Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Management and Development - Queensland

Location map of Duck Farm

Groundwater Management Unit: Duck Farm

Introduction

Management Context:

Groundwater use has reduced in the GMU with the advent of moving town water demands entirely to surface water supply from the Annan River. Correspondingly there is reduced stress on the resource and no groundwater related issues are reported.

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

Comments on Management Responses

2020 Management Response:

No forecast use estimate is reported for the Duck Farm GMU in 2020.

2050 Management Response:

No forecast use estimate is reported for the Duck Farm GMU in 2050.

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

Assessment of monitoring in Duck Farm

Efficacy of the network:

Water level monitoring commenced in 1982 to 1991 and post 1985 water quality data exists for 14 bores within the GMU. Allocation data is not complete and metered groundwater abstraction data is reported as a combined figure with surface water use.

No Department monitoring network was proposed for the Duck Farm groundwater management unit in the 1997 review of Queenslands Groundwater Monitoring Network. Cook Shire Council currently carries out monitoring.

Data management requirements:

The Department does not collected groundwater monitoring data in Duck Farm GMU, however data supplied by the Cook Shire Council has been entered into a Groundwater Database (GWDB) system. The new GWDB system uses 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 licences.

Both databases are managed at a district level, with respect to the collection and entering of water monitoring, allocation and use data; and are accessed statewide. Groundwater monitoring data in the GMU is however collected by Cook Shire Council.

Protective management:

Although groundwater use has reduced in the Duck Farm GMU, a set of operating conditions have been developed for the protection and management of the resource. These include:

- A maximum allowable drawdown level in the centre of the GMU is set. Pumping is to cease once this level is met until a recharge event occurs.

- Pumping rates should be adjusted to match the recharge to the aquifer.

Options for monitoring:

No options for Commonwealth, State, industry or community groups to address data gaps are identified or reported for the Duck Farm GMU.

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: 

Several years of monitoring are deemed necessary to ascertain a sustainable yield for the resource. Use is intended to be limited to potential recharge that rainfall will replenish. Quantification of this recharge is yet to be reported, however may have been assessed by Cook Shire Council.

Sustainable yield:

ML/yr

Threshold year for sustainable year:

no data 

Abstraction Volume 1996/1997:

28 ML 

Current Resource development categorisation:

Estimated Use in 2020

Comment:

Estimated use in 2020:

no data ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

no data 

Resource development categorisation:

Estimated in 2050

Comment:

Estimated use in 2050:

no data ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

no data 

Resource development categorisation:

 

What assumptions were used in this assessment

Development Potential:

Groundwater in the Duck Farm GMU aquifers is utilised mostly for irrigation, stock and domestic supply. Current demand is not anticipated to increase significantly before the year 2020 but is difficult to gauge without knowledge of the GMUs sustainable yield.

Estimate of Use:

No forecast use estimates are reported for the Duck Farm GMU.

Data Availability,Gaps and Recommendations

Data Availablility:

Water level monitoring data is available from 1982 to 1991. Limited water quality data exists for 29 bores within the GMU with sampling from 1965 to 1992. Allocation and abstraction data is not complete for properties within the GMU.

Cook Shire Council currently monitor groundwater quality and quantity but there is currently no agreement with the Department to provide the information.

Current Gaps and Recommendations:

Data Gaps: Departmental data on water qulaity, quantity and management are limited for the GMU. No government monitoring network is in place in the GMU however Cook Shire Council monitor groundwater fluctuations in water quality and levels.

Recommendations: Cook Shire Council should continue monitoring groundwater in the Duck Farm GMU.

Future Gaps:

Groundwater monitoring by the Cook Shire Council should continue in the Duck Farm GMU.

Further information

Key

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