Draft NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Sources 2020

The current NSW Great Artesian Basin Water Sharing Plan is due to expire on 1 July 2020. The department has prepared a draft replacement plan and is seeking feedback from water users and other interested parties as part of the public exhibition phase.

Water sharing plans are statutory instruments under the Water Management Act 2000, and are in effect for a 10-year period. Water sharing plans prescribe how water is sustainably managed to support economic, social, cultural and environmental outcomes.

The draft plan applies to the groundwater resources of NSW's Great Artesian Basin (GAB), referred to as the:

• Eastern Recharge Groundwater Source,
• Southern Recharge Groundwater Source,
• Surat Groundwater Source,
• Warrego Groundwater Source, and
• Central Groundwater Source.

The draft water sharing plan, is open for feedback until: Monday 30th March 2020 (AEDT).

• Read the draft water sharing plan
• Read the supporting fact sheets and technical reports

Public information sessions

The following public information sessions were held for the public exhibition period for the replacement Water Sharing Plan for the NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Sources 2020.

• Moree – 2 March, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
  • Proposed changes to the Water Sharing Plan
  • Improving GAB drought resilience
  • GAB resource overview
• Lightning Ridge – 3 March, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
  • Proposed changes to the Water Sharing Plan
  • Improving GAB drought resilience
  • GAB resource overview
• Bourke – 4 March, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
  • Proposed changes to the Water Sharing Plan
  • Improving GAB drought resilience
  • GAB resource overview
• Coonamble – 5 March, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
  • Proposed changes to the Water Sharing Plan
  • Improving GAB drought resilience
  • GAB resource overview

Submissions

Submissions must be in writing.  There are two ways to make a submission:

• Download a submission form and either:
  • Email your completed form to gab.gw.wsp@dpie.nsw.gov.au, or
  • Print and post your written submission to:

NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Sources WSP Comments
Locked Bag 10, Grafton NSW 2460

Submission closing date

The closing date for receipt of submissions is Monday 30th March 2020 (AEDT).

Privacy

We respect your right to privacy. Before lodging your submission you will be asked to confirm that you have read our privacy statement. If you wish to maintain your privacy in this submission process you must:

• request your name be withheld from the list of submitters by ticking the relevant box in the submission form
• not include any of your personal information in your submission or attachments.

When you make a submission we will publish:

• the content of your submission and any attachments, including any personal information about you which you have chosen to include in those documents
• a list of submitters, which will include your name (unless you request your name be withheld from the list by ticking the relevant box below) and your suburb or town.