The Water Management Act 1999 provides for the development of Water Management Plans. Water Management Plans are developed in consultation with stakeholders to ensure the sustainable development and management of a water resource.
A Water Management Plan is generally implemented by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. However, the Minister may approve an application by a Water Entity to take over the implementation of the Plan.
- Boobyalla River Catchment
- Leengtenner / Tomahawk River Catchment
- Ansons River Catchment
Statutory plan review and amendment processes
NRE Tas is reviewing and updating water management arrangements under the Mersey River Water Management Plan and the Lake Sorell and Crescent Water Management Plan. The process to draft amended plans for public consultation has been underway in consultation with key stakeholders since 2019. Under the Water Management Act 1999 the draft amended Plans will be released for a minimum of 60 days for public consultation.
Public Consultation on the Mersey Water management Plan will commence before the end of July 2023. If you would like to be part of this consultation you can provide a written submission via a link that will be provided on the NRE Tas website's consultations page. When the consultation period begins it will be advertised on the NRE Tas website, in the Tasmanian Government Gazette, and in the Advocate newspaper. If you would like to register your interest and be notified when these consultation processes commence then please contact NRE Tas (see contact details below).
NRE Tas reviews of water management plans
Several water management plans (WMPs) have been in place for more than 10 years and are now due for review by the Secretary of NRE Tas in accordance with the Water Management Act 1999. The review by the Secretary is the first step in a plan review process to inform a determination by the Minister regarding the decision to commence a process to draft amendments to a plan. More information on this process can be found at:
Guiding principles for the development of statutory water management plans, 2017.
The Secretary’s reviews will be undertaken in stages: Stage 1 (second half of 2023) - Review of three Plans including Ansons, Boobyalla and Tomahawk River Water Management Plans.
Stage 2 - Review of Sassafras Wesley Vale Water Management Plan
Stage 3 - Review of Little Swanport Water Management Plan
Timeframes for Stages 2 and 3 and subsequent Secretary’s Reviews will be confirmed after completion of Stage 1.
For Stage 1 Plan review areas, NRE Tas will be seeking key stakeholder groups’ and licensees’ views on the management of water under the plans via targeted online surveys to inform the Secretary's review report. These surveys will commence in July 2023.
The Secretary’s review report will be made publicly available once completed. The report will recommend to the Minister if amendments to the Plan are necessary and when it is desirable to commence a statutory plan review and amendment process.
If you would like to participate in the survey on water management in any of these three areas, please click on the link(s) below: