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 1e The long term average annual extractions for groundwater limited (or being phased down) to an ecologically sustainable level (the Sustainable Yield) as determined by detailed assessment of each groundwater source and consultation with the relevant management committee. In the absence of such an assessment, the following to apply: 100 percent of average annual recharge for a groundwater source where there is no significant ecosystem dependency; 70 percent of average annual recharge where there is significant ecosystem dependency | FULL | • This Plan clearly sets out the Sustainable Yield (SY) as a percentage of estimated recharge in each groundwater source.• This Plan provides for a review of SY by year 6 and allows for the extraction limit to be varied accordingly. |
| 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 | • This Plan sets out planned environmental water as a percentage of estimated recharge distributed in each groundwater source.• This Plan sets out extraction rules/distances to limit the local environmental impact of extraction.• Part 10 of this Plan identifies high priority groundwater dependent ecosystems with rules to protect them.• This Plan provides for variation in planned environmental water/local extraction rules in years 6-10, based on studies relating to environmental requirements. |
| Target 5 Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in terms of share and extraction components | HIGH | • This Plan establishes transparent extraction limits and allocation rules.• This Plan provides for new entitlements to be granted only where entitlements within any of these groundwater sources are less than the extraction limit for the particular groundwater source and therefore will not impact on the value of existing access licences.• The nature of the local extraction rules set out in Part 10 of this Plan, means that future access rights will not be exclusive but affected by location of other works, and licences with existing bores will have priority over licences requiring new bores. |
| Target 6a For groundwater sources, the total volume of water specified on access licences reduced over the term of a water sharing plan to no more than 125 percent of the Sustainable Yield | FULL | • The total access licence share components for each groundwater source is less than 125% of SY. |
| Target 7 Mechanisms in place to enable Aboriginal communities to gain an increased share of the benefits of the water economy | HIGH | • This Plan makes no special provision for access to water for Aboriginal communities.• This Plan provides general market opportunity.• This Plan allows for applications for new access licences but gives no priority of access.• The Government has established alternative mechanisms to address this target. |
| Target 10 Degree of connectivity between aquifers and rivers assessed, and zones of high connectivity mapped to enable baseflows to the river to be maintained or improved | HIGH | • Baseflows to surface rivers (eg Ourimbah Creek) are recognised through extraction limits (Part 9 of this Plan).• This Plan provides for review of the extraction limit in year 6. |
| Target 11 Groundwater dependent ecosystems identified and mapped for all priority aquifers, and the ecological water requirements assessed to enable local groundwater extraction rates and/or Sustainable Yields to be reviewed | HIGH | • Types of dependent ecosystems have been mapped, but ecological water requirements are not known.• Part 10 of this Plan sets out extraction rules/distances to limit local environmental impact of extraction on ecosystems.• This Plan identifies high priority groundwater dependent ecosystems with rules to protect them.• This Plan provides for variation in planned environmental water/local extraction rules in years 6-10, based on studies relating to environmental requirements. |
| 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 | • This Plan identifies the volumes necessary to meet basic domestic and stock requirements.• Part 5 of this Plan sets aside volumes for basic domestic and stock requirements in each groundwater source.• Local management rules protect basic rights extractions (Part 10 of this Plan). |
| 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 | HIGH | • Aboriginal community representatives have been involved in developing this Plan.• A workshop was held with members of the Local Aboriginal Land Council to input ideas into development of this Plan. |
| 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 | HIGH | • This Plan does not address specific Aboriginal cultural or traditional requirements but has identified a specific Aboriginal objective at Part 2 and dependent ecosystems of particular importance.• This Plan does provide extraction limits and buffers to protect high priority dependent ecosystems that should assist in protecting Aboriginal values.• Part 10 of this Plan provides local management rules that should assist in protecting Aboriginal values. |
| Target 16a All share components of access licences tradeable | FULL | • Part 11 of this Plan provides for dealings with access licences. |
| Target 16c Conversion factors and protocols established to facilitate trading and dealings between water sources, whilst also protecting existing access and environmental water | HIGH | • This Plan does not allow trading out of these groundwater sources, but allows trading between the groundwater sources within the Plan area, subject to extraction limits. |
| Target 16d Reduced conversion factors only applied when necessary to offset increased losses associated with water supply delivery | FULL | • This Plan does not impose any reduction factors. |
| Target 16e Any unassigned access rights identified and clear mechanisms established for their future assignment | FULL | • Part 9 of this Plan provides for the granting of new access licences up to the extraction limit within each groundwater source.• The rules for granting of new access licences are set out in Part 9 of 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 8 individual groundwater sources and the constraints to trading between them is based on access licence share component levels versus extraction limits for each groundwater source. |
| 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 general water quality objective.• This Plan recognises the beneficial uses as raw water for drinking and ecosystem protection.• Local management rules under Part 10 of this Plan specifically address water quality. |
| Target 38 Aquifer water quality vulnerability zones mapped and extraction limits reviewed to reduce the risk of lateral intrusion of poor quality water | HIGH | • Vulnerability mapping of some of the area (Hawkesbury) is available and extraction limits in this Plan recognise these risks..• Local impact management rules in Part 10 provide mechanisms to manage the lateral movement of poor quality water. |