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 the target
| Relevant Target | Level of contribution | Comments |
| Target 1b Extractions in Murray-Darling Basin’s unregulated rivers limited to the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council (MDBMC) Cap level | FULL | • Part 9 of this Plan sets out the basis for the extraction limit for this water source.• The extraction limit is clearly defined by an estimate of usage under MDBC Cap (which is the sum of the average use of the 6 years surveyed usage 1993-1999). |
| 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 of this Plan puts in place total daily extraction limits to protect/restore 45% to 70% of flows.• While substantially improving most flows, this Plan allows for increased use of high flows.• 2 threatened fish species are acknowledged (Southern Pigmy Perch (listed) and Golden Perch (potential). There are no recovery plans in place, and therefore no specific provisions in this Plan.• The Upper Billabong is part of an area listed as the “Lower Murray River Catchment Endangered Ecological Community” under the Fisheries Management Act, with reduced flows as a key threatening process. |
| 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 | • A class TDEL protects 45% of low flow, which is more than a 10% improvement.• B class TDEL protects 54% of moderate flow, which is more than a 10% improvement.• C class TDEL protects 70% of high flow. |
| 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 | HIGH | • Cease to pump (CTP) level on the perennial rivers of 1.84 ML/day protects flows below the 80 th percentile in critical months.• Local CTP on ephemeral rivers of 0.5 ML/day.• This Plan provides for field verification of CTP as soon as possible, and if necessary an increase in CTP between the 95 th percentile and the 80 th percentile for all days. |
| 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 licences.• This Plan provides principles for the trading of share components and IDELs. |
| Target 6b For surface water, 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 component for the Unregulated Billabong Extraction Management Unit should not exceed 200% of the 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 alternative mechanisms to address this target.• This Plan does provide reasonable market opportunity. |
| Target 8 Daily extraction components specified and tradeable, subject to metering, reporting and compliance, for at least 50 percent of unregulated river access licences and for 80 percent of stressed unregulated rivers | FULL | • This Plan establishes TDELs across the whole water source. |
| 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. |
| 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 | PARTIAL | • An Aboriginal community representative has been involved in the development of this Plan. |
| 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 | • This Plan recognises the cultural significance of the Upper Billabong environment to the Wiradjuri people.• This Plan does not address specific Aboriginal cultural or traditional requirements and has not identified any sites of particular importance.• This Plan does provide a level of environmental protection/improvement which should assist in protecting Aboriginal values. |
| Target 16a All share components of access licences tradeable | FULL | • This Plan clarifies access licence share components and establishes daily extraction limits, and provides principles for trading of these. |
| Target 16c Conversion factors and protocols established to facilitate trading and dealings between water sources, whilst also protecting existing access and environmental water | FULL | • Part 11 of this Plan enables the Minister to establish conversion factors where necessary. |
| Target 16d Reduced conversion factors only applied when necessary to offset increased losses associated with water supply delivery | FULL | • Part 11 of this Plan enables the Minister to establish conversion factors where necessary. |
| Target 16e Any unassigned access rights identified and clear mechanisms established for their future assignment | FULL | • This Plan establishes rules for granting unassigned TDELs. |
| Target 16f Zones established where necessary for environmental protection and limits/constraints on water dealings in them made explicit | FULL | • This Plan establishes management zones and precludes the trading of IDELs between these. |
| 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. |