New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

WATER SHARING PLAN FOR THE NSW GREAT ARTESIAN BASIN GROUNDWATER SOURCES 2008 - REG 15

15 Planned environmental water

(1) Planned environmental water in the Eastern Recharge and the Southern Recharge Groundwater Sources is as follows:

(a) the long-term average storage component of the respective groundwater source,

(b) plus 30% of the long-term average annual net recharge to the respective groundwater source.

(2) Planned environmental water in the Surat, Warrego and Central Groundwater Sources is:

(a) sustainable pressure estimate equivalant,

(b) minus the increased extraction from 1990 until the commencement of this Plan,

(c) plus the water savings made through the capping and piping of any water bores from 1990 to 30 June 1999,

(d) plus 70% of the water savings made through the capping and piping of any water bores from 1 July 1999.

(3) The Minister may vary the proportion of long-term average annual net recharge and/or the percentage of water savings made available through the capping and piping of any water bores that is reserved as planned environmental water in subclause (1) and (2) after year 5 of this Plan, based on further studies of groundwater ecosystem dependency, acceptable to the Minister. The extent of any variation will be determined by the Minister after considering the needs of the environment and socio-economic impacts of the proposed variation.