Mulgrave River Aquifer Scheme

The Mulgrave River Aquifer project will deliver the next major water supply source for the Cairns area. The proposed scheme involves the development of a borefield to abstract and collect up to 15 million litres of water per day.
It is intended that the abstraction of water will only occur if there is a shortfall from other existing sources. It will be operated as needed when other existing water supplies approach their limits as a result of increased water demand. A stringent adaptive management system will be in place to ensure continual monitoring of the system together with tiered warning and control of the borefield.

Public Environment Report

Cairns Regional Council has finalised the Public Environment Report (PER) on the proposed groundwater extraction from the Mulgrave River Aquifer. The Public Environment Report relates to the construction and operation of: (available in the related documents area)

• A single borefield consisting of up to 10 bores.
• Ground level reservoir storage.
• Water treatment plant.

The finalised PER has been accepted by the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), meaning that it is considered adequate for the purposes of making an informed decision on approving the proposed action. A Ministerial decision by the Commonwealth on the proposed action will be made once relevant approvals have been obtained from the Queensland government agencies.

Community engagement and approvals

The acquisition of relevant approvals from the Queensland Government is a component of the next phase of investigations and tasks relating to developing the Mulgrave River Aquifer as the next source of town water supply for the Cairns area. The following is the status of the next phase of investigations and tasks: 

• Community engagement with key stakeholders and the general public has resulted in the formation of a Community Reference Panel. The CRP will address the independent review of detailed information provided by CRC W&W consultants in relation to all aspects of the project. Completion of this review is anticipated to be in October 2011. 
• Enhanced groundwater modelling to improve the understanding of the proposed extractions with stream flows in Behana Creek and the Mulgrave River has been completed. 
• Optimisation of the borefield location and layout for minimal environmental, social and economic impact has been completed. 
• Selection of the preferred treatment process and site for the new water treatment plant is currently ongoing. 
• Acquisition of relevant approvals from Queensland government and agreements with relevant landholders for the optimised proposed borefield is subject to the outcome of the CPR findings. 
• Detailed design and documentation of the borefield and associated infrastructure for construction purposes is on hold subject to the outcome of the CPR findings.