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You are here: PIRSA Home �/� Water Intensive Development �/� Regions �/�Limestone Coast

Limestone Coast

southEastMap The Limestone Coast region covers an area of approximately 28,000 square kilometres bounded by the Victorian border to the east, the Southern Ocean to the south and the Coorong to the west.

The climate of the region is characterised by cool wet winters and mild to hot, dry summers. Average annual rainfall varies considerably within the region, from approximately 850mm in the south to 450mm in the north of the region.

With a favourable climate, suitable soils and underground water, the South East has a strong history as a highly productive area that supports a diverse and profitable industry base. In 2005/06 the estimated gross Food Revenue for the Limestone Coast was $1,320 million (SA Food Scorecards).

The key economic activities in the region supported by natural resources include plantation forestry, wine/viticulture, agriculture, dairy, potatoes, fishing/aquaculture and their associated industries.

In 2006/07 the Limestone Coast had 87,000 ha of irrigated crops which (ABS cat no. 4618.0) were supported by the availability of a large groundwater resource. There are two regionally extensive groundwater resources in the region, an upper, unconfined aquifer and a deeper confined aquifer.

The unconfined aquifer is the principal source of groundwater for the Limestone Coast and is used for municipal supplies for towns, stock and domestic water, industrial use, and widespread irrigation. The quality of the unconfined groundwater resources varies across the region but is generally of good quality and bores completed in this aquifer generally have high yields.

Groundwater from the deeper confined aquifer is utilised mainly by the agricultural industry and for municipal water supplies. Wells completed in the confined aquifer generally have lower yields than in the unconfined however the water sourced is of better quality with lower salinities.

(Source- SE NRM Board & Limestone Coast Regional Development Board)