The Queensland Government is calling on the community of the Gladstone region to submit their views on two new draft water resource plans (WRPs) being prepared for the Boyne River Basin.

State Minister for Natural Resources, Andrew Cripps, said that the draft plans include major strategies for allocating and managing water resources in the area.

“This is the first time in Queensland that both the strategic and operational components of water resource planning have been prepared under a single process,” Mr Cripps said.

“The provisions in the new draft plans will ensure that the industrial and town water requirements for Gladstone continue to be met while improving environmental outcomes downstream of Awoonga Dam.

“The draft WRP takes lessons learned under the previous plan and establishes and updated framework that continues to support irrigated agriculture and future industrial growth in the region over the next 10 years.”

Interested parties have until Friday 2 August 2013 to lodge submissions on the new draft Boyne River Basin WRP and draft ROP.

More information about the draft water plans, overview report, technical assessments, submission forms and how to make a submission are available at: www.dnrm.qld.gov.au