Gulf water plan area
This information will help you understand how water is managed in the water plan area and how you can access water.
Map of the water plan area
Check whether your property is covered by the plan on the Queensland Globe water plan map (use Google Chrome for best results) or download the Gulf water plan area map (PDF, 1.2MB).
What's happening?
- April 2025: Find out about how to get water to support new mining ventures for critical minerals without impacting on other/existing water needs in the area.
- 15 March 2024: We are reviewing and replacing the Gulf water plan. The first round of public consultation closed 19 July 2024.
- 5 December 2023: The 5-yearly Minister's performance assessment report (PDF, 1.6MB) for the Gulf water plan has been released. The report indicates that increasing demands for water to support industry growth are not currently being met. To revisit how to best balance the needs for all water users in the catchment, a review of the water plan will commence in early 2024.
- 30 November 2024: Due date for meter revalidations for the Gilbert River catchment area.
Water management
Summary
| Type of water | Management |
|---|---|
| Surface water | Check the water plan information below for rules and requirements |
| Overland flow | Check the water plan information below for rules and requirements |
| Underground water | Check the Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers water plan for underground water and spring water in the Great Artesian Basin and other important regional aquifers. Check the Gulf water plan (below) for all other underground water. |
Water plan information
- Water plan.
- Resource operations plan (PDF, 4.8MB) | Explanatory notes (PDF, 48KB).
- Access historical documents and reports and previous water plans.
- View the latest Minister’s performance assessment report (PDF, 2.6MB) or access historical reports for the plan.
Water supply scheme operators
The following schemes operate in the water plan area. Check the Resource operations plan (PDF, 4.8MB) for day-to-day operational, water sharing and seasonal water assignment rules.
| Name | Operator | Licence | Manual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moondarra Dam Water Supply Scheme | Mount Isa Mines | Resource operations licence (PDF, 90KB) | Resource operations plan (PDF, 4.8MB) |
| Julius Dam Water Supply Scheme | Sunwater | Resource operations licence (PDF, 27KB) | Resource operations plan (PDF, 4.8MB) |
| Distribution Operations Licence (DOL) Holder for the Moondarra Dam and Julius Dam Water Supply Schemes. | Mount Isa Water Board | Distribution operations licence (PDF, 92KB) | Resource operations plan (PDF, 4.8MB) |
Accessing water
Follow the links below for more information on how to access water in the water plan area.
| Announced entitlements and limits | The water you can take through your water entitlement may be limited. Check announced entitlements and limits for unsupplemented water or contact the water supply scheme operator for supplemented water. |
|---|---|
| Unallocated water releases | You can express your interest in unallocated water at any time. |
| Relocatable water licences | Available. Read about the relocatable water licence market |
| Seasonal water assignment | Check the Resource operations plan (PDF, 4.8MB) for rules and read about the application process |
Contact us
Contact the Mareeba business centre for more information on water management and how you can access water in the Gulf water plan area.
Also consider...
- Explore the various ways we use science to develop, monitor, review and evaluate our water plans using our interactive storymap.
- Read Queensland's water plans in a variable and changing climate report to understand how water plans incorporate climate science and manage the risks of climate variability.
- Find out more about Indigenous water reserves.
- Get streamflow and groundwater data from the Queensland Government Water monitoring information portal.
- Access maps and water data using Queensland Globe or the water entitlement viewer.
- Find out about river improvement trusts and their work.
- View price information for permanent water allocation trades and relocatable water licences.
- Read about water planning and learn where to find information in the new water planning documents.
- Read the Water planning science plan 2020–2030 to find out how we use science to develop water plans and improve water planning.