Reviewing the Georgina and Diamantina water plan

The process to review and replace the Water Plan (Georgina and Diamantina) 2004 is underway.

The existing water plan will expire on 5 August 2027. We must replace the plan to make sure the region's long-term water needs are met and sustainably managed into the future. Reviewing and replacing a water plan takes several years.

Following the first round of public consultation, we have developed a draft replacement water plan, draft water management protocol (draft protocol) and draft water entitlement notice (draft WEN). Consultation on the draft documents is open and closes at 5pm on 16 December 2026.

Learn more about the five steps in our water plan review process.

How community feedback helped shape the draft plan

We used community feedback and engagement with local communities, including Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, to help develop the draft replacement water plan. We received 15 submissions from a range of stakeholders including local water users and entitlement holders, the community, environmental groups, local government and industry bodies.

Through meetings, workshops and ongoing discussions, we learned more about how local communities value and use water, and what matters most to them. We used this feedback, together with technical assessments and scientific investigations, to develop the proposed changes.

We remain committed to ongoing collaboration with communities, Traditional Owners and stakeholders throughout the water planning process.

How to give your feedback

We have summarised the key proposed changes to the water plan to help you understand what the replacement water plan could mean for you.

A draft water protocol and WEN have also been developed to support the draft water plan. These formal documents provide important detail about how the plan will work in practice and should be reviewed together with the draft plan.

1. Read the key documents

2. Review further information

3. Provide your written feedback

Submit your feedback by 5pm on 16 December 2026.

We will consider all submissions received during the consultation period when finalising the replacement water plan and the supporting water planning instruments

What’s next

2026-27: We’ll review feedback received on the draft water plan, draft protocol and draft WEN and finalise the replacement water plan and supporting documents.

August 2027: Commencement of the new water plan.

Enquiries

Also consider...