Statement of intent – Draft Water Plan (Georgina and Diamantina) 2026 – s46 of the Water Act 2000
Release of the draft Water Plan (Georgina and Diamantina) 2026
This statement of intent is published by the Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers, under section 46 of the Water Act 2000 (the Act) to inform the public of the intent and effect of a draft water plan.
The Queensland Government has prepared a draft Georgina and Diamantina water plan (draft water plan) for consultation. Once finalised, it will replace the existing Water Plan (Georgina and Diamantina) 2004 (existing water plan).
To support consultation on the draft water plan, the following documents have been prepared:
- a draft Georgina and Diamantina water management protocol (draft protocol)
- a draft Georgina and Diamantina water entitlement notice (draft WEN).
These documents provide additional information about how the water plan would be implemented and should be reviewed alongside the draft water plan.
This statement outlines the intent and effect of the draft water plan, by identifying the proposed changes and their purpose from the current provisions of the existing water plan and invites feedback from the public.
Read more about the water plan area and how the draft water plan was developed, including the updated science used to develop the draft.
Overview of changes
Improving outcomes
Water plan outcomes set the long-term priorities for managing water resources. They aim to balance environmental, cultural, social and economic water needs, including different and sometimes competing uses.
What's changing
The draft water plan introduces contemporary outcomes that align with current requirements under the Act and state-wide water planning standards. It also includes outcomes that respond to issues specific to the Georgina and Diamantina catchments, including maintaining and, where possible, improving water flows that support connectivity throughout the Lake Eyre Basin and downstream into South Australia.
Read about the proposed outcomes in Part 3 of the draft water plan (PDF, 618KB).
Identifying unallocated water
Unallocated water is water that is in the system available for future use without affecting existing water users, cultural values or environmental outcomes.
What's changing
The draft water plan increases the volume of identified unallocated water from 13,500ML to 27,000ML and establishes new reserve categories to provide greater flexibility to support future economic development, community needs and projects of state or regional significance.
Right now, the existing water plan provides for 13,500ML of unallocated water and the existing rules limit a person’s ability to obtain unallocated water. The draft water plan proposes more flexibility and greater potential to support future growth in agriculture and other economic development.
Stakeholder feedback and assessment of future water demands identified opportunities to increase the total volume of unallocated water available to support future growth and development opportunities while maintaining existing protections for environmental and cultural values. In response, the draft water plan identifies 27,000ML of unallocated water available to meet future water demands. This includes continuing the existing reserves and adding 1,500ML of strategic reserve and 12,000ML of new unallocated water, which will initially remain undesignated to a specific water management area. This approach provides flexibility to allocate the additional water as needed, with further details to be determined based on future demand and other considerations.
The draft water plan establishes three reserve types, each with a specific purpose. These reserves will support projects of state or regional significance, town water supply, and other uses, with details outlined in the water management protocol.
Read about the proposed unallocated water reserves in Part 5 of the draft water plan (PDF, 618KB) and Chapter 2 of the draft protocol (PDF, 701KB).
Overland flow water management
As part of the water plan review, an assessment of the take of overland flow water in the plan area found it poses a low risk to both existing water users and the environment.
What's changing
The draft water plan proposes to allow access to overland flow water without a water licence for certain low-risk activities. This approach is intended to provide greater flexibility for landholders and communities while maintaining appropriate protections for water resources and existing water users.
The draft water plan proposes to provide access to overland flow water without a water licence for:
- taking up to 1,000ML of overland flow water for growing fodder for drought proofing
- taking up to 1,000ML of overland flow water to support organic livestock supply chain production, processing and distribution
- taking up to 1,000ML of overland flow water by local councils for public amenity purposes
- taking overland flow water for stock or domestic purposes.
The take of water for any other purpose, or volumes above 1,000ML for drought proofing, organic supply chain production, or public amenity purposes, will continue to require a water licence granted from the relevant unallocated water reserve.
Surface water management
The detailed review of the current water plan confirmed that the existing strategies for managing the take of surface water from watercourses are operating effectively and continue to support the plan outcomes.
What's changing
No significant changes are proposed to existing arrangements for taking or interfering with surface water in watercourses.
The draft plan allows licences to be granted for historical take and interference with surface water from watercourses and overland flow.
As understanding of water availability improves, a range of future water management options may be considered, including potential market-based arrangements. Any future arrangements would be subject to further assessment and stakeholder engagement.
Underground water declared as watercourses
The existing definition of underground water that is hydraulically linked to surface water is complex and difficult for stakeholders to apply.
What's changing
The draft water plan replaces a complex assessment process with mapped areas that clearly identify where underground water is managed under surface water rules.
The draft water plan proposes a simpler and more transparent approach that removes the need for stakeholders to undertake a complex assessment to determine whether the underground water they are wanting to take is hydraulically connected to water in a watercourse. Instead, mapped areas clearly identify where underground water is managed under surface water rules.
The map showing the location of underground water that is hydraulically connected to surface water is included in the draft water plan, and further details can be found in Part 2 of the draft water plan (PDF, 618KB).
Have your say
Anyone with an interest in water resource management in the Georgina and Diamantina water plan area is encouraged to have their say by making a submission on the draft water plan and supporting documents.
Submissions can be made by completing the online form or by emailing or posting a completed submission form or written submission.
This notice is dated 21 September 2026.
The Hon. Ann Leahy MP
Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers
Christopher Wake
Acting Executive Director North Region Water Resource Management (as the Chief Executive’s delegate)
Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers