The release of mine water into the rivers systems of the Fitzroy Basin remains a contentious issue. A reflection on the technical and community issues that have arisen since mine water releases associated with unprecedented rainfall events in early 2008 provides a useful case study into the community, industry and government dimensions of catchment-scale water quality management in Queensland.The Fitzroy Basin is the largest catchment on the eastern seaboard, containing more than a third of the total land area draining into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Approximately 120000 people live in the Fitzroy Basin, with most living in the urban centre of Rockhampton. Current land use across the basin is 81 per cent for grazing; six per cent for cropping; six per cent for conservation; five per cent for forestry; one per cent for urban; 0.5 per cent for mining and 0.5 per cent for irrigation. The Fitzroy Basin has 42 operating coal mines (as of 2011-2012) that produce around 152Mt of saleable coal, or 80per cent of Queensland's coal production. Productivity in a number of coal mines in the Fitzroy Basin has been affected by the retention of excess water since the 2007/2008 wet season. A coal mine water release pilot was announced by the Queensland Government in November 2012, with the objective of getting coal mines back into full production while protecting water quality outcomes in the Fitzroy Basin. A review of this pilot water release program has indicated there is an opportunity to enhance release opportunities whilst still maintaining key water quality outcomes. However, even with the implementation of the pilot water release program over the 2012/2013 wet season there remains approximately 250 gigalitres of excess mine-affected water that is retained on operating coal mine sites (legacy water) in central Queensland. The electrical conductivity (EC) level of this water is variable, but averages around 5000 micro-siemens per centimetre (S/cm). The challenge remains to balance the industry desire to improve productivity within the mining sector by removing legacy water with local and regional expectations relating to water quality, particularly security of drinking water supplies in the lower catchment. The events of 2008 have directly contributed to a range of community, industry and government responses which have shaped the current approach to water quality and mine water release issues in the Fitzroy Basin. There is an ongoing process of reviewing and refining both the technical and governance arrangements relating to the management of mine water releases as a component of a broader salinity management strategy._x000D_
*This is an abstract only. No full paper prepared._x000D_
CITATION:Gordon, I, 2013. Water quality and the Fitzroy Basin - balancing community, industry and government expectations, in Proceedings Water in Mining 2013 , pp 189-190 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).