Identifying unallocated water in the Mitchell water plan area

Unallocated water is our term for water that is in the system and available for future needs. That means it can be released (or allocated) to future projects without affecting water available for current water users, cultural values, or the environment.

Right now, the Mitchell water plan includes 70,000ML of unallocated water in 3 reserves:

• a general reserve with a total of 55,000ML that could be released for any purpose
• an Indigenous* reserve of 5,000ML to help Indigenous communities in the Cape York Peninsula Region area to achieve their economic and social aspirations
• a strategic reserve of 10,000ML that can be released for projects of state significance including town water supply.

None of this water has been released for people to use, however we are currently calling for expressions of interest from people who are interested in accessing the general reserve in the Mitchell water plan area.

The amount of unallocated water provided under the water plan (70,000ML) is almost 13 times greater than the total entitlement volume (5,393.5ML) currently allocated under all water entitlements in the water plan area.

Additional water for town water supply may be provided through the water plan review.

Demand for water from the critical minerals industry, agriculture industry, urban needs and First Nations peoples may increase in the future.

A portion of the water plan (around Lake Mitchell) is subject to a regional water assessment (RWA) area (the Tablelands). The assessment has been prepared and, pending consideration by the Queensland Government, may result in the reserving of additional unallocated water in Lake Mitchell area.

Accessing unallocated water reserves is an option to meet some of the demand for additional water.

During this water plan review, we will assess the demand for additional water supplies and consider the volumes and arrangements for unallocated water.

* We use the term Indigenous here because this is how the needs for First Nations peoples are captured in water plans.