Fact sheet | November 2014
Introduction
The South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources
Management Board (the Board) has reviewed the Water Allocation
Plan for the River Murray Prescribed Watercourse (the plan) and
developed a new draft plan. It is now out for public consultation
and the Board is seeking feedback on changes made to the
draft plan.
The final adopted plan is a legal document that aims to manage
and protect the River Murray water resource for current and
future users so that an equitable balance is achieved between
environmental, social and economic water needs. It sets out rules
for determining water access entitlements, water allocations and
water trading, and for the taking and use of water. It provides
security to existing users through supporting water access
entitlements, as well as providing for the environment.
Why is the Water Allocation Plan for the River
Murray Prescribed Watercourse being changed?
The first plan was adopted on 1 July 2002. Since then, minor
changes have been made to the plan in 2004, 2009, and 2011.
A 2007 review of the plan recommended an update to science
and policy content, resulting in this new draft plan. The update
ensures that principles in the draft plan are fit for purpose and
will effectively manage the water resource. The draft plan
incorporates existing policies that were introduced after the
adoption of the plan in 2002, lessons from drought, updated
science, feedback from regional communities, and administrative
updates. New policies to manage local issues or provide greater
transparency to the community have also been included.
What has been the process for developing
the draft plan?
A concept statement for the draft plan was released in 2008
and set out the proposed content, issues to be investigated,
and consultation required in developing the draft plan. The River
Murray Advisory Committee (RMAC) provided advice to the
Board through a series of discussion papers, which had input
from DEWNR staff, industry bodies, community and
other stakeholders. A broad range of stakeholders have been
consulted throughout development of the draft plan.
What changes have been made in the
draft plan?
The draft plan proposes a number of changes:
• Introducing new principles (e.g. limiting site use approvals
in the Upper Pike River; allocating during dry conditions);
• Updating existing principles (e.g. changing from ‘classes’
to ‘consumptive pools’; tightening the provisions around
pumps on backwaters and anabranches); and
• Incorporating existing policies that currently sit outside of
the plan to provide greater clarity, with minor changes
(e.g. the salinity zoning policy; the private carryover policy).
Fact sheet 2
What has changed in the draft Water Allocation Plan
for the River Murray Prescribed Watercourse?
2 | What has changed in the draft Water Allocation Plan for
the River Murray Prescribed Watercourse?
Summary of key changes
New policies
Upper Pike River Anabranch The administrative Upper Pike River
Extraction Management Zone has been established. Inside this zone,
a use limit has been set at the volume of water currently endorsed to
be used on site use approvals. Further review of this use limit will
take place in the future in collaboration with the local community.
Allocating during dry conditions The draft plan includes
principles about how allocation of water is prioritised during dry
conditions (when South Australia receives less than its entitlement
flow). A hierarchy for the allocation of water during dry conditions
has been developed based on the views of stakeholders within
the region and reflect a regional view. In addition the plan
introduces a principle which proposes using the Adelaide
desalination plant before allocations are reduced. The Board is
now seeking wider community feedback on the hierarchy.
Changes to existing policies
Irrigation water use efficiency and irrigation reporting
Irrigation efficiency will be based on Code of Practice/Best
Practice Guidelines rather than an 85% or 65% efficiency.
Irrigation reporting requirements have been maintained except
for in five key areas under review, where additional data is
required every five years.
Pumping infrastructure The backwaters and anabranches
where new pumping infrastructure cannot be installed has been
expanded to include the tributaries of the Lower Lakes. In
addition the capacity of existing pumping infrastructure on
backwaters and anabranches may not be increased.
Water for ecological outcomes The requirement for wetlands
which receive wetland water allocations to have a ‘wetland
management plan’ has been replaced by the requirement to
be part of a ‘specified environmental improvement program’.
The definition of ‘wetland’ has been expanded to include all
wetlands within the 1956 flood boundary. In addition the
principles on use of unregulated flows for the environment
become more transparent.
Environmental Land Management Allocations (ELMA)
The principles regarding ELMA have the same intent, with
new objectives included to highlight its importance. ELMA
entitlements and allocations cannot be traded. They revert to
the Minister on sale of land and the new owner may apply to
receive them.
Consumptive pools The draft plan replaces ‘classes’ of water with
‘consumptive pools’ to be consistent with requirements of the NRM
Act 2004. Water has been grouped based on its characteristics. This
change does not affect the volume of entitlements or allocations
currently held by licensees.
Basin Plan Trading Rules Minor changes have been made to
the principles regarding trade to ensure that they are consistent
with Basin Plan Trading Rules.
Policies incorporated from outside the plan
Salinity zoning policy and prior commitment The River
Murray Salinity Zoning Policy, which was implemented in 2003,
has been incorporated into the draft plan. The only proposed
amendment to the policy is to conclude prior commitment 6
months after adoption of the plan.
Water licences for artificial water bodies This existing policy
has been incorporated into the draft plan with no change.
Private carryover The current private carryover policy has been
incorporated into the draft plan. Minor changes have been
made to the policy to update administrative arrangements and
ensure that the principles are compliant with the Basin Plan
Trading Rules.
Chapter summary for the draft Water
Allocation Plan for the River Murray
Prescribed Watercourse
Chapter 1 – The Water Allocation Plan
Chapter 1 provides an overview of the draft plan, including
the objectives and historical context leading up to the review
process and adoption of a plan.
Chapter 2 – The River Murray Prescribed
Watercourse
Chapter 2 provides an overview of how water is provided to
South Australia through an entitlement flow, how it is distributed
via the cap and consumptive pools process, and an assessment
of the needs of water users and the health and condition of the
system. It provides a high level overview of the Basin Plan and
how it relates to the draft plan. Chapter 2 includes a section on
areas of Indigenous cultural significance, which will be expanded
on during a review process for a future plan in 2019.
Chapter 3 – Needs of water dependent ecosystems
Chapter 3 focusses on an assessment of the quantity and quality of
water required to meet the needs of water dependent ecosystems
supported by the River Murray, and the times at which this water is
required. Environmental water provisions are outlined, which relate
to wetland allocations and the importance of unregulated flows.
Chapter 4 – Effects on other water resources
Chapter 4 identifies several neighbouring water resources where
the taking and use of water from the River Murray may have an
impact. These consist of both prescribed and non-prescribed
surface and groundwater resources and their interconnection
with the River Murray Prescribed Watercourse.
3 | What has changed in the draft Water Allocation Plan for
the River Murray Prescribed Watercourse?
Chapter 5 – Consumptive pools, water access
entitlements and water allocations
What is a Water Allocation Plan (WAP)?
Chapter 5 consists of principles arising from the discussion
papers and discussions with RMAC. It relates to the structure of
water entitlements, how water is allocated, criteria and
conditions for allocation.
A WAP is a legal document that:
The principles included in this chapter also cover topics such
as environmental land management allocations, allocations for
artificial water bodies, wetland water allocations, carryover
allocations and allocating during dry conditions.
Chapter 6 – Management of the take and use of water
• sets out rules for determining water entitlements, water
allocations, water trading, and approvals for the taking
and use of a prescribed water resource to ensure the
sustainability of that resource.
• provides greater security for water users and also takes
into account the needs of the environment.
• includes an assesment of the capacity of the resource to
current and future demands.
Chapter 6 consists of principles relating to the taking and use of
water. The principles relate to water resource works approvals
(specific to backwaters and environmental use); and site use
approvals (specific to irrigation in the River Murray Irrigation
Management Zone, the Upper Pike River Extraction Management
Zone, the Lower Murray Reclaimed Areas Irrigation Zone, and
the Angas Bremer Irrigation Management Zone).
• includes an assessment of the needs of water
dependent ecosytems.
Chapter 7 – Transfers of entitlements & allocations
How can you have your say on the draft
Water Allocation Plan for the River Murray
Prescribed Watercourse?
Chapter 7 explains the criteria for transfers of River Murray Water
Access Entitlements. The chapter incorporates requirements of the
Basin Plan Trading Rules, which came into effect on 1 July 2014.
Chapter 8 – Permits
Chapter 8 provides an overview of the permitting system in
place through the Natural Resources Management Act 2004
and details specific principles that relate to permits issued for
the River Murray Prescribed Watercourse. At this stage, permit
principles relate only to the construction of monitoring wells.
Chapter 9 – Monitoring and evaluation
Chapter 9 details the monitoring and evaluation requirements
to measure the effectiveness of the draft plan. This chapter
includes monitoring by DEWNR and other organisations as well
as individual licensee requirements to provide annual water use
data. The results of monitoring and evaluation will determine
if changes to the management of the River Murray Prescribed
Watercourse are required.
Chapter 10 – Connection with other legislation
Chapter 10 notes a range of legislation that has been regarded
when preparing the draft plan.
Chapter 11 – Glossary
Chapter 11 provides definition of common and technical terms,
words, acronyms and concepts used within the draft plan.
Chapter 12 – References
Chapter 12 provides a list of references found throughout
the draft River Murray WAP.
• includes principles in relation to water affecting activities.
• includes monitoring requirements for the licence holders
and the water resource.
The public consultation period for the draft plan will run from
25 November 2014 to 27 February 2015. The Board is inviting
responses on the content of the draft plan in the form of written
submissions from all interested parties. Feedback on the draft plan
will also be gathered at a series of open house meetings held during
the public consultation period at locations along the River Murray.
The dates and locations of these meetings will be advertised in local
and state-wide media, as well as in direct communication to River
Murray Prescribed Watercourse licensees and key stakeholders.
What happens next?
After the conclusion of the consultation period, all responses
will be reviewed and any required changes made to the draft
plan. The draft plan will be submitted to the Crown Solicitor’s
Office for legal review. Once these review processes are
complete, the draft plan will be provided to the Minister for
Sustainability, Environment and Conservation for consideration
and adoption.
4 | What has changed in the draft Water Allocation Plan for
the River Murray Prescribed Watercourse?
Further information on the draft Water
Allocation Plan for the River Murray
Prescribed Watercourse
Feedback
For more information on the changes in the draft
plan the following factsheets are also available:
The period for feedback on the draft Water Allocation Plan
for the River Murray Prescribed Watercourse closes on
5 pm, 27 February 2015.
FACTSHEET 1: What is the draft River Murray
Water Allocation Plan?
Written submissions can be directed to:
FACTSHEET 3: What will the changes in the draft Water
Allocation Plan for the River Murray Prescribed Watercourse
mean for licence holders?
FACTSHEET 4: What will the changes in the draft Water
Allocation Plan for the River Murray Prescribed Watercourse
mean for the environment?
Peta Brettig
Senior Project Officer, River Murray Water Allocation Plan
Natural Resources, SA Murray-Darling Basin
GPO Box 2834 Adelaide SA 5001
T: (08) 8463 6877
E: rmwap.feedback@sa.gov.au
www.naturalreasources.sa.gov.au/samurraydarlingbasin
For in depth information about policy changes in the draft plan,
a number of discussion papers are available.
Discussion Paper 1 - River Murray Salinity Zoning Policy
Discussion Paper 2 - Proposed Conclusion of Prior
Commitment in the Salinity Zoning Policy
Discussion Paper 3 - Undocumented Panel Assessed
Prior Commitment Claims and Salinity Management
Discussion Paper 4 - Irrigation Water Use Efficiency
in the Context of Salinity Management
Discussion Paper 5 - Estimating Irrigation
Drainage for Salinity Management
Discussion Paper 6 - Water Level Variability
and Pumping Infrastructure
Discussion Paper 7 - Management of Water
for Ecological Outcomes
Discussion Paper 8 - Upper Pike River Anabranch
Discussion Paper 9 - Environmental Land Management
Allocation (ELMA)
Discussion Paper 10 - Water Licences
for Artificial Water Bodies
Discussion Paper 11 - Private Carryover
Discussion Paper 12 - Consumptive Pools
Discussion Paper 13 - Allocating During Dry Conditions
Discussion Paper 14 – Basin Plan Trading Rules
FIS 93117
Copies of the discussion papers and the draft plan, are available
from the Board’s website, www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/
samurraydarlingbasin, or offices located in Murray Bridge,
Berri, and Mount Barker.