Reducing Entitlements When Groundwater Has Been Over-Allocated: Policy Issues and Options

Abstract

Reducing entitlements when groundwater is over-allocated in Australia has evidenced both challenges and successes. This chapter examines policy pathways for reducing entitlements when groundwater has been over-allocated. It explores the definitional challenges that initially hampered progress within Australia’s federated structure, before examining attempts to reduce over-allocation and over-use across Australia’s numerous groundwater allocation plans and catchments. The chapter highlights the challenges that led to slower than expected progress in addressing over-allocation and over-use, as well as highlighting some of the policy pathways that have been pursued to attain sustainable levels of groundwater extraction.