Submission Form for Comments on the Coffs Harbour Area Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sharing

Submission form for comments on the draft Water Sharing Plan for the Macleay Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2015 including replacement water sharing rules for the Apsley River, Commissioners Waters and Toorumbee Creek water sources

Office Use Only Submission No. How to fill out this form This form highlights specific issues the NSW Office of Water is seeking comment on and refers to information provided in water source report cards. Report cards for each water source have been prepared to assist the community understand the key rules proposed in the draft water sharing plan. The report cards also provide information about the background to rule recommendations and highlight specific issues for comment. The draft plan details all the proposed rules and feedback on all aspects of the draft plan is welcome. The draft plan can be accessed via the internet at www.water.nsw.gov.au Minister’s notes are specific areas of the plan where the Office of Water and the Minister would like feedback from the community. These are identified throughout the plan by grey boxes. Where a Minister’s note calls for feedback, there will be space provided on this form to allow for comments in the relevant section. If you wish to provide more detailed comments than the space provided, you can attach additional pages. Note: some aspects of a water sharing plan cannot be changed as they must meet the statutory requirements of the Water Management Act 2000. Email [email protected] Post Attn. Dale Gollan. NSW Office of Water, PO Box 2213, Dangar NSW 2309 Fax (02) 4904 2501 Attn. Dale Gollan Closing date for submissions is 17 April 2015 Information on privacy and confidentiality Submissions received by the Office of Water in relation to water sharing plans will be used by the Office of Water and the Interagency Regional Panel to review the draft water sharing plan. The Office of Water values your input into the water sharing plan process and appreciates that information you provide may be of a private and personal nature. If you wish your submission or your personal details to be treated as confidential for any reason then you can request this occurs. Please indicate your preference by ticking the relevant box on the submission form below. You should be aware that the Office of Water may be required by law to release copies of submissions received to third parties. A request for access to a confidential submission will be determined in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. Please be aware that if you do not make a request for confidentiality, then the Office of Water may make your submission, including any personal details contained in the submission, available to the public, if requested to do so.

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Stakeholder group: Irrigator interests Aboriginal interests Environment interests Please indicate which of the Fishing interests Local landholder Commercial (non-irrigator) following best represents your interest by ticking one Local Govt./ Utilities Community member box Other (specify) Submission form for comments on the draft Water Sharing Plan for the Macleay Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources Are you commenting on surface water or Surface water (e.g. rivers, lakes, lagoons) Groundwater groundwater rules? Draft access rules for surface water sources

A number of options are available to protect low flows in unregulated rivers, for example cease-to-pump (CtP) levels (the CtP is the level on the river/stream where users will need to cease pumping in order to protect low flows). These access rules are contained in Clause 47 of the Plan and the “Proposed Recommendations” section of the report card.

How does the proposed CtP level impact on your current operations? For example: Gara River Water Source There may be licence holders who have traditionally extracted water from the Gara River weir pool after the River had stopped flowing. The access rule being proposed will not allow this to continue. However, persons that can demonstrate history of use are encouraged to contact the Office of Water to discuss the matter and, as required, make application in writing to be considered for a weir pool draw down provision. Refer to the Minister’s Note under Clause Clause 47. Coastal Macleay Water Source The Office of Water is considering implementing a salinity based CtP in the Coastal Macleay water source should sufficient data become available. The Office of Water would like comment on this proposal. Refer to the Clause 77 (j).

Do you think the CtP in your water source or management zone is practical to implement? Why / why not?

Do you think the CtP in your water source provides enough protection for low flows? Why / why not?

The flow reference point is where a CtP will be measured. Do you think this site is appropriate? Why / why not?

How does the proposed pumping restrictions impact on your current operations?

Pumping restrictions are being proposed in the following water sources:  Apsley River,  Comissioners Waters,  Macleay Valley  Tia River, and  Warbro Brook to increase the amount and duration of flow and to reduce the potential social impacts caused by competition between users for water. Pumping restrictions are contained in NSW Office of Water | 2 Submission form for comments on the draft Water Sharing Plan for the Macleay Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources Clause 47 of the Plan. Refer to the Minister’s Note under Clause 47. Draft access rules for alluvial groundwater sources

There is no Cease to Pump rules proposed for bores. Is this practical for licensed water users? Why / why not?

Draft access rules for natural pools

The CTP conditions for natural pools of, “when the volume of water in that pool is less than full capacity of the pool” is a default rule resulting from an Office of Water policy.

Do you know of any key areas where this rule would significantly impact on current extraction operations? Please provide specific details.

Water supply works approvals Works such as pumps, pipes, bores and weirs used for extracting water under licence require a water supply works approval. Rules controlling the granting of water supply works approvals or the nomination of water supply works are included in the Plan to minimise impacts on existing extraction and sensitive areas. The plan specifies distances from where a new or replacement bore can be located. For example, the distance from a contaminated source, a groundwater depedent ecosystem and a culturally significant site etc.

Do you think these distances are appropriate? If not, why?

Distance rules are contained in clauses 54 to 59 of the plan.

NSW Office of Water | 3 Submission form for comments on the draft Water Sharing Plan for the Macleay Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources Have you noticed any effects from extraction on water levels in the groundwater source? If so, please specify.

Draft trading rules All or part of a licence can be traded. Water trading can occur within a water source or management zone and into water sources or management zones. The Plan sets out what trades can occur and where. Do you think the trading rules are appropriate? If not, what should they be and why?

Trading rules are contained in Part 11 of the Plan and in the “Proposed Recommendations” section of the report card.

What do you think is an appropriate amount of entitlement (between 500 and 1000 ML) that may be traded into the Coastal Macleay Water Source (tidal area)?

Refer to the Minister’s Note under Clause 63.

Other comments Are there any water dependent cultural assets that you know of that aren’t mentioned in the plan (e.g. fish traps)?

(If so, please provide as much detail as possible.)

Are there any other aspects of the plan that you would like to comment on?

NSW Office of Water | 4 Submission form for comments on the draft Water Sharing Plan for the Macleay Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources

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