Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
major population centres. Non-consumptive uses of the water resources in the
Burnett Basin support economic industries, such as tourism and commercial
fishing, and recreational activities for local residents.
From 1998 to 2000 the Queensland state government developed a water
resource plan for the major rivers in the basin. The Water Resource Plan
defines the overall limits on extraction and set objectives and management
targets for environmental flows and water supply security. It was followed
by development of a Resource Operations Plan (ROP) that defined in some
detail the management actions that would be applied to achieve the defined
objectives and targets (Table 7.2).
Table 7.2
Options considered in developing the Burnett Water Resource Plan
Action
Benefit
Cost
Government build new dams and
subsequently issue new water
entitlements
Greater economic
production, recreational
benefits of reservoirs
Financial cost;
Risk to ecosystems
Requirement to operate dams and
weirs to achieve low- and medium-
flow targets, limit rates of rise and
fall downstream, and comply with
minimum water levels for recreational
purposes and aquatic refuge
Reduced risk of loss
of recreational benefits
and damage to aquatic
ecosystems
Lower immediate
economic benefits
Build and operate fishways on dams
and weirs
Reduced risk to fish
populations
Financial cost
Barrage operation rules to prevent
saltwater intrusion
Reduced loss of
economic production
and ecosystems due to
salinisation of lower river
Financial cost
Conversion of existing water
extraction authorisations to tradeable
water allocations
Individual water users
have greater flexibility
to manage for risk
Overall economic
benefits increased
Financial cost of
administration;
Greater risk of third
party and environmental
impacts due to movement
of water entitlements
Enforceable annual allocation volumes
for water entitlements according to
specified rules and formulae designed
to allow for future reserves and water
for the environment
Improved water security
for towns and economic
production in droughts;
Reduced risk to
ecosystems
Financial cost of
administration and
enforcement
Limit extraction of water from low
flows in rivers without dams or weirs
through statutory conditions
Reduced risk to
ecosystems
Financial cost of
administration and
enforcement
