Growing water needs in the Mitchell water plan area

The Minister’s performance assessment report (PDF, 4.1MB) identified changing needs that must be addressed.

We need to review how sharing water is balanced between all water interests, including the environment, cultural and downstream users.

We need to balance growing demand for water to use in urban development, agriculture, new irrigated agriculture, cultural activities and in the critical minerals industries with the known impacts of those industries and all the other identified interests and values. The whole of the Mitchell water plan area must be considered as a system.

The growing water needs in fisheries are driven by the increasing demand for sustainable fish production. A consistent water supply is needed to maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems, supporting fish breeding, growth, and migration, and ensuring the productivity of both freshwater and marine fisheries.

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.

The water plan review will use technical assessments to consider:

• existing water entitlement holders
• cultural values
• the environment.