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Managing water quality in the Fitzroy River catchment

In early 2008, parts of Central Queensland were hit by unprecedented rainfall that caused the Fairbairn Dam to overflow, flooding the township of Emerald. A number of mines in the region were also inundated and the area was declared a disaster zone. The most significant flooding, in terms of damages and rarity, was in the Nogoa, Belyando and Warrego rivers.

The following report by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology summarises and analyses the meteorology and hydrology of the event.

• Central and Western Queensland Floods—January 2008 (PDF)*

After the floods, it was determined that the longer the water remained in the large mine pits, the more its quality would decrease, and the greater would be its potential to have a negative effect on natural waterways, the aquatic environment and water users in the region.

Release of entrapped water

Under emergency provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1994, the Queensland government allowed the affected mines to discharge flood waters to nearby streams, subject to strict conditions based on the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000). (PDF)*

Ensham Coal Mine near Emerald, flooded with an estimated 150,000 megalitres of water, was one of the most severely affected. It was therefore authorised to discharge this water to the Nogoa River, which ultimately flows into the Fitzroy. Since then, water in the river has been monitored to assess any potential impacts.

Effect on water quality

In August 2008, water quality results for Bedford Weir downstream of Ensham Coal Mine indicated that salinity was increasing, and that domestic water supplies for some townships using this source for their drinking water were being affected.

Ensham Mine voluntarily ceased discharging water from the mine on 9 September 2008.

A monitoring program was established to determine the effect of the mine water discharges on irrigation and stock watering and aquatic ecosystem health. 

• Agricultural water usage summary (PDF, 35K)*. Data in this report was assessed against ANZECC/ARMCANZ guidelines for agricultural uses.
• Aquatic ecosystem health summary (PDF, 97K)*.

Queensland Government response

In response to the event, the Queensland Government formed the Technical Working Group to further investigate the situation, and monitor water quality in the catchment. This group continues in the form of the Fitzroy Water Quality Advisory Group. The Queensland Government also commissioned the following reports:

• Review of the Fitzroy River Water Quality Issues by Professor Barry Hart
• A study of the cumulative impacts on water quality of mining activities in the Fitzroy River Basin 

The government also initiated projects aimed at understanding, improving and reporting on the region’s water quality.

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