Northern Australia Sustainable Yields Project

Overview

CSIRO’s Northern Australia Sustainable Yields (NASY) project produced critical information on historical, recent and likely future water availability in a part of Australia that is renowned for its high rainfall, pristine tropical environments and relatively low development.

This information will help governments, industry and communities consider the environmental, social and economic aspects of the sustainable use and management of the water assets of northern Australia.

Funded by the National Water Commission, the project resulted from a March 2008 decision by the Council of Australian Governments for a comprehensive scientific assessment of water yield in all major water systems across the country.

Key findings

1. This project has developed and tested models that can provide a contiguous, consistent, robust and transparent analysis of water across northern Australia.
2. Water availability was assessed for three drainage divisions and 13 regions of northern Australia.
3. The climate is extreme, extremely seasonal and water-limited.
4. The recent climate should not be used as a guide to the future.
5. The future will be warmer; rainfall may be more intense; some areas may receive slightly less rainfall.
6. Known future development will have minimal regional consequences, but may be locally important.
7. Perennial rivers are vital assets.
8. Opportunities to increase water storage are limited.
9. There are opportunities for groundwater development but more data are required to determine extraction limits.
10. There are few quantified environmental flow thresholds. Ecosystems have adapted to the extreme, seasonal climate conditions and are highly responsive to any change.

Reports

Final reports from the Northern Australia Sustainable Yields project. Available for download from the CSIRO Research Publications Repository.

Summary

Water in northern Australia – Summary of reports to the Australian Government from the Northern Australia Sustainable Yields Project.

Reports by drainage division

We assessed past, present and possible future water resources for each of the 13 regions across three drainage divisions in northern Australia.

• • Timor Sea Drainage Division
  • Gulf of Carpentaria Drainage Division
  • Northern North-East Coast Drainage Division

Timor Sea Drainage Division:

• • • Water in the Timor Sea Drainage Division
    • Summary: Water in the Timor Sea Drainage Division

Regional reports:

• • • Water in the Kimberley region of the Timor Sea Drainage Division
    • Water in the Fitzroy region of the Timor Sea Drainage Division
    • Water in the Arafura region of the Timor Sea Drainage Division
    • Water in the Daly region of the Timor Sea Drainage Division
    • Water in the Ord-Bonaparte region of the Timor Sea Drainage Division
    • Water in the Van Diemen region of the Timor Sea Drainage Division

Gulf of Carpentaria Drainage Division: 

• • • Water in the Gulf of Carpentaria Drainage Division
    • Summary: Water in the Gulf of Carpentaria Drainage Division

Regional reports:

• • • Water in the Flinders-Leichhardt region of the Gulf of Carpentaria Drainage Division
    • Water in the Mitchell region of the Gulf of Carpentaria Drainage Division
    • Water in the Roper region of the Gulf of Carpentaria Drainage Division
    • Water in the South-West Gulf region of the Gulf of Carpentaria Drainage Division
    • Water in the South-East Gulf region of the Gulf of Carpentaria Drainage Division
    • Water in the Western Cape region of the Gulf of Carpentaria Drainage Division

Northern North-East Coast Drainage Division:

• • • Water in the Northern North-East Coast Drainage Division
    • Summary: Water in the Northern North-East Coast Drainage Division

Regional reports:

• • • Water in the Northern Coral region of the Northern North-East Coast Drainage Division

 

Technical publications

Technical publications completed as part of the Northern Australia Sustainable Yields project. Available for download from the CSIRO Research Publications Repository.

Crosbie RS, McCallum JL and Harrington GA (2009) Diffuse groundwater recharge modelling across northern Australia. A report to the Australian Government from the CSIRO Northern Australia Sustainable Yields Project. CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, Australia. 56 pp. (PDF, 3.1 MB)

Gallant S, Petheram C and Rustomji P (2011) Simulated streamflow in Northern Australia. A report to the Australian Government from the CSIRO Northern Australia Sustainable Yields Project. CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, Australia 87 pp. (PDF, 17.3 MB)

Li LT, Donohue RJ, McVicar TR, Van Niel TG, Ten J, Potter NJ, Smith IN, Kirono DGC, Bathols JM, Cai W, Marvanek SP, Gallant SN, Chiew FHS and Frost AJ (2009) Climate data and their characterisation for hydrological scenario modelling across northern Australia. A report to the Australian Government from the CSIRO Northern Australia Sustainable Yields Project. CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, Australia. 63pp. (PDF, 8 MB)

McJannet DL , Wallace JW , Henderson A and McMahon J (2009) High and low flow regime changes at environmental assets across northern Australia under future climate and development scenarios. A report to the Australian Government from the CSIRO Northern Australia Sustainable Yields Project. CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, Australia. 140 pp. (PDF, 6.7 MB)

Petheram C, Hughes D, Rustomji P, Smith K, Van Neil TG and Yang A (2009) River modelling for Northern Australia. A report to the Australian Government from the CSIRO Northern Australia Sustainable Yields Project. CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, Australia. 112 pp (PDF, 9 MB)

Petheram C, Rustomii P and Vleeshouwer J (2009) Rainfall-runoff modelling across northern Australia. A report to the Australian Government from the CSIRO Northern Australia Sustainable Yields Project. CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, Australia (PDF, 4.8 MB)