The existing Lakes Sorell and Crescent Water Management Plan (Lakes Plan) was prepared and adopted in 2005.
The plan sets out the framework for managing the water resources in the Lakes Plan Area, in accordance with the Water Management Act 1999, to ensure that water resources in the Plan area are managed to optimise benefits for a range of users, including the community, the environment and commercial users.
Since 2005, there has been a range of climatic conditions and extremes including a period of historically low storage levels (2006-2009) as well as periods of extremely low, average and well above average rainfall. This has supported valuable insights and opportunity to evaluate and verify the science and performance of the Plan.
The community suffered significant hardships related to the Millenium Drought (1997 -2009) and water management in the period prior to, and just after the Plans adoption. There has been growth in irrigated areas and shifts in enterprises, a new irrigation scheme that is now supplying reliable alternative water supply from outside the catchment.
The review and amendment of the River Plan in 2017 has also supported improvements in water access, allocations and entitlements in the River Plan area that has improved water access and security and supported private water infrastructure development.
NRE Tas has commenced a review of the Lakes Plan to ensure that water management in the Lakes Plan area continues to meet community expectations for a contemporary and sustainable management framework for the water resources in the Lakes Plan area that is able to best meet the needs and expectations of all key stakeholders for the next ten years.
Review and amendment process
The review and amendment of the Plan is being undertaken according to Part 4 of the Water Management Act 1999. Refer to Water Management Planning Policy and Process for more information.
A Consultative Group is supporting NRE Tas by providing preliminary feedback (prior to its release for public consultation). The Consultative Group provides NRE Tas with a balanced range of views, local knowledge, advice, and feedback on matters relating to the review and amendment of the Plan.
Terms of Reference Review and Amendment of Lakes Sorell and Crescent Water Management Plan Consultative Group
(306Kb)
The Consultative Group consists of the following stakeholder groups and their nominated representatives:
Representative
|
Organisation |
| Clr Anthony Archer | Central Highlands Council |
Mr Will Bignell
| Community Representative – Catchment area, Bothwell and upstream to Lake Crescent outlet |
| Mr Terry Byard | Anglers Alliance Tasmania |
Mr Ryan Wilkinson
| Inland Fisheries Service
|
Mr Adam Gall
| Hydro Tasmania
|
Mr Peter Downie
| Community Representative - Lakes Plan Area, and property owners
|
Mr Tom Edgell
| Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association
|
Mr Richard Hallett
| Community Representative - Catchment area, below Bothwell to Meadowbank Scheme area
|
Mr David Jones
| Community Representative - Hamilton and properties accessing the Meadowbank Scheme
|
Mr Morgan McPherson
| Derwent Catchment Project
|
Mr John Ramsay
| River Clyde Trust
|
Once the Draft Amended Plan is prepared, NRE Tas will release the Draft Amended Plan for statutory public consultation. Please contact the Department via the contact details below for further information.