2019-2020 Water sharing plan reviews
Water sharing plans prescribe how water is managed in NSW. They must first provide for the environment, and also support social and economic outcomes.
These plans are developed by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment - Water (DPIE-Water) and typically apply for a period of ten years. At the end of this period, the Minister responsible for the Water Management Act 2000 may decide to replace or extend a plan. To inform the Minister’s decision, the Commission has a role under s.43A of the Act to independently review plans to:
- determine if outcomes are being achieved
- recommend if a plan should be extended or replaced
- identify recommended changes to Plan provisions if the plan is to be replaced.
The process to replace plans is undertaken by DPIE-Water.
Have your say
Submissions on the following inland water sharing plans have now closed:
- Lower Murray-Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011
- Murray Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011
- Intersecting Streams Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011.
The Commission will consider all submissions in undertaking the review of these plans. A report on the Commission's reviews will be provided to the Minister in mid-2021.
Final review reports provided to the Minister
- Final report - Central Coast WSP review (April 2020) Report summary
- Final report - Coffs Harbour WSP review (April 2020) Report summary
- Final report - Hunter WSP review (May 2020) Report summary
- Final report - Lower North Coast WSP review (April 2020) Report summary
- Final report - Peel Valley WSP review (May 2020) Report summary
The Commission provided five final review reports to the Minister and recommended that the water sharing plan for the:
- Central Coast be extended for two years until June 2022 to allow enough resources to make required plan improvements, and replaced by June 2022 to address the Commission's recommendations
- Coffs Harbour be extended for two years until June 2022 to allow enough resources to make required plan improvements, and replaced by June 2022 to address the Commission's recommendations
- Hunter be extended for two years until June 2022 to allow enough additional time for the completion of studies and to make required plan improvements, and replaced by July 2022 to address the Commission's recommendations
- Lower North Coast be extended for two years until June 2022 to allow enough resources to make required plan improvements, and replaced by June 2022 to address the Commission's recommendations.
The water sources for the Peel Valley will be split across four water sharing plans in July 2020. The Commission recommended that priority issues carried over to the Water Sharing Plan for the Peel Regulated River 2020 be addressed by July 2020. Other issues should be addressed in the new plans by July 2022 to allow time for additional studies and consultation.
What other plans are currently being reviewed?
Currently, the Commission is conducting reviews of the following water sharing plans.
The Commission held a public submissions process to hear feedback on these plans, which has now closed. We will now consider this feedback and other evidence, and provide a review report to the Minister.
Water Sharing Plan | Map | Expiry |
Greater Metropolitan Region Unregulated River | Appendix 1 of plan | June 2021 |
Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater | Appendix 1 of plan | June 2021 |
Bega and Brogo Rivers Area Regulated, Unregulated and Alluvial | Appendix 1 of plan | June 2021 |
Murrah-Wallaga Area Unregulated and Alluvial | Appendix 1 of plan | June 2021 |
Richmond River Area Unregulated, Regulated and Alluvial | Appendix 1 of plan | June 2021 |
Towamba River Unregulated and Alluvial | Appendix 1 of plan | June 2021 |
Tweed River Area Unregulated and Alluvial | Appendix 1 of plan | June 2021 |
More information is available on the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website.
Submissions received
The following submissions for water sharing plan reviews are published in line with the Commission's submissions policy.
Bega and Brogo Rivers Area Regulated, Unregulated and Alluvial
- Bega Valley Shire Council - Ken McLeod
- Bega Brogo - Jelgowry Pty Ltd - Will and Rob Russell
- Bega Brogo - Ray Hergenhan
- Bega Brogo - Sally Phillips
Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater
- Centennial Coal - Lachlan Hammersley
- Georges River Council - Lachlan Prentice
- Lithgow City Council - Ja Nichols
- Peabody Energy Australia Pty Ltd - Jamie Lees
- Penrith City Council - Tim Gowing
- Sydney Cricket and Sports Grounds - William Konya
- Sydney Water - Helen Liossis
- The Mulloon Institute - Gary Nairn
- University of NSW - Russel Druce
Greater Metropolitan Region Unregulated River
- Altura Spatial Pty Ltd - Greg Monaghan
- Centennial Coal - Lachlan Hammersley
- Goulburn Mulwaree Council - Marina Hollands
- Illawarra Coal South 32 - Cody Brady
- Kenneth Allen
- Leppington Pastoral Co Pty Ltd - Ron Perich
- Lithgow City Council - Ja Nichols
- NSW Minerals Council
- NSW Parliament - Justine Field MLC
- Peabody Energy Pty Ltd - James Lee
- Penrith City Council - Tm Gowing
- Roseville Golf Club - Oliver Raggett
- Shoalhaven City Council - Robert Horner
- Sophia Findlay
- Sydney Coastal Councils Group
- Sydney Water - Helen Liossis
- Turf NSW - Paul Saad
Murrah-Wallaga Area Unregulated and Alluvial
Peel Valley Regulated, Unregulated, Alluvial and Fractured Rock
- Anthony John
- BL Coxhead
- Cathy Merchant
- Commonwealth Environmental Water Office - Jody Swirepik
- Emma Peel
- Glenys Bundy
- Ian and Jillian Coxhead
- June Chaffey
- Kathleen Gardner
- Keith Harris
- Loretta Payne
- Monica Rodgers
- Murray Darling Basin Authority - Marcus Finn
- Nature Conservation Council - Chris Gambian
- Pam and Laurie Pengelly
- Peel Valley Water Users Association Inc - Ildu Monticone
- Scott and Vicki Woods
- Tamworth Regional Council - Bruce Logan
- Teresa Kuczera
- Wayne Chaffey
- Woodburn Heights Estate Water Users Association Inc - Peter Cooper
- Woolomin Station
Richmond River Area Unregulated, Regulated and Alluvial
- Anonymous 1
- Ballina Shire Council - Kerri Watts
- Bob and Sue Coleman
- Chris and Catherine Magner
- Dave Clift
- Edgar and Judith Briggs
- Goolmangar Water Users Group - Leigh Shearman
- James and Annette Cowley
- Ken Murphy
- Kyogle Council - Graham Kennett
- Leigh Shearman
- Phil Shand
- Richard and Phillipa Schultz
- Richmond and Wilsons Combined Water Users Association - Chris Magner
- Rous County Council - Phillip Rudd
- Victoria and Barry Kuhnell
- Wayne Clarke
Towamba River Unregulated and Alluvial
- Barrie and Joan Jackson
- Bega Valley Shire Council - Ken McLeod
- Derek Lewis
- Fulligans Pty Ltd
- Paul McPherson
- Towamba Valley Landcare Group - Derek Lewis
Tweed River Area Unregulated and Alluvial
- Anonymous 1
- Ari Ehrlich
- Athol McKenzie
- Byrrill Creek Landcare Group - Joanna Gardner
- Caldera Environment Centre - Cynthia Brooke
- Carol Chandler
- David Berg
- Doug Paddon
- Elizabeth Jack
- Gail Rich
- Julie Beesley
- Linda Cooper
- Malcolm Pumpa
- Margaret Bailey
- Megan Jack
- Michael McNamara
- Neil and Michelle Baker
- Nigel Bram
- Nola Firth
- Northern Rivers Guardians - Scott Sledge
- Peter Symons
- Project 28 Pty Ltd - Brandon Yeats
- Richard Murray
- Robbie Pateman
- Russel Schubring
- Stuart Ball
- Tweed Landcare
- Tweed Shire Council - Troy Green
- Tweed Water Alliance - Pat Miller
- Warren Cooper
- Water Access Licence Holders Tyalgum and Byangum
- William Yates
Related web pages
2018-2019 Water sharing plan reviews
2017-2018 Water sharing plan reviews
2015 Water sharing plan reviews
2012 Water sharing plan reviews
Lower Lachlan Groundwater Sharing Plan