Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources Background Document
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Water Sharing Plan Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources Background document Leading policy and reform in sustainable water management Publisher NSW Office of Water Level 18, 227 Elizabeth Street GPO Box 3889 Sydney NSW 2001 T 02 8281 7777 F 02 8281 7799 [email protected] www.water.nsw.gov.au The NSW Office of Water manages the policy and regulatory frameworks for the State’s surface water and groundwater resources to provide a secure and sustainable water supply for all users. The Office of Water also supports water utilities in the provision of water and sewerage services throughout New South Wales. Water Sharing Plan for the Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources – Background document July 2011 ISBN 978 1 74263 013 7 © State of New South Wales through the Department of Primary Industries, 2011 This material may be reproduced in whole or in part for educational and non-commercial use, providing the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are clearly and correctly acknowledged. Disclaimer: While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that this document is correct at the time of publication, the State of New South Wales, its agents and employees, disclaim any and all liability to any person in respect of anything or the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done in reliance upon the whole or any part of this document. NOW 11_069b Water Sharing Plan for the Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources – Background document Contents Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 1 Purpose of the plan ............................................................................................................................... 3 Why are water sharing plans being prepared? ............................................................................. 3 Benefits for water users................................................................................................................. 3 Environmental considerations ....................................................................................................... 4 Description of the plan area................................................................................................................... 5 Fractured rock groundwater sources ............................................................................................ 5 Porous rock groundwater sources ................................................................................................ 5 Coastal sands, tertiary sands and alluvial groundwater sources.................................................. 6 Land use history ............................................................................................................................ 8 Climate ........................................................................................................................................ 10 Entitlement and use..................................................................................................................... 10 Local water utility requirements................................................................................................... 11 Developing the plan............................................................................................................................. 12 Scope of the plan ........................................................................................................................ 12 Water management units ............................................................................................................ 13 Project groups ............................................................................................................................. 13 State Interagency Panel.................................................................................................... 13 State Groundwater Panel.................................................................................................. 14 Regional Assessment Working Groups ............................................................................ 14 Greater Metropolitan Interagency Working Group............................................................ 14 Coxs River Water Management Committee ..................................................................... 14 Policy context .............................................................................................................................. 14 National Water Initiative .................................................................................................... 14 Natural Resources Commission ....................................................................................... 15 Catchment Action Plan ..................................................................................................... 16 Other considerations ................................................................................................................... 16 Protecting Aboriginal values ............................................................................................. 16 Key environmental assets................................................................................................. 17 Key economic and social assets....................................................................................... 17 Protecting basic landholder rights..................................................................................... 18 Other water sharing considerations .................................................................................. 18 i | NSW Office of Water, July 2011 Water Sharing Plan for the Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources – Background document Rules for groundwater sources ........................................................................................................... 19 Risk assessment approach to determining sustainable limits..................................................... 19 Recharge calculations................................................................................................................. 20 Risk assessment ......................................................................................................................... 22 Sustainability factor ..................................................................................................................... 22 Defining planned environmental water........................................................................................ 23 Annual rainfall recharge reserved in high environmental value areas.............................. 23 Annual rainfall recharge reserved in non-high environmental value areas....................... 23 Defining the long-term average annual extraction limit............................................................... 24 Water sharing rules ..................................................................................................................... 25 Managing extraction to the long-term average annual extraction limit ............................. 25 Unassigned water ............................................................................................................. 25 Aquifer interference........................................................................................................... 26 Protecting environmental values and groundwater dependent ecosystems .................... 27 Water supply works approvals .......................................................................................... 27 Managing connectivity and access rules .......................................................................... 28 Available water determinations......................................................................................... 29 Carryover and water accounts .......................................................................................... 29 Trading of access entitlement........................................................................................... 29 Consultation......................................................................................................................................... 30 Targeted consultation on the draft rules...................................................................................... 30 Refining water sharing rules as a result of targeted consultation and updated data .................. 31 Public exhibition of the draft water sharing plan ......................................................................... 31 Refining water sharing rules as a result of public exhibition and updated data.......................... 32 Adaptive management......................................................................................................................... 34 Monitoring of plan performance ..................................................................................................34 Performance indicators ............................................................................................................... 34 Plan review.................................................................................................................................. 34 Implementation .................................................................................................................................... 35 Implementation programs...........................................................................................................