Introduction

The Burdekin River SWMA has a catchment area of 47,000 sq km and is bounded by the Montgomery Range to the north and Seaview Range to the east. Its major tributaries include Clarke, Star, Running, Basalt, Fanning and Broughton Rivers. The Upper Burdekin sub- basin is generally high with steep slopes and is bounded by rugged mountains, plateaux and hills.

The Burdekin Falls Dam is located at AMTD 159km on the Burdekin River and is approximately 170km South-East of Townsville .

The Dam is a multipurpose storage which provides water for irrigation to the Lower Burdekin Region as well supplementary SWMA 118, SWMA 119.A and SWMA 119.B. At full supply the storage holds 1,860,000ML of water and covers an area of approximately 22,000ha. Water supplies are pumped from Clare Weir into channel systems serving irrigation farms along the Burdekin River. The storage also supplements the urban and industrial water needs of this region in conjunction with the existing storages: Clare, Gorge and Blue Valley Weirs (on the Burdekin River) and Eungella Dam (on the Broken River).

The production of sugar, rice, soybeans and horticultural crops are the main forms of agriculture in the area and is served by the dam with an average annual use of 320805 ML.

For most of the Upper Burdekin sub-catchment, the annual average rainfall varies between 600 and 850mm. In the more elevated regions along the eastern border, the average annual rainfalls vary to totals greater than 2000mm.

Vital Statistics:

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.

* 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. A Water Management Plan is currently being developed for this SWMA.

PLEASE NOTE:

Categorisation:

No sustainable yield studies are available for this SWMA.

This SWMA has a medium level of development. Water from this SWMA is exported to other SWMAs. A Water Allocation and Management Plan is currently being developed for this SWMA.

How saline are the surface water resources in the Burdekin River 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:

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.