The Exploring for the Future program is a four year, $100.5 million initiative by the Australian Government dedicated to boosting investment in resource exploration and agriculture development in northern Australia. The region is underdeveloped and offers enormous potential for industry and agricultural development as well as being advantageously located close to major global markets.
The Exploring for the Future program comprises data acquisition using geophysical surveys, geochemical sampling, hydrological mapping and stratigraphic drilling. The data collected has been integrated to provide a holistic picture of the mineral, energy and groundwater resources. Data will be made publicly available via the Exploring for the Future web portal (https://eftf.ga.gov.au) that allows direct access to the data and tools to inform policy and planning decisions within government, resource sector and agribusiness. The portal has been design with a human centric interface to allow a user with little prior knowledge to rapidly access information they require so that they can make informed data driven decisions about natural resources, including groundwater resources.