The Australian Groundwater Explorer, developed as part of the bureau’s Water Information Program, presents a uniform approach to groundwater information to support sustainable water resource management decisions at local and national levels.

Users can access a wide range of groundwater data, including around 800,000 bore locations and bore logs. They can pan and zoom using the interactive map, tailor and search information for their area, view bore logs and aquifers in 3D, or download tables and graphs.

“The Australian Groundwater Explorer brings together comprehensive groundwater information from state and territory water agencies, making it publicly available in a nationally consistent format on the bureau’s website,” said Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Simon Birmingham.

“As groundwater systems often span jurisdictional boundaries, policy and planning managers will value the national consistency afforded by the Australian Groundwater Explorer."

He also noted the growing pressures on groundwater due to population growth, development pressures and "this highly variable climate". A seminal Deloitte study last year estimated groundwater underpinned economic activity worth $34 billion a year, particularly mining, food production and manufacturing. It prompted the director of the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, Professor Craig Simmons, to propose a National Water Bank, a continent-wide replenishment scheme for underground reserves of fresh water.