New South Wales Consolidated Regulations New South Wales Consolidated RegulationsLevels of assessed contribution:
FULL-contributes to target in full
HIGH-while not fully contributing to target is considered a good level of contribution
PARTIAL-goes some way to contributing to the target
LOW-only small degree of contribution to the target
| Relevant Target | Level of contribution | Comments |
| Target 1c Long term average annual extraction limits which are ecologically sustainable, and which minimise downstream impacts, established in all coastal water sources | HIGH | • Part 9 of this Plan sets out the basis for the extraction limit of the Richmond Extraction Management Unit.• Until the cumulative impact of this limit can be assessed for all of this Unit it is difficult to assess ecological sustainability and downstream impacts. |
| Target 1f 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. |
| Target 2 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 | HIGH | • This Plan has put in place TDELs that will improve very low to moderate flows and protect 70 % of high flows.• This water source has been assessed as high conservation value and the improvement in flows should help to preserve these values although the flow protection will remain below 50% of natural for low to moderate flows.• The Eastern Freshwater Cod and the Oxylean Pygmy Perch are threatened species occurring in this water source. The TDELs in this Plan should assist the recovery of these species, particularly the Eastern Freshwater Cod, and an assessment and amendment clause has been included to review the fish passage requirements. |
| Target 4a Wherever the frequency of “end of system” daily flows would be less than 60% of the pre-development level without environmental water rules or extraction limits, the flows increased to 60% of pre-development levels or increased by at least 10% of the pre-development frequency | FULL | • In A Class, 50% of flow is protected which is more than a 10% improvement on estimated pre-plan, and substantially reduces full development impact.• In B Class, 50% of flow is protected which is more than a 10% improvement on estimated pre-plan and substantially reduces full development impact.• In C Class, 70% of flow is protected. |
| Target 4b Frequency of “end of system” daily very low flows (as defined by local field investigation) protected or restored to pre-development 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 pre-development 95 th percentile | FULL | • Cease to pump (CTP) levels for all months except July, August and September protect flows below 14 ML/day in years 1 to 5 and 17 ML/day in years 6 to 10 of this Plan, which is below the 95 th percentile for all days.• CTP levels for July, August and September protects flows below 20 ML/day in years 1 to 5 and 31 ML/day in years 6 to 10 of this Plan which is below the 95 th percentile for all days.• Field verification established high connectivity along the main trunk of Coopers Creek at 17 ML/day. |
| Target 5 Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in terms of share and extraction components | FULL | • This Plan clarifies the access licence share component and IDELs for distribution to individual licences, and provides principles for dealing with them. |
| Target 6b For surface water sources, 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 licensed share components for the Richmond River Extraction Management Unit should not exceed 200% of extraction limit for this Unit. |
| Target 7 Mechanisms in place to enable Aboriginal communities to gain an increased share of the benefits of the water economy | HIGH | • The Government has established alternative mechanisms to address this target.• This Plan also provides market opportunities.• This Plan provides an exemption from embargo for Aboriginal cultural purposes.• No unallocated water available. |
| Target 8 Daily extraction components specified and tradeable, subject to metering, reporting and compliance, for at least 50 percent of unregulated river access licences and for 80 percent of stressed unregulated rivers | FULL | • This Plan establishes TDELs across the whole water source. |
| Target 12 Measures in place in all water sources subject to a gazetted water sharing plan to protect domestic and stock rights from the impact of other water access and use | FULL | • Cease to pump level will protect flows for domestic and stock rights. |
| Target 13 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 | HIGH | • Aboriginal community representatives have been actively involved in development of this Plan and their advice has been incorporated into this Plan. |
| Target 14 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 | FULL | • Two Aboriginal community representatives were on the committee that prepared this Plan.• Meetings were held with the Bundjalung Elders, Ngulinghah and Far North Coast Aboriginal Land Councils, and an Aboriginal Steering Committee for water sharing plans has been established. |
| Target 16a All share components of access licences tradeable | FULL | • Part 11 of this Plan provides for trading of access licence share components and IDELs. |
| Target 16c 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 an exchange rate of 1:1 for trading between water sources in the Richmond Extraction Management Unit. |
| Target 16d Reduced conversion factors only applied when necessary to offset increased losses associated with water supply delivery | FULL | • This Plan does not impose reduction factors. |
| Target 16e Any unassigned access rights identified and clear mechanisms established for their future assignment | N/A | • This Plan has no unallocated water. |
| Target 16f Zones established where necessary for environmental protection and limits/constraints on water dealings in them made explicit | HIGH | • This Plan establishes a trading zone for the Upper Coopers Creek Area.• The Upper Coopers Creek Area is important for seeding biodiversity through the Coopers Creek system and there are many significant and sacred sites for the Aboriginal people of the area, and facilitating reducing access licences in the Upper Coopers Creek Area would further these values. |
| Target 35 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 generalised water quality objective.• This Plan does provide reasonably high level of environmental protection which should assist in protecting water quality. |