Introduction

The Callide SWMA has a catchment area 6865sq km and is surrounded by the Calliope and Dawes Ranges to the east and south and the Banana Range to the west. Callide Creek flows into the Don River near the town of Rannes . The main stream tributaries of the system are Bell, Kroombit, Kariboe, Grevillea and Prospect Creeks. The biggest towns in the area are Biloela, in the southern part of the catchment, and Mount Morgan situated on the Dee River, tributary of Don River, in the north.

The mean annual rainfall varies from 1000mm on the coastal ranges bordering the Don River to 650mm in the Callide Valley. Rainfall can occur at any time of the year but is more frequent in the summer. The region experiences hot summer conditions and mild winters and has a mean annual pan evaporation of 1900mm.

The main storage in the area is Callide Dam located on Callide Creek at AMTD 80.1km. The nearest town to the storage is Biloela. At full supply level the storage has a capacity of 136300ML and covers an area of 1260ha. Other storage in the system includes Kroombit Dam (13200ML).

Callide and Kroombit Dams provide industrial water for the Callide 'A' Power Station, and urban water supplies for Biloela. Through releases into the Callide system, the dams supply water irrigation stock and domestic supplies. A significant amount of the water released recharges the alluvial aquifers immediately downstream. Water from these aquifers is extracted for irrigation.

These irrigation supplies are mainly used for lucerne, cotton and grain crops, In addition to agriculture, coal mining and electric power generation (75%) are the main industries in the area.

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 ara available for this SWMA. A Water Allocation Management Plan has been develped for this SWMA but implementation procedures have yet to be finalised.

PLEASE NOTE:

Categorisation:

No sustainable yield studies ara available for this SWMA.

This SWMA is highly developed. As well as the surface water users, this SWMA has significant groundwater recharge. A Water Allocation Management Plan has been develped for this SWMA but implementation procedures have yet to be finalised.

How saline are the surface water resources in the Callide 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.