| Relevant target | Level of contribution | Comments |
Extractions in Murray Darling Basin’s unregulated rivers limited to the
Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council Cap level Note: This Cap is the
long-term average annual volume of water that would have been diverted under
the development and management conditions defined in Schedule F of the Murray
Darling Basin Agreement | FULL | • This Plan sets out the basis for the
extraction limit for this water source• The extraction limit is clearly
defined as the average of the 6 years surveyed usage (1993-1999)• Rules set
out in Part 9 Divisions 1 and 2 of this Plan |
| Rules for adjustments to future available water determinations in the event
that the extraction limits are exceeded, clearly prescribed in consultation
with the relevant management committee, and acted upon | FULL | • Rules set out
in Part 9 of this Plan |
| All management plans incorporating mechanisms to protect and restore aquatic
habitats, and the diversity and abundance of native animals and plants, with
particular reference to threatened species, populations and communities and
key threatening processes | PARTIAL | • This Plan has put in place daily
extraction limits to protect/restore 50% to 85.5% of flows• Four threatened
fish species but no recovery plans in place therefore no specific provisions
in this Plan• Adelong is part of area listed as an endangered aquatic
community with reduced flows as a key threatening process• See rules set out
in Part 4 of this Plan |
| Wherever the frequency of “end of system” daily flows would be less than
60% of the predevelopment level without environmental water rules or
extraction limits, the flows increased to 60% of predevelopment levels or
increased by at least 10% of the predevelopment frequency | FULL | • This Plan
indicates that this water source has been reassessed as medium hydrologic
stress (ie 14.5-60% of index flow extracted by licences)• Daily extraction
limit protects 50% of A class flow-less than 10% improvement on current•
64.5% to 85.5 % of flow in B and C class is protected• Rules set out in Part
10 Division 2 of this Plan |
| Frequency of “end of system” daily very low flows (as defined by local
field investigation) protected or restored to predevelopment levels to
maintain or restore their critical ecological functions, drought refuges and
habitat connectivity. In the absence of such local assessments, protection
extended up to at least the predevelopment 95 th percentile | HIGH | •
Cease-to-pump levels protect flows below 95 th%ile (15 ML/day) for all days
from access licensing excepting domestic and stock, unregulated river
(Aboriginal cultural) and local water utility access licences (2.5 ML/day)•
Rules set out in Parts 3, 4 and 10 (Division 2) of this Plan |
| Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in
terms of share and extraction components | FULL | • This Plan recognises the
annual volumetric entitlements and establishes IDELs for distribution to
individual licensees• Rules set out in Part 10 Division 2 of this Plan |
| A pathway for reducing the share components to 200 percent of the long term
average annual extraction limit to be established not later than the end of
the term of the SWMOP | FULL | • Total Murrumbidgee unregulated entitlements
should not exceed 200% of extraction (diversion) limit for Murrumbidgee
Unregulated Rivers Extraction Management Unit• Rules set out in Part 9 of
this Plan |
| Mechanisms in place to enable Aboriginal communities to gain an increased
share of the benefits of the water economy | PARTIAL | • The Government has yet
to establish these mechanisms and therefore these early plans cannot
effectively address the target• This Plan does provide reasonable market
opportunity• Although it does not give Aboriginal peoples any priority re
access to unassigned daily extraction volumes the Government Policy on this
has yet to be determined, and to provide for this possibility, this Plan could
include “other priorities as may be determined by Government” |
| Daily extraction components specified and tradeable, subject to metering,
reporting and compliance, for at least 50% of unregulated river access
licences and for 80% of stressed unregulated rivers | FULL | • To meet this
target state wide, the individual plans should as far as practicable,
establish daily extraction limits across the whole water source, and this Plan
does this• Rules set out in Part 10 Division 2 of this Plan |
| Measures in place in all water sources subject to a gazetted water sharing
plan to protect basic domestic and stock rights from the impact of other water
access and use | FULL | • Cease to pump level will protect flows for holders of
domestic and stock rights from the impact of most access, however it does not
protect them from the impact of licensed domestic and stock or urban water
during dry periods• Rules set out in Parts 3 and 5 of this Plan |
| The knowledge sharing, training and resources necessary to ensure that
Aboriginal people have the capacity to be effectively involved in water
management identified and addressed | PARTIAL | • An Aboriginal community
representative has been involved in development of this Plan• Forums were
held with indigenous people to identify local water sharing issues |
| Water sources, ecosystems and sites of cultural or traditional importance to
Aboriginal people identified, plans of management prepared, and measures put
in place to protect and improve them | HIGH | • This Plan does address specific
Aboriginal cultural and traditional requirements, but has not identified any
sites of particular importance• This Plan does provide a level of
environmental protection which will assist in protecting many Aboriginal
values• Part 8 of this Plan proposes unregulated river (Aboriginal cultural)
access licences to provide for traditional cultural, spiritual and customary
uses |
| All share components of access licences tradeable | FULL | • This Plan provides
principles for the trading of share components and IDELs• Rules set out in
Part 11 of this Plan |
| Conversion factors and protocols established to facilitate trading and
dealings between water sources, whilst also protecting existing access and
environmental water | FULL | • This Plan establishes exchange rate for trading
between unregulated water sources in the Murrumbidgee catchment (see note in
Part 11 of this Plan) |
| Reduced conversion factors only applied when necessary to offset increased
losses associated with water supply delivery | FULL | • This Plan does not
impose reduction factors |
| Any unassigned access rights identified and clear mechanisms established for
their future assignment | FULL | • Rules established in Part 10 Division 2 of
this Plan |
| Zones established where necessary for environmental protection and
limits/constraints on water dealings in them made explicit | FULL | • This Plan
establishs 2 water transfer zones (Hindmarsh Creek Exclusion Zone and the
rest)• No net increase in entitlement volume is permitted in the Hindmarsh
Creek Exclusion Zone |
| All management plans incorporating water quality objectives that have
considered Government approved Interim Environmental Objectives, the current
Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council Guidelines and
the recommendations of relevant Healthy Rivers Commission Inquiries | HIGH | •
This Plan includes a specific water quality objective to improve or maintain
water quality through flow management (This would not change rules but make
expected outcomes more transparent)• This Plan does provide reasonably high
level of environmental protection which should assist in protecting water
quality• See provisions set out in Part 2 of this Plan |
New South Wales Consolidated Regulations