This website will provide information on water management in the Fitzroy River catchment which includes the Dawson, Comet, Nogoa, Isaac-Connors, Mackenzie and Fitzroy rivers. Due to its immense size and fan-like shape, this catchment can produce severe flooding after heavy rainfall.
This occurred in early 2008, causing the overflow of the Fairbairn Dam, inundation of the township of Emerald and flooding of mines in the region. As subsequent discharging of the water from these mines had a negative effect on water quality downstream, the Queensland Government commissioned the following reports:
Read more about managing water quality in the Fitzroy catchment
The government has established the Fitzroy Water Quality Advisory Group to advise it on implementing recommendations in the government commissioned reports, and to be a conduit for information on managing water-related issues in the Fitzroy River Basin.
Projects initiated by the government to address recommendations in the reports commissioned following the 2008 flooding include:
At its inaugural meeting on 11 August 2009, the Fitzroy Water Quality Advisory Group began planning for the future management of water quality in the Fitzroy River Basin. The group, which will work with the Queensland Government and local communities, will ensure that information on water quality projects is made available to the public, and will provide minutes of its meetings on this site.
After the 2008 floods and the subsequent effects of mine water discharges, the government carried out extensive monitoring to determine the impacts on local water quality.
Find out more about the maintenance of:
You can also view streamflow data for the Fitzroy River catchment.
Who to contact if you need further information or have a specific concern about a water issue in the Fitzroy River Catchment.
Last updated: 07 September 2009