New South Wales Consolidated Regulations New South Wales Consolidated Regulations:
FULL contributes to target in full
HIGH while not fully contributing to target, there is a good level of contribution
PARTIAL goes some way to contributing to target
LOW only small degree of contribution to target
| Relevant Target | Level of contribution | Comments |
Extractions in Murray Darling Basin’s regulated rivers limited to the level of the long term average annual extraction below the MDBMC Cap which results from the long term impact of the environmental water rules | FULL | • Plan clearly sets out the basis for the long-term extraction limit |
Rules for adjustments to future available water determinations in the event that the extraction limits are exceeded, clearly prescribed in consultation with the relevant management committee, and acted upon | FULL | • Rules set out in Part 8 |
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 | • Silver perch is a listed Threatened Species is thought to still occur in the Lachlan. Improvement in higher flows may assist its spawning and recruitment.• The flow improvements should provide increased wetland inundation for a number of lower river wetlands eg Booligal, Murrumbidgil, Lake Merrimajeel, Cumbung Swamp and Merrowie.• An Environmental Contingency Allowance of 20,000 ML is provided.• The plan substantially reduces environmental water when Wyangala Dam levels are reduced or water available to access licences restricted, irrespective of the environmental needs. |
Where 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 | • The frequency of flows up to the 20 th percentile meet the target• The frequency of flows between the 20 th percentile and the 60 th percentile do not meet the target.• The frequency of flows above the 60 th percentile meet the target. |
Frequency of “end of system” daily very low flows (as defined by local field investigation) protected or restored to predevelopment levels to maintain or restore their critical ecological functions, drought refuges and habitat connectivity. In the absence of such local assessments, protection extended up to at least the predevelopment 95 th percentile. | FULL | • This Plan provides for maintenance of flow to end of system at level which is above the natural 95 th percentile flow frequency (which is a zero flow) |
The channel capacity of all lower river and effluent creek systems used for the delivery of regulated water determined. Subject to reasonable socio-economic impacts, limits on daily supply volumes established for effluent systems such that they do not exceed 80 percent of the channel capacity for more than 10 percent of days in each month of each year. Where daily supply volumes are currently substantially less than channel capacity, alternative limits established to reduce the impact of unseasonal flows arising from future access licence dealings. | PARTIAL | • This Plan provides for the determination of maximum operating channel capacities in accordance with the SWMOP target.• This Plan also provides for the distribution of numerical extraction rights that could be used to facilitate management to desired capacity targets.• The Plan also notes a number of maximum channel capacity constraints that would apply at the start of this Plan. However, these are only expressed as a Note and are therefore not part of the Plan. |
Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in terms of share and extraction components. | HIGH | • Access rights are specified and tradeable |
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 access and use. | FULL | • Obligations are set out in Part 5 |
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. | LOW | • The Plan does not address specific Aboriginal cultural or traditional requirements and has not identified any sites of particular importance.• It is likely that the environmental flow rules in the Plan will contribute to protection. |
All share components of access licences tradeable. | PARTIAL | • All share components are tradeable.• This Plan prohibits the movement of share component from upstream of Lake Cargelligo Weir to downstream of Lake Cargelligo Weir and vice versa. However it does provide for review and possible removal or modification of this restriction.• The limits placed on movement of share component and allocation into Willandra Creek and the Lachlan downstream of Booligal have been put in place because of the potential environmental impacts that would result from changes in flow regimes resulting from increased regulated flow. |
Conversion factors and protocols established to facilitate trading and dealings between water sources, whilst also protecting existing access and environmental water | FULL | • Assignments between water sources are in line with Government policy |
Reduced conversion factors only applied when necessary to offset increased losses associated with water supply delivery | FULL | • The Plan does not impose reduction factors |
Zones established where necessary for environmental protection and limits/constraints on water dealings in them made explicit. | PARTIAL | • This Plan establishes dealing zones being upstream and downstream of Cargelligo Weir, downstream of Booligal and Willandra Creek. |
All management plans incorporating water quality objectives that have considered Government approved Interim Environmental Objectives, the current Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council Guidelines and the recommendations of relevant Healthy Rivers Commission Inquiries. | PARTIAL | • This Plan included a general objective for ecosystem water quality.• This Plan makes specific provision for water quality management through 20,000 Megalitre Water Quality Allowance for salinity and blue-green algae. |