New South Wales Consolidated Regulations New South Wales Consolidated RegulationsLevels of assessed contribution:
FULL-contributes to the target in full
HIGH-while not fully contributing to the 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 1c Long term average annual extraction limits which are ecologically sustainable, and which minimise downstream impacts, established in all coastal water sources | PARTIAL | • This Plan clearly sets out the basis for the extraction limit for the Goulburn Extraction Management Unit.• Until the cumulative impact of this limit can be assessed for the Goulburn Extraction Management Unit it is not possible to properly assess ecological sustainability and downstream impacts. However application of TDELs should ensure adequate downstream flows. |
| Target 1e The long term average annual extractions for groundwater limited (or being phased down) to an ecologically sustainable level (the Sustainable Yield) as determined by detailed assessment of each groundwater source and consultation with the relevant management committee. In the absence of such an assessment, the following to apply: 100 percent of average annual recharge for a groundwater source where there is no significant ecosystem dependency; 70 percent of average annual recharge where there is significant ecosystem dependency | HIGH | • This Plan establishes a maximum extraction of groundwater of 70% of average annual recharge. |
| 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 | PARTIAL | • This Plan has daily extraction limits to protect/restore environmental flows.• This Plan has improved low to very low flow protection by establishing a cease to pump and daily extraction limits for C and D class flows.• It is not clear if the level of environmental protection provided by this Plan will be adequate to protect/improve environmental conditions as this depends on the appropriateness of the hypothesis on groundwater connectivity.• This Plan allows for a review at year 5 of this Plan of the flow levels, pool protection measures and daily extraction limits following various hydrological and water use studies.• There is a Healthy River Commission final report pending. |
| Target 4a Wherever the frequency of “end of system” daily flows would be less than 60 percent of the pre-development level without environmental water rules or extraction limits, the flows increased to 60 percent of pre-development levels or increased by at least 10 percent of the pre-development frequency | PARTIAL | • The interaction of the highly connected groundwater with the river and the impact of groundwater extraction below or adjacent to the creek is to be reviewed at year 5 of this Plan.• In C and D classes this Plan rules appears to be an improvement on the current management system.• This Plan also protects the first 24 hours of a flow event by delaying access to the higher class of flows by water users.• This Plan provides for a review of the cease to pump level, the thresholds of all the flow classes and the daily extraction limits at year 5. |
| 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 | PARTIAL | • This Plan has a cease to pump level of 0.5 ML/day and a commence to pump level of 1 ML/day. The 1 ML/day is equivalent to the 95th percentile of all days with flow.• The interaction of the highly connected groundwater with the river is to be reviewed at year 5 of this Plan.• This Plan provides for field verification of flows and review of the cease to pump levels during the term of this Plan. |
| Target 5 Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in terms of share and extraction components | PARTIAL | • This Plan establishes both share and extraction components for distribution to individual licence holders.• This Plan enables the trading of share components and IDELs between access 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 share components for the Goulburn Extraction Management Unit should not exceed 200% of the extraction limits for this Unit.• Groundwater share components do not exceed 125% of the sustainable yield. |
| 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 targets.• This Plan does provide reasonable market opportunities. |
| 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 daily extraction limits across the whole water source. |
| Target 10 Degree of connectivity between aquifers and rivers assessed, and zones of high connectivity mapped to enable baseflows to the river to be maintained or improved | PARTIAL | • This Plan recognises the connectivity between surface and groundwater.• This Plan is to review the connectivity at year 5 and changes to be made to the flow sharing rules set up by this Plan if required. |
| Target 11 Groundwater dependent ecosystems identified and mapped for all priority aquifers, and the ecological water requirements assessed to enable local groundwater extraction rates and/or Sustainable Yields to be reviewed | PARTIAL | • Groundwater dependency of the river environment has been recognised.• Review mechanisms established by this Plan. |
| 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 | LOW | • The cease to pump level of 0.5 ML/day is less than the assessed requirements for basic landholder rights of 1.8 ML/day.• Groundwater pumping below cease to pump levels may compromise basic landholder rights access in dry 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 | PARTIAL | • Two Aboriginal community representatives have been represented on the water management committee.• A workshop was held with members of the LALC to input ideas into 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 does not address specific Aboriginal cultural or traditional requirements but has identified dependent ecosystems of particular importance.• An Aboriginal respect statement was developed by local traditional landowners was adopted in the development of this Plan.• This Plan does provide a level of environmental protection which should assist in protecting Aboriginal values. |
| Target 16a All share components of access licences tradeable | FULL | • Part 11 of this Plan sets out the rules for access licence dealings. |
| 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 provides for the Minister to establish conversion factors. |
| 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 for the trading of IDELs.• This Plan establishes rules for trading and dealings within and between zones and to nearby ground water aquifers. |
| 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.• Committee has acknowledged water quality in Wybong Creek, particularly increasing salinity, turbidity, algae, etc as of concern and recognises salinity by proposing mandatory conditions for dams as well as protecting the first flush (24 hour rule).• This Plan does provide a reasonable level of environmental protection which would assist in protecting water quality.• This Plan provides for water quality management rules in Part 10 Division 4 in relation to groundwater. |