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, there is a good level of contribution
PARTIAL-goes some way to contributing to the target
LOW-only small degree of contribution to 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 | This Plan clearly sets out the basis for the extraction
limit for the Macleay River Extraction Management Unit. Until the cumulative impact of this limit can be assessed for all of this Unit it is not possible to properly assess ecological sustainability and downstream impact, however there is a relatively low level of access licence share components in this Unit and application of IDELs should ensure adequate downstream flows. |
| 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 | Part 10 of this Plan puts in
place IDELs to protect/restore environmental flows. This Plan has significantly improved very low to moderate flow protection. Allows some limited erosion of moderate to high flows into Oxley Wild Rivers National Park Is consistent with relevant Threatened Species Recovery Plans. |
| Target 4a 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 | Total daily extraction limits protect 50% of moderate and 70% of high flows. |
| Target 4b 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 | FULL | • Cease to pump levels protect flows below 85 th percentile in critical months and verified through field inspections to provide minimal connectivity between pools. |
| Target 5 Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in terms of share and extraction components | FULL | • This Plan establishes daily extraction limits for distribution to individual access licensees. |
| Target 6b For surface water sources, a pathway for reducing the share components to 200% of the long term average annual extraction limit to be established not later than the end of the term of the SWMOP | FULL | • Total access licence share components for the Macleay 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 | • This Plan proposes an exemption from the access licence embargo for Aboriginal cultural heritage purposes.• No unallocated water is available.• The Government has established alternative mechanisms to address this target. |
| Target 8 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 Statewide, the individual plans should as far as practicable, establish total daily extraction limits across the whole water source, and this Plan does this. |
| 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.• Total daily extraction limits also explicitly provide for domestic and stock requirements. |
| 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 | PARTIAL | • Aboriginal community representatives have been involved in development of this Plan, but it is unlikely that the broader Aboriginal communities have been given enough capacity to deal with the issues. |
| 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 | • This Plan does not address specific Aboriginal cultural or traditional requirements and has not identified any sites of particular importance.• This Plan does provide reasonably high level of environmental protection which should assist in protecting Aboriginal values. |
| Target 16a All share components of access licences tradeable | FULL | • This Plan provides for trading of 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 | • Part 11 of this Plan establishes conversion factors of 1:1 for trading between water sources in Macleay River 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 | FULL | • No unassigned access rights established by this Plan. |
| Target 16f Zones established where necessary for environmental protection and limits/constraints on water dealings in them made explicit | FULL | • This Plan establishes water trading zones. |
| 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. |