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
LOW-only small degree of contribution to target
| Relevant Target | Level of contribution | Comments |
| Target 1b Extractions in Murray-Darling Basin’s unregulated rivers limited to the MDBMC Cap level | FULL | • This Plan sets out the basis for the extraction limit for these water sources. |
| 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 9 of this Plan. |
| Target 2 All 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 | HIGH | • Protects very low flows below 95 th percentile in these water sources and field inspections indicated these should be adequate for environmental needs.• Has put in place TDELs to protect over 90% of flows excepted in Mooki River Water Source.• The flows are improved relative to current in Mooki River Water Source (excepting during D class).• In the other water sources this Plan allows for further reductions in flow and will protect greater proportion of flows compared to full development under pre-plan rules.• At least 3 listed threatened fish species are likely to occur in the Mooki River Water Source (silver perch, purple spotted gudgeon, olive perchlet). There are no recovery plans in place, therefore no specific provisions in this Plan. The high level of flow protection (over 90%) in Phillips, Quirindi and Warrah Water Sources should maintain/improve conditions for these species, while the flow improvements in the Mooki River Water Source may help improve conditions for these species. |
| Target 4a Wherever the frequency of “end of system” daily flows would be less than 60% of the predevelopment level without environmental water rules or extraction limits, the flows increased to 60% of predevelopment levels or increased by at least 10% of the predevelopment frequency | HIGH | • Meets the target in all cases except Mooki River Water Source where class D fails to achieve any improvement on pre-plan, and reducing the TDEL to 1,350 ML/day would meet the target.• Phillips-C class-92% of flow protected, D class-97% of flow protected.• Mooki-C class-20% (year 1-6) 40% (year 7-10) of the flow is protected, this is over 10% improvement on pre-plan, D class-50% of flow protected however this does not improve on pre-plan, E class-67% of flow is protected.• Quirindi-C class-91% of the flow (minus the local water utility impact) is protected, D class-94% of the flow (minus the local water utility impact) is protected.• Warrah-C class-97% of the flow is protected, D class-96% of the flow is protected. |
| 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 95th percentile | FULL | • Cease to pump (CTP) levels are set at a minimum of the 95 th percentile of all days with (non-zero) flow in all four water sources.• The environmental appropriateness of this level was verified by field inspection. |
| Target 5 Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in terms of share and extraction components | FULL | • This Plan recognises the access licence share components and establishes TDELs for distribution to individual licensees, and also enables water trading of access licence share components, IDELs and account water. |
| Target 6b A pathway for reducing the share components to 200 percent of the long term average annual extraction limit to be established not later than the end of the term of the SWMOP | FULL | • Total licensed share components for the Namoi Unregulated Rivers Extraction Management Unit should not exceed 200% of extraction limit for this Unit. |
| Target 7 Mechanisms in place to enable Aboriginal communities to gain an increased share of the benefits of the water economy | PARTIAL | • The Government has established other mechanisms to address this target.• This Plan does provide broad market opportunity.• This Plan does not establish unassigned water. |
| Target 8 Daily extraction components specified and tradeable, subject to metering, reporting and compliance, for at least 50% of unregulated river access licences and for 80% of stressed unregulated rivers | FULL | • This Plan establishes TDELs across these water sources. |
| Target 12 Measures in place in all water sources subject to a gazetted water sharing plan to protect domestic and stock rights from the impact of other water access and use | FULL | • Domestic and stock basic rights are estimated at 5.1 ML/day.• The upstream zone CTPs (3 times 2 Ml/day) should ensure that the basic rights requirements are met during very low flow periods. |
| Target 13 The knowledge sharing, training and resources necessary to ensure that Aboriginal people have the capacity to be effectively involved in water management identified and addressed | HIGH | • 2 Aboriginal community representatives were involved in development of this Plan.• The committee that prepared this Plan attended Aboriginal cultural awareness training.• Meetings were held with local Aboriginal communities, Elders and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council to encourage involvement. |
| 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 | HIGH | • Ecological features of importance to the Aboriginal people have been identified and the impact of this Plan assessed against these.• This Plan does provide a reasonable level of environmental protection/improvement which should assist in protecting Aboriginal values. |
| Target 16a All share components of access licences tradeable | FULL | • Part 11 of this Plan provides for trading of access licence share component, IDELs and account water. |
| Target 16c Conversion factors and protocols established to facilitate trading and dealings between water sources, whilst also protecting existing access and environmental water | HIGH | • Part 11 of this Plan establishes an exchange rate of for trading between unregulated water sources in the Namoi Unregulated Rivers Extraction Management Unit and other water sources subject to Ministers determination. |
| 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 16e Any unassigned access rights identified and clear mechanisms established for their future assignment | HIGH | • No unassigned rights in this Plan. |
| Target 35 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 | HIGH | • This Plan includes an objective to implement the flow related water quality objectives. |