Western Australia’s draft plan to increase groundwater extraction from beneath the state’s largest river is drawing criticism from some independent experts. The proposal would allow significantly higher use of groundwater—amounts described by outlets as equivalent to about 31,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The WA government says the plan is based on scientific work and is intended to balance the needs of industry with environmental protections. According to the articles, the government presents the approach as supportive of both economic activity and ecological outcomes. However, the outlets report that several experts are not convinced the plan adequately addresses potential risks. Their concerns focus on whether increased pumping could affect groundwater systems and connected environmental conditions, including long-term reliability and impacts on dependent ecosystems. While the sources differ in how they characterise the level of risk, they consistently describe a divide between the government’s assessment of the draft plan’s scientific basis and concerns raised by external reviewers about uncertainty and possible consequences. The reporting frames the issue as an ongoing policy process, with the plan still in draft form at the time of publication.