Water Plan (Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine) 2016

This water plan may be cited as the Water Plan (Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine) 2016.

The purposes of this plan are—

to define the availability of water in the plan area; and

to provide a framework for sustainably managing the water and the taking of the water; and

to identify priorities and mechanisms for dealing with future water requirements; and

to provide a framework for establishing water allocations; and

to provide a framework for reversing, when practicable, degradation in natural ecosystems; and

to regulate the taking of overland flow water; and

to regulate the taking of groundwater.

The dictionary in schedule 6 defines particular words used in this plan.

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

Each part of the plan area that is shown as a catchment area on the map in schedule 1 is a catchment area.

A reference in this plan to a catchment area by name is a reference to the catchment area in schedule 1 with that name.

The part of the plan area shown as the groundwater management area on the map in schedule 2 is the groundwater management area.

The groundwater management area consists of the following (each a groundwater unit)—

the St George alluvium (shallow);

the St George alluvium (deep);

the sediments above the Great Artesian Basin, containing the aquifers of—

the Winton Formation; and

the Mackunda Formation; and

the Allaru Mudstone; and

the Griman Creek Formation; and

the Glendower Formation;

the Warrego alluvium.

The exact location of the boundaries of the plan area and catchment areas are held in digital electronic form by the department and may be accessed, free of charge, at each office of the department.

Note—

The location of each office of the department is available on the department’s website.

A node is a point on a watercourse in the plan area.

The location of each node is shown on the map in schedule 1 and described in schedule 3.

Each node is identified on the map by a letter.

This plan applies to surface water and groundwater in the plan area.

Surface water is—

water in a watercourse or lake; or

water in a spring not connected to water to which the Water Plan (Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers) 2017 applies; or

overland flow water, other than water in a spring connected to water to which Water Plan (Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers) 2017 applies.

Groundwater is underground water to which the Water Plan (Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers) 2017 does not apply.

This chapter states the outcomes for the sustainable management of water that this plan applies to.

The outcomes include the allocation and management of water in a way that—

recognises the natural state of watercourses, lakes, springs and aquifers has changed because of the taking of, and interfering with, water; and

is consistent with the relevant version of the Basin Plan; and

is consistent with water sharing agreements and commitments between Queensland and New South Wales; and

achieves a balance between—

the ecological outcomes in section 11; and

the economic outcomes in section 12; and

the Indigenous outcomes in section 13; and

the social outcomes in section 14.

In this section—

relevant version of the Basin Plan, in relation to a provision of this plan relating to the allocation and management of water, means the Basin Plan 2012 (Cwlth) as in force 2 years before the provision was given to the Minister under the Water Act 2007 (Cwlth), section 63(3).

Note—

The Basin Plan 2012 (Cwlth) is made under the Water Act 2007 (Cwlth).

The ecological outcomes for water in the plan area are—

minimisation of changes to the natural variability of flows of water that support aquatic ecosystems; and

maintenance of the near natural flow regime that supports the Paroo River and Bulloo River; and

maintenance of floodplain vegetation and wetland systems in the plan area, including—

Currawinya Lakes; and

Paroo Overflow Lakes; and

Bulloo Lakes; and

maintenance of flows of water in the plan area that support—

waterholes, other than waterholes within the storage area of a dam; and

river channels; and

migratory fish.

The economic outcomes for water in the plan area are—

provision for the use of water entitlements and other authorisations in the plan area; and

protection of the probability of being able to take water under a water entitlement; and

protection of the productive base of groundwater; and

support of an effective and efficient market in water allocations; and

availability of water for—

growth in industries dependent on water resources in the plan area; and

stock purposes in the plan area; and

tourism in the plan area; and

maintenance of flood flows to support grazing activities in the plan area.