Construction of Groundwater Monitoring and Production Bores on the Weaber Plain

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the expansion of farmlands on the Weaber Plain north of Kununurra has stipulated groundwater monitoring systems be established prior to land disturbance, during and post development of the 8,000 ha into irrigated horticultural blocks or farms.

Under this Request, the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) (the Department) intends to address the critical need to establish a network of groundwater monitoring bores to comply with the EIS and likely Federal directions. In particular, the proposed bore field will provide data from which to compare pre and post development conditions and assist to set triggers (early warning signs) for the downstream environment. It will also provide capacity to the future Environmental Management Evaluation (EME) to assess the impacts of the development on the farmland area and areas identified as having environmental values related to matters of National Environmental Significance (NES), in particular, the Farmland Buffers, Border Creek, Knox Plain, Keep River and associated wetlands.