Improving outcomes in the Logan Basin water plan area
When developing a new Logan Basin 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 need updated strategies to deal with emerging challenges like climate change and urban growth.
We are working to standardise similar outcomes across all Queensland water plans where possible. This will make all water plans easier to understand and implement.
The current Logan Basin 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 Logan Basin water plan (PDF, 1.3MB) proposes to include these outcomes.
Draft water plan proposals
The draft Logan Basin water plan (PDF, 1.3MB) proposes the following changes.
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 18), a new outcome has been included to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the water allocation market.
Social outcomes
Social outcomes (section 19), 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.
Cultural outcomes
Cultural outcomes (section 20) 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 outcomes seek to maintain flows that support water-related cultural, spiritual, and social values, and recognises the important role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 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
Environmental outcomes (section 21) aim to maintain and improve natural flows, river connectivity, and underground water-dependent ecosystems, while mitigating negative impacts from water infrastructure.