Limestone Coast's famous sinkholes and other diving spots see water levels drop amid droughtBy Eugene Boisvert and Josh BrineABC South East SATopic:Environmental Management35m ago35 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 11:48pmA comparison of the water at Piccaninnie Ponds between 2011 (left) and 2024. (Supplied: Richard Harris)In short:Southern South Australia is going through a drought which is affecting water table levels.Thai cave rescuer Richard Harris has produced a video showing how diving spots are being affected.What's next?The Limestone Coast Landscape Board is deciding on water allocations for various industries, the community and the environment.abc.net.au/news/water-level-dropping-in-mount-gambier-dive-spots/105252738Link copiedShareShare articleThe owner of one of the Limestone Coast's most popular diving spots has joined a world-famous cave diver in calling for more action to be taken to preserve water levels in the region's sinkholes and wetlands.The concerns raised by Kilsby Sinkhole owner Graham Kilsby and cave diver Richard Harris come after one of the driest years on record in South Australia's south-east.Their concerns are also amid a review of water allocations that has pitted environmentalists against farmers and foresters.Mr Kilsby's family has had a sheep farm at Moorak, just south of Mount Gambier, for more than 130 years and they also offer diving and snorkelling tours at the Kilsby Sinkhole on their property.Sinkhole owner Graham Kilsby with a water marker used to measure the water level before irrigation began. (ABC South East SA: Josh Brine)Mr Kilsby said the water level at the sinkhole has fallen 4.5 metres since 2000 to a record low, including more than 1.5m since Christmas which he attributed to a lack of rain."We've decided that we're going to completely remove irrigation from the farming property over the next three years," Mr Kilsby said."It is an awfully big step and I wouldn't expect everyone to give that consideration."I just believe that what we're doing [as a region] isn't sustainable."Loading YouTube contentDamage hurting tourismThe nearby Ewens Ponds has been closed to snorkellers on and off for almost a year because of low water levels, while Piccaninnie Ponds has been closed for two years because of an algal bloom exacerbate by a lack of water flow through the wetlands.Both had been known for their clear water and vibrant aquatic plant life."Piccaninnie Ponds was one of the best dive sites in Australia. People across the world came there to dive and now it's just a muddy hole," Mr Kilsby said.The Kilsby Sinkhole is one of the more accessible diving spots near Mount Gambier. (ABC South East SA: Bec Whetham)"Ewens Ponds has got plant life growing at depths where it doesn't grow anywhere else in the world."Tourism is important, but I think that this is a bigger picture."It's about everyone in this region — we all rely in same way on the water that's beneath us — we really need to start looking at what we're doing."'System has essentially died'Dr Harris became known around the world in 2018 due to his involvement in rescuing 12 young soccer players and their coach from a cave in Thailand.He was later named Australian of the Year and is now South Australia's lieutenant governor.He has been cave diving around Mount Gambier since 1986.Richard Harris is a regular visitor to the Limestone Coast. (ABC News: Tony Hill)With cooperation from the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service he produced a video showing the situation at Piccaninnie Ponds."The whole system has essentially died," Dr Harris said."It really looks like a desert landscape whereas before it looked like a tropical jungle or an underwater paradise."Water allocations being decidedThe Limestone Coast Landscape Board began work to update the Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan in 2022 and expects to decide how groundwater will be divided between drinking, agriculture, forestry and the environment in 2027.Dr Harris said while it was not possible to "tell everyone to stop work and down tools", if the aquifer levels got too low "everyone will suffer"."I feel that some very tough decisions are going to have to be made by the landscape board, which is primarily responsible for the water allocation plan," he said."I think it's time for all these industries that use the groundwater and farm that land to start to think about how we're going to have to adapt to this changing climate, and maybe farm and use the land differently in the future."The Piccaninnie Ponds are in South Australia's far south-east. (Supplied: Alyssa G)SA Dairyfarmers Association chief executive Andrew Curtis said it was not clear what was causing the poor water quality in the Piccaninnie Ponds and it should not be "simply attributed to agricultural practice".He said the environment, food production and supplying water for the community should be considered equally when allocating water."The challenge for the landscape board is to consider all of those issues in working with a limited resource," he said."As we can see during this drought we just don't have unlimited water. So the challenge is the allocation of it."ABC South East SA — local news in your inboxGet our local newsletter, delivered free each FridayYour information is being handled in accordance with the ABC Privacy Collection Statement.Email addressSubscribePosted 35m ago35 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 11:48pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesNationals deputy leader 'shattered' she will likely lose Senate seatLIVEPhoto shows Perin Davey listens to a press conference by Water Minister Tanya Plibersek at Parliament HouseSea of solar gives a clue why Australians chose batteries over nuclear Topic:Energy PolicyPhoto shows Electricians place solar panels on roofGreens' Adam Bandt in danger as seat of Melbourne remains on knife's edgeTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A composite photo of a brunette woman, brown haired man with glasses, blonde woman with glasses and dark haired man.After millions of dollars and texts, Trumpet of Patriots fails to deliverTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Palmer scratches his head.The timeline prosecutors allege in the mushroom murder trialTopic:ExplainerPhoto shows A woman standing in front of her car.Related storiesThai cave rescuer fears world-renowned freshwater ponds nearing 'tipping point' in South AustraliaTopic:WaterPhoto shows A composite images of a scuba diver, an underwater view of a pond floor with plants and weeds, and aerial shot of the ponds.A drain dug for stock on this family's farm 80 years ago has just run dry for the first timeTopic:Irrigated FarmingPhoto shows A woman and man standing in front of a dry irrigation drain. 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