Ranking of areas for coastal suitable extraction implementation

Ranking areas and selecting pilot areas

This project looks at 21 NSW coastal unregulated and alluvial, and regulated water sharing plans (WSPs). A range of criteria were considered for each WSP to guide the order in which the coastal sustainable extraction framework will be implemented. The project will be piloted in two plan areas.

Pilot plan areas

The coastal sustainable extractions framework will be piloted in a high- and low-ranking plan area:

1. The Richmond River Unregulated, Regulated and Alluvial Water Sources
   1. It is a complex, high-ranking plan (excluding the Greater Metro, Central Coast and Hunter region WSPs).
   2. The plan’s proposed amendment date aligns with outputs from the project.
2. The Clyde River Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources
   1. This plan is on the south coast with low entitlement.
   2. This plan has a high number of water sources with three operational gauging stations.

How areas were ranked

The 21 plan areas were ranked using criteria that reflect water-dependent values and uses that may be supported or impacted by water-sharing arrangements within a plan:

• water dependent ecosystems
• hydrology and climate change
• extraction pressure
• water quality
• water-dependent Aboriginal cultural values and rights
• basic landholder rights - stock and domestic and harvestable rights
• urban water utilities
• water-dependent community wellbeing, health and recreational values
• water-dependent economic activity and employment
• adaptive management limited by knowledge gaps
• changes to pattern of use.

Additional criteria were used to consider project-specific implementation:

• Plan complexity: some plan areas require special consideration due to their complexity and interactions with other planning strategies and instruments. For example, implementation of the coastal sustainable extraction framework in the Greater Metropolitan Region, Central Coast and Hunter region plan areas will be scheduled once the method has been fully developed and piloted.
• Plan maturity: consideration of the date of expected plan replacement allows plans to be ranked above or below similar plans if this is appropriate from a resourcing perspective and in relation to the timing of the completion of the coastal sustainable extraction framework. The implementation of the coastal sustainable extraction framework within the existing planning cycle, as much as practically possible, provides an efficient and streamlined approach to when plans are remade or amended, and the level of effort required.
• Geographic spread: so that the implementation of the coastal sustainable extraction framework will spread across the north and south coast.

As the coastal sustainable extraction framework is not yet fully developed, rankings may change as the project progresses and there is an improved understanding of data. Rankings will be reviewed during the final project phase as part of the development of the implementation plan.