Summary of changes in the Draft Amended Plan
The key amendments in the Draft Amended Plan include:
Simplifying and modernising the Plan format and clarity, and inclusion of an Acknowledgement of Country.
Removal or amendment of unnecessary provisions – i.e. provisions that duplicate those in the Water Management Act 1999, and removal of groundwater and metering provisions to reflect current policy and the level of risk in the catchment.
Updating the objectives of the Plan and inclusion of a vision, outcomes.
Inclusion of more comprehensive information on water dependant values and how objectives link to provisions and values that are important to stakeholders in the catchment.
Defining clear Allocation Limits, Take Periods and Surety Levels consistent with contemporary policy.
Improved minimum environmental releases by Hydro Tasmania.
A constant monthly cease-to-take of 195 ML/day (measured at the Shale Road steam flow gauge) from 1 December to 31 May.
Reviewed monthly cease-to-take thresholds for 1 June to 30 November to implement more consistent level of access in each month. Cease-to-take threshold for October and November were not changed.
Introducing an opportunistic take – access threshold to allow water to be taken during high flow events.
Background information
The documents below provide detailed information that supported the review of the Draft Amended Plan.
How the Department assessed options and came to make certain decisions
The Impact Assessments document below supports the Draft Amended Mersey River Catchment Water Management Plan 2023 by providing an assessment of the impacts that may occur based on the different options considered as amendments to the Draft Amended Plan, and why the preferred option was chosen.
Draft Mersey River Water Management Protocols
The Mersey Catchment Water Management Protocols complement the Draft Amended Mersey River Catchment Water Management Plan 2023 by providing information on the water management arrangements in the Mersey River catchment.
The Mersey River Catchment Water Management protocols provide current and relevant information for water users that combines the rules in the Draft Amended Plan, with those in the Water Management Act 1999 and current Departmental policies and presents how they are applied to manage water use in the catchment. This document will not be finalised until after the planning process on the Draft Amended Plan is complete.
Further Information
Contact: Nerida Bleakley
Phone: 0439 636 256
Email: Nerida.Bleakley@nre.tas.gov.au