Delivering Water for the Eton Irrigation Area
Eton Irrigation Scheme
Eton Irrigation
Eton Irrigation operates the Eton Irrigation Scheme located near the town of Eton, 35 km southwest of Mackay in north Queensland.
How the scheme works
The scheme sources its water from Kinchant Dam, located 10km northwest of Eton. 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.
There are 35km of open earth channels that transport water to various sections of the scheme with a further 130km of pipeline delivering water to customers.
Water uses
Irrigation water supplied by Eton Irrigation is primarily used for sugar cane.
Eton Irrigation Schematic
A schematic of the Eton Irrigation scheme is shown below.
Note that the NDA Eton Headworks (highlighted below in yellow) are owned and operated by SunWater.
History of Eton Irrigation
The Catalyst
When drought ravaged the sugar industry in the Mackay region, grower organisations lobbied the Queensland Government. They urged investment in water storage infrastructure to avoid a repeat of the hardship caused by serious crop losses.
The government agreed to the proposal.
Scheme Approval
The Queensland Government approved the establishment of the Eton Irrigation Area, located 35 km southwest of Mackay.
Before this, cane was grown under dry land cultivation or irrigated from low-yielding bores.
Construction & Development
Development occurred progressively over the following decade after the construction of the Kinchant Dam.
The scheme was designed to supplement rainfall by harvesting water from the Pioneer River, distributing it to over 300 sugar cane farms.
Diversification
Cane is no longer the sole crop; farms have diversified into other produce.
Critically, the scheme now transports water for the Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay Coal Loading Facilities, supporting industry alongside agriculture.
Sustained Service
The Eton Water Supply Scheme continues to thrive, currently serving over 300 customers across the region, ensuring stability for both farmers and industrial partners.