Gulf water plan review

The Gulf water plan area in North West Queensland is a region of major industry growth with increasing demands for water to support new irrigated agriculture and need to access critical minerals (such as copper, vanadium and tungsten). Each year, almost 25,000 gigalitres of water from the area flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria to support economic and environmentally significant fisheries.

We need to find ways to best meet the growing demands for water, while making sure existing water users, cultural values and environmental water needs remain supported. To do this, we are reviewing and replacing the Gulf water plan and we would like to hear what you think.

Public consultation

The first round of public consultation on our list of key topics closed on 19 July 2024.

We asked people to read about the Gulf water plan, along with these main topics we are considering and reviewing:

• How we manage water in the Gulf – watercourses, overland flow and groundwater
• The water plan area
• Updating the science
• Climate change
• First Nations and water
• Improving outcomes
• Identifying unallocated water
• Growing water needs
• Water entitlements
• Water trading