National Water Account 2020

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Key findings

Climate and water

Water Accounting Statements

Supporting information

Region description

South East Queensland: Geographic information

Geographic information

General description

Area: 24,081 km²
Population: 3.27 million (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016)

Figure R1 Contextual map of the South East Queensland region

• The region is located on the southeast coast of Queensland and includes the major population centres of Brisbane, Ipswich, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.
• The boundary of the region is physically defined by the Brisbane, Logan-Albert, Maroochy, and Pine river catchments, as well as the South Coast catchment and part of the Mary and Noosa river catchments.
• The region is home to an extensive network of water bodies, consisting of creeks, rivers, wetlands, lakes, bays and the Pacific Ocean.

Land use

Figure R2 Land use in the South East Queensland region

• The South East Queensland region is the most densely populated area of Queensland. It includes the urban centres of Brisbane (1.25 million residents), Ipswich (0.33 million), the Gold Coast (0.59 million), and the Sunshine Coast (0.36 million).
• Urban land use activities are a major water user in the region, although covering a relatively small area (8% of the region).
• Grazing is the predominant land use outside of the urban centres, and occupies more than 50% of the region.

Significant aquatic ecosystems

Figure R3 Nationally important wetlands and Ramsar wetlands in the South East Queensland region

• There are 17 nationally important wetlands listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia within the region.
• These wetlands cover in excess of 3,200 km², with habitats ranging from perched freshwater lakes and sedge swamps on offshore sand islands, to intertidal mudflats, marshes, sandflats and mangroves in near-shore marine areas.
• The wetlands of Moreton Bay are listed in the international Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and receive river outflows from the region.

Significant Aboriginal cultural places and practices

• Prior to European settlement, a large number of Aboriginal people lived in the South East Queensland region (Jabree Ltd 2013). It is estimated that the Logan, Albert, Coomera and Nerang catchment areas once contained 1,500 to 2,000 Aboriginal communities.
• There are four indigenous sub-regions within South East Queensland, corresponding to the recognised language groups for the Goori / Murri Nation (Choy et al. 2011). The boundaries of these sub-regions are mostly delineated by rivers within the region as described in Table R1.
• There are numerous registered cultural heritage sites near waterways in the region, including 11 sites along the Albert River, four along the Bremer River, ten along the Coomera River, seven along Lockyer Creek, and ten along the Logan River (Constable and Love 2015).
• The creation stories of water Warrajum (Bunyip) and Walmaroo (Sand Goanna) of the Ugarapul people are examples of the spiritual and cultural links of local Aboriginal people with rivers in the region. Multiple cultural water assets associated with these and other narratives have been identified in the region of both spiritual and customary value (Constable and Love 2015).

Water resources

• Most of the region's water supply comes from surface water, which is mainly used for urban supply.
• Groundwater extraction, mainly for agricultural use, is primarily limited to several alluvial aquifers located along river valleys.
• Some desalinated and recycled water resources within the region can supplement surface and groundwater resources for urban use and power supply.

Surface water

Storages

Figure R4 Surface water storages in the South East Queensland region

• Surface water storages are an important water source in the region, mainly for urban water supply.
• The five largest storages in the region are Wivenhoe, Somerset, Hinze, North Pine, and Wyaralong. Together they represent approximately 80% of the region's storage capacity.

Rivers

• The five main rivers in the region are the Albert, Bremer, Brisbane, Logan, and Maroochy rivers.

Figure R5 Key flow gauging stations along the main rivers within the South East Queensland region

Figure R6 Mean monthly flow along the rivers and mean monthly rainfall for the South East Queensland region

• The seasonal flow characteristics of rivers within the region reflect the region's annual rainfall pattern, where most rainfall occurs between November and March.
• Typically, the Albert, Brisbane, Logan, and Maroochy rivers have perennial flow, whereas the Bremer River may occasionally cease to flow.

Groundwater

• Groundwater extracted from alluvial aquifers is the primary water source in the irrigation-dominated upland valleys of the region. In particular, the Lockyer Valley alluvial aquifer is primarily used for irrigation and is managed under the Moreton Water Plan.
• In some areas, groundwater is sourced from local aquifers for a variety of uses. The Cooloola Sandmass aquifer, which lies in the Mary Basin Water Plan area, is primarily used by Cooloola Shire Council for the Rainbow Beach town water supply, as well as for commercial and domestic purposes in nearby areas.
• Groundwater resources in the Clarence–Moreton Groundwater Management Area, located partially within the region, form part of the Great Artesian Basin; however, Great Artesian Basin resources are excluded from this account.

Desalinated water

• Desalinated water from the Gold Coast Desalination Plant can be used to augment the region's drinking water supply, particularly during weather events or interruptions to supply in other parts of the South East Queensland Water Grid.
• The plant is capable of providing up to 133 ML of water per day at 100% capacity, but has primarily operated in 'hot standby' mode since December 2010 (three runs per fortnight, producing 5 ML per run). The plant is capable of running at 33% of capacity with 24 hours notice and at 100% capacity with 72 hours notice.

Recycled water

• Class A+ recycled water is supplied for residential use (toilet-flushing and external use) and non-residential use (industrial use) in the Pimpama–Coomera area of the City of Gold Coast.
• The Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme, extending from Brisbane's southwest suburbs towards the city of Ipswich, was used to provide purified recycled water to power stations, fertiliser industries and potentially agricultural users. The scheme was decommissioned in 2015 and is now in care and maintenance mode.

Water systems

Urban water system

• Water service providers, including the Council of the City of Gold Coast, Logan City Council, Redland City Council, Queensland Urban Utilities, and Unitywater, supply potable water to most residents in the region via the South East Queensland Water Grid.
• The grid comprises a network of treatment facilities and more than 600 km of reverse-flow pipelines that move water between various sources across the region. Key components include 22 major surface water storages, 30 operational water treatment plants, six operational recreational water treatment plants and five groundwater bore fields.
• A water pipeline between Wivenhoe Reservoir and Cressbrook Creek can be used to supply raw water to Toowoomba Regional Council, if required.
• In a number of 'off grid' communities within the region, drinking water supplies are not directly connected to the water grid. Instead, water is sourced and treated locally.

Farm dams

• According to the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, there are approximately 1,700 farm dams greater than 0.25 ha in area within the region, with a combined estimated storage volume of 59,080 ML.

Water management

Surface water and groundwater management

Water legislation

• The Water Act 2000 (Water Act) provides authority for the administration of basic water rights and water entitlements (interim allocations, water licences, water allocations and unallocated water) in Queensland, supported by the Water Regulation 2016 (Water Regulation) which provides details on the procedures and fees associated with water access entitlements and trading.
• Water plans are prepared under Section 42 of the Water Act to advance the sustainable management of water. Four water plans are in place across the South East Queensland region: the Water Plan (Gold Coast) 2006, Water Plan (Logan Basin) 2007, Water Plan (Moreton) 2007, and Water Plan (Mary Basin) 2006.
• The construction of overland flow works/infrastructure is regulated under the Queensland Planning Act 2016.

Water management plans

• The Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy is in the process of implementing a new water planning framework. Current water management planning instruments are summarised in Table R2.
• The four water plan areas in the region—Gold Coast, Moreton, Logan Basin, and part of the Mary Basin—are shown in Figure R7.
• Draft amendments to the Water Plan (Moreton) 2007 and Moreton Water Management Protocol were published in November 2018, which seek to establish water allocation and management arrangements for existing entitlement holders in the Central Lockyer Valley Water Supply Scheme.
• Five groundwater management areas—Cressbrook Creek Alluvial, Lockyer Valley, Warrill Bremer Alluvial, Watercourse Buffer Zone, and Cooloola Sandmass subartesian area—exist within the region, as shown in Figure R8. These are all located in the Moreton water plan area, except the Cooloola Sandmass which lies within the Mary Basin water plan area.
• The Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers (GABORA) water plan area also underlies part of the region, though GABORA resources are not included in the region account.

Figure R7 Water plan areas in the South East Queensland region

Figure R8 Groundwater management areas in the South East Queensland region

Environmental water management

• Water plans are produced in accordance with the Water Act. These must establish environmental flow objectives and ecological outcomes, and consider environmental values listed in the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009.
• Environmental flow objectives aim to retain certain temporal flow characteristics at different locations in the river system. These are met through rules which govern storage releases and allowable abstraction.
• Various performance indicators are used for assessing environmental flow objectives, as described in the Cultural and environmental water note in 'Supporting information'.
• More details on environmental flow objectives can be found in the four water plans active in the region (Gold Coast, Moreton, Mary Basin, and Logan Basin).

Cultural water management

• The four water plans in the region support water-related cultural values. Allowing cultural use of the plan area by traditional owners is listed as a general outcome for surface water and/or groundwater in all four water plans.
• The water plans also require decision makers to consider the proposed impacts of various actions on cultural values including, for example, cultural values of traditional owners, and where appropriate impose conditions to ensure these cultural values are maintained. These actions include taking water from waterholes or lakes, granting water from general, strategic and town water supply reserves, and deciding operational and supply arrangements for water infrastructure.
• Other relevant plans include the South East Queensland Natural Resource Management Plan 2009–2031, which emphasises recognising traditional owners as natural resource managers, and acknowledges the SEQ Traditional Owner Cultural Resource Management Plan and its targets and actions as an integral element of regional natural resource management planning.
• The South East Queensland Traditional Owners Alliance (SEQTOA) is the peak body formed by traditional owner cultural groups in the South East Queensland region to represent and advance their interests in cultural and natural resource management.

Organisations responsible for water management

• Organisations responsible for water management in the South East Queensland region are shown in Table R3.
• The Queensland Water Directorate (qldwater) does not manage water, but coordinates centralised provision of water data for almost all Queensland water management entities.

Figure R9 Utility service areas in the South East Queensland region

Water rights

Operating rules and constraints

• Abstraction of water is controlled by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy through allocation planning and water licensing arrangements. Water can only be abstracted and/or interfered with from designated areas within the region when a water authorisation (water allocation, license or permit) is issued.
• Resource operations licences or distribution operations licences are required for operation of water supply scheme infrastructure and distribution of water to water allocation holders. Holders must comply with these licences for day-to-day operational, water sharing and seasonal water assignment rules.
• Surface water licences are also issued for unsupplemented water, including water licences to take, licences to interfere and licences to divert.
• Groundwater sources within the Lockyer Valley, Warrill Bremer Alluvial area, Watercourse Buffer Zone and Cressbrook Alluvial area are managed as groundwater management areas under the Moreton Water Plan. Groundwater resources within the Cooloola Sandmass are managed as groundwater management areas under the Mary Basin Water Plan.
• Water restrictions are managed by the bulk water supply authority, Seqwater, the South East Queensland council water businesses (distributor-retailers), and the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy. Further information can be found on the Queensland Government water restrictions website.

Water entitlements and other statutory water rights

• Under the Water Act 2000, water can be abstracted generally either under a statutory authorisation without an entitlement for certain purposes only (e.g. stock and domestic use) or under various types of licences and authorities referred to as water entitlements.
• Supplemented and unsupplemented water entitlements are prioritised, managed, and administered separately.
• Artesian and sub-artesian groundwater entitlements also have separate prioritisation, management, and administration arrangements.

Water allocations

• Annual water allocations, known as supplemented allocations, are provided for all water users within water supply schemes. Allocation percentages are announced by resource operations licence / distribution operations licence holders on the first day of the water year (generally from 1 July–30 June unless otherwise specified) for supplemented entitlement holders. Additional announcements can be made during the year, but the allocation percentage cannot exceed 100% of the allocation volume, or be reduced below the initial allocation percentage.
• Announced allocation percentages vary between water supply schemes and priority groups. Urban licence holders of supplemented entitlements generally have 'high priority' allocations, typically set at 100% of their allocated volume. Urban holders of supplemented entitlements have the same announced limit applied to their entitlement as other supplemented entitlement holders of the same priority entitlements.
• Unsupplemented water (taken from the natural flow of a river or from groundwater) is managed separately; for example, unsupplemented water may be abstracted during announced periods based on flow thresholds that ensure environmental streamflows are maintained.

Trades and water rights transfers

• There are three active water markets in Queensland: the water allocation market concerns the trading of regulated water access entitlements; the seasonal water assignment market deals with the seasonal (temporary) assignment of water allocations and other entitlements; and the relocatable water licence market concerns the relocation of water licences from one parcel of land to another.
• Currently the South East Queensland region only conducts trade that involves surface water but markets for groundwater trading may be developed in the future.
• Water allocations in Queensland are separate from land rights, and are partly or wholly tradeable and registered on the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy water allocation register. Relocatable licences can be partly or wholly traded after assessment and are specific to a water plan or zone within a water plan area.
• The rules for water allocation trading (temporary trades referred to as 'seasonal water assignment') are detailed in the Water Regulation 2016, the four water plans for the region, and associated instruments. The rules specify geographic limits for trading that ensure water allocation security objectives and environmental flow objectives are achieved.