We are committed to transparency about the processes and engagement with stakeholders taken for developing and implementing the Healthy Floodplains Project. On this page you will find policies, reports, fact sheets, plans and videos documenting the project from 2013 until today.
Fact sheets and guidelines
2023
- Improving Floodplain Connections: Decision support principles and processes fact sheet – September 2023 PDF, 199.99 KB
- Compliance with regulations - determination of floodplain harvesting access licences in the Macquarie and Barwon-Darling – February 2023 (PDF, 168.7 KB)
- Improving Floodplain Connections program fact sheet – January 2023 (PDF, 100.24 KB)
- Guidelines 1 - Decommissioning and removal of unapproved flood works – January 2023 (PDF, 87.6 KB)
- Guidelines 2 - Desilting and excavated material – January 2023 (PDF, 102.53 KB)
2022
2021
- Licensing farm-scale validation process – October 2021 (PDF, 640.18 KB)
- Impacts of floodplain harvesting on downstream users – September 2021 (PDF, 1084.87 KB)
- History of floodplain harvesting reform in NSW – August 2021 (PDF, 1084.87 KB)
- Why the reform is vital – August 2021 (PDF, 705.1 KB)
- Policy and legislative reform – August 2021 (PDF, 1063.65 KB)
- Overview of legal limits – August 2021 (PDF, 1161.84 KB)
- Account management rules – August 2021 (PDF, 1817.9 KB)
- River flows and climate over time – August 2021 (PDF, 1544.65 KB)
- Addressing community concerns – August 2021 (PDF, 1121.35 KB)
- Analysis of floodplain harvesting and cease-to-flow events – August 2021 (PDF, 955.84 KB)
- Analysis of low-flow and cease-to-flow events – August 2021 (PDF, 831.01 KB)
- Guideline for the implementation of the NSW Floodplain Harvesting Policy – June 2021 (PDF, 516.95 KB)
- Water Management Works and Approvals fact sheet – March 2021 (PDF, 178.94 KB)
- NSW Healthy Floodplains Project fact sheet – February 2021 (PDF, 148.91 KB)
- Licensing of floodplain harvesting extractions fact sheet – February 2021 (PDF, 94.45 KB)
- Existing Storage Metering Equipment Guideline – February 2021 (PDF, 189 KB)
- Point-of-intake Measurement Method Guideline – February 2021 (PDF, 174.64 KB)
- Establishing Survey Benchmarks Guideline – January 2021 (PDF, 909.82 KB)
2020
2019
- Estimating rainfall run off and harvesting in the NSW Murray–Darling Basin fact sheet – August 2019 (PDF, 119.47 KB)
- Independent peer review report fact sheet – August 2019 (PDF, 113.5 KB)
- Managing floodplain harvesting in Basin Plan water resource plans fact sheet – August 2019 (PDF, 118.89 KB)
- Managing floodplain harvesting in NSW fact sheet – February 2019 (PDF, 42.81 KB)
2018
Previous years
Healthy Floodplains Review Committee
The Healthy Floodplains Review Committee (HFRC) provided independent reviews to facilitate the processing of floodplain harvesting Registrations of Interest (ROIs) into work approvals and access licences. Information on the activities of the HFRC during its operation and an overview of membership is available in the summary fact sheet in the link below.
Terms of reference
Non-consensus decisions
Disclaimer: The Healthy Floodplains Review Committee non-consensus decisions have been published for transparency. All interested parties have been formally advised and all references to personal identifiable information within these documents has been redacted.
- Deputy Secretary non-consensus decisions – 16 June 2022 (PDF, 493.77 KB)
- Deputy Secretary non-consensus decisions – 7 September 2021 (PDF, 370.02 KB)
Meeting communications
Disclaimer: The Healthy Floodplains Review Committee meeting minutes have been published for transparency. All interested parties have been formally advised and all references to personal identifiable information within these documents has been redacted.
2022
- Meeting 58 communique – 6 December 2022 (PDF, 278.37 KB)
- Meeting 57 communique – 8 June 2022 (PDF, 454.04 KB)
- Meeting 56 communique – 11 May 2022 (PDF, 294.03 KB)
- Meeting 55 communique – 30 March 2022 (PDF, 212.15 KB)
- Meeting 54 communique – 14 April 2022 (PDF, 270.65 KB)
- Meeting 53 communique – 11 February 2022 (PDF, 461.56 KB)
2021
- Meeting 52 communique – 27 October 2021 (PDF, 210.83 KB)
- Meeting 51 communique – 13 October 2021 (PDF, 213.12 KB)
- Meeting 50 communique – 30 September 2021 (PDF, 226.13 KB)
- Meeting 44 communique – 6 May 2021 (PDF, 218.07 KB)
- Meeting 43 communique – 21 April 2021 (PDF, 142.32 KB)
- Meeting 42 communique – 7 April 2021 (PDF, 269.3 KB)
- Meeting 41 communique – 23 March 2021 (PDF, 208.98 KB)
- Meeting 40 communique – 17 March 2021 (PDF, 186.8 KB)
- Meeting 49 communique – 28 June 2021 (PDF, 203.7 KB)
- Meeting 48 communique – 23 June 2021 (PDF, 166.4 KB)
- Meeting 47 communique – 27 May 2021 (PDF, 132.63 KB)
- Meeting 46 communique – 18 May 2021 (PDF, 168.67 KB)
- Meeting 45 communique – 11 May 2021 (PDF, 211.08 KB)
- Meeting 39 communique – 2 March 2021 (PDF, 278.72 KB)
- Meeting 38 communique – 11 February 2021 (PDF, 172.83 KB)
- Meeting 37 communique – 27 January 2021 (PDF, 202.63 KB)
- Meeting 36 communique – 20 January 2021 (PDF, 430.11 KB)
2020
- Meeting 35 communique – 18 December 2020 (PDF, 353.16 KB)
- Meeting 34 communique – 10 December 2020 (PDF, 494.88 KB)
- Meeting 33 communique – 3 December 2020 (PDF, 485.23 KB)
- Meeting 32 communique – 27 November 2020 (PDF, 162.57 KB)
- Meeting 31 communique – 20 November 2020 (PDF, 729.73 KB)
- Meeting 30 communique – 13 November 2020 (PDF, 259.03 KB)
- Meeting 29 communique – 5 November 2020 (PDF, 214.15 KB)
- Meeting 28 communique – 29 October 2020 (PDF, 201.59 KB)
- Meeting 27 communique – 22 October 2020 (PDF, 130.64 KB)
- Meeting 26 communique – 14 October 2020 (PDF, 188.87 KB)
- Meeting 25 communique – 13 October 2020 (PDF, 154.49 KB)
- Meeting 24 communique – 6 October 2020 (PDF, 133.07 KB)
- Meeting 23 communique – 22 September 2020 (PDF, 181.77 KB)
- Meeting 22 communique – 15 September 2020 (PDF, 207.63 KB)
- Meeting 21 communique – 31 August 2020 (PDF, 155.99 KB)
- Meeting 20 communique – 25 August 2020 (PDF, 207.08 KB)
- Meeting 19 communique – 21 August 2020 (PDF, 125.19 KB)
- Meeting 18 communique – 18 August 2020 (PDF, 245.15 KB)
- Meeting 17 communique – 11 August 2020 (PDF, 325.6 KB)
- Meeting 16 communique – 28 July 2020 (PDF, 359.97 KB)
- Meeting 15 communique – 14 July 2020 (PDF, 274.82 KB)
- Meeting 14 communique – 23 June 2020 (PDF, 229.14 KB)
- Meeting 13 communique – 17 June 2020 (PDF, 207.24 KB)
- Meeting 12 communique – 12 June 2020 (PDF, 343.78 KB)
- Meeting 11 communique – 21 May 2020 (PDF, 160.64 KB)
- Meeting 10 communique – 15 May 2020 (PDF, 160.24 KB)
- Meeting 9 communique – 16 March 2020 (PDF, 121.94 KB)
2015-2019
- Meeting 8 communique – 6 November 2019 (PDF, 141.76 KB)
- Meeting 7 communique – 30 August 2019 (PDF, 184.81 KB)
- Meeting 6 communique – 1 June 2018 (PDF, 256.05 KB)
- Meeting 5 communique – 10 & 11 May 2018 (PDF, 677.83 KB)
- Meeting 4 communique – 4 & 5 July 2017 (PDF, 205.11 KB)
- Meeting 3 communique – 29 March 2017 (PDF, 679.43 KB)
- Meeting 2 communique – 3 September 2015 (PDF, 116.96 KB)
- Meeting 1 communique – 9 June 2015 (PDF, 186.89 KB)
Infographics
- Improving how water flows across our floodplains – May 2023 (PDF, 2457.65 KB)
- Floodplain harvesting measurement in practice – August 2021 (PDF, 99.6 KB)
- How surface water legal limits on water take are defined – August 2021 (PDF, 77.53 KB)
- Factors influencing water take – August 2021 (PDF, 82.68 KB)
- A comparison of individual floodplain harvesting licence limits and surface water extraction limits – August 2021 (PDF, 48.02 KB)
2023
- Q1 2023 Action Plan Progress Report (January to March 2023) – May 2023 (PDF, 258.46 KB)
- Floodplain Harvesting Licensing and Measurement Framework: Barwon-Darling Webinar – 28 March 2023 (PDF, 404.49 KB)
- Floodplain Harvesting Licensing and Measurement Framework: Macquarie Valley, Warren Workshop – 23 February 2023 (PDF, 473.67 KB)
- Floodplain Harvesting in the Namoi Valley Gunnedah Consultation Session: Unregulated River System – 7 February 2023 (PDF, 398.58 KB)
2022
- Floodplain Harvesting in the Namoi valley - Wee Waa consultation session – 13 December 2022 (PDF, 381.62 KB)
- Report to assist community consultation Namoi: Floodplain harvesting in water sharing plans (PDF, 3219.31 KB)
- Floodplain harvesting licensing and measurement framework report – Gwydir and Border River Landholder workshops (2-3 August 2022) (PDF, 400.04 KB)
- Building the river system model for the Gwydir Valley regulated river system – May 2022 (PDF, 14944.87 KB)
- Building the river system model for the Namoi regulated river system (PDF, 11660.69 KB)
- Floodplain harvesting entitlements for the Namoi Valley river system - Model Scenarios - November 2022 PDF, 742.37 KB
- Modelled downstream effects of licensing floodplain harvesting - December 2022 (PDF, 4458.84 KB)
- Predicted environmental outcomes of implementing the NSW Floodplain Harvesting Policy in the Namoi Valley - December 2022 (PDF, 10988.83 KB)
- Q1 2022 Action Plan Progress Report (January to March 2022) – May 2022 (PDF, 213.7 KB)
- Q2 2022 Action Plan Progress Report (April to June 2022) – August 2022 (PDF, 208.21 KB)
- Q3 2022 Action Plan Progress Report (July to September 2022) – November 2022 (PDF, 236.88 KB)
- Q4 2022 Action Plan Progress Report (October to December 2022) (PDF, 214.46 KB)
- Floodplain Harvesting Entitlements for Gwydir Regulated River System Model scenarios report – May 2022 (PDF, 973.72 KB)
- Improving Floodplain Connections program fact sheet (PDF, 162.1 KB)
2021
- Q4 2021 Action Plan Progress Report (October to December 2021) – February 2022 (PDF, 293.26 KB)
- Q3 2021 Action Plan Progress Report (July to September 2021) – December 2021 (PDF, 186.64 KB)
- Review of floodplain harvesting Barwon-Darling modelling submission process – April 2021 (PDF, 462.21 KB)
- Legislative amendments: Licence determination and measurement – April 2021 (PDF, 515 KB)
- Legislative amendments: Tailwater drain exemption – April 2021 (PDF, 310 KB)
- Legislative amendments: Floodplain harvesting transitional exemption – April 2021 (PDF, 347 KB)
- Floodplain Harvesting Measurement and Non-Urban Metering Roadshow - Consultation Outcomes Report – April 2021 (PDF, 395.98 KB)
- Probity review – October 2021 (PDF, 209.38 KB)
- Darling River flow contributions to the NSW River Murray – October 2021 (PDF, 157.49 KB)
- NSW Floodplain Harvesting Economic Analysis Report – October 2021 (PDF, 1225.82 KB)
- Q2 2021 Action Plan Progress Report (April to June) – September 2021(PDF, 144.7 KB)
- Q1 2021 Action Plan Progress Report (January to March) – June 2021 (PDF, 201.86 KB)
- NSW Border Rivers account management comparison – April (PDF, 904.17 KB)
- Summary of predicted environmental outcomes of implementing the NSW Floodplain Harvesting – April (PDF, 196 KB)
- Building the river system model for the Gwydir Valley regulated river system (PDF, 14938.84 KB)
- Floodplain Harvesting Entitlements for Gwydir Regulated River System: Model Scenarios Report (PDF, 908.83 KB)
- NSW Border Rivers: Floodplain harvesting in water sharing plans – February 2021 (PDF, 414.8 KB)
- Review of floodplain harvesting Macquarie modelling submission process – January 2021 (PDF, 242.23 KB)
Rainfall Runoff Exemption Supplementary Report:
- NSW Border Rivers valley – February 2021 (PDF, 519.84 KB)
- NSW Gwydir valley – February 2021 (PDF, 1026.57 KB)
- Building the river system model for the Gwydir Valley regulated river system (PDF, 14938.84 KB)
- Floodplain Harvesting Entitlements for Gwydir Regulated River System: Model Scenarios Report (PDF, 908.83 KB)
- NSW Border Rivers: Floodplain harvesting in water sharing plans – February 2021 (PDF, 414.8 KB)
- Review of floodplain harvesting Macquarie modelling submission process – January 2021 (PDF, 242.23 KB)
2020
- Q4 2020 Action Plan Progress Report (October to December) – February 2021 (PDF, 120.39 KB)
- Q3 2020 Action Plan Progress Report – August 2020 (PDF, 1596.17 KB)
- Review of floodplain harvesting Border Rivers and Gwydir modelling submission process – August 2020 (PDF, 8312.6 KB)
- Stakeholder engagement consultation report – 10 February 2020 (PDF, 550.45 KB)
- Floodplain Harvesting Measurement Strategy: focus group – February 2020 analysis (PDF, 3000.37 KB)
2019
- Assessment of cropped area rainfall runoff – October 2019 (PDF, 491.11 KB)
- Draft monitoring and auditing strategy: Consultation outcomes report – August 2019 (PDF, 737.29 KB)
- Monitoring and auditing strategy analysis – July 2019 (PDF, 5955.09 KB)
- Independent Review of NSW Floodplain Harvesting Policy Implementation – July 2019 (PDF, 1419.81 KB)
- Probity review – March 2019 (PDF, 119.78 KB)
2018
- Stakeholder engagement consultation report – 3 December 2018 (PDF, 722.75 KB)
- Accounting for Floodplain Harvesting in regulated rivers – October 2018 (PDF, 43.63 KB)
- Floodplain Harvesting: Water modelling overview – October 2018 (PDF, 1238.98 KB)
- Floodplain Harvesting Policy: Consultation paper – March 2018 (PDF, 507.3 KB)
- Policy implementation: Independent peer review – 2018 (PDF, 300.15 KB)
- Storage bathymetry model update and application (Gwydir Valley) – 2018 (PDF, 876.9 KB)
Presentations
2022
- Floodplain harvesting in the Namoi Valley - 13 December 2022 ( PDF, 10292.71 KB)
- Water Engagement Roundup – 16 November 2022
- Update on the Floodplain harvesting licensing and measurement framework, including compliance approach (PDF, 2407.66 KB)
- Measurement overview and equipment installation (PDF, 3563.61 KB)
- Measurement period (PDF, 1895.68 KB)
- Approvals, Dealings and Billing (WaterNSW) (PDF, 1114.42 KB)
- Measurement and metering equipment demonstration (SierraTek) (PDF, 3668.54 KB)
2021
2018
Videos
2023
2022
2021
2020
- Floodplain harvesting: Account management rules – December 2020
- Measuring floodplain harvesting take - August 2020
- Management of rainfall runoff from irrigation areas - August 2020
- Developing floodplain management plans – August 2020
- Environmental outcomes of implementation of the Floodplain Harvesting Policy – August 2020
- Overland flow management – August 2020
2019
Webinars
2023
2022
2021
2020
Contact us
If you require assistance in reading these documents, please contact 1300 081 047 or water.enquiries@dpie.nsw.gov.au