2024-2025 Water sharing plan reviews

Summary

We reviewed the following water sharing plans to assess the extent to which the plans have achieved their environmental, social, cultural and economic outcomes, and advised on whether changes to the plan provisions are warranted.

1. Water Sharing Plan for the NSW Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2016
2. Water Sharing Plan for the Murrumbidgee Regulated River Water Sources 2016
3. Water Sharing Plan for the Gwydir Regulated River Water Sources 2016

Coastal water sharing plans:

4. Water Sharing Plan for the Brunswick Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016
5. Water Sharing Plan for the Clarence River Unegulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016
6. Water Sharing Plan for the Macleay Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016
7. Water Sharing Plan for the Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016

We recommended that the above plans be replaced taking into consideration the recommendations in our review reports. The Minister for Water has responded to our recommendations. The plans are due to expire on 30 June 2026.

Key documents

• NSW Murray and Lower Darling Regulated – Final report (November 2024)
• NSW Murray and Lower Darling Regualted – Final report – Summary
• NSW Murray and Lower Darling Regualted – Final report – Minister's response


• Murrumbidgee Regulated – Final report (September 2024)
• Murrumbidgee Regulated – Final report - Summary
• Murrumbidgee Regulated – Final report - Minister's response


• Gwydir Regulated – Final report (April 2025)


• North Coast Unregulated and Alluvial – Final report (April 2025)




Submissions - NSW Murray and Lower Darling Regulated (2024-2025)

• Australian Floodplain Association
• Barry MacMillan
• Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
• Healthy Rivers Ambassadors
• Inland Rivers Network
• Kevin
• Lifeblood Alliance
• Murray Irrigation
• Murray Valley Private Diverters
• National Parks Association of NSW
• Nature Conservation Council
• Rice Growers Association
• South Western Water Users Association
• Southern Riverina Irrigators

Submissions - Murrumbidgee Regulated (2024-2025)

• Coleambally Irrigators Cooperative Limited
• Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
• Connellan
• Inland Rivers Network
• Joe McGirr
• Local Land Services
• Marsh
• Murray Darling Basin Authority
• Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations
• Murrumbidgee Irrigation Limited
• Murrumbidgee Private Irrigators Inc
• Narrawa Seeds
• National Parks Association of NSW
• NSW Aboriginal Land Council
• Rel Heckendorf
• Rice Growers Association

Submissions - Gwydir Regulated (2024-2025)

• Cate Faehrmann
• Dharriwaa Elders Group
• Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association
• Helen Johnston
• Inland Rivers Network
• Jon and Sarah Greer
• Lou Doran
• Murray Darling Basin Authority
• NTSCorp Limited

Submissions - Seven coastal water sharing plans (2024-2025)

These submissions are for our review of the following coastal water sharing plans:

1. Brunswick Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016
2. Clarence River Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016
3. Macleay Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016
4. Nambucca Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2016
5. North Coast Fractured and Porous Rock Groundwater Sources 2016
6. North Coast Coastal Sands Groundwater Sources 2016
7. South Coast Groundwater Sources 2016

• Christa Schwoebel
• Clarence Environment Centre
• Matthew O'Reilly
• Midcoast Council
• National Parks Association of NSW - Armidale Branch
• NSW Irrigators' Council
• NSW Minerals Council
• Save Our Macleay River
• Terry Bellamy