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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: Fitzroy River (Qld)
Introduction
The Fitzroy River SWMA runs in north-easterely direction and flows in coral sea at Port Alma. The Fitzroy SWMA has an area of 12200sq km and Rockhampton, the biggest town in the area, lies at the Fitzroy River AMTD 60km.
The mean annual rainfall ranges from 800mm to 900mm in the central area along the river course. Average annual rainfall over the southern coastal ranges reaches 1000mm while in the north-eastern section near Bowenia State Forest up to 2000mm/yr.
The main water usage in the area is Rockhampton town water supply allocations of 50000ML/yr and Stanwell power station of 24000ML/yr. Irrigators are also entitled to use up to 12,335ML of water from the Fitzroy Barrage. The operation of a fish ladder for the Barrage requires 6750ML/yr. Storages in the system includes Eden Bann Weir (26260ML) and Fitzroy Barrage (66270ML).
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 12,200 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total storage volume: | 134,164 ML |
| Total surface water use: | 62,890 ML/yr |
| Development category: | HIGH DEVELOPMENT |
| Mean annual run-off: | 266,000 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 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 Fitzroy River (Qld) 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) |
|---|---|
| Fitzroy Barrage | 79,051 |
| Eden Bann | 26,260 |
| Stanwell | 28,853 |
| Total | 134,164 |
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.