North West Queensland Regional Water Supply Strategy
The North West Queensland Regional Water Supply Strategy is being developed to provide a framework for meeting water demand in the area covered by the Gulf Water Resource Plan and the upper reaches of the Georgina and Diamantina catchments for the next 50 years. Recent extended drought conditions have highlighted the need for long-term planning to secure water supplies for urban and non-urban (including mining, mineral processing and rural) water requirements in the region.
The strategy will ensure sustainable allocation and best use of water is reached by:
- facilitating the highest value and best use of water
- assessing measures for managing water demand and determining options for increasing water use efficiency in the region, and
- determining potential water requirements following low, medium and high water demand growth analyses and providing preferred scenarios for supply
The Department of Environment and Resource Management as the lead agency for the development of the strategy has formed a strategy management committee comprised of representatives from state government agencies, local government and key stakeholders that will make recommendations and provide advice on the strategy.
The output from studies relating to water availability and urban and non-urban water demand, currently being undertaken for the strategy, will feed into its development. A draft strategy is expected to be released for public consultation during 2010.
Last updated: 07 May 2009