Water Plan (Wet Tropics) 2013

This water plan (this plan) may be cited as the Water Plan (Wet Tropics) 2013.

The following are the purposes of this plan—

to define the availability of water in the plan area;

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

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

to provide a framework for establishing water allocations;

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

to regulate the taking of groundwater.

The dictionary in schedule 11 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.

Each part of the plan area that is shown as a subcatchment area of a catchment area on the map in schedule 2 is a subcatchment area of the catchment area.

A reference in this plan to a subcatchment area of a catchment area followed by a letter is a reference to the subcatchment area with that letter forming part of that catchment area.

Each part of the plan area that is shown as a groundwater management area on the map in schedule 3 is a groundwater management area.

A reference in this plan to a groundwater management area by name is a reference to the groundwater management area in schedule 3 with that name.

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

Editor’s note—

The location of each office of the department is available at www.dnrm.qld.gov.au.

A node mentioned in this plan 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 4.

Each node is identified on the map by a number.

This plan applies to the following water (surface water) in the plan area—

water in a watercourse or lake;

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

This plan also applies to groundwater in the plan area.

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

Without limiting subsection (1) or sections 12 to 14, the outcomes include the allocation and management of water in a way that—

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

achieves a balance in the following outcomes—

the economic outcomes mentioned in section 12;

the social outcomes mentioned in section 13;

the ecological outcomes mentioned in section 14.

Each of the following is an economic outcome for water in the plan area—

provision for—

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

the continued use of existing groundwater works;

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

availability of water for the following—

growth in industries dependent on water resources in the plan area;Examples of growth in industries dependent on water resources in the plan area—

• irrigated agriculture industries that are dependent on water from the Mossman, Mulgrave–Russell, Johnstone, Tully, Murray and Herbert catchment areas

• mining industries that are dependent on water from the Herbert catchment area

Indigenous communities dependent on water resources in the plan area to achieve their economic aspirations;

stock purposes in the plan area;

the support of flexible and diverse water supply arrangements for water users;

the support of activities stated in the Water Regulation 2016, schedule 3;

maintenance of flows that support water-related economic activities in the plan area, including, for example, tourism;

encouragement of continual improvement in the efficient use of water;

maintenance, to the extent practicable, of the quality of groundwater for consumptive purposes;

ensuring a reliable and secure supply of water, including for the Kareeya and the Koombooloomba hydro-electric power stations.