Part 1 Introduction

1   Name of Plan

This Plan is the Water Sharing Plan for the Commissioners Waters Water Source 2003 (hereafter this Plan).

2   Nature 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.

3   Date of commencement

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

4   Area 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 Commissioners Waters Water Source (hereafter this water source) as shown on the map in Schedule 2.

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

Note. Maps referred to in this Plan may be inspected at offices of the Department of Land and Water Conservation listed in Appendix 2.

(2)  This water source is divided into the following management zones, shown on the map in Schedule 2:

(a)  Commissioners Waters management zone (hereafter Zone 1), and

Note. Zone 1 includes all rivers in this water source apart from the main trunk of the Dumaresq Creek downstream of Armidale.

(b)  Dumaresq Creek management zone (hereafter Zone 2).

Note. Zone 2 includes the main trunk of Dumaresq Creek downstream of Armidale.

Note. Specific conditions apply to access licence dealings and access to water within these management zones.

5   Waters to which this Plan applies

(1)  The waters of this water source include 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.

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

6   Interpretation

(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.

7   Effect 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.

8   State Water Management Outcomes Plan

(1)  In accordance with section 16 (1) (a) of the Act, this Plan is consistent with the State Water Management Outcomes Plan published in the NSW Government Gazette on 20 December 2002 (hereafter the SWMOP).

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

Part 2 Vision, objectives, strategies and performance indicators

9   Vision, objectives, strategies and performance indicators

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

10   Vision

The vision for this Plan is to ensure the water needs of the whole Commissioners Waters Water Source community are provided for and the environment receives the necessary water to maintain or re-establish healthy, functioning ecosystems.

11   Objectives

The objectives of this Plan are to:

(a)  maintain natural in-river processes within the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park by managing extraction upstream to ensure sufficient flows through the Park,

(b)  protect pools and natural low flows in this water source by limiting extractions,

(c)  improve water quality in this water source through the management of flows,

(d)  protect and enhance water dependent ecosystems, threatened species and endangered ecological communities by managing access to flows,

(e)  contribute to the well being of communities in this water source by allowing opportunities for extraction,

(f)  protect natural water level in pools during periods of no flows, inundation patterns and distribution of floodwaters supporting natural wetland and floodplain ecosystems,

(g)  maintain or improve the overall health of the Macleay River, its estuary and adjacent inshore waters by ensuring sufficient contributions to this system through flows from this water source,

(h)  imitate natural river variability, including the protection of freshes, in this water source through the management of access to various flow classes,

(i)  protect and enhance water dependent ecosystems, threatened species and endangered ecological communities by managing access to flows, and

(j)  recognise and protect Aboriginal heritage sites and values through access management, and in water licensing decisions.

12   Strategies

The strategies of this Plan are to:

(a)  establish cease (and commence) to pump levels and flow classes,

(b)  limit the amount of water that can be extracted on a daily basis from different flow classes,

(c)  limit the long-term average extraction of water,

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

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

(f)  establish water allocation accounting rules, and

(g)  specify access licence dealing rules that maximise flexibility for water users without adversely impacting on this water source.

13   Performance indicators

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

(a)  change in low to moderate flows (combined A and B class flows),

(b)  change in high flows (C class flows),

(c)  change in local water utilities access,

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

(e)  extent to which basic landholder rights requirements have been met,

(f)  change in economic benefits derived from water extraction and use,

(g)  extent to which native title rights requirements have been met,

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

(i)  change in consultation on Aboriginal values in water licensing decisions, and

(j)  (Repealed)

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

Part 3 Basis for water sharing

14   Basis 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.

15   Climatic variability

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

(2)  To give effect to subclause (1), this Plan has provisions that manage:

(a)  the sharing of water in this water source within the limits of water availability on a long-term average basis, and

(b)  sharing of the flows that occur in this water source on a daily basis.

16   Extraction 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 6.

17   Flow classes

This Plan establishes the following flow classes as the basis for sharing of daily flows:

(a)  For Zone 1:

(i)  very low flow class at or less than 1 megalitres per day (hereafter ML/day),

Note. The 1 ML/day in subclause (i) corresponds to the estimated 85^th percentile of all days in December, and is referred to as the cease to pump on a falling river and the commence to pump on a rising river.

(ii)  combined A and B class flows greater than 1 ML/day and at or less than 9 ML/day, and

(iii)  C class flows greater than 9 ML/day.

(b)  For Zone 2:

(i)  very low flow class at or less than 1 ML/day, or

(ii)  only while Armidale water treatment plant discharges flushing effluent into Dumaresq Creek, very low flow class at or less than visible flow applicable to those licences listed in Schedule 5, at a location defined on each of these licences, and

(iii)  combined A and B class flows greater than 1 ML/day and at or less than 9 ML/day, and

(iv)  C class flows greater than 9 ML/day.

Note. The flow classes have been determined based on flow information that inherently includes seasonal effects as well as evaporation and seepage losses.

18   Flow reference point

For the purpose of this Plan, all flows referred to relate to the estimated flows at the flow reference point at the downstream end of this water source, as shown on the map in Schedule 2.

19   Determination of flow class

Announcement of daily flow classes will be made from time to time by the Minister based on the flow at a flow gauging station, correlated to the flow reference point established in clause 18.

Part 4 Environmental water provisions

20   Environmental water provisions

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

21   Planned environmental water

(1)  Planned environmental water is identified and established as follows:

(a)  In very low flows, the flow occurring in this water source, minus 0.04 ML/day, minus the very low flow access permitted under clause 62A of this plan.

Note. 0.04 ML/day is the amount of water estimated at the commencement of this Plan for basic landholder rights extraction.

(b)  In combined A and B class flows, the flow occurring in this water source minus 4.54 ML/day.

Note. 4.45 ML/day is amount of water estimated at the commencement of this Plan for the combined A and B class total daily extraction limit and basic landholder rights.

(c)  In C class flows, the flow occurring in this water source minus 6.64 ML/day.

Note. 6.64 ML/day is amount of water estimated at the commencement of this Plan for C class total daily extraction limit and basic landholder rights.

(2)  Planned environmental water is maintained as follows:

(a)  In very low flows:

(i)  the holders of access licences, excluding access licences listed in Schedule 6, are not permitted any access,

(ii)  access licence holders listed on Schedule 6 may have limited access to very low flows in accordance with clause 62A, and

(iii)  persons exercising domestic and stock and native title rights may take a combined total of up to 0.04 ML/day.

Note. In times of severe water shortage the Minister may issue an Order under section 60 (2) of the Act which suspends the provisions of this Plan and the priorities it establishes.

Note. The Minister may issue an Order under section 328 of the Act to restrict the exercise of domestic and stock rights from this water source to protect the environment, for reasons of public health, or to preserve basic landholder rights.

(b)  In combined A and B class flows:

(i)  the holders of access licences have restricted access to water as specified in clause 46,

(ii)  persons exercising domestic and stock and native title rights may take water, and

(iii)  if the water taken under domestic and stock and native title rights is assessed to be exceeding 0.04 ML/day in this flow class, the access to water for unregulated river access licences will be reduced in accordance with clause 51 to maintain the environmental water in this flow class.

(c)  In C class flows:

(i)  the holders of access licences have restricted access to water as specified in clause 46,

(ii)  persons exercising domestic and stock and native title rights may take water, and

(iii)  if the water taken under domestic and stock and native title rights is assessed to be exceeding 0.04 ML/day in this flow class the access to water for unregulated river access licences will be reduced in accordance with clause 51 if this is necessary to maintain the environmental water in this flow class.

(d)  In all flow classes, limits are imposed on the availability of water in accordance with clauses 36 and 38, that protect a proportion of natural river flows for fundamental ecological needs from increases in long-term water extraction.

Note. These rules protect the water for the environment by limiting both the water extracted in the long term, and the rate of extraction of water in different flow ranges, thereby achieving the objectives of this Plan.

Note. This Plan recognises that the planned environmental water provisions provide non-extractive benefits, including traditional Aboriginal spiritual, social and cultural benefits, and improved water quality.

22   Extraction 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.

23   Planned 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.

24   Adaptive 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 5 Basic landholder rights

25   Basic landholder rights

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

26   Domestic 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 0.04 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 and lakes in this water source and/or as a result of an increase of the exercise of basic landholder rights by existing landholders.

27   Native 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.

28   Harvestable 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 6 Bulk access regime

29   Bulk access regime

(1)  This Part is made in accordance with section 20 (1) (e) 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 Division 1 of this Plan,

(d)  establishes rules according to which available water determinations are to be made as provided for in Part 9 Division 2 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 7 Requirements for water under access licences

30   Requirements 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.

31   Estimate 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 access licences within this water source will total approximately 2,141 megalitres per year (hereafter ML/yr).

(2)  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, there will be several runoff harvesting access licences in this water source, that will have their access licence share component expressed as the water that can be extracted from time to time from the approved work.

(3)  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:

(a)  the granting, surrender, cancellation or non-renewal of access licences, or

(b)  variations to local water utility licences arising from sections 66 (3) or 66 (4) of the Act.

Part 8 Rules for granting access licences

32   Rules 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 source 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)  local water utility access licences,

Note. Pursuant to sections 66 (3) and 66 (4) of the Act, the Minister may also vary a local water utility’s share component at 5 year intervals, or on application of the local water utility where there is a rapid growth in population.

(b)  domestic and stock access licences,

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

(d)  unregulated river (Aboriginal cultural) access licences up to 10 ML/yr per application,

(e)  unregulated river (research) access licences where the share components does not exceed 10 ML/yr per application.

(4)  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)  Any individual daily extraction limit (hereafter IDEL) granted in accordance with this clause cannot exceed the IDEL initially assigned to an equivalent share component for that category of access licence, as varied by clause 51.

(7)  (Repealed)

(8)  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.

33   Aboriginal assessment of new access licences

(1)  The Minister should seek the views of the Armidale Local Aboriginal Land Council in relation to all new access licence applications.

(2)  The Minister should consider any advice provided under subclause (1) before determining the access licence application.

33A   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 Armidale Local Aboriginal Land Council will be sought.

Part 9 Limits to the availability of water

Division 1 Long-term average extraction limit

34   Limits to the availability of water

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

35   Extraction management unit

Management of the long-term extraction of water from 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).

36   Long-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 entitlements 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 under domestic and stock and native title rights in this Unit at the commencement of this Plan.

37   Variation 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 2 Available water determinations

38   Available 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 36, 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 43 (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 such volume of water as is equivalent to 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 local water utility and domestic and stock access licences should be of such volume of water as is equivalent to 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 such volume of water as is equivalent to 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 36 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)  if the 3 year average of extraction in this Unit is less than 95% of the long-term average extraction limit established in clause 36, 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 10 Rules for managing access licences

Division 1 General

39   Rules for managing access licences

This Part is made in accordance with sections 20 (2) (b), 21 (a) and 21 (c) 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 2 Water allocation account management

40   Water allocation account management

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

41   Water 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.

42   Accrual 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 38.

43   Annual 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 44 (1).

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

44   Three year accounting for water extraction

(1)  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.

(2)  Notwithstanding subclause (1), water taken under an access licence from this water source in the first 3 water accounting years of this Plan may not exceed a volume consisting of:

(a)  3 times the share component of the access licence,

(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 recredited 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 3 Sharing flows on a daily basis

45   Sharing flows on a daily basis

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

46   Total daily extraction limits

(1)  This Plan establishes a total daily extraction limit (hereafter TDEL) for each flow class as follows:

(a)  4.5 ML/day for the combined A and B class, and

(b)  6.6 ML/day for C class.

Note. These flows represent 50% of the top of combined A and B class flows for all days in December, and in C class flows represents 30% of the 30^th percentile flows for all days in December.

(2)  The TDEL for each flow class specified in subclause (1) applies to all rivers within this water source apart from those rivers defined as minor streams in a harvestable right Order made under section 54 of the Act.

Note. The harvestable rights Order applying to this area at the commencement of this Plan is that gazetted on 23 March 2001 under section 54 of the Act. It identifies minor streams as non-permanent 1st and 2nd order streams as shown on topographic maps.

47   Initial assignment of the TDEL to categories of access licence

The TDEL for each flow class will initially be assigned to categories of access licences according to the following:

(a)  Domestic and stock access licences:

(i)  0.5 ML/day of combined A and B class, and

(ii)  0.5 ML/day of C class.

(b)  Unregulated river access licences:

(i)  4 ML/day of combined A and B class, and

(ii)  6.1 ML/day of C class.

48   Unassigned TDEL

At the commencement of this Plan, there is no unassigned TDEL.

Note. Unassigned TDEL may increase as a result of the surrender, cancellation or non-renewal of an access licence’s IDELs.

49   Daily extraction limits for individual access licence holders

(1)  Each access licence requiring an IDEL, as specified in Part 12 of this Plan, is assigned the same proportion of the TDEL specified in clause 47 as its share component bears to all the share components of access licences of that category.

(2)  Notwithstanding subclause (1), in relation to those access licences that are currently excluded from a flow class or part of a flow class by existing conditions on the access licence or the water supply work nominated by the access licence, the IDEL resulting from subclause (1) will be adjusted to reflect as far as possible such an exclusion.

50   Granting of unassigned TDEL

(1)  Any unassigned TDEL may be assigned to access licences in the following circumstances:

(a)  where they are applied for as part of a new access licence application,

(b)  to a local water utility access licence where the Minister varies the access licence in accordance with sections 66 (3) or 66 (4) of the Act, or

(c)  to existing access licences for the purpose of pumping into farm dams if:

(i)  the purpose of the additional IDEL sought is established by the proponent,

(ii)  the IDEL sought is the minimum required to satisfy that purpose, and

(iii)  the extraction is consistent with the objectives and principles of this Plan.

(2)  Where additional IDELs are assigned to an access licence in accordance with this clause, the amount of IDEL so assigned shall be determined by the Minister consistent with the ratios of share component to IDEL for the specific category of access licence as initially assigned under clause 49.

51   Adjustment to TDELs and IDELs

(1)  Where IDELs are assigned under clause 50, the unassigned TDEL is reduced accordingly, and the TDEL assigned to the appropriate licence category in clause 47 is increased accordingly.

(2)  Pursuant to section 45 (1) (b) of the Act, if total extraction of water under domestic and stock or native title rights exceeds the level specified in Part 5 of this Plan:

(a)  first the unassigned TDEL specified in clause 48 then, if necessary, the TDEL for unregulated river access licences in clause 47 (b) shall be diminished to allow these additional basic landholder rights to be met, and

(b)  the IDELs of each unregulated river access licence will then be reduced to comply with this diminished TDEL.

(3)  Pursuant to section 45 (1) (b) of the Act, if any unassigned TDEL cannot meet either:

(a)  the IDEL requirements of applicants for new access licences for domestic and stock access, unregulated river (Aboriginal cultural) access and unregulated river (research) access, or

(b)  a local water utility’s IDEL requirements,

      then the TDEL for unregulated river access licences in clause 47 (b) will be diminished to such an extent as to allow those requirements to be met.

(4)  Following an adjustment to the TDEL for unregulated river access licences in subclause (3) the IDELs of each unregulated river access licence will then be reduced to comply with this diminished TDEL.

(5)  Any adjustment to unregulated river access licence IDELs arising from this clause will be done at intervals of no greater than 5 years.

(6)  If water that, pursuant to an access licence:

(a)  is committed to adaptive environmental water, then the TDEL for the classes specified on the committed access licence in the specified category will be reduced by the IDEL on the access licence so committed and clauses 46 and 47 adjusted accordingly, or

(b)  is uncommitted to adaptive environmental water, then the TDEL for the classes specified on the committed access licence in the specified category will be increased by the IDEL on the access licence so uncommitted and clauses 46 and 47 adjusted accordingly.

52   Administrative arrangements for managing access to daily flows

Notwithstanding the forgoing provisions of this Division, this Plan provides that access licences may be managed as a group with respect to the IDELs, subject to the following rules:

(a)  all access licences (excepting local water utility licences) with IDELs shall be made part of a group established and maintained by the Minister at the time when IDELs are first assigned under clause 47,

(b)  access licence holders have the right to have their access licence removed from the group, in which case they shall be permitted to extract under that access licence a maximum of the licensed IDEL,

(c)  where an access licence is removed or added to a group, the group combined IDEL shall be adjusted by the amount of IDEL on the subject access licence,

(d)  access licence holders may make a request to form a group for their access licences,

(e)  daily extraction under all access licences within a group will be assessed as a whole against the combined IDELs,

(f)  daily extraction by a group cannot exceed the combined IDELs of all access licences in the group,

(g)  where it been assessed that a holder of a licence within a group is repeatedly causing the combined IDEL to be exceeded then the Minister may remove that licence from the group,

(h)  where daily extraction by a group exceeds the combined IDELs of all access licences in the group, then the Minister may dissolve the group and require each access licence holder to comply with the licensed IDELs,

(i)  should a holder of an access licence which is part of a group commit the IDELs of that access licence to the environment consistent with section 8 (1) (c) of the Act, then those IDELs shall be removed from the group,

(j)  an access licence may not be in more than one group, and

(k)  the Minister may refuse to allow an access licence to be included in a group, and may refuse a request to form a group.

53   Infrastructure failure

In the event of infrastructure failure, the Minister can elect to:

(a)  continue to announce the current flow class,

(b)  announce another flow class based on climatic conditions and any other flow gauging information, or

(c)  restrict access to water to the lowest flow class.

Note. Infrastructure is defined in the dictionary.

Note. If satisfied that it is necessary to do so in the public interest, the Minister may direct the holders of an access licence to cease using a water supply work in accordance with section 323 of the Act.

Part 11 Access licence dealing rules

54   Access licence dealing rules

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

55   Rules 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 with respect to water allocation assignments within this water source under section 71T of the Act.

(2)  Dealings are prohibited under this clause if any of the access licences or water allocations involved are not within this water source, unless the dealing is permitted under clause 60.

Note. Clause 57 relates to any dealings that involve an access licence moving from one water source to another.

(3)  If a dealing under this clause results in the extraction component of an access licence listed in Schedule 5 being assigned to an access licence nominating a work in Zone 1, then access to flows below 1ML/day, as amended by clause 75, will not be permitted.

(4)  If a dealing under this clause results in the extraction component of an access licence listed in Zone 1 being assigned to an access licence nominating a work in Zone 2, then access to flows below 1ML/day, as amended by clause 75, will not be permitted.

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

Notwithstanding clause 55, 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, except in accordance with clause 50 (1) (c).

57   Rules 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)  Dealing under section 71R of the Act are prohibited in this water source, unless provided for in this clause.

(3)  An access licence with a share component specifying this water source may be cancelled and a new licence issued in another water source only if:

(a)  the new access licence issued is within this Unit, and

(b)  the access licence dealing rules in the other water source permit such a dealing.

(4)  An access licence with a share component specifying another water source may be cancelled and a new licence issued in this water source under this dealing only if:

(a)  the access licence cancelled is within this Unit, and

(b)  the access licence dealing rules in the other water source permit such a dealing.

(5)  The volume of the share component on a licence issued under a dealing provided for in this clause is to be the volume of the cancelled access licence share component.

(6)  The extraction component of the cancelled access licence is not to be carried over to the new access licence.

58   Rules 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 may be permitted only if:

(a)  the conversion is from an unregulated river access licence to a runoff harvesting access licence,

(b)  the conversion is from a runoff harvesting access licence to an unregulated river access licence, or

(c)  (Repealed)

Note. Any access to very low flows previously possible under the domestic and stock access licence will not be carried over to the new unregulated river access licence.

(3)  The volume of share component on an access licence issued under this clause is to be the volume of the cancelled share component multiplied by a conversion factor established by the Minister, and published in an Order made under section 71Z of the Act, that protects environmental water, basic landholder rights, and the reliability of supply to all other access licences subject to this Plan.

59   Rules 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.

60   Rules 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)  Dealing under section 71T of the Act that result in water allocation assignments to or from access licences in this water source are prohibited unless provided for in this clause.

(3)  Dealings that assign water allocations between access licences inside this water source and access licences outside this water source, but inside this Unit, are permitted only if the access licence dealing rules in the other water source permit such a dealing.

Note. Each water allocation assignment must be applied for. Licence holders may enter into private contracts to assign water allocations for a number of years. Such contracts are not guaranteed by the Government, and approval must be sought annually. Approval will be subject to the rules in this Plan, including local impact assessment.

61   Rules 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 12 Mandatory conditions

62   Mandatory conditions on access licences

(1)  This Part is made in accordance with sections 17 (c) and 20 (2) (e) 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 3 of this Plan where applicable, and the variation thereof,

(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 2 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,

(f)  the requirement that water may only be taken under the access licence by the water supply work nominated by the access licence, and

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

62A   Very low flow access conditions

(1)  Notwithstanding any cease to pump conditions established on the licence, during periods of very low flows, holders of access licences listed on Schedule 7 may continue to access water to comply with the requirements of the Food Production (Safety) Act or the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for the following purposes:

(a)  fruit washing,

(b)  cleaning of dairy plant and equipment for the purpose of hygiene,

(c)  poultry watering and misting, and

(d)  cleaning of enclosures used for intensive animal production for the purposes of hygiene.

(2)  The maximum daily volume that can extracted under subclause (1) will be the minimum required to satisfy the purposes in that subclause, will be individually assessed and specified on each access licence within 12 months of the commencement of this Plan, will not exceed 20 kilolitres per day, and will not be increased.

(3)  Upon written request by the holder of an access licence, the Minister may add a licence to Schedule 7, but only if the licence meets the purpose requirements established in subclause (1), and the purpose existed prior to 1 July 2004.

(4)  A licence will be removed from the Schedule if:

(a)  any access licence dealing results in the water being extracted from a different location,

(b)  an alternative water supply is obtained, that satisfies the requirements of subclause (1), or

(c)  the licence is surrendered, cancelled, or not renewed.

(5)  Notwithstanding subclauses (1) to (4), extraction of water by an approved water supply work is only permitted if there is visible flow in the river in the vicinity of the work.

(6)  An assessment of the continuing requirements for access under this clause will be undertaken before the end of the Plan, and the schedule amended or deleted at the end of the Plan, if such a review determines that this concessional access is no longer required.

(7)  The assessment made under subclause (6) will be undertaken for the Plan as a whole, and for each individual licence on the Schedule.

63   Unregulated river access licences

All unregulated river access licences shall have mandatory conditions to give effect to the following:

(a)  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, and

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

64   Local water utility access licences

All local water utility access licences shall have mandatory conditions to give effect to the following:

(a)  water may only be taken for the purposes of supplying water for the exercise of a water supply function of the local water utility or for other such purposes provided for under the Act,

(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, and

(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.

65   Domestic 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,

(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.

66   Runoff harvesting access licences

All runoff harvesting access licences shall have a mandatory condition imposed on them specifying that water may be taken without restriction in rate, but only from the specified work.

67   Unregulated 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.

68   Unregulated river (research) access licences

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

(a)  water shall only be taken for the purpose of scientific research, experimentation or teaching by accredited tertiary institutions, government bodies or other organisations, where any primary production resulting from the research program is not sold for profit,

(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.

69   Mandatory 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)  it is the responsibility of the work approval holder to ascertain from the Minister the flow class at any time before commencing to take water under an access licence with an IDEL,

(d)  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,

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

(f)  approvals for in-river dams must include a condition requiring the passing of such flows as the Minister determines to be appropriate to achieve the objectives of this Plan.

Part 13 Granting and amending water supply works approvals

70   Granting and amending water supply works approvals

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

71   Runoff harvesting dams

(1)  New or expanded runoff harvesting dams shall, in addition to other considerations, be subject to the dam capacity not exceeding that which is consistent with the access licence share component specifying the runoff harvesting dam as the nominated work.

(2)  When the water allocations that may be taken from a runoff harvesting dam are reduced either by the Minister, or on application of the approval holder, or by an assignment in accordance with Part 11 of this Plan, the Minister may impose an additional condition requiring the dam to be modified so as to reduce its capacity, or requiring the water taken and evaporated from the dam to be reduced, consistent with the reduction in water allocations available.

Note. Extraction of water from a runoff harvesting dam requires a runoff harvesting access licence, unless the runoff harvesting dam is within the maximum harvestable right dam capacity for the property on which it is located, in which case no licences or approvals are required. Runoff harvesting is a category of access licence to be established by regulation under section 57 (k) of the Act.

72   In-river dams

No new in-river dams shall be approved within this water source.

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 14 Monitoring and reporting

73   Monitoring 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 relevant natural resource management standards and targets in the catchment management area (as referred to in section 5 of the Catchment Management Authorities Act 2003).

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 catchment management area.

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 15 Amendment of this Plan

74   Amendment of this Plan

This part is made in accordance with section 45 (1) (b) of the Act.

75   Amendment of very low flow provisions

(1)  The Minister may, under section 45 (1) (b) of the Act and by notice published in the NSW Government Gazette, vary the very low flow levels established in clauses 17 (a) (i) and 17 (b) (i), and consequently the bottom of combined A and B class established in clauses 17 (a) (ii) and 17 (b) (iii), following field verification.

(2)  Any variation made under subclause (1) should not result in the very low flow level being less than 1 ML/day or being greater than 2 ML/day.

(3)  The Minister should cause the field verification in subclause (1) to be undertaken as soon as practical, but before the review of this Plan under section 43 (2) of the Act.

(4)  The field verification should assess the degree to which the objective in clause 11 (b) is met.

(5)  In undertaking the field verification the Minister should:

(a)  consult with the NSW Environment Protection Authority, NSW Fisheries, NSW Agriculture and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and

(b)  prepare a report documenting:

(i)  the methodology adopted,

(ii)  the hypotheses tested,

(iii)  the field results and conclusions in terms of the degree to which objective 11 (b) is met,

(iv)  the flow level recommended to meet the objective, and

(v)  the socio-economic impacts of recommended changes to the flow level.

76   Review of field verification

(1)  The Minister should seek advice from a review body on the field verification report specified in clause 75 (5) (b) before varying this Plan in accordance with clause 75 (1), if the field verification recommends a variation in the very low flow levels established in clause 17.

(2)  This review body may be:

(a)  a water management committee with water sharing responsibilities for this water source,

(b)  the relevant Catchment Management Authority, or

(c)  an expert advisory panel or advisory committee established for this purpose by the Minister on the recommendation of a water management committee or Catchment Management Authority referenced at subclause (2) (a).

(3)  The review body should provide advice to the Minister on the field verification report, and advise on any changes to the recommendations contained in the report in relation to any variation of the very low flow levels.

(4)  The review body should respond to the Minister as soon as practical after receiving the report, or within 3 months of that date at the latest.

77   Other amendment of this Plan

This Plan can be amended in accordance with clause 51 in respect to adjustments to TDELs and IDELs.

78   Amendment 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.

79   Amendment 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 1 Dictionary

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

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

Note. A licence water allocation account records water allocations accrued under the licence as well as water allocations taken, assigned 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.

conversion factor refers to the adjustment factor that is to be applied to share components when they are cancelled or reissued in a different water source and visa versa, or when the licence category is changed. It is designed to provide for the fact that the value of a unit of share component in terms of the average water allocations that result from it may vary from one water source to another, or from one category of licence to another.

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 amount of water that may be extracted, on average, 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.

flow classes are categorised by the size and duration of flow levels in unregulated rivers, for example:

(a)  very low flows may be a class on their own,

(b)  low flows may be categorised as ‘A’ class,

(c)  moderate flows may be categorised as ‘B’ class,

(d)  high flows may be categorised as ‘C’ class,

(e)  very high flows may be categorised as ‘D’ class, and

(f)  extremely high flows may be categorised as ‘E’ class.

flow gauging station is a device that is used to measure the height of a river, from which the flow in the river can be calculated.

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.

infrastructure includes, but is not limited to, a:

(a)  flow gauging device or any other appliance that is used to measure the height of a river relative to a known datum point, from which the flow in the river can be calculated, or

(b)  flow announcement system which is the mechanism by which the Minister communicates daily flow classes to the holders of an access licence within this water source.

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.

management zone is an area within the water source in which daily extraction limits may be defined, or where dealing restrictions are applied. Management zones may be designated where the water source to which the water sharing plan applies is divided into areas and daily extraction limits are defined for each area. They may also be designated where local dealing restrictions are in place.

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 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 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 volume of water that may be extracted under access licences from an unregulated river on a daily basis from a particular flow class.

Schedule 2 Commissioners Waters Water Source

Schedule 3 Rivers in the Commissioners Waters Water Source

This water source includes, without limitation:

Bullock Creek

Buryingground Creek

Commissioners Waters

Donald Creek

Dumaresq Creek

Duval Creek

Flag Gully

Hardcrackers Gully

Pipeclay Creek

Puddledock Creek

Sandy Creek

Tilbuster Ponds

Schedule 4 Contribution to relevant targets in the December 2002 State Water Management Outcomes Plan

Levels of assessed contribution:

FULL—contributes to target in full

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

PARTIAL—goes some way to contributing to the target

LOW—only small degree of contribution to target

Relevant Target	Level of contribution	Comments
Target 1c Long-term average annual extraction limits which are ecologically sustainable, and which minimise downstream impacts, established in all coastal water sources	HIGH	This Plan clearly sets out the basis for the extraction limit for the 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 is a relatively low level of access licence 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 of this Plan puts in place IDELs to protect/restore environmental flows. This Plan has significantly improved very low to moderate flow protection. Allows some limited erosion of moderate to high flows into Oxley Wild Rivers National Park 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	Total daily extraction limits protect 50% of moderate and 70% of high 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 85th percentile in critical months and verified through field inspections to provide minimal connectivity between pools.
Target 5 Access rights for water access licensees clearly and legally specified in terms of share and extraction components	FULL	•  This Plan establishes daily extraction limits for distribution to individual access licensees.
Target 6b For surface water sources, 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 access licence 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	•  This Plan proposes an exemption from the access licence embargo for Aboriginal cultural heritage purposes. •  No unallocated water is available. •  The Government has established alternative mechanisms to address this target.
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 total 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. •  Total daily extraction limits also 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	PARTIAL	•  Aboriginal community representatives have been involved in development of this Plan, but it is unlikely that the broader Aboriginal communities have been given enough capacity to deal with the issues.
Target 14 Water sources, ecosystems and sites of cultural or traditional importance to Aboriginal people identified, plans of management prepared, and measures put in place to protect and improve them	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 which should assist in protecting Aboriginal values.
Target 16a All share components of access licences tradeable	FULL	•  This Plan provides for trading of share components and IDELs.
Target 16c Conversion factors and protocols established to facilitate trading and dealings between water sources, whilst also protecting existing access and environmental water	FULL	•  Part 11 of this Plan establishes conversion factors of 1:1 for trading between water sources in Macleay River Extraction Management Unit.
Target 16d Reduced conversion factors only applied when necessary to offset increased losses associated with water supply delivery	FULL	•  This Plan does not impose reduction factors.
Target 16e Any unassigned access rights identified and clear mechanisms established for their future assignment	FULL	•  No unassigned access rights established by this Plan.
Target 16f Zones established where necessary for environmental protection and limits/constraints on water dealings in them made explicit	FULL	•  This Plan establishes water trading zones.
Target 35 All management plans incorporating water quality objectives that have considered Government approved Interim Environmental Objectives, the current Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council Guidelines and the recommendations of relevant Healthy Rivers Commission Inquiries	HIGH	•  This Plan includes a generalised water quality objective. •  This Plan does provide reasonably high level of environmental protection which should assist in protecting water quality.

Schedule 5 Dumaresq Creek management zone access licences

Water Act 1912 Licence Number	Holder
30SL066083	Reardon, Mark & Valerie Ruth
30SL025539	University of New England
30SL050126	Reardon, Mark & Valerie Ruth
30SL038686	Tombs, Robert John & Wendy Margaret
30SL033393	Gasbarri, Guiseffe & Valeria
30SL065592	Thomas, Norman Robert
30SL045443	O’Donnell, Christopher John
30SL051171	Myhill, Ila & Peter
30SL046906	Kelly, Stephen Keith

Note. The access licence details in this Schedule may change during the period of this Plan. The District Office of the Department of Land and Water Conservation, shown in Appendix 2, should be contacted for a current list.

Schedule 6 Macleay River Extraction Management Unit

Schedule 7 Access licences with very low flow access

30SL065675—farming

Note. The licence details in this Schedule may change during the period of this Plan. The Office of the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, shown in Appendix 2, should be contacted for a current list.

Appendix 1 Mid North Coast Water Management Area

Appendix 2 Location of maps for public inspection

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

Regional Office
Department of Land and Water Conservation
Victory Street
GRAFTON NSW 2460

District Office
Department of Land and Water Conservation
Faulkner Street
ARMIDALE NSW 2350

Appendix 3 Performance indicators

Performance indicators for the Commissioners Waters Water Sharing Plan
Performance indicator	Related objective	As measured by	Commentary
(a)  Change in low flows to moderate 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 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 local water utilities and major water utilities access (where those utilities are involved in urban water provision).	11 (e)	•  Change in safe yield (safe yield is the annual demand that can be supplied from the water supply headworks and is based on the period of records used and an acceptable level of restriction).	•  Water sharing plans for unregulated water sources have the potential to impact on urban water supplies. •  Where safe yield has been determined, or where a hydrologic model can be developed, compare safe yield under the water sharing rules of this plan, and the rules that existed prior to its implementation. •  Where there is no known safe yield, but the flow regime at the pump site is known, assessment will be limited to change in the number of days of access. Reporting will focus on an assessment of whether this change in access has led to increased levels of town water supply restrictions during the period of the plan.
(d)  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.
(e)  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).
(f)  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.
(g)  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.
(h)  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.	•  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 5 years there should be relevant information collected for each water source, as a minimum requirement.
(i)  Change in consultation on Aboriginal values in water licensing decisions.	11 (b) 11 (d) 11 (f) 11 (h)	•  The number of licence applications referred to the Amaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council.	•  Consultation with the local Aboriginal community will seek to minimise effects on important social, customary, cultural, and spiritual values.

Appendix 4 (Repealed)

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 Commissioners Waters Water Source 2003 published in Gazette No 39 of 7.2.2003, p 1035 and amended as follows:
Water Management Act 2000 No 92. Assented to 8.12.2000. Date of commencement of Sch 12, 1.1.2006, sec 2 (1) of the Water Management Amendment Act 2005 and GG No 157 of 16.12.2005, p 10884. Amended by Water Management Amendment Act 2005 No 118. Assented to 7.12.2005. Date of commencement of Sch 1 [58], 1.1.2006, sec 2 (1) and GG No 157 of 16.12.2005, p 10884.
Water Management (Ministers’ Plans) Amendment Order 2003 (GG No 101 of 20.6.2003, p 5804 (see also GG No 104 of 27.6.2003, p 6352))
Water Management (Ministers’ Plans) Further Amendment Order 2003 (GG No 197 of 19.12.2003, p 11451)
Water Management (General) Regulation 2004 (GG No 110 of 1.7.2004, p 5008)
Water Management (Minister’s Plans) Order No 2 of 2004 (GG No 110 of 1.7.2004, p 5072)
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 2004 No 91. Assented to 10.12.2004. Date of commencement of Sch 2.93, assent, sec 2 (2).

2006	No 58	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006. Assented to 20.6.2006. Date of commencement of Sch 2.72, assent, sec 2 (2).
2012	No 42	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012. Assented to 21.6.2012. Date of commencement of Sch 2.45, 6.7.2012, sec 2 (1).

Table of amendments

Cl 3	Am 20.6.2003; 19.12.2003.
Cl 13	Am 1.7.2004.
Cl 21	Am 1.7.2004; 2006 No 58, Sch 2.72 [1]; 2012 No 42, Sch 2.45.
Cl 24	Am 2000 No 92, Sch 12, Part 1 (ins 2005 No 118, Sch 1 [58]).
Cl 32	Am 1.7.2004.
Cl 33A	Ins 1.7.2004.
Cl 38	Am 1.7.2004.
Cl 43	Subst 1.7.2004.
Cll 51, 54	Am 1.7.2004.
Cl 55	Am 2004 No 91, Sch 2.93.
Cl 58	Am 1.7.2004.
Cl 62A	Ins 1.7.2004.
Cl 67	Subst 1.7.2004.
Cl 73	Am 1.7.2004.
Cl 74	Subst 1.7.2004.
Cll 75, 76	Am 1.7.2004.
Cl 78	Ins 2000 No 92, Sch 12, Part 2 (ins 2005 No 118, Sch 1 [58]).
Cl 79	Ins 2000 No 92, Sch 12, Part 3 (ins 2005 No 118, Sch 1 [58]).
Sch 2	Subst 1.7.2004.
Sch 7	Ins 1.7.2004.
Appendix 3	Subst 1.7.2004. Am 2006 No 58, Sch 2.72 [2].
Appendix 4	Rep 1.7.2004.
The whole plan	Am 1.7.2004 (“section 42 (2)” omitted wherever occurring in relation to references to the Water Management Act 2000, “section 45 (1) (b)” inserted instead; “section 71A” omitted wherever occurring in relation to references to the Water Management Act 2000, “section 71M” inserted instead; “section 71B”, “section 71C”, “section 71D”, “section 71E”, “section 71F”, “section 71G”, “section 71H”, “section 71I”, “section 71J”, “section 71K” and “section 71L” omitted wherever occurring in relation to references to the Water Management Act 2000, “section 71O”, “section 71P”, “section 71Q”, “section 71R”, “section 71S”, “section 71T”, “section 71U”, “section 71V”, “section 71W”, “section 71Y” and “section 71Z” inserted instead, respectively; “environmental health water” and “supplementary environmental water” omitted wherever occurring, “planned environmental water” inserted instead.