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 is a good level of contribution
PARTIAL-goes some way to the target
LOW-only small degree of contribution
| Relevant Target | Level of Contribution | Comments |
| Target 1c Long term average annual extraction limits which are ecologically sustainable, and which minimise downstream impacts, established in all coastal water sources | HIGH | • Part 9 Division 1 of this Plan clearly sets out the basis for the extraction limit for the Macleay River Extraction Management Unit• Until the cumulative impact of this limit can be assessed for all of this Unit it is not possible to properly assess ecological sustainability and downstream impact• However there are no access licence of share components in this Unit and application of IDELs should ensure adequate downstream flows |
| 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 | • Part 10 Division 2 of this Plan has put in place comprehensive daily extraction limits to protect/restore environmental flows• This Plan has significantly improved low to very low flow protection• This Plan is consistent with relevant Threatened Species Recovery Plans |
| 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 | FULL | • Daily extraction limits protect 60% to 100% of flows |
| 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 | FULL | • Cease-to-pump levels protect flows below 80 th%tile in critical months |
| Target 5 Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in terms of share and extraction components | FULL | • This Plan establishes total daily extraction limits for distribution to individual licensees |
| Target 6b A pathway for reducing the share components to 200% 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 Macleay River 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 | HIGH | • The Government has established other mechanisms outside of this water sharing plan to address the target• This Plan proposes an exemption from the access licence embargo for Aboriginal cultural heritage |
| 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 | • To meet this target Statewide, the individual plans should as far as practicable, establish daily extraction limits across the whole water source, and this Plan does this |
| 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 | • Cease to pump level will protect flows for domestic and stock rights• IDELs explicitly provide for domestic and stock requirements |
| 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 | • Aboriginal community representatives have been actively involved in development of this Plan and their advice has been incorporated into this Plan• The Plan includes provisions to refer licence and approval applications to the Local Aboriginal Land Council |
| 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 | FULL | • This Plan does not address specific Aboriginal cultural or traditional requirements and has not identified any sites of particular importance• This Plan does provide reasonably high level of environmental protection that should assist in protecting Aboriginal values• The Plan includes provisions to refer licence and approval applications to the Local Aboriginal Land Council |
| Target 16a All share components of access licences tradeable | FULL | • Part 11 of this Plan provides for dealings of share components and daily extraction limits |
| 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 | FULL | • Rules established in Part 10 Division 2 of this Plan |
| Target 16f Zones established where necessary for environmental protection and limits/constraints on water dealings in them made explicit | NIL (Justifiable) | • This Plan does not establish water transfer zones and since this water source is relatively small, this position is justified |
| 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 a generalised water quality objective• This Plan does provide reasonably high level of environmental protection which should assist in protecting water quality |