DECISION NO. CABINET MINUTE

BRISBANE, p('/ I // 119//

Use of Wate r from Brisbane River Below Wive nhoe Dam.

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C 0 N F I D E N T I A L C A B I N E T M I N U T E Brisbane, 28th November, 1988

Decision No. 55604

Submission No. 50117 TITLE: Use of Hater from Brisbane River ­ Below iJivenhoe Darn.

CABINET decided:-

That Paragraph 2 of Cabinet Decision No. 33534 of 25th August, CD 1980, be rescinded and the following be approved:- c ...... Wivenhoe Dam and Mount Crosby Weir, 0 ~ () with licenses to be granted for a period not exceeding three ::::J years. 0- ... 0 (b) That charges for water diverted for purposes other than ~ G> n irrigation purposes be levied at $110 per megalitre in il 1988/1989 with charges for future years being indexed G) 0 according to C.P.I. movements. :J ::J,.... 0 - .... c.> f ~ CIRCULATION: Water Resources Commission and copy to Minister. Premier's Department and copy to Premier and Treasurer. Treasury Department and copy to Minister. Queensland Electricity Commission and copy to Minister. Department of Primary Industries and copy to Minister. All other Ministers for perusal and return.

Certified

Secretary to Cabinet. 50 11 7

Submission No.

Copy No. 2\ SECURITY CLASSIFICATION "C" - CONFIDENTIAL

F 0 R C A B I N E T

USE OF WATER FROM BRISBANE RIVER

BELOW WIVENHOE DAM

1. PURPOSE OF SUBMISSION

This Submission proposes that Cabinet Decision No. 33534 be rescinded in part so that more effective use can be made of water supplies drawn from the Brisbane River below Wivenhoe Dam.

2. BACKGROUND

Paragraph 2 of Cabinet Decision No. 33534 of 25th August, 1980 determined:-

"That the Commissioner of Water Resources be authorised to issue licenses, under the provisions of the Water Act, to allow irrigation up to 1 000 hectares (7 000 megalitres) from the Brisbane River between Wivenhoe Dam and Mount Crosby Weir, with licenses to be granted for a period not exceeding five years."

The accompanying Submission, No. 29918 of 22nd August, 1980 proposed that with the full commitment of Wivenhoe Dam not being expected before the year 2010, it was reasonable to allow for the irrigation of 1 000 hectares of land below the Dam. The water requirement for that purpose was estimated to not exceed 7 000 megalitres.

3. PRESENT SITUATION

Licenses have now been issued which authorise the irrigation of 1 000 hectares. Further authorities totalling around 14 hectares of irrigation have been requested plus an application to divert water for other than irrigation purposes.

Irrigation experience now indicates that water use is less than originally estimated and that the likely annual level of diversions for the 1 000 hectares is probably nearer to 4 000 rnegalitres rather than 7 000 rnegalitres. This lower level of use provides an opportunity to authorise the outstanding applications for 14 hectares of irrigation. In addition, an application has been proposed for a granite mining company to divert up to 350 megalitres annually from the Brisbane River.

The consequences of approving these applications are minimal, particularly since total use will still be within the 7 000 megalitres previously endorsed.

4. CHARGES

Cabinet has previously determined (Decision No. 36061 of 21st September, 1981) that there be no charges for water diverted for irrigation.

Charges for industrial purposes, such as the granite mining proposal, logically should be similar to those set by the Brisbane and Area Water Board. This was $106 per megalitre for 1987/88.

5. RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that Paragraph 2 of Cabinet Decision No. 33534 of 25th August, 1980 be rescinded and the following be approved.

(a) That the Commissioner of Water Resources be authorised to issue licenses, under the provisions of the Water Act, to allow the diversion of up to 7 000 rnegalitres of water from the Brisbane River between Wivenhoe Dam and Mount Crosby Weir, y,·i th licenses to be granted for a period not exceeding three years.

(b) That charges for water diverted for purposes other than irrigation purposes be levied at $110 per megalitre in 1988/89 with charges for future years being indexed according to C.P.I. movements.

DON NEAL Minister for Water Resources and Maritime Services

Brisbane, 23rd November, 1988.