Comment sought on Burdekin, Gulf and Mitchell water plans

Water users in the Burdekin, Gulf and Mitchell areas are being reminded to have their say on how the three river systems will be managed.

Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said the public submission process on the draft resource operations plans (ROPs) for the Burdekin Basin, and the Gulf and the Mitchell water planning areas will close at 5pm Friday 30 January 2009.

Mr Wallace said the plans will secure existing water supplies and provide for the regions’ growth by introducing water trading to drive efficiency and innovation in water use.

“Key outcomes of the planning process include improved specification for entitlements in all three areas, and the conversion of entitlements to tradable allocations, as titled assets separated from land, in the Burdekin and Gulf plan areas.

“The three draft plans also include provisions for the release of identified reserves of unallocated water,” he said.

“These draft Resource Operations Plans for the Burdekin Basin, the Gulf and the Mitchell support the ideals of a strong and green Queensland as part of the Bligh Government’s Toward Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland.”

The draft ROPs set out the necessary arrangements for implementing requirements of water resource plans for the areas which were finalised in the latter part of 2007.

Mr Wallace said recent flooding rain, particularly in part of the Flinders, Leichhardt, Gregory and Nicholson river catchments, may make it difficult for some landholders and other stakeholders to submit and finalise their submissions by this date.

“If you are concerned about meeting the deadline, I encourage you to contact the department to advise of any expected delays or of any limitations to the completeness of the submission.

“Late submissions or additional information received within a reasonable period after the deadline will be accepted and fully considered provided that my department has received advance notice,” Mr Wallace said.

The ROPs were released for public submissions on 29 October 2008. More information and copies of the draft plans are available on the Department of Natural Resources and Water website at www.nrw.qld.gov.au/wrp or by contacting your local NRW office.

Media contact: Minister Wallace’s office, 3896 3688.