Policy consultations

South East Queensland region groundwaters environmental values and water quality objectives

The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (department) is sought submissions on the consultation materials for the South East Queensland region groundwaters environmental values and water quality objectives.

Environmental values and water quality objectives approved under the Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019 inform statutory decision-making under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and inform relevant non-statutory environmental management decisions.

The consultation materials include the following documents:

There is also a summary document that provided an overview of the proposed Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019 amendment for South East Queensland groundwaters.

The geographical scope of the SEQ groundwaters included those underlying the Noosa River, Maroochy River, Pine Rivers, Brisbane River, Stradbroke Island, Logan and Albert Rivers, and South Coast rivers basins.

The Groundwater Report identifies the groundwater aquifer classes, with each aquifer class divided into multiple groundwater chemistry zones. Chemistry zone boundaries and environmental values are shown in the accompanying plans. The water quality percentiles for the key water quality indicators are shown for each chemistry zone. They inform the derivation of aquatic ecosystem water quality objectives.

The Groundwater Report has informed the environmental values and water quality objectives in the Draft Schedule 1 Document and plans for the South East Queensland groundwaters.

The final environmental values and water quality objectives for the SEQ groundwaters will be recommended for inclusion under Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019.

All submissions will be considered in the finalisation of the Groundwater Report, the Schedule 1 Document and accompanying plans.

Submissions have closed

The Department is now working towards finalising the South East Queensland region groundwaters environmental values and water quality objectives.

Further information

Please email all enquiries to evinfo@detsi.qld.gov.au