allocation plan?
The Carnarvon Artesian Basin contains the Birdrong Aquifer, Western Australia's most geographically extensive artesian aquifer. Artesian groundwater from the Birdrong has historically been used by the pastoral industry but is under increasing demand from new development proposals. While the resources of the Birdrong Aquifer are significant, recharge is limited. This means careful management is required to ensure that the quality of, and accessibility to, groundwater is not compromised.
The Department of Water has developed this plan to provide information to organisations, industry and individuals about the way that groundwater in the Carnarvon Artesian Basin will be managed.
This plan also supports the Gascoyne–Murchison Strategy, a regional initiative that aims to achieve a more sustainable use of groundwater in the Carnarvon Artesian Basin.
How can I access any of the information on Carnarvon Artesian Basin that the department has produced?
We are committed to making our technical information, which was used in the planning process, available to the public on our website. The most recent reports can be seen via the publications area at the top right of this page.
Please click on the links to access the following documents:
Allocation plan and supporting documents
Carnarvon Artesian Basin water management plan: Addendum 2011
Publish Date: 28/03/2012
Carnarvon Artesian Basin Water Management Plan
Publish Date: 1/12/2007
Plan Evaluation
Evaluation statement 2009-2011 : Carnarvon artesian basin water management plan
Publish Date 30/12/2012
Evaluation statement for 2009 : Carnarvon artesian basin water management plan
Publish Date 12/10/2009
Further information
For licensing information, please contact the Carnarvon office on (08) 9941 6100, or visit the Water regions website
For planning information, please contact the Department of Water's Water Allocation Planning branch by phoning 08 6964 7600 or email allocationplanning@water.wa.gov.au