Assessment summaries
Detailed analysis and tracking of surface water extraction limits to support the state’s commitment to sustainable water use.
Namoi Regulated River
Assessment type: LTAAEL
Year assessment completed: 2021-22 and 2022-23
Summary: Results from modelling published under the healthy floodplains program show that the Namoi Regulated River has exceeded the LTAAEL and that compliance action is required. These results continue to be updated each year and are published on our website: LTAAEL compliance results.
As a result, the Available Water Determination (AWD) made for supplementary water access licences at the commencement of both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 water years was reduced, as per current water sharing plan requirements. We will revise the assessment once floodplain harvesting licences commence. Read our FAQs to find out more.
Border Rivers and Gwydir Regulated Rivers
Assessment type: LTAAEL
Year non-compliant assessment completed: 2020-21 and 2021-22
Summary: Results from modelling published under the healthy floodplains program show that the Border Rivers and Gwydir Regulated Rivers exceeded the LTAAEL and that compliance action was required.
As a result, the Available Water Determination (AWD) made for supplementary water access licences at the commencement of the 2021-22 water year was reduced for the Border Rivers and Gwydir, as per current water sharing plan requirements. Growth-in-use action was again taken for the 2022-23 water year prior to floodplain harvesting licences being implemented in mid-August 2022. The licences were designed to manage growth and bring the water sources back into compliance.
These results continue to be updated each year and are published on our website: LTAAEL compliance results.
Greater Metropolitan Region Unregulated River
Assessment type: LTAAEL
Year non-compliant assessment completed: All years since 2021-22
Summary: Southern Sydney EMU - major utility access licence LTAAEL has been exceeded as is published on our website: LTAAEL compliance results. The water sharing plan requires that a review is undertaken by the Minister. The department has commenced this review.
Barwon-Darling
Assessment type: SDL
Year non-compliant assessment completed: All assessments for 2019-20 to 2021-22
Summary: The Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) rejected the department’s claim for reasonable excuse for going over its Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) in the Barwon-Darling. Read our FAQs to find out more.
A key reason for the non-compliant outcome was the department had not implemented all of the procedures in the proposed water resource plan, including the NSW extraction limit assessment. We have now completed this work, which concluded current long-term average annual extractions are compliant with the Long-term Average Annual Extraction Limit. Read our assessment (PDF, 165.17 KB) to find out more.
A series of make-good actions were agreed to with the MDBA in 2021. We have progressed these actions and as a result the Barwon-Darling returned to a compliant outcome in the 2022-23 assessment. You can find out more on our website at Sustainable diversion limit outcomes.