katherine water advisory committee meeting record 8 - 11 ... · 12/11/2018 · katherine water...

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.



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:


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.



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:


7. Water Accounting:


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:




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



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.



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.



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.



Changes proposed update the timeframe for modelling to current and uses standard approach

to statistical analyses.



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.



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



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.




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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



https://updatedtoreflectcurrentpolicy.In

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:



• 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.



https://accountedfor.As

• 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.



• 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.




• 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).



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



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.



https://subsequentdryseason.To

• 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



• Wet (groundwater discharge is the 60th to 80th percentile of modelled discharge from



• 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.



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.



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.





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



a. No change to the intent of the existing arrangements for water accounting and other

arrangements.



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.





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.





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.



http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/cdo/about/about-stats.shtml

http://www.bom.gov.au/water/awid/id-913.shtml

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/index.shtml#tabs=Tracker&tracker=timeseries

https://frackinginquiry.nt.gov.au/?a=452118

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

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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

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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…

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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.

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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

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11/02/2019

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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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Implementation, Risk Identification and Mitigation

» No specific discussion points at this stage

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Other

» Anything else not already covered? » Any other comments?

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Summary – document over lunch

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Stock and Domestic

Agenda Item 4

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Flood Harvesting Policy Update

Agenda Item 5

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Water Reform Update

Agenda Item 6

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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

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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

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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:


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


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


4.

a.

b.

c.

Estimated Sustainable Yield:


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:


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

https://somelimitationsintermsofawholerangeofthings.Havesomemechanismsinplacetoassist.10

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

https://needsalevelofsecurity.An


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:



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


7.

a.

Water Accounting:



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

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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

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Surface water

flood harvesting

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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11/02/2019

Thank You

Further Information: [email protected]

https://nt.gov.au/environment/water

www.nt.gov.au

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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

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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

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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

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3

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» Water for purpose principle

» Alternative allocation approaches

» Staged allocations linked to development

www.nt.go .au


» Pricing

» Licence tenure and perpetual entitlements

» Management of unused water

» Trade

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Proposals under consideration continued

» Risk management framework

» Fit and proper person test

» Ability to not assess applications

» Role of the Controller

» Reviews

www.nt.go .au

Staging

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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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www.nt.gov.au

www.haveyoursay.nt.gov.au/waterreform

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