Water Sharing Plan for the Toorumbee Creek Water Source 2003 (NSW)

Part 1Introduction1Name of Plan

This Plan is the Water Sharing Plan for the Toorumbee Creek Water Source 2003 (hereafter this Plan).

2Nature and status of this Plan(1)

This Plan is made under section 50 of the Water Management Act 2000 as amended (hereafter the Act).

(2)

This Plan covers the core provisions of section 20 of the Act for water sharing, and additional provisions of section 21 of the Act, and other relevant matters.

3Date of commencement

This Plan takes effect on 1 July 2004 and ceases 10 years after that date.

4Area and waters to which this Plan applies(1)

The area in respect of which this Plan is made is that area of land within the Mid North Coast Water Management Area known as the Toorumbee Creek Water Source (hereafter this water source) as shown in Schedule 2.

Note—

The Mid North Coast Water Management Area is shown on the map in Appendix 1.

(2)

The waters of this water source includes all water occurring on the land surface shown on the map in Schedule 2 including, but not limited to:

• (a)

  all rivers in this water source including, but not limited to, those nominated in Schedule 3, and

• (b)

  all lakes and wetlands in this water source.

(3)

The waters of this water source exclude all water contained within aquifers underlying this water source.

5Interpretation(1)

Terms that are defined in the Act have the same meaning in this Plan and the effect of these terms may be explained in Notes.

(2)

Additional terms to those identified in subclause (1) are defined in Schedule 1.

(3)

Notes in the text of this Plan do not form part of this Plan.

(4)

Schedules to this Plan form part of this Plan.

(5)

Appendices to this Plan do not form part of this Plan.

6Inspection of detailed maps

Maps referred to in this Plan may be inspected at locations listed in Appendix 2.

7Effect on licences, authorities and permits under the Water Act 1912(1)

This Plan applies from commencement to those matters that are administered under the Act at that time.

(2)

This Plan applies to other matters from the date the relevant provisions of the Act are commenced.

Note—

To the extent possible, the rules embodied in this Plan will apply to matters administered under the Water Act 1912 in the interim.

8State Water Management Outcomes Plan(1)

This Plan is consistent with the State Water Management Outcomes Plan (hereafter SWMOP) in accordance with section 16 (1) (a) of the Act.

(2)

Schedule 4 identifies the SWMOP targets applicable to this Plan and how this Plan contributes to those targets.

Note—

The SWMOP applying at the commencement of this Plan is that gazetted on 20 December 2002 under section 6 of the Act.

Part 2Vision, objectives, strategies and performance indicators9Vision, objectives, strategies and performance indicators

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

10Vision

The vision for this Plan is that the water needs of the communities dependent on Toorumbee Creek Water Source are addressed, in the context of maintaining its high conservation values.

11Objectives

The objectives of this Plan are to:

• (a)

  preserve the high conservation values of the Toorumbee Creek Water Source by limiting extraction from the river to basic landholder rights users, domestic and stock and unregulated river (Aboriginal cultural) access licence users, and by encouraging these users to adopt efficient practices during periods of very low flows,

• (b)

  maintain high quality waters in the Toorumbee Creek Water Source,

• (c)

  maintain or improve the overall health of the Macleay River catchment, its estuary and adjoining inshore waters, by enabling sufficient contributions to this system from Toorumbee Creek flows,

• (d)

  protect and enhance water dependent ecosystems, threatened species and endangered ecological communities within the river by allowing only the holders of domestic and stock rights, native title rights, and domestic and stock and unregulated river (Aboriginal cultural) access licence users access to flows,

• (e)

  protect water quality and habitat by protecting freshes and low flows throughout the river system by allowing only domestic and stock users, native title rights holders and Aboriginal people to access flows, and by encouraging these users to adopt efficient practices during periods of very low flows, and

• (f)

  recognise and protect Aboriginal heritage sites and values in access management and water licensing decisions.

12Strategies

The strategies of this Plan are to:

• (a)

  identify and make provision for water requirements for basic landholder rights,

• (b)

  specify the circumstances in which access licences may be granted,

• (c)

  limit the amount of water that can be extracted on a daily,

• (d)

  limit the long-term average extraction of water,

• (e)

  clearly define access conditions for water extraction and rules for extracting water from this water source,

• (f)

  establish rules for determining the water available from time to time under access licences,

• (g)

  establish water allocation accounting rules,

• (h)

  specify mandatory conditions for access licences, and

• (i)

  specify the rules for water supply works approvals.

13Performance indicators

The following indicators are to be used to determine the performance of this Plan against its objectives:

• (a)

  change in low flows,

• (b)

  change in moderate to high flows,

• (c)

  change in ecological condition of this water source and dependent ecosystems,

• (d)

  extent to which basic landholder rights requirements have been met,

• (e)

  change in economic benefits derived from water extraction and use,

• (f)

  extent to which native title rights requirements have been met,

• (g)

  extent of recognition of spiritual, social and customary values of water to Aboriginal people, and

• (h)

  (Repealed)

Note—

Appendix 3 details the objectives to which these performance indicators relate and the proposed methods for assessing these indicators.

Part 3Basis for water sharing14Basis for water sharing

This Part is made in order to give effect to section 5 (3) of the Act, and in accordance with sections 20 (2) (c) and 21 (e) of the Act.

15Climatic variability(1)

This Plan recognises climatic variability and therefore river flow variability in this water source.

(2)

This Plan recognises the high conservation value of this water source.

(3)

To give effect to subclauses (1) and (2), this Plan has provisions that:

• (a)

  manage limited access to the water in this water source, and

• (b)

  enable the protection of the conservation values of this water source.

16Extraction management unit(1)

The availability of water for extraction from this water source on a long-term average basis will be determined at the level of an extraction management unit.

(2)

The extraction management unit of which this water source is part is known as the Macleay River Extraction Management Unit, and is shown on the map in Schedule 5.

Part 4Environmental water provisions17Environmental water provisions

This Part is made in accordance with sections 5 (3) and 8 (1), 8 (2) and 20 (1) (a) of the Act.

18Planned environmental water(1)

Planned environmental water is identified and established as all flows occurring in this water source minus 0.025 megalitres per day (hereafter ML/day).

(2)

Planned environmental water is maintained in all flows as follows:

• (a)

  persons exercising domestic and stock and native title rights may extract water, and

• (b)

  the holders of access licences have restricted access to water as specified in clauses 43 to 46,

• (c)

  limits are imposed on the availability of water, in accordance with clauses 33 and 35, that protect a proportion of natural river flows for fundamental ecological needs from increases in long-term water extraction.

Note—

This Plan recognises that the planned environmental water provisions provide benefits, including a non-extractive water source for traditional Aboriginal spiritual, social and cultural use, and contributes to improved water quality.

19Extraction by water supply work

Notwithstanding all other rights and conditions, extraction of water from a river by an approved water supply work is permitted only if there is visible flow in the river in the vicinity of the work.

20Planned environmental water

At the commencement of this Plan, there is no water committed for specified environmental purposes in accordance with section 8 (1) (b) of the Act.

21Adaptive environmental water(1)

At any time an access licence holder may, by a process determined by the Minister, commit all or part of their licence as adaptive environmental water.

(2)

The Minister may grant an access licence in a water source to which this Plan applies if the licence is subject to an adaptive environmental water condition and arises through water savings in the system made in that water source as referred to in section 8C (1) of the Act.

(2A)

The Minister may change the category or subcategory of an access licence in a water source to which this Plan applies if the licence is subject to an adaptive environmental water condition that arises through water savings as referred to in section 8D of the Act.

(3)

At the commencement of this Plan there are no access licences committed to an environmental purpose in accordance with section 8 (1) (c) of the Act.

Part 5Basic landholder rights22Basic landholder rights

This Part is made in accordance with sections 5 (3) and 20 (1) (b) of the Act.

23Domestic and stock rights(1)

At the commencement of this Plan the water requirements of holders of domestic and stock rights are estimated to be a total of 0.025 ML/day.

(2)

This Plan recognises that the exercise of domestic and stock rights may increase during the term of this Plan.

Note—

Increase in use of domestic and stock rights may occur as a result of an increase in the number of landholdings fronting rivers in this water source and/or as a result of an increase of the exercise of basic rights by existing landholders.

24Native title rights(1)

At the commencement of this Plan there are no holders of native title rights and therefore the water requirements for native title rights are estimated to be a total of 0 ML/day.

(2)

This Plan recognises that the exercise of native title rights may increase during the term of this Plan.

Note—

Increase in use of native title rights may occur as a result of the granting of native title rights under the Commonwealth’s Native Title Act 1993.

25Harvestable rights

The requirement for water under harvestable rights is the amount of water owners of land are entitled to capture pursuant to the harvestable rights Order published in the NSW Government Gazette on 23 March 2001 under section 54 of the Act.

Part 6Bulk access regime26Bulk access regime(1)

This Part is made in accordance with section 20 (1) (d) of the Act.

(2)

This Plan establishes a bulk access regime for the extraction of water under access licences in this water source having regard to:

• (a)

  the environmental water provisions established under Part 4 of this Plan,

• (b)

  the requirements for basic landholder rights identified under Part 5 of this Plan, and

• (c)

  the requirements for water for extraction under access licences identified under Part 7 of this Plan.

(3)

The bulk access regime established in subclause (2):

• (a)

  recognises the effect of climatic variability on the availability of water as provided for under Part 3 of this Plan,

• (b)

  establishes rules according to which access licences are granted as provided for in Part 8 of this Plan,

• (c)

  recognises and is consistent with limits to the availability of water as provided for in Part 9, Divisions 1 and 2 of this Plan,

• (d)

  establishes rules according to which available water determinations are to be made as provided for in Part 9 Division 3 of this Plan,

• (e)

  establishes rules according to which access licences are managed as provided for in Part 10 of this Plan, and

• (f)

  establishes rules with respect to the priorities according to which access licences are to be adjusted as a consequence of any reduction in the availability of water as provided for in Parts 9 and 10 of this Plan.

Part 7Requirements for water under access licences27Requirements for water under access licences

This Part is made in accordance with section 20 (1) (c) of the Act.

Note—

The amount of water specified in this Part represents the total volumes specified on access licences in this water source. It is not a commitment to supply that water.

28Estimate of water requirements(1)

It is estimated that at the time of commencement of Part 2 of Chapter 3 of the Act in the area in respect of which this Plan is made, the requirements identified for water for extraction under licence within this water source will total zero megalitres per year (hereafter ML/yr).

(2)

This Plan recognises that the total requirements for water for extraction within this water source may change during the term of this Plan as a result of the granting, surrender, cancellation or non-renewal of access licences.

Part 8Rules for granting access licences29Rules for granting access licences(1)

This Part is made in accordance with sections 20 (2) (b) and 63 of the Act, having regard to the limits to water availability in this water sources and the need to protect the ecological health of the river.

(2)

Access licences may be granted in this water source subject to any embargo on the making of applications for access licences made under Chapter 3 Part 2 Division 7 of the Act.

(3)

The Minister should declare an embargo on the making of applications for access licences in this water source, other than access licences of the following kinds:

• (a)

  domestic and stock access licences,

• (b)

  specific purpose access licences for which applications are provided for under the regulations in accordance with section 61 (1) (a) of the Act, and

• (c)

  unregulated river (Aboriginal cultural) access licences where the access licence share component does not exceed 10 ML/yr per application.

In applying for a new access licence, the applicant must establish the purpose and circumstance relating to that access licence, and that the share and extraction components sought will be the minimum required to meet that purpose and circumstance.

(5)

Subclause (4) does not apply to an application for a new access licence arising from:

• (a)

  section 61 (1) (c), of the Act, where the right has been acquired by auction, tender or other open market process, or

• (b)

  an access licence dealing.

(6)

(Repealed)

(7)

Runoff harvesting access licences may have the share component expressed either as a volume in ML/yr or in terms of the amount of water that can be extracted from time to time from specified works.

30Aboriginal assessment of new access licences(1)

The Minister should seek the views of the Bellbrook Local Aboriginal Land Council in relation to impacts on significant Aboriginal sites and appropriate mitigation measures, such as buffer distances, for all new access licence or water supply works approval applications.

(2)

The Minister should consider any advice under subclause (1) before making a determination of the access licence application.

30A

In the event of an application for an Aboriginal commercial access licence, the Minister will seek the views of the Aboriginal Reference Group as to the benefit derived from the proposed application. Where an Aboriginal Reference Group has yet to be established, the advice of the Bellbrook Local Aboriginal Land Council will be sought.

Part 9Limits to the availability of waterDivision 1Long-term average extraction limit31Limits to the availability of water

This Division is made in accordance with section 20 (2) (a) of the Act.

32Extraction management unit

Management of the long-term extraction of water in this water source will be undertaken in the context of the Macleay River Extraction Management Unit (hereafter this Unit) referred to in clause 16 (2).

33Long-term average extraction limit

The long-term average extraction limit for this Unit of which this water source is a part will be the total of:

• (a)

  the quantity of water specified in conditions attached to or included in components issued under Part 2 of the Water Act 1912 in this Unit, immediately prior to the commencement of Part 2 of Chapter 3 of the Act for this Unit, and

• (b)

  an estimate of annual extraction of water (excluding those exercised via a water bore) under:

  • (i)

    domestic and stock rights, and

  • (ii)

    native title rights,

  in this water source at the commencement of this Plan.

34Variation of the long-term average extraction limit

The long-term average extraction limit of this Unit may be varied by the Minister if dealings under Part 11 of this Plan result in the issuing or cancellation of access licences in this Unit.

Division 2Available water determinations35Available water determinations(1)

This Division is made in accordance with section 20 (2) (b) of the Act.

(2)

In making an available water determination under section 59 of the Act, the Minister should consider the following rules:

• (a)

  water extraction in this Unit will be monitored in each water accounting year to determine if there is any growth in volumes extracted above the extraction limit specified in clause 33, based on comparison of the extraction limit against the average extraction within this Unit over that year and the preceding 2 years,

  Note—

  A water accounting year is defined in clause 40 (3).

• (b)

  if water that, pursuant to an access licence, is committed as adaptive environmental water to be left in a river for environmental purposes, then for the purpose of subclause (a), the extraction will be assumed to be 100% of the available water determination,

• (c)

  if water that, pursuant to an access licence, is committed as adaptive environmental water to be extracted for environmental purposes, then for the purpose of subclause (a), the extraction will be that measured through the approved water supply work,

• (d)

  for all access licences, an initial available water determination of two times the access licence share component should be made on 1 July 2003, and such determination should apply for one water accounting year,

• (e)

  from 1 July 2004, available water determinations for domestic and stock access licences should be 100% of the access licence share component, with priority given to making this water available above the making of water available to all other categories of access licence, and such determinations should be made annually,

• (f)

  from 1 July 2004, available water determinations for unregulated river access licences, including all subcategories, should be 100% of the access licence share component, except as provided in subclauses (g) and (h), and such determinations should be made annually,

• (g)

  if the 3 year average of extraction in this Unit exceeds the long-term average extraction limit established in clause 33 by 5% or greater, then the available water determination for the following water accounting year for unregulated river access licences in this water source should be reduced by an amount that is assessed necessary by the Minister to return subsequent total water extraction to the long-term average extraction limit,

• (h)

  when the 3 year average of extraction in this Unit is less than 95% of the long-term average extraction limit established in clause 33, the available water determination for unregulated river access licences in this water source shall be increased to such an extent as to allow extraction to increase to that extraction limit,

• (i)

  notwithstanding subclause (h), and excepting the initial available water determination made in accordance with subclause (d), the available water determination should not exceed 100% of the total access licence share components,

• (j)

  a new available water determination for unregulated river access licences determined under subclause (g) or (h) should be repeated for each of the subsequent two water accounting years unchanged in quantity, and

• (k)

  available water determinations for runoff harvesting access licences should be made annually and should be either the access licence share component or the water that can be extracted from time to time from the approved works, depending on the manner in which the share component is expressed on the licence.

Part 10Rules for managing access licencesdivision36Rules for managing access licences

This Part is made in accordance with sections 20 (2) (b) and 21 (a) of the Act, having regard to:

• (a)

  the environmental water rules established in Part 4 of this Plan,

• (b)

  requirements for water to satisfy basic landholder rights identified in Part 5 of this Plan, and

• (c)

  requirements for water for extraction under access licences in Part 7 of this Plan.

Division 1Water allocation account management37Water allocation account management

This Division is made in accordance with sections 20 (2) (b) and 21 (c) of the Act.

38Water allocation accounts

In accordance with section 85 of the Act, a water allocation account shall be established for each access licence in this water source.

Note—

Water allocations may be assigned to, or from, these accounts by a water allocation assignment made under section 71T of the Act, where these are allowed under rules specified in Part 11 of this Plan.

Note—

Water allocations may also be re-credited to these accounts in accordance with section 76 of the Act, subject to the operation of a return flows scheme established under section 75 of the Act.

39Accrual of water allocations

Water allocations will be accrued into water allocation accounts in accordance with the Minister’s available water determinations as specified in clause 35.

40Annual accounting for water extraction(1)

Water taken from this water source will be accounted for at least annually.

(2)

Water extracted by a water supply work nominated by an access licence is taken to be extracted and will be periodically debited against the access licence water allocation account.

(3)

A water accounting year shall be the 12 month period commencing 1 July.

(4)

The maximum water allocation that can be carried over from one water accounting year to the next is 100% of the access licence share component.

(5)

In any one water accounting year, water taken from this water source under an access licence may not exceed the volume in the water allocation account, subject to clause 41 (1).

(6)

A water allocation account shall remain at or above zero at all times.

41Three year accounting for water extraction

Water taken from this water source in any 3 consecutive water accounting years under an access licence may not exceed a volume consisting of:

• (a)

  the water allocations accrued under the licence in those years,

• (b)

  plus any water allocations assigned from another licence by water allocation assignment under section 71T of the Act in those years,

• (c)

  plus any water allocations re-credited in accordance with section 76 of the Act in those years, and

• (d)

  minus any water allocations assigned to another licence, by water allocation assignment under section 71T of the Act in those years.

Division 2Sharing flows on a daily basis42Sharing flows on a daily basis

This Division is made in accordance with sections 20 (2) (b) and 21 (a) of the Act.

43Total daily extraction limits

This Plan establishes a total daily extraction limit (hereafter TDEL) of 0.2 ML/day during all river flows in this water source.

44Initial assignment of the TDEL to categories of access licence

The TDEL under clause 43 will initially be assigned to categories of access licences according to the following:

• (a)

  0 ML/day for domestic and stock access licences, and

• (b)

  0 ML/day for unregulated river (Aboriginal cultural) access licences.

45Unassigned TDEL

At the commencement of this Plan, unassigned TDEL is as follows:

• (a)

  0.1 ML/day for domestic and stock access licences, and

• (b)

  0.1 ML/day for unregulated river (Aboriginal cultural) access licences.

Note—

Unassigned TDEL may vary as a result of the surrender, cancellation or non-renewal of an access licence’s individual daily extraction limits, or the operation of Part 8 of this Plan.

46Granting of unassigned TDEL

The unassigned TDEL in clause 45 may be assigned to individual access licences as individual daily extraction limits (hereafter IDELs) where they are applied for as part of a new access licence application in accordance with Part 8 of this Plan.

Part 11Access licence dealing rules47Access licence dealing rules(1)

This Part is made in accordance with section 20 (1) (e) of the Act and with the Minister’s access licence dealing principles gazetted on 27 December 2002 under section 71Z of the Act.

(2)

Applications for access licence dealings may be granted subject to the Minister’s access licence dealing principles gazetted from time to time under section 71Z of the Act and the rules in this Part.

Note—

There are a number of mechanisms within the Act, called access licence dealings, to change either the ownership of all or part of an access licence, or the location within a water source at which all or part of the share and extraction components of access licences can be exercised. These dealings are governed by the principles in section 5 of the Act, the Minister’s access licence dealing principles, and the rules in this Part.

Note—

Where there is an inconsistency between access licence dealing rules established in this Plan and Minister’s access licence dealing principles gazetted subsequent to the commencement of this Plan, section 71Z of the Act provides for the access licence dealing rules in this Plan to prevail.

48Rules relating to constraints within this water source(1)

This clause applies to any relevant dealings under sections 71Q, 71S and 71W of the Act, and section 71T of the Act with respect to water allocation assignments within this water source.

(2)

Dealings are prohibited under this clause if:

• (a)

  any of the access licences or water allocations involved are not within this water source, or

• (b)

  the dealing would result in more than minimal harm occurring to the water source and the environment.

49Rules for access licence dealings which alter the times, rates or circumstances specified in access licence extraction components

Notwithstanding clause 48, applications under section 71S of the Act to vary the times, rates or circumstances specified in an access licence with respect to the taking of water under the licence are prohibited.

50Rules for change of water source(1)

This clause relates to dealings under section 71R of the Act.

Note—

Section 71R dealings are the mechanism by which access licences can move from one water source to another. Once the change in water source has been affected, if permitted, the new licence will have to nominate specified works (by a dealing under section 71W of the Act) in the receiving water source before extraction can commence.

(2)

Dealings that result in an access licence being cancelled in another water source and an access licence issued in this water source are prohibited.

(3)

Dealings that result in an access licence being cancelled in this water source and an access licence issued in another water source are prohibited.

51Rules for conversion of access licence category(1)

This clause relates to dealings under section 71O of the Act.

(2)

Conversion of an access licence of one category to an access licence of another category in this water source are prohibited.

52Rules for interstate access licence transfer(1)

This clause relates to dealings under section 71U of the Act.

(2)

Dealings that result in the interstate transfer of an access licence into or out of this water source are prohibited.

53Rules for water allocation assignments between water sources(1)

This clause relates to dealings under section 71T of the Act, in relation to water allocation assignments between water sources.

(2)

Dealings under section 71T of the Act that result in water allocation assignments to or from access licences in this water source are prohibited.

54Rules for interstate assignment of water allocations(1)

This clause relates to dealings under section 71V of the Act.

(2)

Dealings that result in interstate assignment of water allocations to or from this water source are prohibited.

Part 12Mandatory conditions55Mandatory conditions on access licences(1)

This Part is made in accordance with section 17 (c) and 20 (2) (c) of the Act.

(2)

All access licences shall have mandatory conditions to give effect to the provisions of this Plan in relation to the following:

• (a)

  the specification of share component of the access licence,

• (b)

  the specification of extraction component of the access licence, including IDELs arising from the operation of Part 10 Division 2 of this Plan where applicable,

• (c)

  the requirement that extraction under the access licence will be subject to the available water determinations,

• (d)

  the requirement that extraction under the access licence will be subject to the water allocation account management rules established in Part 10 Division 1 of this Plan,

• (e)

  the requirement that the taking of water in accordance with the access licence will only be permitted if the resulting debit from the access licence water allocation account will not exceed the volume of water allocation remaining in the account, and

• (f)

  any other conditions required to implement the provisions of this Plan.

56Unregulated river access licences

All unregulated river access licences shall have mandatory conditions such that water may only be taken at a rate not exceeding that specified on the access licence extraction component.

57Domestic and stock access licences

All domestic and stock access licences shall have mandatory conditions to give effect to the following:

• (a)

  water may only be taken for the purposes of domestic consumption or stock watering as defined in section 52 of the Act, and

• (b)

  water may only be taken at a rate not exceeding that specified on the access licence extraction component.

58Unregulated river (Aboriginal cultural) access licences

All unregulated river (Aboriginal cultural) access licences shall have mandatory conditions to give effect to the following:

• (a)

  water shall only be taken by Aboriginal persons or communities for personal, domestic and communal purposes including the purposes of drinking, food preparation, washing, manufacturing traditional artefacts, watering domestic gardens, cultural teaching, hunting, fishing, and gathering, and for recreational, cultural and ceremonial purposes,

• (b)

  water may only be taken in accordance with a flow class determined by the Minister, at a rate not exceeding that specified for the flow class on the access licence extraction component, unless otherwise authorised by an approved group,

• (c)

  notwithstanding subclause (b), water may be taken without any restrictions in rate from an in-river dam while the dam is passing all inflows, and

• (d)

  the conditions in subclauses (b) and (c) are not to be imposed if the extraction component of the access licence specifies that water may only be taken from a runoff harvesting dam.

59Mandatory conditions on water supply works approvals

All approvals for water supply works in this water source shall have mandatory conditions to give effect to the provisions of this Plan in relation to the following:

• (a)

  flow measurement devices:

  • (i)

    shall be installed and maintained on all works used for extraction of water under an access licence, and

  • (ii)

    shall be of a type and shall be maintained in a manner which is acceptable to the Minister,

• (b)

  water extraction and property water management infrastructure details shall be provided to the Minister on request,

• (c)

  notwithstanding all other rights and conditions, extraction of water from a river by an approved water supply work is not permitted if there is no visible flow in the river in the vicinity of the work,

• (d)

  extraction under an access licence through an approved work is only authorised with respect to the work nominated by the access licence, and

• (e)

  where new licence applications are made in accordance with clause 29 and where an impact to endangered ecological communities is identified from the use of the water supply work, a minimum buffer of 100 metres will be applied between the identified endangered ecological community and the water supply work.

Part 13Granting and amending water supply works approvals60Granting and amending water supply works approvals

This Part is made in accordance with section 21 (b) of the Act.

61Runoff harvesting dams

Applications for new runoff harvesting dams within this water source should not be approved.

62In-river dams

Applications for new in-river dams within this water source should not be approved.

Note—

Taking of water from an in-river dam requires an access licence unless it is taken in accordance with section 52 of the Act (domestic and stock rights). In either case, however, the dam requires a water management works approval unless exempted by regulation under the Act.

Part 14Monitoring and reporting63Monitoring and reporting of performance indicators

The monitoring and reporting of the performance indicators specified in clause 13 shall be undertaken by the Minister.

Note—

Review and Audit of this Plan

In accordance with section 43A of the Act, the Natural Resources Commission must undertake a review of this Plan prior to any decision to extend its term or to make a new plan. The review must consider the extent to which the Plan’s water sharing provisions have contributed to achieving or not achieving the State priorities for local land services relevant to natural resource management (as referred to in the Local Land Services Act 2013).

When undertaking this review the Natural Resources Commission is required to call for public submissions. The Commission will take into consideration any submission received as well as any other relevant State-wide or regional government policies or agreements that apply to the Local Land Services region.

In accordance with section 44 of the Act, this Plan will be audited at intervals of no more than five years, for the purpose of ascertaining whether its provisions are being given effect to. This audit is to be carried out by an audit panel appointed by the Minister in consultation with the water management committee, where one exists.

Note—

Implementation Program

In accordance with section 51 of the Act, the Minister may establish an Implementation Program that sets out the means by which the provisions of this Plan are to be achieved.

It is proposed that the Minister establish an Implementation Program for this Plan. Pursuant to section 51 (5) of the Act, the Implementation Program is to be reviewed annually by the Minister to determine whether it is effective in implementing this Plan.

The results of the review of the Implementation Program are included in the annual report for the Department.

Part 15Amendment of this Plan64Amendment relating to planned environmental water(1)

The Minister may amend this Plan to provide for the recovery of planned environmental water as follows:

• (a)

  the recovery is only to apply where the Minister has cancelled an access licence held by the Minister in accordance with section 8A of the Act,

• (b)

  the amount of additional water to be provided as planned environmental water is to be equivalent to the annual average extraction of water under the cancelled licence over the long-term,

• (c)

  the average annual long-term availability of water for the remaining access licences that relate to the water source concerned is to be reduced by the average annual long-term extraction of water under the cancelled licence.

(2)

The Minister may amend this Plan to specify the purposes for which planned environmental water committed under section 8A of the Act is to be used.

65Amendment of Plan relating to floodplain harvesting

The Minister may amend this Plan so as to provide for the floodplain harvesting of water by amending the waters or water sources to which this Plan applies and by consequential amendments so long as the amendments:

• (a)

  if the Plan has already taken into consideration floodplain harvesting extractions, do not affect the outcomes of the long-term extraction limit specified in the plan, or

• (b)

  if the Plan has not already taken into consideration floodplain harvesting extractions, do not allow more water being taken pursuant to access licences for floodplain harvesting than permitted under Schedule F to the Agreement within the meaning of the Murray–Darling Basin Act 1992.

Schedule 1Dictionary

The following definitions apply to this Plan in addition to the definitions set out in the Act:

account water is the balance in an access licence water allocation account at a particular time.

Note—

An access licence water allocation account records water allocations accrued under the licence as well as water allocations acquired, used or transferred, or re-credited. The operation of the account is also governed by rules for the carrying over of credits from one accounting period to the next and rules for the maximum credit that may be allowed to accumulate in the account as established in a water sharing plan. Water allocations are the shares of available water accrued under an access licence from time to time as a result of available water determinations.

domestic consumption means the consumption of water for normal household purposes in domestic premises situated on the land.

ecological community means an assemblage of species occupying a particular area.

endangered ecological communities means ecological communities listed in Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 or Schedule 4 of the Fisheries Management Act 1994.

extraction limit is a limit on the long-term average amount of water that may be extracted from an extraction management unit.

extraction management unit is a group of water sources for the purpose of managing annual average extraction.

farm dam is a privately owned dam typically of earthen construction designed to collect and/or store water for use on one or a few properties. It does not include publicly owned dams or weirs. See also in-river dam and runoff harvesting dam.

Implementation Program is an Implementation Program established by the Minister under section 51 of the Act to implement this Plan.

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

in-river dam is a dam on a 3rd, 4th or higher order river. 3rd, 4th or higher order rivers are as defined in the Order made under section 5 of the Water Act 1912 in relation to the definition of a “river” gazetted 23 March 2001. See also farm dam and runoff harvesting dam.

Minister is the Minister for Land and Water Conservation. The Minister may delegate his functions under section 389 of the Act.

stock watering means the watering of stock being raised on the land, but does not include the use of water in connection with intensive animal husbandry.

runoff harvesting dam is a farm dam on a hillside or 1st or 2nd order stream which collects and stores rainfall runoff. 1st and 2nd order streams are as defined the Order made under section 5 of the Water Act 1912 in relation to the definition of a river gazetted 23 March 2001. See also farm dam and in-river dam.

Note—

This Order refers to watercourses shown as blue lines on topographic maps. The lines which are uppermost in a catchment are 1st order streams, when two 1st order streams are joined they make a 2nd order stream, etc. For more information see the Farm Dams Assessment Guide available from the Department of Land and Water Conservation.

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

water accounting year is any twelve month period commencing on 1 July.

Schedule 2Toorumbee Creek Water SourceSchedule 3Rivers in the Toorumbee Creek Water Source

This water source includes:

• •

  Home Creek

• •

  McCoys Creek

• •

  Parrabel Creek

• •

  Peach Tree Creek

• •

  Taits Creek

• •

  Toorumbee Creek

Schedule 4Contribution to targets in the State Water Management Outcomes Plan

Levels of assessed contribution:

• •

  FULL—contributes to target in full

• •

  HIGH—while not fully contributing to target is a good level of contribution

• •

  PARTIAL—goes some way to the target

• •

  LOW—only small degree of contribution

Relevant Target	Level of Contribution	Comments
Target 1c Long term average annual extraction limits which are ecologically sustainable, and which minimise downstream impacts, established in all coastal water sources

HIGH	• Part 9 Division 1 of this Plan clearly sets out the basis for the extraction limit for the Macleay River Extraction Management Unit • Until the cumulative impact of this limit can be assessed for all of this Unit it is not possible to properly assess ecological sustainability and downstream impact • However there are no access licence of share components in this Unit and application of IDELs should ensure adequate downstream flows
Target 1f Rules for adjustments to future available water determinations in the event that the extraction limits are exceeded, clearly prescribed in consultation with the relevant management committee, and acted upon	FULL	• Rules set out in Part 9 of this Plan
Target 2 All management plans incorporating mechanisms to protect and restore aquatic habitats, and the diversity and abundance of native animals and plants, with particular reference to threatened species, populations and communities and key threatening processes	HIGH	• Part 10 Division 2 of this Plan has put in place comprehensive daily extraction limits to protect/restore environmental flows • This Plan has significantly improved low to very low flow protection • This Plan is consistent with relevant Threatened Species Recovery Plans
Target 4a Wherever the frequency of “end of system” daily flows would be less than 60% of the predevelopment level without environmental water rules or extraction limits, the flows increased to 60% of predevelopment levels or increased by at least 10% of the predevelopment frequency	FULL	• Daily extraction limits protect 60% to 100% of flows
Target 4b Frequency of “end of system” daily very low flows (as defined by local field investigation) protected or restored to predevelopment levels to maintain or restore their critical ecological functions, drought refuges and habitat connectivity. In the absence of such local assessments, protection extended up to at least the predevelopment 95th percentile	FULL	• Cease-to-pump levels protect flows below 80th%tile in critical months
Target 5 Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in terms of share and extraction components	FULL	• This Plan establishes total daily extraction limits for distribution to individual licensees
Target 6b A pathway for reducing the share components to 200% of the long-term average annual extraction limit to be established not later than the end of the term of the SWMOP	FULL	• Total licensed share components for the Macleay River Extraction Management Unit should not exceed 200% of extraction limit for this Unit
Target 7 Mechanisms in place to enable Aboriginal communities to gain an increased share of the benefits of the water economy	HIGH	• The Government has established other mechanisms outside of this water sharing plan to address the target • This Plan proposes an exemption from the access licence embargo for Aboriginal cultural heritage
Target 8 Daily extraction components specified and tradeable, subject to metering, reporting and compliance, for at least 50% of unregulated river access licences and for 80% of stressed unregulated rivers	FULL	• To meet this target Statewide, the individual plans should as far as practicable, establish daily extraction limits across the whole water source, and this Plan does this
Target 12 Measures in place in all water sources subject to a gazetted water sharing plan to protect domestic and stock rights from the impact of other water access and use	FULL	• Cease to pump level will protect flows for domestic and stock rights • IDELs explicitly provide for domestic and stock requirements
Target 13 The knowledge sharing, training and resources necessary to ensure that Aboriginal people have the capacity to be effectively involved in water management identified and addressed	HIGH	• Aboriginal community representatives have been actively involved in development of this Plan and their advice has been incorporated into this Plan • The Plan includes provisions to refer licence and approval applications to the Local Aboriginal Land Council
Target 14 Water sources, ecosystems and sites of cultural or traditional importance to Aboriginal people identified, plans of management prepared, and measures put in place to protect and improve them	FULL	• This Plan does not address specific Aboriginal cultural or traditional requirements and has not identified any sites of particular importance • This Plan does provide reasonably high level of environmental protection that should assist in protecting Aboriginal values • The Plan includes provisions to refer licence and approval applications to the Local Aboriginal Land Council
Target 16a All share components of access licences tradeable	FULL	• Part 11 of this Plan provides for dealings of share components and daily extraction limits
Target 16d Reduced conversion factors only applied when necessary to offset increased losses associated with water supply delivery	FULL	• This Plan does not impose reduction factors
Target 16e Any unassigned access rights identified and clear mechanisms established for their future assignment	FULL	• Rules established in Part 10 Division 2 of this Plan
Target 16f Zones established where necessary for environmental protection and limits/constraints on water dealings in them made explicit	NIL (Justifiable)	• This Plan does not establish water transfer zones and since this water source is relatively small, this position is justified
Target 35 All management plans incorporating water quality objectives that have considered Government approved Interim Environmental Objectives, the current Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council Guidelines and the recommendations of relevant Healthy Rivers Commission Inquiries	HIGH	• This Plan includes a generalised water quality objective • This Plan does provide reasonably high level of environmental protection which should assist in protecting water quality

Schedule 5Macleay River Extraction Management UnitAppendix 1Mid North Coast Water Management AreaAppendix 2Location of maps for public inspection

The maps in relation to this Plan may be inspected at:

• •

  District Office

  Department of Land and Water Conservation

  Elbow Street

  WEST KEMPSEY NSW 2440

Appendix 3Performance indicators

Performance indicators for the Toorumbee Creek Water Sharing Plan
Performance indicator	Related objective	As measured by	Commentary
(a) Change in low flows.	11 (a) 11 (c) 11 (d) 11 (f) 11 (g)	• Assessment of change in flow duration characteristics, from time of Plan commencement, at identified reference points.	• River Flow Objectives (RFOs) 1, 2 and 6. RFOs are the objectives agreed to by the NSW Government aimed at safeguarding river flows for environmental health. Note— Not every objective is relevant to every river in NSW. • Plan will contribute to a decrease in the frequency and duration of low flows. • This assessment will focus on the plan’s end of system reference point(s), and will be based on a qualitative assessment of compliance with the water sharing rules, due to the current modelling limitations in most unregulated rivers. • Where data is limited, it is only possible to assess change from the period of plan commencement to the time the indicator is assessed. • There will be a high climatic influence on changes to the flow characteristics, depending on if the time period of assessment has been wet or dry.
(b) Change in moderate to high flows.	11 (a) 11 (c) 11 (d) 11 (f) 11 (g)	• Assessment of change in flow duration characteristics, from time of Plan commencement, at identified reference points.	• RFO 3. • Plan will maintain or increase the frequency and duration of moderate to high flows. • This assessment will focus on the plan’s end of system reference point(s), and will be based on a qualitative assessment of compliance with the water sharing rules, due to the current modelling limitations in most unregulated rivers. • Where data is limited, it is only possible to assess change from the period of plan commencement to the time the indicator is assessed. • There will be a high climatic influence on changes to the flow characteristics, depending on if the time period of assessment has been wet or dry.
(c) Change in ecological condition of this water source and dependent ecosystems.	11 (a) 11 (b) 11 (c) 11 (d) 11 (f) 11 (h)	• Periodic assessment of identified attributes of this water source and dependent ecosystems.	• The ecological influence of the Plan is limited to providing for changes in flow regime aimed at improving the ecological condition of the water source and dependent ecosystems. • The focus of this performance indicator will be the effect of flow strategies. • Information on flow requirements of ecological systems is limited so physical or hydraulic surrogates will be used to assess the influence of the Plan. For example, the status of wetted area, depth in pools and flow velocity over riffles. • In addition to the environmental water provisions defined in this Plan, there are many other factors that contribute to achievement of ecological objectives. Riparian vegetation, water quality, farming techniques, soil erosion, water flow patterns and other catchment characteristics all significantly influence ecological condition. It is difficult to assess which factor is the most influential at a particular time and place. • Research and development into the impacts of flow on ecological condition will be incorporated into assessment of the plan where the information is available and relevant.
(d) Extent to which basic landholder rights requirements have been met.	11 (e)	Assessment of cease to pump levels in relation to basic rights requirements.	• Basic landholder rights usage figures in water sharing plans are estimated (not actual use).
(e) Change in economic benefits derived from water extraction and use.	11 (c) 11 (e)	• Number of days access provided over the time of the plan. • Number of new off stream storages. • Change in unit price of water transferred. • Change in gross margins.	• There are many factors affecting economic status of a region, for example commodity prices. • Measurement of the number of new off stream storages will indicate the adjustment to the rules and the ongoing access to water. • Assessment undertaken as part of plan performance monitoring will make assumptions to attempt to identify the impact of the plan provisions. • The data can reflect changes in crops, commodity prices, climate, water availability, economic climate and input costs.
(f) Extent to which native title rights requirements have been met.	11 (h)	• Assessment of amount and type of information collected to identify the range of values of water to Aboriginal people.	• The collection of information on the values associated with water is considered the first step in addressing the objects of the Act. It would be expected that at the end of five years there should be relevant information collected for each water source, as a minimum requirement.
(g) Extent of recognition of spiritual, social and customary values of water to Aboriginal people.	11 (b) 11 (d) 11 (f) 11 (h)	• Assessment of amount and type of information collected to identify the range of values of water to Aboriginal people. • Change in consultation on Aboriginal values in water licensing decisions, as measured by the number of licence applications referred to the Bellbrook Local Aboriginal Land Council.	• The collection of information on the values associated with water is considered the first step in addressing the objects of the Act. It would be expected that at the end of five years there should be relevant information collected for each water source, as a minimum requirement. • Consultation with the local Aboriginal community will seek to minimise effects on important social, customary, cultural, and spiritual values.

Appendix 4

(Repealed)