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Katherine Water Advisory Committee Meeting Record 8
11 December 2018 – 10.00am Paterson Room, Katherine Research Station
Members Present Marie Piccone Chair Lis Clarke Alderman, Katherine Town Council Leigh Gilligan Proxy for Neal Adamson, Department of Defence Tim Helder Proxy for Quintis Corporation, Water Extraction Licence
Holder Peter Marks Horticulturalist, Water Extraction Licence Holder Mick Jerram Tourism Representative Alison King Aquatic Ecologist, CDU – via Teleconference Ben Lewis Proxy for Allister Andrews, Jawoyn Association – via
Teleconference
Members Absent Marie Allen Wardaman IPA Shane Papworth Power and Water Corporation Neal Adamson Department of Defence Warren De With Amateur Fisherman’s Association of the NT Rick Fletcher Northern Land Council Charmaine Roth Community member
Advisors Present Tim Bond Director Planning and Engagement, DENR Bridie Velik-Lord Water Planner, DENR Liza Schenkel Community Engagement Officer
Guests
Observers Pru Ducey Minutes, DENR
2
Meeting Opened 10.00am
1. OPENING AND INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIR Marie Piccone (Chair)
1.1. Introduction from Chair
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1.2. Apologies
Marie Allen Wardaman IPA Shane Papworth Power and Water Corporation Neal Adamson Department of Defence Warren De With Amateur Fisherman’s Association of the NT
1.3. Confirmation of Agenda There were no additions or changes requested to the Agenda.
2. MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
The Minutes of Meeting 7 held in Katherine on 26 September 2018 were confirmed as a true and accurate record. Moved: Lis Clarke Seconded: Tim Helder
2.1 Action Items from Meeting 7
Responsibilityof
Action Status
Pru Ducey The Committee requested Minutes include slides of any presentations as appendices, and that Action Items arising from the meeting be listed at the end of the Minutes.
Ongoing
Michelle Rodrigo Tim Bond Bridie Velik-Lord
Michelle Rodrigo, Tim Bond and Bridie Velik-Lord to bring more data and more interpretation on modelled and gauged flow for discussion at the next meeting.
COMPLETED Agenda Item 3 Meeting 8
Michelle Rodrigo Tim Bond
WAC requested to see actual flows as at 1 November - automatic gauging stations can provide this.
Ongoing
Marie Piccone Peter Marks Trevor Durling
Develop a paper for the next meeting in relation to Stock and Domestic - what we want, what is our position, and how can we contribute to a good outcome.
COMPLETED Emailed to members 28/11/18. Katherine Town Council included in their feedback letter.
3
Responsibilityof
Action Status
Marie Piccone To focus the development of the new Plan, Marie Piccone will email all members requesting a brief list of issues/concerns in the current Plan that need urgent attention, revision or improvement.
COMPLETED Emailed to members 29/10/18. Responses received from KTC and PAWA
Planners Defence
Standing Agenda item for Defence and DENR to provide updates to Committee
Ongoing
Department Keep the Committee updated during the Water Reform process, and the work that is going to be done over the next 6 months (SWR, Mining and Petroleum, Trade and Unused Water Policies), 12 months and 18 months
Ongoing Agenda Item 6 Meeting 8
Committee Keep a running list of issues/processes/areas of uncertainty that are not going to be in the Plan, but which the Controller of Water Resources needs to be made aware of.
Ongoing
Tim Bond Provide an update on ESY at Meeting 8 COMPLETED Included in Agenda Item 3 Meeting 8
Bridie Velik-Lord email members a revised version of the Values and Vision in early October and members are to provide comments by Monday 22 October 2018
COMPLETED Included in Discussion paper for Agenda Item 3 Meeting 8
Bridie Velik-Lord Ask Alison King for the December meeting, if she is able to provide information on timelines.
COMPLETD Refer to Appendix 3, Section 3 Water Use
Bridie Velik-Lord email members reminding them to provide feedback on the draft Communication and Engagement Plan through her, with a cc to Marie Piccone
COMPLETED Updated Plan emailed to members as part of Agenda package Meeting 8 (currently going through internal approval process)
Pru Ducey Scan copies of maps and email to members re PFAS plume. Attached to Meeting 7 Minutes as Appendix 4
COMPLETED
4
Responsibilityof
Action Status
Tim Bond Send out a list of all recommendations from the Hydraulic Fracturing Inquiry, identifying those relating to water
COMPLETED Emailed with package of Agenda papers Meeting 8
2.2 Correspondence received
Email from Chair to members seeking feedback on issues/concerns with the current Tindall Water Allocation Plan
Response from PAWA Response from KTC Members noted the feedback provided by Power and Water and Katherine Town Council. Water Act does not apply to Commonwealth land Defence Base Tindal
- are not required to have bore construction permits - are not required to seek permission from DENR/NTG for managed aquifer
recharge - DENR should be seeking an MOU with Defence for their voluntary participation in
the WAP process and for following all other requirements of the Water Act Integrated surface water / groundwater Zoning Timeframes / long term strategic planning Water quality (including but not limited to PFAS Stock and Domestic – clarification and metered use Further scientific study Application for water licences should include an assessment of sustainability and
demonstrate water efficiency practices PFAS and Hydraulic fracturing Integrated planning Trading should not be allowed as system is over allocated Licence volumes exceed actual usage ACTION – Pru Ducey to email members copies of the feedback received from Power
and Water and Katherine Town Council – COMPLETED 12 December 2018
3. KATHERINE WATER ALLOCATION PLAN – proposed changes section by section (Bridie Velik- Lord)
Members were provided with a Summary of proposed changes to the Katherine WAP Appendix 1 and a Presentation Appendix 2
A summary of the discussion points is Appendix 3
5
ACTION – Planner to ensure there is an Agenda Item and time for discussion at Meeting 9 on management zones and trading. What those those zones are why they are in place. Information to be provided about bore locations, including basic maps.
4. STOC K AND DOME STIC (Chair / All)
Discussion starter points All water users to be metered when getting water from surface or ground
- Move towards metering - Don’t know what is being used - In 2008 meters installed on a voluntary basis - Ask for an evaluation of what would be the recommended levels of usage
according to block size - Where do you draw the line, if setting something up to sell commercially
Define differences between commercial stock and domestic and rural living stock
and domestic - blocks are using different amounts, policy approach that everyone gets their bit
which could then be traded. Resource that is owned by the NT, stock and domestic is a way of giving property owners a stake of that resource. Volumes are small and can’t be used for anything other than stock and domestic, but could be aggregated and used for some other irrigation or market garden.
- within 10 years should be measuring this use, whether by meter or some other method
- suggesting that stock and domestic should be licensed and then tradeable so it can be used for something productive
- Darwin rural – if you are irrigating an area that is not within the guidelines then that extra water is going out as a cultural water use. Market garden then would get an irrigation license. If large garden then cultural use license that is metered
- with stock - calculations per head of stock. This changes when intensive use - If commercial person I thought you had to have a license – exemption is you can
use up to 5ML per block of land for any purpose. Under that threshold, you don’t get issued with a license so don’t have something that is tradeable
All structures with roofs to catch a minimum of 50% of yearly rainwater into tanks
and structures to be multi plumbed for either tank water or bore water - 50% might not be possible - Noted that water from the Jinduckin is not used for drinking and mineral content
etc can affect tanks, pipes etc
Educational programs for best water efficient grasses and plants for gardens - Drippers in gardens etc - What is the best grass, plants etc - communication strategy – what better way to engage and participate and raise
awareness than to have a licence for their 5ML
Have the ability to rent or buy water from either stock and domestic or commercial licenses
6
ACTION - Planner to investigate what happens in other jurisdictions for stock and domestic use and provide information at Meeting 9 for further discussion.
ACTION – WAC members to give further consideration to Stock and Domestic
issues before the February meeting as feedback on the Northern Territory Water Regulatory Reform closes on 31 March 2019..
5. FLOOD HARVESTING POLICY UPDATE (Tim Bond, DENR)
Members were provided with a Background Paper Appendix 4 and a Presentation Appendix 5 Is there any flood harvesting happening in Northern Australia? Maybe Fitzroy – not successful due to storage issues Pine Creek – water was diverted into mine pit and is used throughout the dry On the Victoria Highway in the vicinity of Auvergne there have been signs up for a
number of years about trialling water harvesting
6. WATER REFORM UPDATE (Tim Bond, DENR)
Members were provided with a presentation Appendix 6, based on a package the CEO uses when talking about water reform.
7. UDPDATE ON PLAN COMPONENTS AND PROCESS (Planner / All)
Refer to Slides 21 and 22 of Appendix 2. Presentation and discussion.
ACTION - Planner to send out a Doodle Poll to determine dates for Meeting 9 proposed for early February.
8. WRA P UP (Chair)
Major points Values New information means the previous plan needs some serious updating in relation to
ESY Stock and Domestic Defence advised they will provide bore consumption data this week. In the first instance sharing the consumption data and looking for an MOU to continue this. Forward projections on fluctuations in consumption tied to construction will also be provided. The Chair extended thanks to both WAC members and the Department for their support and contributions during the year.
Meeting closed 2:30pm
7
Actions arising from Meeting 8
Responsibilityof
Action Status
Pru Ducey The Committee requested Minutes include slides of any presentations as appendices, and that Action Items arising from the meeting be listed at the end of the Minutes.
Ongoing
Michelle Rodrigo Tim Bond
WAC requested to see actual flows as at 1 November - automatic gauging stations can provide this.
Ongoing
Planners Defence
Standing Agenda item for Defence and DENR to provide updates to Committee
Ongoing
Department Keep the Committee updated during the Water Reform process, and the work that is going to be done over the next 6 months (SWR, Mining and Petroleum, Trade and Unused Water Policies), 12 months and 18 months
Ongoing Agenda Item 6 Meeting 8
Committee Keep a running list of issues/processes/areas of uncertainty that are not going to be in the Plan, but which the Controller of Water Resources needs to be made aware of.
Ongoing
Pru Ducey email members copies of the feedback received from Power and Water and Katherine Town Council
COMPLETED Emailed 12 December 2018
Bridie Velik-Lord Provide definition of terms Median and Mean as a glossary.
New
Bridie Velik-Lord Investigate what happens in other jurisdictions for stock and domestic use and provide information at Meeting 9 for further discussion.
New
Liza Schenkel Investigate whether there are any monitoring bores in the Hendry Road and Stuart Estate areas that can be used for comparison to bores that are being reported as having run dry
New
Bridie Velik-Lord Tim Bond
For Meeting 9, provide more data/analysis on the amount of water being used by licence holders in relation to their licenced amount, how this varies by sector, and how this varies from year to year, how this is impacting on the whole TLA system, and the reasons behind it.
New
Bridie Velik-Lord Meeting 9 to focus on the Plan for the whole meeting, with workshopping of some issues
New
WAC members Can provide feedback on the discussion paper in relation to the Plan, or contact the Planner by phone.
New
Bridie Velik-Lord Ensure there is an Agenda Item and time for discussion at Meeting 9 on management zones and trading. What those those zones are why they are in place. Information to be provided about bore locations, including basic maps.
New
8
Responsibilityof
Action Status
WAC members Give further consideration to Stock and Domestic issues before the February meeting as feedback on the Northern Territory Water Regulatory Reform closes on 31 March 2019.
New
Bridie Velik-Lord Send out a Doodle Poll to determine dates for Meeting 9 proposed for early February
New
Decisions Meeting 8
Decision Moved/Seconded Status
The Minutes of Meeting 7 held in Katherine on 26 September 2018 were confirmed as a true and accurate record
Lis Clarke Tim Helder
Carried
Vision: Option 3 with an updated sentence in relation to Aboriginal culture (from Options 1 and 2), and including a sentence about a holistic integrated system.
All agreed
Members agreed to have the Water year described as 1 October to 30 September.
All agreed
WAC agreed to continue with looking at the Katherine River to set environmental flow targets and to maintain a stepped approach of protected discharge to surface waters
All agreed
List of issues/processes/areas of uncertainty to keep track of (no further issues added at Meeting 7 or Meeting 8)
Issues to keep track of
Keep a running list of issues/processes/areas of uncertainty that are not going to be in the Plan, but which the Controller of Water Resources needs to be made aware of.
PFAS - how the WAC can be engaged and how PFAS issues might be accounted for in the
WAP - Water Quality – whether elements about water quality come into the Plan and how to
incorporate this into the Plan - consistency between the Plan and Defence intents (pathway taken to treat water) Mining - Legacy issues - Bring in currently exempted into Water Allocation Plan - New mines (how to get water, WAC = trade)
9
Issues to keep track of
Licence Applications and priorities - If new water available, then need a better process for licences that have previously
been knocked back
No go Zones should include recharge zones - DPIR
Water Reform - Water licence term - Water trading
o Whole of system o Between WAP’s aquifers
Off Channel – flood plain harvesting - Need to link land clearing applications and water extraction licence applications
Management of unused water entitlements - Individual / company (Quintis) based, multiple
Proposed changes to the Katherine Water Allocation Plan
Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................. 1
1. Values, Vision and Plan Objectives ........................................................................... 5
2. Water Resources...................................................................................................... 7
3. Water use ................................................................................................................ 9
4. Estimated sustainable yield.................................................................................... 13
5. Water management arrangements ........................................................................ 15
6. Water trading ........................................................................................................ 22
7. Water accounting and other arrangements ........................................................... 23
8. Implementation, monitoring and review................................................................ 24
9. Risk identification and mitigation strategies........................................................... 25
References............................................................................................................................. 26
Introduction
The current Katherine Water Allocation Plan (Water Allocation Plan Tindall Limestone Aquifer,
Katherine 2016-2019) is due to expire in August 2019 after ten years in operation. The
replacement Katherine Water Allocation Plan is currently being developed with input from the
Katherine Water Advisory Committee.
This paper provides an overview of the proposed changes between the current Katherine Plan and
the new Plan under development. This overview paper aims to provide a summary of the key
changes for consideration by the Katherine Water Advisory Committee. This document will form
the basis for discussion and Committee decisions at the Katherine WAC meeting on 11 December.
The proposed changes recognise the agreement from the Katherine WAC to undertake a
compressed/rapid Water Allocation Planning process (agreed to at Meeting 5), which recognised
that new knowledge would likely be limited to resource condition change and demand change.
The new Katherine Plan provides water management arrangements for a ‘point-in-time’,
acknowledging a current state of knowledge will be used inform decisions. As knowledge
improves, the Plan will need to adapt and change. As such, an adaptive Plan is being proposed,
where key milestones will be identified for the 5-year and 10-year points of Plan implementation.
The Plan should set the scene for long-term management of the water resource, with a view to 30-
50 year timeframes.
Implementation of the Plan will be paramount to achieving adaptive management. Key
components that will be required during implementation have been identified throughout this
document. It is not an exhaustive list and will need further refinement during Plan drafting.
Committee feedback on the implementation activities identified is also sought.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 1 of 26
Where Katherine WAC decisions are required to inform drafting of the new Katherine Plan, these
have been identified throughout the document. Drafting of the Plan will occur during January and
February 2019, enabling further discussion and agreement from the Katherine WAC in early 2019.
Table 1 provides a summary of all discussion points identified in this paper, highlighting areas
where agreement is required from the Katherine WAC.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 2 of 26
Table 1. Summary of discussion points, including identification of areas where Katherine WAC agreement is required.
Summary of required discussion points
1. Values, Vision and Plan Objectives:
Section requires discussion and agreement on specific approaches to go into the Plan required for the following:
a. Values: do they broadly represent the values in the Katherine Plan area?
b. Vision: agreement on vision to take forward into drafting phase.
2. Water Resources:
Section requires discussion only.
Changes proposed update the timeframe for modelling to current and uses standard approach to statistical analyses.
3. Water Use:
Section requires discussion and agreement on specific approaches to go into the Plan required for the following:
a. Environmental flow requirements:
i. Continue with looking at the Katherine River to set environmental flow targets and shift away from relying solely on Daly River flows as
environmental water requirements
ii. Maintain stepped approach of protected discharge to surface waters according to climatic conditions (updated specifically for Katherine River).
b. Continue seeking information about non-licenced water use (mining, petroleum, road construction, bore water use at RAAF Base Tindal) and
update consumptive water use figures if this is obtained in time for Plan drafting.
4. Estimated Sustainable Yield:
Section requires discussion only.
a. Setting an Estimated Sustainable Yield is a requirement of Water Allocation Plans under the Water Act.
b. The Estimated Sustainable Yield is the volume of water that recharges the aquifer annually.
c. Data input to the model has been updated from 2004 to current and approach to statistical analysis updated – output from the model is used
for setting ESY.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 3 of 26
Summary of required discussion points
5. Water Management Arrangements:
Section requires discussion and agreement on specific approaches.
a. Stepped approach to achieving non-consumptive water requirements.
b. Stepped approach to achieving consumptive water requirements.
c. Annual announced allocations to use climatic conditions (in keeping with current Plan) with sliding scale of protection of flows.
d. Updated approach to licence security levels.
e. Reflect the current Plan objectives for reliabilities.
6. Water Trading:
Section requires discussion and agreement on specific approaches.
7. Water Accounting:
Section requires discussion and agreement on specific approaches.
a. No change to the intent of the existing arrangements for water accounting and other arrangements.
8. Implementation:
Section does not require in depth discussion at this point.
9. Risk Identification and Mitigation Strategies:
Section does not require in depth discussion at this point.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 4 of 26
1. Values, Vision and Plan Objectives
Values, vision and objectives of the Plan will be updated according to Committee feedback. This
will reflect the current approaches to water management in the region, highlighting current
objectives held by the community and stakeholders.
There will be some change to the structure of the current Plan in relation to the values, vision and
plan objectives. This will reflect the most recent approaches to water management in the
Northern Territory.
It is proposed that the purpose of the Plan will focus specifically on the legal and policy
requirements of water allocation plans across the NT. For example, the Water Act requires water
allocation plans to set water resource management arrangements; allocate water within the
estimated sustainable yield; set trade rules and so on. These elements will be considered as part of
the Purpose of the Plan.
The values and vision for the Plan is the point at which the specific characteristics of Katherine
Plan will be considered.
The following section provides information on the values, vision and objectives for inclusion in the
new Katherine Plan. Feedback on these components is sought from the Committee to guide the
drafting of the new Plan during January and February. These reflect feedback already received
from the Committee at Meeting 7.
a. Values
Values of water include those that are intrinsic in nature, being valuable because of its own
nature, and not because of its connection with other things. These values include ecosystem
functioning, spiritual fulfilment and aesthetic and cultural values.
The values of water identified by the Katherine Committee also include direct uses of water,
including extractive uses. Consumptive beneficial uses (as per the Water Act), and water
supporting economic, cultural and regional development are all components of direct water use.
Water supports strong community benefits within the Katherine region. A prosperous community
that has access to recreation opportunities, community services and community venues, tourism
opportunities and business creation is all supported by access to water in quantities and qualities
appropriate for specific uses.
Water is of great importance to Aboriginal people. Within the Katherine Plan, this value is
acknowledged by the Committee water from the Tindall Limestone Aquifer is recognised as
supporting environments used by Aboriginal people for food, hunting, aesthetics and spiritual
fulfilment.
b. Vision
A draft Vision was discussed with the Committee at Meeting 7. Feedback from the Committee has
been used to refine the vision, and three options are presented below for further discussion:
Option 1: “The regional Katherine community values the Tindall Limestone Aquifer and the
beneficial uses that water supports. This water contributes to a prosperous community, with
opportunities for sustainable economic and regional development, recreation and community
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 5 of 26
services. Ecosystems dependent on the Tindall Limestone Aquifer are understood and maintained.
The values that water brings to Aboriginal culture are celebrated and protected.”
Option 2: “The regional Katherine community values the excellent Tindall Limestone Aquifer and
the beneficial uses that are supported. Water of sufficient quantity and quality is available to
contribute to a prosperous community. Ecosystems dependent on the Tindall Limestone Aquifer are
understood and preserved. The values that water brings to Aboriginal culture are celebrated and
protected.”
Option 3: “The regional Katherine community values the Tindall Limestone Aquifer and the
beneficial uses that water supports. Water quantity and quality contributes to a prosperous
community, regional development, recreation and community services. Water is available to
protect ecosystems and support Aboriginal cultural outcomes.”
c. Outcomes and objectives
The values and vision are used to focus attention on outputs, activities and indicators of
achievements.
The specific outcomes and objectives being sought through the Plan process will be developed
following agreement on the vision and values, along with development of an agreed and
consistent approach to how outcomes and objectives are represented and described in water
allocation plans across the NT.
Once finalised, the outputs and objectives will be used to determine required activities and
indicators of achievement that will be determined through the implementation component of the
Plan.
Note for Katherine WAC:
Section requires discussion and agreement on specific approaches to go into the Plan required
for the following:
c. Values: do they broadly represent the values in the Katherine Plan area?
d. Vision: agreement on vision to take forward into drafting phase.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 6 of 26
2. Water Resources
The water resource considered under the new Plan will be the same as in the current Plan. There
have been no changes to the Plan boundaries and the water resource model itself has not been
updated since the original Plan was developed in 2009. The model used to support the Katherine
Plan is known as the Daly River Catchment Integrated Hydrologic Model.
a. Time period
The data used in the model has been updated to include the timeframe 2004 to 2018. The new
Plan will therefore cover the time period 1960-61 to 2017-18.
In order to reflect the wet and dry seasons in the Plan area, and therefore the recharge and
discharge to the water resource, the annual timeframe considered (described as the water year) is
set as 1 October to 30 September. This approach means that extraction and discharge from the
water resource is considered in the same 12 month period as the recharge would have occurred
(i.e. wet season and subsequent dry season). The start of the water year (1 October) aligns with
the Bureau of Meteorology’s definition of the start of the wet season.
Recognising the interaction between groundwater and surface water in the Tindall Limestone
Aquifer and Katherine River system, surface water extraction from the river during the dry season
will be considered as part of the overall extraction from the water resource. This reflects an
acknowledgement that the dry season flow in the Katherine River is derived directly from the
groundwater resource.
b. Statistical analysis
The method of statistical analysis of the water resource has also been updated. In previous Plans,
the statistics used to determine various figures were not explicitly stated. It is proposed that in the
new Plan the statistics used will be stated throughout. In most cases, median (rather than mean)
will be used to determine averages. This aligns with the Bureau of Meteorology’s approach to
analysing average rainfall:
‘The median is usually the preferred measure of ‘average’ rainfall from the meteorological point
of view, particularly for the shorter timeframe. This is because of the high variability of rainfall –
one extreme rainfall event will have less effect on the median than it will have on the arithmetic
mean.’ BoM 2018c About Climate Statistics.
Percentiles are also used to describe data for analysis. For example, they can be used to analysis a
set of data to determine what the volume of aquifer discharge was over the driest 20% of years, or
the wettest 20% of years. The following description is provided by the Bureau of Meteorology:
‘One of a series of threshold values that divides a set of ordered data into 100 groups with an
equal number of data points in each. For example, consider a dataset of annual rainfall totals
arranged in increasing order. The 20th percentile is a value with 20% of the data below it and
80% above it. The 90th percentile is a value with 90% of the data below it and 10% above it.’
BoM 2018b Australian Water Information Dictionary.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 7 of 26
c. Recommendations for Plan implementation
During the implementation phase of the Katherine Plan, it will be recommended that the Daly River
Catchment Integrated Hydrologic Model be updated to reflect improved knowledge about the
system. This should be undertaken early in the process so it can be used as part of the five year
Plan review.
Note for Katherine WAC:
Section requires discussion only.
Changes proposed update the timeframe for modelling to current and uses standard approach
to statistical analyses.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 8 of 26
3. Water use
Water use figures will be updated in the new Plan. The information below provides a summary of
the proposed approach to be taken in the new Plan. The updated information that will be used in
the new Plan includes:
1. Groundwater licenced use – currently considered in the Plan however some update
required to account for new beneficial use categories and previously unlicensed water use.
• Strategic Aboriginal Water Reserve allocation. Reflecting the recent policy and likely
update to the Water Act, SWR will be included as a beneficial use (note: may be a
‘notional’ allocation until such time that water in the consumptive pool is returned).
• Mining use, petroleum use, road and construction water use and groundwater
extraction at Tindal RAAF base remain unknown.
2. Surface water licenced use – included in the water requirements for the new Plan,
recognising the interaction between groundwater and river flows during the dry season.
3. Updated figures for rural stock and domestic potential demand. This will follow the same
approach as the current Plan, and has been updated to include possible increases in
demand due to population increases, areas of cleared land and water requirements of
stock in the region.
4. Environmental water requirements still unknown to a certain degree, however it is
proposed that the new Plan:
• Shift away from relying solely on the Erskine flow recommendations (as detailed in
Environmental Water Requirements of the Daly River, Northern Territory, based on
ecological, hydrological and biological principles (Erskine et al 2003 and revised in
2004)) as they are set for the Daly River.
• Maintain the stepped approach of protecting discharge to surface waters according
to the climatic conditions as per the current Plan. However, update approach to
determining the climatic conditions and how the discharge for protection is
calculated.
5. Aboriginal and cultural water requirements:
• Include information where known.
6. Consumptive water requirements updated to reflect:
• Increased possible demand for rural stock and domestic
• Increased from 1,300ML/yr in current Plan to 1,964ML/yr in new Plan
(based on Dilshad 2017).
• Surface water extraction licences to come into the overall licence limit
• Current surface water extraction licences total 4,855ML/yr.
• Inclusion of Strategic Aboriginal Water Reserve
• Still refining the figure for this – likely to be 977ML/yr.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 9 of 26
Licence limits detailed in the current Katherine Plan are provided in Table 2 below (note: current
Plan licence limits consider groundwater extraction licences only). The current water extraction
licences that will need to be considered in the new Katherine Plan are detailed in Table 3.
The total water extraction licences within the Plan area will require an increase from the current
Plan maximum extraction limit 38,391ML/yr (including 1,300ML rural stock and domestic) to a
maximum extraction limit of 43,106ML/yr (including 1,964ML of rural stock and domestic) in the
new Plan (refer to Table 2 and Table 3).
Total water use figures will be consolidated and provided in the new Plan. Reported actual use in
2017-18 was 14,444ML across surface and groundwater licences (including estimation of 1,300ML
of stock and domestic). This equates to approximately 35% of the total licenced volume. Average
water use for 2014-15 to 2017-18 was 10,035ML (including estimation of 1,300ML of stock and
domestic), equating to 23% of total licenced volume.
Table 2. Water extraction licence limits defined in current Katherine Plan
Beneficial Use Security category and licence limit (ML/yr) Total
(ML/yr) Total High Medium Low
Public Water Supply 1,876 483 - 1,717 4,076
Agriculture, aquaculture and
industry - 22,722 4,344 5,949 33,015
Stock and domestic estimation - - - - 1,300
Total (ML/yr) 1,876 23,205 4,344 7,666 38,391
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 10 of 26
Security category and licence limit (ML/yr)
Beneficial Use Total
(ML/yr) Total High Medium Low
Not
specified
/ Other
Groundwater Extraction Licences (current)
Public Water Supply 1,876 483 - 1,717 - 4,076
Agriculture - 22,599 3,427 4,151 - 30,177
Industry - 123 917 - - 1,040
Other - - - - 17 17
Stock and domestic
(current Plan)
estimation - - - - 1,300 1,300
Groundwater Sub-Total (ML/yr) 1,876 23,205 4,344 5,868 17 36,610
Surface Water Extraction Licences (current)1
Public Water Supply - - - - - -
Agriculture - 381 891 785 2,713 4,770
Industry - - - 36 49 85
Surface Water Sub-Total (ML/yr) - 381 891 821 2,762 4,855
Additional Water Requirements
Increased Stock and Domestic
requirement2 (1,964ML total –
664ML above the current 1,300ML - - - - 664 664
estimation)
Strategic Aboriginal Water 3 Reserve - - - - 977 (977)
Other unlicensed use - - - - TBC TBC
Additional Requirements
(ML/yr)
Sub-Total - - - - 1,641 1,641
Total Groundwater and Surface
Water requirements 1,876 23,586 5,235 6,689 5,720 43,106
1 Source: Water licence portal 2 Figure relates to increased requirement for water – totalling 1,964ML (calculated as 664ML above the
current 1,300ML estimation in the current Katherine Plan). 3 Water is not yet available, but will need to be planned for under the new Katherine Plan.
a. Recommendations for Plan implementation
Table 3. Current water extraction licences (surface and groundwater) that will need to be
considered in the new Katherine Plan (source: water licence portal).
Where water use for industries including mining, petroleum and road construction as well as water
extraction at RAAF Base Tindal, information should continue to be sought and used as part of the 5
year Plan review.
Compliance and reporting associated with water use should continue over the life of the new Plan,
and be used as part of review processes throughout.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 11 of 26
Note for Katherine WAC:
Section requires discussion and agreement on specific approaches to go into the Plan required
for the following:
b. Environmental flow requirements:
i. Continue with looking at the Katherine River to set environmental flow targets
and shift away from relying solely on Daly River flows as environmental water
requirements
ii. Maintain stepped approach of protected discharge to surface waters according
to climatic conditions (updated specifically for Katherine River).
c. Continue seeking information about non-licenced water use (mining, petroleum, road
construction, bore water use at RAAF Base Tindal) and update consumptive water use
figures if this is obtained in time for Plan drafting.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 12 of 26
4. Estimated sustainable yield
a. Setting the estimated sustainable yield
The current Plan does not explicitly set explicit estimated sustainable yield (ESY). Rather, it details
extraction limits which are the consumptive use component of the ESY. The new Plan will include
the most up-to-date approach to setting ESY.
The ESY to be set in the new Plan will reflect the total recharge of the water resource which is
required to be shared across non-consumptive and consumptive uses.
The dataset used to determine the ESY will be updated to reflect recent climatic conditions. The
statistical analysis will also be updated to reflect an improved approach and the updated
interpretation of the requirements for setting ESY will result in the following:
• ESY to be set at 52,710ML (median aquifer recharge from 1960-2018).
• Non-consumptive and consumptive water to be allocated within the ESY in accordance
with the Water Act and the NT Water Allocation Planning Framework. This will require a
staged approach, recognising that the system has a number of existing users and who hold
a substantial volume of water extraction licences. This will be further discussed in the
following section.
b. Climate variability and change
The mean annual rainfall for 1943-2017 at Katherine (station 14903) is 1,088mm/yr, with
evaporation for the period 1999-2011 recorded as 2,270mm/yr (BoM 2017).
Recent findings regarding potential for climate change in the Top End and impacts on water
resources will be included. In summary, climate change was found to be unlikely to have
substantial impact on water resources in for the Plan area (recharge rates predicted to remain
constant or increase with climate change). Source: Short, M 2018 (in draft) Projected Climate
Change Effects on Diffuse Recharge in the NT: Summary for Major Groundwater Resources.
The projections for potential changes to rainfall indicate little or no change in annual rainfall
totals, however some models show a potential of a future trend toward increases in the intensity
of extreme rainfall events. There has been a trend in this direction over the past 40 years or so,
along with an increasing proportion of rainfall occurring in December to February, effectively
extending the length of the dry season. It is not clear if this trend is likely to continue (BoM 2017).
In the Katherine Region, there has been a slight increase in total rainfall from 1970 to 2017,
however it is less pronounced than in other parts of the NT (BoM 2018a).
Overall it is not proposed that any significant change be made to the representation of climate
information which has been used in the current Plan.
c. Caveats or limitations on the underpinning science
There will be recognition that there is a lack of information regarding a number of components
associated with water management in the Plan area.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 13 of 26
The Daly River Catchment Integrated Hydrologic Model, used as part of the water planning
process does require some updating to reflect an improved understanding of the water resource.
This will be a focus of the implementation phase of the new Plan.
The need for improved science regarding environmental water requirements and the water needs
for cultural flows both need to be addressed in order to inform future Plans.
d. Downstream impacts
As detailed in the Environmental Water Requirements of the Daly River, Northern Territory, based
on ecological, hydrological and biological principles (Erskine et al 2003 and revised in 2004), there
are important ecological habitats in the downstream environments such as the Daly River system.
This section will include recognition of the impact of Katherine River flows on these environments.
As well as recognition of potential downstream impacts, the new Plan will need to consider
environmental flow requirements of the environments within the Plan area itself.
This would result in a shift away from the current Plan whereby the Daly River flow requirements
were the environmental flow targets considered in relation to setting extraction limits from the
Katherine system. This approach would retain an acknowledgement of the importance of the Daly
River as a downstream environment from the Plan area.
This section will also include links to the draft Oolloo Water Allocation Plan to ensure that these
two plans are complementary to one another.
e. Recommendations for Plan implementation
In order to refine the non-consumptive water requirements for the Katherine Plan, it will be
recommended that programs determining the ecological and cultural flow requirements for the
system be established and/or continued through the life of the Plan.
Note for Katherine WAC:
Section requires discussion only.
a. Setting an Estimated Sustainable Yield is a requirement of Water Allocation Plans
under the Water Act.
b. The Estimated Sustainable Yield is the volume of water that recharges the aquifer
annually.
c. Data input to the model has been updated from 2004 to current and approach to
statistical analysis updated – output from the model is used for setting ESY.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 14 of 26
5. Water management arrangements
Water management arrangements include consideration of objectives, outcomes, management
strategies and performance indicators. These will be updated from the current Plan to reflect the
refined vision and values of the new Plan.
Beneficial uses, non-consumptive water requirements, consumptive water requirements, annual
announced allocations and licence security levels will also be considered in this section of the new
Plan. The following components will be updated to reflect current arrangements and approached
where possible.
Overall, the principles proposed to guide water management in the new Plan will include:
• To recognise historic development in the region, and that allocation of water that was
required to stimulate this development.
• To rationalise the allocation of water moving forward to in order to support development
that has occurred over the last 10 years of the current Plan being in operation, and allow
for the water management arrangements to evolve over the life of the new Plan.
• Improving water security based on a history and frequency of use.
• To develop a pathway to sustainable use of the water resource.
• To ensure allocations are made available for environmental and cultural needs of the
Katherine system.
a. Beneficial uses
The beneficial uses considered in the new Plan will be updated to reflect current policy. In
essence, Mining, Petroleum and the Strategic Aboriginal Water Reserve (SWR) will be declared as
new beneficial uses under the Water Act in 2019 (likely to happen prior to the Plan declaration).
The total water use by mining and petroleum remains unknown and at this stage volumes of water
required for these industries will therefore not be able to be included at this stage. It is
recommended that during implementation of the Plan, that information of water requirements for
mining and petroleum continue to be sought.
The SWR is a reserved percentage of water from the consumptive pool that is exclusively
accessible to eligible Aboriginal people to use, or trade for consumptive uses for their
environmental, social and economic benefit. The SWR policy was adopted by Cabinet on 13
October 2017 and a volume of water as part of the SWR will be included in the new Plan. The
calculations for the SWR are being finalised but are likely to result in an allocation of 977ML/yr.
In the current Plan, an allocation for Indigenous commercial development was identified for
allocation subject to a specific Native Title determination. The SWR provides an updated approach
to allocating water for Aboriginal environmental, social and economic benefit.
b. Non-consumptive Water Requirements
The volume of water available to meet non-consumptive requirements is considered a component
of ESY. Non-consumptive uses are the environment and other public benefit water provision such
as cultural flows which retain water in a system rather than extracting it.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 15 of 26
In the current Plan, the limits to licences were set as maximum and average licence limits
(38,391ML and 22,000ML respectively). The difference between the average aquifer recharge of
74,000ML and the licence limits resulted in the volume of water available for non-consumptive
use.
The updated approach to setting the volume of water available for non-consumptive use reflects
the NT Water Allocation Planning Framework with non-consumptive water requirements
identified from the ESY first. The consumptive water availability is then determined from the
remaining volume.
The NT WAPF states that:
“All available scientific research directly related to environmental and other public benefit
requirements for the water resource will be applied in setting water allocations for non-
consumptive use as the first priority, with allocations for consumptive use made subsequently
within the remaining available water resource.”
“In the absence of directly related research, contingent allocations are made for environmental
and other public benefit water provisions and consumptive use.”
In the Katherine system, there is no research currently available that identifies the specific
volumes of water or flow requirements to meet environmental and other public benefit
requirements for the water resource within the Plan area. However, it is known that
environmental flows in the Katherine region are associated with base level flows in the spring fed
rivers (primarily the Katherine River) and the springs where there is discharge from the aquifer.
Maintaining regional water tables is important for maintaining the environmental values
associated with groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs).
There are also significant Aboriginal cultural sites that rely on surface and groundwater within the
Plan area. Where possible, these sites will be included within the Plan, with a view of determining
their specific water requirements during the implementation phase of the Plan.
As there is an existing declared water allocation plan in the Katherine region, there are a number
of existing water extraction licence holders subject to the rules of the current Plan. As such, the
development of the new Plan needs to ensure that existing users are not adversely compromised,
while aiming to open the system to new users, ensure that the system can adapt to water market
instruments such as trade all while protecting the ecosystem function and cultural values
supported by water. The long term goal is to achieve sustainable water use that meets
environmental and other public benefit water requirements.
Recognising this, it is proposed that the non-consumptive allocation be set as an aspirational
target for achievement in the long-term (Year 10 target). It is proposed that two additional targets
be established (Year 1 and Year 5), recognising it will require a substantial shift from current
arrangements to achieve better alignment with the NT WAPF over the next 10 years.
If improved knowledge is generated regarding the environmental water and cultural water
requirements over the implementation phase of the new Plan, this information should be used to
refine the Year 5 and Year 10 non-consumptive water targets.
The non-consumptive water (environment and cultural flows) requirements for the new Plan are
proposed as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 16 of 26
• Year one non-consumptive water availability (based on existing consumptive
requirements): 8,304ML/yr1.
• Year five non-consumptive water target (aligning with the intent of the long-term
view of the current Plan where a 70:30 water sharing arrangement would be in
place): 36,897ML/yr2 to be achieved by 2024.
• Year ten non-consumptive water target to be identified at the five year review of the
Plan. It is anticipated that this target will represent significant water efficiency
improvements in the Plan area.
c. Recommendations for Plan Implementation – non-consumptive use
Implementation of the Plan will include continued investigations into environmental and cultural
water requirements in the Katherine system. The Plan, and non-consumptive water requirements
should be updated include best available information as it becomes available.
The Plan will provide the direction to guide licence renewals, to be undertaken during the
implementation phase.
d. Consumptive Water Requirements
In accordance with the NT Water Allocation Planning Framework, once the ESY is established and
the non-consumptive water requirements determined, the water requirements for consumptive
beneficial uses can be set. Consumptive beneficial uses include public water supply, rural stock
and domestic, agriculture, aquaculture and industry. Mining, petroleum and the SWR will also be
included in the new Plan.
There are a number of changes proposed from the current to the new Plan, namely:
• Surface water extraction licences to be included in the consumptive pool (where extraction
occurs during the dry season).
• Water requirements for all beneficial uses will need to be included in the new Plan.
• The new Plan will be updated to include recent developments detailed as required (e.g.
unused water procedure; trade policy).
• The SWR will be included in the consumptive pool (note: this may be a notional allocation
until such time water is recovered from the consumptive pool and can be reallocated).
• Water security levels:
o Reflecting that the current licence security levels were determined based on
property development requirements, there is an opportunity to review the security
levels of current and future licences.
• Providing additional clarity about licence security levels and reliabilities through the Plan.
1 Note: the Year One non-consumptive water available is determined from the remaining water available in the ESY
once existing consumptive extraction licences have been accounted for. As actual water use is lower than the
maximum licenced volume it is anticipated that the volume of water actually available to meet non-consumptive
requirements will be higher than the volume specified. 2 Set at 70% of ESY. This figure aligns with current actual licenced extraction.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 17 of 26
• Providing direction on what may be included as part of water extraction licence reviews.
In recognition of the approach to development included in the current Plan, it is proposed that a
staged approach to rectifying the water sharing arrangements between non-consumptive and
consumptive use to achieve sustainability.
The consumptive water requirements for the new Plan are therefore proposed as follows:
• Year one consumptive water extraction limit (based on existing consumptive
requirements): 44,406ML/yr3.
• Year five consumptive water extraction target (aligning with the intent of the long-term
view of the current Plan where a 70:30 water sharing arrangement would be in place):
15,813ML/yr4 to be achieved by 2024.
• Year ten consumptive water target to be identified at the five year review of the Plan. It is
anticipated that this target will represent significant water efficiency improvements in the
Plan area.
Table 4 shows a summary of the non-consumptive water requirements and consumptive water
extraction limits proposed for the new Plan.
Table 4. Summary of non-consumptive and consumptive water requirements and extraction
targets proposed under the new Katherine Plan.
Year Non-consumptive water availability
/ requirement
Consumptive extraction limit / target
Year 1 (2019) 8,304ML/yr 44,406ML/yr
Year 5 (2024) 36,897ML/yr 15,813ML/yr
Year 10 (2029) To be identified at five year Plan
review
To be identified at five year Plan review
e. Licence security levels and reliabilities
Over the short-term the six licence security levels in operation under the current Plan will be
carried forward to the new Plan (public water supply total security, high and low security; high
security; medium security; and low security) with the security level for each licence based on the
level of property development at the time in 2007.
Licence security levels were specified under the current Plan according to the following criteria:
• High security licences were issued for all existing developments at the commencement of
the water planning process in 2009. The volume issued under these licences was based on
the water required for any existing crops at 2007 to reach full maturity.
• Medium security licences were issued where additional development was proposed on an
NT Portion as part of a property development plan that was partially complete at 2007.
3 Note: the 1 year non-consumptive water available is determined from the existing extraction licences in the system. 4 Set at 30% of ESY. This figure aligns with current actual licenced extraction.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 18 of 26
• Low security licences were issued in accordance with a property development plan on an
NT Portion where no development had commenced.
There is a balance between the amount of groundwater that flows into the Katherine River from
seasonal recharge and the water extracted from the system for consumptive uses. On an annual
basis there is a need to determine the proportion of overall water licence volumes that can be
extracted from the system without causing detrimental impacts to the resource condition. This is
known as licence reliability and is communicated to licence holders through the annual announced
allocation process.
The current Plan specifies objectives for licence reliabilities as follows:
• Total security – licence holders can expect access to their maximum annual licence volume
in all by extreme circumstances.
• High security – licence holders can expect access to their maximum annual licence volume
in about 70% of years.
• Medium security – licence holders can expect access to their maximum annual licence
volume in about 30% of years.
• Low security – licence holders can expect access to their maximum annual licence volume in
about 15% of years.
It is acknowledged that since the current Plan has been in operation, allocations have been made
that resulted in higher reliabilities than these averages. In the nine years since the original Plan
was developed, the following allocation have been made:
• 2010-11 – 100% allocation for all security levels.
• 2011-12 – 100% allocation for all security levels.
• 2012-13 – 100% allocation for all security levels.
• 2013-14 – 100% allocation for all security levels.
• 2014-15 – 100% all securities aside from low public water supply (low security) which
received 26% allocation. Overall allowable extraction was reduced by 1,271ML for the
season (3% of the total extraction licence limit).
• 2015-16 – 100% total, high and medium securities; 0% public water supply low; 69% other
low security. Overall allowable extraction was reduced by 3,521ML for the season (9% of
the total extraction licence limit).
• 2016-17 - 100% total, high and medium securities; 0% public water supply low; 64% other
low security. Overall allowable extraction was reduced by 3,859ML for the season (10% of
the total extraction licence limit).
• 2017-18 – 100% allocation for all security levels.
• 2018-19 – 100% allocation for all security levels.
It should be noted that allocations of this level are not guaranteed to continue into the future, and
that WAC members should be aware that given the water resource is a dynamic system subject to
climatic fluctuations, there is always a possibility allocations against various security levels will be
lower than previously received. It is proposed that a risk assessment be included in future
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 19 of 26
announced allocation processes, aiming to identify the likelihood of the announced allocations
resulting in a discernible change to the amount of water actually extracted from the resource.
The majority of licences in the Plan region are due for review in 2019. It is recommended that
property development plans be reviewed as part of the water licence renewal process to
determine volumes for re-licencing. It is recommended that in the short term licence security
levels be updated to be reflective of actual property and water development. As security levels
were based on property development, it is recommended that over the 10-year life of the new
Plan, the different security levels for existing users be progressively modified and/or phased out.
Over the first five years of the new Plan, the following approach is proposed to be implemented
for licence renewals where applicable:
• Where water extraction licences (or portions of extraction licences) have been used and
are in accordance with development plans, water will be retained or transitioned to high
security.
• Where water extraction licences (or portions of extraction licences) have not been used
water will be retained or transitioned to low security.
• Public water supply water extraction licences will retain total security.
When the five year consumptive water extraction target of 15,813ML/yr is reached, it is
anticipated that reliabilities will be significantly increased as the overall volume of licenced
extraction will impact on the resource less than under current arrangements.
f. Annual announced allocations
It is proposed that the process for determining annual announced allocations be refined to
account for the changes proposed for the ESY, non-consumptive and consumptive water
requirements under the new Plan. The information below provides an overview of the proposed
approach.
Annual announced allocations will reflect rainfall and recharge from the wet season in determining
what proportion of the consumptive pool can be extracted over the subsequent dry season. To
determine which climatic condition is likely to occur, modelled discharge from the aquifer is
considered. This metric takes into account the recorded rainfall over the wet season, along with
current aquifer conditions and rainfall received in previous years.
Annual announced allocations will determine the actual amount of water available for extraction
and use. The process determines the percentage of each licenced volume which would be
available for use, and is provided to licence holders on 1 May.
It is proposed that climatic conditions will be classified into the following categories and in keeping
with the current Plan, a sliding scale of protection of river flows and therefore impact on discharge
will be acceptable:
• Very dry (groundwater discharge is the minimum to 20th percentile of modelled discharge
from 1960/61 – 2017/18): 87% of annual groundwater discharge to the Katherine River
will be reserved for environmental and other instream public benefit outcomes.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 20 of 26
• Dry (groundwater discharge is the 20th to 40th percentile of modelled discharge from
1960/61 – 2017/18): 80% of annual groundwater discharge to the Katherine River will be
reserved for environmental and other instream public benefit outcomes.
• Average (groundwater discharge is the 40th to 60th percentile of modelled discharge from
1960/61 – 2017/18): 70% of annual groundwater discharge to the Katherine River will be
reserved for environmental and other instream public benefit outcomes.
• Wet (groundwater discharge is the 60th to 80th percentile of modelled discharge from
1960/61 – 2017/18): 70% of annual groundwater discharge to the Katherine River will be
reserved for environmental and other instream public benefit outcomes.
• Very wet (groundwater discharge is the 80th percentile to maximum of modelled discharge
from 1960/61 – 2017/18): 70% of annual groundwater discharge to the Katherine River
will be reserved for environmental and other instream public benefit outcomes.
This arrangement recognises the recommendations of the Katherine WAC in 2009 whereby:
“Essentially, these provisions represent a trade-off between the demand for water for consumptive
purposes and the protection of flows in the Katherine River. They also ensure that flows are not
reduced in a manner that would compromise the environmental water requirements
recommended for the Daly River.” Background: Water Allocation Plan – Tindall Limestone Aquifer,
Katherine, pg. 68 (https://denr.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/254615/final_wap_3.pdf).
During the implementation phase of the new Plan, updated information should be obtained about
the environmental and cultural flow requirements of the system. When this becomes available, it
should be included in the Plan to refine the non-consumptive water requirements for the system.
g. Recommendations for Plan implementation
Ongoing management of unused water should continue to occur over the life of this Plan
As water extraction licences come up for renewal during implementation of the new Plan, the
associated development plans should be reviewed to determine appropriate water requirements.
Non-consumptive water requirements and consumptive water requirements for the region should
continue to be reviewed and adapted where applicable over the implementation phase of the new
Plan.
Note for Katherine WAC:
Section requires discussion and agreement on specific approaches.
f. Stepped approach to achieving non-consumptive water requirements.
g. Stepped approach to achieving consumptive water requirements.
h. Annual announced allocations to use climatic conditions (in keeping with current Plan)
with sliding scale of protection of flows.
i. Updated approach to licence security levels.
j. Reflect the current Plan objectives for reliabilities.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 21 of 26
6. Water trading
It is proposed that the water trading arrangements be refined (where required) to reflect the
Trading Licensed Water Entitlements Policy when it is available, as well as the approach to
management of unused water entitlements.
Under these arrangements, it is proposed that water trading be available in systems where the
trade will not put water resources at additional risk or impact the environment. However, if a
water licence is considered to be ‘unused’, the water will be managed according to the associated
policy or procedure and may not be able to be traded.
In order to bring the Plan into alignment with other Water Allocation Plans, the naming
convention for the existing trading zones be updated. The outcome of this approach would be to
rename Zone 1 to ‘groundwater discharge protection area (GDPA).’
It is proposed that other trading rules and arrangements be retained for the new Plan.
Note for Katherine WAC:
Section requires discussion and agreement on specific approaches.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 22 of 26
7. Water accounting and other arrangements
There are no proposed changes to the intent of the existing arrangements (detailed in the current
Plan) for the following components:
• Announced allocation accounting requirements
• Emergency powers to limit rights to take water
• Bore construction permits conditions
Note for Katherine WAC:
Section requires discussion and agreement on specific approaches.
a. No change to the intent of the existing arrangements for water accounting and other
arrangements.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 23 of 26
8. Implementation, monitoring and review
The implementation component of the new Plan will be a significant component of the new Plan.
As the Plan sets management arrangements for a ‘point-in-time’ and acknowledges that a current
state of knowledge is used to inform decisions, as this knowledge improves, the Plan will need to
adapt and change to a certain degree.
The implementation component of the Plan will identify outputs, activities and indicators of
achievement, along with management strategies to mitigate potential risks.
This component of the Plan will be developed to reflect the elements included in the new Plan.
Note for Katherine WAC:
Section does not require in depth discussion at this point.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 24 of 26
9. Risk identification and mitigation strategies
Risks to the achievement of the vision, values and objectives will be identified. Possible mitigation
or treatment mechanisms will also be identified. This will be a change from the current Plan where
there was not a risk section included.
It is anticipated that risks such as groundwater contamination from Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS)
substances will be included in this section. Other water quality considerations may also be
required in this section.
Any relevant recommendations or risks identified from the Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic
Fracturing will be included.
Note for Katherine WAC:
Section does not require in depth discussion at this point.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 25 of 26
References
BoM (2017) Hydraulic Fracturing Inquiry – NT Bureau of Meteorology input. Sourced from
https://frackinginquiry.nt.gov.au/?a=452118.
BoM (2018a) Climate change and variability. Sourced from
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/index.shtml#tabs=Tracker&tracker=timeseries.
BoM (2018b) Australian Water Information Dictionary. Sourced from
http://www.bom.gov.au/water/awid/id-913.shtml.
BoM (2018c) About Climate Statistics. Sourced from
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/cdo/about/about-stats.shtml.
Dilshad, M. (2017) Unlicensed Stock, Rural Domestic and Other Small Groundwater
Uses within the Katherine Tindall WAP: projected demands. Report Number:
23/2017D, Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Darwin.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
December 2018 Page 26 of 26
11/02/2019
Katherine Water
Advisory Committee Meeting #8
11 December 2018
www.nt.gov.au
Opening, Minutes and Actions Agenda Items 1 and 2
» Opening
• Welcome and introductions
• Apologies
• Confirmation of agenda
• Focus of meeting
» Minutes a nd actions
• Confirmation of meeting #7 minutes
• Actions from Meeting #7
• Correspondence received
www.nt.gov.au
1
11/02/2019
2019 -2029 Katherine Water Plan Agenda Item 3 Introduction and objectives of the session
» Introduction and objectives:
• Session focuses on development of the new Katherine Water Plan - based on
Discussion Paper provided last week
• Opportunity for the Committee to discuss aspects of the Plan – providing the
Department direction for drafting of the new Plan
• Resolution on key components required from Committee
» Plan for session:
• Short introduction on each component of the Plan from us
• Discussion and resolution amongst the Committee
www.nt.gov.au
2019 -2029 Katherine Water Plan Proposed changes governed by:
Katherine WAC meeting #5 ‘The Committee unanimously agrees to a compressed/rapid WAP process -
declared for 10 years with the facility for review during the 10-year period, and strongly endorses the long
term structural change towards an integrated surface/groundwater Plan for the Daly.”
• Need to update structure of the Plan
• Reflecting work undertaken since the original Plans were developed
• Reflecting recent modifications to structure in Water Plans currently in draft
• Need to reflect new approaches to water management
• Reflecting changes to policy currently underway
• Reflecting refined values, vision and objectives
• Need to update data to current time period
• Dataset used to set water volumes to current conditions
• Approaches to statistical analyses updated where appropriate
www.nt.gov.au
2
11/02/2019
Values, Vision and Plan Objectives
Update and refine from the current Plan to be reflective of Tindall Limestone Aquifer water management in Katherine Region
Proposed changes
» Values of water:
• Intrinsic – being valuable because of its own nature
• Direct uses – particularly consumptive beneficial uses
• Supporting community benefits, supporting environmental and cultural
outcomes and uses
• Vision – next slide…
www.nt.gov.au
Values, Vision and Plan Objectives » The regional Katherine community values the Tindall Limestone Aquifer and the beneficial uses that water
supports. This water contributes to a prosperous community, with opportunities for sustainable economic and
regional development, recreation and community services Ecosystems dependent on the Tindall Limestone
Aquifer are understood and maintains. The values that water brings to Aboriginal culture are celebrated and
protected.
» The regional Katherine community values the excellent Tindall Limestone Aquifer and the beneficial uses that
are supported. Water of sufficient quantity and quality is available to contribute to a prosperous community.
Ecosystems dependent on the Tindall Limestone Aquifer are understood and preserved. The values that water
brings to Aboriginal culture are celebrated and protected.
» The regional Katherine community values the Tindall Limestone Aquifer and the beneficial uses that water
supports. Water quantity and quality contributes to a prosperous community, regional development, recreation
and community services. Water is available to protect ecosystems and support Aboriginal cultural outcomes.
www.nt.gov.au
3
11/02/2019
Water Resources (supply and condition) » No changes proposed to water resource (Tindall Limestone Aquifer,
Katherine) » No change proposed to model representation
Proposed changes
» Updated timeframe from 2004 to 2018 – covers time period 1960/61 to 2017/18
» Water year described – 1 October to 30 September representing recharge and subsequent discharge as one year. Aligning with BoM’s definition for commencement of wet season
» Statistical analysis – median used rather than mean » Surface water extraction within Plan boundary considered – dry season river
flows derived directly from groundwater source
www.nt.gov.au
Water Use » Water use component will require considerable updates to align with current
arrangements and policy directions
Proposed changes
» Water use figures updated to reflect most recent available data
» Licenced surface water extraction included » Consumptive water requirements updated:
• Rural stock and domestic potential demand – 1,964ML
• Licenced surface water extraction included – 4,855ML
• Reflecting recent policy developments – SWR; Mining and Petroleum (although water requirements currently unknown)
• Total consumptive water requirements increased to ~43,000ML
» Environmental water requirements shift away from reliance on Daly River flow target – look at Katherine River to set flow targets
www.nt.gov.au
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Estimated Sustainable Yield » Current Plan approach: Current Plan does not explicitly specify an ESY –
specifies extraction limits instead. Requires update to approach
Proposed changes
» Reflect Water Act wording and set ESY reflecting total recharge of water resource to be shared across non-consumptive and consumptive uses
» Dataset 1960/61 to 2017/18 to be used to set ESY; statistical analysis updated to reflect improved approach
» ESY to be set at 52,710ML/yr
www.nt.gov.au
Water Management Arrangements » Current Plan approach: Based on ‘developing’ the water system in Katherine -
accepting all applications for water with water to be returned if not used. Water
requirements determined by property development plans
Proposed changes
» Objectives, outcomes, management strategies and performance indicators to be
updated – reflect refined vision and values of Plan
» Beneficial uses to be updated to reflect current policy (SAWR; mining and petroleum)
» Recognition that system has significant consumptive uses relying on water resource –
need to reflect this
» Recognise previous 10 years of development and need to set path for sustainable
sharing of resource over next 10 years
www.nt.gov.au
5
11/02/2019
Non-Consumptive Water Requirements » Current Plan approach: Availability of non-consumptive water is determined
by the remaining water from the aquifer recharge and the consumptive licence limits
Proposed changes
» Move to set non-consumptive requirements first (as per NT WAPF) with consumptive extraction limits to follow
» Recognise the system has significant existing uses relying on water source – phased approach, including adaptability at Year 10
Year Non consumptive water availability
/ requirement
Consumptive extraction limit / target
-
Year 1 (2019) 8,304ML/yr 44,406ML/yr
Year 5 (2024) 36,897ML/yr 15,813ML/yr
Year 10 (2029) To be identified at five year Plan To be identified at five year Plan
review review
www.nt.gov.au
Consumptive Water Requirements » Maintain current licence levels (in short term)
» Maintain licence security levels from existing Plan (in short term)
Proposed changes
» Surface water extraction licences to be included in consumptive pool
» Water requirements for all beneficial uses to be included
» Update to include policy and procedure developments (Management of Unused Water)
» Aim for phasing out of different security levels for existing users (recognising public water supply
will still have higher securities)
» Approach for licence reliabilities – as per current Plan
» Recommend approach for review of licences when due for renewal (e.g. review licence along with
property development plan)
» Include SWR in consumptive pool (volume of water available calculated from 5-year extraction
limit level)
www.nt.gov.au
6
11/02/2019
Annual Announced Allocations » Current Plan approach: AAAs currently set according to predicted 1 November flow
rates at Railway Bridge. Stepped approach of proportion of flow able to be extracted
(between 70% and 87% flow protected)
Proposed changes
» AAAs t o be set according to predicted 1 November flow rates at Wilden
» Determination of likely seasonal conditions (very dry through to very wet) determined using
modelled aquifer discharge
» Maintain stepped approach to determining allowable extraction each year:
• Very dry: 87% protected; 13% available for consumptive use
• Dry: 80% protected; 20% available for consumptive use
• Average: 70% protected; 30% available for consumptive use
• Wet: 70% protected; 30% available for consumptive use
• Very wet: 70% protected; 30% available for consumptive use
www.nt.gov.au
Water Trade and Accounting Arrangements » Current Plan approach: Water accounting year begins May 1 and continues
for 12 months (water accounting year). Two trading zones established in current Plan
Proposed changes
» No changes proposed to water accounting year » No changes proposed to water reporting » Announced allocation process to be updated to account for refined
approach – no change to determination of AAA detailed in the current Plan » No proposed change to trading zones (aside from renaming); no proposed
changes to trading arrangements until 5 year extraction target reached » Reflect Trading Licensed Water Entitlements Policy when available
www.nt.gov.au
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Implementation, Risk Identification and Mitigation
» No specific discussion points at this stage
www.nt.gov.au
Other
» Anything else not already covered? » Any other comments?
www.nt.gov.au
8
11/02/2019
Summary – document over lunch
www.nt.gov.au
Stock and Domestic
Agenda Item 4
www.nt.gov.au
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Flood Harvesting Policy Update
Agenda Item 5
www.nt.gov.au
Water Reform Update
Agenda Item 6
www.nt.gov.au
10
www.nt.gov.au
11/02/2019
Update on Plan Components and Process
Agenda Item 7
Now – Jan ‘19
•Draft WAP development with WAC
•Meeting 7 26 September meeting #7
•Meeting 8 11 December meeting #9
•Early Feb: WAC review draft WAP
Feb -Mar ‘19
•Initial legal advice
•Draft WAP out for public consultation
Apr -May ‘19
•Update and finalise WAP
•WAC to review submissions in April 2019
•Final edits undertaken by DENR
•Updated WAP to be presented to WAC in May
Jun ’19 •Internal signoff and approvals
Jul ‘19 •Final WAP package submitted to Minister
Update on Plan Components and Process
Plan components still requiring discussion and agreement INCLUDE ANYTHING FROM TODAY’S MEETING Implementation, Risk Identification and Mitigation Components Objectives and monitoring requirements
Actions
» Identify timing for meeting #9 – early February 2019 » Gearing up for community consultation in March
www.nt.gov.au
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Wrap up
Agenda Item 8
» Any comments or issues that haven’t been addressed? » How is everyone feeling about where we’re at? » Comments and feedback on the meeting, and anything else the Department
needs to work on?
www.nt.gov.au
Thank you for all your time, energy and wpwwro.nt.govd.au uctive discussions over the year
12
Summary
points
of required discussion Discussion
1. Values, Vision and Plan Members were asked to provide feedback on the options provided for a Vision Statement.
Objectives: • Ecosystems -supporting water dependent ecosystems
Section requires discussion and • Vision statement should be concise
agreement on specific approaches • Meld cultural outcomes with environment and have earlier in the statement
to go into the Plan required for the • Incorporate last sentence in Options 1 and 2 as a new sentence in Option 3
following: • Vision for the new Plan is that it has to be about a holistic integrated system even though this
a. Values: do they broadly represent will not happen in this Plan. This aquifer is part of a much bigger system.
the values in the Katherine Plan
area? Decision: Option 3 with an updated sentence in relation to Aboriginal culture (from Options 1 and
2), and including a sentence about a holistic integrated system. b. Vision: agreement on vision to take
forward into drafting phase. Add text for option 3 and the new text for Aboriginal culture and an integrated system.
2. Water Resources:
Section requires discussion only.
Changes proposed update the
timeframe for modelling to current
and uses standard approach to
statistical analyses.
Members discussed the proposed change to the Water Year described – 1 October to 30 September,
recharge and subsequent discharge as one year, and aligning with BOM’s definition for
commencement of wet season
• 1 December to 30 November may be better – October to November is very hot and dry
• baseflows start to pick up from October based on long term averages. Recharge has a big lag
from surface water (currently 1 November)
• What is the water year used for in the Plan? From a modelling perspective and the figures used
in the plan
• Announced allocations are separate and are from 1 May.
• Too much later than 1 October and you will have missed the surface water flows that start the
system working. Trying to capture the early rise. Want to include it in the relevant water year.
Decision: Members agreed to have the Water year described as 1 October to 30 September.
Statistical Analysis - Median rather than mean
• These terms are not commonly used by the community. Explanations BOM have provided are
good
• ACTION – Planner to provide definition of terms Median and Mean as a glossary.
Surface water extraction – dry season river flows derived directly from groundwater source
• Segregated between Tindall and Oolloo for surface water extraction
• Discharge from Tindall aquifer is managed in the Katherine plan. The Oolloo Plan will manage
discharge from Oolloo Dolostone Aquifer. There is a certain flow that is discharged out of Tindall
into the river and mixes with Proterozoic sandstone from the Arnhem plateau, preserving that
water as it comes into Tindall at Ironwood through the whole system is required
Summary of required discussion
points
Discussion
• As such, can’t take that parcel of water. Power and Water is already taking from Donkey camp.
The same thing happens with Tindall discharge, try and preserve through to Oolloo and ODA
preserve through to Daly River
• How do you work out percentage of water? Model, calculate inflow, losses
(transpiration/evaporation), coming in through springs or being lost to aquifer
• This emphasises the earlier point of managing an integrated system
• Advice from Steve Tickell is that there is a lot of discharge we don’t see as it comes up through
the river bed and not from springs or banks.
3. Water Use:
Section requires discussion and
agreement on specific approaches
to go into the Plan required for the
following:
a. Environmental flow requirements:
i. Continue with looking at the
Katherine River to set
environmental flow targets and
shift away from relying solely on
Daly River flows as environmental
water requirements
ii. Maintain stepped approach of
protected discharge to surface
waters according to climatic
conditions (updated specifically
for Katherine River).
b. Continue seeking information
about non-licenced water use
(mining, petroleum, road
construction, bore water use at
RAAF Base Tindal) and update
consumptive water use figures if
this is obtained in time for Plan
drafting.
• Rural Stock and Domestic - factoring in future use, veg clearance, pasture improvement, higher
stocking rates, increased domestic use (for end of 10 years). Working with what the current
legislation and policy allows
• Is there any other state or territory where stock and domestic is not licenced? Nearly
everywhere except Queensland.
Stock and Domestic will be discussed further at Agenda Item 4.
• ACTION – Planner to provide WAC with information on how other jurisdictions deal with stock
and domestic.
Environmental water requirements
• NESP project not yet able to provide Committee with information. Hope to be able to give the
Plan more justification in relation to low flow habitats. What we have done highlights the
importance of riffle habitats. An example reach around the Wilden site, the team has done a
metre scale hydro dynamic modelling - speed, depth across transect, and experts now
generating a model where we will be able to use hypothetical flow scenarios and see how
habitats are affected. By February, may be able to provide recommendations, cease to flow at
key riffle habitats, level you would need to maintain a diversity of habitats. The team will make
recommendations, and it is up to the WAC how they use those. If this is not able to be included
in the Plan then there is still the opportunity at the 5 year review.
• Can you ascribe certain values to riffle run? If they dry out what is their capacity to recover?
Particularly with fish data, and the types of species on those different types of habitats, can be
better described now. Riffle habitats support different fauna, which we think is quite vulnerable,
hence quite intensive modelling approach
• Are these located in other parts of the Daly system? All the way through until Beeboom but less
of them below the Katherine area and into the Oolloo reach, essentially dragging out the scale.
Seeking Committees view on the proposal to shift away from reliance on Daly River flow targets, and
look at Katherine River to set flow targets for environmental water requirements
Summary of required discussion
points
Discussion
Consumptive water requirements have increased. Has an update on security levels been done and
what that will mean? This will be discussed in the section under Water Management arrangements.
Decision: WAC agreed to continue with looking at the Katherine River to set environmental flow
targets and to maintain a stepped approach of protected discharge to surface waters
Summary
points
of required discussion Discussion
4.
a.
b.
c.
Estimated Sustainable Yield:
Section requires discussion only.
Setting an Estimated Sustainable
Yield is a requirement of Water
Allocation Plans under the Water
Act.
The Estimated Sustainable Yield is
the volume of water that
recharges the aquifer annually.
Data input to the model has been
updated from 2004 to current
and approach to statistical
analysis updated – output from
the model is used for setting ESY.
Estimated Sustainable Yield has been significantly reduced as a result of changes to the data set and
with the statistical analysis changing from median rather than mean. BOM recommends at least a
30 year period is used. Roper modelling suggests that the climate extremes of wet and very dry be
included in the period to work out what the long term ESY should look like.
The WAC was asked to advise whether they think the ESY has been based on sound principles.
• Position we have now should be much more reflective of the variations
• Are you going to discuss climate? Climate change scenarios only talk about rainfall.
Evapotranspiration and temperatures which will have a big effect. Changes in
evapotranspiration should be straightforward.
• Certainly believe in longer term data. As we are going into a warmer wetter cycle, is the old data
as applicable when we are making decisions?
• Does data mean, do you need a very wet period to push beyond 70% when talking about
variability?
• Conundrum is that you don’t need as much water during a wet year
• Can still use a high percentage in a wet year
• Areas at the end of Hendry Road, and on Stuart Estate report bores running dry. Why are they
going dry if recharge is not any different? Recharge will change year to year. Bore might be at
top of aquifer, there may be more bores in that area that interact. If it is stock and domestic
then hard to judge if they are using more water.
• How do you encourage people to understand how water works in their situation? There is a fear
that metering is first step in charging for water and restricting use
• ACTION – Liza Schenkel will investigate whether there are any monitoring bores in those areas
that can be used for comparison.
5.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Water Management
Arrangements:
Section requires discussion and
agreement on specific
approaches.
Stepped approach to achieving
non-consumptive water
requirements.
Stepped approach to achieving
consumptive water requirements.
Annual announced allocations to
use climatic conditions (in
keeping with current Plan) with
sliding scale of protection of
flows.
Updated approach to licence
security levels.
Reflect the current Plan
objectives for reliabilities.
Is the information provided a correct interpretation? In drafting the Plan trying to get recognition of
history and of development and set ourselves on a path for sustainable sharing
• System as it currently stands is over allocated, and we need to do something about. Make those
statements really clear.
• Frustration that we get to the point where we are trying to fix things. How did we get to this
point?
• Key to this is telling the story as to why we are in this situation. Short story, water was given out
for development on the understanding that if you didn’t use it, you would give that water back.
It is not explicit in the plan that you would return the water, it is in the licence conditions.
• The amount of water being used is about the level of sustainable of use, at the threshold of
where we may start to see impacts, but don’t know what it looks like when more water is used.
• It is very important to sort out the over allocation. Currently we are over allocated and under
used. In 5 years we could be over allocated and over used. Need to pull allocations back and
take a conservative approach.
• Need to think about how we approach over allocation and under use in the Plan. There is a risk
to sustainable use. One of the challenges is the Plan can’t tell the Controller what to do but can
make recommendations on how to reduce risks and manage water better.
• Be very clear about what we think sustainable use looks like and what the risk levels are for
unsustainable use and mitigation strategies for unsustainable use.
• Use percentages (mostly 80/20), eg. Currently sitting at reported use of X%. Percentages will
help to describe, it is hard to talk about volumes. Need to be clear about what those numbers
are, then it is how we recommend we deal with that and the risks around not doing that.
• There have been a lot of land ownership changes over that time. Have the new owners had
natural justice, did the purchase price include the value of licence, they are at the beginning of
their cycle.
• What is the confidence level in the figures? The task in writing this Plan is to be very clear about
the principles on which we are writing it and the science behind it.
Non-consumptive Water Requirements - page 18 of discussion paper. Need to recognise there are
some limitations in terms of a whole range of things. Have some mechanisms in place to assist. 10
year licences are up for renewal in 2019. This is an opportunity to look at what was planned through
development plans, what water was proposed to be used, and what water is actually being used.
• important to meter stock and domestic to get a clear picture of what is being used
• Within a WCD anybody can use 5ML on their property, for any purpose without a licence.
• Why are we waiting for this Plan before we start getting back unused water entitlements?
• It is a more pragmatic option having a 5 year target given how many licences there are to
review? It can take time to go through that process, allowing WRD to review those licences, to
have it as a firm target at the 5 year review.
• Have unused water letters gone out for Katherine? It is going to be tied in with renewals,
mechanisms that we have, conditions on most licences about returning unused water, renewal
process
Consumptive water requirements
Recognising that people have had 10 years to go forward with their development, consider phasing
out security levels
• If you are using it, depends on level of investment, also whether annual or perennial
• Need to be more sustainable with what we are growing
• Also look at water use efficiencies
• Need to educate people more about using more sustainable crops both commercial and
domestic
Looking for principles and direction for drafting the plan in the first instance
• Whether you are growing annual or perennial, if you are a food producer, whatever your
income is you rely on water no matter what
• Is it about developing some guidelines about what level of security is required, giving the
Controller some points to consider? A perennial crop would have a minimal amount needed to
maintain it for the next year, otherwise it is lost. The absolute minimum you need and that
needs a level of security. An annual crop, you might only miss out on 1 years income. A
perennial crop you would lose further years
• This is where trading is vital. For example, a licence reduction across the board to 30%, may
result in an annual user determining 30% of licence volume not worth it in that year andcan
trade their water to perennial user
• What if you can’t even get an allocation under a licence (for people outside of the market at the
moment)? Trading comes into that as well, trade permanently or lease it, that’s how they enter
the market
• Licence conditions are now able to reflect development stages. If your usage is going to increase
over the next 5 years, you could trade unused in the beginning years until water is needed when
full development is reached.
• Can’t anticipate everything, develop robust guidelines then they can be adapted to
circumstances as they change.
• Are there any criteria related to security to help Controller?
• Thinking about how we might solve this and transition from full allocation to a lower sustainable
allocation is to use security levels. Could consider different approaches such as people already
using water get high security, if not using it then medium/low security. Someone fully
developed but only using 70% because they do not always need the full allocation, could be 70%
high, and combination of medium/low for the remainder. For consideration
• Allocation was designed by scientists to allow for dry years. Would create all sorts of problems
as when you need the water, it would be cut back. Point was to create economic, and
sustainable development
• maximise beneficial use of water, security or trade mechanism
• make sure not advantaging some and disadvantaging others
• There hasn’t been a change to security levels since licences were granted - everybody gets the
same security whether they are using their water or not (water was granted not purchased)
• There may be temptation to disregard trade as it costs
• new owner inherits licence and licence conditions, whether it has changed hands is irrelevant
Summary of required discussion
points
Discussion
• ACTION – For Meeting 9, Planner / Director Planning and Engagement to provide more
data/analysis on the amount of water being used by licence holders in relation to their licenced
amount, how this varies by sector, and how this varies from year to year, how this is impacting
on the whole TLA system, and the reasons behind it.
• ACTION – Meeting 9 to focus on the Plan for the whole meeting, with workshopping of some
issues.
• ACTION – WAC members can provide feedback on the discussion paper, or contact the Planner
by phone.
6. Water Trading:
Section requires discussion and
agreement on specific
approaches.
a. Restriction on trade of unused
water.
There was some discussion of Water Trading under 5. Water Management Arrangements
Further discussion was deferred.
Summary
points
of required discussion Discussion
7.
a.
Water Accounting:
Section requires discussion and
agreement on specific
approaches.
No change to the intent of the
existing arrangements for water
accounting and other
arrangements.
Discussion deferred.
8. Implementation:
Section does not require
discussion at this point.
in depth
Not discussed
9. Risk Identification and
Mitigation Strategies:
Section does not require
discussion at this point.
in depth
Not discussed
Appendix 4
Development of surface water flood harvesting policy
Introduction
Groundwater resources have, historically, been the preferred source of water for development purposes in
the NT. As groundwater resources in some regions of the NT approach full allocation, it is anticipated that
the focus may increasingly turn to surface water resources as an option for future water dependent
developments.
An update on the development of this policy will be provided to the Katherine Water Advisory Committee
meeting on December 11 2018.
Policy need
Whilst surface water extraction currently occurs and is licensed, there is increasing interest in harvesting
river water during floods on an unprecedented scale in the NT. The NT Government and Water Resources
Division are currently developing policy and procedures to guide the assessment of flood harvest extraction
licence applications and guidelines to inform developers of the range of issues to be considered prior to
submitting a flood harvest licence application.
Generation of a policy and associated documents will ensure Water Resources Division has a consistent and
transparent process for flood flow licensing.
Water Resources Division is seeking input from many sources, including Water Advisory Committees to assist
the development of the Policy Position Statement.
Anticipated outcomes
• Policy addresses all issues likely to be encountered when considering surface water flood harvesting
licence applications.
• Flood extraction rules developed in line with best practice whilst still allowing realistic extraction to
occur.
• Consistent, transparent and legally defendable surface water flood flow harvest licensing decisions.
• Policy is easy to read and applied by public, staff and Controller of Water Resources.
• Policy principles can be applied to any Northern NT river systems.
• Policy identifies which knowledge/data responsibilities belong to the proponent and which to the
Department.
• Surface water licensing applications submitted with sufficient detail to adequately assess against
requirements of the Water Act, the Northern Territory Water Allocation Planning Framework and
other relevant policies.
• Identification of policy and knowledge gaps related to surface water extraction, storage and use.
• Identification where/if legislation change is required and suggested revisions Recommendations for
review of the Water Act and other water management reforms.
–
11/02/2019
LICENSING
CONSIDERATIONS FOR
SURFACE WATER FLOOD
HARVESTING
Tim Bond, Director Water Planning & Engagement, Dept. of Environment & Natural Resources
October December 2018 Water Advisory Committees
www.nt.gov.au
Approach • NT Government has contracted Water
Solutions to develop a draft NT surface water flood harvesting assessment policy
• The Department for Environment and Natural Resources will be talking to key stakeholders
• Stakeholder engagement to gather information about surface water flood harvesting from people who have knowledge and experience in water management
www.nt.gov.au
1
11/02/2019
What is surface water flood harvesting? Surface water flood harvesting is taking or diverting water from
waterways during periods of high flow for beneficial uses.
The water could be stored for later use, used immediately or a
combination of both.
Beneficial uses:
• Rural stock and domestic • Cultural (recreation, amenity, aesthetic)
• Public water supply • Industry (including mining & petroleum)
• Aquaculture • Strategic Aboriginal Water Reserve
• Agriculture • Environment
www.nt.gov.au
www.nt.gov.au
Surface water
flood harvesting
2
11/02/2019
Background • Groundwater used f or development i n the N T approaching full
allocation
• Focus now turning to the h arvesting of flood flows
• A policy / process needs to be d eveloped to licence and manage the expected demand for surface water flood harvesting water allocations
Project objective: To develop a NT surface water flood harvesting
assessment policy that reflects contemporary industry best practice
and is consistent with existing Water Legislation and the NT Water
Allocation Planning Framework
www.nt.gov.au
Key Principles
• Best practice
• Based on available science and resources
• Sustainable while facilitating regional development
• Practical and able to be implemented
• Complies with Water Act and NTG policy
• Considers National Water Initiative (NWI) principles
www.nt.gov.au
3
11/02/2019
National Water Initiative Principles
The NWI seeks to achieve:
• Transparent, statutory based water planning;
• Knowledge and capacity building;
• Community partnerships and adjustment;
• Confidence for investment through defined water licence security;
• Water for environmental flows, Indigenous people and other public benefit
outcomes;
• Water trading for more profitable use of water;
• Enhanced water use efficiency in urban and rural areas;
• Water use metering to provide accurate information for planning and
management;
• Recognition of the connectivity between surface and groundwater.
www.nt.gov.au
NWI – Water Entitlement Principles The consumptive use of water requires a water access entitlement that:
•Is separate from land
•Is consistent with a water plan
•Is able to be traded, given, bequeathed or leased
•Is able to be subdivided or amalgamated
•Is able to be mortgaged
•Is enforceable and enforced
•Is recorded in a public water register
•Clearly indicates characteristics of the product, responsibilities and obligations
•Is only able to be cancelled when clearly breached
•Is subject to emergency conditions
www.nt.gov.au
4
11/02/2019
NWI – Regulatory Approval Principles Regulatory approvals enabling water use will:
• be consistent with NRM legislation and water plans
• take into account environmental, social and economic impacts of use
• clearly state the conditions relating to the approval
• minimise application and compliance costs for applicants
• allow for applications to be assessed to a level of detail
commensurate with the potential impact
• have transparent and contestable processes in place
• have avenues for appealing approval decisions
www.nt.gov.au
Surface Water Flood Harvesting
A typical surface water flood harvesting scheme involves:
• An off-stream storage / ring tank
• A pump station (or gravity diversion) that can divert high flows into the storage under a set of access rules (thresholds, volumes, etc)
• Delivery system from the storage to the end use (agriculture, aquaculture, industrial, urban, etc)
www.nt.gov.au
5
11/02/2019
Flood Flow Access Rules » NT Water Allocation Planning Framework
• 80/20 Rule (and 95/5 rule in arid zone)
» Erskine Recommendations (for the Daly River)
• Protect flows below a specified minimum flow
• The rising limb and peak of significant within-channel floods should
be maintained.
• The rising limb, peak and recession to 1 m below the peak of
floodplain floods should be maintained.
• Investigate to see if the first flush flood should be protected.
www.nt.gov.au
www.nt.gov.au
Outcomes
6
11/02/2019
Anticipated Outcomes • Policy addresses all issues likely to be encountered when considering
surface water flood harvesting licence applications.
• Flood extraction rules developed in line with best practice whilst still allowing realistic extraction to occur.
• Policy is easy to read and apply by public, staff and Controller of Water Resources
• Policy principles can be applied to any Northern NT river systems.
• Identification of policy and knowledge gaps related to surface water extraction, storage and use.
• Identification where/if legislation change is required and suggested revisions Recommendations for review of the Water Act and other water management reforms.
www.nt.gov.au
Anticipated Outcomes • Consistent, transparent and legally defendable surface water flood
flow harvest licensing decisions.
• Policy identifies which knowledge/data responsibilities belong to
the proponent and which to the Department.
• Surface water licensing applications submitted with sufficient detail
to adequately assess against requirements of the Water Act, the
Northern Territory Water Allocation Planning Framework
(NTWAPF) and other relevant policies.
• Workshops with WACs, Water in the Bush, NTNRM conference
www.nt.gov.au
7
11/02/2019
www.nt.gov.au
Next steps
Next steps
• March 2019 project completed by Water Solutions
• Peer review
• Public consultation on the draft policy to follow with
• Key stakeholders
• Water Advisory Committees
• General community
www.nt.gov.au
8
11/02/2019
Thank You
Further Information: [email protected]
https://nt.gov.au/environment/water
www.nt.gov.au
9
11/02/2019
Water Resource
Regulatory Reform
Secure water for life, development and the environment
www.nt.go .au
Why reform?
• Water Act commenced in 1992 with minimal changes since
• Established water policy is lacking
• Reviews and application have identified limitations and constraints
• Demand and competition for water resources has changed and is continuing to change
• Increased risk arising from larger projects and new industries
www.nt.go .au
1
11/02/2019
Goal, Objectives and Outcomes
www.nt.go .au
Scope and approach
» Resource allocation regulatory framework focused
» Overall reform elements are presented in Directions Paper for testing
• Comments invited until March 2019
» Some individual elements will be canvassed more deeply
• Tailored to communities and stakeholders
» Staged introduction
www.nt.go .au
2
11/02/2019
Existing commitments » Mining and petroleum activities subject to the Water Act
» Introduction of new offence and penalty provisions
• Passed 27 November 2018
» Amendments to strengthen regulation of on- shore unconventional gas industry
• Scheduled for introduction early 2 019
» Minor amendments to resolve ambiguities in the current Act
• Scheduled for introduction early 2 019
» Planning Act and Water Act interaction
» Strategic Aboriginal Water Reserves as a new beneficial use category
• Scheduled for introduction first quarter of 2019
» New waste water provisions in the new environment protection Act
• Waste management framework f or inclusion in the Act, under development
www.nt.go .au
Proposals under consideration
» Northern Territory Water Allocation Planning Framework
» Protecting future water supply
» Stock and Domestic use
www.nt.go .au
3
11/02/2019
Proposals under consideration
» Water for purpose principle
» Alternative allocation approaches
» Staged allocations linked to development
www.nt.go .au
Proposals under consideration
» Pricing
» Licence tenure and perpetual entitlements
» Management of unused water
» Trade
www.nt.go .au
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11/02/2019
Proposals under consideration continued
» Risk management framework
» Fit and proper person test
» Ability to not assess applications
» Role of the Controller
» Reviews
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Staging
www.nt.go .au
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11/02/2019
Next steps
» Invite comment on Directions Paper, proposals and timing
• March 2019
» Further develop individual proposals for endorsement
• Trade and unused water policies complete
• Pricing for on shore unconventional gas priority
• Stock and Domestic key risk
www.nt.go .au
More information
» Contact Christine Long on (08) 8999 4455
» Online feedback form at
www.haveyoursay.nt.gov.au/waterreform
www.nt.go .au
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