National Water Account 2016

Burdekin: Key findings

Despite below average rainfall across the region during the year, storage volumes increased by almost 20% from last year. Total inflows to the region increased by 50% and as a result, water availability increased during the 2015-16 reporting period. This is in contrast to the asset decrease experienced in 2014–15. Total surface water use was 10% down from the previous year, particularly for irrigation that experienced a 20% reduction in use during the 2015–16 year.

calendar icon showing water year from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

CLIMATE AND WATER

Rainfall

Rainfall icon

500 mm

less than long-term average

Streamflow

Streamflow icon

below average

less than last year

Storage

Storage icon

92% full

19% more than last year   

WATER USE

Graph showing breakdown of water sources use in the Burdekin region for 2015–16. 841,961 megalitres of surface water was diverted or approximately 91% of total water sourced; Groundwater extracted was 80,433 megalitres or 9% of total water sourced.

922,394 ML

Water sourced

Water supplied

groundwater

9%

surface water

91%

9%

less water used than last year

arrow pointing rightGraph showing breakdown of water supplied to users in the Burdekin region for 2015–16. 533,681 megalitres was supplied to the irrigation scheme or 56% of total water supplied; 2,263 ML was supplied to the urban system or <1% of total water supplied; 373,354 was supplied to individual users or 40% of total water supplied; and 13,096 ML was supplied to out-side of the region or 1% of total water supplied

irrigation scheme

58%

urban system

<1%

individual users

40%

inter-region water

1%

WATER STATUS

water entitlements icon

Entitlements

1,431,660 ML

total surface water and groundwater entitlements

Water accounting icon

Water assets

1,978,218 ML

closing net water assets
at 30 June 2016

448,961 ML more than last year

Future outlook icon

Outlook

2,100,000 ML

expected water assets
at 30 June 2017

increase from this year