In developing the draft Central Queensland Regional Water Assessment (RWA), local water needs were analysed and the feasibility of new water infrastructure proposals were assessed. Extensive consultation involved representatives from local councils, water service providers, industry and peak bodies including Sunwater, Gladstone Area Water Board, other entities and local Traditional Owner and Native Title Holder representatives.

A total of 121 potential initiatives were identified (102 infrastructure and 19 non-infrastructure) to increase water security and availability. To generate this list, over 50 reference reports, including water investigations from State and local governments and private water infrastructure proposals, were reviewed.

A Stakeholder Advisory Group and Working Group assessed these initiatives, with 23 feasible options progressed (18 infrastructure and 5 non-infrastructure).

Further investigations used a multi-criteria assessment process with stakeholder support and feedback from the Stakeholder Advisory Group and technical advice from the Technical Advisory Panel. Engineering, environmental, social and cultural and cost investigations were undertaken on the 11 shortlisted options (refer summary below).


Summary of the shortlisted options:

Location

Option

Summary

Estimated capital cost

Estimated total operating cost (next 30 years)

Dawson Valley

Strategic water infrastructure reserve re-divided as general reserve for permanent release and development of private on-farm infrastructure

Permanently re-divide up to 100% of the Dawson Valley strategic water infrastructure reserve as general reserve to provide 90,000 megalitres per annum (ML/a) for irrigated cotton and broadacre cropping.

$2.0M

nil

Dawson Valley

Nathan Weir

Build a new weir at the previously considered site for Nathan Dam to provide 22,616ML/a for Dawson Valley cotton and broadacre cropping with an option to supply water to Western Downs for cattle feedlotting.

$225.5M to $544.2M

$0.2M to $9.9M

Biloela

Awoonga to Callide pipeline upgrade

Transfer up to an additional 800ML/a for Biloela town water supply from Awoonga Dam via modifications to the Awoonga to Callide inter-basin diversion system.

$14.1M

$1.1M

Central Highlands

Purchase of additional allocation

Purchase (by Council) medium priority (MP) water allocation and convert to high priority (HP) allocations to provide 620ML/a to 5,000ML/a for Central Highlands urban and industrial water security.

$15.6M to $126.1M

Nil

Central Highlands

Critical water sharing rules

Adjust the cut off level at Fairbairn Dam to improve urban and industrial water security for Central Highlands.

$1.4M

Nil

Central Highlands

Access to dead storage at Fairbairn Dam, with pipeline to Opal Street water treatment plant

Install a pontoon pump station and construct a new pipeline to Opal Street water treatment plant to provide 1,800ML/a for Central Highlands urban and industrial water security.

$48.9M

$14.5M

Lower Fitzroy

Critical water sharing rules

Adjust the cut off level at Fitzroy Barrage to improve urban and industrial water security for Rockhampton and Livingstone.

$1.4M

Nil

Lower Fitzroy

Fitzroy Barrage harvesting for Fitzroy to Gladstone pipeline

Supplemented diversions via the FGP with flows harvested when the Fitzroy Barrage is full and spilling, targeting increased availability of supplemented water for Rockhampton and Livingstone.

$0.8M

Nil

Lower Fitzroy

Eden Bann Weir raising

Increase the storage capacity of the Eden Bann Weir in two stages to provide 26,000ML/a to 35,000ML/a for Rockhampton and Livingstone urban and industrial water security.

$343.5M to $392.0M

$0.06M to $1.6M

Lower Fitzroy

Fitzroy to Gladstone pipeline upgrade

Upgrade the FGP and connect the pipeline to Awoonga Dam to provide an additional 13,000ML/a for urban and industrial water security in Gladstone.

$566.1M

$189.1M

Lower Fitzroy

Bidirectional Fitzroy to Gladstone pipeline

Convert the FGP to bidirectional operation with a revised flow rate and connection to Awoonga Dam to provide 22,500ML/a for Rockhampton and Livingstone urban water security.

$365.8M

$61.8M

Lower Fitzroy

Access to dead storage at Fitzroy Barrage, with pipeline to Glenmore water treatment plant

Install a pontoon pump station and construct a new pipeline to Glenmore water treatment plant to provide 20,200ML/a for Rockhampton and Livingstone urban and industrial water security.

$102.3M

$49.2M

Draft recommendations

The draft Central Queensland RWA Summary Report identifies a range of opportunities to improve water security and support economic growth across the region. These include new bulk water infrastructure, and improvements to existing water infrastructure and operations.

Some of the key recommendations are:

  • Support the private development of on-farm infrastructure in the Dawson Valley
  • Complete further detailed analysis for Nathan Weir to determine its technical viability and, subject to the outcomes of that work and a bulk water supply and demand audit for the upper Dawson Valley and Western Downs regions, initiate a detailed business case for Nathan Weir
  • Complete further detailed analysis to enable access to water from dead storage at Fairbairn Dam to improve water security for Emerald and surrounding towns in the long-term
  • Further explore opportunities to enhance urban and industrial water security outcomes for the Central Highlands Regional Council, Rockhampton Regional Council and Livingstone Shire Council
  • Explore opportunities to support Rockhampton Regional Council to undertake a detailed assessment of new infrastructure to access dead storage at the Fitzroy Barrage, subject to preconditions.

Read the complete draft Central Queensland RWA Summary Report.