Draft replacement Water Sharing Plan for the Richmond River Area Unregulated, Regulated and Alluvial Water Sources
Public exhibition of the replacement Water Sharing Plan for the Richmond River Area Unregulated, Regulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2023 will run from Thursday, 20 October to Sunday, 18 December 2022.
The Richmond River community has been devastated by the recent catastrophic floods. However, there is a legal requirement to replace the water sharing plan. In recognition of current community priorities, we are limiting changes proposed in the draft water sharing plan to state-wide policy updates and minor plan improvements. At this time we are not making changes to the water sharing plan rules that relate to specific individual water access such as the flow classes, cease to pump and commence to pump rules. An amendment provision will be included in the plan to enable consultation on these types of access rules within the first 5 years of the plan.
The public exhibition period has also been extended to 60 days to provide additional opportunity for those who wish to make a submission.
The water sharing plan establishes rules for water management including the limit of the total volume of water that can be extracted from the water sources in the Richmond River Area Unregulated, Regulated and Alluvial water sharing plan area.
Water sharing plans are subject to review every 10 years under the Water Management Act 2000. The current water sharing plan for the Richmond River Area Unregulated, Regulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2010 will expire on 30 June 2023.
The public exhibition period provides opportunities for water users, stakeholders and other interested parties to learn more about proposed changes in the draft plan, and to make submissions and comment on the draft. Feedback and issues raised during the public exhibition phase will be considered when finalising the plan.
The finalised replacement plan is proposed to commence on or before 1 July 2023.
Stakeholders can:
- Read the draft (PDF, 1698.8 KB)
- View a map (PDF, 7923.2 KB) of the water sharing plan area
- Read supporting documentation including background documents, fact sheets, report cards and a risk assessment.
If you require assistance reading these documents, please contact 1300 081 047 or water.enquiries@dpie.nsw.gov.au.
Public information sessions
The meetings will be drop in style, where you are welcome to come anytime during the session. There will be no formal presentation, instead we will have planners on hand to answer all your questions and provide information.
| Location | Details | Event registration |
|---|---|---|
| Webinar | Wednesday, 9 November 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Watch the recorded webinar |
| Kyogle | Monday, 14 November 2022 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Kyogle Golf club 102 Summerland Way, Newpark, NSW 2474 | Session has concluded |
| Casino | Wednesday, 16 November 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Casino Returned Servicemen’s Memorial (RSM) Club 162 Canterbury St, Casino, NSW 2470 | Session has concluded |
| Wollongbar | Thursday, 17 November 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Department of Primary Industries office, 1243 Bruxner Highway, Wollongbar, NSW 2477 | Session has concluded |
| Ballina | Friday, 18 November 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Ballina RSL Club 1 Grant Street, Ballina, NSW 2478 | Session has concluded |
| Other opportunities | ||
| One-on-one | If you are unable to attend one of the above sessions, Department of Planning and Environment–Water staff will be available for one on one phone or video calls from the 21 November to 2 December 2022. Please register your interest for one of these sessions. | Register for one-on-one |
Make a submission
If you would like to make an online submission, please click on the 'Have your say' button below.
Alternatively, you can download the submission form and return it to us by email at richmondriverarea.wsp@dpie.nsw.gov.au, or post to:
Richmond River Area WSP
Department of Planning and Environment – Water
PO Box 1226
Newcastle, NSW 2300
Submissions will be accepted until midnight Sunday, 18 December 2022.
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 do not wish to have your name, or other identifying information, published 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 which you have chosen to include in these 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.