Reviewing the Gold Coast water plan
We are reviewing the Gold Coast water plan.
We are now at Step 3 of the consultation timeline which means that the draft plan is now available for public consultation.
Consultation is open now and closes on 30 November 2025.
What you need to know
We have reviewed feedback and done technical assessments to produce the draft plan. Because the plan is large and detailed, we’ve summarised many of the changes and made it easy for you to decide if you want to read the full draft or use the summaries.
We have also produced a draft updated water management protocol and water entitlement notice. These are formal documents to support the new plan and need to be reviewed with it.
You can have your say on all these documents at once.
- Public notice - Availability of the draft Water plan (Gold Coast), draft water management protocol, and draft water entitlement notice. This notice formally lets you know we have released these documents for public consultation.
- Statement of intent – Draft Water Plan (Gold Coast) 2026 – s46 of the Water Act 2000. This summarises the key aspects of the draft plan and summaries important changes
- Draft Water Plan (Gold Coast) 2026 (PDF, 1.3MB) (draft water plan). This is the full, detailed text of the proposed plan, which once finalised, will replace the current plan.
- Draft Gold Coast water management protocol (PDF, 656KB) (draft protocol). This is the full, detailed document that supports the implementation of the plan.
- Draft Gold Coast water entitlement notice (PDF, 1.1MB) (draft WEN). This is the full, detailed text specifying water entitlements under the plan.
For less detail, read the topic pages online.
Infrastructure
The scope of this review is limited to the management and allocation of water.
Any issues or comments relating to the assessment or approval of infrastructure proposals should be referred to the Office of the Coordinator-General.
Timeline
From when we start a review to when the new plan is formally adopted takes several years.
We are now at Step 3 of the consultation timeline which means that the draft plan is now available for public consultation.
Future status
Step 4: We review feedback received and finalise the new water plan in 2026.
Step 5: The new water plan will be in place in 2026.
Enquiries
Phone (07) 3708 8999 during business hours.