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 Mossman River?

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

Development Potential:

This SWMA exists in the heart of the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics rainforest area. There is extensive tourism development near the coast at Port Douglas which consistently attracts large numbers of visitors each year. Additionally, there is a significant and active sugar cane industry in operation in the SWMA. The population centre of Mossman should continue to develop as the primary urban centre for this catchment. Accordingly, Port Douglas should continue to develop as a combined tourist and urban mode, especially with its Port facilities. The additional industries of the Mossman Sugar Mill and general irrigation will see an increase in demand for water in the the future which will place pressure on existing water resources. It appears from current planning reports (FNQ2010 - Regional Planning Project) that supply should be augmented from existing sources within the catchment. An impediment to any potential development will be the existence of the declared World Heritage listed Wet Tropics rainforest area which occupies approximately 70% of this SWMA. This is comprised of approximately 25% Daintree National Park and 25% State Forest. About 50% of the Wet tropics declared area in this catchment is Leasehold or Freehold Land. The presence of conflicting land uses and the conditions imposed by the Wet Tropics Management Authority may restrict future developments particularly if such proposals affect the World Heritage listed area. Additionally, this SWMA drains into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park World Heritage Area.

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 Mossman 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.

The streams in this SWMA are unregulated. This SWMA is in an isolated area with little development or potential development unless an emerging industry is found. There is currently little need for data in this area.

No data on water use is available. There is currently one gauging station in operation recording height and discharge.

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 four stream gauges currently operating within the SWMA.

Water quality has been monitored at four 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. 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.

With respect to the Current and Desired Management Response, there is no data available on individual SWMAs for Resource Management Efficiency.

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.