New rules to benefit Upper Condamine water users

The Newman Government has paved the way for water users in the Upper Condamine to be properly compensated through Commonwealth Government Water Buyback plans.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Andrew Cripps, said groundwater users in the Central Condamine Alluvium area of the Darling Downs will benefit from amended Water Sharing Rules announced today.

“The new rules allow for entitlement holders in the Central Condamine Alluvium to trade water among themselves and, more importantly, are necessary to ensure groundwater users in the area are eligible for water buybacks from the Commonwealth Government under the Murray Darling Basin Plan,” Mr Cripps said.

“The Commonwealth Government’s Murray Darling Basin Plan identified that groundwater in the area was over-allocated and indicated that it was prepared to buy back a proportion of existing water licences from willing sellers.

“However, buybacks would only be undertaken if the State Government implemented an open water market.

“The updated water sharing rules now meet this Commonwealth requirement, and Department of Natural Resources and Mines officers have consulted with water entitlement holders about the amendments and their benefits.”

Mr Cripps said the new Water Sharing Rules would create a market for water to be put to its best commercial use and in doing so provide growth opportunities across the Upper Condamine.

“The new rules will enable water entitlement holders to secure their businesses by trading a water licence rather than having to seasonally assign water each year to meet their requirements,” he said.

“Local governments that hold Central Condamine Alluvium entitlements will also benefit through the new ability to trade their licenses.

“These new rules hand them greater flexibility in managing their town water supply requirements.”

The amended Water Sharing Rules for the Central Condamine Alluvium area are available at www.dnrm.qld.gov.au

[ENDS] 9 April, 2013

Media Contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Paul Sutherland 0428 868 237