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All Current and Past Media Releases
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Media Release - Department of Water and Energy Date: 29 April 2008 DRAFT HUNTER WATER SHARING PLAN EXHIBITION EXTENDED NSW Water Minister, Nathan Rees, said today that the time for public comment on the draft Hunter Water sharing plan was being extended following requests from a number of water users. The draft Hunter water sharing plan covers unregulated rivers and alluvial groundwater in the Goulburn, Hunter and Lake Macquarie catchments. The public exhibition period was originally proposed to end this Friday (2nd May). However, it has been extended by a further month to Friday 30th May, based on responses from the recent community meetings to discuss the draft plan. This extension will allow local farmers, industry groups and the wider community further time to comment on the draft plan for the area’s unregulated rivers and alluvial groundwater. The aim of the plan is to find a balance between conservation and development by proposing limits on water use through the capping of extraction at existing levels of entitlement. Unregulated rivers play an important role in providing long-term security for local farming, industries, towns and the environment.The draft plan includes rules for protecting the environment, water extraction, and water trading. Once finalised, the water sharing plan will be in place for ten years, giving security for water users and the environment. The NSW and Federal governments, rural landholders and the community all recognise the need to ensure our river management is sustainable. Copies of the draft plan, background document to the draft plan, a guide to the plan, water source report cards and a submission form can be obtained from:
© NSW Department of Natural Resources
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