Qld govt to open Flinders River to farming

Queensland's government will call for tenders to use water from a huge Gulf of Carpentaria river this year.

State Development Minister Anthony Lynham says the government will seek tenders for the use of 250,000 megalitres of water from Flinders River catchment in the fourth quarter of 2015.

"This water has the potential to support up to 12,000 hectares of irrigated agriculture and establish more rural industry jobs," he told parliament on Thursday.