Barron water plan area
This information will help you understand how water is managed in the water plan area and how you can access water.
Map of the water plan area
Check whether your property is covered by the plan on the Queensland Globe water plan map (use Google Chrome for best results) or download the Barron water plan area map (PDF, 829KB).
What's happening?
- 27 January 2026: The Barron water management protocol 2026 (PDF, 1MB) is being amended to allow access to unallocated water to meet demand in the Walsh River catchment. Proposed changes include defining the volume of general reserve unallocated water available and introducing flow-based rules for accessing this water. You can review the draft protocol and provide feedback by emailing submissions to NorthWPS@dlgwv.qld.gov.au before 24 February 2026.
- 1 December 2025: The amendment to the Barron water management protocol (PDF, 1MB) has been finalised. It allows for improved water sharing rules within the Atherton underground water management area.
- 11 August 2025: We have analysed this water plan to find ways to improve access to water and help local industries grow. Read how we’re unlocking water in the Barron water plan area.
Water management
Summary
| Type of water | Management |
|---|---|
| Surface water | Check the water plan information below for rules and requirements |
| Overland flow | Not managed |
| Underground water | Check the water plan information below for rules and requirements |
Water plan information
- Water plan (Barron) 2023.
- Barron water management protocol (December 2025) (PDF, 1MB).
- Barron water entitlement notice 2023 (PDF, 608KB).
- Access historical documents and reports and previous water plans.
- Access the Minister's performance reports for the plan.
Water supply scheme operator and manual
The licence contains information about the roles and responsibilities of the licence holder. Check the operations manual for day-to-day operational, water sharing and seasonal water assignment rules.
| Name | Operator | Licence | Manual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mareeba–Dimbulah Water Supply Scheme | Sunwater | Resource operations licence (PDF, 164KB) | Operations manual (PDF, 194KB) |
Accessing water
Follow the links below for more information on how to access water in the water plan area.
| Announced entitlements and limits | The water you can take through your water entitlement may be limited. Check announced entitlements and limits for unsupplemented water or contact the water supply scheme operator for supplemented water. |
|---|---|
| Unallocated water releases | No releases are currently occurring. |
| Relocatable water licences | Available—read about the relocatable water licence market |
| Water allocation trading – water scheme areas | Mareeba–Dimbulah: Allocation trading and rules | Current locations of water allocations |
| Water allocation trading – unsupplemented water | Contact the Mareeba business centre for details |
Contact us
Contact the Mareeba business centre for more information on water management and how you can access water in the Barron water plan area.
Also consider...
- Explore the various ways we use science to develop, monitor, review and evaluate our water plans using our interactive storymap.
- Read Queensland's water plans in a variable and changing climate report to understand how water plans incorporate climate science and manage the risks of climate variability.
- Get streamflow and groundwater data from the Queensland Government Water monitoring information portal.
- Access maps and water data using Queensland Globe or the water entitlement viewer.
- Find out about river improvement trusts and their work.
- Read about water planning and learn where to find information in the new water planning documents.
- Read the Water planning science plan 2020–2030 to find out how we use science to develop water plans and improve water planning.