Burdekin Regional Water Assessment

Project overview

The Burdekin Regional Water Assessment will carefully assess long term infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions to meet the water resource needs of the Burdekin region in an effective and sustainable way.

The assessment will identify options to improve water security and capitalise on opportunities for growth across the Burdekin. Future projects will be prioritised by need, opportunity, location, and scope of work required. The assessment will look at a number of focus areas including:

• future water demands of key industry including hydrogen industry development and agricultural expansion
• other medium to long term future water demands in the region including urban and cultural needs
• how to ensure effective local use of water resources
• climate change and other environmental factors and their influence on water demand and solutions.

Environmental and cultural heritage considerations

Central to the assessment is the Burdekin Basin, Australia’s second most important agriculture area, which covers 130,109 km², about 7.5% of Queensland’s total land area. The basin is key to Queensland’s economy and is the Great Barrier Reef’s largest catchment. The flows within the catchment can have a major influence on the reef’s water quality and overall health.

The Basin is also home to more than 5,500 species and Bowling Green Bay, a nationally important Ramsar Wetlands site.

The assessment will give consideration to how we protect nationally significant environmental and cultural heritage sites in any future water development. Engagement with Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders is a fundamental part of delivering the assessment.