Regional Water Assessment Program

A roadmap for economic growth in some of Queensland’s most significant food bowls is being established through the Regional Water Assessment Program.

Building on previous water supply investigations in each region, the program is taking a comprehensive view of local water needs and identifying gaps to be filled.

Potential sources of water supply are being considered across boundaries of local government areas and catchments to maximise benefits, increase the effective use of existing infrastructure, and minimise costs.

Stakeholder groups are helping to identify all water supply options in the regions and working with the department to reduce this list for further analysis. The assessment for each area will identify those projects that warrant further investment as they offer the best potential to achieve greater regional economic development through investment in water.

Once complete, the assessments will set out how existing infrastructure, new infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions can be used to maximise water supply in each area and drive economic growth.

Regional water assessment areas

The regional water assessments are exploring some of the state’s most significant food bowl areas, which were identified as having the best potential to achieve greater regional economic development through investment in water:

  • Southern and Darling Downs – including all of Southern Downs Regional Council, Goondiwindi Regional Council, Toowoomba Regional Council and parts of Western Downs Regional Council around Dalby. View a map of the Southern and Darling Downs assessment area (PDF, 775.7KB).
  • Bundaberg and Burnett – including all of Bundaberg Regional Council, South Burnett Regional Council, North Burnett Regional Council and Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council. View a map of the Bundaberg and Burnett assessment area (PDF, 718.7KB).
  • Tablelands – including all of Tablelands Regional Council, eastern parts of Mareeba Shire Council and a western part of Cairns Regional Council. View a map of the Tablelands assessment area (PDF, 759.3KB).
  • Burdekin – including all of Burdekin Shire Council and Whitsunday Regional Council, large parts of Barcaldine Regional Council, Charters Towers Regional Council, Isaac Regional Council and Townsville City Council, and parts of Hinchinbrook Shire Council, Mackay Regional Council and Tablelands Regional Council. View a map of the Burdekin assessment area (PDF, 557.8KB).
  • Central Queensland - including all of Banana Regional Council, Central Highlands Regional Council, Rockhampton Regional Council and Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council, large parts of the Gladstone Regional Council, Isaac Regional Council and Livingstone Shire Council, and parts of the Maranoa Regional Council and Western Downs Regional Council. View a map of the Central Queensland assessment area (PDF, 654.6KB).

Each assessment is expected to take around 24 months to complete, although this can be longer if necessary. The Southern and Darling Downs assessment began in July 2021, and Tablelands assessment in November 2021. Early Bundaberg and Burnett assessment activity began in late 2021. The Burdekin assessment was announced in May 2023, and the Central Queensland assessment in November 2023.

Consultation

Local knowledge has been essential to getting the best results for each assessment area.

That’s why the assessment process has involved extensive ongoing consultation with local governments, industry and peak body representatives, Sunwater and other relevant entities. Consultation has also occurred with local Traditional Owners.

Each assessment is supported by a stakeholder advisory group comprised of local government, industry and peak bodies, Sunwater and other relevant entity representation.

Tablelands

Public consultation on the draft assessment has closed and the final assessment is now being prepared.

Organisations that have been involved in stakeholder consultation through the stakeholder advisory group include:

  • Advance Cairns
  • AgForce Queensland
  • Cairns Regional Council
  • Mareeba Shire Council
  • Queensland Farmers Federation
  • Regional Development Australia Tropical North
  • Sunwater
  • Tablelands Regional Council
  • Tinaroo Water Committee

Bundaberg and Burnett

Public consultation on the draft assessment has closed and the final assessment is now being prepared.

Organisations that have been involved in stakeholder consultation through the stakeholder advisory group include:

  • AgForce Queensland
  • Australian Macadamia Society
  • Avocados Australia
  • Bundaberg Ag-Food and Fibre Alliance
  • Bundaberg Canegrowers Ltd
  • Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers
  • Bundaberg Regional Council
  • Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation
  • Canegrowers Isis
  • Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council
  • Citrus Australia
  • EastAUS Milk
  • North Burnett Regional Council
  • Queensland Farmers Federation
  • Queensland Resources Council
  • Regional Development Australia (Wide Bay)
  • South Burnett Regional Council.

Southern and Darling Downs

Public consultation on the draft Southern and Darling Downs assessment is open from 16 November until 5:00pm 14 December 2023.

Organisations that have been involved in stakeholder consultation through the stakeholder advisory group include:

  • AgForce Queensland
  • Border Rivers Commission
  • Border Rivers Food and Fibre
  • Cotton Australia (Queensland)
  • Goondiwindi Regional Council
  • National Water Grid Authority
  • Queensland Farmers Federation
  • Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers
  • Regional Development Australia (Darling Downs and South West)
  • Seqwater
  • Southern Downs Regional Council
  • Stanthorpe Community Reference Panel
  • Sunwater
  • Toowoomba Regional Council
  • Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise
  • Western Downs Regional Council

Get involved

Wider public consultation will contribute to each assessment’s final development.

To support this consultation, a draft Southern and Darling Downs assessment is now available. You can view it and submit your feedback online or come along to a public ‘drop in’ session at:

LocationVenueDate
Toowoomba City Library Level 3 Community Rooms
155 Herries Street Toowoomba QLD 4350 		Monday 27 Nov 2023 10am – 2pm
Chinchilla RSL Board Room
61 Heeney Street Chinchilla QLD 4413 		Tuesday 28 Nov 2023 10.30am – 1.30pm
Goondiwindi Waggamba Cultural Centre River Room
26 Russell Street Goondiwindi QLD 4390 		Wednesday 29 Nov 2023 10.30am – 1.30pm
Stanthorpe Civic Centre Supper Room
61 Marsh Street Stanthorpe QLD 4380 		Thursday 30 Nov 2023 1pm – 3pm
Warwick RSL Southern Cross Room
65 Albion Street Warwick QLD 4370 		Friday 1 Dec 2023 10.30am – 1.30pm

Please contact regionalwaterassessments@rdmw.qld.gov.au for further information or phone 1800 319 669 to talk about the draft Southern and Darling Downs assessment.

Burdekin

Assessment activities are now under way, after an inaugural stakeholder advisory group meeting held on 12 October 2023.

Central Queensland

Preparations are underway for an inaugural stakeholder advisory group meeting to be held in early 2024.

Further information

Please contact regionalwaterassessments@rdmw.qld.gov.au for further information.

Last updated: 24 Nov 2023