Cooper Creek 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 Cooper Creek water plan area map (PDF, 3.1MB).
What's happening?
- 1 December 2025: Supporting documents have been moved into new formats to align with the current water planning framework. This includes publishing a water management protocol (PDF, 935KB). The provisions under these documents have not changed.
- 07 February 2025 : Water limitation notices are withdrawn for the taking of watercourse water for irrigation purposes from the Thomson River and its tributaries.
- 20 August 2024: The five-yearly Minister’s performance assessment report (PDF, 2.1MB) is now available. The report confirms that the water plan and its implementation continue to sustainably manage water resources in the Cooper Creek water plan area.
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 |
Water plan information
- Water plan.
- Water management protocol (PDF, 935MB)
- Access historical documents and reports and previous water plans.
- View the latest Minister's performance assessment report (PDF, 2.1MB) that shows this water plan is continuing to sustainably manage water resources in the plan area.
- Access previous Minister's performance reports for the plan.
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 by announced entitlements and limits |
|---|---|
| Unallocated water releases | No current releases |
| Relocatable water licences | Available. Read about the relocatable water licence market |
| Seasonal water assignment | Check the Water management protocol (PDF, 935MB) rules and read about the application process |
Lake Eyre Basin
The Cooper Creek catchment is a component of the Lake Eyre Basin which extends to areas in Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. The Lake Eyre Basin is recognised nationally and internationally for its outstanding social, cultural and environmental values and economic opportunities.
The Australian, Queensland, South Australian and Northern Territory Governments are signatories to the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA). The IGA commits the states to developing and implementing policies and strategies that avoid or eliminate adverse cross-border impacts while also allowing for economic development.
The Cooper Creek water plan is consistent with the Lake Eyre Basin IGA.
As part of our role within the IGA, the Queensland Government’s work program is guided by the Lake Eyre Basin Strategic Plan, which was released in 2024. Read more about the Strategic Plan and its Implementation Plan on the DCCEEW website.
View the Lake Eyre Basin story map.
Contact us
Contact the Longreach business centre for more information on water management and how you can access water in the Cooper Creek 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.