Statement of intent – Draft Water Plan (Gold Coast) 2025 – s46 of the Water Act 2000

Release of the draft Water Plan (Gold Coast) 2025

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 Gold Coast water plan (draft water plan), which once finalised, will replace the current Water Plan (Gold Coast) 2006 (current water plan). A draft Gold Coast water management protocol (draft protocol) and a draft Gold Coast water entitlement notice (draft WEN) have also been developed for consultation. These documents once finalised will help to implement the water plan.

This page explains why the current water plan is being replaced, the factors considered in preparing a draft water plan, and the main changes being proposed. It also outlines the proposals endorsed by the Minister for inclusion in the draft water plan and invites feedback from the public.

Overview of changes

The following information is published in accordance with section 46 of the Act to inform the public of the intent and effect of a draft water plan.

Water plan outcomes

Outcomes describe the overarching priorities of a water plan, focusing on achieving a balance between different, and sometimes competing, uses. All outcomes proposed in the draft water plan have been developed to address plan-specific needs. Part 3 of the draft water plan outlines the proposed outcomes building on those in the current water plan.

A new water plan outcome has been included which seeks to promote improved understanding of:

ecosystem requirements and characteristics
water required for use by Traditional Owners
water to support social and economic benefits to communities in the plan area
the impact of climate variability on water availability and supply.

Economic outcomes (section 17, draft water plan)

The draft water plan includes provisions for the continued effect of all water entitlements and other authorisations to take or interfere with water. This aligns with economic outcomes to maintain water availability and support growth for industries that are dependent on water in the plan area.

New economic outcomes have been included to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the water allocation market in the water plan area.

Social outcomes (section 18, draft water plan)

The draft water plan provides for water to be available to support population growth in towns and communities, including unallocated water reserves for future urban water supply. It also supports the social wellbeing of people in the plan area by maintaining the availability of water for domestic purposes and protecting water-related aesthetic and recreational values within the water plan area.

A new social outcome has been developed to make water available for the social values and aspirations of the Traditional Owners.

Cultural outcomes (section 19, draft water plan)

Aspirations of Traditional Owners within the water plan area have been considered. The draft water plan outcomes seek to maintain flows that support water-related cultural, spiritual, and social values, and recognises the important role of Traditional Owners in the water planning processes.

New outcomes have also been included to support flows of water that are required for sites and species of cultural significance.

Environmental outcomes (section 20, draft water plan)

The Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) assessed the risk posed by water resource development in the water plan area to the environment. Strategies are proposed to maintain and if possible, improve the current condition of ecological assets in this area. While the outcomes of the current water plan have generally been achieved, the draft water plan seeks to include updated environmental outcomes to support the health and persistence of waterholes to maintain and improve natural flows, river-connectivity, and flows to Moreton Bay and the Broadwater. The outcomes also specifically aim to mitigate adverse impacts from the operation of water infrastructure.

A new environmental outcome has been included which seeks to manage underground water for the purpose of supporting groundwater dependent ecosystems.

Changes to unallocated water (section 28, draft water plan)

The draft water plan provides unallocated water reserve volumes to meet known current and future demands. The location and volume of water that may be granted from each unallocated water reserve is stated in the draft Gold Coast water management protocol (draft water management protocol).

Underground water management

Underground water is not managed under the current Gold Coast water plan. However, a moratorium for the Springbrook and Tamborine Mountain areas has been in place since 6 March 2020 that prevents the construction of new underground water works (bores) for commercial use. The moratorium also prevents the construction of new works where the proposed area for irrigation is equal to or greater than 10 hectares (ha).

The draft water plan proposes to formalise the current arrangements, allowing take of water for stock and domestic, agriculture (less than 10ha irrigable area), town water supply, coordinated projects, and authorised existing use.

Seasonal water assignments

The draft plan introduces provisions for seasonal water assignment (SWA) for unsupplemented water licences to support economic growth and flexibility for water users. The draft water management protocol includes SWA rules that facilitate all or part of the unused take of water for a water licence, up to a volume of 10 megalitres (ML), to be assigned to another user for up to 1 year.

Standardising water licences

The draft water plan provides for entitlements to be amended to reflect contemporary requirements, to provide equity and clarity for water users, and improve monitoring and compliance with entitlement conditions. As part of the plan, the draft Gold Coast water entitlement notice (WEN) proposes amendments to unsupplemented surface water licences to:

state a purpose of ‘any’, ‘stock and/or domestic’
state a nominal entitlement (NE) for the water year, in megalitres
include a maximum rate of take in megalitres per day
amend or remove licence conditions that are superfluous, obsolete, poorly specified, or not enforceable.

The draft plan transitions from area-based (hectare) licences to volumetric entitlements using a conversion factor of 5ML/ha to provide transparency and improved management by clearly defining water shares. This conversion factor is based on a review of average annual crop irrigation demands in the water plan area, and the amount of water available in each subcatchment.

The draft plan allows water licence holders to request an adjustment to their NE or maximum rate of take if they can demonstrate a need for additional water. Approved increases in NE will result in a proportional increase to the maximum rate of take, while approved changes to the maximum rate of take will not automatically result in a change to the NE.

Licence holders are encouraged to review their licences, water requirements, and the proposed draft provisions, to inform making a submission to support their request. This will help to ensure they can continue to take water lawfully once the plan is finalised and licences are amended. This initiative recognises historical and current water use and aims to ensure no one is disadvantaged by the changes. However, it does not recognise unlawful water use outside the current licence conditions or future water development plans.

Licence applications and dealings

The draft water plan outlines water licence (WL) applications/dealings that will not be accepted or may be exempt. These rules and limitations have been established to protect the access of existing authorised water users and the environment, and to ensure that strategies for meeting water plan outcomes are not undermined.

A new section in the draft plan limits water licence dealings and certain applications that are inconsistent with the plan. The plan also clarifies which applications are exempt from this rule.

Setting the plan objectives

The draft water plan outlines strategies to achieve its outcomes. Sections 21 and 22 introduce new performance indicators for environmental flow objectives (EFOs) and water allocation security objectives (WASOs) to provide greater confidence and improve risk-based assessments and decision making.

EFOs are derived from flow information (reported and simulated) to assess risks to ecological outcomes. These indicators consider factors like flow magnitude, timing, and seasonality, with new assessment points added in tributaries to assess risk and guide decision making.

For WASOs, the plan adopts a performance ratio, consistent with other contemporary Queensland water plans. This ratio compares the average annual water volume taken to the total nominal volume, ensuring fair resource sharing while offering greater flexibility for water users.

Water trading

There are no significant changes to the way that permanent water trading occurs in the plan area.

The Nerang Water Supply Scheme (WSS) services the Queensland Bulk Water Authority and does not supply individual water entitlement holders.

The Lower Nerang Water Management Area (WMA)does not have significant trade barriers (such as trading zones or minimum volumes) and no changes to its trading framework are proposed in the draft plan.

Unsupplemented water trading was considered and discounted based on feedback from water users and an assessment of predominant water demands in the plan area. Urban encroachment and population growth has limited growth in irrigated agriculture that would otherwise drive a trading market.

Have your say

We are now accepting submissions. I encourage anyone with an interest in the Gold Coast water plan area to put forward their thoughts on the water resource management strategies identified in the draft water plan through a submission.

Submissions can be made online.

This notice is dated 20 October 2025.

The Hon. Ann Leahy MP
Minister for Local Government and Water and
Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers

Hamish Butler
Executive Director South Region (as the Chief Executive’s delegate)