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In this section you will find detailed information, including national overviews and state and regional level assessments, from the 2000-2002 National Land and Water Resources Audit theme assessments.
Water resources - Overview - Queensland
Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Kolan River
Introduction
The Kolan River SWMA has an area of 2795 sq km. It is bounded by the Dawes Range in the north-east, and the Burnett Range in the south- west which join near Mt Fort William in the western part of the catchment. The Kolan River is about 180km in length, and flows to the sea north of Bundaberg. Gin-Gin Creek is a major tributary of the Kolan River. Most of the upper reaches (above Fred Haigh Dam) are hilly to mountanious and timbered, while the lower portion is generally more undulating.
The mean annual rainfall for the 50 year period 1920 to 1969 varies from year 1000mm in the south-west along the Burnett Range to 1500mm in the north-east along the Dawes Range. Over the lower portion of the catchment the average annual rainfall varies between 1200mm/yr and 1300mm/yr.
The major storage on the Kolan River is Fred Haigh Dam with a catchment area of 1310 sq km. At full supply level the storage holds 562000ML of water and covers an area of 5180ha. This storage supplies irrigation water to Bucca Weir (capacity 11600ML) and Kolan Barrage (capacity of 3810ML). Water is also pumped via the Gin-Gin Main Channel to the Burnett River to supplement supplies to the Ben Anderson Barrage when required.
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 2,795 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total storage volume: | 1,318,760 |
| Total surface water use: | 38,998 ML/yr |
| Development category: | HIGH DEVELOPMENT |
| Mean annual run-off: | 631,208 ML/yr |
A four-class classification system was developed to provide a simple method to communicate the status of the use and allocation of Australia's water resources in relation to sustainable water management.
It is important to recognise that adequately quantifying a sustainable flow regime or sustainable yield and consequent operating rules is a complex matter. State, Territory and scientific agencies continue to develop and apply methods and measures for determining sustainable flow regimes and sustainable yields.
This categorisation provides a general guide only. Please refer to the State and Territory Overview and Technical reports for detail on the analysis methods used.
| Category | Development status | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | <30% | Low development | |
| 2 | 30 - 70% | Moderate development | |
| 3 | 70 - 100% | Highly developed | |
| 4 | 100% | Overdeveloped |
* Water use as a percentage of sustainable flow regime (surface water) and sustainable yield (groundwater)
PLEASE NOTE:
Sustainable Yield:
No sustainable yield studies are available for this SWMA. A Water Allocation and Management Plan is currently being developed for this SWMA.
PLEASE NOTE:
Categorisation:
No sustainable yield studies are available for this SWMA.
This SWMA has a high level of development. Significant volumes of water are transferred to the bundaberg Irrigation Area SWMA136.B. A Water Allocation and Management Plan is currently being developed for this SWMA.
How saline are the surface water resources in the Kolan River surface water management area?
No data were available about the salinity of surface water resources in the Basin / SWMA for the Australian Water Resources Assessment 2000.
Major water storages
Table: Major water storage areas:
| Storage name: | Capacity (ML) |
|---|---|
| Fred Haigh Dam | 562,000 |
| Tirroan | 26,280 |
| Bucca Weir | 11,605 |
| Kolan Barrage | 3,950 |
| Monduran | 401,500 |
| Bucca | 21,900 |
| Abbotsford | 8,650 |
| Gooburrum | 109,500 |
| Bullyard | 151,475 |
| McIllwraith Relift | 21,900 |
| Total | 1,318,760 |
Further Information
- View the Queensland Water Resources Assessment 2000 Report
- View the Queensland Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report
- Link to data available for download on the:
- Surface Water Management Areas
- Data from the 1985 Review of Australia's Water Resources and Water Use
- Link to the Map Maker to make a map using this information.
- For more information about water and other natural resource issues link to www.nrm.qld.gov.au
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