Introduction

As resource demands and pressure increases so to do the requirements of both management and information needs. Outlined below are the key issues facing the region as determined by the State / Territory water management agency.

What is the estimated demand for surface water in Don River?

How was this assessment undertaken in the Don River Surface Water Management Area?

Development Potential:

This SWMA has a number of dominant land uses which include major horticulture and beef cattle grazing industries, centred on the primary urban and coastal centre of Bowen. Commercial fishing is also significant industry as well as the Abbot Point coal export facility. The horticulture industry (and its use of irrigation water) would be the foremost user of water resources within the basin and is predicted to be the greatest user of future water if additional sources can be supplied. The Mackay Regional Water Resources Strategy Stage 2 (May 1998) and the The Scoping Study of Water Infrastructure Development Options and Related Issues in the Burdekin River Catchment have alluded to an expected increased demand for future water supplies from a number of sources. Based on available soils information, the catchment has an immerse potential to expand agricultural based activities. Without additional supply, Bowen may experience water restrictions in the long term. Presently existing allocations from Groundwater sources outstrip supply. The Groundwater supply is presently supplemented from Peter Faust Dam in the adjoining SWMA 122 Proserpine. There is potential to develop an aquaculture industry to the east of the Cape Upstart area. As agriculture is currently the key component of the economic well-being of this SWMA, without additional water being made available for irrigation, development will be limited to its current levels. there is the possibility of detrimental and unsustainable groundwater use. The Mackay Regional Water Resources Strategy Stage 2 (May 1998) has identified the groundwater overallocation is one of the water hotspots of the region. Groundwater is a major component of the existing water supplies within this coastal catchment, with the most significant exploitation of groundwater centred in the Bowen area. The Scoping Study of Water Infrastructure Development Options and Related Issues in the Burdekin River Catchment (which includes this SWMA), has identified excessive groundwater usage within the catchment has led to lowering of the water table and the encroachment of seawater. This is being overcome with artificial recharging from the river systems back into the groundwater. Engineering Services, State Water Projects, Department of Natural Resources (Queensland) prepared this report in September 1999. There is an identified priority to rectify the above shortfall in current irrigation and urban water demands from alternative sources. Both of the above reports have recommended this. Water supply options include the construction of storage sites or selecting a channel or pipeline option. This brief review does not have the scope to discuss locations and provide an analysis of possible storage sites, however, there is a strong relationship between this SWMA and the adjoining Bowen/Broken basin (SWMA 120.B). This may result in the selection of inter- basin transfers from either the Elliot main channel by extending it to Bowen or constructing a Don River pipeline from the proposed Urannah Dam (in SWMA 120.B) to the upper reaches of the Don River. Further recommendations on options to solve the water resource shortage within the SWMA are to be prepared in the future.

Management goals and objectives:

No Detailed Management Plans have yet been developed.

See QLD Water Resources Assessment 2000 Report and Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report for comment on methods and assumptions.

Comments on Management Responses in the Don River Surface Water Management Area

Current Management Response:

Desired (Current) Management Response:

2020 Management Response:

NA

2050 Management Response:

NA

See QLD Water Resources Assessment 2000 Report for comment on management responses.

Assessment of Monitoring

Efficacy of the network:

The Department of Natural Resources (Queensland) carries out extensive monitoring of the States water resources. Flows are continuously monitored and data is kept in the HYDSYS database. Water quality is continuously monitored at selected gauges and is also sampled when hydrographers visit the gauges. All quality data is stored in the HYDSYS database. This monitoring network is reviewed periodically.

All water use in the State is licensed. Use on unregulated streams and from overland flow is not measured. Use from regulated streams is metered with the meters being read at regular intervals. Data on water allocations made by the Department of Natural Resources (Queensland) is held in the WERD database. Data on water allocated by an Order in Council or a Government Act is not held in a centralised database.

All Referable Storages are licensed.

Both regulated and unregulated streams occur in this SWMA. There are currently three gauging stations in operation recording height and discharge and one gauging station recording, in addition, the water quality.

Data management requirements:

See the main database for additional comments on Current and Desired Management responses.

Protective management:

Any major developments, which require the use of water or are liable to effect water quality within Queensland, are required to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment. This is required for both developed and undeveloped catchments.

Options for monitoring:

NA

See QLD Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report for an assessment of monitoring

Data Availability, Gaps and Recommendations

Data Availability:

There are three stream gauges currently operating within the SWMA

Water quality has been monitored at three sites in the SWMA.

All regulated users are metered and water use is measured at regular intervals.

Information and records for the gauges are held in the HYDSYS database.

Records of allocations for all licenced users are kept in the WERD database. Regulated users have volumetric allocations and unregulated users have an irrigated area allocation. Unregulated water users are not metered and there is no record of water use. Allocations granted under an Order in Council for special users such as Local Authorities or under Government Acts are not held in a centralised database.

Current Gaps and Recommendations:

Data Gaps: No measurement of unregulated water use. No measurement of water harvesting use. No detailed environmental flow assessment of key sites in the SWMA. No measurement of unregulated water use.

Recommendations:

Future Gaps:

Water resource system models are the main management decision tools which will need to be linked in the future to improve economic, financial, social and environmental response models. Good data and information are fundamental to the accuracy and validity of these tools. Some of the needs and gaps associated with this data and information are discussed below:

There is little knowledge of the land use impacts on stream flow over a period of time.

There are limited records of the quantity of water extracted from the main stream and overland flow by water harvesting.

A database is required for all water allocations other than those already contained in the WERD database. This would include all allocations made by Government Act and Order in Council.

No information is available for unregulated water use as these users do not have meters. Much of the water harvesting in the state is also unmetered unless it is on a regulated stream.

See QLD Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report for a review of data availability,gaps and recommendations.

Further information

• Queensland Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report
• Link to data available for download on the Surface Water Management Areas
• Link to the Map Maker to make a map using this information.