Links to Documents, Applications, Submissions and other Downloads

(Documents can be accessed by clicking on the links)

Legislation and Plans

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has been empowered under the Federal Water Act to produce a Basin Plan. The Authority released its Guide to the Basin Plan in October 2010. It can be found here.

Centeral to irrigation management in the Gwydir Valley is the Water Act 1912 (for unregulated licences) and the Water Management Act 2000 for regulated and ground water licences. After clicking on link, you will then have to search the legislation under W for these two acts.

The two water sharing plans in operation are the Water Sharing Plan for the Lower Gwydir Groundwater Source 2003, and the Water Sharing Plan for the Gwydir Regulated River Water Source. There is also a draft Water Sharing Plan for the Gwydir Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources that is on public exhibition unto 14 Ocotber 2011.

There is currently a draft water sharing plan for the NSW Great Artesian Basin.

With the creation of the National Plan for Water Security the Water Act 2007 was passed by Federal Parliament. It is expected that it will be subject to significant ammendment during 2008.

Reports

In late 2007 the Federal Government released the CSIRO study Water Availability in the Gwydir. This is one of a series of reports on 18 sub-catchments within the Murray-Darling Basin. This report will be considered by the Murray-Darling Basin as akey document when formulating its Basin Plan, as part of the National Plan for Water Security. GVIA has raised some serious concerns with the report, and does not endorse it.

A final summary report containing results from all 18 catchments was released in November 2008. Water Availability in the Murray Darling Basin - A Report from CSIRO to the Australian Government .

Horticultural Alternatives

In late 2009 GVIA commissioned a report entitled " Horticultural Alternatives in the Gwydir Valley". The report has identified a number of suitable crops for the Gwydir Valley. The report can be accessed here. Additional information is here & here.

The Expression of Interest Form (EIO) is avalable here.

Financial Assistance

Irrigators may be eligble to receive drought assistance under the Exceptional Circumstances programme. The main form of assistance is an interest subsidy which can be considerable. People interested in seeking EC assistance are advised not to self-assess, but to lodge an application. It could be a good idea to consult with a rural counsellor or accountant prior to making the application. People whose applicantion was rejected one year should consider re-applying in subsequent years as circumsatnces and rules often change.

Water Reliabity

The NSW Government has released this report that outlines the reliability of regulated river irrigation entitlements across NSW's major Murray-Darling Basin Valleys. The report is titled Water Availability in New South Wales Murray-Darling Basin regulated rivers.

Links to GVIA Submissions on:

Draft Water Sharing Plan for the Gwydir Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources can be found here.

NSW Government Standing Inquiry into Coal Seam Gas in NSW can be found here.

Senate Inquiry in to the Management of the Murray-Darling Basin can be found here.

Regional Australia Committee's Inquiry into the Impact of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan can be found here.

Murray-Darling Basin Authority's Basin Plan Guide here.

Australian Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee into Provisions of the Water Act 2007 here.

IPART's Draft Determination for NSW Office of Water Charges can be found here.

IPART's Draft Determination for State Water's Bulk Water Charges can found here.

IPART for NSW Office of Water Charges 2010 - 2014 can be found here.

Draft Wetlands Management Plan can be found here.

Draft Floodplain Harvesting Policy can be found here.