Water resources - Overview - Queensland
Surface Water Management Area: Bundaberg Irrigation Area
Introduction
The Bundaberg Irrigation Area SWMA (BIA) has catchment area of 3720 sq km and is located in the lower reaches of the Kolan and Burnett Rivers is bound in the north by the Dawes Range in the east by the Burnett and Woowoonga Ranges. Gin Gin Creek is a major tributary of the Kolan River.
The mean annual catchment rainfall for the area varies from 900mm in the western part of the BIA catchments to 1140mm near Bundaberg. Average annual flow for the area is 622,800ML.
The Bundaberg Irrigation Scheme is located in South East Queensland near the towns of Bundaberg, Gin Gin, Childers and comprises water storages, a channel distribution system, and a State Government developed irrigation area. Storages in this part of the scheme include Ben Anderson Barrage (30,300ML) Walla Weir (29,500 ML) and Bingera Weir (4800 ML).
Water supply for this area is supplemented by a transfer from the Kolan Basin (SWMA 135).
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 2,795 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total storage volume: | 472,305 ML |
| Total surface water use: | 135,535 ML/yr |
| Development category: | HIGH DEVELOPMENT |
| Mean annual run-off: | 883,074 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 high level of development. A Water Allocation Management Plan has been develped for this SWMA but implementation procedures have yet to be developed.
How saline are the surface water resources in the Bundaberg Irrigation Area 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:
| Storage name: | Capacity (ML) |
|---|---|
| Walla | 29,500 |
| Ben Andereson Barrage | 30,300 |
| Bingera | 4,800 |
| Mcllwraith Relift (Bingera) | 21,900 |
| Walker Street | 82,125 |
| Woongarra | 146,000 |
| Isis | 157,680 |
| Total | 472,305 |
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.