Audits of water sharing plans under Section 44 of the Water Management Act 2000
Section 44 of the Water Management Act 2000 requires water sharing plans to be audited. The purpose of an audit is to ascertain whether a plan’s provisions are being put into practice.
Audits covering the period from 2015 to 2018 have been completed under the direction of an Independent Panel. Work is underway to address issues and recommendations identified in the audit reports.
As a result of a legislative amendment made by the Government in 2018, future audits will be completed by the independent Natural Resources Commission. Information on plan audits in progress or completed by the NRC can be found on their website.
The current schedule for plan audits.
Note: this schedule may change where plans are replaced.
We are also working to improve implementation of water sharing plan rules by establishing a theme-based, approach to implementing water sharing plans.
The Department of Planning and Environment will publish a list of all water sharing plan rules that have not yet been implemented, as well as develop and publish timelines for implementing these rules. This is in direct response to the 2020 ICAC Report – Departmental response to Recommendation 5.
Copies of the independent audit reports covering water sharing plans 2015-18
- Barwon-Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
- Bega and Brogo Rivers Area Regulated, Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011
- Belubula Regulated River Water Sources 2012
- Castlereagh River Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011
- Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources 2011
- Greater Metropolitan Region Unregulated River Water Sources 2011
- Gwydir Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
- Intersecting Streams Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011
- Lachlan Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
- Lower Murray Shallow Groundwater Source 2012
- Lower Murray-Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011
- Macquarie Bogan Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
- Murrah-Wallaga Area Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2010
- Murray Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011
- Murrumbidgee Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
- Namoi Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
- North Western Unregulated and Fractured Rock Water Sources 2011
- NSW Border Rivers Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
- NSW Great Artesian Basin Shallow Groundwater Sources 2011
- NSW Murray Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2011
- NSW Murray Darling Basin Porous Rock Groundwater Sources 2011
- Peel Valley, Regulated, Unregulated, Alluvium and Fractured Rock Water Sources 2010
- Richmond River Area Unregulated, Regulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2010
- Towamba River Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2010
- Tweed River Area Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2010
Previous audit reports and report cards
- Coastal aquifer water sharing plan audit report cards – July 2004 to June 2009
- Groundwater water sharing plan audit report cards – July 2009 to June 2012
- Inland alluvial aquifer water sharing plan audit report cards – October 2006 to June 2010
- Paterson regulated river water sharing plan audit report cards – July 2007 to June 2012
- Regulated river water sharing plan audit report cards – July 2004 to June 2009
- Regulated river water sharing plan audit report cards – July 2009 to June 2012
- Unregulated river water sharing plan audit report cards – July 2004 to June 2009
- Unregulated river water sharing plan audit report cards – July 2009 to June 2012
- 2013 Audit Report of implementation of water sharing plans – 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2103
- Unregulated river and alluvial water sharing plan audit report card – 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2013
- Inland groundwater water sharing plan audit report cards – 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2013
- 2014 Audit Report of implementation of water sharing plans – 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2104
- Inland alluvial aquifer water sharing plan audit report cards – 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2014
- NSW Border Rivers Regulated River Water Sharing Plan report card – 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2014
- Lower North Coast Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sharing Plan audit report card – 1 July 2009 – 30 June 2014
- Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sharing Plan audit report card – 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2014
- Central Coast Unregulated Water Sharing Plan audit report card – 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2014
- Coffs Harbour Area Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sharing Plan audit report card – 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2014