Beverley and surrounding areas Groundwater Prohibition Area (Stages 1 and 2)

Consultation has concluded

The EPA first wrote to residents and landowners on 26 July 2022, advising that it proposed to establish a Groundwater Prohibition Area (GPA) in portions of Beverley, Woodville, Woodville South, Woodville West, Woodville Park, West Croydon, Kilkenny, Findon and Seaton.

Following a 90-day community consultation, the EPA wrote to residents and landowners on 22 November 2022 to inform them that it would be proceeding with the establishment of the proposed GPA.

The EPA was subsequently advised by several residents in a portion of Seaton that the initial 26 July 2022 correspondence had not been received.

In order to ensure appropriate engagement with the community and to communicate the known risks associated with the groundwater contamination in the area, the EPA separated the GPA into two stages. Stage 1 of the GPA, comprising portions of Beverley, Woodville, Woodville South, Woodville West, Woodville Park, West Croydon, Kilkenny and Findon, was declared on 8 December 2022. Stage 2 of the GPA, including a portion of Seaton will be declared on 16 March 2023.

Please refer to the interactive map below for more information.

Stage 1 GPA declared on 8 December 2022

A notice was published in the South Australian Government Gazette on 8 December 2022 which prohibits the use of the shallow aquifers less than 45 m below ground level within the identified portions of Beverley, Woodville, Woodville South, Woodville West, Woodville Park, West Croydon, Kilkenny and Findon.

The gazetted Stage 1 GPA comprises areas of two EPA Assessments and four site contamination audit reports (please see the GPA determination report for more information) where the auditors have either recommended a GPA or conditioned/recommended that groundwater is not to be extracted for any purpose. Copies of past reports, letters and community updates related to these investigations undertaken within the GPA area and previously provided to the community are available from Beverley and Woodville South assessment and Woodville Port Road assessment.

Stage 2 GPA - continued engagement from 29 November 2022 – end of January 2023

The EPA continued to engage with residents and landowners within the Stage 2 area comprising a portion of Seaton. Following this further engagement, the EPA wrote to residents and landowners within the Stage 2 area to advise that it will be proceeding with establishment of the Stage 2 GPA.

Information on other nearby GPAs and in the vicinity is also available from the EPA website.

If you are unable to find what you are looking for or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

The EPA first wrote to residents and landowners on 26 July 2022, advising that it proposed to establish a Groundwater Prohibition Area (GPA) in portions of Beverley, Woodville, Woodville South, Woodville West, Woodville Park, West Croydon, Kilkenny, Findon and Seaton.

Following a 90-day community consultation, the EPA wrote to residents and landowners on 22 November 2022 to inform them that it would be proceeding with the establishment of the proposed GPA.

The EPA was subsequently advised by several residents in a portion of Seaton that the initial 26 July 2022 correspondence had not been received.

In order to ensure appropriate engagement with the community and to communicate the known risks associated with the groundwater contamination in the area, the EPA separated the GPA into two stages. Stage 1 of the GPA, comprising portions of Beverley, Woodville, Woodville South, Woodville West, Woodville Park, West Croydon, Kilkenny and Findon, was declared on 8 December 2022. Stage 2 of the GPA, including a portion of Seaton will be declared on 16 March 2023.

Please refer to the interactive map below for more information.

Stage 1 GPA declared on 8 December 2022

A notice was published in the South Australian Government Gazette on 8 December 2022 which prohibits the use of the shallow aquifers less than 45 m below ground level within the identified portions of Beverley, Woodville, Woodville South, Woodville West, Woodville Park, West Croydon, Kilkenny and Findon.

The gazetted Stage 1 GPA comprises areas of two EPA Assessments and four site contamination audit reports (please see the GPA determination report for more information) where the auditors have either recommended a GPA or conditioned/recommended that groundwater is not to be extracted for any purpose. Copies of past reports, letters and community updates related to these investigations undertaken within the GPA area and previously provided to the community are available from Beverley and Woodville South assessment and Woodville Port Road assessment.

Stage 2 GPA - continued engagement from 29 November 2022 – end of January 2023

The EPA continued to engage with residents and landowners within the Stage 2 area comprising a portion of Seaton. Following this further engagement, the EPA wrote to residents and landowners within the Stage 2 area to advise that it will be proceeding with establishment of the Stage 2 GPA.

Information on other nearby GPAs and in the vicinity is also available from the EPA website.

If you are unable to find what you are looking for or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

Consultation has concluded
  • What does this mean if I want to sell my house?

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    Once groundwater is prohibited in an area future purchasers of properties will be made aware of the groundwater prohibition via the Form 1 statement provided to prospective buyers at the time of sale.

    This informs future purchasers that existing groundwater bores are no longer able to be used and no future bores can be installed at the property.

    The Form 1 statement is required to be provided by a vendor (usually through the real estate agent or conveyancer) to a prospective buyer under Section 7 of the Land and Business (Sale and Conveyancing) Act 1994.

  • Why is bore water being prohibited?

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    Beverley and some of the surrounding suburbs have a commercial, industrial and manufacturing history, with some past chemical disposal and handling practices having contaminated the groundwater.

    This is the ninth groundwater prohibition area established across metropolitan Adelaide to date.

    If contaminated groundwater is a risk to human health, the EPA has the ability under the Environment Protection Act 1993 to establish a groundwater prohibition area. When a GPA is established both current and future landholders will not be able to access the groundwater.

    Groundwater (bore water) in the upper 3 aquifers (0–45 m below ground level) is known to be contaminated. Deeper aquifers used by schools and councils are not known to be contaminated and are not impacted by the ban.

    Health problems can occur if people come into contact with the contaminated water over a long period of time. The contamination presents a potential risk to human health if groundwater is utilised for drinking, showering, washing, filling swimming pools, watering lawns or irrigating edible produce.

    Preventing the extraction of contaminated groundwater is necessary to protect human health and prevent the spread of contamination. The purpose is to protect both current and future landholders from accessing the contaminated groundwater.

  • Are my fruit and vegies safe?

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    Rain and mains water (tap water) are not affected by groundwater contamination.

    Home-grown fruit and vegetables are safe to consume, provided you are not watering them with bore water.