The Queensland Government has announced it will develop a long-term solution to protect water quality in the Fitzroy Basin catchment.

 

Minister for State Development, Jeff Seeney, told the Fitzroy Water Quality Advisory Group that a permanent strategy for water management of the Fitzroy Basin was needed, and would be delivered by the Government.

 

He told the Group that the Government would investigate the feasibility of establishing a salinity trading system for the Basin.

 

“We need a solution that is firmly based on science, establishing for the first time a set of principles about how excess water from the coal mines is released into the river system,” Mr Seeney said.

 

We need to ensure that different industries can co-exist and we can sustain economic development, while water quality is maintained at acceptable levels for the basin’s communities.

 

“Water quality needs to be as good or better than it is today.”

 

Mr Seeney said the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, which has a salinity trading scheme, may provide a model for the future of the Fitzroy Basin.

 

“The Hunter Valley is like the Fitzroy Basin – it drains the largest coastal catchment in NSW and contains 20 big coal mines, three power stations and a wide range of agricultural activities, “ Mr Seeney said.

 

“It’s salinity trading system has cut salt levels in the Hunter River by 20 per cent over the last 10 years.

 

Mr Seeney said the Government would initiate a pilot release of water from four mines in the upper Isaac River during the coming wet season.