Identifying unallocated water in the Gold Coast water plan area

Unallocated water refers to water in the system that is available for future allocation without causing unacceptable impacts to existing water users, cultural values, or the environment.

The current Gold Coast water plan provides 500ML of general reserve unallocated water across several sub catchments in the plan area. A water allocation of 7,700ML was released from the strategic reserve in 2010-11 for the raising of Hinze Dam. There is no indigenous water reserve in the current Gold Coast water plan.

In developing the new draft plan, we have assessed the demand for additional water supplies and reviewed the volumes and arrangements for unallocated water. Accessing unallocated water reserves may satisfy some of this water demand.

Proposed changes in the draft water plan

Key objectives include:

  • ensuring efficient and transparent water allocation
  • supporting critical needs such as town water supply and economic development
  • enhancing flexibility to address water shortages during extreme weather events
  • aligning water allocation with long-term planning objectives
  • adapting to population growth and climate variability
  • reserving unallocated water for general and strategic purposes within the Gold Coast water plan area
  • ensuring all general reserve unallocated water remains unchanged from the current plan to the new plan. This is due to low demand, a changing land use profile, and already highly developed water resources in parts of the plan area
  • proposing an additional strategic reserve volume of up to 50ML for Upper Coomera
  • specifying unallocated water reserve volumes in section 28 of the draft water plan.

We can decide to release unallocated water when there is enough interest.

Total reserve volumes

General reserve
Subcatchment numberSubcatchment areaAverage annual volume (AAV) in megalitres (ML)
1 Pimpama 50
3 Lower Coomera River 200
4 Upper Nerang River 50
5 Lower Nerang River 50
6 Mudgeeraba Creek 50
7 Tallebudgera Creek 50
8 Currumbin Creek 50
Strategic reserve
Subcatchment numberSubcatchment areaAAV in megalitres (ML)
2 Upper Coomera River 50 *
ProponentWater supply scheme (WSS)AAV in megalitres (ML)
Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority Nerang WSS 18,250 **

* Reserved for future urban water requirements for Canungra.

** Reserved for future allocation from Hinze Dam, aligning with the increased capacity of the Molendinar Water Treatment Plant to meet urban demand.

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