WATER bores proposed for use in the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing construction could be handed over to farmers after the work is completed, the Gatton Star can reveal.

Lockyer Valley mayor Tanya Mulligan recently expressed outrage over proposed water bore permits, to be awarded to construction firm Nexus Infrastructure, which would see 695 megalitres of water taken out of the Helidon Sandstone aquifer for the road construction.

"For us, that amount of water is equivalent to three years worth of water on an average-size broccoli farm, which could possibly yield back to the farmer an average of $11 million and about 40 jobs," she said.

Cr Milligan wrote to the natural resources and agriculture ministers with her concerns in June but did not received any replies.

But the natural resources department told the Gatton Star it was considering handing over the bores "to landholders for stock or domestic use only" as one of three options, following completion of the project.

A spokesperson for natural resources minister Anthony Lynam said the department was currently assessing applications by Nexus for a "short-term take" of groundwater, with "strict limitations placed on water permits".

"Our bottom line is

that any water extraction by Nexus should not

affect existing water users ... and [we are] assessing how much groundwater can be sustainably extracted for the project while ensuring minimal potential impacts on local water resources and the entitlements of other water users.

"We expect the water bores drilled can subsequently be handed over to landholders for stock or domestic use only."