Water Plan (Barron) 2023

This plan may be cited as the Water Plan (Barron) 2023.

The purposes of this plan are to—

define the availability of water to which this plan applies; and

provide a framework for sustainably managing water to which this plan applies; and

identify priorities and mechanisms for dealing with future water requirements in the plan area; and

regulate the taking of, and interference with, surface water, and the taking of underground water, to which this plan applies; and

provide a framework for establishing and managing water allocations; and

provide access to water resources to help Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders achieve their economic, social and cultural aspirations; and

provide a framework for reversing, where practicable, the degradation of natural ecosystems caused by the taking of, or interference with, water to which this plan applies.

The dictionary in schedule 7 defines particular words used in this plan.

Surface water is water in a watercourse, lake or spring.

For section 43(1)(a) of the Act, this plan applies to the following water in the plan area—

surface water;

underground water.

This plan applies to the area shown as the plan area on the map in schedule 1, part 1.

The part of the plan area shown as the Mareeba-Dimbulah water supply scheme on the map in schedule 2 is a water supply scheme for this plan.

Each part of the plan area shown as a water supply scheme zone on the map in schedule 2 is a water supply scheme zone for this plan.

For schedule 4 of the Act, definition water management area, paragraph (b), the plan area is a water management area called the Barron Water Management Area.

Each part of the plan area shown as an underground water management area on the map in schedule 3, part 1 is an underground water management area for this plan.

A reference in this plan to an underground water management area by name is a reference to the underground water management area given that name on the map in schedule 3, part 1.

The Atherton Underground Water Management Area is divided into underground water management area zones.

A part of the Atherton Underground Water Management Area shown on the map in schedule 3, part 2 as an underground water management area zone is an underground water management area zone.

A reference in this plan to an underground water management area zone by name is a reference to the underground water management area zone given that name in schedule 3, part 2.

Each part of the plan area that is within a subcatchment area shown on the map in schedule 4, part 1 is a subcatchment area for this plan.

A reference in this plan to a subcatchment area by name is a reference to the subcatchment area given that name on the map in schedule 4, part 1.

Certain subcatchment areas have 1 or more subcatchment area zones.

A subcatchment area zone, for a subcatchment area, is—

for subcatchment area A—shown on the map in schedule 4, part 2; and

for subcatchment area C—shown on the map in schedule 4, part 3; and

for subcatchment area H—shown on the map in schedule 4, part 4.