Sensor technology used to measure floodplain harvesting
In a world first, the NSW Government has used sensor technology to estimate the volume of floodplain harvesting captured in private water storages in the Northern Basin valleys.
LiDAR is a high-resolution, remote sensing technology that constructs 3D images, and when used in combination with traditional 2D satellite imagery, allows for a more accurate measurement of floodplain storage capacities and water take.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey, said ‘LiDAR has been used for many years to construct models that predict how water moves across floodplains. However, this is the first time it has been used to establish the location, capacity and the relative elevation of each storage on the floodplain.’
‘In February, heavy rain fell over the Northern Basin and, for the first time in NSW’s history, the department placed an embargo on floodplain harvesting “actively” diverting water to storages in order to protect a first flush of water through to the Lower Darling.’
‘Using this technology, we were able to assess the volume of water harvested was around 32 GL during this time. Now, over 380 GL has made it to the Menindee Lakes, reconnecting the Lower Darling to the Murray River for the first time since 2016’, said Minister Pavey.
‘These results show how vital this new technology will be as we continue to implement new licensing and measurement rules for floodplain harvesting and water management in NSW.’
Since 2013, the NSW and Australian governments have invested more than $15 million in improving data and information so that floodplain harvesting can be better managed.
There continue to be small increases in some of our major rural water storages. As a result, there have been recent general security allocation announcements, including:
3% in the Murray (15 May 2020), the first general security allocation in this valley since March 2018
5% in Murrumbidgee (15 May 2020), bringing total general security allocations in the Murrumbidgee to 11% for 2019–20
50% in Upper Namoi (21 April 2020)
30% in the Lower Darling (1 May 2020)
1.9% in Gwydir (7 May 2020).
Unused general security allocations (subject to entitlement limits) can be carried over to the next water year, which starts on 1 July.
Recent inflows have also eased some of the drought restrictions in the major river systems. The latest drought stages map (above) shows that only the Peel Valley remains at the highest level—Drought Stage 4—where the focus is on securing supplies for critical human needs.
While these improvements are welcome, around 90% of the state is still affected by drought, and the NSW Government is continuing to support affected towns and communities.
Public submissions invited on the Northern Basin First Flush event
The independent panel assessing the management of the 2020 Northern Basin First Flush event is seeking public feedback. Submissions on the first flush event and how it was managed can be made in writing or by completing a survey online. Submissions are due by 7 June 2020.
The NSW Government has introduced a water carting rebate program that is available to eligible landholders to assist and support communities affected by drought.
Eligible landholders can apply for a one-off payment of $2,000 to cover the cost of water carting or installing associated infrastructure, such as water tanks, to help secure their domestic water supplies. The rebate will apply to owners or occupiers of properties who typically access water from regulated rivers for their domestic supplies, but where flows ceased for extended periods due to the drought.
The $2,000 rebate is for occupiers of properties who:
have basic landholder rights or hold Domestic and Stock Access Licences to access water from regulated river systems
were unable to access water because flows ceased due to the drought
do not have access to the town water supply.
The rebate also applies to occupiers of properties on unregulated rivers who receive periodic replenishment flows from regulated river sources.
While flows in some of these rivers have returned, eligible landholders can still apply for the rebate to cover costs already incurred in meeting their domestic water needs.
To apply for the rebate or to find out more, visit the Service NSW website, or phone Service NSW on 13 77 88.
Applications close on 30 September 2020.
New on the Water website
Check out our new section on the North-west flows in early 2020 outlining the benefits from temporary water restrictions.
After some much-needed rain, the Menindee Lakes have received their first major river flow in four years. Check out our video clip of the flows.
The Menindee Lakes, Lower Darling and Great Darling Anabranch are the lifeblood of the Barkindji people. Watch our video to learn more. Visit our website to see how the Menindee Lakes Project plans to protect the important cultural values of these areas while delivering on our commitment to the Murray–Darling Basin Plan.
Delivering critical infrastructure under the Water Supply (Critical Needs) Act
The Water Supply (Critical Needs) Act 2019 creates a temporary pathway for the Minister for Water, Property and Housing to authorise critical water infrastructure needed to secure water supplies for regional towns in drought. The Act was passed by Parliament in November 2019.
The Act targets urgent infrastructure developments where the usual planning approval process can’t be achieved in time to prevent a town or locality from running out of water. Under the Act, urgent water infrastructure developments are assessed through a two-step process:
A request is made to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment by a public authority (for example, a local council or WaterNSW) to declare a town/locality water supply as critical, and have specific proposed developments listed as critical.
If the request in step one is approved, public authorities can apply directly to the minister for approval for the proposed development(s), and/or to seek temporary changes to operation of the Water Management Act 2000.
Three localities are now using the temporary pathway made possible by the Act. Orange, Tamworth and Bathurst have had their water supplies declared critical under the Act, and some urgent proposals in those areas are now eligible for assessment under the Act’s approval pathway.
Snowy water licence amendments open for public exhibition
The NSW Government is encouraging the public to have their say on proposed amendments to the Snowy Water Licence. The public exhibition is now open and the public will have until 16 June 2020 to make an online submission.
There are 23 proposed actions for implementation, including ten administrative changes to the licence.
‘The amendments were identified during the Snowy Water Licence mandatory 10-year review under the Act governing Snowy Hydro’s operations,’ said Allan Raine, Acting Director, Water Planning Implementation, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment—Water.
‘The amendments aim to improve oversight of Snowy Hydro’s operations, improve the coordination of environmental water management, increase transparency, simplify provisions, secure current practice and fix known errors,’ he said.
‘The Snowy Water Licence outlines Snowy Hydro’s rights and obligations managing water on behalf of the community. It’s our water, so I’m encouraging the community to have their say in ensuring we get the best results from this “once-in-a-decade” review process,’ Mr Raine said.
As part of the Natural Resources Access Regulator’s (NRAR) mission to become a world-class, best-practice regulator, it now has a total of 18 certified environmental auditors.
Staff from their monitoring and audit teams have participated in the environmental management system auditor certification program delivered by the NSW Environment Protection Authority and Exemplar Global.
NRAR carries out a range of proactive compliance activities to determine the level of compliance of water users in a geographic region, water sharing plan or industry. NRAR’s proactive work is risk-based and informed by their published regulatory priorities.
Greg Abood, NRAR’s Director Water Regulation (East), said ‘Our certified auditors will conduct audits under international standards and frameworks, using best-practice techniques and standards. This will give water users, industry and the public confidence in the integrity and independence of NRAR’s work in water regulation.’
To read NRAR’s reports on compliance outcomes see the reports and data page on their website.
DPIE Water using a new system for stakeholder communications
The department’s Water Relationships team is currently rolling out a new stakeholder management system to better manage engagement activities and communications with our stakeholders. This means that we can send timely information about engagement activities via text message, email or letter.
The system is compliant with NSW Government’s information security requirements. The data is stored on servers across two sites in Sydney, NSW and details are stored by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment - Water for five years. Users of the system manage data under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998.
Your privacy is important to us. Personal information will not be disclosed to anybody else, unless we have been given consent or are required to do so by law. Information collected is not required by law and stakeholders may opt-out of the system or being contacted by letting us know in writing to our Water Relationships team. If you opt out, it means you will no longer receive DPIE Water information and engagement invitations.
You can access and update your information in the stakeholder management system by sending a request to our Water Relationships team.
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