Who needs to submit a notification form?
Landholders (owners or occupiers) within the coastal-draining catchments harvestable rights area must submit a notification form before they take up their right to capture and store more than 10 per cent (and up to 30 per cent) of rainfall runoff from their landholding, as determined by the Maximum Harvestable Rights Dam Capacity Calculator.
If a landholder owns or occupies multiple landholdings, they will need to submit a form for each landholding.
Landholders will be sent a confirmation email when they submit a notification form, which includes a copy of the form they submitted for their records. If a landholding is sold or transferred, information about harvestable rights dams on the landholding and any notifications submitted should be passed onto the new owner.
When do I need to submit a notification form?
A form must be submitted:
- within 28 days of commencing works to construct a dam, including building a new dam or enlarging an existing dam, that would result in more than 10 per cent of rainfall runoff being captured and stored on a landholding as a harvestable right
and/or
- before converting an existing dam on the landholding to a harvestable rights dam that would result in more than 10 per cent of rainfall runoff being captured and stored on the landholding as a harvestable right.
What information do I need to complete a notification form?
Before you complete a form, you will need to use the online calculator to determine the maximum capacity of harvestable rights dams allowed on the landholding. You will need the information from the online calculator to complete the form.
You also need to determine the capacity of all existing harvestable rights dams on your landholding so you can work out how much additional water you can capture up to the maximum dam capacity based on the 30 per cent of rainfall runoff limit. See the Frequently Asked Questions for information on how to determine the capacity of existing dams on your landholding.
Review the questions you will be asked, and the information you must provide, before you start the form. Read the notification form sample questions (PDF, 193.43 KB)
When is a notification form not required?
In the coastal-draining catchments harvestable rights area, landholders are not required to submit a notification form for new and existing dams that result in up to (and including) 10 per cent of rainfall runoff being captured and stored as a harvestable right.
The increase in harvestable rights does not apply to the central inland-draining catchments harvestable rights area or the Western Division, so landholders in those areas do not need to submit a notification form.
Where can I access a notification form?
Why is a notification form required in the coastal-draining catchments harvestable rights area?
The information provided by landholders will assist the department in determining where and how much additional water is being collected and inform future water planning. It will also enable the department to notify landholders directly if the harvestable right limits change.
The notification form is not an application for an approval to construct a dam. For further information on approvals that may be required before constructing a harvestable rights dam see Approvals and notifications for harvestable rights dams.
Submitting a notification form is a requirement in the Harvestable Rights (coastal-draining catchments) Order 2022. If you do not submit a notification form before taking up the increased right, any dams constructed or converted will not be harvestable rights dams and regulatory action may be taken unless the appropriate approvals or exemptions are in place.
Further information
For further information about harvestable rights in coastal-draining catchments, see the Frequently Asked Questions, fact sheets or contact Water Enquiries on 1300 081 047 or water.enquiries@dpie.nsw.gov.au.