Lachlan region

Water Management (General) Regulation 2018 has been replaced

The Water Management (General) Regulation 2018 has been replaced by two new regulations; Water Management (General) Regulation 2025 and Water Management (Water Supply Authorities) Regulation 2025. Please note: Webpages and documents will continue to be updated over the coming weeks to reflect the new regulations.

More information

About the region

The Lachlan region lies west of the Great Dividing Range in central NSW, extending across 90,000 km² from the Great Dividing Range near Gunning in the east to the junction of the Lachlan and Murrumbidgee Rivers near Oxley in the west.

The region is the traditional lands of the Barkandji, Nari Nari, Ngiyampaa, Wiradjuri and Yita Yita Nations.

Belubula Regulated River Water Source 2012

Status: In force
Commencement date: August 2025
Cease date: June 2036

Read: Belubula Regulated River Water Source 2025

Maps	Supporting documentation	Prior water sharing plan status
N/A	Changes to the Belubula Regulated River Water Sharing Plan (August 2025) Compliance with water management principles (August 2025) NRC recommendations and responses (August 2025) Outcomes of public exhibition	Belubula Regulated River Water Source 2012 Status: Replaced Rule summary sheet Background document (2013) Changes to the Belubula Regulated River Water Sharing Plan (December 2022) Compliance with water management principles (December 2022) Changes to the Belubula Regulated River Water Sharing Plan (August 2023) Compliance with water management principles (August 2023) Changes to multiple plans fact sheet (October 2024) Compliance with water management principles (October 2024)

Lachlan Alluvial Groundwater Sources 2020

Status: In force
Commencement date: July 2020
Cease date: June 2030

Read: Lachlan Alluvial Groundwater Sources 2020

This plan has been amended since it commenced. See the NSW legislation site for details.

Maps	Supporting documentation	Prior water sharing plan status
Lachlan Alluvial Groundwater Sources 2020 – Plan map (WSP048_V1) Lachlan Alluvial Groundwater Sources 2020 – GDE map (GDE014_V1)	Rule summary sheets Changes to multiple plans fact sheet (October 2024) Compliance with water management principles (October 2024)	Lower Lachlan Groundwater Sources 2003 Status: Replaced Lachlan Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012 Status: Amended (to remove alluvial water sources) Archived background document (2016)

Lachlan Regulated River Water Source 2016

Status: In force
Commencement date: July 2016
Cease date: June 2026

Read: Lachlan Regulated River Water Source 2016

This plan has been amended since it commenced. See the NSW Legislation site for details.

Maps	Supporting documentation	Prior water sharing plan status
N/A	Changes to the Lachlan Regulated River Water Sharing Plan (December 2022) Compliance with water management principles (December 2022) Changes to the Lachlan Regulated River Water Sharing Plan (August 2023) Compliance with water management principles (August 2023) Changes to multiple plans fact sheet (October 2024) Compliance with water management principles (October 2024)	N/A

Lachlan Unregulated River Water Sources 2012

Status: In force (with two year extension)
Commencement date: September 2012
Cease date: June 2025. This plan has lapsed. A replacement plan will be finalised as soon as possible. More detailed information can be found in the Question and answer document.

Read: Lachlan Unregulated River Water Sources 2012

This plan has been amended since it commenced. See the NSW Legislation site for details.

Maps	Supporting documentation	Prior water sharing plan status
Lachlan Unregulated River Water Sources 2012 – Plan map (WSP024_V3)	Rule summary sheets Background document (2012) Changes to the Lachlan Unregulated River Water Sharing Plan (December 2022) Compliance with water management principles (December 2022) Changes to multiple plans fact sheet (October 2024) Compliance with water management principles (October 2024)	Lachlan Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012 Status: Amended (to remove alluvial water sources)

NSW Murray–Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2020

Status: In force
Commencement date: July 2020
Cease date: June 2030

Read: NSW Murray–Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2020

This plan has been amended since it commenced. See the NSW Legislation site for details.

Maps	Supporting documentation	Prior water sharing plan status
Murray Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2020 – Plan map (WSP012_V3) Murray Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2020 – GDE map (GDE024_V3)	Rule summary sheets Compliance with water management principles (December 2021) Compliance with water management principles (May 2022) Changes to multiple plans fact sheet (October 2024) Compliance with water management principles (October 2024)	NSW Murray–Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2011 Status: Replaced Archived background document (2012)