Fitzroy: Supporting information

For the water account period 01 July 2022 - 30 June 2023

  • Total annual rainfall was above average for the second consecutive year, however, a lack of monsoonal activity during the latter part of the wet season resulted in lower runoff and below-average streamflows in most of the region's major rivers.
  • End-of-year storage volume increased by thirteen percentage points, finishing at 43% full by 30 June 2023 - the highest end-of-year storage volume since 2016-17.
  • Approximately, 58% of surface water allocations and 45% of groundwater allocations were taken in 2022-23.

Schematic representation of the Fitzroy region. In 2021–22, runoff was 53% less than average. Storage volumes at 30 June 2022 were 30% full, marginally higher than the previous year. 80% of the total surface water allocation (761 GL) was taken. 93% of the total groundwater allocation (113 GL) was taken.

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

 

Water assets

Fairbairn Dam, Fitzroy region (DNRME © anonymous)

 

  • Total water asset volumes in the Fitzroy region on 30 June 2023 were 727 GL, around 98% of which was water held in surface water storages.
  • Around 2% of the water assets are held in aquifers, while the remaining volume of water assets are held in rivers.

 

Table S1 Accessible storage volume in the Fitzroy region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Bedford Weir 15,892 15,875 15,791 14,519 15,681 15,704
Bingegang Weir 4,797 6,764 3,964 3,260 6,000 4,595
Callide 27,152 31,067 28,467 39,640 64,154 98,390
Fairbairn 504,169 268,034 203,746 143,528 233,857 298,274
Fitzroy Barrage 56,999 59,844 56,502 58,389 59,865 57,327
Glebe Weir 17,065 17,495 17,471 17,456 17,278 17,454
Gyranda Weir 11,136 14,659 10,052 7,727 9,415 9,935
Kroombit 98 93 64 144 116 8,646
Mount Morgan No.7 1,044 556 135 608 1,157 2,136
Moura Offstream Storage 2,347 2,674 2,527 2,416 1,113 2,358
Moura Weir 4,254 7,206 6,906 6,362 6,297 6,161
Neville Hewett Weir 8,443 10,307 9,056 8,722 8,570 8,930
Tartrus Weir 8,987 9,604 5,892 9,309 9,551 9,087
Theodore Weir 4,003 4,069 4,028 4,067 4,085 4,137
Accessible total 666,386 448,247 364,601 316,147 437,139 543,134
Dead storage 44,942 44,942 44,942 44,942 44,942 44,942
Total storage 711,328 493,189 409,543 361,089 482,081 588,076
Total capacity 1,640,139 1,640,139 1,640,139 1,640,139 1,640,139 1,640,139
% Full 43.4% 30.1% 25.0% 22.0% 29.4% 35.9%

 

  • Storage volume increased from 30.1% full on 30 June 2022 to 43.3% full on 30 June 2023 - an increase of 13.3%.
  • This is the highest end-of-year storage volume for the region since 2016-17.

 


Figure S1 Percentage-full volume on 30 June 2023 for each storage and total storage volume from 2009 to 2023 (inset)

  • Storages remained steady at around 30% full throughout winter and into spring. However, following the region's eighth-wettest spring on record, high inflows from heavy rainfall events in October 2022, particularly in the Fairbairn Reservoir catchment area, saw storage levels rise by 15% in the space of a week, peaking around 45% full towards the end of October.
  • Following above-average rainfall during January 2023, storages peaked just below 50% in February 2023, before gradually declining through to the end of the 2022-23 reporting year.
  • By 30 June 2023, the region's end-of-year storage volume was 43.4% full - the highest end-of-year storage volume for the region since 2016-17.
  • Fairbairn Reservoir, the largest storage in the region, began the year at 21.5% full and ended at 39.7% full.
  • More detailed information on the individual storages within the region is available on the Bureau of Meteorology's Water Storage website.

 

Water liabilities

Outback farm, Fitzroy region (istock © anonymous)

 

  • Water liabilities in the Fitzroy region refer to the volume of allocation remaining on licence entitlements at the end of the 2022-23 year. 

 

Table S2 Opening and closing balance of surface water allocations for individual users in the Fitzroy region over the past six water accounting periods
Description 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Opening balance at 01 July 0 0 0 0 0 0
add Allocation 353,500 357,905 303,054 308,379 378,698 399,178
less Allocated diversion 206,600 205,073 167,811 217,518 216,681 277,226
less Adjustment and forfeiture 146,900 152,832 135,243 90,861 162,017 121,952
Closing balance at 30 June 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

Table S3 Opening and closing balance of groundwater allocations for individual users in the Fitzroy region over the past six water accounting periods
Description 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Opening balance at 01 July 0 0 0 0 0 0
add Allocation 15,100 14,500 15,009 15,294 15,383 15,118
less Allocated extraction 6,815 6,752 10,268 11,545 12,847 10,124
less Adjustment and forfeiture 8,285 7,748 4,741 3,749 2,536 4,994
Closing balance at 30 June 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

  • Most of the surface water and groundwater licences have a management year that ends on 30 June.
  • The portion of water allocated that was not abstracted during the 2022-23 year was forfeited, with no allocation remaining (carryover) being carried over to the start of the 2023-24 year.
  • A more detailed description of water allocations in the Fitzroy region is given in the Water use section below.

 

Water flows

Fitzroy River in flood, Fitzroy region (istock © David Gandy)

 

  • Total water inflows into the Fitzroy region was 5,563 GL, 25% more than last year.
  • Surface water inflows contributed 4,424 GL (80%) of total water inflows, with runoff accounting for 93% of the total surface water inflows.
  • Runoff into the region's surface water storages was the highest since 2016-17, but was 38% below average (based on modelled data from 1971 to 2022), reflecting the lack of significant rainfall during the 2022-23 wet season.
  • Groundwater inflows contributed 1,139 GL (20%) of total water inflows, with recharge from surface water accounting for 100% of the total groundwater inflows.
  • Total water outflows from the Fitzroy region was 5,665 GL, 8% more than last year.
  • Surface water outflows contributed 5,558 GL (98%) of total water outflows, with outflow to sea accounting for 56% of the total surface water outflows.
  • Outflow to sea was the highest since 2016-17, but was 48% below average (based on modelled data from 1971 to 2022), reflecting the lack of excess water available across the region.
  • Groundwater outflows contributed 107 GL (2%) of the total water outflows, with non-allocated extraction to irrigation users accounting for 45% of the total groundwater outflows.
  • A more detailed breakdown of inflows and outflows is given in the Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities for the Fitzroy region.

 

Water availability

 

Table S4 Annual surface water available in the Fitzroy region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Water availability 4,782,033 3,622,150 1,447,386 3,470,073 3,004,539 2,899,206
Water accessible 758,030 760,682 640,078 631,342 480,052 626,958
Water taken 611,130 607,850 504,835 540,481 318,035 505,006
% water accessible taken 81% 80% 79% 86% 66% 81%

 

  • 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 storages and rivers during the year.
  • Surface water availability in the Fitzroy region was the highest since 2016-17, but was 34% below average (based on modelled data from 1971 to 2022), reflecting the lack of significant rainfall during the 2022-23 wet season.
  • Surface water accessible is calculated as the sum of the surface water allocations and other statutory rights, plus carryover at the start of the 2022-23 year.
  • Water taken during the year is influenced by the physical surface water available. Typically, changes in physical surface water available are reflected by how much surface water is accessible to take, and consequently, that effects how much water can be taken from surface water resources.
  • Despite physical surface water availability being its highest since 2016-17, water taken from surface water resources was similar to last year, but more than the previous few years. This was likely influenced by improved rainfall during the last two years, decreasing the demand for consumptive use during the year.

 

Water use

Fairbairn Dam, Fitzroy region (DNRME © anonymous)

 

Consumptive use

 

Table S5 Surface water taken for consumptive in the Fitzroy region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Individual users - - 332,648 318,592 99,221 227,780
Agriculture users 176,000 170,992 - - - -
Industrial users 51,360 50,004 55,234 56,438 58,205 56,282
Inter-region supply - - - - - -
Irrigation users 148,610 148,466 105,781 153,632 137,235 195,373
Mining users 8,900 9,300 - - - -
Other users 214,475 217,473 490 505 14,635 17,203
Stock and domestic 245 242 - - - -
Urban users 11,540 11,373 10,682 11,314 8,739 8,368
Total 611,130 607,850 504,835 540,481 318,035 505,006

 

Table S6 Groundwater taken for consumptive use in the Fitzroy region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Groundwater 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Individual users - - 626 382 396 361
Agriculture users 9,470 9,395 - - - -
Industrial users 27,295 26,673 - - - -
Irrigation users 54,520 53,503 59,479 61,174 63,125 9,443
Mining users 7,050 6,992 - - - -
Other users 5,575 5,624 - - - -
Stock and domestic 1,330 1,383 - - - -
Urban users 1,460 1,479 3,077 3,051 1,984 320
Total 106,700 105,049 63,182 64,607 65,505 10,124

 

  • Water taken from surface water and groundwater resources for consumptive use was 717,830 ML, slightly more than last year.
  • Total surface water diverted in the Fitzroy region was 611,130 ML, similar to last year, but around 30% above the previous few years, reflecting high water availability across the region.
  • Around 35% of the surface water taken was for other users, 29% for agriculture users, 24% for irrigation users, and 8% for industrial users. The remaining 4% of surface water taken was split amongst the remaining categories (mining users (2%), urban users (2%), and stock and domestic (<1%)).
  • Non-allocated diversions accounted for 66% of the surface water taken for consumptive use, while the remaining 34% was for allocated diversions
  • Total groundwater extracted in the Fitzroy region was 106,700 ML, similar to last year, but more than double compared to the previous few years.
  • Around 51% of the groundwater extractions were for irrigation users, while 25% of groundwater extractions were for industrial users. The remaining amount of groundwater extractions were split amongst the other categories (agriculture users (9%), mining users (7%), other users (5%), stock and domestic (1%), and urban users (1%)).

 

Allocations and diversions

 

Table S7 Surface water allocations and diversions for individual users in the Fitzroy region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Individual users
Carryover 0 0 0 0 0 0
Allocated announcements 353,500 357,905 303,054 308,379 378,698 399,178
Allocated diversions 206,600 205,073 167,811 217,518 216,681 277,226
% used 58% 57% 55% 71% 57% 69%

 

  • Total surface water allocated in the region during 2022-23 was 353,500 ML, all for individual users.
  • Around 58% of the allocated water was taken, which was similar to last year, but slightly less than average.
  • Both surface water allocations and diversions were similar to 2021-22.
  • The portion of allocated surface water not abstrated by the end of the water year is forfeited, resulting in no carryover for the start of the next water year.

 

Table S8 Groundwater allocations and extractions for individual users in the Fitzroy region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Groundwater 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Individual users
Carryover 0 0 0 0 0 0
Allocated announcements 15,100 14,500 15,009 15,294 15,383 15,118
Allocated extractions 6,815 6,752 10,268 11,545 12,847 10,124
% used 45% 47% 68% 75% 84% 67%

 

  • Total groundwater allocated in the region during during 2022-23 was 15,100 ML, all for individual users. This was around 4% more than last year, but similar to previous few years.
  • Around 45% of the allocated groundwater was taken, which was similar to last year, but less than average.
  • Despite announced allocations remaining consistent during the past few years, the amount of allocated groundwater taken has been lower for the last two years, reflecting the increase in surface water availability decreasing the dependency on groundwater.
  • The portion of allocated groundwater not abstracted by the end of the water year is forfeited, resulting in no carryover for the start of the next water year.