Mary Basin general reserve unallocated water release

Current status

We have released unallocated water in the Mary Basin water plan area to landowners and prescribed entities by a competitive tender process.

Tender applications can be made between 9am on Monday 11 May 2026, and closes at 5pm on Monday 13 July 2026. Any tender made outside of this period will not be accepted.

We’re making this unallocated water available for use by landowners and prescribed entities within the Mary Basin water plan area for uses such as irrigation expansion, industrial use, stock intensive purposes and other productive uses.

The findings from the Mary Basin unlocking water review have included a recommendation to release the entire 2,360ML of surface water from the general reserve to help local industries grow.

Water products available

The water products are available across all surface water management areas (subcatchments) of the Mary Basin water plan. The locations of these areas are listed in schedule 1 of the terms of sale. The unallocated surface water general reserve includes:

  • 2,160ML for the Mary River catchment
  • 100ML for the Burrum River catchment
  • and
  • 100ML for the Coastal River catchments, which includes the Mooloolah River, Maroochy River, Noosa River, and coastal streams north of the Noosa River.

Each water management area has a maximum average annual volume (AAV) of water allocation that cannot be exceeded. The water volume available for tender is based on the AAV available for each water management area.

The nominal entitlement (NE) for each area is calculated by multiplying the AAV by the corresponding multiplier in schedule 2 of the terms of sale. In simple terms:

  • the AAV is the amount of water being sold.
  • the NE is the maximum amount of water that can be taken under a water licence in any given water year.

If you are interested in applying for water, start planning now.

  • If you are located where water is being released, you should start planning for a project, including the location(s) and volume of water that you are seeking.
  • Establish whether you can construct and operate works to take water at the proposed location(s). This may include considering how flow condition requirements will be addressed (e.g. installation of gauge boards, monitoring online data) and the efficiency of existing and proposed water use practices, such as the availability of off-stream storages to capture water when flow thresholds are met.

How to apply

  1. Review the Mary Basin unallocated water release terms of sale (PDF, 1.4MB).
  2. Fill out the tender application form (within the terms of sale document).
  3. Return the form with all supporting documentation to UAW.Mary@dlgwv.qld.gov.au.

The terms of sale document includes:

  • release process
  • water products being released
  • eligibility requirements
  • tender process
  • assessment process
  • water licence conditions
  • application form.

Tender and assessment

Conforming tenders received will be ranked by bid price and date/time of receipt. Conforming tenders will then be assessed against the evaluation criteria in order of ranking. Assessments continue in descending ranked order until the volume of available water has been allocated.

If your tender is successful, the department will make a formal offer to grant a water licence.

Who can tender

A tender can be made by an owner of land within the Mary Basin water plan area or a prescribed entity.

The definition of an owner of land and a prescribed entity is stated under section 104 of the Water Act 2000.

Tenders may be submitted by an authorised agent acting on behalf of an owner of land or a prescribed entity.

Tender process

The release will be via a tender process where the department has set a confidential reserve price. Tenders below the reserve price will not be.

Your tender must include a bid price representing the maximum price you are prepared to pay per megalitre of water you are tendering for.

The total purchase price will be determined using a uniform price per megalitre, which will be equal to the lowest successful bid that meets or exceeds the reserve price.

Offers for a water licence will only be made to successful tender applications in accordance with the terms of sale.

Further information

Tenderers are responsible for obtaining all necessary approvals, consents, notifications, or agreements and should begin this process as early as possible. The department reserves the right at its sole discretion to reject any tender if the required consents, notifications, approvals, or agreements have not been sought or obtained.

Enquiries