Queensland proposes floodwater harvesting in Lake Eyre Basin
A draft water plan would expand access for farming and public amenities, while downstream producers question the potential impact on river flows.
The Queensland government has proposed allowing floodwater harvesting for limited agricultural uses and public amenities in the Georgina and Diamantina catchment, prompting concerns about effects on downstream grazing and wetlands.
Queensland Department of Water executive Chris Wake said the draft would permit access to up to 1,000 megalitres for fodder crops to help withstand drought, organic livestock supply chains or public amenities. The proposal would also increase unallocated water to 27,000 megalitres, twice the existing amount.
The existing plan expires in 2027 and permits landholders to collect floodwater without a licence for household needs or livestock. Seasonal flooding in the catchment can carry water through the Channel Country to South Australia's Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre.
Cattle producer David Batt, whose Nuken Station property is near the Diamantina River's headwaters, supported the opportunity to grow fodder but said harvesting should depend on flood height. Downstream organic cattle producer Janet Brook warned that removing water could reduce flooding across grazing land and limit grass growth. She said the draft did not explain how the combined effects of water extraction would be managed.
A June 2026 environmental assessment by the Department of Water found that catchment flow modelling was unavailable. It also found the catchment's total water volume was unknown and effects on wetlands were poorly understood. Desert Channels Queensland chief executive David Phelps said the draft did not make clear how harvesting would occur or what controls would apply.
Queensland Water Minister Ann Leahy said the government would consider further modelling and sought feedback from landholders, residents, traditional owners and councils. Consultation closes on 16 December.
