Pioneer Valley water plan

We are reviewing and replacing the Water Plan (Pioneer Valley) 2002 to continue the sustainable management of water in the area. To give enough time for this work, the Minister for Water has extended the expiry of the current water plan to 30 September 2025.

About the water plan area

The Pioneer Valley water plan area (map) (PDF, 1MB) is approximately 2,400km² and can be found west of Mackay, Central Queensland. The water plan supports the water needs of several urban and regional centres including Mackay, Walkerston, Eton, Mirani and Marian.

The catchment includes:

• Pioneer River
• Cattle Creek
• Finch Hatton Creek
• Owens Creek
• Sandy Creek
• Bakers Creek
• McGregor Creek

The water plan manages surface water, and underground water in aquifers, but does not regulate overland flow. The plan area includes two water supply schemes (WSS)–the Pioneer River WSS and Eton WSS–providing water crop farms and for people living in Mackay. Infrastructure for storing bulk amounts of water includes the Mirani, Marian and Dumbleton weirs, and Teemburra and Kinchant dams.

The water plan ensures any development of new water infrastructure is done in an ecologically sustainable way. This protects the important environmental processes, ecological needs (for plants and animals) and heritage values that exist in the area.

The Pioneer Valley water plan aims to support water-related cultural values of First Nations peoples in the plan area and to help them achieve their social and economic aspirations.

Public consultation

The first round of public consultation closed on 18 November 2022.

We are considering all submissions as we develop the replacement Pioneer Valley water plan.

We are meeting directly with the community throughout the review process, and there will be another opportunity for public submissions when we have a draft water plan.

Engagement

Early and ongoing engagement is a critical component in the review and development of the replacement water plan. We are engaging with people to help the community understand the water plan development process, discuss issues and opportunities, and ultimately improve the plan itself.

Engagement provides the opportunity to draw on people’s collective knowledge, and to build collaborative support and involvement in the water planning process. We believe that through active, genuine and cooperative engagement we will achieve a sustainable water plan for the Pioneer Valley.

The review process

From when we start a review to when the new plan is formally adopted takes several years.

Learn more about the five steps of the process.

Current status

The status of this review is step two. To help us draft a new water plan, we are:

• reviewing feedback received from the public consultation
• continuing consultation
• doing technical assessments.

Future steps

Step three: We will release the draft for a second round of public consultation.

Step four: We will review and finalise the water plan.

Step five: We will put the new water plan in place.

Infrastructure

The scope of this review is limited to the management and allocation of water. Any issues or comments relating to the assessment or approval of infrastructure proposals should be referred to the Office of the Coordinator-General.

More information

• Contact the water planning team by calling 1800 822 100 (toll free) during business hours or emailing NorthWPS@rdmw.qld.gov.au
• See a map of the Pioneer Valley water plan area (PDF, 1MB)
• Read more about water management in the Pioneer Valley under the current plan
• Access the latest Minister's performance assessment report (PDF, 2MB)
• Understand the process to review and replace a water plan.
• Use our interactive story map "Science for water planning" to explore the ways we use science to develop, monitor, review and evaluate water plans.
• Watch our short video "What is a water plan?"