Water Planning in New South Wales delayed until mid-2011

The New South Wales Water Commissioner says it will be at least the middle of next year before water sharing plans are reintroduced in the state. Water sharing plans are developed in irrigation areas so that a balance is met between agricultural and environmental water needs.

According to the State Water Commissioner David Harriss, it is simply not fair to change the water rules at this moment:

We've been working on a different set of rules over the last couple of years and whilst we're returning effectively to the principles of a water sharing plan, we realy would prefer to introduce those at the start of a water year, having given people a fair bit of notice.

Things like carry-over have been applied over the last few years and you might actually have an adverse impact on water availability to people who have made conscience investment decisions.

One of the underlying principles for re-introduction of a water sharing plan is to ensure we've got the critical human needs set aside for hopefully two years in advance.

Now in both the Murray and Murrumbidgee that would require additional water being stores and available in the Snow Hydro in their storages.

The state's water commissioner says until high country dams fill, water sharing plans won't be re-introduced in the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers.

But Commissioner Harriss said there have been releases for environmental reasons where possible. He said it will be at least the middle of next year before water sharing plans will be considered.

Lake Eucumbene is currently 24 per cent full, Lake Jindabyne 70 per cent full and the Tantangara Reserve is at 37 per cent. Both Blowering and Burrinjuck Dams are around 90 per cent full.

The New South Wales Water Minister Philip Costa said he supports a push to extend the state's water sharing plans by four years. Victoria's water sharing plans run until 2018, but the New South Wales plans are currently due to end in 2014.

The Murray Darling Association and irrigator groups want the system changed to match Victoria. Mr Costa said there is sure to be opposition from some groups, but it is a possibility:

I am very sympathetic to that, but there are some rules or laws that I have to apply. I'm looking at what can be done there because it makes sense.

It depends on what is in the water sharing plan next week, or the guide and what that has to offer. And when it comes to implementation I certainly will be entertaining the sorts of proposals that have been put across.

Mr Costa said there would be good reason to extend the state's water sharing plans to be in line with Victoria:

I'm sure there will be opposition to whatever we do, but I'm looking at what might be the best interests of the people of New South Wales.

Particulrly the people on the Murray and the Darling rivers and all the other rivers to ensure that we deliver the best possible outcome for them along with that balance between what the environment requires to maintain itself.

See the original article here.