New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

WATER SHARING PLAN FOR THE MURRUMBIDGEE REGULATED RIVER WATER SOURCE 2003 - REG 38

38 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 0.95 megalitres 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 must be set aside from assured inflows into this water source and in reserves held in Burrinjuck Dam water storage, Blowering Dam water storage or other water storage to provide for subclause (1).

(3) The available water determination for regulated river (high security) access licences made for the commencement of each year shall, whenever possible be the greater of:

(a) 0.95 megalitres per unit share,

(b) 0.01 megalitres per unit share more than the sum of available water determinations for regulated river (general security) access licences when the sum of available water determinations for regulated river (general security) access licences is less than 1 megalitre per unit share, or

(c) 1 megalitre per unit share when the sum of available water determinations for regulated river (general security) access licences is 1 megalitre per unit share.

(4) If the sum of available water determinations made under subclause (3) is less than 1 megalitre per unit share, then further available water determinations for regulated river (high security) access licences shall be made at least monthly, if water can be provided to them.

(5) The available water determinations made under subclause (4) shall provide whenever possible additional water allocations such that the sum of available water determinations for regulated river (high security) access licences for the water year is the greater of:

(a) 0.95 megalitres per unit share,

(b) 0.01 megalitres per unit share more than the sum of available water determinations for regulated river (general security) access licences when the sum of available water determinations for regulated river (general security) access licences is less than 1 megalitre per unit share, or

(c) 1 megalitre per unit share when the sum of available water determinations for regulated river (general security) access licences is 1 megalitre per unit share.

(6) The sum of available water determinations made for regulated river (high security) access licences in any water year shall not exceed 1 megalitre per unit share.

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

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

(b) requirements for domestic and stock and native title rights,

(c) requirements for domestic and stock access licences,

(d) requirements for local water utility access licences,

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

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

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

(h) any other relevant matters.