More water to grow Burnett Basin business

Irrigators in the Burnett Basin will have more water to support their businesses with the release of a new plan by the Newman Government.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps said the Burnett Basin Water Resource Plan 2014 delivered a balanced and responsible approach to managing water in the region.

“The new plan has established a further 1000 tradeable water allocations to support the growing demand for water in the region,” Mr Cripps said.

“The plan will also support industry growth with almost 30,000 megalitres of unallocated water reserves available for future development.

“Agriculture is one of the four pillars of the Queensland economy that we are determined to grow and this plan will help enable us to achieve that in the Burnett Basin.

“Rural businesses need to be able to expand so we can create the jobs that regional communities need.”

Mr Cripps said the new plan delivered greater security and transparency for water users.

“Irrigators will benefit from improved water sharing and infrastructure operating arrangements in a number of water supply schemes and through the management of groundwater resources where required across the Burnett Basin,” he said.

The Burnett Basin community provided significant input into the plan with a community reference panel and water users helping to develop a draft which was released by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines in November 2013 for public consultation.

Social, economic, environmental and hydrologic assessments were undertaken to ensure the plan was backed by the best available science.

Under the plan, a licence will not be required to take groundwater in the Barker Creek and Ban Ban Springs groundwater management areas.

However, the construction of new groundwater works is limited to stock or domestic works and works that take water for low-risk activities, such as on-farm fruit washing.

The take of groundwater from the Nangur and Boonara creeks alluvium will not be regulated.

The Burnett Basin Water Resource Plan 2014 is available on the DNRM website www.dnrm.qld.gov.au.

[ENDS] 28 August 2014

Media contact: Kate Haddan 0418 373 516