Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Management and Development - Queensland

Location map of Fraser Island

Groundwater Management Unit: Fraser Island

Introduction

Management Context:

While the resource is large, local pollution could occur adjacent to the Resort complexes.

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

 YES

Diffuse Source Pollution

 YES

Subsidence

 NO

Artificial Recharge (ML/yr)

 no data

Ecosystems Protection

 YES

Surface Water Interaction

 YES

Management Plans

 NO

Defined Minimum Water Level

 NO

Comments on Management Responses

2020 Management Response:

The forecasted use for 2020 on the island will be similar to current level of use because of the restrictions imposed by the presence of the National Park.

2050 Management Response:

The forecasted use for 2050 on the island will be similar to current level of use because of the restrictions imposed by the presence of the National Park.

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

Assessment of monitoring in Fraser Island

Efficacy of the network:

The current monitoring network consists of 16 observation bores and is located mainly in one area of the island. The network should be re-established to be able to monitor the impact of the Resorts on the Island. Monitoring would be of the form of regular water quality measurement.

Data management requirements:

Queensland groundwater monitoring data, including water level and water quality, is stored within the Groundwater Database (GWDB) system. The new GWDB 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 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

Protective management:

Management of the groundwater resource of the Fraser Island groundwater management unit should aim at maintaining a pristine resource in line with the World Heritage values. Therefore appropriate management accurate monitoring of groundwater extraction, water level and water quality fluctuations.

Options for monitoring:

Fraser Island is located in a World Heritage Area. A monitoring network should be established to protect and conserve the World Heritage values of the Island.

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: 

The sustainable yield has been estimated at 216000 Ml/yr. This figure was based on a study using the estimated volume of aquifer, water balance calculations and recharge estimates. There is limited data available for the dimensions of the aquifer, so this figure is considered to be very approximate.

Sustainable yield:

ML/yr

Threshold year for sustainable year:

1,987 

Abstraction Volume 1996/1997:

253 ML 

Current Resource development categorisation:

Estimated Use in 2020

Comment:

Estimated use in 2020:

260 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

3 

Resource development categorisation:

Estimated in 2050

Comment:

Estimated use in 2050:

260 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

3 

Resource development categorisation:

 

What assumptions were used in this assessment

Development Potential:

There is no potential for development of water resources on the island.

Estimate of Use:

The forecasted use on the island will be similar to current level of use because of the restrictions imposed by the presence of the National Park.

Data Availability,Gaps and Recommendations

Data Availablility:

The availability of data is poor with groundwater monitoring conducted at irregular intervals in the 16 bores. Water quality is limited with sampling data taken at the time of construction.

Abstraction data is limited as only some of the bores are metered.

Current Gaps and Recommendations:

Data Gaps: There are large gaps in the water level information. The placement of the monitoring bores is limited with monitoring points covering one fifth of the island.

Recommendations: A monitoring network should be established adjacent to the Resort facilities for the purpose of monitoring the water quality in the area.

Future Gaps:

A water quality network should be established adjacent to the Resort to monitor the water quality of the aquifer and so preserve the pristine environment of the Island GMU.

Further information

Key

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