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Current and historic SDL or LTAAEL non-compliant assessments

Year assessment completedAssessment TypeLocation of non-complianceSummary
2021-22LTAAELBorder Rivers and Gwydir Regulated Rivers

Results from modelling published under the healthy floodplains program show that the Border Rivers and Gwydir Regulated Rivers have exceeded the LTAAEL and that compliance action is required.

As a result, the Available Water Determination (AWD) made for supplementary water access licences at the commencement of the 2022-23 water year was reduced for the Border Rivers and Gwydir, as per current water sharing plan requirements. For more information see Reduced supplementary water access allocations in the Border Rivers and Gwydir.

Targeted management actions to directly address growth in floodplain harvesting, rather than relying on restrictions to other licence categories, can be taken once floodplain harvesting licensing has been implemented.

2021-22LTAAELGreater Metropolitan Region Unregulated RiverSouthern Sydney EMU - major utility access licence LTAAEL has been exceeded. The water sharing plan requires that a review is undertaken by the Minister. The department is establishing how this review will be completed.
2020-21LTAAELBorder Rivers and Gwydir regulated rivers

Results from modelling published under the healthy floodplains program show that the Border Rivers and Gwydir regulated rivers have exceeded the LTAAEL and that compliance action is required.

As a result, the available water determination (AWD) made for supplementary water access licences at the commencement of the 2021-22 water year was reduced for the Border Rivers and Gwydir, as per current water sharing plan requirements. For more information visit Reduced supplementary water access allocations in the Border Rivers and Gwydir 2021-22.

Targeted management actions to directly address growth in floodplain harvesting, rather than relying on restrictions to other licence categories, can be taken once floodplain harvesting licensing has been implemented.

2020-21SDLBarwon-Darling

The Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) rejected the department’s claim for reasonable excuse for going over its Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) in the Barwon Darling.

Read our FAQs to find out more.

A key reason for the non-compliant outcome was the department hadn’t implemented all of the procedures in the proposed water resource plan, including the NSW extraction limit assessment. We have now completed this work, which concluded current long-term average annual extractions are compliant with the Long-term Average Annual Extraction Limit. Read our assessment  PDF, 165.17 KB to find out more.

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