Mitchell unallocated water release
Current status
We have released unallocated water in the Mitchell plan area to land owners and prescribed entities. Applications can be made between 9am on 19 January 2026 and 5pm on 30 April 2026. Any application made outside of this period will not be accepted.
General information
In response to a recent expression of interest process and a review by the Unlocking Water project, we have released 55,000 megalitres (ML) of general reserve unallocated water for any purpose within the Mitchell water plan. The water being made available as ‘water products’ is surface water from watercourses and drainage features (defined as overland flow water) in various locations within the plan area.
Release of this water will allow economic development and job creation through supporting agriculture and other industries to expand existing or assist new enterprises.
Water products available
Water products have been created based on the demands for new water from the recent expression of interest process. Detailed information on the water products available is included in the terms of sale, and is summarised below.
| Product | Ref | Location Description |
|---|---|---|
| Water product 1 Watercourse water – similar to existing water licences | 1-A | Mitchell River upstream of the junction with Rifle Creek and downstream of the Mitchell water plan boundary |
| 1-B | Rifle Creek and any watercourse tributaries of Rifle Creek | |
| 1-C | Mary Creek and any watercourse tributaries of Mary Creek | |
| 1-D | Mitchell River upstream of G.S.919014A at Cooktown Crossing and downstream of Rifle Creek Junction | |
| 1-E | Any tributary watercourses that flow into the Mitchell River upstream of G.S.919014A at Cooktown Crossing and downstream of the Mitchell water plan boundary, other than available locations of 1-B and 1-C. | |
| Water product 2 Watercourse water – with a passing flow | 2-F | Mitchell River upstream of G.S.919003A at the O.K. Bridge and downstream of Rifle Creek Junction |
| Water product 3 Overland flow water | 3-G | Mitchell water plan other than the catchment area upstream of the Mitchell River at G.S919014A at Cooktown Crossing |
How to apply
- Review the terms of sale (PDF, 1.2MB).
- Fill out the application form (within the terms of sale document).
- Return the form with all supporting documentation to uaw.north@dlgwv.qld.gov.au.
The terms of sale document includes details such as:
- application form
- eligibility
- water products including maps where these are located
- price for water
- sample licence conditions
- evaluation criteria.
Applications will be assessed in the order that they are received, and we encourage you to make your application as early as possible once the application submission period opens. No applications will be progressed once the water products being offered are exhausted.
If your application is successful, you will be offered a draft water licence with conditions and payment options for the full purchase price.
Who can apply
An application can be made by an owner of land within the Mitchell water plan area or a prescribed entity. An owner of land is defined as:
- the registered proprietor of land under the Water Act 2000; or
- the registered licensee, sublessee or licensee of land under the Land Act 1994.
The definition of a prescribed entity is stated under Section 104 of the Water Act 2000.
An agent can act on behalf of an owner of land or a prescribed entity.
Price and payment options
The release will be via a fixed price process. A fixed price process is based on a price per megalitre (ML) of water being offered for each water product as stated in the terms of sale
- Watercourse water – water product 1A – $190 per ML.
- Other watercourse and overland flow water products – $160 per ML.
Payment options include:
- Pay in full: Applicable if works capable of taking the water are already installed.
- Pay a non-refundable deposit of 25%: Applicable if works capable of taking the water are not yet installed. You will have a maximum of three years to install the works and pay the remaining 75% of the full purchase price.
Applicants with works already installed may request to pay the non-refundable deposit instead of the full payment upfront. The full purchase price must be paid before the expiry date on the water licence (i.e. within three years).
No water can be taken under a water licence until the full purchase price is paid.
Further information
Watercourse determinations
To determine whether you can apply for a watercourse or overland flow product, you will need to know if the proposed location of take is a watercourse or drainage feature.
The watercourse identification map will help you to search for your property, the location of take and to identify the water feature(s) at that location. It will help you distinguish between:
- watercourse water— from features mapped as a ‘watercourse’
- overland flow —from features mapped as a 'drainage feature'.
If the watercourse identification map does not specify if the feature is a watercourse or drainage feature, you will need to request a watercourse determination from us as soon as possible. This can be requested at any time by contacting WaterServicesNorth@dlgwv.qld.gov.au.
Additional approvals
Some applications may require additional approvals.
- Vegetation management approvals
- Under the Mitchell water plan, if you are applying for unallocated water to irrigate land, you are required to demonstrate that you have a vegetation approval, or that a pathway (i.e. an application is lodged) for an approval is available.
- The Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development are responsible for vegetation management information, advice, and how to obtain vegetation approvals.
- Call 13 58 34 or email vegetation@nrmmrrd.qld.gov.au.
- Waterway barrier work approvals
- If you are proposing to construct a dam on a drainage feature, you may trigger an approval under the waterway barrier works legislation.
- The Department of Primary Industries is responsible for waterway barrier works information, advice, and approval requirements. Recent updates have been made to the accepted development requirements.
- Call 13 25 23 or email planningassessment@dpi.qld.gov.au.
- General approvals advice
- The State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) can act as a centralised contact to provide free information and advice on relevant legislative requirements specific to your project.
- We recommend you request pre-lodgement advice from SARA on relevant approvals if these are triggered.
- Call 07 4758 3423 or email nqsara@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au.
Note: your application will be deemed non-conforming and you may lose your position in the assessment queue if:
- you cannot submit evidence that you have a vegetation approval, or that a pathway is available if you intend to irrigate land
or - the location you are intending to take water from is not defined as a watercourse or drainage feature.
Enquiries
- Email: uaw.north@dlgwv.qld.gov.au
- Phone: 1800 822 100