The Northern Territory Government has reiterated the stability and sustainability of the Cambrian Limestone Aquifer (CLA) in response to claims made by researchers from Griffith University. On December 11, 2025, the government released a statement asserting that the aquifer remains a vital and plentiful resource despite findings suggesting otherwise.
Nerida Beard, Acting Executive Director of Water Resources, criticized the Griffith University study for its selective data usage and unsubstantiated conclusions about declining groundwater levels. The study, which utilized data from NASA’s GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellite missions, examined water storage changes from 2011 to 2022. Beard noted that 2011 marked an unusually wet period, leading to high groundwater levels, while the following years experienced a series of poor wet seasons, naturally resulting in lower storage levels.
Beard emphasized that the study’s timeline ended in 2022, neglecting to account for a significant rebound in the aquifer’s water storage that occurred after that year.
The GRACE satellite data, while helpful in mapping changes in terrestrial water storage, does not provide clarity on the specific causes of those changes. Beard pointed out that the data reflects all terrestrial water storage across a vast area, complicating the ability to isolate groundwater storage changes from other sources like soil, lakes, and rivers.
Beard explained, “The authors of the study draw a very long bow in suggesting these changes are driven by increasing use of groundwater simply because the period of decline in storage occurred after water licenses were issued.”
The study estimated annual losses of between 6 and 8 cubic kilometres in terrestrial water storage and nearly 4 cubic kilometres in groundwater storage during the analyzed period. Beard clarified that while these figures appear significant, they correspond to losses of only about 1 to 1.5 centimetres per year across the entire aquifer. This rate is approximately 130 times lower than the actual water extraction levels in the CLA.
The Northern Territory Government relies on nearly 70 years of hydrogeological research to inform its water management policies. This includes data from over 550 monitoring bores and 150 surface water monitoring stations, enabling comprehensive assessments of the Territory’s water resources. Beard assured that the government takes a conservative approach to resource management, integrating multiple lines of scientific evidence to inform decisions.
“Normal fluctuations in aquifer volumes are expected over time, especially within short ten-year periods,” Beard said. The government’s long-term monitoring indicates that water levels in key observation bores have either remained stable or recovered post-dry periods, underscoring the aquifer’s resilience and adaptability to climate variations.
The Northern Territory Government remains committed to employing rigorous, science-based monitoring and planning to ensure the sustainable management of its water resources. For further details, visit the Northern Territory Government’s water resource page at https://nt.gov.au/environment/water.
