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 1c Long term average annual extraction limits which are ecologically sustainable, and which minimise downstream impacts, established in all coastal water sources | HIGH | • This Plan clearly sets out the basis for the extraction limit for the Tuross Extraction Management Unit.• Until the cumulative impact of this limit can be assessed for the Tuross Extraction Management Unit, it is difficult to properly assess ecological sustainability and downstream impacts.• There is a relatively low level of access licence share component in the Tuross Extraction Management Unit and application of TDELs 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 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 | This Plan:• has put in place TDELs to protect/restore environmental flows,• has significantly improved low to very low flows,• allows some limited erosion of moderate to high flow, and• 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 | • C and D class protect 70% of flows.• B class protects 40% of flows which is approximately 30% improvement.• This Plan protects the first 24 hours of flow following a rise above 2 ML/day following period of flows less than 1 ML/day for 30 consecutive days. |
| 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 protect flows below 80 th percentile of all days or 85 th percentile of days with flow.• CTP of 1 ML/day was verified through field inspections.• This Plan allows for further field verification and CTP to be revised if necessary.• This Plan allows for access of up to 0.1 ML/day to flows of less than 1 ML/day for licensed domestic and stock, and farming purposes. Even under these circumstances the remaining 0.9 ML/day is likely to be more than the 95 th percentile of days with flow. |
| Target 5 Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in terms of share and extraction components | FULL | • This Plan establishes TDELs for distribution to individual licences. |
| Target 6b For surface water sources, 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 access licence share components should not exceed 200% of daily extraction limit for Tuross River Extraction Management 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 provides for issue of unregulated river access licences for Aboriginal cultural purposes and provides for an adjustment to the TDEL to make water available for such licences.• This Plan provides water market opportunities within this water source. |
| 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 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 | • CTP level will protect flows for domestic and stock rights, and the estimated requirements are 10% of the CTP. |
| 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 have been involved in the development of this Plan.• There has been informal consultation with the local Aboriginal communities that have reported to the Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council on development of this Plan.• The Committee advising on this Plan met with Aboriginal representatives and elders at Umbarra Cultural Centre to identify Aboriginal interests and issues. |
| 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 | • This Plan recognises specific Aboriginal cultural or traditional requirements and sites of particular importance.• This Plan does provide a reasonably high level of environmental protection/improvement, which should assist in protecting Aboriginal values. |
| Target 16a All share components of access licences tradeable | HIGH | • This Plan provides for trading of share components and IDELs.• This Plan restricts water trades to downstream transfers and up to 1 kilometre upstream to a neighbouring property. |
| Target 16c Conversion factors and protocols established to facilitate trading and dealings between water sources, whilst also protecting existing access and environmental water | FULL | • This Plan establishes a conversion factor of 1:1 for trading between water sources in Tuross Extraction Management Unit. |
| Target 16d Reduced conversion factors only applied when necessary to offset increased losses associated with water supply delivery | FULL | • This Plan does not provide for trading reduction factors. |
| Target 16e Any unassigned access rights identified and clear mechanisms established for their future assignment | FULL | • This Plan establishes rules for unassigned water. |
| Target 16f Zones established where necessary for environmental protection and limits/constraints on water dealings in them made explicit | FULL | • This Plan does establish water transfer zones.• Trading of IDELs is not permitted between zones. |
| 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 water quality objectives. |