Water Down Under - Understanding and Managing Australia's Great Artesian Basin
C. Booth, W. Tubman for Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee, 2011
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Introduction
The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is one of the world's largest groundwater resources. It lies under 22% of Australia, stretching from the wet tropics to outback deserts and vast pastoral areas.
A relatively unsung hero, the GAB has sustained Aboriginal people for thousands of years and now supports a wide range of communities, enterprises and industries. It is truly a resource of national importance.
Like many of Australia's natural resources, the GAB faces many challenges. New, rapidly evolving industries now compete with traditional pastoral and agricultural users for a share of GAB water. Management of the GAB is complex and requires a great deal of cooperation between five governments, hundreds of communities and the many industries that rely on its waters.
'Water Down Under' is a timely introduction to the many features, wonders and uses of the Great Artesian Basin – how it functions, how its use has changed over time and how it must be protected and managed into the future.
For more information visit our Great Artesian Basin page.
