Water Plan (Mary Basin) 2024

This plan may be cited as the Water Plan (Mary Basin) 2024.

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 the 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 for surface water to which this plan applies; and

provide access to water resources to help the traditional owners of the plan area 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 8 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—

surface water in the plan area;

underground water in the underground water management area.

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

The plan area is divided into subcatchments.

Each subcatchment is identified, by a letter, on the map in schedule 2, part 1 and is named in schedule 2, part 2.

A subcatchment may be referred to in this plan by its letter or by its name.

Each subcatchment is a water management area for schedule 4 of the Act, definition water management area, paragraph (b).

A water management area may be referred to in this plan by the letter or name of its subcatchment.

Each part of the plan area shown as a water supply scheme on the map in schedule 3, part 1 is a water supply scheme for this plan.

A reference in this plan to a water supply scheme by name is a reference to the water supply scheme given that name on the map in schedule 3, part 1.

Each part of a water supply scheme that is shown as a water supply scheme zone on a map in schedule 3, part 2, 3 or 4 is a water supply scheme zone for—

this plan; and

the water supply scheme.

A reference in this plan to a water supply scheme zone by name is a reference to the water supply scheme zone given that name on a map in schedule 3, part 2, 3 or 4.

The part of the plan area shown as the Cooloola Sandmass underground water management area on the map in schedule 4 is the underground water management area.

For section 43(1)(e)(i) of the Act, a water supply scheme zone is a trading zone for water allocations to which this plan applies.

A node is a point in the plan area.

The modelled location of each node is identified, by a number, on the map in schedule 1, part 1 and is described in schedule 1, part 2.

A node may be referred to in this plan by its number.

The actual location of each node is set by the model computer program.

A significant watercourse reach is a part of a watercourse that—

is in the plan area; and

is shown as a significant watercourse reach on the map in schedule 5.