Central Brisbane River Scheme

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.

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.

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.

Water supply contract

The Water Act 2000 requires that the holder of a water allocation in this scheme must have a supply contract with Seqwater. 

When the scheme came under the Moreton Resource Operations Plan in December 2009, irrigators in the scheme were not already party to a supply contract with Seqwater. In cases like this, the Water Act 2000 provides for a standard water supply contract to apply. In other words, a standard supply contract is statutorily deemed to be in place between each customer and Seqwater when a supply contract is not already in place.

You can download a copy of the deemed standard supply contract.

When a water allocation is sold, the purchaser of the water allocation is required to enter into a water supply contract with Seqwater before the transfer of the water allocation is able to be completed. For further information please contact us at [email protected] or call 1300 737 928.

Announced allocations

Water year:  2023-24

High Class A priority announced allocations:  100%
Medium priority announced allocations:  100%

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].

Announced Allocation effective 1 July 2023 and will be applicable until 30 June 2024.

History of announced allocations

In development - to be supplied.

Operational Report

Water trading

If you have entered into a contract of sale to purchase a water allocation (with or without land) and the water allocations are managed under a Resource Operations Licence held by Seqwater, then you will need to make application with Seqwater.  

Although Seqwater’s approval is not required for a permanent water allocation trade, the purchaser needs to enter into a water supply contract with Seqwater before Seqwater can provide the purchaser with a Notice of Existence of a Supply Contract form.  

The Queensland Titles office will not register the change of a water allocation without this form. Click here for our guide to the process for a permanent transfer of a water allocation. You will also need to complete the Permanent Transfer of Water Allocation Form.

Customers wishing to enter into seasonal assignments or temporary trades of water need to complete a Temporary Transfer Application Form. The local conditions are to be read in conjunction with the Seasonal Water Assignment (Temporary Transfer) Form. Completed forms may be returned by email to [email protected] or by post to PO Box 328, Ipswich QLD 4305.

Service standard

Individual processing times can vary due to individual circumstances such as:

  • whether your application has been lodged correctly and includes all the necessary supporting documents
  • the time it takes to perform required checks on the supporting information provided
  • whether there are any outstanding invoices.

Our standard processing time:

Seasonal Water Assignment: 10 business days

Water Supply Contract: 20 business days 

Water year

The water year starts 1 July and ends 30 June.

Scheme map

Download the scheme map

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]