New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

WATER SHARING PLAN FOR THE LOWER MACQUARIE GROUNDWATER SOURCES 2003 - REG 36

36 Extraction interference between neighbouring bores

(1) To minimise interference between extraction under different access licences in Zones 1, 2 and 6, extraction from a new water supply work (bore) nominated by an access licence shall not be permitted within:

(a) 1,000 metres (hereafter "m") of an existing water supply work (bore) nominated by an access licence, if the new water supply work (bore) will extract up to and including 10 ML/day,

(b) 2,000 m of an existing water supply work (bore) nominated by an access licence, if the new water supply work (bore) will extract greater than 10 ML/day and up to and including 20 ML/day, and

(c) 3,000 m of an existing water supply work (bore) nominated by an access licence, if the new water supply work (bore) will extract greater than 20 ML/day.

(2) To minimise interference between extraction under different access licences in Zones 3, 4 and 5 extraction from a new water supply work (bore) nominated by an access licence shall not be permitted within:

(a) 1,000 m of an existing water supply work (bore) nominated by an access licence, if the new water supply work (bore) will extract up to and including 5 ML/day,

(b) 2,500 m of an existing water supply work (bore) nominated by an access licence, if the new water supply work (bore) will extract greater than 5 ML/day and up to and including 10 ML/day,

(c) 3,500 m of an existing water supply work (bore) nominated by an access licence, if the new water supply work (bore) will extract greater than 10 ML/day and up to and including 15 ML/day, and

(d) 4,000 m of an existing water supply work (bore) nominated by an access licence, if the new water supply work (bore) will extract greater than 15 ML/day.

(3) The distances and daily extraction rates referred to in subclauses (1) and (2) shall be specified on the new water supply work (bore) approval.

(4) All new water supply works (bores) that are screened, slotted, or in any way open, within the Great Artesian Basin sandstone aquifers, shall have an annual extraction limit of 500 ML/yr.

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subclauses (1), (2), and (4), the Minister may, upon application by an access licence holder, vary the distance restrictions specified in this clause 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 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.

(6) Subclauses (1) to (3) do not apply to extraction under existing access licences.

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.