Water Resource Plans (WRPs) outline how the management of water resources in a particular river catchment will be consistent with the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. They set out the rules and arrangements relating to water take, environmental water (‘planned’ and ‘held’), managing water during extreme events and strategies to achieve water quality standards and manage risks. They also specify environmental objectives and watering requirements. WRPs include groundwater systems and surface water areas (rivers and creeks).
Catchment-specific water plans that are established under state legislation also need to be updated for consistency with the WRPs and requirements of the Basin Plan (i.e. Water Sharing Plans (WSPs) under the NSW Water Management Act 2000).
If the WRPs and WSPs are accredited in their current form, there is potential for significant consequences for river health and Ramsar-listed wetlands of international importance including the Gwydir wetlands and Macquarie Marshes, undermining the Basin Plan.
Read more: NSW-WRP-issues-and-safeguards
Healthy Rivers Dubbo 