About the Georgina and Diamantina water plan area

The Georgina and Diamantina water plan area covers approximately 266,000km² in central far western Queensland. It includes the Georgina, Diamantina and Hay River catchments.

Water resources support communities, industries and the environment. Major regional centres include Birdsville, Camooweal, Dajarra, Duchess and Urandangi.

The Georgina and Diamantina river systems form part of the Lake Eyre Basin, one of Australia's most significant natural river systems. The rivers and floodplains support wetlands, native plants and animals, and important habitat for waterbirds and fish. Periodic flooding is a natural feature of the region and helps maintain healthy ecosystems and productive stock grazing industries.

Groundwater is an important source of water across the region. Most towns rely on water from groundwater bores, including water from the free-flowing artesian bores managed under the Great Artesian Basin and other regional aquifers (GABORA) water plan.

The area’s economy is largely supported by agriculture (stock grazing), mining and local businesses. Water resources also support recreation and cultural activities.

Part of the plan area lies in the North West Minerals Province, which contains significant deposits of copper, cobalt, vanadium and other critical minerals. Future growth in the resources sector may increase demand for water and create new opportunities for regional development.

Water resources in the plan area are also important to Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Water supports connections to Country, cultural practices and places of cultural significance that have been important for generations.

The draft water plan aims to balance the needs of communities, industries and the environment. It supports sustainable economic development while protecting the natural flow patterns, environmental values, cultural values and heritage values that are important to the region, now and into the future.

View a map of the Georgina and Diamantina water plan area (PDF, 1.8MB).

Use the Queensland Globe water plan map (use Google Chrome for best results) to explore the Georgina and Diamantina and its surrounding water plan areas.