Completed water release processes

The tables on this page show key data about release processes that have been completed. The data is grouped by type of unallocated water reserve.

For more information, view the reports we have available on the outcomes of some of the water release processes.

General reserves

This table shows the outcome of unallocated water release processes from general reserves, which means the water can be used for any purpose.

Water plan area Release date Water type Type of releaseLocation Average price (per ML) Volume available for release (ML) Volume granted (ML)
Moreton

Read the Moreton release evaluation report.

 08/05/2023 Surface water Fixed price Lower Brisbane River and Cabbage Tree Creek $800 for small-scale commercial enterprises.

$0 for community facilities.

 100 56
Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers 31/03/2022 Groundwater Fixed price Cadna-owie, Hooray, Springbok Walloon and Hutton groundwater units $1,420 4,545 2,170
Gulf 30/11/2021 Surface water Tender Flinders River Catchment area N/A 110,000 N/A*
Border Rivers and Moonie

Read the Border Rivers and Moonie release evaluation report.

 02/02/2021 Surface water Tender Stanthorpe Water Management Area $800 1,060 607
Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers (GABORA)

Read the GABORA release report.

 10/10/2020 Groundwater Tender Precipice, Hutton and Springbok Walloon groundwater units $1,821 1,275 250
Gulf 02/07/2020 Surface water Fixed price
  • Gilbert River Zone 6
  • Lower Leichhardt River subcatchment area
  • Nicholson River subcatchment area
  • Norman River catchment area
 $125 102,400 14,400
Wet Tropics 09/02/2018 Groundwater Auction Zone 1D of the Mulgrave-Russell groundwater management area $652 1,200 950
Gulf 28/08/2017 Surface water Fixed price
  • Flinders River catchment
    Zone 11
  • Gilbert River Zone 6
 $125 92,500 7,500
Fitzroy Basin

Read the Fitzroy Basin release report.

 02/12/2016 Groundwater and surface water Tender
  • Callide groundwater management area, Callide Groundwater Unit 2
  • Highlands groundwater management area other than Sandy Creek Alluvium groundwater sub-area
  • Carnarvon groundwater management area
  • Upper Dawson subcatchment area
  • Isaac Connors groundwater management area other than Isaac
  • Connors Alluvium groundwater sub-area
  • Fitzroy groundwater management area, Fitzroy Groundwater Unit 2
  • Isaac Connors subcatchment area
  • Fitzroy subcatchment area
  • Lower Mackenzie subcatchment area
 $105.26 50,250 26,030
Whitsunday

Read the Whitsunday release report.

 18/12/2015 Groundwater and surface water Fixed price
  • Kelsey Creek, Lethe Brook and Thompson (B and C) subcatchment areas
  • O'Connell River and Andromache River (D and E) subcatchment areas
 $115 28,500 1,700
Gulf

Read the Gulf release 2015 report.

 06/11/2015 Surface water and overland flow Tender
  • Flinders River catchment area
  • Gregory River subcatchment area
  • Lower Leichhardt subcatchment area
 $48.33 264,550 100,000
Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers

Read the GABORA release 2015 report.

 13/10/2015 Groundwater Tender 27 of the 32 management areas $1,878.70 18,200 1,780
Whitsunday

Read the Whitsunday 2014 release report.

 18/06/2014 Groundwater and surface water Tender
  • Kelsey Creek, Lethe Brook and Thompson (B and C) subcatchment areas
  • O'Connell River and Andromache River (D and E) subcatchment areas
 N/A 28,500 0
Baffle Creek Basin

Read the Baffle Creek Basin release report.

 21/06/2013 Surface water Tender
  • Littabella Creek catchment area
  • Baffle Creek catchment area
  • Broadwater Creek catchment area
  • Eurimbula Creek catchment area
  • Worthington Creek catchment area
 $62.44 11,600 3,690
Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers

Read the GABORA release 2013 report.

 30/05/2013 Groundwater Tender Surat, Surat North and Surat East management areas $1,213.38 7,200 785
Gulf

Read the Gulf release 2012 report.

 24/07/2012 Surface water Tender Flinders River catchment area $37.62 95,000 93,420

* Considering the Minister's performance assessment report for the Gulf water plan and the Minister's decision to bring forward the review of the water plan, a decision was made not to progress any tenders under the Terms of Sale, Tender Flinders River Catchment Water Plan (Gulf) 2007 UAW process. The Gulf water plan review will identify the best ways to allocate and manage water within the catchments and explore opportunities to unlock more water for agriculture and critical minerals.

Strategic or state reserves

This table shows the outcome of unallocated water release processes from strategic or state reserves. This means the water can be used to support projects of regional significance or for coordinated projects under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971.

Water plan area Release date Purpose Water type Volume granted (ML)
Logan Basin 02/2025 Town water supply - Canungra Surface water 150
Logan Basin 11/2022 Town water supply – Wyaralong Dam Surface water 37,000
Fitzroy Basin 04/11/2021 Town water supply - Comet Surface water 102
Fitzroy Basin 04/11/2021 Town water supply - Nebo Surface water 150
Border Rivers and Moonie 07/06/2021 Town water supply – Southern Downs Regional Council Surface water 250
Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers 02/2021 Intensive Livestock Groundwater 150
Gulf 5/12/2017 Town water supply – Forsayth & Georgetown Surface water 1,860
Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers 09/2017 Intensive Livestock Groundwater 300
Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers 08/2017 Industrial Groundwater 377
Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers 08/2017 Intensive Livestock Groundwater 230
Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers 01/2017 Town water supply - Maranoa Groundwater 18
Burdekin Basin 05/01/2017 Mining operations Surface water 10,800
Wet Tropics 01/07/2015 Town water supply - Tully Surface water 1,000
Mary 27/03/2015 Town water supply – Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority Surface water 1,500

Strategic water infrastructure reserves

This table shows the outcome of unallocated water release processes from strategic water infrastructure reserves (SWIR). This means the water is set aside for infrastructure projects that are in development or have been proposed and can be released once its needed to support that project (e.g. building a new dam).

This water can also be released as temporary licences if it is not yet needed for an infrastructure project. This water returns to the water plan at the expiry of the water licences.

Water plan area Release date Water typeLocation Price per ML Volume available for release (ML) Volume granted (ML)
Fitzroy Basin 30/11/2023 Surface water (allocation) Zones Rookwood A, B, C, D and E Tender process by Sunwater 76,000 69 149

Fitzroy Basin

Read the Fitzroy Basin release report.

 01/09/2022 Surface water (temporary licences) Dawson Valley Water Management Area $27 90,000 69,360
Fitzroy Basin 28/03/2019 Surface water (temporary licences) Dawson Valley Water Management Area $20 90,000 69,500

Indigenous reserves*

There are processes currently underway to release unallocated water from Indigenous reserves to support projects that advance the social, cultural and economic aspirations of Indigenous peoples. These are not yet completed.

The Cape York Peninsula Heritage Area (CYPHA) reserve is an Indigenous reserve in Far North Queensland. This unallocated water is open for applications and water is regularly being granted to eligible persons from this reserve.

* We use the term 'Indigenous' here because this is how the needs for First Nations peoples are captured and expressed in water plans. You can read our Reframing relationships plan (PDF, 17MB) to learn how we build stronger relationships with Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Enquiries

Email UAW@rdmw.qld.gov.au