South Australia has suffered record low rainfall. Photo: Department for Environment and Water, Government of South Australia.
South Australia’s Government is aiming to strengthen the water security of the state’s First Nations communities with a range of new measures amid a severe drought.
The government has installed two new bores, monitoring systems and two new water tanks with a capacity totalling 290,000 litres at the Iga Warta Homeland cultural tourism enterprise.
These measures will ensure more reliable water for Flinders Ranges residents, who are already seeing flow-on benefits, with opportunities for tourism and the re-establishment of native vegetation and horticulture.
“Our government is actively working together with several remote Aboriginal communities to develop solutions for long-term water security management,” Minister for Climate, Environment and Water Lucy Hood said.
“These projects help maintain a reliable drinking water supply for communities, including during hot and dry conditions.”
Previously, the only bore water source in the area was contaminated with regular bacterial outbreaks. During outbreaks, rainwater had to be used to supplement other water uses and when that supply ran out, water needed to be bought and transported to the area.
A $10.2 million investment will deliver new or upgraded water infrastructure in the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands communities of Kalka, Kaltjiti (Fregon), Mimili, Pipalyatjara, Pukatja (Ernabella), Umuwa, Amata and Yunyarinyi (Kenmore Park). This will ensure a reliable source of clean drinking water.
The funding will allow the locating, drilling and equipping of new bores used to supply groundwater to the area’s small desalination or ultraviolet water treatment facilities, in addition to rehabilitation work on three sites.
The project’s investigative stage has already identified new bores that could be used to provide clean water.
New monitoring wells will also be identified and drilled to aid SA Water in measuring underground water levels into the future, ensuring that groundwater supplies remain secure.
Assessments will involve specialist local knowledge from Traditional Owners and hydrological research to identify and locate possible groundwater basins that are not currently in use.
“It’s great to see projects now completed in SA under the original $150 million commitment made in our first term to support First Nations communities,” Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said.
“This is what we’re all about: we’re helping ensure First Nations communities have access to drinking water that meets national guidelines.”
Another joint investment, totalling $2.3 million, is already underway to improve water security in Iwantja (Indulkana). It is set for completion in the first half of next year.
Leigh Creek Station, Kakalpurannha and Yappala in the Flinders Ranges will also benefit from another project that provides drinking water.
The announcements of greater investment in the state’s water security came after the Malinauskas frontbench visited APY Lands for a Country Cabinet meeting.
