South East Queensland: Water access and use
More than 80% of the region's surface water entitlements are for urban water supply, primarily for residential use. Surface water allocations increased from the previous year, reflecting the good surface water availability in the region at the start of the 2015–16 year.
Water rights, entitlements, allocations, and restrictions
Introduction
This note provides information about the water access rights granted by jurisdictions to the users of the region's water resources and the associated allocation announcements and abstractions.
The 2016 Account acknowledges that the legislative water resource management frameworks related to Australian water rights vary greatly across jurisdictions, sometimes making comparisons difficult. To facilitate meaningful comparisons between the water accounting reports included in the 2016 Account, the Bureau of Meteorology has developed and applied an accounting concept to classify and report water entitlements within a water asset/water liability framework.
According to that framework, water rights for the South East Queensland region for the 2015–16 year have been classified as shown in the sections below.
Surface water rights
Surface water rights in the South East Queensland region during the 2015–16 year refer to surface water supply for:
- urban water system: allocated—506,065 ML
- individual users: allocated—91,197 ML
- urban water system: non-allocated—48,249 ML
- individual users: non-allocated—27,561 ML
- other statutory rights—3,810 ML
- other surface water rights—937 ML.
In the South East Queensland region, surface water allocations for individual users and the urban water system are a percentage of the entitlement that is announced each year.
The volume of surface water entitlements, corresponding allocations, and diversions for the 2015–16 year, compared with the 2014–15 year, are shown in Figure S11. The percentage shows the ratio of diversion to the entitlement.
Figure S11 Surface water access entitlements, allocations and diversions in the South East Queensland region for the 2014–15 and 2015–16 years
Allocations for surface water diversion to the urban water system increased from the previous year (Figure S11), reflecting the good surface water availability in the region at the start of the 2015–16 year when storages were 95% full. Actual diversions to the urban water system were similar to the previous year.
Allocations for individual users were similar to the previous year; however, actual diversions to individual users decreased by more than 50% (Figure S11). Water use decreased in most of the water supply schemes, including a 16,000 ML drop in water use in the Warrill Valley Water Supply Scheme.
Non-allocated diversions to individual users and the urban water system were similar to the previous year.
Groundwater rights
Groundwater rights in the South East Queensland region during the 2015–16 year refer to groundwater supply for individual users (11,115 ML).
In the South East Queensland region, groundwater allocations for individual users are a percentage of the entitlement. Approximately 15% of the entitlement is for extraction from the Cooloola sandmass subartesian aquifer for Rainbow Beach town water supply.
The volume of groundwater entitlements, corresponding allocations, and extractions for the 2015–16 year, compared with the 2014–15 year, are shown in Figure S12. The percentage shows the ratio of extraction to the entitlement. Non-allocated extractions for individual users and the urban water system are also shown in Figure S12.
Figure S12 Groundwater access entitlements, allocations and extractions in the South East Queensland region for the 2014–15 and 2015–16 years
Allocations for groundwater extraction to individual users remained unchanged (Figure S12); however, actual allocated extractions to individual users increased by more than 50% from the previous year. This increase in water use could be attributed to the poor rainfall experienced across the region that increased users’ reliance on water supplied directly from aquifers.
Similarly, non-allocated extractions to individual users and the urban water system increased from the previous year.
Water market activity
In the South East Queensland region, trade or lease of surface water entitlements or allocations can only occur within the same water supply scheme (see Figure R9 in 'Region description'). Trade or lease of groundwater entitlements or allocations in the region do not occur.
Regulated water access entitlements are separate from land rights, and are tradeable and registered on the former Queensland Government Department of Environment and Resource Management's water allocation register. This function is now managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines and/or the Department of Energy and Water Supply. There are currently only markets for the trade of surface water rights; markets for the trade of groundwater rights may be developed in the future. The rules for trade of water access entitlements are detailed in the relevant resource operations plan. The rules for water allocation trade are detailed in the Queensland Water Regulations 2002, the relevant resource operations plan and the interim resource operations licence.
Surface water trade that occurred in the South East Queensland region during the 2015–16 year is detailed in Table S9.
| Water trade | Volume (ML) | No. of trades |
| Trade of surface water entitlement within region | 2,713 | 56 |
| Lease of surface water entitlement within region | 0 | 0 |
| Surface water allocation trade within region | 2,546 | 54 |
Water use
Economic, social and cultural benefit
Water resources within the South East Queensland region are used for public water supply, as well as private water supply for purposes such as agriculture, industry, and mining. For a summary of the water volumes allocated for various economic purposes within the region, including the actual volumes abstracted, refer to Surface water rights and Groundwater rights above.
The Gold Coast, Logan Basin, Mary Basin and Moreton water resource plans require that water be managed for general and ecological purposes. This includes water for social and cultural benefits; however, there are no formal water entitlements held for social or cultural purposes in these plan areas. Instead, water is managed through a rules-based system outlined in the plans.
In Queensland, entitlements and allocations do not have intended use as an attribute, and all metered abstractions do not have entitlement priority or use as attributes. Water held for cultural, social or economic purposes cannot be differentiated explicitly.
Environmental benefit
Introduction
Information on legislative, administrative and governing arrangements of environmental water in the South East Queensland region is available in the Environmental water management section of the 'Region description'.
In the South East Queensland region, water for environmental benefit is provided according to two different environmental water management scenarios:
- Planned partly supplemented surface water: the ability to control or influence flow by operational releases from storages.
- Planned unsupplemented surface water: controlling the water access regime through water resource plans.
For clarity of presentation, the environmental water benefits are summarised/presented for each water resource plan area. Both environmental water management scenarios apply to each plan area.
Gold Coast Water Resource Plan
Environmental water determination
Schedule 5 of the Gold Coast Water Resource Plan identifies ecological and environmental flow objectives for the catchments located within the plan area.
Environmental flow objectives are identified for specific locations along the watercourses within the management area (referred to as 'nodes') and are described in Schedule 4 of the plan. Schedule 5 of the plan describes in detail the low, medium and high flows and seasonal flow objectives for each of these nodes. In addition to detailing the environmental flow objectives, the plan sets out performance indicators for environmental flow objectives, described in Clause 12 of the plan (Gold Coast environmental flow objectives).
The expected ecological outcomes are described in Clause 11 of the plan. Briefly, they are to minimise changes to:
- the flow regimes of rivers described as waters of high ecological value in the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997
- river-forming processes and changes to flow regimes in the Nerang River and Nerang Creek.
Environmental water commitment
The Gold Coast Resource Operations Plan describes the operating and environmental management rules and water access rules for the Nerang Water Supply Scheme (supplemented) and the lower Nerang Water Management Area (unsupplemented).
Nerang Water Supply Scheme: supplemented (regulated) system
The Gold Coast Resource Operations Plan sets out the rules the licence holder (Seqwater) must follow to achieve the outcomes of the Gold Coast Water Resource Plan. The resource operations plan requires Seqwater to make releases from water storages as described in Table S10 (see clauses 71 and 72A of the resource operations plan).
| Storage | Storage volume/level | Storage Release (ML/day) |
| Hinze | water level > 45.6 mAHD water level > 45.6 mAHD and flow at Numinbah gauging station on the Nerang River is > 100ML/day | 7.25 12 |
| Little Nerang | water level > 139.3 mAHD | 3 |
mAHD = metres Australian height datum
Lower Nerang water management area: unsupplemented
Water access rules that apply to water allocations in the Lower Nerang water management area are detailed in Clause 94 of the Gold Coast Resource Operations Plan and include that:
- water is abstracted at a rate not exceeding the maximum rate on the allocation
- the allocation holder complies with any special conditions on the allocation.
Environmental water outcomes
In accordance with clauses 118A and 119 in the Gold Coast Resource Operations Plan, the resource operations licence holder is responsible for reporting on streamflow levels, infrastructure levels, and releases from infrastructure and ultimately their compliance with environmental objectives throughout the water year. Data on streamflow is available through the Queensland Government's water monitoring website.
Seqwater allowed 3,832 ML (Little Nerang Dam 1,095 ML and Hinze Dam 2,737 ML) of specific releases for environmental purposes at various times during the 2015–16 year.
Logan Basin Water Resource Plan
Environmental water determination
The Logan Basin Water Resource Plan identifies ecological and environmental flow objectives for the catchments located within the plan area as described in schedules 2 and 3 of the plan.
Environmental flow objectives are identified for specific locations along the watercourses within the management area (referred to as 'nodes') and are described in Schedule 4 of the plan. Schedule 5 of the plan describes in detail the low flow, medium to high flow and seasonal flow objectives for each of these nodes. In addition to detailing the environmental flow objectives, the plan sets out performance indicators for environmental flow objectives, described in Clause 12 of the plan (Logan Basin environmental flow objectives).
The expected ecological outcomes are described in Clause 11 of the plan. Briefly, they are to minimise changes to:
- the flow regimes of rivers described in Clause 11(b)
- the flooding regime in the Carbrook wetlands.
Environmental water commitment
Logan Water Supply Scheme: supplemented
The Logan Basin Resource Operations Plan describes the operating and environmental management rules for the Logan Water Supply Scheme (regulated/supplemented). The resource operations plan requires Seqwater to make releases from water storages as described in the Table S11 (see clauses 23 and 24 of the plan). The resource operations licence holder must minimise the occurrence of adverse environmental impacts by ensuring release of water incrementally from the storages depending on the flow criteria (Environmental flow release).
| Storage | Storage release rate | Storage release conditions/criteria |
| Lake Maroon | equal to the volume of inflow 4 ML/day | when inflow is ≤ 4 ML/day when inflow is > 4ML/day |
| Bromelton Weir | equal to the volume of inflow 5 ML/day | when inflow is ≤ 5 ML/day when inflow is > 5ML/day |
| Cedar Grove Weir | equal to the volume of inflow 5 ML/day | when inflow is ≤ 5 ML/day when inflow is > 5ML/day |
| Wyaralong Dam | 0 ML/day 2 ML/day 5 ML/day 50 ML/day | when inflow to Wyaralong Dam is< 2 ML/day when inflow to Wyaralong Dam is ≥ 2 ML/day, but < 5 ML/day when inflow to Wyaralong Dam is ≥ 5 ML/day, but < 50ML/day when inflow to Wyaralong Dam is ≥ 50 ML/day |
Logan Water Resource Plan area: unsupplemented
The area covered by unsupplemented water allocations in the Logan Basin Water Resource Plan area are described in Attachment 2 of the resource operations plan. Water-sharing rules are detailed in Chapter 5 of the resource operations plan and require that relevant licence holders:
- ensure that water is abstracted at a rate not exceeding the maximum rate on the allocation
- ensure that annual volumetric limits are not exceeded.
Environmental water outcomes
In accordance with clauses 48 and 49 in the resource operations plan, the resource operations licence holder is responsible for reporting on streamflow levels, infrastructure levels, releases from infrastructure and, ultimately, their compliance with environmental objectives throughout the water year.
Mary Basin Water Resource Plan
Environmental water determination
Schedule 6 of the Mary Basin Water Resource Plan identifies environmental flow objectives for the catchments located within the plan area.
Environmental flow objectives are identified for specific locations along the watercourses within the management area (referred to as 'nodes') and are described in Schedule 6 of the plan. Schedule 6 of the plan describes in detail the low, medium and high flows and seasonal flow objectives for each of these nodes. In addition to detailing the environmental flow objectives, the plan sets out performance indicators for environmental flow objectives, described in Clause 15 in part 4 of the plan (Mary Basin environmental flow objectives).
The expected ecological outcomes are described in Clause 13 in part 3 of the plan. Briefly, they are to minimise changes to:
- river-forming processes and near-natural flow regime for the Noosa, Mooloolah rivers and coastal streams north of Noosa River mouth
- low flow regime and hydraulic habitat requirements of species for the Mary River and Six Mile Creek.
Environmental water commitment
The Mary Basin Resource Operations Plan describes the operating and environmental management rules and water access rules for the Baroon Pocket Water Supply Scheme (supplemented).
Baroon Pocket Water Supply Scheme: supplemented (regulated) system
The Mary Basin Resource Operations Plan sets out the rules the licence holder (Seqwater) must follow to achieve the outcomes of the Mary Basin Water Resource Plan. The resource operations plan requires Seqwater to make releases from water storages as described in Table S12 (see Clause 67 in chapter 6 of the resource operations plan).
| Storage volume/level | Storage Release (ML/day) |
| water level is ≥ 193.5 mAHD and flow at Gardeners Falls station is < 5 ML/day | 1.5 |
| water level is ≥ 193.5 mAHD and flow at Gardeners Falls station is > 5 ML/day and < 10 ML/day | 5 |
| water level is ≥ 193.5 mAHD and flow at Gardeners Falls station is ≥ 10 ML/day | 15 |
mAHD = metres Australian height datum
Noosa, Mooloolah rivers and Six Mile Creek area: unsupplemented
Water access rules that apply to water allocations for Noosa and Mooloolah rivers and coastal streams north of Noosa River mouth and Six Mile Creek area are outlined in attachment 3 of the Mary Basin Resource Operations Plan. The ecological outcomes of the plan are aimed to minimise changes to:
- river-forming processes
- a near-natural flow regime
- the hydraulic habitat requirements.
Environmental water outcomes
The resource operations licence holder is responsible for reporting on streamflow levels, infrastructure levels, and releases from infrastructure and ultimately their compliance with environmental objectives throughout the water year. Data on streamflow is available through the Queensland Government's water monitoring website.
Moreton Water Resource Plan
Environmental water determination
The Moreton Water Resource Plan identifies ecological and environmental flow objectives for the catchments located within the plan area as described in schedules 1, 4 and 5 of the plan. Although the Moreton Water Resource Plan also includes several groundwater management units, environmental objectives specific to the groundwater resource are not described in it. Therefore, it is considered that there are no environmental water provisions for groundwater in this area.
Environmental flow objectives are identified for specific locations along the watercourses within the management area (referred to as 'nodes') and are described in Schedule 6 of the plan. Schedule 7 of the plan describes in detail the low flow, medium to high flow, and seasonal flow objectives for each of these nodes. In addition to detailing the environmental flow objectives, the plan sets out performance indicators for environmental flow objectives, described in Clause 14 of the plan (Moreton environmental flow objectives).
The expected ecological outcomes are described in Clause 12 of the plan. Briefly, they are to minimise changes to:
- flows that support river-forming processes and to the low flow regime in the Stanley River and tributaries
- freshwater flows to the Boondall Wetlands.
Environmental water commitment
Water supply schemes: supplemented
The Moreton Resource Operations Plan describes the operating and environmental management rules for the three water supply schemes operating under a resource operations licence within the Moreton Water Resource Plan area. Environmental water rules, in the form of storage releases, are in force for two water supply schemes and are described in Table S13:
- Central Brisbane River and Stanley River Water Supply Scheme (Seqwater): see Clause 96
- Cressbrook Creek Water Supply Scheme (Toowoomba Regional Council): see clauses 106 and 107.
| Water supply scheme | Storage | Storage release rate | Storage release conditions/criteria |
| Central Brisbane River and Stanley River WSS | Mount Crosby Weir | Minimum flow of 8.64 ML/day | When critical water sharing arrangements are not in force, daily flows past Mount Crosby Weir are required |
| Cressbrook WSS | Cressbrook Dam | Once triggered, the release should satisfy the following conditions:
| The following conditions need to be satisfied to trigger a release:
|
| Cressbrook WSS | Perseverance Dam | Minimum flow of 4.92 ML/day. | When:
|
mAHD = metres Australian height datum
As well as the Pine Valleys Water Supply Scheme, water supply schemes that currently operate under an interim resource operations licence do not include any environmental provisions.
Moreton Water Resource Plan area: unsupplemented
Water access rules that apply to water entitlements in the Moreton Water Resource Plan area that are unsupplemented are detailed in Clause 37 of the Moreton Resource Operations Plan and include that:
- water is abstracted at a rate not exceeding the maximum rate on the allocation
- the allocation holder complies with any special conditions on the allocation.
Environmental water outcomes
In accordance with clauses 143 and 144 in the resource operations plan, the resource operations licence holder is responsible for reporting on streamflow levels, infrastructure levels, releases from infrastructure and ultimately, their compliance with environmental objectives throughout the water year.
Seqwater allowed 3,294 ML of water from Wivenhoe as specific releases for environmental benefit at various times during the 2015–16 year.