New South Wales Consolidated Regulations New South Wales Consolidated RegulationsLevels of assessed contribution:
| 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 the target |
| N/A | target is not applicable to this Plan |
| Relevant Target | Level of Contribution | Comment |
| Target 1a Extractions in Murray Darling Basin’s regulated rivers limited to the level of the long-term average annual extraction below the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council (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 in Part 8 |
| Target 1f 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 |
| Target 2 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 | The environmental water
provisions make some improvement on flows compared to Cap The water sources involved in this Plan are however under joint government control. A New South Wales only plan therefore cannot address the majority of environmental issues in this valley. Joint government processes are under way to do this. |
| Target 4a Where the frequency of “end of system” daily flows would be less than 60 percent of the predevelopment level without environmental water rules or extraction limits, the flows increased to 60 percent of predevelopment levels or increased by at least 10 percent of the predevelopment frequency. | N/A | These water sources are under joint government control. The NSW plan does not therefore manage the total flow regime. |
| Target 4b 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. | N/A | These water sources are under joint government control. The NSW plan does not therefore manage the total flow regime. |
| Target 4c 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
this SWMOP targets. This Plan also provides for the distribution of numerical extraction rights that could be used to facilitate management to desired capacity targets. |
| Target 5 Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in terms of share and extraction components. | FULL | Access for existing regulated supply licences and supplementary water access licences are specified and tradeable. |
| Target 9a Flow thresholds for declaration of supplementary water access, which take into account environmental needs, clearly specified. | HIGH | A variety of flow rules and environmental factors which must be assessed before supplementary water access can be permitted are detailed in this Plan. |
| Target 9b Annual limits on supplementary water extractions, consistent with the long-term average annual extraction limits, established in all regulated river water sources. | FULL | This Plan sets the maximum annual extraction for supplementary access licences at the full entitlement of 250GL in each water source and allows for a reduction in the maximum in response to any extraction limit exceedance. |
| Target 9c Rules for sharing between supplementary water licence holders made explicit. | PARTIAL | This Plan does not clearly specify any sharing rules however it does provide for “evenly sharing” access between supplementary water access licences. |
| Target 9d Supplementary access licence dealings made possible in regulated river water sources, subject to extraction limits and environmental assessment and Aboriginal spiritual and cultural constraints. | FULL | |
| Target 12 Supplementary access licence dealings made possible in regulated river water sources, subject to extraction limits and environmental assessment and Aboriginal spiritual and cultural constraints. | FULL | Obligations are set out in Part 5 |
| Target 14 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. | PARTIAL | Environmental flow rules would be expected to provide benefits to some billabongs and wetlands. |
| Target 16a All share components of access licences tradeable. | FULL | |
| Target 16c Conversion factors and protocols established to facilitate trading and dealings between water sources, whilst also protecting existing access and environmental water. | FULL | Transfers between water sources are in line with government policy |
| Target 16d Reduced conversion factors only applied when necessary to offset increased losses associated with water supply delivery | FULL | This Plan does not impose reduction factors |
| Target 16f Zones established where necessary for environmental protection and limits/constraints on water dealings in them made explicit. | PARTIAL | There is no delineation of transfer zones, except for above and below the Barmah Choke. |
| Target 35 All water management plans incorporating water quality objectives that have considered Government approved Interim Environmental Objectives, the current ANZEC Guidelines and the recommendations of relevant Healthy Rivers Commission Inquiries. | PARTIAL | Plan includes a general water quality
objectives. Some water sharing provisions, particularly the planned environmental water provisions would be expected to produce benefits in line with the Interim Environmental Objectives.. |