National Water Account 2024

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Key findings

Climate and water

Water Accounting Statements

Supporting information

Region description

Fitzroy: Supporting information

For the water account period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024

Water assets

• The total volume of water assets in the Fitzroy region was 692 GL on 30 June 2024, with approximately 96% of the water assets held in surface water storages.
• Aquifers accounted for approximately 2% of the total water assets in the Fitzroy region, while the remaining volume of water assets was contained in rivers.
• A detailed breakdown of water assets in the Fitzroy region in available in the Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities.

• The total storage volume in the Fitzroy region decreased 2.7% during 2023–24, finishing at 40.7% full on 30 June 2024.
• Lake Maraboon, formed by Fairbairn Dam, accounts for 80% of the region's total surface water storages.

Figure S1 Percentage-full volume on 30 June 2024 for each storage and total storage volume from 2010 to 2024 (inset)

• The total storage volume in the Fitzroy region began the 2023–24 year at 43.4% full—the highest opening storage volume since 2016–17.
• Following the region's driest August-to-October period on record, storages across the Fitzroy region dropped to approximately 30% during December—the lowest storages have been since October 2022.
• In response to the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily bringing widespread rainfall to the area during the last week of January, storages rebounded, increasing to approximately 50% in early February, before storages gradually declined through to the end of the 2023–24 reporting period.
• By 30 June 2024, the total storage volume in the Fitzroy region was 40.7% full—down 2.7% from the same time last year.
• Fairbairn Reservoir, the largest storage in the region, began the year at 39.7% full and ended at 35.8% full.
• More detailed information on individual storages in the Fitzroy region is available on the Bureau of Meteorology's Water Information Dashboard.

Water liabilities

• Water liabilities in the Fitzroy region refer to the volume of allocation remaining on licence entitlements at the end of the reporting period (30 June).
• Licences in the Fitzroy region do not have carryover provisions for unused allocations. As a result, any remaining allocation is forfeited at the end of the water year, and the closing balance is 0 ML for both surface water and groundwater licences.
• A more detailed description of water allocations in the Fitzroy region is provided in the Water use section.

• Surface water allocations in the Fitzroy region were 390 GL for 2023–24, while groundwater allocations were 14.5 GL, both of which were similar to the previous few reporting periods.
• At the end of the 2023–24 reporting period, approximately 35% (137 GL) of surface water allocations and 32% (4.6 GL) of groundwater allocations were forfeited, with no unused allocations carried over into the 2024–25 water year.

Water flows

• Total water inflows into the Fitzroy region during 2023–24 were 4,001 GL, approximately 28% lower than the previous year.
• Surface water inflows contributed 74% (2,972 GL) of total water inflows, primarily from runoff, accounting for 91% of the total surface water inflows.
• Runoff into the region's surface water storages was 58% below the long-term average of 6,599 GL (based on area-averaged modelled data from 1971 to 2023).
• Groundwater inflows contributed 26% (1,029 GL) of total water inflows, all of which was recharge from surface water.
• Total water outflows from the Fitzroy region during 2023–24 were 4,362 GL, approximately 26% lower than the previous year.
• Surface water outflows contributed 98% (4,259 GL) of total water outflows, with outflow to sea and recharge to groundwater comprising for 70% of the total surface water outflows.
• Outflow to sea from the region's rivers was 67% below the long-term average of 5,954 GL (based on modelled data from 1971 to 2023).
• Groundwater outflows contributed 2% (102 GL) of the total water outflows, mostly from non-allocated extractions to various users, constituting for 90% of the total groundwater outflows.
• A detailed breakdown of inflows and outflows for the Fitzroy region is available in the Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities.

Water availability

• Surface water availability in the Fitzroy region during 2023–24 was approximately half the long-term average of 7,148 GL, and 26% lower than the previous year, reflecting the decrease in runoff across the region.
• Changes in water availability across the Fitzroy region are heavily influenced by runoff. Generally, when runoff increases or decreases, water availability responds in a similar way.
• Despite the decrease in water availability, surface water accessible for take in the Fitzroy region was 13% higher than the previous reporting period, and 23% above the average of 639 GL, primarily due to increased (allocated and non-allocated) diversions to irrigation users.
• Likewise, water taken from surface water resources in the Fitzroy region were 33% higher than the previous year, and 33% above the average of 491 GL.
• The increase in water accessible for take and water taken during 2023–24 may reflect the increased demand for water, particularly during the record dry period between August and October.
• Overall, approximately 93% of the surface water accessible for take in the Fitzroy region was taken, primarily for diversions to irrigation and agricultural users.

Water use

Consumptive use

• A total of 753 GL of water was taken from surface water and groundwater resources for consumptive use in the Fitzroy region during 2023–24, approximately 29% more than the previous year, primarily due to increased surface water (allocated and non-allocated) diversions to irrigation users.
• Surface water diversions across the Fitzroy region were 651 GL, around 33% higher than the previous year, and 32% above the average of 491 GL.
• Approximately 72% of the surface water diversions in the Fitzroy region were to irrigation users, while agricultural users accounted for 19% of the surface water diversions. The remaining volume of diversions were for industrial users (7%), urban users (2%), other users, mining users, and stock and domestic purposes.
• Non-allocated surface water diversions accounted for 61% of all surface water diversions, while the remaining volume of diversions were for allocated purposes.
• Groundwater extractions across the Fitzroy region were 102 GL, around 5% more than last year, and 11% above the average of 93 GL.
• Around 90% of the groundwater extractions were for non-allocated purposes (mainly non-allocated extractions to irrigation and industrial users), with the remaining volume of extractions made for allocated purposes (primarily allocated extractions to irrigation users).

Allocations and diversions

• Total surface water allocations in the Fitzroy region during 2023–24 were 390 GL, similar to the previous few years, and around 7% above the average of 364 GL.
• Approximately 65% of the surface water allocated in the Fitzroy region was used, primarily for allocated diversions to irrigation users.
• The portion of allocated surface water not abstracted by the end of the water year was forfeited, resulting in no carryover for the start of the next water year.

• Total groundwater allocations in the Fitzroy region during 2023–24 were 14.5 GL, all for individual users. This was similar to the previous few years.
• Approximately 68% of the groundwater allocated in the Fitzroy region was extracted, primarily for allocated extractions to irrigation users.
• 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.