CONDAMINE WATER HARVESTING BAN AIMS TO PROTECT TOWN WATER SUPPLIES

Water harvesting is banned in the Condamine Catchment until further notice in a bid to ensure Darling Downs town weirs receive the maximum benefit from recent rain, Water Minister Craig Wallace announced today.

Chinchilla and Warra weirs in particular stand to pick up water from the current small flow event.

“This ban on irrigators harvesting water is necessary to protect towns and communities that are in critical water supply situations,” Mr Wallace said.

“We need to give their town water supplies every chance to replenish,” he said.

“The rain across the Darling Downs has been widespread, but patchy and several tributaries have begun to flow in the upper catchment area where falls of up to 100mm have been recorded.

“These flows can potentially trigger water harvesting access even under the current delayed access arrangements.

“Therefore it is necessary to put water harvesting on hold until further notice.”

Mr Wallace did not rule out the possibility of water harvesting taking place, but said the ban would give the department a tighter control on the management of the system in this critical period.

“The total flow is not large by any means and is currently estimated to be in the order of a couple of thousand megalitres,” he said.

“It has, however, provided much welcome and immediate relief to Warra’s water supply and may also supply some relief to Chinchilla,” he said.

Warra, which was trucking in water, is now reported to have its weir at 50%.

Mr Wallace said low flows created a difficult water management environment as they could trigger water harvesting access starts, which impact on the rate of flow to the downstream urban water supply storages.

“When these water supplies are at critical levels it is important that low flows be better protected to maximise the ‘wetting up’ of the river and the replenishment of town water supply storages,” he said.

Under the ban, the Department of Natural Resources and Water will closely monitor flow and determine if and when pumping can start and they will notify water harvesters promptly.

“We are trying to ensure the best outcome for all people who live along the Condamine,” Mr Wallace said.

Details of the ban will be placed in local newspapers and on the department’s website at www.nrw.qld.gov.au.

For further information: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.