New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

WATER SHARING PLAN FOR THE LOWER GWYDIR GROUNDWATER SOURCE 2003 - REG 40

40 Protection of aquifer integrity

(1) The Minister may declare that, in order to protect the integrity of the aquifers within this groundwater source, local access restrictions are to apply in a defined area known as a local impact area.

(2) The Minister may, on presentation of evidence of land subsidence or aquifer compaction, restrict extraction from all water supply works (bores) nominated by an access licence within a local impact area declared under subclause (1), to such an extent and for such time as to stabilise that subsidence or compaction.

Note: This clause recognises that damage of aquifers through excessive water storage loss is irreversible, and destroys the resource for future water users, including the environment.