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National Water Account 2017

South East Queensland: Statement details

The region experienced below-average rainfall for most of the 2016–17 year, which contributed to low streamflows and storage inflows across the region for most of the year. As a result, surface water storage dropped to 75% full by 30 June 2017–the lowest end of year volume in eight years–despite record March rainfall from ex-tropical cyclone Debbie.

 

Diagram showing rainfall, runoff, and storage volumes for the South East Queensland region for the 2016–17 year compared to the previous year.

For further information on the region's water accounting statements scroll down this page or click on the links below:

 

Water assets

Surface water assets

  • Surface water asset volumes in the South East Queensland region were 2,033,812 ML at 30 June 2017.

 

Figure S1 Total storage volume in the region at 30 June 2017 compared with the previous seven years

Figure S1 Total storage volume in the region at 30 June 2017 compared with the previous seven years

 

  • Storage volumes decreased from 82% full at 30 June 2016 to 75% full (2,032,273 ML) at 30 June 2017. This is the lowest end of year storage volume in eight years.
  • By March 2017, storage volumes had decreased to 70% full; however, record high rainfall at the end of March contributed to storages being 75% full by the end of the year.

 

Figure S2 Percentage-full volume on 30 June 2017 for each storage

Figure S2 Percentage-full volume on 30 June 2017 for each storage

 

  • Five storages (Wivenhoe, Somerset, Hinze, North Pine and Wyaralong) provide more than 80% of the region's total surface water storage. These storages were all above 70% full for the year.
  • More detailed information on the individual storages within the region is available on the Bureau of Meteorology's Water Storage website.

  

Groundwater assets

  • The aquifers in the South East Queensland region are described in the Geographic information section.
  • A physical asset volume could not be defined for water stored in the aquifers. Instead, a non-physical groundwater asset was used in the Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities based on the permissible consumptive volumes for water table aquifers.

 

Water liabilities

  • Water liabilities in the South East Queensland region refer to the volume of allocation remaining on licence entitlements at the end of the 2016–17 year.

 

Table S1 Volume of allocation remaining: individual users at the end of the 2016–17 year
  Volume
(ML)
Opening balance at 1 July 2016 0
Allocation 61,522
Allocated diversion (22,600)
Adjustment and forfeiture (38,922)
Closing balance at 30 June 2017 0

 

Table S2 Volume of groundwater allocation remaining: individual users at the end of the 2016–17 year
  Volume
(ML)
Opening balance at 1 July 2016 0
Allocation 9,335
Allocation extraction (5,538)
Adjustment and forfeiture (3,797)
Closing balance at 30 June 2017 0

 

  • All the listed water supply licences for the region have a water management year that ends on 30 June.
  • As there are no carry-over provisions for water supply licences in the South East Queensland region, the portion of water allocation that has not been abstracted at the end of a water year is forfeited and the allocation remaining at the end of the year was 0 ML.
  • A more detailed description of water allocations and associated water rights in the South East Queensland region is given in the Water rights note.

 

Water asset increases

  • Total water asset increases for the year was 3,943,794 ML. 
  • The key item contributing to water asset increases for the region was runoff, which made up 85% of total water asset increases. Runoff increased from the previous year as a result of record high rainfall in March, despite an otherwise dry year (see Climate and water).
  • Urban water system increases primarily represent wastewater collected, which generally changes little from year to year.

 

Water asset decreases

  • Total water asset decreases for the year was 4,023,126 ML. 
  • The key item contributing to water asset decreases for the region was outflow, which made up approximately 68% of the total water asset decreases. The record high rainfall in March resulted in twice the total river outflow to sea compared to last year, despite an otherwise dry year (see Climate and water).
  • Groundwater decreases represent non-allocated extraction: individual users, which decreased from the previous year.
  • Urban water system decreases primarily represents discharge: sea and supply system delivery: urban users.

 

Water flows

  • Total water inflows to the region was 3,943,794 ML.
  • Total water outflows from the region was 4,051,264 ML, slightly higher than the volume of Water asset decreases (4,023,126 ML) as it includes the flows corresponding to the accrual transactions—allocated diversions and allocated extractions (see the Water liabilities section above).
  • A detailed description on all the water flows associated with the surface water and groundwater stores, as well as the urban system, is provided in the Water stores note. 

 

Unaccounted-for difference

  • The unaccounted-for difference is the volume necessary to reconcile the opening water storage and closing water storage with the total water inflows and total water outflows reported in the water accounting statements.

 

Table S3 Calculation of unaccounted-for difference for the 2016–17 year
  Volume (ML)
Opening water storage balance at 1 July 2016 2,224,452
Total water inflows 3,943,794
Total water outflows (4,051,264)
Closing water storage balance at 30 June 2017 (2,044,927)
Unaccounted-for difference
 (72,055)

 

  • The unaccounted-for difference value is primarily attributed to uncertainties associated with the runoff estimate (see Methods).