Central Brisbane River and Stanley River Schemes

The Central Brisbane River Water Supply Scheme was established in 1980 to enable irrigation of up to 1,000 hectares of land in the area.

The Scheme covers the part of the Brisbane River from Mount Crosby Weir upstream to and including the ponded area of Wivenhoe Dam (see map). Irrigation customers hold just 2.5% of total nominal water allocations in the scheme.

Wivenhoe Dam and Somerset Dam are currently operating under amended Full Supply Levels as part of the Somerset Dam Improvement Project. These amended levels equate to approximately 90% for Wivenhoe Dam and 80% for Somerset Dam. Under the existing water sharing rules, the lowered water levels effectively reduce the volume of water available to allocate to medium priority allocation holders.

Scheme Operations Manual: Central Brisbane River WSS Operations Manual and Stanley River WSS Operations Manual

Resource Operations Licence: Central Brisbane WSS Resource Operations Licence (ROL) and Stanley River WSS Resource Operations Licence (ROL)

Water year: The water year starts 1 July and ends 30 June

Scheme map: Central Brisbane scheme map

Announced allocations

Water year
2026-27

Allocation

High priority: 100%
Medium priority: 100%

Announced allocation effective
1 July 2026 - 30 June 2027

If you have pumping equipment installed you will need to report your estimated usage (including zero usage) at the end of each quarter until your water meter is installed. Please complete the water usage log and return within seven working days of the end of the quarter to [email protected].

Central Brisbane River Water Supply Scheme Operations Manual

The operating and water sharing rules in the Central Brisbane River Water Supply Scheme Operations Manual were updated and updates approved by the Department of Natural Resources Mines & Energy (DNRME) in November 2020.

The changes made were:

  • Amending the full supply volumes for Somerset Dam and Wivenhoe Dam to be consistent with the updated full supply levels (due to the Somerset Dam Improvement Project) as shown in the Resource Operations Licence for the Stanley River and Central Brisbane River Water Supply Schemes.

Meter validation

If you are the holder of a water allocation greater than 5ML, you must take water through an approved meter. Approved meters must be validated periodically to ensure they are working correctly and continue to meet the Queensland interim water meter standard for non-urban metering.

Read more about Central Brisbane River Meter Validation

Water trading

For information about permanent water allocation transfers, seasonal assignments, temporary trades, application forms, service standards and Customer Connect, visit our Water trading page. This page provides the full process and requirements for buying, selling or trading water allocations.

See the latest sale price for seasonal water assignments

Water supply contract

For information about water supply contract requirements, deemed contracts and water allocation transfers, view our Water supply contracts page.

Download a copy of the Central Brisbane River Scheme deemed standard supply contract.

Reports

Scheme Performance Report

The annual Scheme Performance Report (SPR) - previously known as Network Service Report (NSP) - contains scheme information such as historical water usage information and covers both operating and renewals expenditure and future material renewal forecast expenditure. The current year annual SPR and prior year annual NSPs can be accessed via the links below.

Operational Report

Customer consultation

Seqwater holds customer consultation forums at least annually to consult on the network service plan and customer service standards as well as other Scheme issues that may arise from time to time.  Attendance at customer consultation forums is open to all irrigation customers of the Scheme and other stakeholders.

The date, time and location of the next consultation forum will be advised.

Further information

For further information or if you have any questions please contact us at [email protected]