2022-2023 Water management plan audits




Status:

Audit reports provided

Number of plans audited:

8

Summary

We audited implementation of the following water management plans to ascertain whether the provisions of the plans are being given effect to, as required under Section 44 of the Water Management Act 2000:

  • Southern Murray Darling Basin water sharing plans:

    • Lachlan regulated river water source 2016
    • Murrumbidgee regulated river water source 2016
    • NSW Murray and Lower Darling regulated river water sources 2016
  • Namoi Valley floodplain management plans:

    • Upper Namoi Valley floodplain 2019
    • Lower Namoi Valley floodplain 2019
  • Northern regulated water sharing plans:
      '
    • Upper Namoi and Lower Namoi regulated river water sources 2016
    • Gwydir Regulated River water source 2016
    • Macquarie and Cudgegong regulated river water sources 2016

While many provisions of all the above plans are being implemented, our audit concluded that on balance the provisions of these plans have not been given full effect to in accordance with the Act. The overarching consequence is that the objectives of the plans are unlikely to be achieved. The Minister for Water and audit agencies have responded to our audit recommendations (see below).

Key documents

Southern Murray Darling Basin

Namoi Valley floodplain management plans

Northern regulated