| Relevant Target | Level of Contribution | Comments |
| Extractions in Murray Darling Basin’s regulated rivers limited to the level
of the long-term average annual extraction below the Murray Darling Basin
Ministerial Council (MDBMC) Cap which results from the long-term impact of the
environmental water rules | FULL | • This Plan clearly sets out the basis for
the long-term extraction limit in Part 8. |
| 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 8. |
| All water 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 | • Environmental flow
rules significantly improve inflows into the wetlands compared to Cap.• This
Plan provides a 45,000 ML Environmental Contingency Allowance.• 4 species
(River Snail, Silver Perch, Purple spotted gudgeon, Olive perchlet) occurring
in Gwydir have been listed as threatened. This Plan should assist in the
protection/recovery of these species.• 16 wetland and floodplain dependent
birds listed as threatened occur in the Gwydir. 14 bird species protected
under JAMBA and CAMBA also occur. NPWS have indicated that they consider the
environmental flow rules provide only the minimum necessary to protect these
species. |
| Where the frequency of “end of system” daily flows would be less than 60
percent of the predevelopment level without environmental water rules or
extraction limits, the flows increased to 60 percent of predevelopment levels
or increased by at least 10 percent of the predevelopment frequency. | FULL | •
This Plan meets the target for wetland inflows as follows: 50 th percentile
flows are 100% of predevelopment under Plan, 30 th percentile flows are 97% of
predevelopment under this Plan, 10 th percentile flows are improved by more
than 10% (ie increased from 15% of predevelopment under the Cap to 40% under
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. | FULL | • This
Plan maintains the predevelopment 95 th percentile flow frequency for the
wetland inflows. |
| The channel capacity of all lower river and effluent creek systems used for
the delivery of regulated water determined. Subject to reasonable
socio-economic impacts, limits on daily supply volumes established for
effluent systems such that they do not exceed 80 percent of the channel
capacity for more than 10 percent of days in each month of each year. Where
daily supply volumes are currently substantially less than channel capacity,
alternative limits established to reduce the impact of unseasonal flows
arising from future access licence dealings. | PARTIAL | • This Plan provides
for the determination of maximum operating channel capacities.• This Plan
provides for the distribution of numerical extraction rights that could be
used to facilitate management to desired capacity targets.• This Plan notes
a number of maximum channel capacity constraints for the Gwydir River, Mehi
River, Moomin Creek and Carole Creek which are to apply at the commencement of
the Plan. |
| Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in
terms of share and extraction components. | FULL | • Access for existing
regulated access licences and supplementary water access licences are
specified and tradeable. |
| Flow thresholds for declaration of supplementary water access, which take into
account environmental needs, clearly specified. | HIGH | • This Plan specifies
that inflows up to 500 ML/day from 3 of this water source’s major
tributaries goes through to the wetlands.• There has been no consideration
of thresholds for within river purposes or effluent streams. |
| Annual limits on supplementary water extractions, consistent with the
long-term average annual extraction limits, established in all regulated river
water sources. | FULL | • This Plan sets the maximum available water
determination for supplementary access licences at the full entitlement of
170,000 megalitres. |
| Rules for sharing between supplementary water licence holders made explicit.
| PARTIAL | • This Plan does not clearly specify any sharing rules however, it
does provide for “evenly sharing” access between supplementary water
access licences. |
| Supplementary access licence dealings made possible in regulated river water
sources, subject to extraction limits and environmental assessment and
Aboriginal spiritual and cultural constraints. | FULL | • Trading of
supplementary access water is permitted. |
| 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 | • Obligations are set out in Part 5. |
| 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. | PARTIAL | • This Plan does not
specifically address Aboriginal cultural or traditional requirements and has
not identified any sites of particular importance.• However, the significant
improvement in environmental flows achieved under this Plan should contribute
to protecting or improving Aboriginal values. |
| All share components of access licences tradeable. | FULL | • All entitlements
(including supplementary water) will be tradeable under this Plan. |
| Conversion factors and protocols established to facilitate trading and
dealings between water sources, whilst also protecting existing access and
environmental water. | FULL | • Transfers between water sources are in line with
Government policy and the Minister’s Access Licence Dealing Principles. |
| Reduced conversion factors only applied when necessary to offset increased
losses associated with water supply delivery | FULL | • This Plan does not
impose reduction factors. |
| Zones established where necessary for environmental protection and
limits/constraints on water dealings in them made explicit. | PARTIAL | • There
is some delineation of transfer zones and application of transfer restrictions
pending numerical specification of extraction rights. |
| All water management plans incorporating water quality objectives that have
considered Government approved Interim Environmental Objectives, the current
ANZECC Guidelines and the recommendations of relevant Healthy Rivers
Commission Inquiries. | HIGH | • This Plan includes a water quality objective
and a 45,000 megalitre ECA. |
New South Wales Consolidated Regulations