Waterways in Queensland

Updates to Queensland waterways mapping (version 3.1)

Updates have been made to the 'Queensland waterways for waterway barrier works' mapping to reduce accepted development requirements and the number of waterways that require development approvals in western Queensland regions.

View and download version 3.1 of the mapping via:

Definition of a waterway

The Fisheries Act 1994 (Qld) defines a waterway as a:

  • river
  • creek
  • stream
  • watercourse
  • drainage feature
  • inlet of the sea.

Waterways can:

  • flow with fresh or tidal waters—or both
  • have permanent or temporary flows
  • be natural or modified (e.g. modified through the construction of drains, floodways or canals).

Waterways include any channels or pathways along which fish are expected to move, if they connect isolated bodies of water to other defined waterways during times of flow.

Waterways do not include isolated bodies of water where no connectivity exists.

Attributes of a waterway

A waterway must have at least 1 of these attributes:

Defined bed and banks

Waterways generally have defined bed and banks, however, can contain less defined sections that connect more defined sections during periods of flow.

Adequate flow

The flow of water needs to be sufficient to sustain basic ecological processes and habitats, and maintain biodiversity within, or across, the water channel. The adequacy of flow depends on the ecological function of the channel. Some waterways that connect to a fish habitat like wetland or waterhole may only need infrequent and short-duration flows to provide connectivity for fish passage.

Fish habitat at, or upstream of, the site

Most instream features provide habitat for fish during adequate flow conditions, or in pools during dry periods. The ability to provide constant or periodic connectivity to upstream and off-stream fish habitat is considered a feature of a waterway. To determine if this connectivity exists, you'll need to have some knowledge of fish species at the site and how they use their habitat, particularly in headwater streams.

Locate Queensland waterways

Updates to Queensland waterways mapping (version 3.1)

The following changes have been made to the 'Queensland waterways for waterway barrier works' mapping:

  • reclassified the Condamine-Balonne, Moonie and Border rivers drainage basins from eastern to western drainage basins
  • reduced the number of high order streams classified as purple waterways in all western Queensland drainage basins.

These changes will reduce accepted development requirements and the number of waterways that require development approvals in western Queensland regions.

Refer to the frequently asked questions to find out more about how the changes will apply to current and future developments.

Use the 'Queensland waterways for waterway barrier works' spatial data layer to help identify the location of Queensland waterways.

Read the user guide, to help you understand how to use this information.

View and download the data layer via:

Mapping data sources

The Queensland waterways for waterway barrier works mapping is derived from 2 main point-of-truth datasets:

  • watercourse mapping
  • Queensland wetlands mapping.

Exclusions

The Queensland waterways for waterway barrier works mapping excludes some features from the input watercourse mapping, including:

  • statewide—waterways not allocated a stream order on the watercourse mapping
  • western drainage basins—stream order 1 watercourses
  • eastern drainage basins—stream order 1 watercourse segments with an average slope greater than 6% (stream order 1 watercourse segments with a slope less than 6% are mapped as green waterways).

The features of these input datasets are excluded as they are not considered waterways for the purpose of waterway barrier works. They are generally overland flow paths high up in the catchment and provide little to no opportunities for fish to access them.

Exceptions

There are 4 main exceptions where an on-ground feature that is not mapped could be considered a waterway for waterway barrier works:

  1. The waterway is tidal.
  2. There is an error in the input watercourse mapping, such as:
    • a feature is not mapped on watercourse mapping but clearly shows features of a waterway and is host to fish
    • a clear error in the stream order assigned to the watercourse (e.g. a segment of watercourse connecting 2 stream order 3 segments is not allocated a stream order, despite it clearly being the main hydrological connection that clearly shows features of a waterway and hosts fish).
  3. A mapped waterway is misaligned with the actual on-ground waterway.
  4. A waterway has changed course since the watercourse mapping was undertaken due to natural processes or a diversion.

A feature that is mapped may not be considered a waterway for waterway barrier works purposes because it:

  • does not display the attributes of a waterway
  • is at the top of a catchment upstream of a natural barrier (such as a rock bar) that completely blocks fish passage and the natural barrier is unlikely to drown out, and there is no persistent fish habitat in the form of pools upstream of the natural barrier.

More information about Queensland waterways mapping