New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

WATER SHARING PLAN FOR THE MACQUARIE AND CUDGEGONG REGULATED RIVERS WATER SOURCE 2003 - REG 37

37 Available water determinations for regulated river (high security) access licences

(1) The water supply system shall be managed so that available water determinations for regulated river (high security) access licences of 1 megalitre per unit share can be maintained through a repeat of the worst period of low inflows to this water source, represented in flow information held by the Department.

(2) Sufficient volumes of water shall be set aside from assured inflows into this water source and reserves held in Windamere Dam and Burrendong Dam water storages or other water storages to provide for subclause (1).

(3) The available water determination for regulated river (high security) access licences made for the commencement of each water year shall be 1 megalitre per unit share, whenever possible.

(4) If the available water determination made under subclause (3) is less than 1 megalitre per unit share, then further assessments of available water shall be carried out at least monthly and available water determinations made until the sum available water determinations for the water year is 1 megalitre per unit share.

(5) The sum of available water determinations for regulated river (high security) access licences in any water year shall not exceed 1 megalitre per unit share, except where the available water determination is made under subclause (6).

(6) When all water held in available water determination sub-accounts of regulated river (high security) and regulated river (general security) access licences has been withdrawn under clause 45 (3), an available water determination of 1 megalitre per unit share, shall be made for all regulated river (high security) access licences.

(7) Following an available water determination of 1 megalitre per unit share under subclause (6), whenever the water level in Burrendong Dam water storage re-enters the FMZ in that water year, an available water determination of 1 megalitre per unit share, shall be made for all regulated river (high security) access licences.

(8) Available water determinations made for regulated river (high security) access licences shall take into account:

(a) the environmental water provisions established by this Plan,

(b) requirements for domestic and stock rights,

(c) requirements for native title rights,

(d) requirement for domestic and stock access licences,

(e) requirements for local water utility access licences,

(f) volumes remaining in water allocation accounts from previous available water determinations,

(g) water losses associated with the holding and delivery of water to meet the requirements specified in subclauses (a) to (f),

(h) an appropriate volume to meet water losses associated with the holding and delivery of water resulting from the available water determination, and

(i) any other relevant matters.