Floodplain Harvesting
Page: 684
Mr IAN COHEN: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Natural Resources. Given that current departmental policy on floodplain harvesting commits the Government to returning levels of floodplain harvesting to cap levels and a moratorium on new works or expanded floodplain harvesting, and given that the cap agreement has been in place since 1995, why is floodplain harvesting still not being capped? Is the department currently undergoing an audit on all works on floodplains in New South Wales to determine what exists and what should be removed? What environmental assessment has been done as part of the floodplain management process? Will there be a comprehensive environmental assessment?
The Hon. IAN MACDONALD: The answer to the honourable members question is yes. The Government is reviewing floodplain management systems across the State to try to obtain an overall view of them. I am pleased to advise the House that they are being finalised at the moment. The new floodplain harvesting policy represents a significant improvement in the manner in which floodplain harvesting operations are undertaken. The policy is an integral part of this Government's strategy for dealing with issues on the floodplain.
Other new initiatives include a renewed focus on floodplain planning and the review of floodplain development assessment procedures. Floodplain harvesting predominantly occurs on the north-west slopes and plains of New South Wales. It is a feature of irrigation enterprises in the border rivers, the Gwydir, the Namoi, the Barwon-Darling and the lower Macquarie river networks. There are also isolated examples in other river systems. The new policy is being developed in collaboration with a pilot audit study of existing structures in the Gwydir Valley.
It is based on extensive discussions with numerous stakeholders and agencies and will be implemented statewide after further consultation with peak stakeholders. Under the new policy, properties that undertake floodplain-harvesting activities will require a water licence to continue harvesting water off the floodplain. A key feature of the new policy is that it will cover all works that harvest floodplain water. This includes banks that have been constructed on the floodplain for the irrigation of pastures, or so-called wild irrigation schemes, which divert water across the floodplain and, in some cases, off the floodplain.
The unique nature of floodplain harvesting means that there will be no trading of floodplain harvesting licences for at least five years after the policy is implemented. During that time we will work closely with peak stakeholders, scientists and environmentalists to develop a trading system. Another key outcome of the new policy is that it provides a strong compliance pathway for the Department of Natural Resources to deal with people who illegally take high-flow water under the guise of floodplain harvesting. The volume of water that landholders take through floodplain harvesting will be managed closely within the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council cap. New South Wales is strongly committed to managing all our inland river networks within the cap as we recognise that water does not respect political boundaries. This policy represents a very positive way forward in the management of the State's water resources. It is also an integral part of the Department of Natural Resources corporate plan.