Fitzroy-Derby water planning – Frequently asked questions

The Consultation draft – Fitzroy-Derby water resources management plan: policy and guidance sets out how surface water and groundwater will be regulated and managed across the plan area, including the Fitzroy River catchment and the Derby Peninsula.

Although the plan is a consultation draft, the structure and broad content are presented in the format anticipated for the final plan. Feedback we receive on the consultation draft will be used to inform and finalise the plan. Until the plan is finalised, the Department will consider the consultation draft, alongside all other relevant considerations, when making water licensing and related decisions in the plan area.

The draft plan brings together water planning for the Fitzroy River catchment and the Derby groundwater resources into a single plan.

Managing the areas together reflects how the rivers, aquifers, wetlands and floodplains are connected, and how people use and value water across the region. It also responds to feedback from Traditional Owners and the community.

Bringing the areas together also replaces previous planning documents for Derby groundwater and provides a single, consistent framework for agencies, water users and the community.

• Protect water regimes that would naturally support the Fitzroy River and its tributaries.
• Protect surface water and groundwater for dependent environments, to support the health of water-related ecological, cultural, heritage and social values.
• Provide for the sustainable and productive use of groundwater to support current and future community needs, a diversified economy, and a resilient pastoral industry.
• Support water management practices that are culturally informed, collaborative, transparent, adaptive and integrated with other natural resource management.

The draft plan implements the State Government’s commitments for water planning in the Fitzroy River catchment, as set out in Water allocation planning in the Fitzroy – Policy position paper released in October 2023.

No. Water licensing continues under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914.

The plan informs how licensing powers are exercised but does not change legislative requirements.

No. The plan is a consultation draft. Public consultation was open for three months and closed on 30 June 2026.

The final plan may change based on the feedback we received during consultation.

Public consultation on the draft plan closed on 30 June 2026. Submissions are now closed.

To view consultation information, published submissions (deemed non-confidential) and summaries of submissions, visit our Fitzroy-Derby plan consultation page.

Updates will also be provided on the Fitzroy–Derby water planning page.

There was extensive consultation leading up to Managing water in the Fitzroy River Catchment - Discussion paper for stakeholder consultation and the Derby groundwater allocation plan: for public comment which were released in 2020. Over 43,000 written submissions were received on the discussion paper.

These submissions and face-to-face meetings informed development of Water allocation planning in the Fitzroy – Policy position paper, released in October 2023. 

Between April 2025 and February 2026, the Department consulted with Traditional Owners and industry, community and government. A wide range of views were presented which informed the development of the Consultation draft: Fitzroy–Derby water resources management plan: policy and guidance.

The consultation draft was open for submissions from 1 April to 30 June 2026. During this period, we continued to engage Traditional Owners and stakeholders. We also provided community information sessions online and in Perth, Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek. We are now reviewing submissions and feedback to inform the final plan.

The feedback on the Derby groundwater allocation plan: for public comment released in 2020 highlighted the complexity of the issues and needs of the community, water users and Traditional Owners. 

In response to the overlapping water planning needs of the Derby and Fitzroy areas, the Department combined the two planning processes to deliver the Consultation draft: Fitzroy–Derby water resources management plan: policy and guidance.

We received 12 detailed and well-considered submissions on the draft Derby plan. The main water-related issues raised were the following: 

• Advocating for more involvement of Traditional Owners in the decision-making processes for water planning and policy.
• Greater engagement on the concept of the Aboriginal Water Reserve, particularly establishing the water licensing framework, how much should be reserved, and understanding how it will work. 
• Improved processes and understanding of how the Department will notify Native Title holders of a new water licence and how cultural values will be incorporated into the licensing requirements.
• Establishing a clearer pathway and timeframe for how the Water Corporation will manage salinity risks to the aquifer and the Derby Town water supply.

See Summary of submissions – Derby groundwater allocation plan: for public comment for more information.

Yes. You can request shapefiles from the water planning team at fitzroyderbywaterplanning@dwer.wa.gov.au.