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Burdekin: Supporting information

  • Rainfall during the 2021–22 year was above average for the second consecutive year.
  • Runoff into surface water storages was below average across the region, reflecting below average wet season rainfall.
  • Total storage volumes increased to 99% full by 30 June 2022.
  • 46% of surface water allocations were taken in 2021-22. 

Schematic representation of the Burdekin region. In 2021–22, runoff was 37% less than average. Storage volumes at 30 June 2022 were 99% full, higher than the previous year. 47% of the total surface water allocation (1,478 GL) was taken. 100% of the total groundwater allocation (107 GL) was taken.

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

 

Water assets

Lake Dalrymple, Burdekin region (Roslyn Budd, Budd Photography © 2019)

 

  • Total water asset volume in the Burdekin region at 30 June 2022 was 2,160 GL, around 92% of which was held in surface water storages. The remaining amount is water held in aquifers and rivers.

 

Table S1 Accessible storage volume in the Burdekin region at 30 June 2022 compared with the previous five years
 202220212020201920182017
Burdekin Falls1,850,5351,804,9421,728,5911,837,4291,741,9621,797,922
Clare Weir14,40115,69115,51213,60913,60314,110
Eungella92,52691,92697,396111,425109,725111,079
Giru Weir682711764759540642
Lake Paluma9,42711,3097,84611,49010,62511,291
Accessible total1,967,5711,924,5791,850,1091,974,7121,876,4551,935,044
Dead storage9,4069,4069,4069,4069,4069,406
Total storage1,976,9771,933,9851,859,5151,984,1181,885,8611,944,450
Total capacity2,000,8972,000,8972,000,8972,000,8972,000,8972,000,897
% full98.8%96.7%92.9%99.2%94.3%97.2%

 

  • Storage volumes increased from 97% full at 30 June 2021 to 99% full at 30 June 2022 - the highest end-of-year storage volume since 2018-19.
  • Lake Dalrymple, formed by Burdekin Falls Dam, accounts for almost 95% of the region's total surface water storage.

 

Map of Burdekin region showing the status of each storage at 30 June 2021. The storages are colour coded into ten categories of volume as a proportion of capacity. All storages (Lake Dalrymple, Lake Eungella, Clare Weir, and Giru Weir) were over 80% full. An inset line graph shows the time series of percentage-full storage volume between 1 July 2013–30 June 2021. Burdekin storages at 30 June 2021 were 97% full, slightly less than last year.
Figure S1 Percentage-full volume on 30 June 2022 for each storage and total storage volume from 2009-2022 (inset)

  • Without any significant late-winter and early-spring rainfall, storage volumes dropped to 75% by November 2021.
  • Following several heavier rainfall events in November and December, storages peaked at 112% during January 2022, before dropping to 90% by late-March.
  • The wet April-May period saw storages peak again at 130% by late-May before ending the year at 98.8%.
  • More detailed information on the individual storages within the region is available on the Bureau of Meteorology's Water Storage website.

 

Water liabilities

Lake Dalrymple, Burdekin region (CSIRO © 2007)

 

  • Water liabilities in the Burdekin region refer to the volume of allocation remaining on licence entitlements at the end of the 2021-22 year.

 

Table S2 Volume of surface water allocation remaining at 30 June 2022
DescriptionSurface water (ML)
 Opening balance at 1 July 2021159,976
addAllocation1,140,093
lessAllocated diversion519,171
lessAdjustment and forfeiture780,898
 Closing balance at 30 June 20220

 

  • All the water supply licences for the region have a water management year that ends on 30 June.
  • A more detailed description of water allocations in the Burdekin region is given in the Water use section below.

 

Water flows

Burdekin River near Charters Towers (CSIRO © Willem van Aken)

 

  • Total water inflows into the region's storages was 6,794 GL, 37% less than last year due to below average wet season rainfall.
  • Surface water inflows contributed 6,600 GL (97%) of total water inflows, with runoff accounting for 94% (6,176 GL) of this volume.
  • The remaining 3% was groundwater inflows (194 GL) from managed aquifer recharge.
  • Surface water outflows (6,690 GL) made up 98% of total water outflows (6,797 GL), with river outflows (5,064 GL) the highest contibuting factor.
  • Groundwater outflows, mostly non-allocated extraction to irrigation users, contributed 2% (107GL) of total water outflows.
  • A more detailed breakdown of inflows and outflows is given in the Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities for the Burdekin region.

 

Water availability

 

Table S3 Annual surface water available in the Burdekin region during 2022 compared to the previous five years
 202220212020201920182017
Water availability8,402,72012,230,5024,687,74223,548,7379,641,1786,906,633
Water accessible1,478,3351,447,4131,448,1791,393,5041,364,3501,311,871
Water taken697,437698,992804,027685,148797,661760,702

 

  • Physical surface water availability is calculated as the sum of storage volumes at the start of the year (see Water assets) and estimated inflows into the storages and rivers during the year.
  • Although the start-of-year water storage volumes were high, surface water availability in the Burdekin region was 22% below average (based on modelled data from 1971 to 2021), reflecting the below-average wet-season rainfall and consequently lower runoff across the region.
  • Surface water accessible is calculated as the sum of surface water allocations and other statutory rights, plus carryover at the start of the year.
  • Water taken during the year is influenced by the physical surface water available. Typically, when water availability is low, water taken during the year is high due to the increased demand from customers when conditions are dry (see Water use section below).
  • During the 2021-22 year, water taken from surface water resources was close to average.

 

Water use

Burdekin River, Queensland (Bureau of Meteorology © Graham Hawke)

 

Consumptive use

 

Table S4 Surface water taken for consumptive use in the Burdekin region for the previous four years
Surface water2022202120202019
Individual users-255,420261,377227,258
Industrial users16,876---
Inter-region supply----
Irrigation users500,569429,153520,330440,911
Other users150,153---
Stock and domestic28,426---
Urban users1,4131,8802,2121,274
Total697,437698,992804,027685,148

 

Table S5 Groundwater taken for consumptive use in the Burdekin region for the previous four years
Groundwater2022202120202019
Individual users-148,028147,521136,748
Commercial users104---
Industrial users679---
Irrigation users103,720---
Mining users556---
Other users364---
Stock and domestic648---
Urban users564---
Total106,635148,028147,521136,748

 

  • Water taken from surface water and groundwater resources for consumptive use was 804 GL, 5% less than last year.
  • Total surface water diverted in the Burdekin region was 697 GL, almost the same as last year.
  • Around 72% of the surface water taken was for the Burdekin Haughton Water Supply Scheme, mainly for irrigation users. 
  • Allocated diversions accounted for 74% (519 GL) of the surface water taken for consumptive use, while the remaining 26% (178 GL) was for non-allocated diversions.
  • Total groundwater extracted in the Burdekin region was 107 GL, all from non-allocated extractions mainly for irrigation purposes.

 

Allocations and diversions

 

Table S6 Surface water allocation and diversions in the Burdekin region for the year ending 30 June
Surface water2022202120202019
Individual users
Carryover0159,976108,151119,813
Allocated announcements1,140,0931,181,2231,170,3271,159,180
Allocated diversions519,171540,953645,988524,908
% used46%40%51%41%

 

  • In 2021-22, total surface water allocation was 1,140 GL, mostly for irrigation in the Burdekin River Irrigation Area.
  • Of this, 46% of the allocation taken reflected the relatively high water availability during the year. 
  • Surface water diversions were 4% less than last year. 
  • There were no groundwater allocations and extractions for the 2021-22 year.