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South East Queensland: Supporting information

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

  • Rainfall during the 2022-23 year was below average, contributing to significantly low runoff and storage inflows across the region.
  • Total storage volumes decreased by fourteen percentage points during the 2022-23 year to finish at 76% full by 30 June 2023.
  • 14% of surface water allocations and 13% of groundwater allocations were taken in 2022-23.

Schematic representation of the South East Queensland region. In 2022-23, runoff was 64% less than average. Storage volumes on 30 June 2023 were 76% full, 14% lower than the previous year. 81% of the total surface water accessible (419 GL) was taken. 31% of the total groundwater accessible (36 GL) was taken.

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

 

Water assets

Lake Perserverance, SEQ region (Bureau of Meteorology © Habibur Rahman)

 

  • Total water asset volumes in the region at 30 June 2023 were 1,962 GL, around 98% of which was water held in surface water storages.
  • Just under 2% of the water assets are held in the region's aquifers, while the remaining amount is water held in rivers.

 

Table S1 Accessible storage volume in the South East Queensland region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
 Surface water 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Atkinson 22,527 30,428 1,357 1,637 1,637 1,840
Baroon Pocket 45,847 60,653 57,718 55,902 61,536 59,661
Bill Gunn 5,212 6,939 320 200 199 297
Cedar Pocket 513 740 700 616 742 742
Clarendon 20,237 23,993 60 60 60 289
Cooloolabin 5,747 8,270 5,737 6,498 8,227 8,132
Cressbrook Creek 72,468 79,096 28,429 28,443 30,171 41,673
Engoggera 4,109 4,306 4,257 4,138 4,175 4,210
Ewen Maddock 12,955 16,281 15,144 13,454 17,106 16,083
Gold Creek 671 829 805 714 635 817
Hinze 276,617 311,810 304,377 292,946 289,608 301,057
Lake Kurwongbah 12,785 14,215 14,148 13,514 9,344 8,590
Lake MacDonald 6,808 8,088 8,122 8,042 8,309 8,219
Lake Manchester 25,530 25,963 25,908 25,509 24,916 25,749
Leslie Harrison 11,190 13,048 12,892 11,798 10,008 12,274
Little Nerang 6,088 6,303 5,382 5,402 5,554 5,089
Maroon 43,265 44,414 44,006 25,169 33,286 42,783
Moogerah 74,507 84,308 34,798 23,736 48,428 71,421
North Pine 115,665 145,412 141,383 131,323 148,363 184,089
Perseverance 25,298 26,944 7,474 7,474 7,285 10,153
Poona 475 487 554 658 544 648
Somerset 299,818 311,569 270,546 296,486 291,699 294,389
Wappa 4,684 4,714 4,710 4,699 4,734 4,718
Wivenhoe 831,680 1,048,125 484,462 564,817 647,289 871,153
Accessible total 1,924,696 2,276,935 1,473,289 1,523,235 1,653,855 1,974,076
Dead storage 6,464 6,464 6,464 6,464 6,464 6,464
Total storage 1,931,160 2,283,399 1,479,753 1,529,699 1,660,319 1,980,540
Total capacity 2,537,064 2,537,064 2,537,064 2,537,064 2,537,064 2,537,064
% full 76.1% 90.0% 58.3% 60.3% 65.4% 78.1%

  

  • Storage volume decreased from 90.0% full at 30 June 2022 to 76.1% full at 30 June 2023 - a decrease of 13.9%.
  • Four storages (Wivenhoe, Somerset, Hinze and North Pine) make up more than 75% of the region's total surface water storage.

 

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

  • Storage volumes remained around 90% during the first few months of the year, following above-average rainfall during late-winter and into spring.
  • However, following below-average rainfall from November 2022 onwards, the region's storages gradually declined through to the end of the 2022-23 year.
  • By 30 June 2023, end-of-year storages were 76%, decreasing by 14% since the same point last year.
  • More detailed information on the individual storages within the region is available on the Bureau of Meteorology's Water Storage website.

 

Water liabilities

Farm irrigation, Queensland (istock © George Clerk)

 

  • Water liabilities in the South East Queensland 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 South East Queensland 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 91,073 90,573 90,573 90,913 62,549 60,969
less Allocated diversion 12,500 12,782 25,431 48,273 30,103 17,281
less Adjustment and forfeiture 78,573 77,791 65,142 42,640 32,446 43,688
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 South East Queensland 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 28,395 28,395 28,395 28,395 11,115 11,115
less Allocated extraction 3,600 3,631 7,510 11,222 10,905 5,972
less Adjustment and forfeiture 24,795 24,764 20,885 17,173 210 5,413
Closing balance at 30 June 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

  • All water supply licences for the region have a water management year that ends on 30 June.
  • As there are no carryover 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 is 0 ML.
  • A more detailed description of water allocations in the South East Queensland region is given in the Water use section below.

 

Water flows

Brisbane River, SEQ region (istock © Wendy Townrow)

 

  • Total water inflows into the South East Queensland region was 2,399 GL, 86% less than last year.
  • Surface water inflows contributed 1,764 GL (74%) of total water inflows. Runoff contributed to 81% of the total surface water inflows.
  • Groundwater inflows contributed 24 GL (1%) of total water inflows. Leakage from urban water system contributed to 100% of the total groundwater inflows.
  • Urban water inflows contributed to 611 GL (25%) of total water inflows. Diversion of surface water contributed to 53% of the total urban water inflows.
  • Total water outflows from the South East Queensland region was 3,297 GL, 81% less than last year.
  • Surface water outflows contributed 2,742 GL (83%) of total water outflows. Outflow contributed to 60% of the total surface water outflows.
  • Groundwater outflows contributed 11 GL (<1%) of total water outflows. Extraction to the urban system contributed to 55% of the total groundwater outflows.
  • Urban water outflows contributed 543 GL (17%) of total water outflows. Supply of drinking water to residential customers contributed to 39% of the total urban 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 SEQ urban region.

 

Water availability

 

Table S4 Annual surface water available in the South East Queensland region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Water availability 3,919,786 17,021,532 5,448,191 4,899,604 3,194,723 4,717,412
Water accessible 419,399 390,313 406,667 447,789 373,567 387,043
Water taken 340,826 312,522 341,525 405,149 341,121 343,355
% water accessible taken 81% 80% 84% 90% 91% 89%

 

  • 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.
  • In 2022-23, surface water availability in the South East Queensland region decreased by 77% compared to the previous year, and was also 43% below average, reflecting the region's decrease in rainfall during the year, which contributed to the significant decrease in physical surface water availability.
  • Surface water accessible is calculated as the sum of surface water allocations and other statutory rights at the start of the year, plus carryover at the start of the year.
  • Water taken during the year is influenced by the physical water available. Typically, water taken from surface water resources is lower than water availability and water accessible.
  • Despite the significant drop in surface water availability, water accessible and water taken were close to average.

 

Water use

Brisbane River, SEQ region (istock © zstockphotos)

 

Consumptive use

 

Table S5 Surface water taken for consumptive use in the South East Queensland region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Individual users 13,666 13,940 26,726 49,555 31,415 19,598
Urban system 323,172 294,590 310,807 351,788 305,896 320,949
Inter-region 3,988 3,992 3,992 3,806 3,810 3,808
Total 340,826 312,522 341,525 405,149 341,121 343,355

 

Table S6 Groundwater taken for consumptive use in the South East Queensland region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Groundwater 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Individual users 5,100 5,176 11,966 18,350 17,106 12,392
Urban system 6,156 3,632 7,180 7,881 0 7,396
Total 11,256 8,808 19,146 26,231 17,106 19,788

 

  • Water taken from surface water and groundwater resources for consumptive use was 352,082 ML, 10% more than last year.
  • Total surface water diverted in the region was 340,826ML, 9% more than the previous year.
  • 95% of the total surface water diverted was to the urban system by the Queensland bulk water supply authority, Seqwater.
  • 4% of the total surface water diversions was for individual users (comprising allocated and non-allocated diversions). The remaining surface water diversions were for inter-region users under a statutory right.
  • Total groundwater extracted in the region was 11,256ML, 28% more than the previous year.
  • 63% of groundwater extractions was for urban water system while 27% was used for individual users (comprising both allocated and non-allocated extraction).

 

Allocations and diversions

 

Table S7 Surface water allocations and diversions for individual users in the South East Queensland 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 91,073 90,573 90,573 90,913 62,549 60,969
Allocated diversions 12,500 12,782 25,431 48,273 30,103 17,281
% used 14% 14% 28% 53% 48% 28%

 

  • In 2022-23, total surface water allocation was 91,073 ML, all for individual users, of which 14% of the allocated surface water was taken.
  • Total allocations for individual users were similar to the previous three years despite the decrease in rainfall across the region.
  • Total diversions were similar to last year due to an increase in surface water available following favourable wet climate conditions over the past few years, reducing the demand for allocated water. 

 

 
Table S8 Groundwater allocations and extractions for individual users in the South East Queensland 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 28,395 28,395 28,395 11,115 11,115 11,115
Allocated extractions 3,631 7,510 11,222 10,905 5,972 5,538
% used 13% 26% 40% 98% 54% 50%

 

  • In 2022-23, total groundwater allocation was 28,395 ML, all for private and commercial use, of which, 13% of the allocated groundwater was taken.
  • Total groundwater allocation remained the same as the previous two years.
  • Groundwater extractions for individual users were relatively low compared to the previous five years. The lower groundwater supply was likely influenced by the relatively wet climate conditions across the region of the past few years, resulting in reduced groundwater extractions by users.

  

Urban supply system

 

Table S9 Water sources used in South East Queensland's urban supply system over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Water sources 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Surface water 323,172 294,590 310,807 351,788 305,896 320,949
Groundwater 6,156 3,632 7,180 7,881 0 7,396
Desalinated water 7,240 12,714 19,486 13,805 6,483 2,803
Inter-region inflow 0 0 7 14 14 14
Total urban water supplied 336,568 310,836 337,480 373,488 312,348 331,162

 

  • Total inflow to the urban supply system was 336,568 ML, approximately 8% more than last year.
  • Surface water inflow contributed to roughly 96% of urban supply, while groundwater and desalinated water made up for the remaining 4%.
  • The contribution of desalinated water to urban supply system was 43% lower than last year.
  • For more information on the use of desalinated water for the South East Queensland, please visit Seqwater's Water Treatment webpage.