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We have a statutory role under Section 43A of the Water Management Act 2000 to independently review water sharing plans approaching expiry and report our findings to the Minister for Water.
Our reviews help to identify opportunities to improve water sharing plan provisions and support better outcomes for the environment and people. The Minister considers our report before deciding to extend or make a new water sharing plan.
Review of Lachlan, Macquarie-Cudgegong and Namoi regulated water sharing plans
We are conducting a statutory review of the following water sharing plans before they expire on 1 July 2026:
- Water Sharing Plan for the Lachlan Regulated River Water Source 2016
- Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2016
- Water Sharing Plan for the Upper Namoi and Lower Namoi Regulated River Water Sources 2016
These reviews are being undertaken consistent with our statutory responsibilities under Section 43A of the NSW Water Management Act 2000.
The submissions to the above reviews have now closed. We will review all submissions and consider them in forming our advice.
Review of coastal water sharing plans
We are conducting a statutory review of the following water sharing plans before they expire in July 2026 or July 2027:
- Water Sharing Plan for the Brunswick Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016
- Water Sharing Plan for the Clarence River Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016
- Water Sharing Plan for the Macleay Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016
- Water Sharing Plan for the Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016
- Water Sharing Plan for the North Coast Coastal Sands Groundwater Sources 2016
- Water Sharing Plan for the North Coast Fractured and Porous Rock Groundwater Sources 2016
- Water Sharing Plan for the South Coast Groundwater Sources 2016
The plan for Nambucca expires on 1st July 2027, while all other plans expire on 1 July 2026.
These reviews are being undertaken consistent with our statutory responsibilities under Section 43A of the NSW Water Management Act 2000.
Submissions for these plans closed on 13 October 2024.
We will review the plans in effect at the time of the review. However, we will consider any amendments that have been made during the 10-year life of the plans and potential impacts on outcomes.
Connectivity Expert Panel
In September 2023, the Minister for Water convened the Connectivity Expert Panel, chaired by the Natural Resources Commission (Amy Dula, Director of Programs) to review the analyses the Department has undertaken and to provide an independent assessment of its adequacy.
The Panel is providing independent advice to the Minister for Water for consideration.
In April 2024 the panel released an interim report (available on the Department's website) outlining its interim findings and recommendations.
In July 2024, the panel provide its final report (available on the Department's website) to the Minister. The panel proposed a suite of recommendations to provide for a holistic approach to connectivity across the Northern Basin taking into consideration the range of climatic conditions likely to be experienced. The Panel’s analysis indicates that, if implemented, the recommendations will considerably improve achievement of environmental water requirements across the Barwon-Darling and provide over 50GL of additional annual flows into Menindee Lakes for downstream needs.
Review of the NSW Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Water Sharing Plan
- Advice to Connectivity Expert Panel - Improving outcomes in the Lower Darling-Baaka River (July 2024)
We have conducted our statutory review of the Water sharing Plan for the NSW Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2016 before it expires on 30 June 2026. Further information are (here).
The Office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer's independent review into the 2023 fish deaths in the Darling-Baaka River at Menindee recommended prioritising the review of the Water Sharing Plan for the Murray and Lower Darling Regulated River Water Sources 2016 with a focus on the adequacy of Plan provisions for meeting environmental and water quality objectives (Recommendation 1.3).
To inform our water sharing plan review, we undertook detailed analysis of water quality and environmental needs in the Lower Darling-Baaka and the operation of Menindee Lakes. The Connectivity Expert Panel asked us to share our analysis with them to inform their report. We provided this advice in July 2024. This advice was developed in consultation with leading experts in the water quality and environmental water needs of the Lower Darling-Baaka, and was provided to relevant agencies for review and comment prior to finalisation. Consistent with our commitment to transparency, and with the support of the Minister for Water, we are making this paper publicly available.
We are continuing our review of the Murray and Lower Darling-Baaka water sharing plan and will submit our final report to the Minister by the end of 2024.
The review has been undertaken consistent with our responsibilities under Section 43A of the NSW Water Management Act 2000, and has also considered findings from the Chief Scientist and Engineer’s report.
Note: The plan has recently been amended. We will review the plan in effect at the time of the review. However, we will consider any amendments that have been made during the 10-year life of the plan and potential impacts on outcomes.
You can read the water sharing plan on the NSW Water Sharing Plan Legislation webpage.
