Border Rivers water sharing plan on public display
The NSW Government invites water users from all sections of the community to have a say on a draft water sharing plan for the NSW Border Rivers Unregulated River Water Sources which will lay out clear rules for fair and sustainable water use in the region over the next decade.
Executive Director of Water Planning at the Department of Planning and Environment – Water, Giselle Howard said the public consultation period will run for six weeks, drawing feedback from residents, businesses, Aboriginal representatives and conservation groups.
“Water sharing plans must be replaced or updated every ten years to ensure they’re continuing to meet the needs of towns, culture, industry and the environment,” Ms Howard said.
“That’s why we’re taking time to build this legal framework using the right checks and balances by carefully considering the valuable input we gather from stakeholders over coming weeks. Our message to them is - don’t miss the chance to have your say.”
The Border Rivers catchment covers 24,000 square kilometres of Northern NSW along the Queensland border and comprises a major portion of the headwaters of the Barwon-Darling River system.
The draft replacement plan continues to set limits on how much water can be taken while also protecting basic landholder rights, cultural assets and environmental water.
“Water users need certainty and clarity for extraction rules without being burdened by red tape and technical language. We’re keeping things as simple as possible and keeping changes to the existing water sharing plan to a minimum where it is currently working,” Ms Howard said.
“We’re proposing some minor adjustments to cease to pump rules in the Glen Innes, Mole River and Inverell water sources to boost protections for ecosystems with high ecological values by making better use of our river gauge network to get a more accurate picture instead of relying on the eye test to determine low flows.
“Water trading is an important tool for making economic and environmental improvements so we’re looking at allowing limited water trading in certain areas to boost flexibility for water users.
“The draft plan also identifies 26 additional significant wetlands in the Border Rivers catchment and proposes to restrict new surface water supply works and trade into these sensitive areas.
“We’ve also proposed boosted protections for vital replenishment flows down the Boomi River once that water enters the unregulated system.”
The public will have until midnight 17 December 2023 to submit feedback on the draft plan.
An online webinar will be held on 22 November 2023 and face-to-face information sessions will be held at Goondiwindi, Tenterfield and Inverell on 28 and 29 of November 2023. One-on-one phone meetings can also be arranged.
All feedback will be carefully considered before finalising a new replacement NSW Border Rivers Unregulated River Water Sources Water Sharing Plan which is expected to come into effect by 1 July 2024.
To view the draft plan, visit the NSW Border Rivers water sharing plan.
