PowerPoint Presentation

Overview of water resources and water management in Queensland

Presentation to the Visiting Chinese Delegation

Greg ClaydonExecutive Director, Strategic Water InitiativesDepartment of Environment and Resource Management

23 February 2011, Brisbane

A warm welcome

to our distinguished visitors

Presentation Outline

1. Background to DERM and its role2. Background to water resources and water

management in Queensland3. Concluding Remarks

About Queensland

Second largest state in Australia by area, covering 1.73 million km2

The third largest by population, with 4.4 million people Fastest growing State with South East Queensland

(SEQ) the fastest growing region Over half the population is located in the south east of

the state, which includes Brisbane The majority of the remaining population live in towns

located along the east coast The Queensland economy relies heavily on exports

from the mining (especially coal) and agriculture sectors and on tourism

Queenslands Annual Rainfall

Queenslands annual rainfall is generally within the range of 1000 to 1600 mm

The extremes vary from 200 mm/a in the south west to 3200 mm/a in the States Wet Tropics region

Generally, rainfall is highest near the coast and decreases further inland highly variable

Queenslands Runoff Around 53 percent of the States total

runoff of approx 160,000 GL/a (about 40% of Australias total) comes from catchments on the States east coast

41 percent of runoff occurs in the sparsely populated catchments that drain to the Gulf of Carpentaria

6% of the water in rivers drains to inland river systems and less than 5% occurs in the heavily populated SEQ region

Runoff from catchments on the north- east coast and in the Gulf is heavily associated with tropical cyclones highly variable

Great Artesian Basin

Largest known artesian basin in the world;

Covers an area of more than 1.7 million square kilometres.

Stores 64.9 million GL of water. Underlies more than 65% of

QLD. Currently, 1.5 GL/day is

discharged from the basin. Sole source of water for stock

and domestic use in many areas.

Qld Rainfall Change 50th Percentile Annual (CSIRO/BOM 2007)

Water Use in Queensland

11%

10%

4%2%

2%5%

67%

Agriculture

Household

Water supply, sewerage and drainageservicesManufacturing

Mining

Electricity and gas

Other industries

Source: ABS

Total average annual water consumption is about 4,500 GL/a

Water in Queensland

Water supplies are drawn from a variety of sources: Unsupplemented Surface Water; Supplemented Surface Water; and Groundwater.

Although proportions vary from area to area, each of these sources accounts for around 1/3 of total water use

Qld has 21 dams with a capacity exceeding 100 GL These dams are owned by either the State Government

(SunWater, SEQwater) or Local Governments About 12,500 tradable water access entitlements have been

granted with a total volume of about 4,055 GL and a value of over $4 billion

Queensland Department of Environment and Resources Management

In Qld, the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) is the State Governments lead agency

for policy, legislation and programs relating to the planning and management of the States environment and natural resources, including water resources.

DERM works together with industry, community, landholders, Local Governments and other agencies with the aim that the management of water is efficient, effective, innovative, responsible and balanced, and sustainable.

State Governments are not accountable to the Commonwealth Government, although they receive significant funding from the Commonwealth and hence are subject to its influence. The exception is the Murray Darling Basin States have given rights for setting sustainable diversion limits, environmental watering plans, water quality and salinity management plans, and water market rules back to the Commonwealth.

DERMs Role: key areas of responsibility (Strategic Plan 2010-2014)

Delivering fit-for-purpose services to our clients Meeting the challenge of climate change

Ecosystems are healthy, protected and bio-diverse Managing Queenslands land, water and vegetation resources

responsibly Protecting and enhancing the states natural environment and

cultural heritage Securing water for Queenslands future

Water and Ecosystem OutcomesWater & Ecosystem

Outcomes

Strategic Water Initiatives

Water Allocation and Planning

Water Quality and Accounting

Urban Water Policy and Management

Strategic Water Programs and Projects

Strategic WaterPolicy

Water Legislation,Policy and Pricing

Regional WaterSupplies

Water Planning South West

Water Planning Central

Water Planning North

Water Planning South East

Water Management

Healthy Waters Policy

Water Accounting

Water Information and Systems

Water Efficiency Programs

Urban Water Policy

Water SupplyRegulation

Improvement

Sustainable Water Entity Governance

Strategic Water Plans and Partnerships

Strategic Water Planning Policy & Support

Ecosystem Outcomes

Environment Regulation

Wild Rivers

Vegetation Management

Biodiversity Offsets and Assessment

LWMP/One PlanRegulatory Simplification

Queenslands water management challengesDeclining groundwater and environmental condition in some areas

Increasing population and challenges in supporting lifestyle and economic growth

Efficient and sustainable water resource development, use and management

Securing safe and reliable water supplies for towns and industries

Responding to climate change and extreme climate variability

Maintaining knowledge, skills and capacity

Record droughts and floods

Increasing costs for new water supply sources

Water reform approach in Queensland

to ensure commercial

viability of water service

provision

to define product and

price

to define relationship

between dam owner,

customer/water user and regulator

PricingReform

EntitlementsReform

InstitutionalReform

Planning Reform

to ensure certainty, security, transparency and confidence on planning outcomes/processes

- All underpinned by best available science and active stakeholder engagement

Outcomes

In the context of water, Queensland is focussed on achieving the following outcomes:

Healthy river and aquatic systems Efficient and sustainable water use and management Bulk water supply security Safe drinking water quality Asset reliability/infrastructure capability Streamlined and effective regulation Capable and skilled water industry Resilient regional communities

Queenslands water management solutions

Increasing water efficiency and improving demand management

Increasing source diversity and climate resilient supplies to reduce risks

Increasing recycling and water reuse

Integrating and optimizing system performance to achieve agreed levels of service

Institutional, pricing and management reforms

Planning reforms based on total water cycle, best available information and empowered communities

Develop and manage water supplies within sustainable resource limits

Skilled and efficient water industry

Concluding Remarks

Sustainable water management and water supply security are still critically important issues in Queensland/Australia

Queensland has extensive experience and capability in achieving multiple outcomes for the water sector and is looking to further engage with other partners and parties in local and international water business

More information on Queensland Government activities from our Websites

www.derm.qld.gov.auwww.qwc.qld.gov.auwww.water.qld.gov.au

Thank you!

Overview of water resources and water management in Queensland Slide Number 2Presentation OutlineSlide Number 4About QueenslandQueenslands Annual RainfallQueenslands RunoffGreat Artesian BasinQld Rainfall Change 50th Percentile Annual (CSIRO/BOM 2007) Water Use in QueenslandWater in QueenslandQueensland Department of Environment and Resources ManagementDERMs Role: key areas of responsibility (Strategic Plan 2010-2014) Slide Number 14Water and Ecosystem Outcomes Queenslands water management challengesWater reform approach in QueenslandOutcomes Queenslands water management solutionsConcluding Remarks