Healthy floodplains library
Amendments were made to the Water Management (General) Regulation 2018 on 17 December 2021 to set out the process for issuing floodplain harvesting licences and the measurement requirements on those licences. The amendments commenced on 14 February 2022 but were subsequently disallowed on 24 February 2022.
The disallowance means that implementation dates for the NSW Floodplain Harvesting Policy remain uncertain. The dates specified in our reports and guidelines may therefore be superseded.
The disallowance means that implementation dates for the NSW Floodplain Harvesting Policy remain uncertain. The dates specified in our reports and guidelines may therefore be superseded.
We are committed to being transparent about the processes and engagement with stakeholders taken for developing and implementing the Healthy Floodplains Project. In the library you will find policies, reports, fact sheets, plans and videos that document the project from 2013 until today.
Policies
Reports
2022
- Q1 2022 Action Plan Progress Report (January to March 2022) – May 2022 PDF, 213.7 KB
- Building the river system model for the Gwydir Valley regulated river system – May 2022 PDF, 14944.87 KB
- Floodplain Harvesting Entitlements for Gwydir Regulated River System Model scenarios report – May 2022 PDF, 973.72 KB
2021
- Q4 2021 Action Plan Progress Report (October to December 2021) – February 2022 PDF, 293.26 KB
- Q3 2021 Action Plan Progress Report (July to September 2021) – December 2021 PDF, 186.64 KB
- Probity review – October 2021 PDF, 209.38 KB
- Darling River flow contributions to the NSW River Murray – October 2021 PDF, 157.49 KB
- NSW Floodplain Harvesting Economic Analysis Report – October 2021 PDF, 1225.82 KB
- Q2 2021 Action Plan Progress Report (April to June) – September 2021 PDF, 144.7 KB
- Q1 2021 Action Plan Progress Report (January to March) – June 2021 PDF, 201.86 KB
- Review of floodplain harvesting Barwon-Darling modelling submission process – April 2021 PDF, 462.21 KB
- Legislative amendments: Licence determination and measurement – April 2021
- Legislative amendments: Tailwater drain exemption – April 2021
- Legislative amendments: Floodplain harvesting transitional exemption – April 2021
- Floodplain Harvesting Measurement and Non-Urban Metering Roadshow - Consultation Outcomes Report – April 2021
PDF, 395.98 KB - NSW Border Rivers account management comparison – April PDF, 904.17 KB
- Summary of predicted environmental outcomes of implementing the NSW Floodplain Harvesting – April
- Rainfall Runoff Exemption Supplementary Report:
- Building the river system model for the Gwydir Valley regulated river system PDF, 14938.84 KB
- Floodplain Harvesting Entitlements for Gwydir Regulated River System: Model Scenarios Report PDF, 908.83 KB
- NSW Border Rivers: Floodplain harvesting in water sharing plans – February 2021 PDF, 414.8 KB
- Review of floodplain harvesting Macquarie modelling submission process – January 2021 PDF, 242.23 KB
2020
- Q4 2020 Action Plan Progress Report (October to December) – February 2021 PDF, 120.39 KB
- Q3 2020 Action Plan Progress Report – August 2020 PDF, 1596.17 KB
- Review of floodplain harvesting Border Rivers and Gwydir modelling submission process – August 2020 PDF, 8312.6 KB
- Stakeholder engagement consultation report – 10 February 2020 PDF, 550.45 KB
- Floodplain Harvesting Measurement Strategy: focus group – February 2020 analysis PDF, 3000.37 KB
2019
- Assessment of cropped area rainfall runoff – October 2019 PDF, 491.11 KB
- Draft monitoring and auditing strategy: Consultation outcomes report – August 2019 PDF, 737.29 KB
- Monitoring and auditing strategy analysis – July 2019 PDF, 5955.09 KB
- Independent Review of NSW Floodplain Harvesting Policy Implementation – July 2019 PDF, 1419.81 KB
- Probity review – March 2019 PDF, 119.78 KB
2018
- Stakeholder engagement consultation report – 3 December 2018 PDF, 722.75 KB
- Accounting for Floodplain Harvesting in regulated rivers – October 2018 PDF, 43.63 KB
- Floodplain Harvesting: Water modelling overview – October 2018 PDF, 1238.98 KB
- Floodplain Harvesting Policy: Consultation paper – March 2018 PDF, 507.3 KB
- Policy implementation: Independent peer review – 2018 PDF, 300.15 KB
- Storage bathymetry model update and application (Gwydir Valley) – 2018 PDF, 876.9 KB
2022
- Q1 2022 Action Plan Progress Report (January to March 2022) – May 2022 PDF, 213.7 KB
- Building the river system model for the Gwydir Valley regulated river system – May 2022 PDF, 14944.87 KB
- Floodplain Harvesting Entitlements for Gwydir Regulated River System Model scenarios report – May 2022 PDF, 973.72 KB
2021
- Q4 2021 Action Plan Progress Report (October to December 2021) – February 2022 PDF, 293.26 KB
- Q3 2021 Action Plan Progress Report (July to September 2021) – December 2021 PDF, 186.64 KB
- Probity review – October 2021 PDF, 209.38 KB
- Darling River flow contributions to the NSW River Murray – October 2021 PDF, 157.49 KB
- NSW Floodplain Harvesting Economic Analysis Report – October 2021 PDF, 1225.82 KB
- Q2 2021 Action Plan Progress Report (April to June) – September 2021 PDF, 144.7 KB
- Q1 2021 Action Plan Progress Report (January to March) – June 2021 PDF, 201.86 KB
- Review of floodplain harvesting Barwon-Darling modelling submission process – April 2021 PDF, 462.21 KB
- Legislative amendments: Licence determination and measurement – April 2021
- Legislative amendments: Tailwater drain exemption – April 2021
- Legislative amendments: Floodplain harvesting transitional exemption – April 2021
- Floodplain Harvesting Measurement and Non-Urban Metering Roadshow - Consultation Outcomes Report – April 2021
PDF, 395.98 KB - NSW Border Rivers account management comparison – April PDF, 904.17 KB
- Summary of predicted environmental outcomes of implementing the NSW Floodplain Harvesting – April
- Rainfall Runoff Exemption Supplementary Report:
- Building the river system model for the Gwydir Valley regulated river system PDF, 14938.84 KB
- Floodplain Harvesting Entitlements for Gwydir Regulated River System: Model Scenarios Report PDF, 908.83 KB
- NSW Border Rivers: Floodplain harvesting in water sharing plans – February 2021 PDF, 414.8 KB
- Review of floodplain harvesting Macquarie modelling submission process – January 2021 PDF, 242.23 KB
2020
- Q4 2020 Action Plan Progress Report (October to December) – February 2021 PDF, 120.39 KB
- Q3 2020 Action Plan Progress Report – August 2020 PDF, 1596.17 KB
- Review of floodplain harvesting Border Rivers and Gwydir modelling submission process – August 2020 PDF, 8312.6 KB
- Stakeholder engagement consultation report – 10 February 2020 PDF, 550.45 KB
- Floodplain Harvesting Measurement Strategy: focus group – February 2020 analysis PDF, 3000.37 KB
2019
- Assessment of cropped area rainfall runoff – October 2019 PDF, 491.11 KB
- Draft monitoring and auditing strategy: Consultation outcomes report – August 2019 PDF, 737.29 KB
- Monitoring and auditing strategy analysis – July 2019 PDF, 5955.09 KB
- Independent Review of NSW Floodplain Harvesting Policy Implementation – July 2019 PDF, 1419.81 KB
- Probity review – March 2019 PDF, 119.78 KB
2018
- Stakeholder engagement consultation report – 3 December 2018 PDF, 722.75 KB
- Accounting for Floodplain Harvesting in regulated rivers – October 2018 PDF, 43.63 KB
- Floodplain Harvesting: Water modelling overview – October 2018 PDF, 1238.98 KB
- Floodplain Harvesting Policy: Consultation paper – March 2018 PDF, 507.3 KB
- Policy implementation: Independent peer review – 2018 PDF, 300.15 KB
- Storage bathymetry model update and application (Gwydir Valley) – 2018 PDF, 876.9 KB
Fact sheets and guidelines
2022
2021
- Licensing farm-scale validation process – October 2021 PDF, 640.18 KB
- Impacts of floodplain harvesting on downstream users – September 2021 PDF, 1084.87 KB
- History of floodplain harvesting reform in NSW – August 2021 PDF, 1084.87 KB
- Why the reform is vital – August 2021 PDF, 705.1 KB
- Policy and legislative reform – August 2021 PDF, 1063.65 KB
- Overview of legal limits – August 2021 PDF, 1161.84 KB
- Account management rules – August 2021 PDF, 1817.9 KB
- River flows and climate over time – August 2021 PDF, 1544.65 KB
- Addressing community concerns – August 2021 PDF, 1121.35 KB
- Analysis of floodplain harvesting and cease-to-flow events – August 2021 PDF, 955.84 KB
- Analysis of low-flow and cease-to-flow events – August 2021 PDF, 831.01 KB
- Guideline for the implementation of the NSW Floodplain Harvesting Policy – June 2021 PDF, 516.95 KB
- Water Management Works and Approvals fact sheet – March 2021 PDF, 178.94 KB
- NSW Healthy Floodplains Project fact sheet – February 2021 PDF, 148.91 KB
- Licensing of floodplain harvesting extractions fact sheet – February 2021 PDF, 94.45 KB
- Existing Storage Metering Equipment Guideline – February 2021 PDF, 320.82 KB
- Point-of-intake Measurement Method Guideline – February 2021 PDF, 201.76 KB
- Establishing Survey Benchmarks Guideline – January 2021 PDF, 788.45 KB
2020
- Storage Curve Guideline – November 2020 PDF, 287.17 KB
- Secondary (backup) Measurement Devices Guideline - November 2020 PDF, 370.98 KB
- Volumetric conversion booklet PDF, 6686.58 KB
2019
- Estimating rainfall run off and harvesting in the NSW Murray–Darling Basin fact sheet – August 2019 PDF, 119.47 KB
- Independent peer review report fact sheet – August 2019 PDF, 113.5 KB
- Managing floodplain harvesting in Basin Plan water resource plans fact sheet – August 2019 PDF, 118.89 KB
- Managing floodplain harvesting in NSW fact sheet – February 2019 PDF, 42.81 KB
2018
2022
2021
- Licensing farm-scale validation process – October 2021 PDF, 640.18 KB
- Impacts of floodplain harvesting on downstream users – September 2021 PDF, 1084.87 KB
- History of floodplain harvesting reform in NSW – August 2021 PDF, 1084.87 KB
- Why the reform is vital – August 2021 PDF, 705.1 KB
- Policy and legislative reform – August 2021 PDF, 1063.65 KB
- Overview of legal limits – August 2021 PDF, 1161.84 KB
- Account management rules – August 2021 PDF, 1817.9 KB
- River flows and climate over time – August 2021 PDF, 1544.65 KB
- Addressing community concerns – August 2021 PDF, 1121.35 KB
- Analysis of floodplain harvesting and cease-to-flow events – August 2021 PDF, 955.84 KB
- Analysis of low-flow and cease-to-flow events – August 2021 PDF, 831.01 KB
- Guideline for the implementation of the NSW Floodplain Harvesting Policy – June 2021 PDF, 516.95 KB
- Water Management Works and Approvals fact sheet – March 2021 PDF, 178.94 KB
- NSW Healthy Floodplains Project fact sheet – February 2021 PDF, 148.91 KB
- Licensing of floodplain harvesting extractions fact sheet – February 2021 PDF, 94.45 KB
- Existing Storage Metering Equipment Guideline – February 2021 PDF, 320.82 KB
- Point-of-intake Measurement Method Guideline – February 2021 PDF, 201.76 KB
- Establishing Survey Benchmarks Guideline – January 2021 PDF, 788.45 KB
2020
- Storage Curve Guideline – November 2020 PDF, 287.17 KB
- Secondary (backup) Measurement Devices Guideline - November 2020 PDF, 370.98 KB
- Volumetric conversion booklet PDF, 6686.58 KB
2019
- Estimating rainfall run off and harvesting in the NSW Murray–Darling Basin fact sheet – August 2019 PDF, 119.47 KB
- Independent peer review report fact sheet – August 2019 PDF, 113.5 KB
- Managing floodplain harvesting in Basin Plan water resource plans fact sheet – August 2019 PDF, 118.89 KB
- Managing floodplain harvesting in NSW fact sheet – February 2019 PDF, 42.81 KB
2018
Presentations
Videos
2022
- Water management and floodplain harvesting in northern NSW
- Why is there floodplain harvesting in northern NSW
2021
- Balancing floodplain harvesting and the environment
- Economic benefits of irrigation development and floodplain harvesting in northern NSW
- Social and cultural impact of irrigation development and floodplain harvesting in northern NSW
2020
- Floodplain harvesting: Account management rules – December 2020
- Measuring floodplain harvesting take - August 2020
- Management of rainfall runoff from irrigation areas - August 2020
- Developing floodplain management plans – August 2020
- Environmental outcomes of implementation of the Floodplain Harvesting Policy – August 2020
- Overland flow management – August 2020
2019
2022
- Water management and floodplain harvesting in northern NSW
- Why is there floodplain harvesting in northern NSW
2021
- Balancing floodplain harvesting and the environment
- Economic benefits of irrigation development and floodplain harvesting in northern NSW
- Social and cultural impact of irrigation development and floodplain harvesting in northern NSW
2020
- Floodplain harvesting: Account management rules – December 2020
- Measuring floodplain harvesting take - August 2020
- Management of rainfall runoff from irrigation areas - August 2020
- Developing floodplain management plans – August 2020
- Environmental outcomes of implementation of the Floodplain Harvesting Policy – August 2020
- Overland flow management – August 2020
2019
Healthy Floodplains Review Committee
Terms of reference
Meeting communiqués
Disclaimer: The Healthy Floodplains Review Committee meeting minutes have been published for transparency. All interested parties have been formally advised and all references to personal identifiable information within these documents has been redacted.
2022
- Meeting 54 communique – 14 April 2022 (PDF, 270.65 KB)
- Meeting 53 communique – 11 February 2022 (PDF, 461.56 KB)
2021
- Meeting 52 communique – 27 October 2021 (PDF, 210.83 KB)
- Meeting 51 communique – 13 October 2021 (PDF, 213.12 KB)
- Meeting 50 communique – 30 September 2021 (PDF, 226.13 KB)
- Meeting 49 communique – 28 June 2021 (PDF, 203.7 KB)
- Meeting 48 communique – 23 June 2021 (PDF, 166.4 KB)
- Meeting 47 communique – 27 May 2021 (PDF, 132.63 KB)
- Meeting 46 communique – 18 May 2021 (PDF, 168.67 KB)
- Meeting 45 communique – 11 May 2021 (PDF, 211.08 KB)
- Meeting 44 communique – 6 May 2021 (PDF, 218.07 KB)
- Meeting 43 communique – 21 April 2021 (PDF, 142.32 KB)
- Meeting 42 communique – 7 April 2021 (PDF, 269.3 KB)
- Meeting 41 communique – 23 March 2021 (PDF, 208.98 KB)
- Meeting 40 communique – 17 March 2021 (PDF, 186.8 KB)
- Meeting 39 communique – 2 March 2021 (PDF, 278.72 KB)
- Meeting 38 communique – 11 February 2021 (PDF, 172.83 KB)
- Meeting 37 communique – 27 January 2021 (PDF, 202.63 KB)
- Meeting 36 communique – 20 January 2021 (PDF, 430.11 KB)
2020
- Meeting 35 communique – 18 December 2020 (PDF, 353.16 KB)
- Meeting 34 communique – 10 December 2020 (PDF, 494.88 KB)
- Meeting 33 communique – 3 December 2020 (PDF, 485.23 KB)
- Meeting 32 communique – 27 November 2020 (PDF, 162.57 KB)
- Meeting 31 communique – 20 November 2020 (PDF, 729.73 KB)
- Meeting 30 communique – 13 November 2020 (PDF, 259.03 KB)
- Meeting 29 communique – 5 November 2020 (PDF, 214.15 KB)
- Meeting 28 communique – 29 October 2020 (PDF, 201.59 KB)
- Meeting 27 communique – 22 October 2020 (PDF, 130.64 KB)
- Meeting 26 communique – 14 October 2020 (PDF, 188.87 KB)
- Meeting 25 communique – 13 October 2020 (PDF, 154.49 KB)
- Meeting 24 communique – 6 October 2020 (PDF, 133.07 KB)
- Meeting 23 communique – 22 September 2020 (PDF, 181.77 KB)
- Meeting 22 communique – 15 September 2020 (PDF, 207.63 KB)
- Meeting 21 communique – 31 August 2020 (PDF, 155.99 KB)
- Meeting 20 communique – 25 August 2020 (PDF, 207.08 KB)
- Meeting 19 communique – 21 August 2020 (PDF, 125.19 KB)
- Meeting 18 communique – 18 August 2020 (PDF, 245.15 KB)
- Meeting 17 communique – 11 August 2020 (PDF, 325.6 KB)
- Meeting 16 communique – 28 July 2020 (PDF, 359.97 KB)
- Meeting 15 communique – 14 July 2020 (PDF, 274.82 KB)
- Meeting 14 communique – 23 June 2020 (PDF, 229.14 KB)
- Meeting 13 communique – 17 June 2020 (PDF, 207.24 KB)
- Meeting 12 communique – 12 June 2020 (PDF, 343.78 KB)
- Meeting 11 communique – 21 May 2020 (PDF, 160.64 KB)
- Meeting 10 communique – 15 May 2020 (PDF, 160.24 KB)
- Meeting 9 communique – 16 March 2020 (PDF, 121.94 KB)
2015-2019
- Meeting 8 communique – 6 November 2019 (PDF, 141.76 KB)
- Meeting 7 communique – 30 August 2019 (PDF, 184.81 KB)
- Meeting 6 communique – 1 June 2018 (PDF, 256.05 KB)
- Meeting 5 communique – 10 & 11 May 2018 (PDF, 677.83 KB)
- Meeting 4 communique – 4 & 5 July 2017 (PDF, 205.11 KB)
- Meeting 3 communique – 29 March 2017 (PDF, 679.43 KB)
- Meeting 2 communique – 3 September 2015 (PDF, 116.96 KB)
- Meeting 1 communique – 9 June 2015 (PDF, 186.89 KB)
Terms of reference
Meeting communiqués
Disclaimer: The Healthy Floodplains Review Committee meeting minutes have been published for transparency. All interested parties have been formally advised and all references to personal identifiable information within these documents has been redacted.
2022
- Meeting 54 communique – 14 April 2022 (PDF, 270.65 KB)
- Meeting 53 communique – 11 February 2022 (PDF, 461.56 KB)
2021
- Meeting 52 communique – 27 October 2021 (PDF, 210.83 KB)
- Meeting 51 communique – 13 October 2021 (PDF, 213.12 KB)
- Meeting 50 communique – 30 September 2021 (PDF, 226.13 KB)
- Meeting 49 communique – 28 June 2021 (PDF, 203.7 KB)
- Meeting 48 communique – 23 June 2021 (PDF, 166.4 KB)
- Meeting 47 communique – 27 May 2021 (PDF, 132.63 KB)
- Meeting 46 communique – 18 May 2021 (PDF, 168.67 KB)
- Meeting 45 communique – 11 May 2021 (PDF, 211.08 KB)
- Meeting 44 communique – 6 May 2021 (PDF, 218.07 KB)
- Meeting 43 communique – 21 April 2021 (PDF, 142.32 KB)
- Meeting 42 communique – 7 April 2021 (PDF, 269.3 KB)
- Meeting 41 communique – 23 March 2021 (PDF, 208.98 KB)
- Meeting 40 communique – 17 March 2021 (PDF, 186.8 KB)
- Meeting 39 communique – 2 March 2021 (PDF, 278.72 KB)
- Meeting 38 communique – 11 February 2021 (PDF, 172.83 KB)
- Meeting 37 communique – 27 January 2021 (PDF, 202.63 KB)
- Meeting 36 communique – 20 January 2021 (PDF, 430.11 KB)
2020
- Meeting 35 communique – 18 December 2020 (PDF, 353.16 KB)
- Meeting 34 communique – 10 December 2020 (PDF, 494.88 KB)
- Meeting 33 communique – 3 December 2020 (PDF, 485.23 KB)
- Meeting 32 communique – 27 November 2020 (PDF, 162.57 KB)
- Meeting 31 communique – 20 November 2020 (PDF, 729.73 KB)
- Meeting 30 communique – 13 November 2020 (PDF, 259.03 KB)
- Meeting 29 communique – 5 November 2020 (PDF, 214.15 KB)
- Meeting 28 communique – 29 October 2020 (PDF, 201.59 KB)
- Meeting 27 communique – 22 October 2020 (PDF, 130.64 KB)
- Meeting 26 communique – 14 October 2020 (PDF, 188.87 KB)
- Meeting 25 communique – 13 October 2020 (PDF, 154.49 KB)
- Meeting 24 communique – 6 October 2020 (PDF, 133.07 KB)
- Meeting 23 communique – 22 September 2020 (PDF, 181.77 KB)
- Meeting 22 communique – 15 September 2020 (PDF, 207.63 KB)
- Meeting 21 communique – 31 August 2020 (PDF, 155.99 KB)
- Meeting 20 communique – 25 August 2020 (PDF, 207.08 KB)
- Meeting 19 communique – 21 August 2020 (PDF, 125.19 KB)
- Meeting 18 communique – 18 August 2020 (PDF, 245.15 KB)
- Meeting 17 communique – 11 August 2020 (PDF, 325.6 KB)
- Meeting 16 communique – 28 July 2020 (PDF, 359.97 KB)
- Meeting 15 communique – 14 July 2020 (PDF, 274.82 KB)
- Meeting 14 communique – 23 June 2020 (PDF, 229.14 KB)
- Meeting 13 communique – 17 June 2020 (PDF, 207.24 KB)
- Meeting 12 communique – 12 June 2020 (PDF, 343.78 KB)
- Meeting 11 communique – 21 May 2020 (PDF, 160.64 KB)
- Meeting 10 communique – 15 May 2020 (PDF, 160.24 KB)
- Meeting 9 communique – 16 March 2020 (PDF, 121.94 KB)
2015-2019
- Meeting 8 communique – 6 November 2019 (PDF, 141.76 KB)
- Meeting 7 communique – 30 August 2019 (PDF, 184.81 KB)
- Meeting 6 communique – 1 June 2018 (PDF, 256.05 KB)
- Meeting 5 communique – 10 & 11 May 2018 (PDF, 677.83 KB)
- Meeting 4 communique – 4 & 5 July 2017 (PDF, 205.11 KB)
- Meeting 3 communique – 29 March 2017 (PDF, 679.43 KB)
- Meeting 2 communique – 3 September 2015 (PDF, 116.96 KB)
- Meeting 1 communique – 9 June 2015 (PDF, 186.89 KB)
Webinars
Infographics
- Floodplain harvesting measurement in practice – August 2021 PDF, 99.6 KB
- How surface water legal limits on water take are defined – August 2021 PDF, 77.53 KB
- Factors influencing water take – August 2021 PDF, 82.68 KB
- A comparison of individual floodplain harvesting licence limits and surface water extraction limits – August 2021 PDF, 48.02 KB
- Floodplain harvesting measurement in practice – August 2021 PDF, 99.6 KB
- How surface water legal limits on water take are defined – August 2021 PDF, 77.53 KB
- Factors influencing water take – August 2021 PDF, 82.68 KB
- A comparison of individual floodplain harvesting licence limits and surface water extraction limits – August 2021 PDF, 48.02 KB
Responses to other reports
In 2020 The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists published a report in August 2020 titled Assessment of river flows in the Murray-Darling Basin: Observed versus expected flows under the Basin Plan 2012-2019. Department of Planning and Environment–Water agreed to provide a brief analysis of this report to Justin Field MLC and Rose Jackson MLC during a briefing (2 September 2021) in support of the work of the NSW Legislative Council’s Select Committee on Floodplain Harvesting.
For transparency, the Department of Planning and Environment has published it's brief analysis.
In 2020 The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists published a report in August 2020 titled Assessment of river flows in the Murray-Darling Basin: Observed versus expected flows under the Basin Plan 2012-2019. Department of Planning and Environment–Water agreed to provide a brief analysis of this report to Justin Field MLC and Rose Jackson MLC during a briefing (2 September 2021) in support of the work of the NSW Legislative Council’s Select Committee on Floodplain Harvesting.
For transparency, the Department of Planning and Environment has published it's brief analysis.
Page link: https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/plans-programs/healthy-floodplains-project/harvesting/document-library