GULF AND MITCHELL WATER PLANS ALLOW COMMUNITIES TO GROW BUT STILL PROTECT ENVIRONMENT

Water resources in the Gulf and Mitchell areas will be better managed following the completion of Water Resources Plans (WRP) for the region.

Water Minister Craig Wallace said the WRPs established a water management framework for industry, communities and the environment across the Gulf and Mitchell catchments.

“This will allow communities to continue to grow while protecting the area’s unique environmental and ecological assets,” Mr Wallace said.

"It sets sustainable management goals for the allocation and management of water in watercourses, lakes, springs and overland flow.

"This will maintain the health of the rivers and related aquatic ecosystems and will ensure that, on average, 98.5 percent of flows across the two plan areas will reach the Gulf of Carpentaria.”

The Gulf WRP covers the catchments of the Staaten, Gilbert, Norman, Flinders, Leichhardt and Nicholson rivers and the Morning Inlet and Settlement Creek.

The Mitchell WRP covers the Mitchell River catchment.

“Under the plans, all existing and new entitlements will be volumetrically limited to allow landholders to manage the amount and efficiency of their water use,’’ Mr Wallace said.

“New or expanded use of irrigation will only be provided once a landholder has demonstrated sustainable management arrangements through a land and water management plan.

“The plans also set aside up to 178,900 megalitres of unallocated water in the Gulf and 70,000 megalitres in the Mitchell to provide for growth in irrigation, mining and towns.”

Water supplies for Mount Isa and surrounding mining areas will be secured through the establishment of water allocations for the Julius and Moondarra dams.

Unused entitlements in the Mount Isa area will be able to be traded to ensure the effective use of water for the community’s ongoing needs.

The water needs of indigenous communities have also been considered in the plans.

“Water has been reserved to assist indigenous communities to achieve their social and economic aspirations.”

The plans are at: www.nrw.qld.gov.au/wrp/gulf or www.nrw.qld.gov.au/wrp/mitchell

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.