Macquarie–Castlereagh region

About the region

The Macquarie–Castlereagh region lies west of the Great Dividing Range in central NSW and comprises the catchments of the Macquarie and Castlereagh Rivers which cover an area of around 92,000 km².

The region is the traditional lands of the Gomeroi/Kamilaroi, Ngemba, Ngiyampaa, Wailwan and Wiradjuri Nations.

The water sharing plans that apply to the surface water and groundwater resources of the Macquarie–Castlereagh region are listed below.

View all plans

Water Sharing Plan (WSP)	Supporting documentation	Commence date	Cease date	Prior Water Sharing Plan and status
Macquarie-Castlereagh Groundwater Sources 2020 Status: In force Macquarie-Castlereagh Groundwater Sources 2020 – Plan map (WSP049_V1) Macquarie-Castlereagh Groundwater Sources 2020 – GDE map (GDE016_V1)	Rule summary sheets	July, 2020	June, 2030	Lower Macquarie Groundwater Sources 2019 Status: Replaced Archived background document: N/A Macquarie-Bogan Unregulated and Alluvial Water Source 2012 Status: Amended (to remove alluvial water sources and include rules for active management) Archived background document (2012) Castlereagh Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011 Status: Amended (to remove alluvial water sources) Archived background document (2016)
Macquarie-Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2016 Status: In force	Changes to the Macquarie Water Sharing Plan fact sheet (July 2022) Compliance with Water Management Principles (July 2022) Summary of floodplain harvesting rules (July 2022)	July, 2016	June, 2026	This plan has been amended since it commenced. See the NSW Legislation site for details
Macquarie-Bogan Unregulated Rivers Water Sources 2012 Status: in force (with two year extension) Macquarie Bogan Unregulated Rivers Water Sources 2012 - Plan Map (WSP026_V2)	Rule summary sheets Background document 2012 Compliance with water management principles (September 2022)	October, 2012	June, 2025	This plan has been amended since it commenced. See the NSW Legislation site for details
Castlereagh Unregulated River Water Sources 2011 Status: In force (with two year extension) Castlereagh Unregulated River Water Sources 2011 - Plan Map (WSP012_V3)	Rule summary sheets Background Document (2016)	October, 2011	June, 2024	This plan has been amended since it commenced. See the NSW Legislation site for details.
NSW Murray–Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2020 Status: In force Murray Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2020 – Plan map (WSP012_V3) Murray Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2020 – GDE map (GDE024_V3)	Rule summary sheets Compliance with Water Management Principles (December 2021) Compliance with Water Management Principles (May 2022)	July, 2020	June, 2030	This plan has been amended since it commenced. See the NSW Legislation site for details. NSW Murray–Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2011 Status: Replaced Archived background document (2012)
NSW Murray–Darling Basin Porous Rock Groundwater Sources 2020 Status: In force Murray Darling Basin Porous Rock Groundwater Sources 2020 – Plan Map (WSP013_V2) Murray Darling Basin Porous Rock Groundwater Sources 2020 – GDE Map (GDE023_V1)	Rule summary sheets	July, 2020	June, 2030	NSW Murray–Darling Basin Porous Rock Groundwater Sources 2011 Status: Replaced Archived background document (2012)
NSW Great Artesian Basin Shallow Groundwater Sources 2020 Status: In force NSW Great Artesian Basin Shallow Groundwater Sources 2020 – Plan map (WSP014_V3) NSW Great Artesian Basin Shallow Groundwater Sources 2020 – GDE map (GDE022_V1)	Rule summary sheets	July, 2020	June, 2030	NSW Great Artesian Basin Shallow Groundwater Sources 2011 Status: Replaced Archived background document (2011)
NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Sources 2020 Status: In force NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Sources 2020 – Plan map (WSP040_V2) NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Sources 2020 – GDE map (GDE025_V1)	Rule summary sheets Background document (2020)	July, 2020	June, 2030	NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Sources 2008 Status: Replaced Archived background document (2009)