Southern Rural Water (SRW) is reviewing groundwater management plans in the East Gippsland region.

Customers who have been sent a survey and other interested parties are invited to complete a survey relating to the Yarram Water Supply Protection Area and the Stratford groundwater management area. The area extends from the Latrobe Valley to Lakes Entrance and the 90 Mile Beach to Corner Inlet.

The survey, which is available online, seeks feedback on long-term groundwater management, reliability and quality, and invites comments on licence holders’ experiences with water trading. The information will identify if there is a significant demand for better access to groundwater from the lower aquifers that underlie the Gippsland basin.

The groundwater is suitable for various purposes such as irrigation, industry and tourism.

The survey responses will help determine if changes to management area boundaries and trading rules are necessary to enable access. This will help SRW shape future management and access to groundwater.

The current Yarram groundwater management plan is available online.

Pictured: Users and potential users of groundwater across central and East Gippsland are invited to complete a Southern Rural Water survey about their future needs.