Macquarie–Castlereagh region

Macquarie River Rail Bridge in Dubbo, New South Wales. Image courtesy of Destination New South Wales.

The Macquarie–Castlereagh region lies west of the Great Dividing Range in central NSW and comprises the catchments of the Macquarie and Castlereagh Rivers which cover an area of around 92,000 km2.  The region is the traditional lands of the Gomeroi/Kamilaroi, Ngemba, Ngiyampaa, Wailwan and Wiradjuri Nations.

The water sharing plans that apply to the surface water and groundwater resources of the Macquarie–Castlereagh region are listed below.

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Water Sharing Plan (WSP) Supporting documentation Commence date Cease date Prior Water Sharing Plan and status
Macquarie-Castlereagh Groundwater Sources 2020
  • Status: In force

Macquarie-Castlereagh Groundwater Sources 2020 – Plan map (WSP049_V1)

Macquarie-Castlereagh Groundwater Sources 2020 – GDE map (GDE016_V1)

Rule summary sheets July,  2020 June, 2030
Macquarie-Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2016
  • Status: In force

This is an informal compilation of the water sharing plan, including approved plan amendments. A link to the updated plan on the NSW legislation website will be provided once the plan is available under the ‘in force’ section of the website.

Changes to the Macquarie Water Sharing Plan fact sheet (July 2022)

Compliance with Water Management Principles (July 2022)

Summary of floodplain harvesting rules (July 2022)
July, 2016 June, 2026 Macquarie-Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2016
  • Status: Amended

Macquarie-Bogan Unregulated Rivers Water Sources 2012

  • Status: in force

This an informal compilation of the water sharing plan, including approved plan amendments. A link to the updated plan on the NSW legislation website will be provided once the plan is available under the ‘in force’ section of the website.

Macquarie Bogan Unregulated Rivers Water Sources 2012 - Plan Map (WSP026_V2)

Rule summary sheets

Background document 2012

Compliance with water management principles (September 2022)

October, 2012 June, 2023
Castlereagh Unregulated River Water Sources 2011
  • Status: In force (with two year extension)

Castlereagh Unregulated River Water Sources 2011 - Plan Map (WSP012_V3)

Rule summary sheets

Background Document (2016)
October, 2011 June, 2024
NSW Murray–Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2020
  • Status: In force

This is an informal compilation of the water sharing plan, including approved plan amendments. A link to the updated plan on the NSW legislation website will be provided once the plan is available under the ‘in force’ section of the website.

Murray Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2020 – Plan map (WSP012_V3)

Murray Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2020 – GDE map (GDE024_V3)

Rule summary sheets

Compliance with Water Management Principles (December 2021)

Compliance with Water Management Principles (May 2022)

July, 2020 June, 2030
NSW Murray–Darling Basin Porous Rock Groundwater Sources 2020
  • Status: In force

Murray Darling Basin Porous Rock Groundwater Sources 2020 – Plan Map (WSP013_V2)

Murray Darling Basin Porous Rock Groundwater Sources 2020 – GDE Map (GDE023_V1)

Rule summary sheets July, 2020 June, 2030
NSW Great Artesian Basin Shallow Groundwater Sources 2020
  • Status: In force

NSW Great Artesian Basin Shallow Groundwater Sources 2020 – Plan map (WSP014_V3)

NSW Great Artesian Basin Shallow Groundwater Sources 2020 – GDE map (GDE022_V1)

Rule summary sheets July, 2020 June, 2030
NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Sources 2020
  • Status: In force

NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Sources 2020 – Plan map (WSP040_V2)

NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Sources 2020 – GDE map (GDE025_V1)

Rule summary sheets

Background document (2020)
July, 2020 June, 2030