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Eton
Scheme
Announced Allocations
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Scheme information
About
The Eton Scheme sources its water from Kinchant Dam, located 6km southeast of Mirani.
From 31 March 2020, Eton Irrigation took over ownership and management of the scheme. Sunwater continues to manage the bulk assets, including the Mirani Diversion Channel, Kinchant Dam and the borrow pits. Please refer to the Eton Irrigation website (www.etonirrigation.com.au) for further information.
How the scheme works
- During high river flows, water is harvested from the Pioneer River into Kinchant Dam where it is distributed through a network of pump stations, channels, pipes and balancing storages
- 35km of open earth channels transport water to various sections of the scheme with a further 130km of pipeline delivering water to customers
- The Abingdon area draws supply directly from the dam
- Relift pump stations, located along the main channel and on Kinchant Dam, lift water to higher land while balancing storages ensure an efficient supply system.
Water uses
- Irrigation water primarily for sugar cane.
Scheme Management
Sunwater must comply with the conditions set out in the Eton Water Supply Scheme Resource Operations Licence (ROL), issued to Sunwater in June 2005 by the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (DRDMW). The ROL outlines the infrastructure details, environmental release rules and all Sunwater’s monitoring and reporting obligations. The ROL also requires Sunwater to operate in accordance with an operations manual that is approved by DRDMW. The operations manual outlines rules for the operation of infrastructure associated with the Eton scheme as well as water sharing rules and seasonal water assignment (temporary trade) rules.
The Eton Water Supply Scheme ROL Operations Manual was issued in March 2020.
Sunwater focuses our resources towards timely and cost-efficient delivery of water to customers in the Eton scheme. We collaborate with our customers to ensure we understand their needs, adapt quickly to changes in the environment and make the most of the available water supply.
Taking water from the scheme
The water ordering system assists Sunwater in delivering water to its customers in an efficient and timely way, enabling them to plan and manage their water use.
Before taking any water, customers should place a water order so that Sunwater can release sufficient water and minimise losses.
Customers who take water without ordering may reduce Sunwater’s ability to supply customers who have ordered according to the above requirements.
To place an order
Customers can place their orders via:
- Sunwater Online
- Sunwater Customer Support on 13 15 89
Further information about ordering water is detailed in Eton’s Rules and Targets.
Stopping or restricting supply
Sunwater may suspend or restrict supply in a number of circumstances, including:
- during maintenance of Sunwater’s assets
- during a peak demand period, when rosters or rations may apply
- when the demand for water is so small it is impractical to supply it
- when there is a need to make special releases to maximise efficiency at times of limited supply
- during rain shutdown
- infrastructure limitations which make delivery impractical
- if supply could cause Sunwater to break the law
- when operating under special notices or regulations issued by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines {e.g. Water Amendment Regulation (No.3) 2006}.
Weather events and emergency shutdowns
Sunwater asks that customers notify their duty Water Officer, as soon as possible, of any rain event or other circumstances that substantially lessens their water requirements. When wide spread general rain exceeds 40 mm in a day over the Eton Water Supply Scheme, the duty Water Officer may shut the system down.
Customers are also asked to cancel orders if they no longer require ordered water.
For more information contact
If you experience an equipment or power failure emergency, please give immediate notice to Sunwater by calling Sunwater Customer Support on 13 15 89 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Announced Allocations
Water Year: 2024/2025
High Class A priority: 100%
High Class B priority: 73%
Announced Allocations effective 1 April 2024 and will be applicable until revised and communicated by Sunwater.
Customers are advised to obtain information about their remaining water allocation balance by accessing SunwaterOnline.
For more information or enquiries, phone 13 15 89 or email customersupport@sunwater.com.au.
History of Announced Allocations
Operational reports
Sunwater releases periodic operational reports detailing Announced Allocation levels and individual storages’ breakdowns within each scheme, the latest of which can be found below.
Service and Performance Plans
Sunwater prepares an annual Service and Performance Plan (S&PP) for each irrigation service contract area. S&PPs replace the former annual Network Service Plans and annual Performance Reports.
We have updated the naming convention for S&PPs to improve clarity and alignment with plan content. The new convention references the year in which the S&PP is published (or should have been published). Publication should occur within six months of the end of a financial year.
For further information about this service, please visit the Service and Performance Plan page.
Eton Bulk Supply
Scheme news
Scheme history
Eton Water Supply Scheme
When drought ravaged the sugar industry in the Mackay region in the 1960s, grower organisations lobbied the Queensland Government to invest in water storage infrastructure to avoid a repeat of the hardship it caused.
The government agreed and the scheme was established in 1975. It is named after the small but vibrant town 25 km south-west of Mackay in the heart of the cane district.
The scheme taps into the region’s wet season rainfall by harvesting water from the Pioneer River during high-flow periods and storing it in the Kinchant Dam 8 km away. From there it is distributed to about 300 cane farms through a network of pump stations, 35 km of open channels and 130 km of pipes.
By banishing the spectre of drought, the scheme has laid the foundation for the region’s continuing prosperity.