New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

WATER SHARING PLAN FOR THE KARUAH RIVER WATER SOURCE 2003 - REG 11

11 Objectives

The objectives of this Plan are to:

(a) protect natural water level in pools during periods of low flows,

(b) protect natural low flows,

(c) protect or restore a proportion of moderate flows and high flows,

(d) maintain or restore the natural inundation patterns and distribution of floodwaters supporting natural wetland and floodplain ecosystems,

(e) maintain or imitate natural flow variability,

(f) minimise the impacts of in-river structures,

(g) maintain estuarine processes and habitats,

(h) maintain water supply priorities for basic landholder rights,

(i) supply town water to meet the existing and potential population needs of urban communities, conditional on water availability,

(j) provide an agreed level of water sharing to maintain irrigation industry viability,

(k) protect and enhance recreational and tourism opportunities,

(l) recognise and protect traditional values of water to Aboriginal people,

(m) protect and enhance recreational and commercial fishing interests,

(n) protect and enhance the oyster industry in the lower Karuah River, and

(o) improve water quality parameters as a result of environmental flows at low flow periods.

Note: This objective refers to maintaining water quality. Although there are no specific strategies directly related to this objective in this Plan, the environmental water provisions in this Plan make a positive contribution to maintaining water quality.