“These findings make it all the more important that downstream targets to protect the environment and communities are included as part of any floodplain harvesting licensing regulations in the Northern Basin, including in the Barwon-Darling.”
The MDBA said NSW had promised to redouble efforts to improve measurement, management and regulation of water resources.
“NSW has not fully implemented its ‘rules for take’ outlined in their draft water resource plan, which includes assessing compliance with their state limits. This is an important rule to ensure actual take does not exceed the allowable limits,” the authority’s Tim Goodes said.
He said NSW had also explained that its model needed further work to enable a better understanding of SDL compliance, and the MDBA accepted that.
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Groundwater dashboard delivers key advice to water users
Water users are better informed on groundwater availability thanks to a dashboard now available on the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s website.
The dashboard is an innovative tool allowing water users to track groundwater extractions against extraction limits in real time, and see the likelihood that access to groundwater may be reduced in the next water year.
Groundwater sources across NSW are subject to long-term average extraction limits, to make sure groundwater is used sustainably over time. It is important to measure and manage these key resources to ensure the health of the water table for generations to come.