Queensland Murray-Darling and Bulloo basins
In October 2020, environmental values (EVs) and water quality objectives (WQOs) for Queensland waters in the Murray-Darling and Bulloo basins were included in schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy—the EPP (Water and Wetland Biodiversity).
Map
Waters extend from the Condamine Basin in the east to the Bulloo Basin in the west. Overview map of Queensland Murray-Darling and Bulloo basin .
Status
EPP (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Schedule 1 amendments for the Queensland Murray-Darling and Bulloo basins were approved in 2020.
EPP Water – scheduled Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives
Waters | Basin no. | Schedule 1—Document | Schedule 1—Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
Surface Waters | |||
Queensland Border Rivers and Moonie River Basins, including all surface waters of the basins | Basins 416, 417 | ||
Warrego, Paroo and Bulloo Rivers and Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creeks Basins, including all surface waters of the basins | Basins 011, 422, 423, 444 | Warrego, Paroo and Bulloo Rivers and Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creeks Basins | |
Maranoa-Balonne Rivers Basin, including all surface waters of the basins | Part of Basin 422 | ||
Condamine River Basin, including all surface waters of the Basin | Part of Basin 422 | ||
Groundwaters | |||
Queensland Murray-Darling basin and Bulloo River basin, including all groundwaters of the Border River basin, the Bulloo River basin, the Condamine River basin, the Maranoa-Balonne River basin, the Moonie River basin, the Paroo River basin, the Warrego River basin and Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam creeks basin | Basins 011, 416, 417, 422, 423 and 424 | GWQ4163 Sediments Overlying the Great Artesian Basin Zones GWQ4164 Qld Murray Darling and Paroo Basin Groundwater Upper Great Artesian Basin GWQ4165 Main Great Artesian Basin Aquitard Zones GWQ4166 Mid Great Artesian Basin Aquifer Zones GWQ4167 Lower Great Artesian Basin Zones GWQ4168 Basal Great Artesian Basin Zones GWQ4169 Earlier Basins Partially Underlying the Great Artesian Basin | |
Healthy Waters Management Plans
The Queensland Murray-Darling and Bulloo Basin Healthy Water Management Plans (HWMPs) are part of the package of documents developed by the Queensland Government to meet the Commonwealth water quality requirements under the Basin Plan 2012. Four HWMPs have been prepared for the Queensland Murray-Darling and Bulloo basins and have been approved by the Australian Government to meet Queensland’s accreditation requirements for relevant water quality sections under the Basin Plan 2012.
- Healthy Waters Management Plan: Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine Basin
- Healthy Waters Management Plan: Queensland Border Rivers and Moonie River Basins
- Healthy Waters Management Plan: Condamine River Basin
- Healthy Waters Management Plan: Maranoa and Balonne River Basin
Supporting documents
- Consultation Summary Report: Healthy Waters Management Plan for the Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine
- Fish assemblages as indicators of ecosystem health in the Condamine-Balonne River system
- Ground cover report 2015: Queensland Murray-Darling Basin
- Queensland draft macroinvertebrate guidelines Murray-Darling and Bulloo catchments
Spatial datasets
Once finalised, spatial datasets for scheduled areas will be available from the Queensland Spatial Catalogue, QSpatial. Search for ‘EPP’.
Store and release code of practice
The Queensland Government and Cotton Australia have prepared a code of practice for the release of water from farm storages to the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin . The code of practice assists local farmers storing and releasing water to the Basin to meet their general environmental duty under the Environmental Protection Act. An explanatory guide is also available.
Source catchments water quality modelling
The Queensland Government has developed source catchments water quality models for the Queensland section of the Murray-Darling Basin. The Queensland Murray-Darling Basin Water Quality Models were built to assist in developing Water Quality Objectives, as well as to inform water quality management actions in the HWMPs.
Socioeconomic report for the protection of EVs
The Queensland Government commissioned Marsden Jacob Associates to conduct a socioeconomic assessment on the value of protecting and enhancing environmental values and water quality in the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin.
Contact details
For further information please contact the Healthy Waters Policy and Strategy Team:
- by email at evinfo@des.qld.gov.au
- by mail to the Healthy Waters Policy and Strategy Team at GPO Box 2454, Brisbane Qld 4001