This strategy considers the critical issues affecting Queensland’s water-related priorities. Addressing these will lead the way to more sustainable water outcomes for all Queenslanders over the next five years, and beyond. Queensland’s regulatory systems and sound environmental practice frameworks are well regarded.
They provide a great base upon which the private sector can keep building its environmental, social and governance credentials.
By building on established frameworks and planning carefully, the Queensland Water Strategy is holistic and balances competing priorities.
From food bowls to grazing lands and coastal catchments to channel country: the planning, infrastructure, science and innovation involved in moving water to homes, farms and businesses is a vital and often unseen service. Securing water for diverse regions and the environment relies on expertise, effective water management plans, and partnerships across our state.
We consider the whole water cycle to strike the fine balance required for the future of water management, leading to more resilient catchments and communities.
A big picture
The scope of water needs and services in Queensland is vast and growing.
- Since 2015 $5.2 billion invested in water infrastructure.
- Population of 9.2 million projected by 2073.
- Water measured at 10 million megalitres.
- Over 41, 600 individual water entitlements (as at 2023).
- Water plans based on major catchments.
- Regional water assessment areas
Water service providers play an important role in supporting our economy, lifestyle and environment. These cover:
- 75 water service providers
- 259 sewerage treatment plants
- 1.09 million connected properties.
We manage water resources in Queensland with the support of the sector, including:
- bulk water entities (Seqwater, Sunwater, Gladstone Area Water Board and Mount Isa Water Board)
- two distributor–retailers (Unitywater and Urban Utilities) and three local governments (City of Gold Coast, Logan City Council and Redland City Council) in South East Queensland
- a further 67 local governments outside South East Queensland.
Major infrastructure includes:
- Awoonga Dam
- Big Rocks Weir
- Borumba Dam
- Burdekin Falls Dam raising
- Coolmunda Dam
- Fred Haigh Dam pump station
- Fitzroy to Gladstone pipeline
- Haughton-Townsville pipeline (stage 1 and 2)
- Hughenden water bank
- Lake MacDonald
- Lansdown Eco-industrial Precinct pipeline
- Lower Burdekin groundwater improvement
- Mareeba-Dimbulah Water Supply Scheme improvement project
- Mount Morgan pipeline
- North Pine Dam
- Paradise Dam improvement works
- Rookwood Weir
- Somerset Dam
- South East Queensland water grid
- Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline
- Warrens Gully modernisation
- Wivenhoe Dam
More information
Queensland water explorer lets you view and compare data provided by urban water and sewerage service providers.
Last updated: 17 May 2024