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Media Release - Department of Water and Energy Date: 16 April 2008 NEW COMMERCIAL GROUNDWATER LICENCES BANNED TO HELP PROTECT RIVER HEALTH The Iemma Government is moving to protect the health of NSW coastal rivers by banning the issue of any new large-scale commercial groundwater licences along most of the coastline.
Water Minister Nathan Rees said our coastal waterways were under increasing pressure from drought, population growth and climate change.
Whilst recent floods in the State’s North-East and good Christmas rain along most of the NSW sea-board will help flush our coastal river systems, they remain under increasing threat from less reliable rainfall and more competition for water.
The Iemma Government is acting to protect our coastal waterways from over-extraction by banning new large-scale commercial groundwater licences in most of our coastal alluvial groundwater systems.
The groundwater systems include: • Genoa, Snowy, Towamba, Bega, Tuross, Moruya and Clyde basins to the south of Sydney, and • the Hunter, Great Lakes, Manning, Hastings, Macleay, Nambucca, Bellinger, Coffs Harbour, Clarence, Richmond, Brunswick and Tweed river basins north of Sydney.
The Department of Water and Energy can no longer accept applications for new commercial groundwater licences for alluvial systems in these regions.
Only new licences are affected and existing commercial groundwater licences could still be purchased on the water market.
This measure is in line with the National Water Initiative. Irrigators and other commercial users wishing to expand their business can still do so by purchasing water already allocated for these purposes.
Existing surface and groundwater licences and basic landholder rights for water for stock and domestic uses are not affected and local authorities, such as councils, will still be able to access water for town water supplies.
Groundwater systems and rivers along the coast were closely connected and therefore over extraction of groundwater could affect river health.
If too much groundwater is taken out of the systems, the amount of water flowing into the rivers will drop, threatening ecosystems and jeopardising access to the water by licence holders.
The Iemma Government manages all groundwater systems in NSW to ensure that water extraction is sustainable for the long-term.
Water is shared between existing licence holders and the environment, and allowances are made for any foreseeable future demands, such as urban water requirements.
Once all of these current and foreseeable water allocations reach limits associated with environmental sustainability, bans on new commercial licences are put in place to prevent over-allocation.
This action is essential to protect the health of the water sources and make sure existing licensed users continue to have security of supply.
Water is a fragile and complex resource and the Iemma Government will continue to act to ensure its sustainable and responsible management.
More information on groundwater licences and water extraction rules is available online at the Department of Water and Energy’s website: http://www.dwe.nsw.gov.au/water/licensing.shtml
© NSW Department of Natural Resources
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