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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
Surface Water Management Area: Belyando / Suttor
Introduction
The Belyando/Suttor SWMA has a catchment area of 73335 sq km and is the largest system within the Burdekin River Basin, comprising almost 60% of the total area.
Belyando River flows in a northerly direction to join the Suttor River in its lower reaches. It is bounded by the Great Dividing Range in the west with Denham and Drummond Ranges to the east.
Topography within the Belyando/Suttor sub- catchment differs markedly from other sub- catchments in the Burdekin Basin, lacking high mountain backdrops and representing a drier, typically semi-arid western landscape.
The mean annual rainfall within the SWMA ranges from 550mm in the southern, central and western plains areas, up to 750mm along the south-eastern and north-western margins of the SWMA.
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 73,335 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total storage volume: | no data |
| Total surface water use: | 83,777 ML/yr |
| Development category: | LOW DEVELOPMENT |
| Mean annual run-off: | 2,861,000 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.
PLEASE NOTE:
Categorisation:
No sustainable yield studies are available for this SWMA.
This SWMA has a low level of development. A Water Allocation Management Plan is currently being developed for this SWMA.
How saline are the surface water resources in the Belyando / Suttor 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:
There were no major water storages reported in this area as part of the assessment
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.