Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Overview - Queensland

Location map of Great Artesian Basin - Barcaldine - Queensland

Groundwater Management Unit: Great Artesian Basin - Barcaldine - Queensland

Introduction

The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) comprises 23 hydrologic zones (accounting for interstate / territory boundaries). These zones were determined by the Great Artesian Basin Consultative Council (GABCC) in 1999. The total area of the GAB is approximately 1.8 million sq km.

The Barcaldine Groundwater Management Unit (GMU) is one of these hydrologic zones. Its area is about 130000 sq km which accounts for 7.2% of the total GAB area.

The Barcaldine zone incorporates the towns of Hughenden, Winton, Longreach and Barcaldine. It extends over 700 km from Hughenden in the northeast to its southernmost tip, 100 km east of Charleville.

Natural surface levels predominantly range from 100 to 300 m above mean sea level. In the northeast and southeast regions the natural surface levels tend towards 500 m above mean sea level.

Rainfall in the Barcaldine zone varies from about 250 mm/yr (inland at the western boundary of the GMU) to above 500 mm/yr (at the eastern boudary). Approximately 70% of rainfall occurs in the months November to March.

Evaporation generally exceeds average annual rainfall. Average annual evaporation may exceed average annual rainfall by up to 2400 mm/yr in the east to up to 3200 mm/yr in the west.

The Barcaldine zone is dominated by the sheep and cattle industry.

Freehold land tenure dominates the majority of this zone with Leasehold land tenure dominating the northwestern region.

Tussock grassland dominates the southwestern region and the western boundary region. The remaining vegetation is mainly low open woodland interspersed with tussock grassland in the northeast and open woodland along the southeastern boundary.

Vital Statistics:

Area: 130,160 Km2
Total water allocated: no data
Total water consumed: 44,170 ML/yr
Average salinity: 500 mg/l
Sustainable yield: 36,310 ML/yr
Depth to top of aquifier: 0 m

Further Information

Key

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