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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: Pioneer River
Introduction
The Pioneer SWMA is located West of Mackay .
The Pioneer River has two main tributaries. Cattle Ck is in the north west and has a catchment area to Mirani Weir of 410 sq km. Blacks Ck is in the south west and has a catchment area of 815 sq km to Mirani Weir.
Cattle Creek rises in Eungella National Park. It is bounded in the north and west by the Clarke Range (up to 1200 m above sea level). Blacks Ck is bound to the south by the Connors Range which rises to an elevation of 1000 m. The two tributaries are divided by the Pinnacle Range. Teemburra Dam on Teemburra Ck in the Blacks Ck catchment is the only major storage in the upper part of the Pioneer River Catchmen
These two catchments make up most of the Pioneer Valley. From Mirani Weir, the Pioneer River drains eastward to Mackay through a narrow corridor. This lower part of the river has weirs at Mirani, Marian and Dumbleton.
The highest rainfall occurs in the Upper Cattle Ck and Finch Hatton area with average annual rainfalls in excess of 3000mm. Blacks Ck lies in a partial rain shadow and major parts of it have less than 1200 mm rainfall annually. From Mirani to the coast and in the Eton district, the rainfall varies between 1400 mm and 1800 mm annually.
The terrain in the headwaters of Cattle and Blacks Creeks is hilly to mountainous and the soils are shallow stony friable red earths. The headwaters are heavily forested with rainforests along Cattle and Finch Hatton Creeks and more open woodland forests along Blacks Creek. Proceeding downstream, the catchment flattens out with brown alluvial soils along Cattle Ck and sandy soils along Blacks Ck. Sandy Ck has similar terrain, soil and vegetation to Blacks Ck.
There is little agricultural development in the steep upper regions of the catchment but on the alluvial plains there is extensive sugar cane production. Cattle grazing is carried out along Blacks because of its sandy soils and lower rainfall.
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 1,490 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total storage volume: | 713,400 |
| Total surface water use: | 20,077 ML/yr |
| Development category: | HIGH DEVELOPMENT |
| Mean annual run-off: | 1,049,000 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.
This SWMA has a high level of development. A Water Allocation Management Plan is currently being developed for this SWMA.
PLEASE NOTE:
Categorisation:
No sustainable yield studies are available for this SWMA. A Water Allocation Management Plan is currently being developed for this SWMA.
How saline are the surface water resources in the Pioneer 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) |
|---|---|
| Teemburra Dam | 147,500 |
| Mirani Weir | 4,660 |
| Marian Weir | 2,800 |
| Dumbleton Weir | 8,780 |
| Mirani Pump Station | 307,000 |
| Tanallo Pipeline | 204,700 |
| Silver Ck Pipeliine | 37,960 |
| Total | 713,400 |
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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