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 is considered a good level of contribution
PARTIAL-goes some way to the target
LOW-only small degree of contribution
| Relevant target | Level of contribution | Comments |
| Target 1c Average annual extraction limits which are ecologically sustainable, and which minimise downstream impacts, established in all coastal catchments. | HIGH | • This Plan clearly sets out the basis for the extraction limit for Karuah River Water Source• The limit together with the proposed TDELs and IDELs should ensure adequate downstream flows• Rules set out in Part 9 of this Plan |
| Target 1f Rules for adjustments to future water allocations in the event that the extraction limits are exceeded, clearly prescribed in consultation with the relevant water management committee, and acted upon. | FULL | • Rules set out in Part 9 of this Plan |
| Target 2 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 has put in place total daily extraction limits which protect more than 70% of moderate to high flows (Part 10, Division 2)• This Plan has improved very low flow protection from current while still allowing them to remain significantly impacted• A class flows between 3.5 and 18 ML/day are impacted, more so than estimated current• This water source has been assessed as high conservation value and therefore the relatively low level of protection/restoration of low to very low flows could be a post research issue• This Plan is consistent with relevant Threatened Species Recovery Plans |
| Target 4a Wherever the frequency of “end of system” daily flows would be less than 60 percent of the predevelopment level without environmental flow rules or extraction limits, the flows increased to 60 percent of predevelopment levels or increased by at least 10 percent of the predevelopment frequency. | PARTIAL | • Total daily extraction limits from A class protects 40% of flows which is nil improvement on estimated current• B class protects 70% of flows• C class protects 85% of flows• This Plan also maintains low extraction level for the first 24 hours of flow following a river rise• Rules set out in Parts 3, 4 and 10 of this Plan |
| Target 4b Frequency of “end of system” daily very low flows (as defined by local field investigation) protected or restored to predevelopment levels to maintain their critical ecological functions, drought refuges and habitat connectivity. In the absence of such local assessments, protection extended up to at least the predevelopment 95th percentile. | PARTIAL | • Cease-to-pump levels of 3.5 ML/day and 5 ML/day on a rising river is significantly less than the 95th percentile of all days with flow (9 ML/day)• This Plan allows for extraction of up to 0.5 ML/day below the cease to pump for poultry and dairy sheds• Historical and field information suggests that it is a losing river and therefore when flows are about 3.5 ML/day at the end of the system the flows in the mid system are up to 100% higher• This Plan provides for the cease to pump to be increased to maintain 10 ML/day at Stroud Weir in June/July and October/November once Stroud Weir fishway is operational• On a rising river this Plan provides for pumping to be delayed for 24 hours.• This Plan provides for field assessments and a review of the CtP with adjustment up to 9 ML/day and 11 ML/day on a rising river if necessary• Rules set out in Parts 3, 4 and 10 of this Plan |
| Target 5 Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in terms of share or extraction components. | FULL | • This Plan clarifies the share component of the unregulated access licence and establishes total daily extraction limits for distribution to individual licensees• This Plan provides principle for trading of share components and individual daily extraction limits• Rules set out in Part 10 of this Plan |
| Target 6 The total volume of water specified on access licences reduced over the term of a water sharing plan to no more than 200 percent of the long-term average annual extraction limit in surface water systems. | FULL | • Total licensed share components for the Karuah River Water Source should not exceed 200% of extraction limit for this water source• Rules set out in Part 9 of this Plan |
| Target 7 Mechanisms in place to enable Aboriginal communities to gain an increased share of the benefits of the water economy. | PARTIAL | • The Government has yet to establish these mechanisms and therefore these early plans cannot effectively address these targets• This Plan proposes an exemption from the access licence embargo for Aboriginal cultural purposes |
| Target 8 Daily extraction limits specified and tradeable, subject to metering, reporting and compliance, for at least 50 percent of unregulated river access licences and for 80 percent of stressed river subcatchments. | FULL | • This Plan establishes daily extraction limits across the water source• Rules set out in Part 10 of this Plan |
| Target 12 Measures in place in all water sources subject to a gazetted water sharing plan to protect basic domestic and stock water rights from the impact of other water extraction and use. | PARTIAL | • Cease to pump level (3.5-5 ML/day) may not fully protect flows for domestic and stock requirements• Rules set out in Parts 3 and 5 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. | PARTIAL | • One Aboriginal community representatives has been involved in development of this Plan• Aboriginal community forums have been held to discuss this Plan• An Aboriginal respect statement has been developed by Aboriginal people consulted during the 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. | PARTIAL | • This Plan does not address specific Aboriginal cultural or traditional requirements and has not identified any sites of particular importance• This Plan does provide reasonably high level of environmental protection which should assist in protecting Aboriginal values |
| Target 16a All licensed share components of access licences tradeable | HIGH | • This Plan provides for trading of share components or individual daily extraction limits• This Plan does not restrict individual daily extraction limits water transfers in a downstream direction, but restricts upstream transfers so that the total limits in a management zone are below 110% of the total limits at the time of making the Plan• Rules set out in Part 11 of this Plan |
| Target 16c Conversion factors and protocols established to facilitate trading between water sources and/or extraction management areas, whilst also protecting existing entitlements and environmental water. | PARTIAL | • This Plan establishes an exchange rate of 1:1 for trading within this water source but does not facilitate trade between extraction management areas |
| Target 16d Reduced conversion factors only applied when necessary to offset increased transmission losses associated with water supply delivery. | FULL | • This Plan does not impose reduced conversion factors |
| Target 16e Any unassigned access rights identified and clear mechanisms established for their future assignment. | FULL | • This Plan establishes rules where unassigned volumes are identified and mechanisms to distribute them nominated• The presence of unassigned volumes in A and B class are of concern given that the TDELs are significantly below the full development peak daily demand• The rules for unassigned water volumes future assignment are set out in this Plan• Rules set out in Part 10, Division 3 of this Plan |
| Target 16f Water transfer zones established and limits/constraints to transfers between them made explicit in all water sources subject to a gazetted water sharing plan. | PARTIAL | • This Plan establishes water transfer zones (schedule 4) |
| Target 35 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. | NIL | • This Plan includes a generalised water quality objective• This Plan does provide reasonably high level of environmental protection which should assist in protecting water quality• A first-flush rule is established to protect flows for 24-hours following a river rise• Rules set in Parts 4 and 10 of this Plan |