Macquarie-Castlereagh Alluvium 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 Where plans have been submitted (and not withdrawn), a copy of the submitted Plan and the schedules and appendices is available on the MDBA website.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 Where further work is required to address accreditation requirements, NSW WRPs are being withdrawn and will be resubmitted.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, 261.82 KB fact sheet.

What area does the plan cover?

The Macquarie-Castlereagh Alluvium WRP covers groundwater within the alluvial deposits of the Macquarie–Castlereagh catchment in central-western NSW.

The Macquarie-Castlereagh Alluvium (GW12) is composed of the following seven sustainable diversion limit resource units (SDL resource units):

• Bell Valley alluvium (GS11)
• Castlereagh alluvium (GS14)
• Coolaburragundy–Talbragar alluvium (GS15)
• Cudgegong alluvium (GS16)
• Lower Macquarie alluvium (GS26)
• Upper Macquarie alluvium (GS45)

Groundwater within the Great Artesian Basin is not included in the Murray–Darling Basin water sources as the Commonwealth Water Act 2007 excludes it.

Public exhibition

Public exhibition of the Macquarie–Castlereagh Alluvium WRP is now closed. All submissions have been reviewed by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment. Public information sessions were held in Dubbo, Narromine and Mudgee in November 2018.

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