Barwon-Darling Customer Advisory Group - Minutes of Meeting
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Barwon-Darling Customer Advisory Group - Minutes of Meeting Location: Video Conference Date: 2 July 2020 Time: 9.30am Present: Ian Cole (Chair), Jeff Sowiak, Bruce Coward, Tim Hosking, Michael Urquhart, Greg Hill, Jason Wilson, David Stockler, Jonathan Dickson, Toni Hayes, Andrew Scott, David Swift-Hoadley, Michael Smith, Steed Leonard, Emma Oates, Enrico Proietti and Sonia Townsend. The following staff attended for specific agenda items: D Berry, P Saha, A Langdon, T Fulford (2.1-2.4), A Fisher, B O’Neill (3.2), R Cocks (3.4). Meeting Opened: 9.30am. 1. Introduction: 1.1 Welcome and introductions 1.2 Apologies: Lindsay White, Bill Murray, David Miller, Jay Murray. 1.3 Confirmation of Agenda Items: Additional items tabled for discussion: Gauge at Brewarrina – refer discussion at agenda item 2.2 Progress of Nyngan and Cobar Drought Water Security Project (Nyngan/Cobar pipeline) – taken on notice. An update will be provided out of session. Action BD2007.01: WaterNSW to provide an update on the Nyngan to Cobar Drought Water Security Project to the Barwon-Darling CAG out of session. Responsibility: D Green 1.4 Declaration of Interest(s) Declarations of interest were sought from attendees in relation to the meeting’s agenda items. No interests were declared. Items included in the agenda are not considered confidential unless declared as such. 1.5 Minutes of Previous Meeting, 27 February 2020: Agenda item 2.1 – Water System Operations Report – discussion on use of “applauded” in the sentence “Members applauded the actions of DPIE and the Minister to place the embargo” (referring to Section 324 Order, February 2020). Members felt this was an accurate representation of sentiment expressed. - Resolved the minutes of meeting held on 27 February 2020 be confirmed as a correct record. Taken as read. J Sowiak/T Hosking carried 1.6 Actions arising from minutes - See action sheet attached. Contact us Call us on 1300 662 077 Visit us at waternsw.com.au waternsw.com.au Follow us on Twitter @WaterNSW Provide feedback on “Your Voice” at oursay.org/waternsw 2. Water Delivery 2.1 Water System Operations Report (A Scott) A full allocation was announced for all licences in Barwon-Darling at the start of the water year. The Northern Basin First Flush Event followed an extensive period of hot and dry conditions with record low rainfall and record low inflows. It included significant inflows from across the Northern Basin including the Border, Moonie, Gwydir, Namoi, Culgoa, Bokhara, Macquarie, Bogan and Warrego systems. Involved a large number of Temporary Water Restrictions being placed on extractions in the Northern Basin. Issues were raised regarding communication and decision-making processes which resulted in the appointment of an Independent Panel to assess the management of the event https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/allocations-availability/northern-basin-first-flushassessment The event resulted in around 585GL of inflow into the Menindee Lakes system. WaterNSW published regular Operations Updates throughout the event at https://www.waternsw.com.au/supply/regional-nsw/operations-updates 2.2 Water Quality (T Fulford) WaterNSW provided a water quality and algal update for the Central West Region as at 1 July 2020 (refer attached). For more information go to www.waternsw.com.au/water-quality/algae or call the NSW algae hotline 1800 999 457. Gauge at Brewarrina The Gauge at Brewarrina was again tabled for discussion. Per action BD1907.01, completed 31 October 2019: The EC/temp sensor is already sitting 300–400mm below the crest of the weir and the lowering of the sensor would not cover the problem of stratification of the stagnant water in the pool. The purpose of this sensor is to collect EC/temp for long term salt loading in normal flow conditions, as per the requirements of the client. It is not practical to drop the sensor without major works. If this is still required and the Council is prepared to cover the costs; we could possibly install a lower temporary line, but this would have implications for when the flow conditions return to normal as the sensor would need to be returned to its current location in order to be representative of the stream conditions. 2.3 Active Management Update (A Scott) WaterNSW presented an overview of Active Management, which is being implemented in unregulated systems in the Barwon-Darling, Gwydir and Macquarie Bogan valleys to ensure held environmental flows travel downstream. These water systems have unique environmental elements and wetlands and existing access rules do not adequately benefit the environment. The Commonwealth and NSW Government have bought water in these unregulated systems to further protect environmental water when releases are made from regulated systems. Contact us Call us on 1300 662 077 Visit us at waternsw.com.au waternsw.com.au Follow us on Twitter @WaterNSW Provide feedback on “Your Voice” at oursay.org/waternsw From 1 July 2020 the amended water sharing plans for these unregulated water sources come into effect and will include rules for active management, so that releases of held environmental water remain in the river to achieve intended environmental outcomes. New rules for active management, resumption of flow rules, Individual Daily Extraction Components (IDEC) and expression of interest presented and discussed. Active Management commenced in the Barwon-Darling system on 1 July and will be implemented in the Gwydir and Macquarie Bogan systems from 1 December, noting that conditions notification to licence holders is planned in the coming months to enliven the clauses. Detailed information about the environmental water reforms and what it means be found at the environmental water hub www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/environmental-water-hub For the Barwon-Darling, from 1 July 2020: All Unregulated River and Unregulated A, B & C Class licence holders must check WaterInsights every time they wish to pump. Licence holders need to view the announcements on WaterInsights to determine if they can pump or not. Licence holders identified above must also comply with their Individual Daily Extraction Component (IDEC) which limits the volume of water that can be taken each day. The share of a daily flow equals 100% of IDEC unless otherwise announced. Announcements will include all the necessary details including whether or not the ‘resumption of flow’ rules have been applied. From 1 December 2020: Unregulated A, B & C Class licence holders must: Ensure that they have an Expression of Interest lodged with WaterNSW for more equitable sharing of water between licence holders. No longer rely on river gauge data to ascertain when they can or cannot pump. They must check the WaterInsights Portal every time they wish to pump The IDEC can be found on the NSW Water Register at https://waterregister.waternsw.com.au/water- register-frame Action BD2007.02: WaterNSW to provide instructions, including screenshots, on where to find the IDEC. Responsibility: A Scott Barwon-Darling Water extended an invitation to WaterNSW to attend the Barwon-Darling Water AGM to present on active management to constituents. Date in August to be confirmed by Ian Cole with Water System Operations. Flow Class announcements will be made via the Water Insights portal (refer agenda item 2.4). 2.4 WaterInsights Update (A Scott) - The WaterInsights Portal is an initiative by WaterNSW where customers can view 66 water sources from the14 valleys, the Barwon-Darling and an initial group of groundwater and surface water sources in the Murrumbidgee region. - The portal incorporates current data and curated information including water availability information, storage and release information, gauged flow and level data, operations updates and Annual Operations Plans, water availability reports and balances, notices of key operations information including outages and restrictions and links to other relevant reports. Contact us Call us on 1300 662 077 Visit us at waternsw.com.au waternsw.com.au Follow us on Twitter @WaterNSW Provide feedback on “Your Voice” at oursay.org/waternsw - Information from the Murray Darling Basin Authority and DPIE’s environmental holdings is also included. - The portal can be accessed on WaterNSW’s website at www.waternsw.com.au/waterinsights/water- insights 3. Presentations/Consultation: 3.1 Regulatory Economics – Pricing Determination Engagement (J Dickson) Rural Determination: As discussed at previous meetings, members supported WaterNSW’s proposal of a 2-year determination, locking in WaterNSW revenues at 20/21 levels (noting inflation), deferral of Customer Juries and adjusting the 20-year rolling average and IPART cost shares. The only change to these proposed principles in the Final Draft submitted to IPART is the change from a 2-year determination to a 1-year determination. During preparations with IPART it became clear a 2-year deferral would not be supported. WAMC (Water Administration Ministerial Corporation) Determination: WaterNSW has heard broad consistency from customers on the key messages proposed around transparency (understanding what you are paying for across Agencies), cost reflectivity (paying a fair price reflective of the costs to deliver) and value for money (to provide least cost solutions). There is no change to these proposed principles in the Final Draft, which was submitted to IPART on 30 June 2020. NRAR and DPIE will make a joint submission to IPART, however there will be a single determination made for all Agencies. WaterNSW’s submissions will be published as part of IPART’s review process at www.ipart.nsw.gov.au 3.2 Major Projects Update (A Fisher) As previously advised, in October 2019 the Prime Minister and NSW Premier announced the planning and delivery of three new or augmented dams in NSW (Wyangala Dam raising, and construction of new dams on the Mole River and Dungowan Creek). The projects have been identified as Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) projects in the Water Supply (Critical Needs) Act 2019.