Environment and Resource Management

Mary Basin resource operations plan: Frequently asked questions

What are Water Resource Plans (WRP) and Resource Operations Plans (ROP)?  How are they different?

The draft WRP for the Mary Basin was released in November 2005 and finalised in July 2006. The WRP identifies the availability of water and defines principles and objectives for the sustainable management and taking of water in the Mary Basin. The WRP objectives are designed so that environmental requirements are met whilst protecting the security of water entitlements.

The ROP is the primary tool for implementing the WRP. It defines the rules that will guide the day-to-day management of stream flows and water infrastructure to achieve the objectives set out in the WRP. The ROP is also the mechanism for conversion of entitlements to water allocations and the release of unallocated water.

Has the State Government started developing a ROP for the Mary Basin?

The ROP is currently in the early stages of its development. In accordance with section 96 of the Water Act 2000, the State Government informed the community of its intention to prepare a draft Mary Basin ROP with a public notice in November 2005. This began the formal process of preparing a ROP. The ROP will be released in draft form for public scrutiny and submissions before finalisation.

How does the proposed Traveston Dam relate to the water resource and resource operations planning processes?

The need for Traveston Dam, stages 1 and 2, and the raising of Borumba Dam has been identified by the Queensland Government as part of the South East Queensland Regional Water Supply Strategy (SEQRWSS). The WRP allocates a strategic water reserve of up to 150 000 megalitres each year for the dam and allows for the granting of necessary construction and operating licences.

Specific operating rules for the dams, designed to meet the WRP’s environmental flow and water allocation security objectives, will be included in the ROP upon completion of any construction during the 10 year life of the WRP.

Is a ROP being carried out on the entire Mary Basin at the one time?

No. The WRP identifies the following three “priority” areas for implementation:

  1. Priority area 1: Mary River, Wide Bay and Baroon Pocket water supply schemes. A ROP for these areas is to be developed within two years of the final WRP. 
  2. Priority area 2: Unsupplemented parts of the Upper Mary River, and the Wide Bay, Widgee, Pie, Calico, McIntosh, Eel, Myrtle and Tinana creeks. The ROP will be amended within four years of the final WRP.
  3. Priority area 3: Unsupplemented parts of the North and South Maroochy rivers, and the Myrtle, Obi Obi and Six Mile creeks. The ROP will again be amended within six years of the final WRP.

What types of arrangements for management of water are proposed for inclusion in the ROP?

It is proposed that the ROP will include arrangements for:

A critical water supply strategy will also be developed within five years of the final WRP. This strategy will detail the water sharing rules in times of extreme drought.

What is a water allocation and how does it differ from my existing entitlement?

Water allocations are water entitlements established by the ROP process. Unlike existing entitlements (that is, water licences and interim water allocations), they are separate from land and can be held and traded as personal property by non-landholders. Water allocations may also be leased or seasonally assigned. You may subdivide your allocation and sell only the water that you are not using, or amalgamate additional water that you have purchased with your existing allocation. More information on trading can be found on the water trading area of the department’s website.

Will all existing entitlements in the Mary Basin be converted to water allocations?

No. It is proposed that all supplemented entitlements supplied by the three water supply schemes and all unsupplemented entitlements in priority areas two and three will be converted.

Can I be involved in the development of Mary Basin ROP?

To ensure the community has the opportunity to provide comment regarding any issues relating to the development of the ROP, there is a formal submission period of at least 30 business days that begins from the day of the release of the draft ROP. The purpose of the draft release is to allow community and stakeholder input before the document is finalised. Public meetings are also held and meetings with organisations, stakeholder groups and individuals can be organised on request.

How can I find out more?

All documentation relevant to the Mary Basin ROP process is on the Mary Basin catchment web page.

Alternatively, copies of documents relating to the WRP and ROP may be obtained by contacting the department’s Gympie office on (07) 5480 5316.

Last updated: 09 December 2008

Catchments

Topics in this site