Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Overview - Queensland

Location map of Great Artesian Basin - Flinders - Queensland

Groundwater Management Unit: Great Artesian Basin - Flinders - 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 Flinders Groundwater Management Unit (GMU) is one of these hydrologic zones. Its area is about 84 thousand sq km which accounts for 4.7% of the total GAB area.

The Flinders zone is approximately 250 kilometers wide from its western boundary to approximately 100 kilometers east of the Great Dividing Range extending from Cloncurry to Hughenden. Its northern boundary is approximately 70 kilometers south of Croyden. Its southernmost portion is approximately 100 kilometers north of Winton.

Natural surface levels are predominantly lower than 200 m above mean sea level. In the southwest corner and along the eastern boundary the natural surface levels range up to 300 m above mean sea level.

Rainfall in the Flinders zone varies from about 300 mm/yr (inland at the southwest corner of the GMU) to greater than 600 mm/yr (in the northeast region). Approximately 80% 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 dominant land uses are for sheep and cattle industry purposes.

Leasehold and Freehold land tenure predominates this zone.

Low woodland predominates this zone with open tussock grassland along the western boundary. A minor region of open tussock grassland or sedgeland is centrally located.

Vital Statistics:

Area: 84,290 Km2
Total water allocated: no data
Total water consumed: 48,710 ML/yr
Average salinity: 472 mg/l
Sustainable yield: 39,270 ML/yr
Depth to top of aquifier: 0 m

Further Information

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