In 2019–20, managed water will target a range of outcomes, including the maintenance of habitat that support colonial nesting waterbirds and the threatened Australasian bittern, improving conditions for small-bodied native fish, providing refuge and dispersal flows for large-bodied native fish, supporting wetland plants and enhancing connectivity in waterways for native fish.
This year managed watering events will focus on maintaining drought refuge habitat for southern bell frogs, native fish, waterbirds and other aquatic species.
In 2019–20, water managers will focus their efforts on supporting native fish populations. With the prospect of no water for the environment available to support critical refuge habitat, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment will work with WaterNSW to advise on how flows released for human needs can also help support the water quality and small-scale movement of native fish.
As the region is experiencing protracted drought conditions, the focus of water managers will be to direct available resources to avoid unrecoverable losses of ecological assets and functionality, with a specific focus on supporting native fish habitat.
This policy has been drafted for organisations in the NSW wildlife rehabilitation sector and is suitable for groups structured as a NSW incorporated association and company limited by guarantee, as well as for groups that are registered as a charity.
This management plan refines and consolidates the existing licensing framework to target regulation towards species at risk from unsustainable harvesting and ensure best practice management is applied consistently across New South Wales.
The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has revised its policy in relation to the investigation and resolution of matters under the Native Vegetation Act 2003.
Improving habitat for native fish, waterbirds and other aquatic species while restoring a more natural flow regime is a focus for water managers in 2018-19.
