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 Proserpine River?

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

Development Potential:

Tourism as one of its largest industries within this catchment. Other industries include sugar cane farming (including a mill), grazing for beef production and horticulture. Proserpine is the largest urban centre with the tourist townships of Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour and Cannonvale being somewhat smaller. The basin is characterised by not only highly variable rainfall but it is also highly seasonal variation with more than 80% of the rainfall falling in the period from December to May. The major water development in the basin is the Peter Faust Dam on the Proserpine River. It has significantly increased the surface water capacity of the catchment. The current allocation is to urban, agriculture (irrigation water use) and industrial consumers. Supplies from this scheme are fully allocated with the major component to irrigation. This SWMA supplies two significant inter-basin transfers for urban water supply. Firstly the town of Bowen in the adjoining SWMA 121 (Don) receives an allocation of approximately 8000 ML. Secondly the town of Laguna Quays (near Midge Point within the Mackay City local authority area) in the adjoining SWMA 124 (OConnell) receives an allocation of approximately 7393 ML. The Mackay Regional Water Resources Strategy Stage 2, Final Report - May 1998 has identified considerable potential for the development of additional agricultural lands, mainly for the growing of sugar cane and would be dependent on the Proserpine Mill increasing its processing capacity. However this potential development would be totally reliant on sourcing additional water supplies. The strategy identified in the above report for obtaining these additional supplies, would be for these adjoining catchments receiving the current allocation from the inter-basin transfer to source water from alternative supplies in other SWMA's, hence freeing up approximately 15393 ML. These proposals include various options being considered within the Don (SWMA 121), Burdekin (SWMA 120.A), Bowen (SWMA 120.B) and OConnell (SWMA 124). Another option within this SWMA is to build a water storage site on the Andromache River. It was recommended in the report that further investigations be undertaken on this proposal. A limitation to any potential development that would need to be considered is that 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 Proserpine 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 both regulated and unregulated. There are currently five gauging stations in operation recording height and discharge and one gauging station recording gauge height only. Three gauging stations record, in addition, the water quality. Two gauging stations that recorded gauge height only have been closed.

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 five stream gauges currently operating within the SWMA

Water quality has been monitored at six sites in the SWMA. Information and records for the gauges are held in the HYDSYS database

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

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 natural flow data at gauges. 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.