| Relevant SWMOP Target | Level of Contribution | Comments |
| Long term average annual extraction limits which are ecologically sustainable
and which minimise downstream impacts, established in all coastal catchments.
| PARTIAL | • An extraction limit is included in this Plan.• There is scope
for some growth in extractions however the limit would ensure that a high
percentage of flows will be protected for environment when compared to most
other developed regulated rivers in the State. |
| 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 | • This Plan sets minimum
flow levels and sets aside water to help manage critical environmental
events.• The extraction rules for supplementary water access licences and
the Plan limit should also substantially protect current wetland and estuary
inflows. |
| 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 | •
Frequency of flows are greater than 60% across whole of flow range. |
| 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 | •
Frequency of flows below natural 95 th percentile increased. |
| Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in
terms of share and extraction components. | FULL | • Access for regulated supply
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 | • The initial 12 hours
of flows are protected and thresholds are applied to subsequent
extractions.• These thresholds may not however be sufficient to cater for
all environmental needs. |
| 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’s rules provide a formula for determining
a maximum annual extraction volume for supplementary access licences each year
and for formula adjustment should this Plan’s limit be exceeded. |
| Rules for sharing between supplementary water licence holders made explicit.
| HIGH | • This Plan ensures that at least 50% of flows in a reach must pass
into the next downstream reach.• It allows for access to be shared on within
each reach in proportion to the number of shares held. |
| 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 4. |
| 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 address
specific Aboriginal cultural or traditional requirements and has not
identified any sites of particular importance.• The application of a
long-term extraction limit that protects a substantial portion of river flows,
and this Plan’s environmental flow and supplementary water access rules
should provide some protection. |
| 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. | PARTIAL | • Plan provides for introduction of trading
between the Hunter regulated river and other water sources in the Hunter water
management area if assessments indicate this can be done with minimal
environmental or water supply impacts. |
| 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 | • Limit
on movement of share components into the river system above the Glennies Creek
junction has been applied to protect supply reliability.• Movements of water
allocations into upstream reaches subject to assessments of impacts on other
access licences. |
| 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. | PARTIAL
| • Plan includes a water quality objective in relation to releases.• Some
water sharing provisions, particularly the planned environmental water
provisions would be expected to produce benefits in line with the Interim
Environmental Objectives. |
New South Wales Consolidated Regulations