CALLIOPE RIVER WATER PLAN RELEASED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

The Calliope River Basin Draft Resource Operations Plan has been released for public comment, Minister for Natural Resources and Water Craig Wallace said today.

Mr Wallace said the plan was a major step forward in ensuring the future sustainable allocation and management of water resources in the Calliope plan area.

“The release of the draft Resource Operations Plan is the first phase in implementing the Calliope River Basin Water Resource Plan, which was finalised in December 2006,” Mr Wallace said.

“A key element of the plan is dealing with unallocated water.

“The draft plan proposes that 5,000 megalitres of unallocated water will be made available for all purposes in the Calliope River Basin and an additional 500 megalitres of unallocated water for town water supplies.”

Natural Resources and Water Director-General Scott Spencer said the plan would also implement metering arrangements that would be used to measure the volumes taken under water licences within the plan area.

Other arrangements provided for in the draft plan include the conversion of existing area-based and pump limited water licences to volumetric licences, access conditions on new licences and water and ecosystem monitoring.

Mr Wallace invited comments on the Calliope River Basin Draft Resource Operations Plan, which will be accepted until 13 July 2007.

“Local input is crucial to the long-term success of the plan so I would encourage all interested parties to have their say,” Mr Wallace said.

A public meeting to explain the proposals and provide information on the submission process will be held at the Central Queensland University at Gladstone, Engineering Centre Theatrette, from 6–8 pm on June 5, 2007.

Further information on the draft plan can be found on the Department of Natural Resources and Water website at www.nrw.qld.gov.au/wrp.calliope.html or by calling the Rockhampton office on 1800 822 100.

Media inquiries: Caroline Kaurila, Craig Wallace’s office, on 3896 3694.