New South Wales Consolidated Regulations New South Wales Consolidated RegulationsThis Plan establishes the following planned environmental water rules:
(a) water volume in excess of the long-term extraction limit established in clause 30 of this Plan may not be taken from this water source and used for any purpose,
(b) water availability is to be managed as specified in clause 32 of this Plan to ensure water volume in excess of the long-term extraction limit is not being taken,
Note: By limiting long term average annual extractions to an estimated 392,000 megalitres per year this Plan ensures that approximately 66% of the long-term average annual flow in this water source (estimated to be 1,141,000 megalitres per year) will be preserved and will contribute to the maintenance of basic ecosystem health.
(c) the minimum flow passed through to the Gwydir wetlands is to be the lesser of:(i) the sum of flows in the Horton River at Rider, Myall Creek at Molroy, and Halls Creek at Bingara, plus any water spill or pre-release for flood mitigation purposes from Copeton Dam water storage, and(ii) 500 megalitres per day (hereafter "ML/day"),
Note: At the time of commencement of this Plan, wetland inflow assessment is based on flows in the Gwydir River at Yarraman minus estimated delivery losses and water use between there and the wetland.
(d) the passing of the flows referred to in subclause (c) to the Gwydir wetlands may be suspended or temporarily curtailed if, in the opinion of the Minister, this would be environmental beneficial to the Gwydir Wetlands,
(e) advice from the ECA Operations Advisory Committee should be sought before action under subclause (d) is taken, and
(f) any flows not passed to the Gwydir Wetlands as a result of action under subclause (d) must be used elsewhere to support fundamental ecosystem health and may not be taken or used for other purposes.