Rookwood Weir

Rookwood Weir is on track to provide new economic and employment opportunities for the agricultural industry and the community of Central Queensland.

On this page:

• About Rookwood Weir
• Water planning process and timeline
• Business considerations
• Contact us
• More information

About Rookwood Weir

Rookwood Weir is a $367 million water infrastructure investment to drive new economic and employment opportunities for the agricultural industry and the community of Central Queensland.

The thousands of megalitres of water that Rookwood Weir will make available will underpin agricultural, industrial and urban growth in Central Queensland.

We are working alongside Sunwater to ensure that our water planning supports the water products Sunwater will be bringing to market. To find out more about the Rookwood Weir project or accessing water from Sunwater’s scheme, visit the project page, or contact the Sunwater team by emailing rookwood.weir@sunwater.com.au or calling 1800 423 213.

The Rookwood Weir project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments, delivered in partnership with Sunwater.

^{Proposed location of Rookwood Weir in the Fitzroy Basin
Google map co-ordinates: Rookwood Weir 23°32'30.8"S 150°00'56.6"E}

Rookwood Weir crest height optimisation

Through the detailed design process, Sunwater with its design and construction partners identified an opportunity to raise the crest height of Rookwood weir by 700mm – optimising the yield the weir will deliver. The Queensland Government has committed to funding this improvement to ensure Rookwood Weir delivers for Central Queensland.

Find out more about the height optimisation on Sunwater’s project page.

Water planning process and timeline

Rookwood Weir is a critical piece of water infrastructure for Central Queensland and we’re committed to working together with Sunwater and the community to make it a success. A key aspect of this is bringing Rookwood Weir into the region's water planning process.

In early 2020, the department held public consultation on the Statement of proposals to amend the Fitzroy Basin water plan   (PDF, 1.2MB). Feedback received from this was used to develop the Fitzroy Basin draft water amendment plan (PDF, 701.9KB), which was released for further consultation in August 2020.

The final water plan is on track to be delivered in 2021, providing certainty for the community around the weir’s operation once construction is completed in 2023.

Timeline for Fitzroy Basin water planning and Rookwood Weir

Milestones	Timelines
Establishment of Fitzroy Basin water plan	2011
Consultation on statement of proposals to amend the Fitzroy Basin water plan to include Rookwood Weir	April to June 2020
Rookwood Weir water market engagement by Sunwater	May 2020
Consultation on the Fitzroy Basin draft water amendment plan and associated documents	August to September 2020
Rookwood Weir design completed by Sunwater	End of 2020
Rookwood Weir construction starts	April 2021
Final water plan amendment	2021
Amendments made to operational instruments relating to the operation of Rookwood Weir	2022
Rookwood Weir commissioned and operational	2023

Business considerations

Investment opportunities and the water allocation offer process are being managed by Sunwater on behalf of the Queensland Government.

For more information on the offer process, read about Sunwater’s Rookwood Weir Project water plan and sales.

If you’re considering securing water from Rookwood Weir to grow your business, you can start planning now. Before you begin, you should obtain independent professional advice relevant for your business.

Below are some starting points for you to consider:

• Find out more about approvals to clear native vegetation.
• Read about development approvals for water-related works.
• Access the one-stop service for agribusiness development tools and support.
• Understand your obligations to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Read Sunwater’s overview of landholder opportunities (PDF, 4.7MB) in the region.
• Read about land management.
• Understand the regulations for capturing and storing overland flow water.
• Visit the Queensland Farmers’ Federation for advice on energy efficient irrigation practices.

Contact us

If you require any further information or wish to discuss the Rookwood Weir project with someone from the department, please contact us.

Phone: 1800 822 100
Email: centralwaterservices@dnrme.qld.gov.au

More information

• Find out more about water management in the Fitzroy Basin.
• Get updates on the Rookwood Weir project, or find out about accessing water from the scheme by calling Sunwater on 1800 423 213 or emailing rookwood.weir@sunwater.com.au.