The table below summarises current NSW 'held' water for the environment.
Note: this does not include ‘planned’ water for the environment which is allocated under Water Sharing Plans.
Cumulative water for the environment holdings (‘held’) recovered to June 30 2022 (megalitres)
| Valley | High Security | General Security | Supplementary | Unregulated | Aquifer | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Living Murray (TLM) | ||||||
| Murrumbidgee | – | 85,011.0 | – | 85,011.0 | ||
| Murray | 5,123.5 | 83,006.0 | 100,000.0 | 12,965.0 | 201,094.5 | |
| Darling | 500.0 | 47,800.0 | 250,000.0 | – | 298,300.0 | |
| Total | 5,623.5 | 215,817.0 | 350,000.0 | 12,965.0 | – | 584,405.5 |
| Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) | ||||||
| Gwydir | 1,249.0 | 17,092.0 | 3,140.5 | – | 21,481.5 | |
| Macquarie | – | 48,419.0 | 1,451.5 | 2,916.0 | 52,786.5 | |
| Lachlan | 1,795.0 | 37,595.0 | – | – | 39,390.0 | |
| Murrumbidgee | – | 31,424.0 | 6,700.0 | 9,948.0 | 1,857.0 | 49,929.0 |
| Lowbidgee | – | – | 148,087.0 | – | 148,087.0 | |
| Murray | 2,027.0 | 30,157.0 | – | – | 32,184.0 | |
| Barwon-Darling | – | – | – | 1,730.0 | 1,730.0 | |
| Total | 5,071.0 | 164,687.0 | 159,379.0 | 14,594.0 | 1,857.0 | 345,588.0 |
Notes
- These figures have been rounded up, and the department considers them to be accurate at the time of printing.
- This table is an operational record, so some minor adjustments may need to be incorporated when the data is verified by audit.
- The Living Murray licences are listed separately as they are held under a joint venture arrangement with parties to the Murray Darling Basin Agreement.
The NSW Government purchased water for the environment at market rates through existing water markets.
Previous use of water for the environment
The graph below identifies the total use of water for the environment in New South Wales over time.
Annual volumes of water delivered to NSW targets from the Living Murray Program licences purchased by the NSW Government, including planned water (NSW) and licences purchased by Commonwealth Government (CEWH)