Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Management and Development - Queensland

Location map of Mossman

Groundwater Management Unit: Mossman

Introduction

Management Context:

The limited use of groundwater in the Mossman GMU places little stress on the groundwater system. With the exception of saline groundwater found immediately adjacent to the coast, no issues of high priority are reported.

Priority issues

Declining Water Levels

 NO

Salt Water Intrusion

 YES

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: The limited use of groundwater in the Mossman GMU places little stress on the groundwater system. With the exception of saline groundwater adjacent to the coast, no issues of high priority are reported.

Comments on Management Responses

2020 Management Response:

A forecast use estimate of 1800 Ml/yr in 2020 is based upon the GMUs development potential and desired level of resource management.

2050 Management Response:

A forecast use estimate of 1800 Ml/yr in 2050 is based upon the GMUs development potential and desired level of resource management.

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

Assessment of monitoring in Mossman

Efficacy of the network:

Water level monitoring commenced in 1975 with between one and three gaps in data, of one year in most hyrogaphs. Good water quality data exists for 65 bores within the GMU with post-1990 sampling. Allocation data is avilable for the Mossman GMU however there is no metered abstration.

The current monitoring network for the Mossman groundwater management unit consists of 22 observation bores with a proposed twice yearly monitoring frequency. The monitoring network is concentrated in the Mossman River alluvium and therefore is not representative of the Daintree alluvial aquifers.

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 uses web technology and is available through the department's intranet.

Allocation 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 data; and are accessed statewide.

Protective management:

Management of the groundwater resource of the Mossman groundwater management unit aims at maintaining a longterm, sustainable resource and therefore, requires continued monitoring of water level and water quality.

Options for monitoring:

No options for Commonwealth, State, industry or community groups to address data gaps are identified or reported for the Mossman 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: 

An annual sustainable yield of 19000 Ml was calculated by assessing the annual recharge to the aquifers. Although calculated in 1976 this figure has been reported as recently as 1995.

Sustainable yield:

ML/yr

Threshold year for sustainable year:

2,100 

Abstraction Volume 1996/1997:

4 ML 

Current Resource development categorisation:

 

Estimated Use in 2020

Comment:

 

Estimated use in 2020:

1,800 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

44,900 

Resource development categorisation:

 

Estimated in 2050

Comment:

 

Estimated use in 2050:

1,800 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

44,900 

Resource development categorisation:

 

What assumptions were used in this assessment

Development Potential:

Groundwater in the Mossman GMU aquifers is utilised mostly for the irrigation of sugar cane around Mossman. This demand is not anticipated to increase significantly before the year 2011, and is currently estimated to be 600 Ml/yr. The resource is currently considered to have moderate potential for development.

Estimate of Use:

Unless a major change in land use occurs there is little potential for the sustainable yield to be reached by 2050. Forecast use estimates in the GMU are based upon historical useage and continuance of current land practices in 2020 and 2050.

Data Availability,Gaps and Recommendations

Data Availablility:

Water level monitoring commenced in 1975 with between one and three gaps in monitoring, of one year, in most hyrogaphs. Water quality data exists for 65 bores within the GMU with post- 1990 sampling. Allocation data is available for the Mossman GMU however there is no metered abstraction data.

Current Gaps and Recommendations:

Data Gaps: Water level monitoring commenced in 1975 with between one and three gaps in monitoring, of one year, in most hyrogaphs. Water quality data exists for 65 bores within the GMU with post- 1990 sampling. Allocation data is available for the Mossman GMU however there is no metered abstraction data.

Recommendations: Low groundwater usage in the Mossman GMU prompts no recommendations to meter groundwater use in the area. Increased monitoring of the groundwater may however be important to the future development of the resource.

Future Gaps:

Increased monitoring of groundwater, particularly in the Daintree alluvium, would be essential for adequate monitoring coverage of the resource however no management needs or gaps are reported for the GMU.

Further information

Key

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