New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

WATER SHARING PLAN FOR THE KULNURA MANGROVE MOUNTAIN GROUNDWATER SOURCES 2003 - REG 18

18 Planned environmental water

Note: It is anticipated that the planned environmental water provisions in this Part, and management of local impacts provisions in Part 10 of this Plan, will also protect the cultural and spiritual values of groundwater (see clause 11 (i)).

(1) This Plan establishes the following planned environmental water rules:

(a) the long-term average storage component of each groundwater source is reserved for the environment,

(b) 100% of the average annual recharge to Zone 1 will be reserved for the environment,

(c) 807 ML/yr will be reserved for the environment in Zone 2,

(d) 1,873 ML/yr will be reserved for the environment in Zone 3,

(e) 3,210 ML/yr will be reserved for the environment in Zone 4,

(f) 2,164 ML/yr will be reserved for the environment in Zone 5,

(g) 1,979 ML/yr will be reserved for the environment in Zone 6,

(h) 5,892 ML/yr will be reserved for the environment in Zone 7, and

(i) 6,447 ML/yr will be reserved for the environment in Zone 8.

Note: For the first 5 years of this Plan, the above represents approximately 72% of recharge reserved for the environment in Zones 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, and 89% in Zone 4. The environmental water in Zone 4 is greater than in other groundwater sources in order to protect the connectivity of base flows to Ourimbah Creek.

(2) Pursuant to section 45 (1) (b) of the Act, the Minister may vary the proportion of recharge reserved as the environmental health water in subclause (1) after year 5 of this Plan, based on further studies of groundwater ecosystem dependency undertaken by the Minister.

Note: The extent of impact of this change on access by licence holders is limited by the provisions in clause 28 (2).

(3) The Minister should consult with the Minister for the Environment before varying the planned environmental water in accordance with subclause (2).