The Queensland Government has announced the release of water from two Gulf of Carpentaria rivers to support irrigated agriculture in north-west Queensland.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps said unallocated water from the Flinders River and Gilbert River catchment areas would enhance the development of sustainable irrigation in the Gulf Water Resource Plan Area, including the Flinders River Agricultural Precinct.

“This decision strikes the right balance between economic development and responsible management of our water resources,” Mr Cripps said.

Mr Cripps said the volumes of water being released met the requirements of the Gulf Water Resource Plan and could support the irrigation of up to 10,000 hectares of land.

“Water licences granted through this process will include conditions to protect existing rights to water and the region’s environmental, cultural, tourism and fisheries values,” he said.

Individual proponents will be able to access no more than 40 per cent of the volume being released from a single catchment, so that multiple users can gain access.

“Irrigated agriculture on the Flinders and the Gilbert has been talked about for a long time but the Newman Government has taken steps to make it a reality.”

The Water Resource (Gulf) Plan 2007 includes 80,000 megalitres of unallocated water held in general reserve in the Flinders River Catchment, and 15,000 megalitres held in general reserve in the Gilbert River Catchment.

Mr Cripps said the department would grant water licences based on certain criteria and would set a reserve price which ensured State-owned natural resource assets such as water were sold to private interests for a fair price.