Key policies

The following policy documents set out the key strategic directions and objectives of water management in NSW.

National and intergovernmental policies and regulations

• ACCC Water Market Rules 2009
• ACCC Water Charge Rules
• Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
• Basin Salinity Management Strategy 2001-2015
• Council of Australian Governments' Water Reform Framework 1994
• Council of Australian Governments' Work Program on Water 2008 (PDF 21 KB)
• Intergovernment Agreement for the Paroo River between New South Wales and Queensland 2003
• Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray Darling Basin Reform 2008
• Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative
• National Water Initiative Biennial Assessments
• National Water Commission -Integrated resource planning for urban water
• Memorandum of Understanding in relation to water for the environment (PDF 87 KB)
• Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the Menindee Lakes
• Memorandum of Understanding on water shepherding
• Modernisation and Extension of Hydrologic Monitoring Systems Program – Round 5 Funding Deed
• Modernisation and Extension of Hydrologic Monitoring Systems Program - 2011/12 Funding Guidelines
• Murray Darling Basin Agreement Amending Agreement 2006 (PDF 174 KB
• National Framework for Non-urban Water Metering Policy Paper 2009
• National Partnership Agreement on the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative 2010
• National urban water planning principles
• National Water Initiative pricing principles
• National Water Quality Management Strategy
• New South Wales-Queensland Border Rivers Intergovernmental Agreement 2008
• Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed 2002 (PDF 276 KB)
• Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Determination 2007
• Water Management Partnership Agreement - The Commonwealth of Australia and the State of New South Wales 2010

NSW water policy framework

NSW overarching plans and strategies

• NSW 2021
• NSW Aquifer Interference Policy (PDF 493 KB)
• NSW Implementation Plan for the National Water Initiative 2006 (PDF 336 KB)
• NSW Natural Resources Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Strategy 2010-2015
• NSW State Groundwater Policy Framework Document (PDF 1.8 MB)
• Strategic Regional Land Use Policy
• Water Compliance Policy (PDF 294 KB) – outlines how we manage compliance with water legislation

NSW operational water planning policies

• Commenced water sharing plans
• Macro water sharing plans – the approach for groundwater. A report to assist community consultation. (PDF 759 KB)
• Macro water sharing plans – the approach for unregulated rivers 2010. A report to assist community consultation (PDF 564 KB)
• Macro water sharing plans – the approach for unregulated rivers. Access and trading rules for pools (PDF 624 KB)
• NSW policy for managing access to buried groundwater sources

Implementation and monitoring

• NSW Interim Water Meter Standards
• NSW Water Extraction Monitoring Policy 2007

Dams, weirs and controlled activities

• Dams in NSW – do you need a licence? (PDF 220 KB)
• Dams in NSW – where can they be built without a licence? (PDF 274 KB)
• Dams in NSW – what size dam can you build without a licence? (PDF 213 KB)
• Dams in NSW – what size are your existing dams? (PDF 241 KB)
• Farm dams – have you considered everything? (PDF 50 KB)
• Harvestable right dams
• NSW Weirs Policy (PDF 283 KB)
• Guidelines for controlled activities
  • In-stream works (PDF 212 KB)
  • Laying pipes and cables in watercourses (PDF 214 KB)
  • Outlet structures (PDF 362 KB)
  • Riparian corridors (PDF 258 KB)
  • Vegetation Management Plans (PDF 412 KB)
  • Watercourse crossings (PDF 427 KB)

Licensing and trading

• Access Licence Dealing Principles Order 2004
• Guideline to the policy for groundwater transfers in inland NSW outside water sharing plan areas
• Corporate water licences
  • Hunter Water Corporation
  • Sydney Catchment Authority
  • Sydney Water Corporation
  • State Water Corporation
  • Snowy Water Licence 2010

Metropolitan water

• Metropolitan Water Plan 2010

Pricing

• Pricing determinations
  • Gosford City Council (PDF 1.2 MB)
  • Hunter Water Corporation
  • State Water Corporation
  • Sydney Catchment Authority
  • Sydney Water Corporation
  • Wyong Shire Council (PDF 1.2 MB)

Urban water

• BASIX (Building Sustainability Index)
• Integrated Water Cycle Management Demand Side Management Least Cost Planning Decision Support System Manual 2006
• Integrated Water Cycle Management Generic consultant engagement brief 2008
• Integrated Water Cycle Management Generic scope of work evaluation and strategy 2008
• Integrated Water Cycle Management Guidelines for local water utilities 2004
• Integrated Water Cycle Management Information Sheets
  • Information Sheet 1: Integrated Water Cycle Management – helping local water utilities provide better services (PDF 180 KB)
  • Information Sheet 2: What are the Integrated Water Cycle Management water service targets? (PDF 177 KB)
  • Information Sheet 3: Identifying Integrated Water Cycle Management issues and developing solutions (PDF 265 KB)
  • Information Sheet 4: The role and purpose of the Project Reference Group (PDF 191 KB)
  • Information Sheet 5: Integrated Water Cycle Management scenarios – which one to use? (PDF 204 KB)
  • Information Sheet 6: Evaluation of Integrated Water Cycle Management scenarios (PDF 190 KB)
  • Information Sheet 7: The role of consultants in the Integrated Water Cycle Management process (PDF 220 KB)
• Integrated Water Cycle Management Rainwater Tank Model Manual 2006
• Integrated Water Cycle Management Water Demand Trend Tracking Manual 2006
• Recycling
  • About Greywater
  • Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks 2006 (Phase 1)
  • Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 2) 2008: Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies
  • Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 2) 2009: Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse
  • Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 2) 2009: Managed Aquifer Recharge
  • Interim NSW Guidelines for Management of Private Recycled Water Schemes
  • Greywater Fact Sheet 1: Greywater diversion devices - Do's and Don'ts (PDF 2.10 MB)
  • Greywater Fact Sheet 2: Choosing the right greywater system for your needs (PDF 4.88 MB)
  • Greywater Fact Sheet 3: Irrigating with greywater (PDF, 3.31MB)
  • Greywater Fact Sheet 4: Keeping your plants and soil healthy with greywater (PDF 2.25 MB)
  • Greywater Fact Sheet 5: Maintenance of greywater diversion devices and treatment systems (PDF 1.73 MB)
  • NSW Guidelines for Greywater Reuse in sewered, single household residential premises
• Sewerage, drainage and wastewater
  • 2009-10 NSW Water supply and sewerage - Benchmarking report
  • 2009-10 NSW Water supply and sewerage - Performance monitoring report
  • Best-Practice Management of Water Supply and Sewerage Guidelines 2007
  • Environment and Health Protection Guidelines for On-site Sewage Management for Single Households 1998
  • Environment Guidelines: Use of Effluent by Irrigation
  • Liquid Trade Waste - What businesses in country NSW need to know - Protect our environment by managing your liquid trade waste
  • Liquid Trade Waste Regulation Guidelines 2009
  • NSW Department of Local Government Septic Safe On-Site Sewage Information Management System Handbook (PDF 121 KB)
  • NSW Code of Practice for Plumbing and Drainage 2006
  • Reforming arrangements for regulating plumbing and drainage in New South Wales – Review Report 2009
• Stormwater
  • Managing Urban Stormwater – Harvesting and Reuse

Water quality, environmental health and protection

• Catchment Action Plans
• Lower Hawkesbury-Nepean Nutrient Management Strategy 2009
• NSW Algal Management Strategy
• NSW Diffuse Source Water Pollution Strategy 2009
• NSW Groundwater Quality Protection Policy 1998 (PDF 1.2 MB)
• NSW Standard and Targets for Natural Resources Management
• NSW State Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Policy 2002 (PDF 1 MB)
• NSW Wetlands Management Policy (PDF 346 KB)
• Standard for Quality Natural Resources Management (PDF 201 KB)
• State Environmental Planning Policy No. 14 – Coastal Wetlands (PDF 139 KB)

Older documents

• Aquifer Risk Assessment Report (PDF 401 KB)
• NSW Sand and Gravel Extraction Policy for Non-Tidal Rivers (PDF 3 MB) – published 1992 - A number of institutional and legislation changes have occurred since the publication of this policy, however the overarching objectives and principles of the policy remain the same today
• NSW Salinity Strategy
• NSW State Rivers and Estuaries Policy (PDF 5.5 MB) published August 1993 – A number of institutional arrangements as well as the legislation has changed since the publication of this policy, however the overarching objectives and principles of the policy remain the same today
• NSW Water Conservation Strategy 2000 (PDF 363 KB)
• NSW Water Reforms: A secure and sustainable future (PDF 1.4 MB)
• River flow and water quality objectives
• State Water Management Outcomes Plan – part 1 (PDF 98 KB) and part 2 (PDF 335 KB) – this ceased to be in force in December 2007, but many of the principles and targets remain relevant
• Stressed Rivers Assessment Report 1998 (PDF 483 KB)