Sydney
33.1 Other statutory groundwater rights

Supporting Information

Anyone who holds a groundwater basic right can extract water to meet basic requirements for household purposes (non-commercial uses in and around the house and garden) and for watering of stock. This water cannot be used for irrigating crops or garden produce that will be sold or bartered, washing down machinery sheds or intensive livestock operations. A breakdown of the right is provided in the following table.

 

Groundwater basic rights for stock and domestic purposes in the Sydney region

Groundwater source (aquifers)

Domestic and stock (ML)

Botany Sands

1,849

Maroota Tertiary Sands

17

Metropolitan Coastal Sands

298

Sydney Basin North

722

Sydney Basin Richmond

1,623

Sydney Basin Central

2,601

Sydney Basin Blue Mountain

421

Sydney Basin Nepean

5,971

Sydney Basin South

2,098

Hawkesbury Alluvium

305

Sydney Basin Coxs River

454

Goulburn Fractured Rock

3,114

Coxs River Fractured Rock

179

Total

19,652

 

Attributes of the right

As recorded by the NSW Office of Water, there is a 19,652 ML groundwater basic right available in the Sydney Region. The annual extraction for a groundwater basic right was assumed to be the figure stated in the Draft Water Sharing Plan – Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources (100% of the right); however, in times of limited supply, there may be restrictions on taking water for domestic and stock use.

Quantification Approach

Data Source

NSW Office of Water: Draft Water Sharing Plan – Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources.

Provided by

NSW Office of Water.

Method

Mapping values for the groundwater basic right as stated in the Draft Water Sharing Plan – Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources.

Assumptions, Limitations, Caveats and Approximations

Nil.

Additional information

The legislative policy governing the right is the Water Management Act 2000 (NSW) and Water Act 1912 (NSW). The source for information provided in this note is Draft Water Sharing Plan – Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources.

The estimates of basic landholder requirements stated in this note were compiled before finalisation of the Draft Water Sharing Plan – Greater Metropolitan Region Groundwater Sources. Therefore, stated values are provisional and an estimate.

Uncertainty Information

Estimated uncertainty is +/– 30% to 50% based on professional judgment and the established practice within the NSW Office of Water.