New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

WATER SHARING PLAN FOR THE TOMAGO TOMAREE STOCKTON GROUNDWATER SOURCES 2003 - REG 18

18 Planned environmental water

Note: It is anticipated that the planned environmental water provisions in this Part and management of local impact provisions in Part 10 of this Plan will also ensure that sites of significance to Aboriginal communities are protected (see clause 11 (j)).

(1) This Plan establishes the following planned environmental water rules:

(a) the long-term average storage component of each groundwater source, minus basic landholder rights is reserved for the environment, and

(b) 30% of the average annual recharge to each groundwater source will be reserved for the environment, as follows:

(i) 10,700 ML/yr in Tomago,

(ii) 2,600 ML/yr in Tomaree, and

(iii) 6,000 ML/yr in Stockton.

(2) Pursuant to section 45 (1) (b) of the Act, the Minister may vary the proportion of recharge reserved as the environmental health water in subclause (1) after June 30 2008, based on further studies of groundwater ecosystem dependency undertaken by the Minister.

Note: The extent of the impact of this change on access by licence holders is limited by the provisions in clause 28.

(3) The Minister should consult with the Minister for the Environment before varying planned environmental water in accordance with subclause (2).