Murray–Darling Basin
32.2 Surface water access entitlement for non-allocated diversions

Supporting information
Quantification approach

Supporting information

The volumetric value for the line item for the 2012–13 year was 4,837,214 ML. The line item includes surface water entitlement or other arrangement for which no surface water liability was recognised in the 2013 Account. For the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) region, the line item includes surface water access entitlements that give access to unregulated flow, including supplementary entitlements (entitlements within regulated systems that give access to unregulated flow in New South Wales).

The following table presents summarised information for the line item on Water Resource Plan (WRP) area basis. Subsequent tables provide breakdown information on sustainable diversion limit (SDL) area basis.

Summary of surface water access entitlement for direct diversion in the MDB region as applicable in the 2012–13 year
Surface WRP area		State/Territory	Volume (ML) for the 2012–13 year
Code	Name	State/Territory	Unregulated entitlements (excluding supplementary and environmental entitlements)	Supplementary (excluding environmental entitlements) entitlements	Environmental (unregulated and supplementary) entitlements	Total
SW20	Warrego–Paroo– Nebine	Qld	94,429	0	21,970	116,399
SW19	Condamine–Balonne	Qld	1,830,143	0	49,605	1,879,748
SW18	Moonie	Qld	75,065	0	1,415	76,480
SW17	Qld Border Rivers	Qld	399,295	0	4,286	403,581
SW16	NSW Border Rivers	NSW	32,421	120,001	0	152,422
SW12	Barwon–Darling Watercourse	NSW	158,827	0	25,575	184,402
SW13	NSW Intersecting Streams	NSW	18,843	0	17,826	36,669
SW15	Gwydir	NSW	62,923	157,807	22,240	242,970
SW14	Namoi	NSW	129,552	115,469	0	245,021
SW11	Macquarie–Castlereagh	NSW	278,720	46,700	3,340	328,760
*Sub-total Northern Basin*			*3,080,218*	*439,977*	*146,257*	*3,666,452*
SW10	Lachlan	NSW	53,386	3,125	0	56,511
SW9	Murrumbidgee	NSW	81,059	165,543	33,237	279,839
SW8	NSW Murray and Lower Darling	NSW	45,889	152,368	363,021	561,278
SW3	Northern Victoria	Vic.	147,692	0	0	147,692
SW2	Vic. Murray	Vic.	49,090	0	74,300	123,390
SW4	Wimmera–Malee	Vic.	0	0	0	0
SW5 and SW7	SA Murray Region and Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges	SA	0	0	0	0
SW6	SA River Murray	SA	0	0	0	0
SW1	ACT	ACT	2,052	0	0	2,052
*Sub-total Southern Basin*			*379,168*	*321,036*	*470,558*	*1,170,762*
Total for the region			3,459,386	761,013	616,815	4,837,214

Details of surface water access entitlements that give access to unregulated flow in the MDB region as applicable in the 2012–13 year
WRP area	SDL area		Entitlement class	State	Limit type	Volume (ML) for the 2012–13 year			Data source	Additional comments
WRP area	Code	Name	Entitlement class	State	Limit type	Non-environmental	Environmental	Total	Data source	Additional comments
SW20 Warrego–Paroo–Nebine	SS29	Paroo	unsupplemented water allocations with no flow conditions	Qld	volumetric	70	0	70	Qld WAM 2012–13 data	The Warrego, Paroo, Bullo and Nebine Resource Operations Plan January 2006 (Attachment 4C) indicate that of the 70 ML on issue at the commencement of the plan, 30 ML for Balonne Shire Council: possibly for urban use; however WAM treats this as all irrigation, hence it is shown here as irrigation.
	SS29	Paroo	unsupplemented water licences– urban	Qld	volumetric	5	0	5	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
	SS28	Warrego	unsupplemented water allocations with flow conditions	Qld	volumetric	87,250	16,050	103,300	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water allocations with no flow conditions	Qld	volumetric	3,630	0	3,630	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water licences	Qld	volumetric	190	0	190	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
	SS27	Nebine	unsupplemented water allocations with flow conditions	Qld	volumetric	1,300	5920	7,220	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water allocations with no flow conditions	Qld	volumetric	1,750	0	1,750	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water licences	Qld	volumetric	75	0	75	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water licences– urban	Qld	volumetric	159	0	159	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
SW19 Condamine–Balonne	SS26	Condamine–Balonne	unsupplemented water allocations with flow conditions	Qld	volumetric	1,786,875	49,605	1,836,480	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water allocations with no flow conditions	Qld	volumetric	36,559	0	36,559	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water licences	Qld	nominal	49	0	49	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water licences– urban	Qld	volumetric	6,660	0	6,660	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
SW18 Moonie	SS25	Moonie	unsupplemented water licences– urban	Qld	volumetric	10	0	10	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water allocations with flow conditions	Qld	volumetric	72,934	1,415	74,349	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water allocations with no flow conditions	Qld	volumetric	1,784	0	1,784	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water licences	Qld	volumetric	337	0	337	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
SW17 Qld Border Rivers	SS24	Qld Border Rivers	unsupplemented water allocations with flow conditions	Qld	volumetric	395,414	4,286	399,700	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water allocations with no flow conditions	Qld	volumetric	1,140	0	1,140	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water licences	Qld	nominal	64	0	64	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
			unsupplemented water licences– urban	Qld	volumetric	2,677	0	2,677	Qld WAM 2012–13 data
SW16 NSW Border Rivers	SS23	NSW Border Rivers	domestic and stock	NSW	entitlement	418	0	418	NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics Water Sharing Plan for the NSW Border Rivers Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012	Tenterfield Creek and unregulated Border Rivers
			local water utility access licences	NSW	entitlement	2,114	0	2,114	NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics Water Sharing Plan for the NSW Border Rivers Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012	Tenterfield Creek and unregulated Border Rivers Includes 100 ML for domestic and stock (town supply)
			unregulated river access licences	NSW	entitlement	29,889	0	29,889	NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics Water Sharing Plan for the NSW Border Rivers Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012	Tenterfield Creek and unregulated Border Rivers. The value for Unregulated Border Rivers is based on long-term water availability.
SW12 Barwon–Darling Watercourse	SS19	Barwon–Darling Watercourse	domestic and stock	NSW	entitlement	2,660	0	2,660	Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
			local water utility access licences	NSW	entitlement	5,404	0	5,404	Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
			unregulated river access licences	NSW	entitlement	150,763	22,275	173,038	Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
			salinity and water table managemnet	NSW	entitlement	0	3,300	3,300	Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
SW13 NSW Intersecting Streams	SS17	NSW Intersecting Streams	domestic and stock	NSW	entitlement	219	0	219	Water Sharing Plan for the Intersecting Streams Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011	Moonie, Narran, Culgoa, Warrego and Paroo rivers; and Yanda Creek water sources
			local water utility access licences	NSW	entitlement	312	0	312	Water Sharing Plan for the Intersecting Streams Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011	Culgoa and Paroo rivers water sources
			unregulated licensed entitlements	NSW	entitlement	18,312	17,826	36,138	Water Sharing Plan for the Intersecting Streams Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011	(i) Moonie, Narran, Culgoa, Warrego and Paroo rivers; and Yanda Creek water sources (ii)includes environmental entitlements in the Warrego River
SW15 Gwydir	SS22	Gwydir	domestic and stock	NSW	entitlement	471	0	471	NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics	Rocky Creek, Cobbadah, Upper Horton and Lower Horton water source
SW15 Gwydir	SS22	Gwydir	unregulated river access licences	NSW	entitlement	62,452	0	62,452	NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics	Rocky Creek, Cobbadah, Upper Horton and Lower Horton, and Gwydir Unregulated and Alluvial water sources
SW14 Namoi	SS21	Namoi	domestic and stock	NSW	entitlement	967	0	967	Water Sharing Plan for the Peel Valley Regulated, Unregulated, Alluvium and Fractured Rock Water Sources 2010 NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics for Phillips Creek, Mooki River, Quirindi Creek and Warrah Creek
			local water utility access licences	NSW	entitlement	8,048	0	8,048	Water Sharing Plan for the Peel Valley Regulated, Unregulated, Alluvium and Fractured Rock Water Sources 2010 NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics for Phillips Creek, Mooki River, Quirindi Creek and Warrah Creek	Includes 5,600 ML for domestic and stock (town supply)
			unregulated river access licences	NSW	entitlement	120,537	0	120,537	NSW WAM 2012–13 data
SW11 Macquarie–Castlereagh	SS20	Macquarie–Castlereagh	domestic and stock	NSW	entitlement	2,365	0	2,365	NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics Water Sharing Plan for the Castlereagh (below Binnaway) Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011	Castlereagh River unregulated
			local water utility and major utility access licences	NSW	entitlement	50,936	0	50,936	NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics Water Sharing Plan for the Castlereagh (below Binnaway) Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011
			unregulated entitlement	NSW	entitlement	225,419	0	225,419	NSW WAM 2011–12 data
*Sub-total Northern Basin*						*3,080,218*	*120,677*	*3,200,895*
SW10 Lachlan	SS16	Lachlan	domestic and stock	NSW	entitlement	792	0	792	NSW Office of Water - Water Access Licence Statistics Water Sharing Plan for the Lachlan Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
			unregulated entitlement	NSW	entitlement	46,671	0	46,671	NSW Office of Water - Water Access Licence Statistics Water Sharing Plan for the Lachlan Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
			local water utility access licences	NSW	entitlement	5,923	0	5,923	NSW Office of Water - Water Access Licence Statistics Water Sharing Plan for the Lachlan Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
SW9 Murrumbidgee NSW	SS15	Murrumbidgee NSW	domestic and stock	NSW	entitlement	3,459	0	3,452	NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics	Adelong, Tarcutta and Upper Billabong creeks
			local water utility access licences	NSW	entitlement	4,960	0	4,960	NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics	Adelong and Tarcutta creeks
			unregulated entitlement	NSW	entitlement	72,640	0	72,647	NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics NSW WAM 2012–13 data	Reliable information was not available for Lowbidgee Scheme at the data collection stage. Therefore, no volume was included for that scheme.
SW8 NSW Murray and Lower Darling	SS18	Lower Darling	domestic and stock	NSW	entitlement	29	0	29	Water Sharing Plan for the Lower Murray–Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011
	SS18	Lower Darling	unregulated river access licences	NSW	entitlement	2,424	0	2,424	Water Sharing Plan for the Lower Murray–Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011
	SS14	NSW Murray	domestic and stock	NSW	entitlement	720	0	720	Water Sharing Plan for the Murray Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011 NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics	Murray unregulated and alluvial water sources
			local water utility access licences	NSW	entitlement	639	0	639	Water Sharing Plan for the Murray Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011	Murray unregulated and alluvial water sources
			unregulated river access licences	NSW	entitlement	42,077	12,965	55,042	Water Sharing Plan for the Murray Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011 NSW Office of Water: water access licence statistics NSW WAM 2012–13 data	(i) Murray unregulated and alluvial water sources (ii) includes 12,965 ML Poon–Boon environmental entitlements
SW2 Vic. Murray	SS3	Kiewa	urban entitlements– unregulated Kiewa	Vic.	entitlement	1,107	0	1,107	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data
SW2 Vic. Murray	SS3	Kiewa	unregulated licenses–Kiewa private diverters	Vic.	entitlement	18,495	0	18,495	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data
SW3 Northern Victoria	SS4	Ovens	urban bulk entitlements–unregulated	Vic.	entitlement	3,577	0	3,577	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data
			spillage sales	Vic.	entitlement	12,535	0	12,535	Victorian Water Register	This is an unregulated entitlement held by irrigators in the 'regulated' part of the system. It is highly reliable, but can be accessed only until storages cease to spill (usually in December or January). Storages typically spill for 6–10 months of the year.
			unregulated licences	Vic.	entitlement	24,723	0	24,723	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data
	SS5	Broken	unregulated licences–Broken	Vic.	entitlement	10,081	0	10,081	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data
	SS5	Broken	urban bulk entitlements– unregulated Broken	Vic.	entitlement	2,324	0	2,324	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data
	SS6	Goulburn	unregulated licences–Goulburn	Vic.	entitlement	39,712	0	39,712	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data
	SS6	Goulburn	urban unregulated licences– Goulburn	Vic.	entitlement	7,161	0	7,161	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data
	SS7	Campaspe	urban bulk entitlements–unregulated Campaspe	Vic.	entitlement	0	0	0	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data	Woodend bulk entitlement: included in line item 32.3
	SS7	Campaspe	unregulated licences–Campaspe	Vic.	entitlement	8,577	0	8,577	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data
	SS8	Loddon	urban bulk entitlements–unregulated Loddon	Vic.	entitlement	4,416	0	4,416	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data
	SS8	Loddon	unregulated licences–Loddon	Vic.	entitlement	34,586	0	34,586	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data
SW2 Vic. Murray	SS2	Vic. Murray	urban entitlements–unregulated Murray	Vic.	entitlement	866	0	866	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data
SW2 Vic. Murray	SS2	Vic. Murray	unregulated licenses–Murray private diverters	Vic.	entitlement	28,622	74,300	102,922	Vic. WAM 2012–13 data	Includes 74,300 ML supplementary environmental entitlements
SW1 ACT	SS1	ACT	private surface water irrigation diversions	ACT	entitlement	2,052	0	2,052	ACT WAM 2012–13
*Sub-total Southern Basin*						*379,168*	*87,265*	*466,433*
Total for the region						3,459,386	207,942	3,667,328

– = Data not available; WAM = Water audit monitoring

Details of surface water supplementary entitlements in the MDB region as applicable in the 2012–13 year
WRP area	SDL area		Entitlement class	State	Volume (ML) for the 2012–13 year	Data source	Additional comments
WRP area	Code	Name	Entitlement class	State	Volume (ML) for the 2012–13 year	Data source	Additional comments
SW16 NSW Border Rivers	SS23	NSW Border Rivers	supplementary water	NSW	120,001	NSW Office of Water: Accounting	Regulated Border Rivers
SW15 Gwydir	SS22	Gwydir	supplementary water access	NSW	180,047	NSW Office of Water: Accounting	includes Gwydir Regulated River; includes 22,240 ML environmental entitlements
SW14 Namoi	SS21	Namoi	supplementary water access	NSW	115,469	NSW Office of Water: Accounting	includes Upper Namoi, Lower Namoi, and Peel regulated Rivers
SW11 Macquarie-Castlereagh	SS20	Macquarie-Castlereagh	supplementary water access	NSW	50,040	NSW Office of Water: Accounting	includes Macquarie regulated supplementary licences; includes 3,340 ML environmental entitlements
*Sub-total Northern Basin*					*465,557*
SW10 Lachlan	SS16	Lachlan	supplementary water	NSW	3,125	NSW Office of Water: Accounting
SW9 Murrumbidgee NSW	SS15	Murrumbidgee NSW	supplementary water	NSW	198,780	NSW Office of Water: Accounting	includes Murrumbidgee regulated; includes 33,237 ML environmental entitlements. Reliable information was not available for Lowbidgee Scheme at the data collection stage. Therefore, no volume was included for that scheme.
SW8 NSW Murray and Lower Darling	SS18	Lower Darling	supplementary water access	NSW	250,000	NSW Office of Water: Accounting	This is an environmental entitlement.
SW8 NSW Murray and Lower Darling	SS14	NSW Murray	supplementary water access	NSW	252,424	NSW Office of Water: Accounting	includes NSW Murray Regulated River; includes 100,056 ML environmental entitlements
*Sub-total Southern Basin*					*704,329*
Total for the region					1,169,886

– = Data not available

As stated in the 'Additional comments' column, values provided in the above two tables include entitlement volumes held / owned by environmental managers in the MDB region as applicable in the 2012–13 year.

Water restrictions

Information on water restrictions is included in Water access region note.

Quantification approach

Data source

See the 'Data source' stated in the tables provided under 'Supporting information'.

Provided by

Bureau of Meteorology.

Method

Values were extracted from jurisdictional water sharing plans (see the table in 'Supporting information').

Assumptions, limitations, caveats and approximations

Information for some SDL areas has been extracted from draft water sharing plans (See the 'Data source' stated in the tables provided under 'Supporting information'). Values extracted from draft water sharing plans are estimations.

See 'Additional comments' in the breakdown table in 'Supporting information' for other assumptions, limitations, caveats and approximations.

Uncertainty information

The uncertainty estimate was not quantified.

Murray–Darling Basin 32.2 Surface water access entitlement for non-allocated diversions