New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

WATER SHARING PLAN FOR THE LOWER LACHLAN GROUNDWATER SOURCE 2003 - REG 16

16 Recharge

(1) For the purposes of section 5 (3) of the Act, the overall basis for water sharing in this Plan is the average annual recharge to this groundwater source, estimated to be 108,000 megalitres per year (hereafter ML/yr) plus the requirements for basic landholder rights at the commencement of this Plan.

Note: The recharge provided for in this subclause is uncertain and the Natural Resources Commission has recommended a precautionary approach and the average annual recharge has been set at 108,000 ML/yr.

Note: Recharge west of the Cobb Highway that infiltrates into unusable saline aquifers is excluded from the average annual recharge in this clause.

(2) Pursuant to section 45 (1) (b) of the Act, the average annual recharge for this groundwater source established in subclause (1) may be varied by the Minister after 30 June 2010, following further recharge studies undertaken by the Minister.

(3) The results of the studies undertaken in subclause (2) must be independently reviewed.

(4) A water management committee, or in its absence an advisory committee established by the Minister to include representatives of domestic and stock rights groundwater users, water utilities, irrigation, industry, Aboriginal people, environmental groups and others, should:

(a) advise the Minister on the terms of reference and selection of consultants for the independent review established in subclause (3), and

(b) advise the Minister by 31 March 2010 on any changes to recharge estimates based on the study and the outcomes of the independent review.

(5) The Minister must take into account the review in subclause (3), and the advice provided in accordance with subclause (4), before making a variation under subclause (2).

Note: The extent of impact of these changes on access by licence holders is limited in clause 28.