Mary Valley Scheme

The scheme was established to support irrigation in sugar, dairy and horticulture sectors following construction of Borumba Dam in 1964.

The Scheme includes the ponded area of Borumba Dam and stretches downstream along Yabba Creek for 31 kilometres, then downstream along the Mary River for a further 142 kilometres to the end of the scheme west of Tiaro.

Pie Creek is a diversion system consisting of 4.5 kilometres of channel and 6.8 kilometres of pipeline to divert water from the Mary River, via the Pie Creek Pump Station, into Pie Creek, McIntosh Creek and Callico Creek.

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. 

For any irrigators who were not party to a water supply contract when the scheme came under the Mary Basin Resource Operations Plan, 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.

A copy of the deemed standard river supply contract may be accessed here.

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.

Customers of the Pie Creek supply system are required to also be a party to a distribution supply contract. This is because water is diverted from the Mary River to supply irrigators via the infrastructure and creeks that comprise the Pie Creek supply system. Any irrigators who were not party to a distribution supply contract when the scheme came under the Mary Basin Resource Operations Plan are deemed to be party to a standard distribution contract.

A copy of the deemed standard distribution supply contract may be accessed here.

Announced Allocations

Water year:  2023-24

Medium Priority:  100%

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

Customers are encouraged to obtain information about their available water balances (ML) by calling their Irrigation Team on 1300 737 928 or email [email protected]

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 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.

Service targets

Service targets for the Mary Valley Water Supply Scheme may be accessed here.

From 2016-17, Seqwater will publish annual performance reports detailing our performance against each target.

Further information

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