Sydney
21.2 Surface water allocation announcements – urban system

The volumetric value for the allocation/claim for the urban water access entitlement category is 1,038,355 ML.

This line item reflects the liability to the surface water store from the allocation/claim considered for the surface water store from the allocation/claim considered for urban water access entitlement category.

Entitlement values used to estimate allocated volume are based on information available in the Water Sharing Plan for the Greater Metropolitan Region Unregulated River Water Sources. As no formal allocation announcement has occurred the water allocation for the 2011–12 year was assumed to be 100% of the entitlement outlined in the water sharing plan. See Water legislation in the Contextual information for further details.

Allocation announcements for the urban system

Utility type	Utility name	Diversions associated with the allocation	Allocated volume for the 2011–12 year (ML)
Major utility (urban water)	Sydney Catchment Authority	Diversions to Sydney Water Corporation for Sydney Greater Metropolitan Area	987,000
		Diversions from Bendeela Pondage to Kangaroo Valley for Shoalhaven City Council
		Diversions from Wingecarribee Reservoir to the Wingecarribee water treatment plant for Wingecarribee Shire Council
		Diversions to some retail customers
Major utility (urban water)	Sydney Water1 Corporation	Diversions from the Hawkesbury and Lower Nepean rivers water source	20,075
Local water utility	Goulburn Mulwaree Council	Goulburn Mulwaree Council diversions to Goulburn water treatment plant from storages and divert to Marulan Water Treatment Plant from river flow.	31,280
	Lithgow City Council	Lithgow City Council diversions to Oakey Park water treatment plant from a storage
	Shoalhaven City Council	Sydney Catchment Authority diversions from Lake Yarrunga (Tallowa Dam) for pumping at Burrier for Shoalhaven City Council.
		Right to divert from the Kangaroo River unregulated water source and Jasper Creek
	Wingecarribee Shire Council	Wingecarribee Shire Council diversions to Medway and Bundanoon water treatment plant from storages
	Palerang City Council	Palerang City Council diversions for Braidwood water treatment plant
Total			1,038,355

1 Sydney Water Corporation's unregulated entitlements from the Hawkesbury and Lower Nepean rivers water source. The Sydney Water Corporation uses these entitlements to supply water to its North Richmond WTP. The Sydney Catchment Authority supplies water to all Sydney Water Corporation's other water treatment plants from its storages/weirs. These supplies are based on the Sydney Catchment Authority's regulated entitlements and the bulk supply agreement between the two organisations.

Water Sharing Plan for the Greater Metropolitan Unregulated River Water Sources. Entitlement data recorded in databases and water management licences for Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Lithgow City Council, Shoalhaven City Council and Wingecarribee Shire Council.

The Bureau calculated allocation announcement/claim; New South Wales Office of Water, Shoalhaven City Council, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Lithgow City Council and Wingecarribee Shire Council provided entitlement data.

The volumetric value for the announced allocation/claim for urban water access entitlements/arrangements in the Sydney region was estimated by mapping entitlement values stated in the water sharing plan to the relevant category of entitlements, and applying an assumed allocation 100% at the beginning of the 2011–12 year. Entitlements for the Sydney Catchment Authority (major utility) and five local water utilities (Shoalhaven City Council, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Lithgow City Council, Palerang City Council and Wingecarribee Shire Council) were taken into account.

There is no process of formal allocation announcement for the entitlement holders considered in this line item. Taking into consideration the water availability at the beginning of the 2011–12 year, an allocation of 100% was assumed.

The New South Wales Office of Water records entitlements for the line item as unregulated for major utilities and local water utilities (to harvest unregulated inflow). The Bureau of Meteorology has defined these entitlements as regulated for the purposes of the 2012 Account and listed under urban category (see the note Water rights, entitlements, allocations and restrictions).

The volume was estimated. Uncertainty is ungraded.

In the 2011 Account, several entitlement values were incorrectly stated in 21.1 Surface water allocation announcements. These include Goulburn Mulwaree Council's entitlement for the Marulan Water Treatment Plant, Palerang City Council's entitlement from the Shoalhaven River and Sydney Water Corporations entitlement from the Hawkesbury and Lower Nepean rivers. As these water rights are held for the urban water store, the claim is now recognised under 11.18 Increase of urban claim on surface water and also 21.2 Surface water allocation announcements – urban system. Consequently, the value for this line item has been restated from 1,022,865 ML to 1,043,455 ML.