Improving outcomes in the Gold Coast water plan area
When developing a new Gold Coast water plan, we review how effective the current water plan is at meeting its outcomes. The 2021 Minister’s report details how the current plan has contributed to sustainable water management, which outcomes were achieved, and which ones needed updated strategies to deal with emerging challenges like climate change and urban growth.
We are working to standardise similar outcomes across all plans where possible. This will make all water plans easier to understand and implement.
The current Gold Coast water plan doesn’t include any specific social, economic, or cultural outcomes that reflect the water-related values of the water plan area. The draft water plan proposes to include these outcomes.
Draft water plan proposals
The draft water plan proposes the following changes.
Social outcomes
Social outcomes (section 18) ensure water availability for urban growth, recreational use, and community well-being, including provisions for off-grid communities and Traditional Owners in the plan area.
Economic outcomes
Economic outcomes are included to support industries reliant on water, promote efficient water use, and enable water trading to boost economic growth.
Under the draft water plan economic outcomes (section 17), a new outcome has been included to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the water allocation market.
Cultural outcomes
Cultural outcomes have been introduced to maintain flows that support water-related cultural, spiritual, and social values, protect culturally significant sites and species, and provide water to support cultural aspirations.
The draft water plan includes new cultural outcomes (section 19) that have been identified following consultation within the Traditional Owners from within the water plan area. These demonstrate the value of active engagement and the involvement of Traditional Owners in the water management and planning processes.
Environmental outcomes
Environmental outcomes aim to maintain and improve natural flows, river connectivity, and underground water-dependent ecosystems, while mitigating negative impacts from water infrastructure.