Lachlan Surface Water Resource Plan

Commonwealth accreditation

All NSW Water Resource Plans (WRPs) were submitted in 2020 to the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to assess the plan against accreditation requirements of the Basin Plan 2012. Where plans have been submitted (and not withdrawn), a copy of the submitted Plan and the schedules and appendices is available on the MDBA website. The MDBA is progressing its assessment of NSW WRPs and notifying NSW on the outcome of this assessment. Where further work is required to address accreditation requirements, NSW WRPs are being withdrawn and will be resubmitted. At the time of withdrawal, the submitted documents are removed from the MDBA website. Refer to the Water Resource Plans–status: Water in New South Wales page for the status of each plan.

Changes made to the draft plan based on feedback from public consultation and the MDBA’s preliminary advice is provided in the summary of changes (PDF, 293.73 KB) fact sheet.

What areas does the plan cover?

The Lachlan Water Resource Plan covers the surface water sources of the Lachlan valley. The plan incorporates three surface water resources. The Lachlan Regulated River Water Source comprises water between the banks of the Lachlan River and some of its anabranches, from Wyangala Dam storage downstream to the Great Cumbung Swamp. The Belubula Regulated River Water Source comprises water between the banks of the Belubula River, from Carcoar Dam water storage downstream to the junction of the Belubula River with the Lachlan River. The Lachlan Unregulated Water Sources comprise all of the streams upstream of Wyangala Dam (excluding the regulated Belubula River), and all of the tributaries entering the Lachlan River downstream of Wyangala Dam. They are categorised into 23 water sources.

Public exhibition

The draft Water Resource Plan, and proposed changes to the existing Water Sharing Plans, were on public exhibition from 29 November 2018 to 1 February 2019. Three public information sessions were held during this time, in Canowindra, Hillston and Forbes. All submissions received during this period have been reviewed by the department.

The public exhibition period provided valuable feedback that helped develop and inform proposed changes to the Water Sharing Plans and Water Resource Plan.

The following respondents agreed to have their submissions published on this website. Note that not all respondents elected to have their submissions published.

Water sharing plans

The progress of changes to the water sharing plans as part of the water resource plan development can be found below.