2018-2019 Water sharing plan reviews
- Government response - Barwon-Darling water sharing plan review
- Fact sheet - Barwon-Darling water sharing plan review
- Final report - Barwon-Darling water sharing plan review (6 MB)
Final report (3 MB) - Media release - Final report submitted to Minister
- Draft report (6 MB)
Draft report (4 MB) - Media release - Draft report

Water sharing plans establish rules for sharing water between water users and the environment.
These plans typically apply for a period of ten years. At the end of this period, the Minister for Water may decide to replace or extend a plan.
Under s.43A of the Water Management Act 2000, the Commission is to provide advice to the Minister on:
- the extent that water sharing provisions have contributed to environmental, social and economic outcomes
- whether changes to those provisions are warranted.
Review of Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
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Final report
On 6 September 2019, the Commission submitted to the Minister for Water its final report on the review of the Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012.
The Commission would like to thank the 1,231 respondents who provided submissions throughout this review. The Commission has considered these submissions in finalising the review.
Draft report
In July 2019, the Commission released a draft report (the Draft Report) for the review of Barwon-Darling water sharing plan for public comment.
The Draft Report presents the findings and recommendations from the Commission’s statutory review of the Plan. It focuses on the extent to which the water sharing provisions in the Plan have materially contributed to the achievement of, or the failure to achieve, environmental, social and economic outcomes. It also identifies where changes are warranted.
The Commission engaged Professor Fran Sheldon of Griffith University to provide technical advice for the review of the Barwon-Darling water sharing plan. This technical advice has been peer reviewed and finalised.
- Technical review - Barwon-Darling water sharing plan (Professor Fran Sheldon, Griffith University)
Submissions received
Draft report - Barwon-Darling water sharing plan review
The Commission received a total of 1,161 submissions. Of these 49 submissions were non-confidential, two confidential and 1,110 form letter submissions. All non-confidential submissions and a sample form letter submission are listed below.
Non-confidential submissions (49)
- Anne Reeves
- ANU Crawford School of Public Policy - John Williams and Quentin Grafton
- Arthur Davies
- Australian Floodplain Association - Sarah Moles
- Barrie MacMillan
- Barwon Darling Water Inc - Ian Cole
- Bob Hill
- Border Rivers Food and Fibre - Tim Napier
- Brewarrina Shire Council - Phillip O'Connor
- Brian Bycroft
- Cathy Merchant
- Cottton Australia Limited - Michael Murray
- Dianne Thompson
- Donald Macleod
- Dr Peter Main
- Fleur Thompson
- Geoffrey Wise
- Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association Inc - Zara Lowien
- Healthy Rivers Ambassadors - Dr Anne Jenson
- Healthy Rivers Dubbo
- Inland Rivers Network - Bev Smiles
- Jack Davies
- Jane Lemann
- John Marmarinos
- Kallara Partners - Justin and Julie McClure
- Kate Boyd
- Leslie Duncan
- Lower Darling Pastoralist Group - Rob McBride and Wayne Smith
- Margaret Renaud
- Maria Riedl
- Marlene Davies
- Michele Edwards
- Murray Darling Basin Authority - Peta Derham
- Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations
- Murray Regional Strategy Group
- Nature Conservation Council - Jack Gough
- Northern Valley Irrigators group (Barwon Darling Water, Border Rivers Food and Fibre, Cotton Australia, Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association Inc, Macquarie River Food and Fibre and Namoi Water)
- NSW Aboriginal Land Council - James Christian PSM
- NSW Environmental Defenders Office - Deborah Brennan
- NSW Irrigators Council
- Pastoralists Association of West Darling Inc - Matthew Jackson
- Paul Harvey
- Peta Thornton
- Ruby Davies
- South West Water Users - Alan Whyte
- Susan Kilminster
- The Australia Institute - Maryanne Slattery and Roderick Campbell
- The Hon Dean Brown AO - Former Premier of South Australia
- Val Somerville
Form letter submissions (1,110)
Initial submissions - Barwon-Darling water sharing plan review
Below are the non-confidential submissions.
- Anne Reeves OAM
- Australian Floodplain Association - Terry Korn PSM
- Barwon Darling Water Inc - Ian Cole
- Bob Newman
- Brewarrina Shire Council - Phillip OConnor
- Brian Stevens
- Broken Darling River Action Group - Thomas Kennedy
- Central West Environment Council - Cilla Kinross
- Centre for Ecosystem Science UNSW
- Chris Owens
- Coleen Edgar
- Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder - Jody Swirepik
- Cottton Australia - Michael Murray
- Darryn Clifton
- David Fleming
- Dean Brown AO
- Dharriwaa Elders Groups
- ECCO Orange - Nick King
- Environmental Farmers Network - John Pettigrew
- Geoffrey Wise
- Griffith University - Sue Jackson, Lana Hartwig and Poh-Ling Tan
- Healthy Rivers Ambassadors - Dr Anne Jenson
- Healthy Rivers Dubbo - Mel Gray
- Individual 1
- Individual 2
- Individual 3
- Individual 4
- Individual 5
- Individual 6
- Individual 7
- Individual 8
- Individual 9
- Individual 10
- Individual 11
- Individual 12
- Inland Rivers Network Incorporated
- Jane Judd
- John Marmarinos
- Josephine Wearing
- Karin Donaldson
- Kate Boyd
- Lower Darling Horticulture Group - Rachel Strachan
- Margaret McDonald
- Mark Merritt
- Menindee Water Users Group - Paul Roberts
- Molong Creek and Tributaries Management and Protection Association - Rob Napier and Meg Bannigan
- Murray-Darling Basin Authority
- Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations
- National Parks Association of NSW - Gary Dunnett
- NSW Environmental Defenders Office - Deborah Brennan
- NSW Irrigators Council
- Pastoralists Association of West Darling Inc - Lachlan Gall
- Peter Terrill
- Peter Thompson
- Robert Bartlett
- Rosemary Maddox
- Ryde-Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society - Cathy Merchant
- Sarah Moles
- South West Water Users - Alan Whyte
- The Australia Institute - Maryanne Slattery and Roderick Campbell
- Tolarno Station 1851 Pty Ltd - Robert and Katharine McBride
- Tyron Brooks
- Wentworth Shire Council - Tim Elstone
- Wilcannia Community Tourism Association - Bill Elliot
What is a water sharing plan?
Water sharing plans are statutory instruments that set out rules for how water is shared across a range of water users. This includes water for the environment, communities, cultural purposes, commercial requirements (e.g. irrigation) and utilities (town water needs). These plans were prepared by the then NSW Department of Industry - Water.
Why are independent reviews of these plans important?
Independent reviews are an opportunity to better understand where improvements can be made to ensure that the environmental, social and economic needs are being met.
They provide the Minister with evidence to inform a decision to make a new plan or extend an existing plan when a water sharing plan approaches expiry.
When does the Barwon-Darling water sharing plan expire?
The Barwon-Darling water sharing plan is due to expire in July 2023. However, it will be updated as part of the water resource plan process required under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Why is a review of the water sharing plan occurring now?
The Commission was requested by the then Minister for Regional Water, with support of the Premier, to bring forward its review of the Barwon-Darling water sharing plan. The letter from the Minister is available here.
Recent fish death in the Darling River, just downstream of the Plan area, and high public interest in the way this water sharing plan is operating are key drivers for early commencement of the review.
The review is a statutory requirement under the Water Management Act 2000.
What does the review focus on?
The review focuses on the extent to which the water sharing provisions in the plan have materially contributed to the achievement of, or the failure to achieve, environmental, social and economic outcomes. It provides recommendations on changes to these provisions that will help better achieve outcomes.
How does this review fit with the Water Resource Plan process and other water reforms underway?
The review is being coordinated with the water resource plan process being progressed by the NSW Department of Industry - Water. It will avoid duplication of effort and will inform the water resource plan process, where possible.
During the review, the Commission engaged with Government agencies responsible for water reforms, including but not limited to, better management of environmental water, floodplain harvesting and metering, and considered these reforms in developing its advice.
Reviews of coastal water sharing plans
In 2019, the Commission will review the following water sharing plans.
- Coffs Harbour Area Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2009 (Plan map)
- Central Coast Unregulated Water Sources 2009 (Plan map)
- Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2009 (Plan map)
- Lower North Coast Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2009 (Plan map).
- Peel Valley Regulated, Unregulated, Alluvium and Fractured Rock Water Sources 2010 (Plan map)
- Greater Metropolitan Region Unregulated River Water Sources 2011 (Plan map)
- Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources 2011 (Plan map)
The first two plans being reviewed are those for the Coffs Harbour Area and the Central Coast. Submissions to the review of these plans have now closed. The Commission will consider submissions, provided for the purpose of the review, prior to developing recommendations to the Minister.
More information, such as water source rules and background documents, is available on the NSW Department of Industry website.