{"id":"qld:sl-2016-0006","name":"Water Plan (Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine) 2016","slug":"water-plan-warrego-paroo-bulloo-and-nebine-2016","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"6 of 2016","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":175125,"registerId":"qld-qld:sl-2016-0006-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"ch.5-pt.1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Preliminary","content":"# Preliminary","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"sec.18","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application of this chapter","content":"### sec.18 Application of this chapter\n\nThis chapter applies to a decision made by the chief executive about the allocation or management of water in the plan area, other than a decision about a water permit.\ns 18 amd 2017 SL No. 103 s 170","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"sec.19","sectionType":"section","heading":"Decision to not increase amount of water taken","content":"### sec.19 Decision to not increase amount of water taken\n\nThis section applies to a decision, other than a decision about—\ntaking unallocated water under section 23 ; or\ntaking or interfering with groundwater that is not in a groundwater unit.\nThe chief executive must not make a decision that would increase—\nthe average volume of water that may be taken under this plan; or\nthe total nominal entitlement for taking groundwater under this plan.\n(sec.19-ssec.1) This section applies to a decision, other than a decision about— taking unallocated water under section 23 ; or taking or interfering with groundwater that is not in a groundwater unit.\n(sec.19-ssec.2) The chief executive must not make a decision that would increase— the average volume of water that may be taken under this plan; or the total nominal entitlement for taking groundwater under this plan.\n- (a) taking unallocated water under section 23 ; or\n- (b) taking or interfering with groundwater that is not in a groundwater unit.\n- (a) the average volume of water that may be taken under this plan; or\n- (b) the total nominal entitlement for taking groundwater under this plan.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"sec.20","sectionType":"section","heading":"Decisions to be consistent with objectives","content":"### sec.20 Decisions to be consistent with objectives\n\nA decision made by the chief executive under chapter 2 of the Act must be consistent with—\nthe environmental flow objectives stated in schedule 4 ; and\nthe water allocation security objectives stated in section 17 .\n- (a) the environmental flow objectives stated in schedule 4 ; and\n- (b) the water allocation security objectives stated in section 17 .","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"sec.21","sectionType":"section","heading":"Assessing impact of decisions","content":"### sec.21 Assessing impact of decisions\n\nTo assess consistency with the environmental flow objectives and the water allocation security objectives, the model computer program’s simulation for the simulation period must be used.\nIf it is not practicable to use the model computer program, another kind of assessment, approved by the chief executive, may be used.\n(sec.21-ssec.1) To assess consistency with the environmental flow objectives and the water allocation security objectives, the model computer program’s simulation for the simulation period must be used.\n(sec.21-ssec.2) If it is not practicable to use the model computer program, another kind of assessment, approved by the chief executive, may be used.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"ch.5-pt.2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Unallocated water","content":"# Unallocated water","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"ch.5-pt.2-div.1","sectionType":"division","heading":"Granting unallocated water","content":"## Granting unallocated water","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"sec.22","sectionType":"section","heading":"Purpose for which unallocated water may be granted","content":"### sec.22 Purpose for which unallocated water may be granted\n\nThe chief executive may grant a water entitlement to take unallocated water in the plan area for—\na community purpose; or\nan Indigenous purpose; or\nany purpose, if the unallocated water is in—\nthe Bulloo catchment area; or\na groundwater unit.\n- (a) a community purpose; or\n- (b) an Indigenous purpose; or\n- (c) any purpose, if the unallocated water is in— (i) the Bulloo catchment area; or (ii) a groundwater unit.\n- (i) the Bulloo catchment area; or\n- (ii) a groundwater unit.\n- (i) the Bulloo catchment area; or\n- (ii) a groundwater unit.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"sec.23","sectionType":"section","heading":"Reserve volumes","content":"### sec.23 Reserve volumes\n\nThe total of the average annual volume for water entitlements to take unallocated water in the plan area is stated in—\nfor water entitlements to take unallocated water for a community purpose or Indigenous purpose from a catchment area in schedule 5 , table 1, column 1—column 2 of the table; or\nfor water entitlements to take unallocated water from the Bulloo catchment area in schedule 5 , table 2, column 1—column 2 of the table.\nThe total of the nominal entitlement for water licences to take unallocated water from a groundwater unit in schedule 5 , table 3, column 1 is stated in column 2 of the table.\n(sec.23-ssec.1) The total of the average annual volume for water entitlements to take unallocated water in the plan area is stated in— for water entitlements to take unallocated water for a community purpose or Indigenous purpose from a catchment area in schedule 5 , table 1, column 1—column 2 of the table; or for water entitlements to take unallocated water from the Bulloo catchment area in schedule 5 , table 2, column 1—column 2 of the table.\n(sec.23-ssec.2) The total of the nominal entitlement for water licences to take unallocated water from a groundwater unit in schedule 5 , table 3, column 1 is stated in column 2 of the table.\n- (a) for water entitlements to take unallocated water for a community purpose or Indigenous purpose from a catchment area in schedule 5 , table 1, column 1—column 2 of the table; or\n- (b) for water entitlements to take unallocated water from the Bulloo catchment area in schedule 5 , table 2, column 1—column 2 of the table.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"ch.5-pt.2-div.2","sectionType":"division","heading":"Process for granting unallocated water","content":"## Process for granting unallocated water","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"sec.24","sectionType":"section","heading":"Process for granting unallocated water","content":"### sec.24 Process for granting unallocated water\n\nThe process for granting unallocated water in the plan area is the process stated in the Water Regulation .","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"ch.5-pt.3","sectionType":"part","heading":"Limitations on taking or interfering with water","content":"# Limitations on taking or interfering with water","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"ch.5-pt.3-div.1","sectionType":"division","heading":"Taking water without water entitlement","content":"## Taking water without water entitlement","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"sec.25","sectionType":"section","heading":"Limitation on taking or interfering with water— Act , s 20 (2)","content":"### sec.25 Limitation on taking or interfering with water— Act , s 20 (2)\n\nThe total volume of water that may be taken or interfered with for an activity prescribed for section 20 (2) (a) of the Act is—\nfor water taken from part of a watercourse in the plan area that is used to distribute water by a resource operations licence holder—0ML; and\nfor water taken from anywhere else in the plan area—2ML.\n- (a) for water taken from part of a watercourse in the plan area that is used to distribute water by a resource operations licence holder—0ML; and\n- (b) for water taken from anywhere else in the plan area—2ML.","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"ch.5-pt.3-div.2","sectionType":"division","heading":"Overland flow water","content":"## Overland flow water","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"sec.26","sectionType":"section","heading":"Limitation on taking overland flow water— Act , s 20 (2) (b)","content":"### sec.26 Limitation on taking overland flow water— Act , s 20 (2) (b)\n\nA person may take overland flow water in the plan area—\nunder a water licence; or\nfor stock or domestic purposes; or\nfor prescribed activities for general authorisations to take water under the Water Regulation ; or\nto comply with an environmental authority, if the person takes no more than the volume of water necessary to comply with the authority; or\nto comply with a development permit for carrying out an environmentally relevant activity, other than a mining or petroleum activity, under the Environmental Protection Act , if the person takes no more than the volume of water necessary to comply with the authority; or\nif the water contains, or is likely to contain, excess nutrients or farm chemicals at levels that are harmful or potentially harmful to the quality of water in a watercourse; or\nif the works that are used to take the water are existing overland flow works.\n- (a) under a water licence; or\n- (b) for stock or domestic purposes; or\n- (c) for prescribed activities for general authorisations to take water under the Water Regulation ; or\n- (d) to comply with an environmental authority, if the person takes no more than the volume of water necessary to comply with the authority; or\n- (e) to comply with a development permit for carrying out an environmentally relevant activity, other than a mining or petroleum activity, under the Environmental Protection Act , if the person takes no more than the volume of water necessary to comply with the authority; or\n- (f) if the water contains, or is likely to contain, excess nutrients or farm chemicals at levels that are harmful or potentially harmful to the quality of water in a watercourse; or\n- (g) if the works that are used to take the water are existing overland flow works.","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"sec.27","sectionType":"section","heading":"Water licence to take overland flow water","content":"### sec.27 Water licence to take overland flow water\n\nA water licence to take overland flow water must state—\nthe purpose for which the water may be taken as ‘any’; and\nat least 1 of the following—\nthe maximum rate at which the water may be taken;\nthe maximum volume of the water that may be stored;\nthe volumetric limit for the water;\nthe average annual volume for the water; and\nthe conditions (if any) that the licence is subject to.\n- (a) the purpose for which the water may be taken as ‘any’; and\n- (b) at least 1 of the following— (i) the maximum rate at which the water may be taken; (ii) the maximum volume of the water that may be stored; (iii) the volumetric limit for the water; (iv) the average annual volume for the water; and\n- (i) the maximum rate at which the water may be taken;\n- (ii) the maximum volume of the water that may be stored;\n- (iii) the volumetric limit for the water;\n- (iv) the average annual volume for the water; and\n- (c) the conditions (if any) that the licence is subject to.\n- (i) the maximum rate at which the water may be taken;\n- (ii) the maximum volume of the water that may be stored;\n- (iii) the volumetric limit for the water;\n- (iv) the average annual volume for the water; and","sortOrder":16},{"sectionNumber":"sec.28","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### Section sec.28\n\ns 28 om 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20","sortOrder":17},{"sectionNumber":"ch.5-pt.3-div.3","sectionType":"division","heading":"Groundwater","content":"## Groundwater","sortOrder":18},{"sectionNumber":"sec.29","sectionType":"section","heading":"Limitation on taking or interfering with groundwater— Act , s 20 (2) (c)","content":"### sec.29 Limitation on taking or interfering with groundwater— Act , s 20 (2) (c)\n\nA person may take or interfere with \tgroundwater in a groundwater unit only—\nunder a water licence or water permit; or\nfor stock or domestic purposes; or\nfor an activity prescribed for section 20 (2) (a) of the Act .\nHowever, a person must not take or interfere with groundwater under subsection (1) (c) from the St George Alluvium (deep).\n(sec.29-ssec.1) A person may take or interfere with \tgroundwater in a groundwater unit only— under a water licence or water permit; or for stock or domestic purposes; or for an activity prescribed for section 20 (2) (a) of the Act .\n(sec.29-ssec.2) However, a person must not take or interfere with groundwater under subsection (1) (c) from the St George Alluvium (deep).\n- (a) under a water licence or water permit; or\n- (b) for stock or domestic purposes; or\n- (c) for an activity prescribed for section 20 (2) (a) of the Act .","sortOrder":19},{"sectionNumber":"sec.30","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"### Section sec.30\n\ns 30 om 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20","sortOrder":20},{"sectionNumber":"ch.8-pt.1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Repeal","content":"# Repeal","sortOrder":21},{"sectionNumber":"sec.34","sectionType":"section","heading":"Repeal","content":"### sec.34 Repeal\n\nThe Water Resource (Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine) Plan 2003 , SL No. 317 is repealed.","sortOrder":22},{"sectionNumber":"ch.8-pt.2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Transitional provisions","content":"# Transitional provisions","sortOrder":23},{"sectionNumber":"sec.35","sectionType":"section","heading":"Existing applications for authorisations to take water","content":"### sec.35 Existing applications for authorisations to take water\n\nSection 19 applies to a decision about an application for an authorisation to take water that was made, but not decided, before this plan commenced.","sortOrder":24},{"sectionNumber":"sec.36","sectionType":"section","heading":"Existing overland flow works authorisations","content":"### sec.36 Existing overland flow works authorisations\n\nThe chief executive may grant a water licence under section 212 of the Act to a person who, immediately before this plan commenced, was allowed to use existing overland flow works.\nWhen deciding what must be stated on the licence under section 27(b), the chief executive—\nmust consider—\nthe average annual volume of water that, immediately before this plan commenced, the person was allowed to take using the existing overland flow works; and\nthe annual volumes of water that the chief executive estimates were taken using the existing overland flow works in the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before this plan commenced; and\nmay consider the extent to which, immediately before this plan commenced, the person was allowed to take or store other water using the existing overland flow works.\n(sec.36-ssec.1) The chief executive may grant a water licence under section 212 of the Act to a person who, immediately before this plan commenced, was allowed to use existing overland flow works.\n(sec.36-ssec.2) When deciding what must be stated on the licence under section 27(b), the chief executive— must consider— the average annual volume of water that, immediately before this plan commenced, the person was allowed to take using the existing overland flow works; and the annual volumes of water that the chief executive estimates were taken using the existing overland flow works in the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before this plan commenced; and may consider the extent to which, immediately before this plan commenced, the person was allowed to take or store other water using the existing overland flow works.\n- (a) must consider— (i) the average annual volume of water that, immediately before this plan commenced, the person was allowed to take using the existing overland flow works; and (ii) the annual volumes of water that the chief executive estimates were taken using the existing overland flow works in the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before this plan commenced; and\n- (i) the average annual volume of water that, immediately before this plan commenced, the person was allowed to take using the existing overland flow works; and\n- (ii) the annual volumes of water that the chief executive estimates were taken using the existing overland flow works in the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before this plan commenced; and\n- (b) may consider the extent to which, immediately before this plan commenced, the person was allowed to take or store other water using the existing overland flow works.\n- (i) the average annual volume of water that, immediately before this plan commenced, the person was allowed to take using the existing overland flow works; and\n- (ii) the annual volumes of water that the chief executive estimates were taken using the existing overland flow works in the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before this plan commenced; and","sortOrder":25}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument primarily replaces the earlier 2003 plan with a streamlined, updated plan that continues to set allocation limits, environmental flow objectives and detailed licensing rules for the same geographic area. The 2016 plan formalises assessment by the plan’s model, clarifies who may receive unallocated water (explicitly naming community and Indigenous purposes and particular catchments/groundwater units) and tightens specified limits (for example, explicit ML caps for small takings and an express exclusion from the St George Alluvium (deep) for prescribed activities). Those are refinements and clearer operational rules rather than a substantial expansion of scope beyond the plan’s original purpose of managing allocation and protecting environmental flows. Transitional and repealer provisions replace the prior plan rather than adding new functional areas of regulation."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple external cross-references: the Act (chapter 2 and s.20), Water Regulation (process for grants), Environmental Protection Act (development permit compliance) and schedules within the plan (schedules 4 and 5).","Dependence on a technical model: the requirement to use a model computer program simulation for assessments, with a discretionary fallback to other approved assessments (s.21).","Several conditional rules and exceptions: e.g., s.19 bars increases except for specific decisions (listed); s.26 lists seven different circumstances where overland flow may be taken; s.29 allows certain groundwater takings but expressly excludes prescribed activities from a named aquifer.","Numeric limits embedded in text and schedules: specific ML caps (0 ML / 2 ML), reserve volumes in schedule 5, and licence content requirements (s.25, s.23, s.27).","Transitional and repealer provisions: repeal of the earlier 2003 plan and conversion rules for existing authorisations creating extra decision criteria (ss.34–36).","Omitted sections in the excerpt (ss.28, 30 marked omitted) require cross-checking to confirm scope and navigation when applying the plan.","Mix of administrative discretion and technical prescription: several powers leave substantive choices to the chief executive (approval of alternative assessments, licence content based on historic use), increasing interpretive complexity (ss.21, 24, 36)."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanics)\n\n- Sets rules for how the chief executive (the responsible water regulator) may allocate and manage water in the Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine plan area. Key operative controls include:\n  - A prohibition on making decisions that would increase the plan’s average annual take or the total nominal groundwater entitlement (so the overall legal take is kept at or below the plan limits) (s.19).\n  - A requirement that any decision under the main water management provisions of the Act be consistent with the plan’s environmental flow objectives and water allocation security objectives (s.20). The plan requires those consistency checks to be carried out using the plan’s model computer program simulation for the relevant simulation period, unless the chief executive approves a practicable alternative assessment (s.21).\n  - Rules about granting unallocated water: the chief executive may grant unallocated water for community or Indigenous purposes across the plan area, and for any purpose in the Bulloo catchment or in a groundwater unit; the volumes available are set out in schedule 5 (ss.22–23). The process for making grants is the process set out in the Water Regulation (s.24).\n  - Limits on taking water without an entitlement: where water is taken under certain low-impact activities, the instrument sets numerical caps (for example, 0 ML where the watercourse is used to distribute water by a resource operations licence holder, otherwise 2 ML) (s.25).\n  - Specific rules for overland flow water: who may take it without a licence, and the circumstances (stock/domestic use, certain authorised activities, environmental compliance, works existing before the plan) (s.26). A water licence for overland flow must state the purpose as 'any' and include at least one volumetric or rate limit (s.27).\n  - Groundwater controls: groundwater in groundwater units may only be taken under licence or permit, for stock/domestic use, or for prescribed low-impact activities — but prescribed activities are not permitted from the St George Alluvium (deep) (s.29).\n  - The 2003 plan is repealed and transitional rules cover existing licence applications and existing overland flow works (ss.34–36). The chief executive may convert existing authorisations for overland flow works into water licences and must consider historic average/annual take when setting licence limits (s.36).\n\n**Who this affects\n\n- The chief executive (regulator): must make allocation/management decisions within the constraints and use the prescribed assessment tools (ss.18–21).\n- Water entitlement applicants and licence holders in the plan area: affected by caps on increases, the availability of unallocated water for specific purposes, the processes for grant and the measurement/volume limits required on licences (ss.19, 22–27, 36).\n- Users of overland flow and small-volume water takings (including stock and domestic users): their permitted use is described and limited in various situations (ss.25–27).\n- Groundwater users and potential extractive industries: subject to licensing requirements and an express exclusion preventing a category of prescribed activity from accessing the St George Alluvium (deep) (s.29).\n- Communities and Indigenous applicants: given explicit eligibility for unallocated water grants (s.22).\n\n**Why it matters (the plan’s stated purpose and how the instrument enforces it)\n\n- Mechanically, the plan limits total take and ties individual licensing and grant decisions to declared environmental flow and allocation-security objectives (ss.19–21, schedule 4). That is, it converts higher-level policy objectives into legal gates for licensing and allocation.\n- The plan uses a model simulation as the primary tool to assess whether proposed decisions meet environmental and security objectives (s.21) and locks in numeric reserve volumes for unallocated water via schedules (s.23). These are the main levers that translate ecological and reliability goals into allocation outcomes.\n\n**Trade-offs, incentives and implementation risks (practical effects)\n\n- Who pays and who benefits: existing entitlement holders benefit from the prohibition on increasing the plan’s total take because it protects available water shares (s.19). Prospective new commercial users may be denied expansions or new entitlements if doing so would increase the plan’s average or nominal entitlements (s.19).\n- Administrative and compliance costs: the requirement to use the plan’s model simulation for consistency checks centralises technical assessment in the regulator and creates reliance on that modelling capability. If the model is unavailable or impracticable, the chief executive can approve alternatives, which adds discretion and potential variability in outcomes (s.21).\n- Certainty vs flexibility: numeric reserve volumes in schedule 5 provide clear caps and legal certainty about how much unallocated water may be granted (s.23), but they reduce the regulator’s flexibility to respond to changing conditions without formally amending the plan.\n- Substitution and strategic behaviour: because the plan permits some taking of overland flow and small volumes without full licences (ss.25–26) and places limits on where prescribed activities can access certain groundwater (s.29(2)), users may shift tactics (for example, rely more on overland flow works or seek licences in different catchments or groundwater units) to achieve their needs.\n- Concentrated benefits and opportunity costs: the explicit prioritisation of community and Indigenous purposes for unallocated water (s.22) concentrates an available pool of water toward those uses; commercial or other applicants can access unallocated water only in particular areas (Bulloo and groundwater units) or subject to schedule limits, which is an opportunity cost to those other potential uses.\n- Implementation risk and discretion: several provisions vest decision-making discretion in the chief executive (approval of alternative assessments, process for granting unallocated water via the Water Regulation, consideration of historic take when converting existing overland flow authorisations) (ss.21, 24, 36). That discretion is necessary for practical administration but increases the importance of transparent decision-making and record-keeping.\n\n**Key section references**: limits on increasing plan take (s.19); decision consistency with objectives (s.20); modelling requirement (s.21); purposes for granting unallocated water (s.22) and reserve volumes (s.23); grant process reference to Water Regulation (s.24); numerical caps for small take (s.25); permitted overland flow takings and licence content (ss.26–27); groundwater restrictions (s.29); repeal and transitional rules (ss.34–36).\n\n\n"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This appears to be a standard water resource plan under the Water Act 2000 (Qld), replacing the 2003 plan. The scope remains focused on water allocation and management for the specified catchments. While it includes detailed provisions for unallocated water, overland flow, and groundwater, these are typical components of modern water resource plans and do not represent significant scope creep beyond the original purpose of managing water resources in the plan area."},"complexity_factors":["Heavy cross-referencing to external documents: requires reference to Schedule 4 (environmental flow objectives), Schedule 5 (tables with specific volume limits), the Water Regulation (for processes), and the Environmental Protection Act","Multiple nested exceptions: section 19 contains exceptions to the general cap rule, which themselves have conditions","Technical terminology requiring domain knowledge: 'nominal entitlement', 'overland flow water', 'groundwater unit', 'resource operations licence', 'environmental authority'","Conditional logic in licensing: section 27 requires 'at least 1 of' four different volumetric measures, creating optional but mandatory-minimum requirements","Temporal complexity in transitional provisions: section 36 requires historical analysis of water use 'in the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before this plan commenced'","Dual regulatory layers: operates under the framework of the 'Act' (Water Act 2000) while adding plan-specific restrictions","Amendment tracking visible in text: references to 'amd 2017 SL No. 103 s 170' and omitted sections indicate evolving legislative history"],"plain_english_summary":"This legislation is a **water management plan** for the Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine river systems in outback Queensland. It sets the rules for who can take water, how much they can take, and what it can be used for.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Caps water use**: The chief executive (a senior government official) cannot approve decisions that would increase the total amount of water taken from the area or increase groundwater extraction (with some exceptions for unallocated water and certain groundwater).\n- **Protects environmental flows**: All decisions must align with environmental goals (keeping enough water in rivers for ecosystems) and water security goals (making sure existing water users have reliable access).\n- **Manages unallocated water**: Leftover water can be granted for community or Indigenous purposes, or for any purpose in specific areas like the Bulloo catchment or groundwater units. There are strict volume limits set out in tables in Schedule 5.\n- **Limits taking water without a licence**: \n  - Most people can only take 2 megalitres (ML) without a water entitlement, unless they're taking it from water distribution infrastructure (where it's 0 ML).\n  - Overland flow water (rainwater runoff) can only be taken with a licence, for stock/domestic use, for specific approved activities, or using existing infrastructure.\n  - Groundwater in designated \"groundwater units\" generally requires a licence, except for stock/domestic use or certain prescribed activities (though deep St George Alluvium groundwater is completely off-limits for those exceptions).\n- **Sets licence conditions**: Water licences for overland flow must specify purposes, volume limits, rates, and conditions.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Farmers and graziers in western Queensland\n- Mining and petroleum companies\n- Local communities and Indigenous groups seeking water for cultural or community purposes\n- Anyone with existing water infrastructure or pending applications\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis plan balances economic development (agriculture, mining) against environmental protection in a dry region where water is scarce. It replaces the 2003 plan and includes transitional rules to protect people who were already using water under old permits."},"summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The plan replaces the 2003 Water Resource (Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine) Plan and covers the same geographic area and water systems. The core regulatory intent — managing water allocation and protecting environmental flows in these four catchments — is consistent with the original plan. The transitional provisions and updated technical frameworks (computer modelling, revised schedules) represent refinements rather than a fundamental change in scope."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple water categories with different rules: watercourse water, overland flow water, groundwater, and unallocated water each have distinct regulatory frameworks","Relies heavily on external documents: schedules (especially schedules 4 and 5), the Water Regulation, the Environmental Protection Act, and the parent Water Act — meaning the full picture cannot be understood from this excerpt alone","Technical definitions matter greatly: terms like 'groundwater unit', 'nominal entitlement', 'average annual volume', 'resource operations licence', and 'simulation period' are legally precise and not explained within the excerpt","Computer modelling requirement adds technical complexity: decisions must be validated against a specific simulation program, adding a scientific/technical layer to legal compliance","Layered permission structure: some activities require no authorisation, some are allowed under general rules, some need a water licence, some need a water permit, and some are flatly prohibited","Transitional provisions create a parallel retrospective assessment process for existing works, requiring historical usage data of up to 10 years","Geographic specificity: different rules apply to named sub-areas (Bulloo catchment, St George Alluvium deep) requiring local geographic knowledge to interpret","Cross-referencing between sections is frequent, making linear reading difficult"],"plain_english_summary":"This Queensland water plan fixes an overall cap and sets who may take water from the Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine systems, specifying licence rules and limits on overland flow and groundwater. It mainly affects farmers and graziers, miners, Indigenous communities and local authorities.\n\nUnallocated water is reserved in part for community and Indigenous needs, decisions must meet environmental flow and water‑security targets using modelling, and pre‑existing overland‑flow users receive transitional protections."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/water-plan-warrego-paroo-bulloo-and-nebine-2016","history":"/api/acts/water-plan-warrego-paroo-bulloo-and-nebine-2016/history","analysis":"/api/acts/water-plan-warrego-paroo-bulloo-and-nebine-2016/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/water-plan-warrego-paroo-bulloo-and-nebine-2016/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/water-plan-warrego-paroo-bulloo-and-nebine-2016/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/water-plan-warrego-paroo-bulloo-and-nebine-2016/documents"}}