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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
Groundwater Management Unit: Lower Lockyer Creek
Introduction
The Lower Lockyer Creek groundwater management unit (GMU) is located approximately 100 km west of Brisbane in the Lockyer Valley. The GMU extends across the Shires of Esk and Laidley covering approximately 120 sq km. This area is within the Brisbane River Basin (1432) and contains about 32 km of the lower Lockyer Creek.
Groundwater in the Lower Lockyer Creek GMU is obtained from unconsolidated Quaternary alluvium. Throughout the Lockyer Valley alluvium is associated with the major creek valleys and contains clay, silt, sand and gravel. Limited groundwater is also contained in consolidated rocks including basalt, sandstone and shale. The alluvium overlies the Tertiary Main Range Volcanics, and Triassic and Jurassic sandstones. Pumping rates throughout the valley are variable; ranging from a few litres per second to over 50 l/s. A sustainable yield of 3000 Ml/yr is estimated for the Lower Lockyer GMU.
The Lockyer Valley has a sub-humid, sub-tropical climate experiencing long hot summers and relatively short mild winters. Average annual rainfall in the valley is about 820 mm but in the south may be in excess of 1000 mm. Rainfall is often associated with storms of high intensity and short duration. About 70% of the annual rain fall between October and March.
The Lockyer Valley is one of Queenslands major vegetable growing area and relies heavily upon water from both surface and sub-surface water supplies. Groundwater in the Lower Lockyer Creek GMU is generally suitable for irrigation and domestic drinking water. Annual usage in the GMU, is estimated to be about 4000 - 5000 Ml.
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 120 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total water allocated: | no data |
| Total water consumed: | 4,000 ML/yr |
| Average salinity: | 732 mg/l |
| Sustainable yield: | 3,000 ML/yr |
| Depth to top of aquifier: | 17 m |
Further Information
- The following groundwater management units also occur in Clarence-Morton Province
- Alstonville Basalt (NSW)
- Central Lockyer Valley (QLD)
- Condamine - Condamine Groundwater Management Area Sub-Area 4 (QLD)
- Condamine River Alluvium (Cunningham to Ellangowan) (QLD)
- Condamine River Alluvium (Killarney to Murrays Bridge) (QLD)
- Condamine River Alluvium (Murrays Bridge to Cunningham) (QLD)
- Dalrymple Creek Alluvium (QLD)
- Flagstone Creek (QLD)
- Glengallan Creek (QLD)
- Kings Creek Alluvium (QLD)
- Laidley Creek (Upper Reach) (QLD)
- Lockyer - Helidon (QLD)
- Logan / Albert Rivers (QLD)
- Lower Oakey Creek Alluvium (QLD)
- Ma Ma Creek (QLD)
- Myall / Moola Creek North (QLD)
- Myall Creek (QLD)
- Nobby Basalts (QLD)
- North Coast Fractured Rocks (NSW)
- Oakey Creek Management Area (QLD)
- Richmond Coastal Sands (NSW)
- Richmond River Alluvium (NSW)
- Sandy Creek (QLD)
- Swan Creek Alluvium (QLD)
- Tenthill Creek (QLD)
- Toowoomba City Basalt (QLD)
- Unincorporated Area - Clarence Moreton (QLD)
- Unincorporated Area - Clarence-Morton Basin (NSW)
- Upper Hodgson Creek (QLD)
- Upper Lockyer Creek (QLD)
- View the Queensland Water Resources Assessment 2000 Report
- View the Queensland Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report
- For more information about water and other natural resource issues link to www.nrm.qld.gov.au.
- Link to data available for download on the Groundwater management units and provinces - ARC/INFO export
- Link to the Map Maker to make a map using this information.
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