2021 Water sharing plan reviews (8 plans)




Status:

Advice provided

Advice date:

February-December 2021

Summary

We reviewed the following water sharing plans to assess the extent to which the plans have achieved their environmental, social, cultural and economic outcomes, and advised on whether changes to the plan provisions are warranted.

  1. Water Sharing Plan for the Murray Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011
  2. Water Sharing Plan for the Bega and Brogo Rivers Area Regulated, Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011
  3. Water Sharing Plan for the Murrah-Wallaga Area Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2010
  4. Water Sharing Plan for the Towamba River Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2010
  5. Water Sharing Plan for the Richmond River Area Unregulated, Regulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2010
  6. Water Sharing Plan for the Tweed River Area Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2010
  7. Water Sharing Plan for the Greater Metropolitan Region Unregulated River Water Sources 20111
  8. Water Sharing Plan for the Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources 2011.

We recommended that the water sharing plan for:

  • Murray be extended for up to two years to allow time to undertake required analysis, development, and consultation on the replacement Plan .
  • Bega and Brogo, Murrah-Wallaga and Towamba be extended for a further two years to allow time to undertake required data collection and analysis, completion of the South Coast Regional Water Strategy and development of the replacement Plans.
  • Richmond and Tweed be extended for a further two years until 30 June 2023, with priority actions progressed in the interim, to allow time to complete data collection, analysis and modelling and to consider regional water planning processes currently underway. Further, the plan be replaced by 1 July 2023.
  • Greater Metropolitan (surface and groundwater) be extended for a further two years until 30 June 2023, to allow time to complete data collection, analysis and modelling. Further, the plan be replaced by 1 July 2023 considering the Greater Sydney Water Strategy to ensure water management is integrated across the region.

The Government supported our recommendations by approving the extension of Murray, Richmond and Tweed, and Greater Metropolitan (surface and groundwater) plans for up to two years.

Key documents