Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Overview - Queensland

Location map of Great Artesian Basin - Western Recharge - Queensland

Groundwater Management Unit: Great Artesian Basin - Western Recharge - 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 Western Recharge (QLD) Groundwater Management Unit (GMU) is one of these hydrologic zones. Its area is about 5800 sq km which accounts for 0.3% of the total GAB area.

The Western Recharge (QLD) zone lies in the southwest of the GAB. It extends 60km east from the Queensland border and over 100 km north to the GAB fringe boundary. While no major towns lie within the zone, Bedourie lies in the neghbouring Northwest zone (Q86) approximately 60km to the southeast.

Natural surface levels predominantly range from zero to 200 m above mean sea level, increasing towards the north.

Rainfall in the Western Recharge (QLD) zone may reach up to 150 mm/yr. Evaporation generally exceeds average annual rainfall by up to 4000mm.

Land use is evenly proportioned between other industry purposes in the west of the zone and cattle industry purposes in the east.

Leasehold land tenure predominates this zone.

Most of this zone is covered by tall open shrubland with a small region in the northeast covered by low open woodland and a pocket in the southeast where dense sown pasture dominates the landscape.

Vital Statistics:

Area: 5,800 Km2
Total water allocated: no data
Total water consumed: 90 ML/yr
Average salinity: 582 mg/l
Sustainable yield: 80 ML/yr
Depth to top of aquifier: 0 m

Further Information

Key

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