Water Sharing Plan for the Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016 (NSW)

Water Sharing Plan for the Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016

[2016-601]

Status information

Currency of version
Current version for 14 January 2018 to date (accessed 12 January 2019 at 13:11)
Legislation on this site is usually updated within 3 working days after a change to the legislation.

Provisions in force
The provisions displayed in this version of the legislation have all commenced. See Historical Notes

Note:
This Plan ceases to have effect on 1.7.2027—see cl 3.

Authorisation
This version of the legislation is compiled and maintained in a database of legislation by the Parliamentary Counsel's Office and published on the NSW legislation website, and is certified as the form of that legislation that is correct under section 45C of the Interpretation Act 1987.

File last modified 14 January 2018.

Water Sharing Plan for the Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016

[2016-601]

Contents

Water Sharing Plan for the Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016

Part 1 Introduction

Note.

Part 12 allows for amendments to be made to this Part.

1 Name of Plan

This Plan is the Water Sharing Plan for the Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016 (this Plan).

2 Nature and status of Plan

(1) This Plan is made under section 50 of the Water Management Act 2000 (the Act).
(2) This Plan is a plan for water sharing and generally deals with the matters set out in sections 20 and 21 of the Act, as well as other sections of the Act.
Note.
Where a provision of this Plan is made under another section of the Act, the section is referred to in the notes to this Plan.

3 Commencement

This Plan commences on 30 September 2016.
Notes.

1
In accordance with section 43 of the Act, this Plan will have effect for 10 years from 1 July 2017.
2
The Minister may extend this Plan for a further period of 10 years after it is due to expire, in accordance with section 43A of the Act.

4 Application of Plan

(1) This Plan applies to the following water sources known as the Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources (these water sources) within the Mid North Coast Water Management Area:
(a)  the Nambucca Unregulated and Upriver Alluvial Water Sources (these connected water sources) comprised of:
(i)  Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source, and
(ii)  Coastal Nambucca River Water Source, and
(iii)  Deep Creek and Oyster Creek Water Source, and
(iv)  Missabotti Creek Water Source, and
(v)  North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source, and
(vi)  South Creek Water Source, and
(vii)  Taylors Arm Water Source, and
(viii)  Warrell Creek Water Source,
(b)  the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source.
Note.
The Mid North Coast Water Management Area was constituted by Ministerial Order made under section 11 of the Act and published in the NSW Government Gazette No 180 on 23 November 2001 at page 9389.
(2) These water sources are shown on the Plan Map called Plan Map (WSP037_Version 1) Water Sharing Plan for the Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016 (the Plan Map).
Note.
The Plan Map is part of this Plan. An overview of the Plan Map is shown in Appendix 1. Copies of the Plan Map may be inspected at the offices listed in Appendix 2 and are available on the NSW legislation website.
(3) Subject to subclause (5), these connected water sources include all water:
(a)  occurring naturally on the surface of the ground within the boundaries of these connected water sources shown on the Plan Map, and
(b)  in rivers, lakes and wetlands within the boundaries of these connected water sources shown on the Plan Map, and
(c)  contained within all alluvial sediments below the surface of the ground within the boundaries of these connected water sources shown on the Plan Map (these upriver alluvial sediments).
Note.
Alluvial sediments is defined in the Dictionary.
(4) Subject to subclause (5), the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source includes all water contained within all alluvial sediments below the surface of the ground within the boundaries of the Coastal Nambucca River Water Source and the Deep Creek and Oyster Creek Water Source shown on the Plan Map.
(5) These water sources do not include water:
(a)  contained in any fractured rock or porous rock, or
Note.
Fractured rock and porous rock are defined in the Dictionary.
(b)  contained within sand formations below the surface of the ground, or
(c)  occurring in rivers, lakes, estuaries and wetlands downstream of the mangrove limit.
Note.
Mangrove limit is defined in the Dictionary.

5 Extraction management units for these water sources

(1) This Plan establishes the following Extraction Management Units (the EMUs):
(a) the Deep Creek/Oyster Creek Extraction Management Unit, which applies to the Deep Creek and Oyster Creek Water Source,
(b) the Nambucca River Extraction Management Unit, which applies to the water sources specified in Column 2 of Table A to this clause.
(2) The EMUs specified in subclause (1) are shown on the Plan Map.
Note.
A long-term average annual extraction limit is established in Part 6 of this Plan for the EMUs. The long-term average annual extraction limit determines the maximum volume of water that may be extracted under access licences and pursuant to domestic and stock rights and native title rights from all water sources within the EMUs on a long-term average annual basis.
Table A—Extraction management unit
Column 1—Extraction management unit
Column 2—Water sources
Nambucca River Extraction Management Unit
Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source
Coastal Nambucca River Water Source
Missabotti Creek Water Source
North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source
South Creek Water Source
Taylors Arm Water Source
Warrell Creek Water Source

6 Understanding the rules in this Plan

This Plan contains various rules. Where appropriate, the rules specified in this Plan are given effect by the mandatory conditions for access licences and water supply work approvals contained in Part 11 of this Plan.

7 Interpretation

(1) Words and expressions that are defined in the Dictionary to this Plan have the meaning set out in the Dictionary.
(2) Unless otherwise defined in this Plan, words and expressions that are defined in the Act or in the regulations made under the Act have the same meaning in this Plan.
(3) Unless otherwise specified in this Plan, a clause that applies to a category of access licence also applies to any subcategories of that category of access licence.
(4) The Dictionary and Schedules to this Plan form part of this Plan.
(5) Notes in the text of this Plan do not form part of this Plan.
(6) Appendices to this Plan do not form part of this Plan.

Part 2 Vision, objectives, strategies and performance indicators

Note.

This Part is made in accordance with section 35 (1) of the Act.

8 Vision statement

The vision for this Plan is to provide for healthy and enhanced water sources and water-dependent ecosystems and for equitable water sharing among users in these water sources.

9 Acknowledgement

Respect is paid to the traditional owners of this country, who are acknowledged as the first natural resource managers within these water sources.

10 Objectives

The objectives of this Plan are to:
(a)  protect, preserve, maintain and enhance the important river flow dependent and high priority groundwater-dependent ecosystems of these water sources, and
Note.
Groundwater-dependent ecosystems is defined in the Dictionary.
(b)  protect, preserve, maintain and enhance the Aboriginal, cultural and heritage values of these water sources, and
(c)  protect basic landholder rights, and
(d)  manage these water sources to ensure equitable sharing between users, and
(e)  provide opportunities for enhanced market based trading of access licences and water allocations within environmental and system constraints, and
(f)  provide water allocation account management rules which allow sufficient flexibility in water use, and
(g)  contribute to the maintenance of water quality, and
(h)  provide recognition of the connectivity between surface water and groundwater, and
(i)  adaptively manage these water sources, and
(j)  contribute to the “environmental and other public benefit outcomes” identified under the “Water Access Entitlements and Planning Framework” in the Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative (2004) (the NWI).
Note.
Under the NWI, water that is provided by NSW to meet agreed environmental and other public benefit outcomes as defined within relevant water plans is to:
(a)  be given statutory recognition and have at least the same degree of security as water access entitlements for consumptive use and be fully accounted for, and
(b)  be defined as the water management arrangements required to meet the outcomes sought, including water provided on a rules basis or held as a water access entitlement, and
(c)  if held as a water access entitlement, potentially be made available to be traded (where physically possible) on the temporary market when not required to meet the environmental and other public benefit outcomes sought and provided such trading is not in conflict with these outcomes.

11 Strategies

The strategies of this Plan are to:
(a)  establish performance indicators, and
(b)  establish environmental water rules, and
(c)  identify water requirements for basic landholder rights, and
(d)  identify water requirements for access licences, and
(e)  establish rules for the granting and amending of access licences and approvals, and
(f)  establish rules that place limits on the availability of water for extraction, and
(g)  establish rules for making available water determinations, and
(h)  establish rules for the operation of water allocation accounts, and
(i)  establish rules which specify the circumstances under which water may be taken, and
(j)  establish access licence dealing rules, and
(k)  identify triggers for and limits to changes to the rules in this Plan.

12 Performance indicators

The following performance indicators are to be used to measure the success of the strategies of this Plan to reach the objectives of this Plan:
(a)  the change in low flow regime,
(b)  the change in moderate to high flow regime,
(c)  the change in surface water and groundwater extraction relative to the long-term average annual extraction limits,
(d)  the change in water quality in these water sources,
(e)  the change in the ecological condition of these water sources and their dependent ecosystems,
(f)  the change in the extent to which domestic and stock rights and native title rights requirements have been met,
(g)  the change in economic benefits derived from water extraction and use,
(h)  the change in the extent to which water has been made available in recognition of the Aboriginal, cultural and heritage values of these water sources.

Part 3 Bulk access regime

13 Bulk access regime

(1) This Plan establishes a bulk access regime for the extraction of water under access licences in these water sources, having regard to:
(a)  the environmental water rules established under Part 4 of this Plan, and
(b)  the requirements for water for basic landholder rights identified in Division 2 of Part 5 of this Plan, and
(c)  the requirements for water for extraction under access licences identified in Division 3 of Part 5 of this Plan, and
(d)  the access licence dealing rules established under Part 10 of this Plan.
(2) The bulk access regime for these water sources:
(a)  recognises and is consistent with the limits on the availability of water set in relation to these water sources contained in Division 1 of Part 6 of this Plan, and
(b)  establishes rules, according to which access licences are to be granted and managed, contained in Parts 7 and 8 of this Plan and available water determinations to be made contained in Division 2 of Part 6 of this Plan, and
(c)  recognises the effect of climatic variability on the availability of water as described in clause 14, and
(d)  establishes rules with respect to the priorities according to which water allocations are to be adjusted as a consequence of any reduction in the availability of water due to an increase in average annual extraction against the long-term average annual extraction limit contained in Division 1 of Part 6 of this Plan, and
(e)  contains provisions with respect to the conditions that must be imposed as mandatory conditions on access licences contained in Division 2 of Part 11 of this Plan, and
(f) recognises and is consistent with the water management principles set out in section 5 of the Act.

14 Climatic variability

This Plan recognises the effects of climatic variability on river flow and groundwater levels in these water sources by having provisions that:
(a) manage the sharing of water in these water sources within the limits of water availability on a long-term average annual basis and the priorities according to which water allocations are to be adjusted as a consequence of any reduction in the availability of water due to an increase in the average annual extraction against the long-term average annual extraction limit, contained in Division 1 of Part 6 of this Plan, and
(b) manage the sharing of water in specified water sources on a daily basis in these water sources, contained in Division 2 of Part 8 of this Plan.
Note.
Other statutory tools are available to manage for climatic variability within a water source, for example, temporary water restrictions under section 324 of the Act.

Part 4 Planned environmental water provisions

Notes.

This Part is made in accordance with sections 8, 8A and 20 of the Act.

Part 12 allows for amendments to be made to this Part.

15 General

This Part contains environmental water rules for the commitment, identification, establishment and maintenance of planned environmental water in these water sources.
Note.
In accordance with the Act, planned environmental water is water that is committed by management plans for fundamental ecosystem health or other specified environmental purposes, either generally or at specified times or in specified circumstances and that cannot, to the extent committed, be taken or used for any other purpose.

16 Commitment and identification of planned environmental water

Water is committed and identified as planned environmental water in these water sources in the following ways:
(a)  by reference to the commitment of the physical presence of water in these water sources,
(b)  by reference to the long-term average annual commitment of water as planned environmental water,
(c)  by reference to the water that is not committed after the commitments to basic landholder rights and for sharing and extraction under any other rights have been met.

17 Establishment and maintenance of planned environmental water

(1) Planned environmental water is established in these water sources as follows:
(a)  it is the physical presence of water:
(i)  in these connected water sources that results from the access rules specified in Division 2 of Part 8 of this Plan, and
Note.
The rules in Division 2 of Part 8 of this Plan for these connected water sources set flow rates or flow levels below which the taking of water is not permitted. Some limited exemptions apply.
(ii)  in the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source that is equal to 86% of the long-term average annual rainfall recharge in areas that are not high environmental value areas and 100% of the long-term average annual rainfall recharge in high environmental value areas, and
Notes.

1
At the commencement of this Plan, the long-term average annual rainfall recharge for the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source is estimated to be 6,289 megalitres per year in those areas that are not high environmental value areas and 918 megalitres per year in high environmental value areas.
2
High environmental value areas and recharge are defined in the Dictionary.
3
Part 12 allows for amendments to be made to increase the long-term average annual extraction limit for the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source during the term of this Plan. The maximum allowable increase in the long-term average annual extraction limit would result in a minimum of 75% of rainfall recharge being protected as planned environmental water over the long term in areas that are not high environmental value areas and a minimum of 100% of rainfall recharge being protected as planned environmental water over the long term in areas that are high environmental value areas.
(iii)  in the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source that is within the groundwater storage of the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source over the long term,
Note.
Groundwater sources generally store large volumes of water, often accumulated over thousands or even tens of thousands of years. The amount of annual recharge is often very small compared to this stored volume. The average annual volume of water permitted to be extracted under the rules in this Plan is less than the average annual recharge of the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source over the long term, ensuring that water within the groundwater storage of the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source is protected from extraction.
(b)  it is the long-term average annual commitment of water as planned environmental water in:
(i)  these connected water sources that results from the application of the long-term average annual extraction limit and compliance rules as specified in Division 1 of Part 6 of this Plan and the available water determination rules as specified in Division 2 of Part 6 of this Plan, and
(ii)  the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source that is equal to 86% of the long-term average annual rainfall recharge in areas that are not high environmental value areas and 100% of the long-term average annual rainfall recharge in high environmental value areas, and
(iii)  the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source that is within the groundwater storage of the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source over the long term,
(c)  it is the water remaining in these water sources after water has been taken pursuant to basic landholder rights and access licences, in accordance with the rules specified in Parts 6 and 8 of this Plan.
Note.
The water remaining in the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source over the long term after water has been taken pursuant to basic landholder rights and access licences is equal to the water within the groundwater storage plus all recharge in excess of the long-term average annual extraction limit for the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source.
(2) The planned environmental water established under subclause (1) (a) is maintained in:
(a)  these connected water sources by the rules specified in Division 2 of Part 8 of this Plan, and
(b)  the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source by the rules specified in Parts 6 and 8 of this Plan.
(3) The planned environmental water established under subclause (1) (b) is maintained in these water sources by the application of the long-term average annual extraction limit and compliance rules as specified in Division 1 of Part 6 of this Plan and the available water determinations as specified in Division 2 of Part 6 of this Plan.
(4) The planned environmental water established under subclause (1) (c) is maintained in these water sources by the rules specified in Parts 6 and 8 of this Plan.
Note.
The rules in Part 6 of this Plan ensure that there will be water remaining in these water sources over the long term by maintaining compliance with the long-term average annual extraction limits. The rules in Part 6 provide for a reduction in available water determinations when the long-term average annual extraction limits have been assessed to have been exceeded.

Part 5 Requirements for water

Division 1 General

18 Application

(1) This Part identifies the requirements for water from these water sources for basic landholder rights (Division 2) and for extraction under access licences (Division 3).

(2) The volumes of water specified in this Part represent the estimated water requirements of persons entitled to basic landholder rights in these water sources and the total volumes or unit shares specified in the share components of all access licences in these water sources. The actual volumes of water available for extraction in these water sources at any time will depend on factors such as climatic variability, access licence priority and the rules in this Plan.
(3) This Plan recognises that basic landholder rights in these water sources and the total share components of all access licences authorised to extract water from these water sources may change during the term of this Plan. This Plan manages such changes by having provisions that manage the sharing of water within the limits of water availability, as provided for in Division 1 of Part 6 of this Plan.
Note.
The total share components of access licences in these water sources may change during the term of this Plan as a result of:
(a) the grant, surrender or cancellation of access licences in these water sources, or
(b) the variation of local water utility licences under section 66 of the Act, or
(c) changes due to the volumetric conversion of Water Act 1912 entitlements that are currently non-volumetric.

Division 2 Requirements for water for basic landholder rights

19 Domestic and stock rights

At the commencement of this Plan, the water requirements of persons entitled to domestic and stock rights in these water sources are estimated to total 743 megalitres per year (ML/year), distributed as follows:
(a)  53 ML/year in the Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source,
(b)  40 ML/year in the Coastal Nambucca River Water Source,
(c)  36 ML/year in the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source,
(d)  59 ML/year in the Deep Creek and Oyster Creek Water Source,
(e)  64 ML/year in the Missabotti Creek Water Source,
(f)  107 ML/year in the North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source,
(g)  59 ML/year in the South Creek Water Source,
(h)  208 ML/year in the Taylors Arm Water Source,
(i)  117 ML/year in the Warrell Creek Water Source.
Notes.

1
Domestic and stock rights are set out in Division 1 of Part 1 of Chapter 3 of the Act and must be exercised in accordance with any mandatory guidelines established under the Act with respect to the taking and use of water for domestic consumption or stock watering. The volumes set out in this clause are separate from any volumes of water licensed for domestic and stock purposes in these water sources.
2
Inherent water quality and land use activities may make the water in some areas unsuitable for human consumption. Water from these water sources should not be consumed without first being tested and, if necessary, appropriately treated. Such testing and treatment is the responsibility of the water user.

20 Native title rights

At the commencement of this Plan, native title holders are entitled to take and use water pursuant to their native title rights under section 55 of the Act in the Coastal Nambucca River Water Source in accordance with the NSD6054/1998 Native Title Determination.
Notes.

1
The NSD6054/1998 Native Title Determination provides that the Gumbaynggirr People have the right to take and use water for personal, domestic and non-commercial communal purposes, including cultural purposes, in the Coastal Nambucca River Water Source.
2
Additional native title rights may be granted pursuant to the provisions of the Native Title Act 1993 of the Commonwealth.

21 Harvestable rights

The requirement for water under harvestable rights in these water sources is equal to the total amount of water that owners or occupiers of landholdings are entitled to capture and store pursuant to a harvestable rights order made under Division 2 of Part 1 of Chapter 3 of the Act.

Division 3 Requirements for water for extraction under access licences

22 Share components of domestic and stock access licences

It is estimated that at the time of commencement of this Plan the share components of domestic and stock access licences authorised to take water from these water sources total 145 ML/year, distributed as follows:
(a)  0 ML/year in the Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source,
(b)  6 ML/year in the Coastal Nambucca River Water Source,
(c)  87 ML/year in the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source,
(d)  18 ML/year in the Deep Creek and Oyster Creek Water Source,
(e)  3 ML/year in the Missabotti Creek Water Source,
(f)  5 ML/year in the North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source,
(g)  0 ML/year in the South Creek Water Source,
(h)  14 ML/year in the Taylors Arm Water Source,
(i)  12 ML/year in the Warrell Creek Water Source.

23 Share components of local water utility access licences

It is estimated that at the time of commencement of this Plan the share components of local water utility access licences authorised to take water from these water sources total 5,000 ML/year, distributed as follows:
(a) 5,000 ML/year in the North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source,
(b) 0 ML/year in all other water sources.

24 Share components of unregulated river access licences

It is estimated that at the time of commencement of this Plan the share components of unregulated river access licences authorised to take water from these water sources total 4,894.5 unit shares, distributed as follows:
(a)  450 unit shares in the Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source,
(b)  667 unit shares in the Coastal Nambucca River Water Source,
(c)  771 unit shares in the Deep Creek and Oyster Creek Water Source,
(d)  468 unit shares in the Missabotti Creek Water Source,
(e)  960 unit shares in the North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source,
(f)  382 unit shares in the South Creek Water Source,
(g)  632.5 unit shares in the Taylors Arm Water Source,
(h)  564 unit shares in the Warrell Creek Water Source.

25 Share components of aquifer access licences

It is estimated that at the time of commencement of this Plan the share components of aquifer access licences authorised to take water from these water sources total 328 unit shares, distributed as follows:
(a)  0 unit shares in the Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source,
(b)  16 unit shares in the Coastal Nambucca River Water Source,
(c)  12 unit shares in the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source,
(d)  8 unit shares in the Deep Creek and Oyster Creek Water Source,
(e)  32 unit shares in the Missabotti Creek Water Source,
(f)  95 unit shares in the North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source,
(g)  16 unit shares in the South Creek Water Source,
(h)  36 unit shares in the Taylors Arm Water Source,
(i)  113 unit shares in the Warrell Creek Water Source.

Part 6 Limits to the availability of water

Note.

Part 12 allows for amendments to be made to this Part.

Division 1 Long-term average annual extraction limits

26 General

The availability of water for extraction in these water sources on a long-term basis is to be managed in accordance with this Part.

27 Volume of the long-term average annual extraction limits

(1) This clause establishes the long-term average annual extraction limits for each of the EMUs and the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source.
(2) The long-term average annual extraction limit for the Deep Creek/Oyster Creek Extraction Management Unit is the sum of:
(a)  the share components of all access licences in the Deep Creek/Oyster Creek Extraction Management Unit, plus
(b)  the annual water requirements pursuant to domestic and stock rights and native title rights in the Deep Creek/Oyster Creek Extraction Management Unit.
(3) The long-term average annual extraction limit for the Nambucca River Extraction Management Unit is the sum of:
(a)  the share components of all access licences in the Nambucca River Extraction Management Unit, plus
(b)  the annual water requirements pursuant to domestic and stock rights and native title rights in the Nambucca River Extraction Management Unit.
(4) The long-term average annual extraction limit for the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source is 857 ML/year.
Notes.

1
The long-term average annual extraction limit for the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source is equal to current entitlement plus estimated future water requirements for the term of this Plan.
2
Part 12 of this Plan allows for the long-term average annual extraction limit for the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source to be increased up to 1,572 ML/year.
Note.
Under section 8F of the Act the long-term average annual extraction limit is taken to be varied by the amount of any change to the amount of water committed as licensed environmental water, excluding water committed under section 8C of the Act. Water committed as licensed environmental water is not to be accounted for as extraction. The variation in the long-term average annual extraction limit is to be determined in accordance with a methodology approved by the Minister and published in the Gazette.

28 Calculation of current levels of annual extraction

After each water year, the total volume of water taken during that water year:
(a) under all categories of access licences, and
(b) pursuant to domestic and stock rights and native title rights,
must be calculated for each of the EMUs and the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source.

29 Assessment of average annual extractions against long-term average annual extraction limits

(1) An assessment of average annual extractions against the long-term average annual extraction limit is to be conducted for each of the EMUs and the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source as set out in this clause.
(2) Commencing in the fourth water year in which this Plan has effect, the assessment referred to in subclause (1) must compare the long-term average annual extraction limit established under clause 27 for each extraction management unit and the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source against the average annual extractions in the preceding three water years as calculated under clause 28 for that extraction management unit and the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source.

30 Compliance with the long-term average annual extraction limit for the EMUs

(1) Compliance with the long-term average annual extraction limit established for each of the EMUs is to be managed in accordance with this clause.
(2) Commencing in the fourth water year in which this Plan has effect, if, in the Minister’s opinion, the assessment under clause 29 demonstrates that the average of the annual extractions in any of the EMUs in the preceding three water years has exceeded the long-term average annual extraction limit established under clause 27 for each of the EMUs by 5% or more, then available water determinations for unregulated river access licences and aquifer access licences in that extraction management unit are to be reduced for the following water year in accordance with subclause (3).
(3) The reduction under subclause (2) is to be of an amount that is, in the Minister’s opinion, necessary to return the long-term average annual extractions in the extraction management unit to the long-term average annual extraction limit for the extraction management unit established under this Part.

31 Compliance with the long-term average annual extraction limit for the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source

(1) Compliance with the long-term average annual extraction limit established for the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source is to be managed in accordance with this clause.
(2) Commencing in the fourth water year in which this Plan has effect, if, in the Minister’s opinion, the assessment under clause 29 demonstrates that the average of the annual extractions in the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source in the preceding three water years has exceeded the long-term average annual extraction limits established in this Part for that water source by 5% or more, then the available water determinations for aquifer access licences in that water source are to be reduced for the following water year in accordance with subclause (3).
(3) The reduction under subclause (2) is to be of an amount that is, in the Minister’s opinion, necessary to return the average annual extractions in the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source to the long-term average annual extraction limit for that water source established under this Part.

Division 2 Available water determinations

32 General

(1) Available water determinations for access licences with share components that specify any one of these water sources are to be expressed as either:
(a)  a percentage of the share component for access licences where share components are specified as ML/year, or
(b)  megalitres per unit share for access licences where share components are specified as a number of unit shares.
(2) Subject to subclause (3), the sum of available water determinations made for any access licence with a share component that specifies one of these water sources must not, in any water year, exceed:
(a)  100% of the access licence share component, or such lower amount that is determined under Division 1 of this Part, for all access licences where share components are specified as ML/year, or
(b)  1 megalitre (ML) per unit share of the access licence share component, or such lower amount that is determined under Division 1 of this Part, for all access licences where share components are specified as a number of unit shares.
(3) For the first water year in which this Plan has effect, subclause (2) does not apply to a domestic and stock access licence, an unregulated river access licence or an aquifer access licence with a share component that specifies one of these connected water sources.

33 Available water determinations for these connected water sources made at the commencement of this Plan

(1) In making available water determinations for these connected water sources at the commencement of this Plan, the Minister should consider the rules in this clause.
(2) At the commencement of this Plan, the following available water determinations should be made for access licences with a share component that specifies one of these connected water sources:
(a)  200% of the access licence share component for domestic and stock access licences,
(b)  100% of the access licence share component for local water utility access licences,
(c)  2 ML per unit of share component for unregulated river access licences,
(d)  2 ML per unit of share component for aquifer access licences.

34 Available water determinations for these connected water sources made after the first water year of this Plan

(1) In making available water determinations for these connected water sources after the first water year of this Plan, the Minister should consider the rules in this clause.
(2) At the commencement of each water year after the first water year in which this Plan has effect, the following available water determinations should be made for access licences with a share component that specifies one of these connected water sources:
(a)  100% of the access licence share component for domestic and stock access licences,
(b)  100% of the access licence share component for local water utility access licences,
(c)  1 ML per unit of share component for unregulated river access licences,
(d)  1 ML per unit of share component for aquifer access licences,
or such lower amount that is determined under Division 1 of this Part.
Note.
Division 1 of this Part provides for available water determinations for unregulated river access licences and aquifer access licences to be reduced where the long-term average annual extraction limit for any of the EMUs has been assessed to have been exceeded, as per clauses 29 and 30.

35 Available water determinations for the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source

(1) In making available water determinations for the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source, the Minister should consider the rules in this clause.
(2) At the commencement of this Plan and at the commencement of each water year in which this Plan has effect, the following available water determinations should be made for access licences with a share component that specifies the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source:
(a)  100% of the access licence share component for domestic and stock access licences,
(b)  100% of the access licence share component for local water utility access licences,
(c)  1 ML per unit of share component for aquifer access licences,
or such lower amount that is determined under Division 1 of this Part.
Note.
Division 1 of this Part provides for available water determinations for aquifer access licences to be reduced where the long-term average annual extraction limit for the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source has been assessed to have been exceeded, as per clauses 29 and 31.

Part 7 Rules for granting access licences

Notes.

This Part is made in accordance with sections 20, 61 and 63 of the Act.

Access licences granted in these water sources will be subject to mandatory conditions and may be subject to discretionary conditions.

36 Specific purpose access licences

Note.
Section 61 of the Act provides that a person may apply for an access licence if the regulations or the relevant water sharing plan provides that the application may be made. Clause 10 of the Water Management (General) Regulation 2011 lists a number of categories and subcategories of specific purpose access licence for which applications may be made. This clause also provides that applications for certain licences may be made.
(1) A specific purpose access licence must not be granted in these water sources unless the Minister is satisfied that the share and extraction component of the access licence is the minimum required to meet the circumstances in which the access licence is proposed to be used.
(2) Subject to subclause (3), applications may be made for an access licence of the subcategory “Aboriginal community development” in the following water sources:
(a)  Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source,
(b)  Missabotti Creek Water Source,
(c)  South Creek Water Source.
(3) An access licence of the subcategory “Aboriginal community development” must not be granted in these water sources if the granting of the access licence would cause the total of the share components of access licences of the subcategory “Aboriginal community development” to exceed:
(a)  127 ML/year in the Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source, or
(b)  160 ML/year in the Missabotti Creek Water Source, or
(c)  127 ML/year in the South Creek Water Source.
(4) Applications may be made for an aquifer (subcategory “Aboriginal community development”) access licence in the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source.
Notes.

1
An access licence of the subcategory “Aboriginal community development” is a specific purpose access licence and as such can only be the subject of limited trade that is consistent with the purpose for which the licence was granted. Aboriginal communities, enterprises and individuals are encouraged to seek financial assistance from funding bodies to purchase other categories of access licence if they require fully tradeable licences.
2
The Water Management (General) Regulation 2011 will provide for the creation of new access licences that authorise the taking of water between the defined tidal limit and the mangrove limit in the Coastal Nambucca River Water Source and the Deep Creek and Oyster Creek Water Source (for which no entitlement has previously been required under the Water Act 1912).
(5) Applications may not be made for an access licence of the subcategory “Aboriginal cultural” if the share component of the proposed access licence is more than 10 ML/year.
(6) An access licence of the subcategory “Aboriginal cultural” may only be granted for the taking of water by an Aboriginal person or Aboriginal community for any personal, domestic or communal purpose, including drinking, food preparation, washing, manufacturing traditional artefacts, watering domestic gardens, cultural teaching, hunting, fishing, gathering and for recreational, cultural and ceremonial purposes.

Note.
Aboriginal person is defined in the Dictionary.

37 Granting of access licences as a result of controlled allocation

The Minister may grant an access licence where the right to apply for the licence has been acquired in a manner prescribed by an order made under section 65 of the Act.

Part 8 Rules for managing access licences

Notes.

Part 12 of this Plan allows for amendments to be made to this Part.

The Act provides for the keeping of water allocation accounts for access licences. The rules in this Part impose further restrictions on the volume of water that may be taken under an access licence over a specified period of time. These restrictions are in addition to any other limits on access licences for the taking of water. It is an offence under the Act to take water under an access licence for which there is no or insufficient water allocation.

Division 1 Water allocation account management rules

38 Individual access licence account management rules for these connected water sources

(1) The rules in this clause apply to the taking of water under an access licence with a share component that specifies one of these connected water sources.
(2) For the period of the first three water years in which this Plan has effect, water taken under a domestic and stock access licence, unregulated river access licence or aquifer access licence must not exceed a volume equal to:
(a)  50% of the water allocations accrued to the water allocation account for the access licence from available water determinations in the first water year, plus
(b)  the sum of water allocations accrued to the water allocation account for the access licence from available water determinations in the second and third water years, plus
(c) the net amount of any water allocations assigned to or from the water allocation account for the access licence under section 71T of the Act in those three water years, plus
(d) any water allocations recredited to the water allocation account for the access licence in accordance with section 76 of the Act in those three water years.
(3) For the period of any three consecutive water years after the first water year in which this Plan has effect, water taken under a domestic and stock access licence, unregulated river access licence or aquifer access licence must not exceed a volume equal to the lesser of:
(a)  the sum of:
(i)  water allocations accrued to the water allocation account for the access licence from available water determinations in those three water years, and
(ii)  the water allocations carried over in the water allocation account for the access licence from the water year prior to those three water years under subclause (5), and
(iii) the net amount of any water allocations assigned to or from the water allocation account for the access licence under section 71T of the Act in those three water years, and
(iv) any water allocations recredited to the water allocation account for the access licence in accordance with section 76 of the Act in those three water years, or
(b)  the sum of:
(i)  the share component of the access licence at the beginning of the first of those three water years, and
(ii)  the share component of the access licence at the beginning of the second of those three water years, and
(iii)  the share component of the access licence at the beginning of the third of those three water years, and
(iv) the net amount of any water allocations assigned to or from the water allocation account for the access licence under section 71T of the Act in those three water years, and
(v) any water allocations recredited to the water allocation account for the access licence in accordance with section 76 of the Act in those three water years.
(4) In any water year in which this Plan has effect, water taken under a local water utility access licence must not exceed a volume equal to:
(a)  the sum of water allocations accrued to the water allocation account for the access licence from available water determinations in that water year, plus
(b) the net amount of any water allocations assigned to or from the water allocation account for the access licence under section 71T of the Act in that water year, plus
(c) any water allocations recredited to the water allocation account for the access licence in accordance with section 76 of the Act in that water year.
(5) The maximum water allocation that can be carried over from one water year to the next in the water allocation account for a domestic and stock access licence, unregulated river access licence or aquifer access licence is equal to:
(a)  100% of the access licence share component for access licences with share components expressed as ML/year, or
(b)  1 ML per unit share of the access licence share component for access licences with share components expressed as a number of unit shares.
(6) Water allocations remaining in the water allocation account for a local water utility access licence cannot be carried over from one water year to the next.

39 Individual access licence account management rules for the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source

(1) The rules in this clause apply to the taking of water under an access licence with a share component that specifies the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source.
(2) In any water year in which this Plan has effect, water taken under an access licence must not exceed a volume equal to:
(a) the sum of water allocations accrued to the water allocation account for the access licence from available water determinations in that water year, plus
(b) the net amount of any water allocations assigned to or from the water allocation account for the access licence under section 71T of the Act in that water year, plus
(c) any water allocations recredited to the water allocation account for the access licence in accordance with section 76 of the Act in that water year.
(3) Water allocations remaining in the water allocation account for an access licence cannot be carried over from one water year to the next.

Division 2 Flow classes and daily access rules

40 General

The rules in this Division apply to the taking of water under an access licence with a share component that specifies one of these water sources.

41 Flow classes

(1) This Plan establishes the flow classes specified in Column 2 of Table B to this clause for the sharing of flows on a daily basis in these water sources.
(2) The flow classes in Column 2 of Table B and the flow reference points specified in Column 4 of Table B are established for each water source specified in Column 1 of Table B.
(3) Subject to subclause (4), a flow class applies in the respective water source on the same day when the flow (ML/day) as measured at the flow reference point specified in Column 4 of Table B is equal to the flow specified in Column 3 of Table B.
(4) If, in the Minister’s opinion, accurate flow data is not available on a particular day from a flow measuring gauge used to determine a flow class, the Minister may determine the flow class that applies for that day and notify the licence holder in writing of the flow class that applies for that day. For the purpose of this subclause, notification includes publishing a notice on the Department’s website.
(5) For the purpose of determining the flow class that applies on a particular day under subclause (4), the Minister may take into consideration evidence of past and current flows and readings at other functioning upstream and downstream gauges.
Note.
On days that accurate flow data is not available, holders of access licences may contact the Department’s office at the address listed in Appendix 3 or check the Department’s website to find out what flow class applies on that day.
(6) The flow classes commence in Year 1 of this Plan.
Notes.

1
Year 1 of this Plan is defined in the Dictionary.
2
Only those water sources for which flow classes have been established at the commencement of this Plan are shown in Table B.
Table B—Flow Classes
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Column 4
Water source
Flow class
Flow (ML/day)
Flow reference point
Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source
A Class
Less than or equal to 19 ML/day
South Creek at Bowraville gauge (205018)
C Class
More than 19 ML/day
Missabotti Creek Water Source
Very Low Flow Class
Less than or equal to 5 ML/day
Nambucca River (North Arm) upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015)
A Class
More than 5 ML/day and less than or equal to 53 ML/day
C Class
More than 53 ML/day
North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source
Very Low Flow Class
Less than or equal to 5 ML/day
Nambucca River (North Arm) upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015)
A Class
More than 5 ML/day
South Creek Water Source
A Class
Less than or equal to 19 ML/day
South Creek at Bowraville gauge (205018)
C Class
More than 19 ML/day
Notes.

The flow percentiles below refer to critical month flows at the gauge and include all days of record.
1
For the Nambucca River–North Arm upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015):
(i)
5 ML/day corresponds to the estimated 95^th percentile flow, and
(ii)
53 ML/day corresponds to the estimated 50^th percentile flow.
2
For the South Creek at Bowraville gauge (205018): 19 ML/day corresponds to the estimated 50^th percentile flow.

42 Access rules for the taking of surface water

(1) This clause applies to the taking of water under an access licence from these connected water sources, excluding the taking of water under an access licence:
(a)  in association with an aquifer interference activity that is an approved EP&A Act development when:
(i)  in the Minister’s opinion, there are no reasonably practicable measures the access licence holder can take to comply with the access rules under this clause, and
(ii)  the access licence holder has a water management plan for the aquifer interference activity that has been approved in accordance with the development consent for the activity under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, and
(iii)  the water management plan includes conditions that require the return of water to the water source to mitigate the taking of water during times when the access rules apply under this clause, or
(b)  in association with an aquifer interference activity when:
(i)  in the Minister’s opinion, there are no reasonably practicable measures the access licence holder can take to comply with the access rules under this clause, and
(ii)  the access licence holder has a water management plan for the aquifer interference activity that has been approved by the Minister, and
(iii)  the water management plan includes conditions that require the return of water to the water source to mitigate the taking of water during times when the access rules apply under this clause, or
(c)  from these upriver alluvial sediments, or
(d)  from the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source.
Note.
Approved EP&A Act development is defined in the Dictionary.
(2) Subject to subclause (16), water must not be taken under an access licence with a share component that specifies a water source with a Very Low Flow Class that has commenced, when flows in that water source are in the Very Low Flow Class. This subclause does not apply to the taking of water from an off-river pool.
Note.
Off-river pool is defined in the Dictionary.
(3) Subject to subclause (16), water must not be taken under an access licence when there is no visible flow at the location at which water is proposed to be taken. This subclause does not apply to the taking of water from an in-river pool or an off-river pool.
Note.
In-river pool and visible flow are defined in the Dictionary.
(4) Water must not be taken under an access licence specified in Column 1 of the table in Schedule 1, with a share component that specifies the water source in Column 2 of the table in Schedule 1, in contradiction of the access rule specified in Column 3 of the table in Schedule 1.
Note.
Those former Water Act 1912 entitlements and the cease to take conditions that have been identified as being higher than the upper limit of the relevant Very Low Flow Class or the access rules specified in subclauses (2), (3) and (7)–(12) are listed in Schedule 1.
(5) The cease to take condition that arises from subclause (4) only applies to water supply works that were nominated by the access licence at the commencement of this Plan.
Note.
Cease to take condition is defined in the Dictionary.
(6) The cease to take condition that arises from subclause (4) will apply to a water supply work nominated by an access licence that is granted as a result of a subdivision of the original access licence under section 71P (1) (a) of the Act, if that water supply work was nominated by the original access licence at the commencement of this Plan. For the purposes of this subclause, the original access licence will include the replacement access licence arising from the Water Act 1912 entitlement together with any subsequent access licences that may arise from future subdivisions of those licences.
Note.
Water Act 1912 entitlement is defined in the Dictionary.
(7) Subject to subclause (16), water must not be taken under an access licence from an off-river pool when the volume of water in that pool is less than the full capacity of the pool.
Note.
Full capacity is defined in the Dictionary.
(8) Subject to subclause (16), in water sources where flow classes have not commenced, water must not be taken under an access licence from an in-river pool when the volume of water in that pool is less than the full capacity of the pool.
(9) Subject to subclause (16), water must not be taken under an access licence with a share component that specifies one of the following water sources for more than eight hours/day when flows in that water source are less than or equal to 3 ML/day at the South Creek at Bowraville gauge (205018):
(a)  Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source,
(b)  South Creek Water Source.
Note.
For the South Creek at Bowraville gauge (205018) 3 ML/day corresponds to the estimated 95^th percentile flow.
This subclause does not apply to the taking of water from an off-river pool.
(10) Subject to subclause (16), water must not be taken under an access licence with a share component that specifies the Missabotti Creek Water Source:
(a)  for more than eight hours/day when flows in that water source are less than or equal to 10 ML/day at the Nambucca River–North Arm upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015), and
Note.
For the Nambucca River–North Arm upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015), 10 ML/day corresponds to the estimated 90^th percentile flow,
(b)  for a period of 24 hours after flows in the Nambucca River–North Arm upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015) first exceed 5 ML/day following any period of 48 hours or more during which flows were less than or equal to 5 ML/day.
This subclause does not apply to the taking of water from an off-river pool.
(11) Subject to subclause (16), water must not be taken under an access licence with a share component that specifies the North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source:
(a)  for more than eight hours/day when flows in that water source are less than or equal to 10 ML/day at the Nambucca River–North Arm upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015), and
(b)  for a period of 24 hours after flows in the Nambucca River–North Arm upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015) first exceed 5 ML/day following any period of 48 hours or more during which flows were less than or equal to 5 ML/day.
This subclause does not apply to the taking of water from an off-river pool.
(12) Subject to subclause (16), water must not be taken under an access licence with a share component that specifies the Taylors Arm Water Source for more than eight hours/day when flows in that water source are less than or equal to 3 ML/day at the Taylors Arm at Upper Taylors Arm gauge (205017).
This subclause does not apply to the taking of water from an off-river pool.
Note.
For the Taylors Arm at Upper Taylors Arm gauge (205017), 3 ML/day corresponds to the estimated 90^th percentile flow.
(13) Water must not be taken under an unregulated river (subcategory “Aboriginal community development”) access licence with a share component that specifies one of the following water sources when the flows in that water source are in the Very Low Flow Class or A Class:
(a)  Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source,
(b)  Missabotti Creek Water Source,
(c)  South Creek Water Source.
(14) Water must not be taken under an access licence from:
(a)  an in-river dam pool, or
(b)  a runoff harvesting dam pool,
created by a structure authorised by a water supply work approval, when flows or storage levels in that pool are at or less than a cease to take condition that was specified on the Water Act 1912 entitlement that the access licence replaces.
Note.
In-river dam pool is defined in the Dictionary.
(15) Water must not be taken from an in-river dam pool unless the in-river dam is:
(a)  constructed, operated and maintained in accordance with any conditions specified on the water supply work approval for the in-river dam, and
(b)  passing such flows in such circumstances as are specified on the water supply work approval for the in-river dam.
(16) Subclauses (2), (3) and (7)–(12) do not apply to the following:
(a)  the taking of water under an access licence or an access licence which replaces a Water Act 1912 entitlement to which clause 1 of Schedule 2 applies, for any of the following purposes, provided that the volume of water taken does not exceed 20 kilolitres per day per access licence or such lower amount specified in accordance with subclause (17):
(i)  fruit washing,
(ii)  cleaning of dairy plant and equipment for the purpose of hygiene,
(iii)  poultry watering and misting,
(iv)  cleaning of enclosures used for intensive animal production for the purposes of hygiene,
(b)  the taking of water for domestic consumption only under a domestic and stock access licence or a domestic and stock (subcategory “domestic”) access licence that existed at the commencement of this Plan, provided that the volume of water taken does not exceed 1 kilolitre per house supplied by the access licence per day,
(c)  the taking of water for stock watering only under a domestic and stock access licence or a domestic and stock (subcategory “stock”) access licence that existed at the commencement of this Plan, until Year 4 of this Plan, provided that the volume of water taken does not exceed 14 litres per hectare of grazeable area per day,
Note.
Year 4 of this Plan and grazeable area are defined in the Dictionary.
(d)  the taking of water using a runoff harvesting dam or from an in-river dam pool,
Note.
Runoff harvesting dam is defined in the Dictionary.
(e)  the taking of water under a local water utility access licence or an access licence of the subcategory “Town water supply” to which clause 2 of Schedule 2 applies,
(f)  the taking of water under an access licence to which Schedule 1 applies.
(17) The Minister may reduce the maximum daily volume limit imposed by the rule under subclause (16) (a) if the Minister is satisfied that the reduced volume is satisfactory to meet the relevant purpose referred to in that subclause.
Note.
The method by which the Minister can reduce the maximum daily volume limit is by amending the mandatory conditions of the relevant water supply work approval. Under section 102 (3) of the Act, the mandatory conditions of an approval may be imposed, amended, revoked or suspended by the Minister whenever it is necessary to do so in order to enable compliance with or to give effect to a relevant management plan.

43 Access rules for these upriver alluvial sediments

(1) The rules in this clause apply to the taking of water from these upriver alluvial sediments. This clause does not apply to the taking of water:
(a)  using a water supply work that is located more than 40 metres from the top of the high bank of a river, or
(b)  under an access licence used only to account for the taking of water in association with an aquifer interference activity for an approved EP&A Act development when:
(i)  in the Minister’s opinion, there are no reasonably practicable measures the access licence holder can take to comply with the access rules under this clause, and

(ii)  the access licence holder has a water management plan for the aquifer interference activity that has been approved in accordance with the development consent for the activity under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, and
(iii)  the water management plan includes conditions that require the return of water to the water source to mitigate the taking of water during times when the access rules apply under this clause, or
(c)  under an access licence used only to account for the taking of water in association with an aquifer interference activity when:
(i)  in the Minister’s opinion, there are no reasonably practicable measures the access licence holder can take to comply with the access rules under this clause, and
(ii)  the access licence holder has a water management plan for the aquifer interference activity that has been approved by the Minister, and
(iii)  the water management plan includes conditions that require the return of water to the water source to mitigate the taking of water during times when the access rules apply under this clause, or
(d)  under an access licence with a share component that specifies the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source.
Note.
Approved EP&A Act development is defined in the Dictionary.
(2) Subject to subclause (11), water must not be taken under the following access licences with a share component that specifies a water source with a Very Low Flow Class that has commenced, when flows in that water source are in the Very Low Flow Class:
(a)  an aquifer access licence that has arisen from a conversion from an unregulated river access licence,
(b)  an access licence, other than an aquifer access licence, that nominates a water supply work that is capable of being used to take water from these alluvial sediments.
(3) Subject to subclause (11), water must not be taken under the following access licences with a share component that specifies the Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source or the South Creek Water Source for more than eight hours/day when flows in that water source are less than or equal to 3 ML/day at the South Creek at Bowraville gauge (205018):
(a)  an aquifer access licence that has arisen from a conversion from an unregulated river access licence,
(b)  an access licence, other than an aquifer access licence, that nominates a water supply work that is capable of being used to take water from these alluvial sediments.
(4) Subject to subclause (11), water must not be taken under the following access licences with a share component that specifies the Missabotti Creek Water Source or the North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source for more than eight hours/day when flows in that water source are less than or equal to 10 ML/day at the Nambucca River–North Arm upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015):
(a)  an aquifer access licence that has arisen from a conversion from an unregulated river access licence,
(b)  an access licence, other than an aquifer access licence, that nominates a water supply work that is capable of being used to take water from these alluvial sediments.
(5) Subject to subclause (11), water must not be taken under the following access licences with a share component that specifies the Taylors Arm Water Source for more than eight hours/day when flows in that water source are less than or equal to 3 ML/day at the Taylors Arm at Upper Taylors Arm gauge (205017):
(a)  an aquifer access licence that has arisen from a conversion from an unregulated river access licence,
(b)  an access licence, other than an aquifer access licence, that nominates a water supply work that is capable of being used to take water from these alluvial sediments.
(6) Subject to subclause (11), from Year 6 of this Plan water must not be taken under an access licence with a share component that specifies a water source with a Very Low Flow Class that has commenced, when flows in that water source are in the Very Low Flow Class. This subclause does not apply to:
(a)  an aquifer access licence that has arisen from a conversion from an unregulated access licence, or
(b)  an access licence, other than an aquifer access licence, that nominates a water supply work that is capable of being used to take water from these alluvial sediments.
Note.
Year 6 of this Plan is defined in the Dictionary.
(7) Subject to subclause (11), from Year 6 of this Plan water must not be taken under an access licence with a share component that specifies one of the following water sources for more than eight hours/day when flows in that water source are less than or equal to 3 ML/day at the South Creek at Bowraville gauge (205018):
(a)  Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source,
(b)  South Creek Water Source.
(8) Subject to subclause (11), from Year 6 of this Plan water must not be taken under an access licence with a share component that specifies one of the following water sources for more than eight hours/day when flows in that water source are less than or equal to 10 ML/day at the Nambucca River–North Arm upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015):
(a)  Missabotti Creek Water Source,
(b)  North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source.
(9) Subject to subclause (11), from Year 6 of this Plan water must not be taken under an access licence with a share component that specifies the Taylors Arm Water Source for more than eight hours/day when flows in that water source are less than or equal to 3 ML/day at the Taylors Arm at Upper Taylors Arm gauge (205017).
(10) Subclauses (7)–(9) do not apply to:
(a)  an aquifer access licence that has arisen from a conversion from an unregulated access licence, or
(b)  an access licence, other than an aquifer access licence, that nominates a water supply work that is capable of being used to take water from these alluvial sediments.
(11) Subclauses (2)–(9) do not apply to the following:
(a)  the taking of water under an access licence to which clause 1 of Schedule 3 applies, for any of the following purposes, provided that the volume of water taken does not exceed 20 kilolitres per day per access licence, or such lower amount specified on the access licence in accordance with subclause (12):
(i)  fruit washing,
(ii)  cleaning of dairy plant and equipment for the purpose of hygiene,
(iii)  poultry watering and misting,
(iv)  cleaning of enclosures used for intensive animal production for the purposes of hygiene,
(b)  the taking of water for domestic consumption only under a domestic and stock access licence or a domestic and stock (subcategory “domestic”) access licence that existed at the commencement of this Plan, provided that the volume of water taken does not exceed 1 kilolitre per house supplied by the access licence per day,
(c)  the taking of water under a local water utility access licence or an aquifer (subcategory “Town water supply”) access licence to which clause 2 of Schedule 3 applies.
(12) The Minister may amend a water supply work approval to reduce the maximum daily volume limit imposed by the rule under subclause (11) (a) if the Minister is satisfied that the reduced volume is satisfactory to meet the relevant purpose referred to in that subclause.

44 Access rules for Nambucca Shire Council

(1) The rules in this clause apply to the taking of water by Nambucca Shire Council under an access licence of the subcategory “Town water supply” with a share component that specifies the Nambucca River–North Arm Water Source.
(2) Subclauses (3)–(5) apply to each access licence which replaces a Water Act 1912 entitlement listed in Table C below.
Table C—Access licences
Water Act 1912 entitlements that will be replaced by access licences on commencement of this Plan
30BL119160
30BL119162
30BL119163
30BL119164
30BL119165
30BL119166
30BL119167
30BL130302
30BL130303
30BL182269
30BL182270
30BL185787
30BL185788
(3) Water must not be taken under an access licence to which Table C applies between 7 pm and 5 am when the flow in the Nambucca River–North Arm upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015) is:
(a)  greater than or equal to 80 ML/day and less than or equal to 120 ML/day from 1 January and 30 September, and
(b)  greater than or equal to 40 ML/day and less than or equal to 120 ML/day from 1 October to 31 December.
Note.
The objective of these access rules is to facilitate the migration of the Australian bass fish species.
(4) Subject to subclause (6), Nambucca Shire Council must not take more than a combined total of 11.44 ML/day under the access licences to which Table C applies when the flow in the Nambucca River–North Arm upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015) is less than or equal to the 90^th percentile flow for the corresponding month.
(5) Subject to subclause (6), water must not be taken under an access licence to which Table C applies when the flow in the Nambucca River–North Arm upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015) is less than the 95^th percentile flow for the corresponding month.
Note.
For the Nambucca River–North Arm upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015):
Month
90^thpercentile flow (ML/day)
95^th percentile flow (ML/day)
January
17
11
February
19
12
March
33
21
April
37
26
May
29
21
June
27
20
July
22
15
August
16
11
September
14
9
October
12
6
November
14
7
December
15
10
(6) Subclauses (4) and (5) do not apply when:
(a)  the off-river storage located on Bowra Creek is less than or equal to 60% of the dam’s storage capacity, and
(b)  the Nambucca Shire Council have imposed level 4 water restrictions.
Note.
At the commencement of this Plan, the storage capacity of the off-river storage located on Bowra Creek is estimated to be 4,642 ML, and 60% of the storage capacity is estimated to equate to 2,785 ML.

45 Total daily extraction limits

At the commencement of this Plan, there are no total daily extraction limits (TDELs) established for access licences in these water sources.
Notes.

1
TDELs are an assessment tool only and will be used by the Department to determine which access licences (if any) may require individual daily extraction limits. Where TDELs have been established, continued exceedance of a TDEL may result in the imposition of individual daily extraction limits under clause 46.
2
Total daily extraction limit is defined in the Dictionary.

46 Individual daily extraction limits

(1) At the commencement of this Plan, there are no individual daily extraction limits (IDELs) established for access licences in these water sources.
(2) If the Minister is satisfied that an assessment of daily extraction under access licences for which a TDEL is established under clause 45 indicates that extraction under the access licences exceeds the TDEL, the Minister may amend the extraction component of an access licence under section 68A of the Act to impose an IDEL on any one or more of those access licences.
Note.
Individual daily extraction limit is defined in the Dictionary.

Part 9 Rules for water supply work approvals

Notes.

This Part is made in accordance with sections 5, 21 and 95 of the Act.

Part 12 allows for amendments to be made to this Part.

Division 1 Rules applying to the granting or amending of water supply work approvals for water supply works that take surface water

47 General

The rules in this Division apply to water supply work approvals for water supply works authorised to take water:
(a) occurring naturally on the surface of the ground, shown on the Plan Map, and
(b) in rivers, lakes and wetlands within these water sources.
Note.
The rules in this Division apply to water supply works except those water supply works that may be used to take water from these upriver alluvial sediments or the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source.

48 Granting or amending water supply work approvals

(1) A water supply work approval must not be granted or amended to authorise an in-river dam on a third order or higher stream within the following water sources:
(a)  the North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source,
(b)  the Taylors Arm Water Source.
Note.
Water supply work approvals may be granted or amended for in-river dams on third order or higher streams within all water sources and management zones to which this Plan applies, other than those specified in subclause (1), consistent with the NSW Weirs Policy, the principles of the Act, the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and any other relevant legislation.
(2) If the sum of the share components of access licences nominating a water supply work that is a runoff harvesting dam or an in-river dam is reduced via:
(a)  a dealing, or
(b) the surrender under section 77 of the Act of an access licence and then the subsequent cancellation of that access licence under section 77A (6) of the Act, or
(c) the amendment of the share component of the access licence by the Minister under section 68A of the Act, or
(d) the cancellation of an access licence under section 78 of the Act or via the compulsory acquisition of an access licence under section 79 of the Act,
the Minister may require the modification of the dam to ensure that the capability of the dam to capture water is reduced to reflect that reduction in share component.
Note.
The Minister can require the modification of the dam by amending the mandatory conditions of the relevant water supply work approval. Under section 102 (3) of the Act, the mandatory conditions of an approval may be imposed, amended, revoked or suspended by the Minister whenever it is necessary to do so in order to enable compliance with, or to give effect to, a relevant management plan.
(3) A water supply work approval must not be granted or amended to authorise the construction and/or use of a water supply work which is being used or is proposed to be used to take water from one of the following water sources and will have, in the Minister’s opinion, more than minimal impact on any wetland to which State Environmental Planning Policy No 14—Coastal Wetlands applies:
(a)  the Coastal Nambucca River Water Source,
(b)  the Deep Creek and Oyster Creek Water Source.
Note.
At the commencement of this Plan, the State Environmental Planning Policy No 14—Coastal Wetlands could be found on the NSW legislation website and information on the location of SEPP 14 wetlands could be found at the following address on the website of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage: Subclause (3) does not apply to a replacement surface water supply work.
(5) For the purposes of this Plan, replacement surface water supply work means a water supply work that replaces an existing water supply work constructed and used for the purpose of taking water from one of these water sources where:
(a)  the existing water supply work is authorised by a water supply work approval under the Act, and
(b)  the replacement surface water work is to be constructed to extract water from the same water source and the same location as the existing water supply work.
Note.
The mandatory conditions provisions of this Plan require water supply works that are abandoned or replaced to be decommissioned (unless otherwise directed by the Minister) and that the Minister is notified within sixty days of decommissioning. See clause 66 (1) (d)–(f).

Division 2 Rules applying to the granting or amending of water supply work approvals for water supply works that take groundwater

49 General

(1) The rules in this Division apply to water supply work approvals for water supply works that are authorised to take water from:
(a)  these upriver alluvial sediments, or
(b)  the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source.
(2) In this Division, a reference to a water supply work is limited to a water supply work that is authorised to take water from:
(a)  these upriver alluvial sediments, or
(b)  the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source.

50 Rules to minimise interference between water supply works

(1) A water supply work approval must not be granted or amended to authorise the construction of a water supply work which, in the Minister’s opinion, is or is proposed to be located within:
(a)  200 metres of a water supply work located on another landholding that is authorised to take water from these water sources and is nominated by another access licence, or
(b)  200 metres of a water supply work located on another landholding that is authorised to take water from these water sources pursuant to basic landholder rights only, or
(c)  100 metres from the boundary of the landholding on which the water supply work is located, unless the owner of the landholding adjoining the boundary has provided consent in writing, or
(d)  500 metres of a water supply work that is authorised to take water from these water sources and is nominated by a local water utility access licence or a major utility access licence, unless the local water utility or major utility has provided consent in writing, or
(e)  100 metres of a Department observation or monitoring bore, unless the Minister has provided consent in writing.
(2) The distance restrictions specified in subclause (1) do not apply to the grant or amendment of a water supply work approval if the Minister is satisfied that:
(a)  the water supply work is solely for basic landholder rights, or
(b)  the water supply work is a replacement groundwater work, or
(c)  the water supply work is for the purpose of monitoring, environmental management or remedial works, or
(d)  the location of the water supply work at a lesser distance would result in no more than minimal impact on existing extractions within these water sources.
(3) For the purpose of subclause (2) (d), the Minister may require the applicant to submit a hydrogeological study to demonstrate to the Minister’s satisfaction that the location of the water supply work at a lesser distance will result in no more than minimal impact on existing extractions within these water sources.
(4) The Minister may require the modification of a water supply work authorised under subclause (2) (d) to minimise the impact of the water supply work on existing water levels or extraction if the Minister is satisfied at a later time that the location of the water supply work is causing more than minimal impact on existing water levels or extraction.

51 Rules for water supply works located near contamination sources

(1) A water supply work approval must not be granted or amended to authorise the construction of a water supply work which, in the Minister’s opinion, is or is proposed to be located:
(a)  within 250 metres of the plume associated with a contamination source listed in Schedule 4, or
(b)  between 250 metres and 500 metres from the plume associated with a contamination source listed in Schedule 4, unless the Minister is satisfied that no drawdown of water will occur within 250 metres of that plume.
Note.
Drawdown is defined in the Dictionary.
(2) In addition to subclause (1), a water supply work approval must not be granted or amended to authorise the construction of a water supply work which, in the Minister’s opinion, is or is proposed to be located at a distance from a plume associated with a contamination source listed in Schedule 4 that is likely to be insufficient to protect the water source or public health and safety.
(3) The distance restrictions specified in subclause (1) do not apply to the grant or amendment of a water supply work approval if the Minister is satisfied that:
(a)  the proposed distance is adequate to protect the water source, the environment and public health and safety, or
(b)  the water supply work is for the purpose of monitoring, environmental management or remedial works.
(4) For the purpose of subclause (3) (a), the Minister may require the applicant to submit a hydrogeological study to demonstrate to the Minister’s satisfaction that the location of the water supply work at a lesser distance would result in no greater impact on the water source, the environment and public health and safety.

52 Rules for water supply works located near groundwater-dependent ecosystems

(1) High priority groundwater-dependent ecosystems within these water sources are shown on the map called High Priority Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystem Map (GDE006_Version 1), Water Sharing Plan for the Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016 (the GDE Map) held by the Department.

(3) Any amendment to the long-term average annual extraction limit under subclause (2) should, in the Ministers opinion, maintain the protection of the Coastal Nambucca Floodplain Alluvial Groundwater Source and its dependent ecosystems and should ensure consistency with the objectives outlined in this Plan.
(4) Following the surrender under section 77 of the Act of an access licence and then the cancellation under section 77A (6) of the Act of an access licence in one of these water sources, the Minister may amend clause 27 to vary the long-term average annual extraction limit that applies to the EMU or that water source.

72 Part 8

Division 2 of Part 8 of this Plan may be amended to do any of the following:
(a)  amend the existing flow classes, establish new or additional flow classes and amend the flow reference point to specify a newly installed gauge after Year 5 of this Plan in the:
(i)  Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source, and
(ii)  Missabotti Creek Water Source, and
(iii)  North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source, and
(iv)  South Creek Water Source, and
(v)  Taylors Arm Water Source,
Note.
Year 5 of this Plan is defined in the Dictionary.
(b)  establish new or additional flow classes in any water source where management zones are added or in any water source or management zone that is amended during the term of this Plan as specified in clause 69, provided that the Minister is satisfied that the amendments will not have significant adverse impact on the access to water of licence holders in the affected water source or management zone,
(c)  amend clause 42 to extend the exemption to the cease to take conditions for stock watering purposes specified in clause 42 (16) (c) beyond Year 3 of this Plan and/or modify the volume of water permitted to be taken for stock watering purposes after Year 3 of this Plan,
(d)  establish or assign TDELs in these water sources or management zones following the imposition of an adaptive environmental water condition on an access licence that requires the water to be left in the water source or management zone for environmental purposes,
(e)  establish or assign TDELs in these water sources or management zones to protect a proportion of flow within each flow class for the environment,
(f)  amend or remove TDELs if TDELs have been established or assigned,
(g)  include rules for the establishment, assignment and removal of IDELs,
(h)  remove the existing access rules where TDELs and/or IDELs have been established under paragraph (e) or (g) to protect a proportion of flow within each flow class for the environment,
(i)  reinstate access rules that applied at the commencement of this Plan, where TDELs and IDELs have been removed under paragraphs (f) and (g),
(j)  amend existing flow classes, establish new or additional flow classes or amend the flow reference point in order to establish TDELs and IDELs,
(k)  amend the access rules for Nambucca Shire Council.

73 Part 9

Part 9 may be amended to do any of the following:
(a)  amend clause 48 to specify water sources or management zones where water supply work approvals must not be granted or amended to authorise in-river dams on third or higher order streams,
(b)  add, remove or modify a restricted distance specified in:
(i)  clause 50 after Year 5 of this Plan, or
(ii)  clause 52 based on the outcomes of further studies of groundwater-dependent ecosystems that are to the Minister’s satisfaction,
(c)  amend the definition of replacement groundwater work in clause 55,
(d)  amend clause 56 to impose further restrictions on the rate and timing of extraction of water to mitigate impacts,
(e)  amend the GDE Map.

74 Part 11

Part 11 may be amended to do any of the following:
(a) amend the rules in relation to record keeping including in relation to requirements for Logbooks,
(b) amend clause 66 or 67 to specify different standards or requirements for decommissioning water supply works or construction requirements for water supply works.

75 Dictionary

The Dictionary may be amended to add, modify or remove a definition.

76 Schedules

(1) Schedule 1 may be amended to:
(a)  remove an access licence or Water Act 1912 entitlement specified in Column 1 of the table to the Schedule and the corresponding water source and access rule in Columns 2 and 3 of the Schedule, and
(b)  add a new access licence to Column 1 of the table to the Schedule and specify a water source and access rule in Columns 2 and 3, if, in the Minister’s opinion:
(i)  the cease to take conditions that were specified on the Water Act 1912 entitlement were higher than the access rules specified in clause 42 of this Plan, and
(ii)  the access rule to be specified in Column 3 of the table to the Schedule for that access licence is no more restrictive than the cease to take conditions that were specified on the Water Act 1912 entitlement.
(2) Schedule 2 may be amended to do any of the following:
(a)  add a new access licence to clause 1 of Schedule 2, provided that a written request has been made to the Minister and the Minister is satisfied that extraction under the access licence is for a purpose listed in clause 42 (16) (a) and that the purpose was specified on, or referred to in the conditions of, the Water Act 1912 entitlement that was replaced by the access licence,
(b)  add a local water utility access licence or an access licence of the subcategory “Town water supply” to clause 2 of Schedule 2, provided that the Minister is satisfied that the water supply system used to take, store and deliver water has not undergone major augmentation since the commencement of this Plan,
(c)  remove an access licence or a Water Act 1912 entitlement from clause 1 of Schedule 2 if:
(i)  an access licence dealing results in water being taken under the licence from a different location, or
(ii)  an alternative water supply is obtained, or
(iii)  the access licence is surrendered or cancelled,
(d)  remove a local water utility access licence, an access licence of the subcategory “Town water supply” or a Water Act 1912 entitlement from clause 2 of Schedule 2 if:
(i)  the Minister is satisfied that the water supply system used to take, store and deliver water has undergone major augmentation since the commencement of this Plan, or
(ii)  the access licence is surrendered or cancelled or the purpose for which it was granted ceases to exist.
(3) Schedule 3 may be amended to do any of the following:
(a)  add a new access licence to clause 1 of Schedule 3, provided that a written request has been made to the Minister and the Minister is satisfied that extraction under the access licence is for a purpose listed in clause 43 (11) (a) and that the purpose was specified on, or referred to in the conditions of, the Water Act 1912 entitlement that was replaced by the access licence,
(b)  add a local water utility access licence or an access licence of the subcategory “Town water supply” to clause 2 of Schedule 3, provided the Minister is satisfied that the water supply system used to take, store and deliver water has not undergone major augmentation since the commencement of this Plan,
(c)  remove an access licence or Water Act 1912 entitlement from clause 1 of Schedule 3 if:
(i)  an access licence dealing results in water being taken under the licence from a different location, or
(ii)  an alternative water supply is obtained, or
(iii)  the access licence is surrendered or cancelled,
(d)  remove a local water utility access licence, an access licence of the subcategory “Town water supply” or a Water Act 1912 entitlement from clause 2 of Schedule 3 if:
(i)  the Minister is satisfied that the water supply system used to take, store and deliver water has undergone major augmentation since the commencement of this Plan, or
(ii)  the access licence is surrendered or cancelled or the purpose for which it was granted ceases to exist.
(4) Schedule 2 or part thereof may be deleted if the Minister is satisfied that it is no longer required.
(5) Schedule 3 or part thereof may be deleted if the Minister is satisfied that it is no longer required.
(6) Schedule 4 may be amended to add or remove a contamination source.

77 Other

(1) This Plan may be amended to include rules for the following:
(a)  managed aquifer recharge,
Note.
Managed aquifer recharge schemes involve taking water such as recycled water or urban stormwater, treating it and then storing it in underground aquifers under controlled conditions. This water can then be extracted at a later time.
(b)  the management of floodplain harvesting within these water sources,
(c)  the shepherding of water,
Note.
Shepherding is defined in the Dictionary.
(d)  any new category of access licence established for the purpose of urban stormwater harvesting,
(e)  the interception of water before it reaches a stream or aquifer by plantations or other means,
(f)  the management of salt interception schemes,
(g)  the management of aquifer interference activities, including the granting of aquifer interference approvals.
(2) Consequential amendments may be made to this Plan as a result of an amendment to the Act or regulations.
(3) This Plan may be amended following the granting of a native title claim pursuant to the provisions of the Native Title Act 1993 of the Commonwealth to give effect to an entitlement granted under that claim.
(4) This Plan may be amended after Year 5 of this Plan to provide rules for the protection of water-dependent Aboriginal cultural assets to do any of the following:
(a)  identify water-dependent Aboriginal cultural assets,
(b)  amend the access rules to protect water-dependent Aboriginal cultural assets,
(c)  restrict the granting and amending of water supply work approvals to protect water-dependent Aboriginal cultural assets,
(d)  amend the dealing rules to protect water-dependent Aboriginal cultural assets.
(5) Any amendment under subclause (4) will take into account the socio-economic impacts of the proposed change and the environmental water requirements of the water source.
(6) Before making an amendment pursuant to subclause (4), the Minister should consult with relevant Government agencies and stakeholders.

Dictionary

Note.

Unless otherwise defined in this Plan, words and expressions that are defined in the Act or in the regulations have the same meaning in this Plan.

Aboriginal person has the same meaning as it has in the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983.

acid sulfate soils means naturally occurring sediments and soils containing iron sulphides (principally pyrite) or their precursors or oxidation products, whose exposure to oxygen leads to the generation of sulphuric acid (for example by drainage or excavation).

alluvial sediments means unconsolidated fluvio-lacustrine sediments.

approved EP&A Act development means:

(a) a project approved under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (whether before or after its repeal), or

(b) State significant development authorised by a development consent under Part 4 of that Act, or

(c) State significant infrastructure approved under Part 5.1 of that Act.

cease to take condition means any term or condition on a water supply work approval, an access licence or Water Act 1912 entitlement that prohibits the taking of water in a particular circumstance.

drawdown means a lowering of the level to which water will rise in cased bores.

Note.

Natural drawdown may occur due to seasonal climatic changes. Groundwater pumping may also result in seasonal and long-term drawdown.

fractured rock means sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks with fractures, joints, bedding planes and cavities in the rock mass that are capable of transmitting water.

full capacity means the volume of water that is impounded in the pool, lagoon or lake when the pool, lagoon or lake is at the level when a visible flow out of that pool, lagoon or lake would cease.

grazeable area means, for an individual landholding, the area of pasture in hectares for a pasture type that is accessible for stock grazing and able to grow appropriate vegetation for stock grazing, but does not include impervious surfaces (such as rocks or rocky terrain, man-made structures, mines or quarries) or other such surfaces that do not support grazing vegetation, such as water bodies and forested floors with no undergrowth.

groundwater-dependent ecosystems includes ecosystems which have their species composition and natural ecological processes wholly or partially determined by groundwater.

high environmental value areas means national parks, nature reserves, historic sites, Aboriginal areas, state conservation areas and karst conservation areas.

individual daily extraction limit (IDEL) is the volume of water that may be extracted by an individual access licence from an unregulated river on a daily basis from a particular flow class.

in-river dam means a dam located in a river.

in-river dam pool means the area of water immediately upstream of an in-river dam where the river has pooled as a result of an in-river dam.

in-river pool means a natural pool, lagoon or lake that is within a river or stream (regardless of stream size) and excludes:

(a) a pool that is on a flood-runner or floodplain, or

(b) a pool that is on an effluent that only commences to flow during high flows.

Logbook, in relation to an access licence or water supply work approval, means a written record, kept in hard copy or electronic form, that accurately records all information required to be kept in relation to the access licence or water supply work approval under the rules of this Plan.

management zone is an area within a water source in which rules particular to that management zone will apply, for example daily extraction limits and restrictions on dealings.

mangrove limit is defined in the document prepared by the Manly Hydraulics Laboratory entitled Survey of Tidal Limits and Mangrove Limits in NSW estuaries 1996 to 2005, ISBN 0-7347-4302-5 (NSW Department of Natural Resources, Manly Hydraulics Laboratory).

Minimum Construction Requirements for Water Bores in Australia means the document published by the National Uniform Drillers Licensing Committee entitled Minimum Construction Requirements for Water Bores in Australia, 3rd ED, 2012, ISBN 978-0-646-56917-8.

off-river pool means a natural pool, lagoon or lake that is:

(a) not within a river or stream (regardless of stream size), or

(b) located on a flood-runner or floodplain, or

(c) located on an effluent that only commences to flow during high flows.

porous rock means consolidated sedimentary rock containing voids, pores or other openings (such as joints, cleats and/or fractures) which are interconnected, in the rock mass and which are capable of transmitting water.

recharge means the addition of water, usually by infiltration, to an aquifer.

runoff harvesting dam means a dam on a hillside or minor stream which collects and stores rainfall runoff. Minor streams are defined in harvestable rights orders made under section 54 of the Act. For the purposes of this Plan, references to runoff harvesting dams as water supply works include any associated pumps or other works which take water from the dam. For the purpose of clarity, this definition includes dams that are also used to store water diverted into the dam from a river or other source of water.

shepherding means the delivery of a calculated volume of water that was created by the non-activation/reduced extraction at a nominated licence location to a more downstream location, after consideration of losses, where it will be made available for extraction or use for the environment.

total daily extraction limit (TDEL) is the volume of water that may be extracted under access licences from an unregulated river on a daily basis from a particular flow class.

visible flow means the continuous downstream movement of water that is perceptible to the eye.

Water Act 1912 entitlement has the same meaning as entitlement has in clause 2 of Schedule 10 to the Act.

Year 1 of this Plan means from the date of 30 September 2016 to 30 June 2018.

Year 4 of this Plan means from the date 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

Year 5 of this Plan means from the date 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.

Year 6 of this Plan means from the date 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.

Schedule 1 Access licences subject to the cease to take condition specified in clause 42 (4) of this Plan

The access licences which replace Water Act 1912 entitlements listed in Column 1 of the table below and which have share components that specify the water sources listed in Column 2 of the table below, will have the access rule condition specified in Column 3 imposed as mandatory conditions to give effect to clause 42 (4).

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Water Act 1912 entitlements that will be replaced by access licences on commencement of this Plan	Water Source	Access rules
30SL047090	Coastal Nambucca River Water Source	Water must not be taken: (a) when flows are less than or equal to 5 ML/day, and (b) for more than 4 days during any 7 day period, and (c) on consecutive days.
30SL048407	Nambucca River–North Arm Water Source	Water must not be taken from the Nambucca River: (a) when there is no visible flow at the location at which water is proposed to be taken, and (b) between Monday to Friday of any week.
30SL065715	Taylors Arm Water Source	Water must not be taken when the flow at the Taylors Arm at Upper Taylors Arm gauge (205017) is less than 3 ML/day.
30SL065873	Missabotti Creek Water Source	Water must not be taken when the flow at the Nambucca River–North Arm upstream of Bowraville gauge (205015) is less than 39 ML/day.

Schedule 2 Access licences used to take surface water exempt from cease to pump rules

1 General

This clause applies to each access licence which replaces a Water Act 1912 entitlement listed in the table below.
Water Act 1912 entitlements that will be replaced by access licences on commencement of this Plan
30SL013675
30SL033828
30SL014863
30SL020398
30SL066141
30SL035397
30SL051172
30SL022248
30SL044324
30SL065979
30SL052210
30SL066763
30SL043435
30SL066264
30SL038808
30SL065759
30SL015725
30SL016070
30SL065174
30SL066874

2 Local water utility access licences and access licences of the subcategory “Town water supply”

This clause applies to each access licence which replaces a Water Act 1912 entitlement listed in the table below.
Water Act 1912 entitlements that will be replaced by local water utility access licences or access licences of the subcategory “Town water supply” on commencement of this Plan

Note.

At the commencement of this Plan there are no access licences listed in this Schedule. Clause 76 (2) allows for this Plan to be amended to add access licences to this Schedule subject to the requirements in that clause.

Schedule 3 Access licences used to take groundwater exempt from cease to pump rules

1 General

This clause applies to each access licence which replaces a Water Act 1912 entitlement listed in the table below.
Water Act 1912 entitlements that will be replaced by access licences on commencement of this Plan

2 Local water utility access licences and access licences of the subcategory “Town water supply”

This clause applies to each access licence which replaces a Water Act 1912 entitlement listed in the table below.
Water Act 1912 entitlements that will be replaced by local water utility access licences or access licences of the subcategory “Town water supply” on commencement of this Plan
30BL119160
30BL119162
30BL119163
30BL119164
30BL119165
30BL119166
30BL119167
30BL130302
30BL130303
30BL182269
30BL182270
30BL185787
30BL185788

Note.

Clause 76 (3) allows for this Plan to be amended to add access licences to this Schedule subject to the requirements in that clause.

Schedule 4 Contamination sources in these water sources

Contamination sources in these water sources comprise the following:

(a) on-site sewage disposal systems or septic tanks,

(b) any sites which have been declared to be significantly contaminated land under the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997,

(c) any sites that are or have been the subject of an activity listed in Table 1 of the contaminated land planning guidelines published under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 from time to time.

Appendix 1 Overview of the Plan Map

Overview of the Plan Map (WSP037_Version 1) Water Sharing Plan for the Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016

Appendix 2 Inspection of the Plan Map and the GDE Map

Copies of the Plan Map and the GDE Map may be inspected at the following offices:

DPI Water
10 Valentine Ave
PARRAMATTA NSW 2150

DPI Water
41 Belgrave St
KEMPSEY NSW 2440

DPI Water
24 Gordon Street, AMP Centre
COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450

Appendix 3 Offices

Any notifications that may be required to be made to the Minister, as specified in this Plan, can be made to the following offices:

DPI Water
PO Box 2213
DANGAR NSW 2309

DPI Water
Locked Bag 10
GRAFTON NSW 2460

Appendix 4 Overview of the GDE Map

Overview of the GDE Map (GDE006_Version 1) Water Sharing Plan for the Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016

Note.

High priority groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are currently under investigation and some may be identified during the term of this Plan. The full list of potential GDEs will be identified on the GDE Register held by the Department and as a precautionary approach, will be considered by staff in the assessment of any application for a water supply work approval within the area of this Plan. If it becomes verified as a high priority GDE, the GDE Map will be amended to include the GDE.

Historical notes

The following abbreviations are used in the Historical notes:

Am	amended	LW	legislation website	Sch	Schedule
Cl	clause	No	number	Schs	Schedules
Cll	clauses	p	page	Sec	section
Div	Division	pp	pages	Secs	sections
Divs	Divisions	Reg	Regulation	Subdiv	Subdivision
GG	Government Gazette	Regs	Regulations	Subdivs	Subdivisions
Ins	inserted	Rep	repealed	Subst	substituted

Table of amending instruments

Water Sharing Plan for the Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016 (601). LW 30.9.2016. Date of commencement, 30.9.2016, cl 3. This Plan has been amended as follows:

2017

No 63

Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 2017. Assented to 23.11.2017.
Date of commencement of Sch 4.61, 14.1.2018, sec 2 (3).

Table of amendments

Cl 43	Am 2017 No 63, Sch 4.61 [1].
Sch 1	Am 2017 No 63, Sch 4.61 [2].

Column 1—Extraction management unit	Column 2—Water sources
Nambucca River Extraction Management Unit	Buckrabendinni Creek Water Source
	Coastal Nambucca River Water Source
	Missabotti Creek Water Source
	North Arm–Nambucca River Water Source
	South Creek Water Source
	Taylors Arm Water Source
	Warrell Creek Water Source

Month	90^thpercentile flow (ML/day)	95^th percentile flow (ML/day)
January	17	11
February	19	12
March	33	21
April	37	26
May	29	21
June	27	20
July	22	15
August	16	11
September	14	9
October	12	6
November	14	7
December	15	10