Facilitating Long‐Term Outback Water Solutions (Flows) in South Australia: The Role of Airborne Geophysics

Abstract

Mining and energy development in South Australia's far north is set to have significant consequences for the water resources of the region. These sectors generate significant economic value to the State and their support remains a priority for the government. The scale of the planned developments and the potential from current exploration programs facilitated by the South Australian Government through the Plan for Accelerated Exploration (PACE) Program will result in a substantial increase in infrastructure requirements, including access to water resources and Aboriginal lands for exploration and potential mine developments. Increased demand for water and in particular groundwater is compromised by the limited knowledge we have about these resources. This includes information about their character, variability, sustainability and their relationship to environmental and cultural assets, which is most notable in the priority areas for development. There is a recognised need to develop this knowledge so that water is not a limiting factor to development. The Goyder Institute's Long‐Term Outback Water Solutions (G‐FLOWS) Project represents an investment in research which will contribute to the development of an integrated water resource management strategy for the outback regions. The initiative is drawing on the combined efforts of the indigenous community, industry and government to determine the location, accessibility and sustainability of the State's groundwater resources that are suitable for mineral processing and energy supply. A key component to this is access to, and the interpretation of, historical geophysical data, particularly AEM data, acquired by exploration companies and government in priority areas identified by the State. In arguing for a conjunctive approach, that is using data not just for exploration, but also for groundwater assessment, the project has gained access to an extensive suite of geophysical data that doesn't sit in the public domain. A case study in using geophysics to develop a better understanding of aquifer systems and groundwater in the NW South Australia is presented.