Farmers in South East Queensland are worried about the reliability of their water supply. One way to improve this is by upgrading existing water supply schemes and making better use of what we already have without needing major new infrastructure. These upgrades can help deliver water more efficiently, support drought resilience and improve farm productivity.
What is a water supply scheme?
It is a system designed to move water from a source, like a dam, to farmers in a set area. It includes infrastructure like pumps, pipes and open channels.
What would potential improvements involve?
There are a range of simple and cost-effective improvements to boost water availability across key agricultural areas such as the Lockyer Valley, Warrill Valley, and Logan Basin, without building major new infrastructure.
Lockyer Valley scheme upgrades
- Use better water monitoring and flow tracking tools.
- Improve forecasting and water management to capture more water for use.
- Upgrade pumping systems at Clarendon Dam and Mortonvale.
Unlocking underused water
- Investigate additional water available from the Swanbank Power Station (Warrill Valley scheme).
- Explore underused water sources near Beaudesert.
Smarter water ordering
- Look at changing how often water is released and at what flow rates, based on real orders from water users.
Managing water in drought
- Trial a new “Medium-to-High Class” water allocation to give farmers more certainty during dry periods.
What does this mean for farmers?
- More reliable water access and better drought resilience.
- New opportunities to expand or invest in farms.
- More flexible and fair water trading.
- Smarter, more sustainable water use.
We are inviting feedback from farmers, industry, and the community to help shape the future of water for agriculture in SEQ. Consultation is open until 12 December 2025.
