Murrumbidgee Surface Water Resource Plan Department of Industry - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Murrumbidgee Surface Water Resource Plan Department of Industry Water 17-19 June 2019

Introduction & Acknowledgement of Country

Agenda 1. Water Resource Plans 2. NSW context 3. WSP vs WRP 4. What’s in a WRP? 5. Navigating a WRP 6. Proposed WSP changes 7. Public exhibition: Murrumbidgee Surface WRP Image: Peter Roberts

Water Resource Plans Outline how water resources will be shared and managed to be consistent with the Murray-Darling Basin Plan (2012) Set out the requirements for annual limits on water take, environmental water, managing water during extreme events Provide strategies to achieve water quality standards and manage risks

NSW Context 20 Water Resource Plans in NSW Covers surface water or groundwater in a defined area Plans vary depending on the characteristics of local water sources and environmental assets

NSW Context

Water Sharing Plans vs Water Resource Plans Water sharing plans (WSPs) remain the legal instrument for managing water resources in NSW These have the rules that manage consumptive and environmental water. They include: Compliance with the long term average annual extraction limit o (LTAAEL) Planned environmental water rules o Rules on taking water o Trade rules o Water resource plans (WRPs) implement the Basin Plan 2012

What’s in a Water Resource Plan?

Process

Water Resource Plan Navigation

Water Resource Plan - sections

Navigating a Water Resource Plan Example page from a WRP

Murrumbidgee Surface Water WRP area

Consultation on the Plan Status and issues paper Murrumbidgee WRP February 2017 Stakeholder Advisory Panel 7 meetings First Nations consultation Complete – Wadi Wadi, Nari Nari In progress – Muthi Muthi, Public Exhibition Barapa Barapa, Wiradjuri, 5 June – 14 July 2019 Nyeri Nyeri, Walgalul, Wamba Wamba, Weki Weki

Proposed Water Sharing Plan changes Murrumbidgee Regulated River WSP Template updated to improve readability, consistency and alignment with policy positions Objectives, strategies and performance indicators revised Define roles of the Operator and Environmental Water Manager, standardise and streamline processes for advisory bodies (CAAC, EWAG) Establish a second extraction limit, which is the sustainable diversion limit specified in the Basin Plan 2012, and incorporate an assessment and compliance framework for this limit.

Proposed WSP changes Murrumbidgee Regulated River WSP Pre-requisite Policy Measures (PPMs) to improve the management and efficient use of held environmental water. Changes to allow for establishment of the measures, associated water accounting and adaptive management. Lowbidgee Distribution Rules to apply only to Redbank North and Redbank South areas and to no longer apply to the Nimmie-Caira area. NSW Southern Basin Inter-Valley trade (IVT) to be referred to under Access Licence Dealing Rules. No change to the operation or intent of the IVT. Provisional Storage Volume 1: make explicit that this volume forfeits at the end of each water year, which is consistent with current rules and has been operational practice since the commencement of the first WSP.

Proposed WSP changes Murrumbidgee Unregulated Rivers WSP Removal of groundwater sources and associated rules Improve consistency and alignment with policy positions Objectives, strategies and performance indicators revised Establish a second extraction limit, which is the sustainable diversion limit specified in the Basin Plan 2012, and incorporate an assessment and compliance framework for this limit.

Have Your Say Public Exhibition period The Murrumbidgee Surface Water Resource Plan will be on public exhibition from 5 th June to 14 th July 2019 More information For more information or to make an online submission on the draft water resource plan, visit: www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water-resource-plan-consultation Have Your Say www.nsw.gov.au/improving-nsw/have-your-say Contact us by email murrumbidgee.sw.wrp@dpi.nsw.gov.au

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