New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

WATER SHARING PLAN FOR THE LOWER GWYDIR GROUNDWATER SOURCE 2003 - REG 36

36 Extraction interference between neighbouring bores

(1) The minimum allowable distance between a property boundary and extraction from new and replacement water supply works (bores) authorised to extract equal to or greater than 20 ML/yr is 200 metres.

(2) New and replacement water supply works (bores) authorised to extract less than 20 ML/yr which are within 100 metres of any basic rights water supply work, will require an investigation of potential impacts on neighbouring water supply works (bores).

(3) The Minister may, upon application by an access licence holder, vary the distance restrictions specified in subclause (1) if:

(a) an hydrogeological study undertaken by the licence holder, and assessed as adequate by the Minister, demonstrates minimal potential for any adverse impact on existing licensed extraction,

(b) all potentially affected access licence holders, and adjacent landholders have been notified by the proponent, and

Note: Potentially affected access licence holders are typically neighbouring access licence holders and/or those in the near vicinity.

(c) there is a process for remediation in the event that any adverse impact occurs in the future, specified as conditions on the licence.

(4) Subclause (1) does not apply to extraction under existing access licences until such time as the nominated water supply work (bore) is replaced.

Note: The intention of this clause is to minimise the impact of extraction under new access licences on extraction under existing access licences. It is intended to develop models to support hydrogeological assessment of the adverse impacts of new groundwater extractions on existing licensed extraction.