Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Management and Development - Queensland

Location map of Boyne River

Groundwater Management Unit: Boyne River

Introduction

Management Context:

The groundwater resource of the Boyne River GMU does not present with any indications of development stress and therefore, it is not proposed to declare the area a sub-artesian district under the Water Resources Act. However, the groundwater resources of the GMU will be regularly monitored and assessed to ensure that management can be imposed at the strategic time.

Priority issues

Declining Water Levels

 NO

Salt Water Intrusion

 NO

SALINISATION

Dryland

 NO

Irrigation

 NO

Groundwater

 NO

Surface Water

 NO

Urban

 NO

Point Source Pollution

 NO

Diffuse Source Pollution

 NO

Subsidence

 NO

Artificial Recharge (ML/yr)

 no data

Ecosystems Protection

 NO

Surface Water Interaction

 NO

Management Plans

 NO

Defined Minimum Water Level

 NO

Comment: No priority issues are reported.

Comments on Management Responses

2020 Management Response:

The estimage of 7000 Ml/yr for the forecast use for the year 2020 is based upon the GMU's assessed sustainabel yield, development potential and the desired level of resource management.

2050 Management Response:

The estimage of 7000 Ml/yr for the forecast use for the year 2050 is based upon the GMU's assessed sustainabel yield, development potential and the desired level of resource management.

See QLD Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report for a review of management responses.

Assessment of monitoring in Boyne River

Efficacy of the network:

The current monitoring network for the Boyne Rive groundwater management unit consists of 21 observation bores and 3 river gauges, with a proposed bi-annual to monthly monitoring frequency.

Water levels have been recorded on a quarterly basis since the commencement of monitoring in 1966. Although the groundwater management unit is currently stable with respect to potential development, it is desirable that the proposed level of monitoring continue.

Data management requirements:

Queensland groundwater monitoring data, both water level and water quality, is stored within the Groundwater Databse (GWDB) system. The new system is based on web technology and is available through the Department's intranet. Allocation and use data is obtained through the Water Entitlements Registration Database (WERD) which is an electronic database for water license details. Both databases are managed locally at district level, with respect to the collection and entering of water monitoring, allocation and use data; and are accessed statewide.

Protective management:

Future management of the groundwater resource of the Boyne River groundwater management unit aims at maintaining a longterm, sustainable resource and therefore, requires the continued accurate monitoring of water level and water quality fluctuations. The groundwater resource of the Boyne River GMU does not present with any indications of development stress and therefore, it is not proposed to declare the area a sub- artesian district under the Water Resources Act. However, the groundwater resources of the GMU will be regularly monitored and assessed to ensure that management can be imposed at the strategic time. At this stage of groundwater resource development within the GMU, no further protective management requirements are necessary.

Options for monitoring:

Options for Commonwealth and State agencies to address data and information gaps include:

broad scale modelling of the groundwater resource to re- assess the sustainable yield;

installation of auto recorders to monitor recharge processes due to the rapid recharge response to streamflows in this area.

See QLD Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report for a review of monitoring.

What is the estimated demand for groundwater?

Sustainable Yield

Comment about sustainable yield figure: 

An assessment of 7000 Ml/yr for sustainable yield was made in 1980 based upon water balance methods and storage behaviour calculations.

Sustainable yield:

ML/yr

Threshold year for sustainable year:

2,020 

Abstraction Volume 1996/1997:

5,000 ML 

Current Resource development categorisation:

Estimated Use in 2020

Comment:

Estimated use in 2020:

7,000 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

40 

Resource development categorisation:

Estimated in 2050

Comment:

Estimated use in 2050:

7,000 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

40 

Resource development categorisation:

 

What assumptions were used in this assessment

Development Potential:

The water quality in the Boyne River groundwater management unit is generally suitable for all uses except irrigation of tobacco. The quality appears uniform throughout the area and any projected use of the groundwater resource would not be hampered by quality considerations. In 1969 it was noted that there was potential for further development of the aquifers of the Boyne Valley, primarily for the purposes of irrigation. However in 1986, the Boyne River groundwater management unit was assessed as a low priority area and stable with respect to the agricultural industry, however, the area was under consideration by the mining industry for possible mining of gold, tungsten and perhaps oil shale.

Estimate of Use:

The estimage of 7000 Ml/yr for the forecast use for the years 2020 and 2050 is based upon the GMU's assessed sustainabel yield, development potential and the desired level of resource management.

Data Availability,Gaps and Recommendations

Data Availablility:

In excess of 100 observation bores, both private and State owned, are located within the Boyne River GMU. The availability of water level data is high, with continuous water level monitoring from 1966 to the present in 21observation bores and 3 stream gauges. Comprehensive water quality data exists for 21 observation bores within the GMU, with recent analyses from 1990.

Current Gaps and Recommendations:

Data Gaps: Formal use and allocation data is not available from the Water Entitlements Registration Database (WERD) for the Boyne River GMU, as it is not located within a declared sub-artesian or irrigation area. Water level data gaps between the years of 1991 and 1995 exist for some bores in the Boyne River groundwater management unit.

Recommendations:

Future Gaps:

The development of a broad scale model of the groundwater resources within the Boyne River GMU would allow for comprehensive aquifer assessment, quanitification of the groundwater resources, and enable a reassessment of sutainable yield and development potential.

Auto recorders that monitor recharge process, are required to be installed within the GMU due to the rapid recharge response to streamflows within this area.

Further information

Key

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