Northern Australia regions: Overview
Climate and Water
January–March 2016 rainfall compared to historical records (1900–2015)
- In 2015–16, climate was influenced by strong El Niño conditions contributing to below average annual rainfall across much of northern Australia.
- Rainfall during January–March, typically the wettest part of the year, was below average for the Daly and Ord regions and mostly average for the Burdekin region.
- A large storm event during 25–26 December 2015 in the lower Daly region caused major flooding in the Daly river. This was the biggest flood since February 1998.
Percentage-full volume during 1 July 2013–30 June 2016 for Burdekin and Ord storages
- In the Ord region, the normal filling and spilling of the storages during the wet season did not occur due to the below average rainfall.
- In the Daly region, below average rainfall during the typically wettest months of the year contributed to a decrease in aquifer storage, the fourth consecutive annual drop in aquifer storage for the region.
Water availability
Water allocations and abstractions in the Burdekin, Daly and Ord regions for 2015–16
- Total water allocations were similar to the previous year at 1,772,700 ML: 52% of allocated water was abstracted.
Water sources and supply
Total water sourced in the Burdekin, Daly and Ord regions for 2015–16
- Total water sourced across the northern regions was 1,143,970 ML. This was 6% less than the previous year, which is largely due to increased rainfall in the Burdekin region that decreased users' reliance on surface water for irrigation.
- Surface water resources accounted for 90% of total water use across Northern Australia regions. However for the Daly region groundwater is the primary water source, accounting for 77%.
Users of water in the Burdekin, Daly and Ord region for 2015–16
- Approximately 60% of total water supply was used for irrigation schemes; 39% was for individual users, primarily for agricultural purposes.
- Less than 1% was used for town water supply.