Post on 21-Oct-2014
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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