Improving outcomes in the Fitzroy, Boyne River and Calliope River water plan areas

The current Fitzroy, Boyne River and Calliope River water plans include goals that we’ve set strategies to achieve. In a water plan, we call these goals ‘outcomes’.

For example, one of the outcomes is to make water available to support economic growth while recognising the social and cultural values of communities in the basins. A strategy (or way) to achieve this outcome is to consider how much water can be allocated to individual users from unallocated water reserves. By making water available this way, we don’t impact existing water users or the environment. We think it makes sense to consider the whole of the proposed water plan area as a system.

The latest Minister’s performance assessment reports for the 3 existing water plans identified changing needs that we must address.

Growing water needs

A regional water assessment is running in parallel with this water plan review. This will identify the most viable options (infrastructure or non-infrastructure) for supporting future economic growth and water security in the area.

The Central Queensland regional water assessment (CQRWA) varies slightly from other regional water assessments underway. This is because the CQRWA will, in addition to the usual regional economic development focus, include a major focus on urban water security solutions for:

  • communities reliant on water supplies from the Lower Fitzroy including Rockhampton, Livingstone (Capricorn Coast) and Gladstone
  • Central Highlands communities reliant on water supply from the Nogoa Mackenzie water supply scheme
  • Biloela.

Community connections

Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a significant and deep connection to land and waters.

With this comes a wealth of cultural knowledge that can be used to better protect and manage natural resources. Therefore, it is vital that cultural knowledge, as well as cultural, environmental and economic significance and aspirations of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples are incorporated into water plans.

Our water plans aim to support water-related cultural values of First Nations peoples and to help them achieve their social and economic aspirations.

The proposed water plan(s) in Central Queensland (CQ) will include outcomes for supporting water-related cultural values, as well as economic and social aspirations of local First Nations people.

The Fitzroy Basin water plan has reserves of unallocated water which may be accessed by First Nations peoples.

The review of the Fitzroy Basin water plan started in 2022. We have been talking with and listening to Aboriginal peoples in this region to ensure we have a better understanding of cultural water needs and social and economic aspirations. This work will continue and expand as we review water planning across the larger CQ area and will result in dedicated cultural outcomes in the new water plan(s) and inform the settings for future Indigenous* unallocated water reserves.

The consultation with Aboriginal groups that has occurred so far within the Fitzroy Basin plan area will be considered for the CQ water plan.

* We use ‘Indigenous’ here because this is how the needs for First Nations peoples are captured and expressed in water plans.

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