The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) is responsible for managing environmental water allocations established under Water Sharing Plans[1] and water licences held by government for environmental use. Forms of environmental water such as end of system flow targets, dam release rules and event specific restrictions on access for licence holders are specified in Water Sharing Plans are administered by the NSW Office of Water, which is part of DECCW.
Water for the Environment Branch within DECCW administers a range of water recovery programs that include water purchase as well as investment in water recovery through such things as infrastructure efficiency projects, where appropriate.
For more information contact:
Water for the Environment Branch
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water
PO Box 733
QUEANBEYAN NSW 2620
riverbank@environment.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 02 6229 7000 or 02 6229 7150
Fax: 02 6229 7005
NSW RiverBank is a $105 million environmental fund set up by the NSW Government to buy water for the state's most stressed and valued inland rivers and wetlands for five years up until 2011. The program is funded by the City and Country Environment Restoration Program, announced by the NSW Premier in November 2005.
NSW RiverBank will spend its $105 million over five years to buy water from the environment for willing sellers through an equitable and open process which will assist in improving and sustaining the condition of rivers and wetlands. This innovative program is providing a new way of accessing and using water to support and improve both the environment and the socioeconomic value of rivers and wetlands.
NSW RiverBank will help to deliver a sustainable future for regional communities. As a licence holder, RiverBank pays water licence charges to State Water and aims to become self funding in relation to these charges by the end of its first five years. This will be achieved through periodically trading a portion of water, in accordance with a Water Trading Strategy.
For further information, see the RiverBank Business Plan.
NSW Rivers Environmental Restoration Program
The NSW Rivers Environmental Restoration Program (RERP) is a jointly funded program between the NSW and Commonwealth governments. The NSW contribution to the RERP is the $101.5[2] million being invested in NSW RiverBank from 2005-06 to 2010-11 and the Commonwealth contribution is $71.77 million over three years from 2007-08, through the Water Smart Australia Program.
The RERP aims to arrest the decline of the most stressed and iconic rivers and wetlands in NSW through market based water acquisition and through effective, active management of environmental water.
NSW Wetland Recovery Program
The NSW Wetland Recovery Program (WRP) is a suite of projects that aim to restore the ecological health of the Gwydir Wetlands and the Macquarie Marshes. It targets the urgent needs of two of Australia's most iconic inland wetlands. The land managers, scientists and engineers who are working on these projects are researching the factors that contribute to the future health of these important wetlands. The areas being investigated in the Gwydir Wetlands are located within private landholdings whereas the Macquarie Marshes are a mix of private and public lands.
The WRP aims to develop better land and water infrastructure and management practices in consultation with local landholders, key stakeholders and government organisations. By focusing on these two wetlands, which include areas of international importance, the program will develop a blueprint for recovery procedures for inland wetlands and river systems across Australia.
The NSW and Australian Governments have jointly funded the NSW Wetland Recovery Program. A total of $26.8 million has been committed. In 2005 the NSW Government announced funding of $13.4 million which was matched by a grant from the Australian Government in 2006 through its Water Smart Australia Program.
For further information, go to http://www.wetlandrecovery.nsw.gov.au/
The Living Murray initiative
The Living Murray program (TLM) was established in 2002 in response to concerns over the declining health of the River Murray system. The program is one the of the most significant river restoration programs undertaken in Australia and it is a partnership between the New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian, ACT and Australian governments. Action to protect and improve the health of the River Murray includes investing $700 million in water recovery projects over five years from 2004-05 and spending $150 million over eight years on environmental works and measures. It aims to achieve a healthy working River Murray system, which includes returning water to the River’s environment.
The Darling Anabranch Pipeline and Environmental Flow Project is a major TLM initiative to return approximately 460km of degraded open water course to a more natural ephemeral system.
By 2009 TLM is targetting the recovery of 500 gigalitres of water for the River Murray specifically for the benefit of plants, animals and the ecosystems it supports, along with improving the environment at six identified icon sites.
For further information, go to http://thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au/
[1] Water Sharing Plans are statutory plans under Part 8 of the Water Act 1912 (to be replaced by the provisions within the Water Management Act 2000) covering the sharing of water between the environment and water users, and between categories of water users.
[2] This amount is the $105 million from RiverBank funding, less $3.5 million committed to the Pipeline NSW project.
