Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Management and Development - Queensland

Location map of Unincorporated Area - Hodgkinson

Groundwater Management Unit: Unincorporated Area - Hodgkinson

Introduction

Management Context:

The general quality of groundwater in the Hodgkinson UA is good. The main area of concern is the coastal zone which always possesses the potential risk of saltwater intrusion. Although GMU areas (alluvial aquifers) cover most of the southern coastline the northern half is not and should be monitored locally where there is significant groundwater abstraction. Lack of data in the central and northern regions leaves large areas the UA open to unidentified issues.

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:

No forecast use estimate is reported for the Hodgkinson Unincorporated Area in 2020.

2050 Management Response:

No forecast use estimate is reported for the Hodgkinson Unincorporated Area in 2050.

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

Assessment of monitoring in Unincorporated Area - Hodgkinson

Efficacy of the network:

Due to the isolation and lack of accessibility to much of the Hodgkinson UA, no specific departmental monitoring is dedicated to measuring water quality and levels. Furthermore, no departmental monitoring network was proposed specifically for the Hodgkinson Unincorporated Area in the 1997 review of Queenslands Groundwater Monitoring Network. Where Cook Shire overlaps the UA, allocation data is not complete and no metering of groundwater abstraction is considered necessary.

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 and use data is obtained through the Water Entitlements Registration Database (WERD) which is an electronic database for water licences. However the GMU has no groundwater allocations.

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:

Over exploitation of small fractured rock aquifers is a concern to local users. These often recharge vertically and replenish quickly during good rainfall events. Reduction in availability seems to be seasonal, and can therefore be anticipated. Coastal zones not covered by GMU areas should monitor groundwater quality, in areas with significant abstraction, for the potential risk of saltwater intrusion.

Options for monitoring:

Public awareness of groundwater issues could be raised to encourage greater public decision making and cooperative resource management between Government, Shire Councils, Aboriginal Councils and local peninsula residents.

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: 

Estimated yields in a number of the catchments within the Hodgkinson Basin indicate that there are at least 250000 Ml/yr of groundwater available. No assessment of sustainable yield has been carried out for the Yambo Inlier or the northern most region of the Hodgkinson Basin.

Sustainable yield:

ML/yr

Threshold year for sustainable year:

no data 

Abstraction Volume 1996/1997:

175,000 ML 

Current Resource development categorisation:

 

Estimated Use in 2020

Comment:

 

Estimated use in 2020:

250,000 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

43 

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 Hodgkinson Unincorporated Area aquifers is utilised mostly for 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 UAs current and historical groundwater use.

Estimate of Use:

No forecast use estimates are reported for the Hodgkinson Unincorporated Area.

Data Availability,Gaps and Recommendations

Data Availablility:

Data on the Hodgkinson UA groundwater resources is limited outside of company and investigative reports. Salinity data is available for over

390 bores within the UA but ranges significantly in age rendering much of the data out of date. Allocation data within the Cook Shire part of the UA is not complete.

Current Gaps and Recommendations:

Data Gaps: There is no bore network dedicated to monitoring the regional groundwater resources of the Hodgkinson UA. Although 37 Monitoring Network Bores are exclusively within the UA area their purpose is aimed at monitoring the GMU resources or those periphery to them.

Recommendations: Local town and shire council groups should continue monitoring groundwater in their respective areas within the Hodginson UA.

Future Gaps:

Public awareness of groundwater issues could be raised to encourage greater public decision making and cooperative resource management between Government, Shire Councils, Aboriginal Councils and local peninsula residents.

Further information

Key

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