Cape York 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 Cape York water plan area map (PDF, 542KB).
What's happening?
- 7 Dec 2020: We have published a guide to accessing unallocated water from the Cape York Peninsula Heritage Area (CYPHA) reserve.
Water management
Summary
| Type of water | Management |
|---|---|
| Surface water | Check the water plan information below for rules and requirements. |
| Overland flow | Check the water plan information below for rules and requirements. |
| Underground water |
Check the Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers water plan for underground water and spring water in the Great Artesian Basin and other important regional aquifers. Check the water plan below for all other underground water rules and requirements. |
Water plan information
- Water plan
- Water management protocol (PDF, 573KB)
- Access the Cape York water atlas and other historical documents and reports
Accessing water
| Cape York Peninsula Heritage Area (CYPHA) unallocated water reserve | New CYPHA water licences are available for any purpose to eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons. Holders of existing CYPHA water licences can assign CYPHA water to other persons (including non-Indigenous persons). |
|---|---|
| Unallocated water releases | No current releases from the general or strategic reserves. |
| Relocatable water licences | Read about the relocatable water licence market. |
| Seasonal water assignment | Check the Water management protocol (PDF, 573KB) for rules and read about the application process. |
| Water allocation trading – unsupplemented water | Trading is available in the Endeavour Water Management Area. Check the Water management protocol (PDF, 573KB) for trading rules. |
Contact us
Contact the Mareeba business centre for more information on water management and how you can access water in the plan area.
Also consider...
- Find out more about Indigenous water reserves.
- 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.
- View price information for permanent water allocation trades and relocatable water licences.
- 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.
- Last reviewed: 1 Jul 2022
- Last updated: 10 Dec 2020