Hunter Water Corporation · At the same time, the Hunter Water Act 1991 was amended to remove the...

Hunter Water Corporation

Water licences and approvals November 2011

Hunter Water Corporation – Water Licences and Approvals

ii | NSW Office of Water, November 2011

Contents

Event register .......................................................................................................................................... iii

Licence and approval numbers and categories .......................................................................................v

Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 1

Water access licence conditions ............................................................................................................. 9

Tomago Groundwater Source.......................................................................................................... 10

Tomaree Groundwater Source......................................................................................................... 12

Paterson/Allyn Rivers Water Source................................................................................................ 14

Paterson Regulated River Water Source ......................................................................................... 16

Williams River Water Source............................................................................................................ 18

Seaham Weir Management Zone .................................................................................................... 21

Newcastle Water Source.................................................................................................................. 24

Combined water supply work and water use approvals........................................................................ 27

Tomago Groundwater Source.......................................................................................................... 28

Tomaree Groundwater Source......................................................................................................... 48

Paterson/Allyn Rivers Water Source................................................................................................ 68

Paterson Regulated River Water Source ......................................................................................... 78

Williams River Water Source............................................................................................................ 86

Seaham Weir Management Zone .................................................................................................. 100

Newcastle Water Source................................................................................................................ 121

Dictionary............................................................................................................................................. 130

Abbreviations....................................................................................................................................... 133

Hunter Water Corporation – Water Licences and Approvals Event Register

Event register

Date Event

26 December 1998 Issue of Part 9 Water Management Licence (20WM000020) under the Water Act 1912

December 2003 Statutory (5 yearly) review of Part 9 Water Management Licence (20WM000020)

1 July 2004 Conversion of sections of the Part 9 Water Management Licence that authorise works located within water sources covered by the Water Sharing Plan for the Tomago Tomaree Stockton Groundwater Sources 2003 to water access licences and combined water supply work and water use approvals and under the Water Management Act 2000

1 July 2004 Issue of revised version of Part 9 Water Management Licence (20WM000020) under the Water Act 1912

1 July 2004 Issue of water access licence conditions for the Tomago Groundwater Source (20AL203129) and the Tomaree Groundwater Source (20AL203130)

1 July 2004 Issue of combined water supply work and water use approvals for the Tomago Groundwater Source (20CA203131) and the Tomaree Groundwater Source (20CA203132)

1 July 2007 Issue of water access licence conditions for the Paterson Regulated River Water Source (20AL211033)

24 August 2010 Issue of combined water supply work and water use approval for upgraded works on the Paterson River at Gresford (20CA211175)

29 April 2011 Imposition of discretionary conditions on combined water supply work and water use approvals for the Tomago Groundwater Source (20CA203131) and the Tomaree Groundwater Source (20CA203132)

Conversion of Part 9 Water Management Licence (20WM000020) that authorises works located within water sources covered by the Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2009 to water access licences and combined water supply work and water use approvals under the Water Management Act 2000

Conversion of Part 2 Water Act 1912 licence (20SL028292) that authorises works located in the Paterson/Allyn Rivers Water Source (Allyn River Management Zone) to a water access licence and combined water supply work and water use approval under the Water Management Act 2000

Issue of water access licence conditions for the Williams River Management Zone of the Williams River Water Source (20AL211006), Seaham Weir Management Zone of the Williams River Water Source (20AL212239), Newcastle Water Source (20AL211005) and Allyn River Management Zone of the Paterson/Allyn Rivers Water Source (20AL212261) as part of conversion process

Issue of combined water supply work and water use approvals for the Williams River Management Zone of the Williams River Water Source (20CA211018), Seaham Weir Management Zone of the Williams River Water Source (20CA212238), Newcastle Water Source (20CA211019) and the Allyn River Management Zone of the Paterson/Allyn Rivers Water Source (20CA212237) as part of conversion process

November 2011

Imposition of mandatory conditions on water access licences for the Tomago Groundwater Source (20AL203129) and the Tomaree Groundwater Source (20AL203130)

iii | NSW Office of Water, November 2011

Hunter Water Corporation – Water Licences and Approvals Event Register

iv | NSW Office of Water, November 2011

Date Event

Imposition of discretionary conditions on water access licences for the Tomago Groundwater Source (20AL203129) and the Tomaree Groundwater Source (20AL203130)

Imposition of mandatory conditions on combined water supply work and water use approvals for the Tomago Groundwater Source (20CA203131) and the Tomaree Groundwater Source (20CA203132)

Imposition of mandatory conditions on water access licence for the Paterson Regulated River Water Source (20AL211033)

Imposition of discretionary conditions on water access licence for the Paterson Regulated River Water Source (20AL211033)

Imposition of mandatory conditions on combined water supply work and water use approval for the Paterson Regulated River Water Source (20CA211175)

Imposition and amendment of discretionary conditions on combined water supply work and water use approval for the Paterson Regulated River Water Source (20CA211175)

Issue of package of water access licence condition statements and combined water supply work and water use approvals (including event register, introduction, dictionary and abbreviations)

This water licence and approval package contains the water access licence condition statements and combined water supply work and water use approvals issued under the Water Management Act 2000 to the Hunter Water Corporation by the Water Administration Ministerial Corporation.

The water licence and approval package has been prepared and is administered by

Corporate Licensing NSW Office of Water

Version: November 2011

The NSW Office of Water manages the policy and regulatory frameworks for the State’s surface water and

groundwater resources to provide a secure and sustainable water supply for all users. The Office of Water’s

regulatory functions are undertaken on behalf of the Water Administration Ministerial Corporation.

NOW 11_352

Hunter Water Corporation – Water Licences and Approvals

Licence and approval numbers and categories

Associated Water Access

Licence Number

NOW Combined Water Supply Work

and Water Use Approval Reference Number

Category of Water Access Licence

Water Sharing Plan for the Tomago Tomaree Stockton Groundwater Sources 2004

20CA203131 Tomago 11332 20AL203129 Major Utility (Urban Water)

20CA203132 Tomaree 11333 20AL203130 Major Utility (Urban Water)

Water Sharing Plan for the Paterson Regulated River Water Source 2007

20CA211175 Paterson 20212 20AL211033 Regulated River (High Security)

Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2009

20CA211018 Chichester 23976 20AL211006 Major Utility (Urban Water)

20CA212238 Williams 27368 20AL212239 Major Utility (Urban Water)

20CA211019 Newcastle 23880 20AL211005 Major Utility (Urban Water)

20CA212237 Allyn 27427 20AL212261 Major Utility (Urban Water)

v | NSW Office of Water, November 2011

Hunter Water Corporation – Water Licences and Approvals Introduction

Introduction Water Licence and Approval Package This package consists of water access licence condition statements and combined water supply work and water use approvals (combined approvals) held by the Hunter Water Corporation (HWC) for the purposes of urban and town water supply. The package does not contain the water access licence (WAL) certificates, which are Certificates of Title issued and managed by the Land and Property Management Authority and held by HWC. This package is issued and administered by the NSW Office of Water (Office of Water). The access licence condition statements and combined approvals will be subject to changes from time to time as a result of amendments. Amendments will be recorded in an Event Register and will be updated in the package on an annual basis. Words and expressions that appear in the access licence condition statements and combined approvals have the meanings as set out in the Dictionary in section 3.1 of this package. Where words and expressions do not appear in the Dictionary, they have the same meanings as defined in the Water Management Act 2000 (WMA) or the Water Act 1912 (WA). The package will be publically accessible from the Office of Water website http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/. Water Access Licences and Combined Water Supply Work and Use Approvals Water access licence specify the volumetric entitlement of the holder of the WAL (the Licence Holder) in a particular water source in accordance with the provisions of the relevant water sharing plan (WSP). The access licence condition statements give effect to the relevant provisions of the WSP (e.g. rules of accounting). Each of the dams, weirs, canals, pumping stations and bores that are associated with the collection of raw water from surface and groundwater water sources are referred to as water supply works. The conditions of the combined approvals give effect to the provisions in the WSP that relate to the operation of the water supply works and the use of the water by the holder of the approval (the Approval Holder). They also specify monitoring and reporting requirements and contingency actions to assess and mitigate potential impacts of the holder’s water extraction and associated activities on the health of water source. Hunter Water Corporation Water Supply Works Chichester Dam is an in-river dam with a storage capacity of 21,500 ML, which intercepts flow from both the Chichester River and the Wangat River. Prior to construction of the dam, the Wangat River was a tributary of the Chichester River. Grahamstown Dam is an off-river storage with a capacity of approximately 190,000 ML that stores water extracted from the Williams River at Seaham Weir. Water enters the Balickera Channel at Boags Hill and is pumped along the channel into the dam. The dam also has a

1 | NSW Office of Water, November 2011

http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/


small catchment of approximately 75 km2, with additional volume contributed from rain fall directly on the reservoir. The Tomago Sandbeds are estimated to have a storage capacity of approximately 60,000 ML, and Anna Bay Sandbeds are estimated to have a storage capacity of approximately 16,000 ML. The two aquifers are directly recharged by rain fall on the sandbeds. A series of borelines are used to pump groundwater from the aquifers. Water is pumped from both the Allyn River and the regulated section of the Paterson River at Gresford. History of Licensing Following corporatisation in 1992, HWC’s access to natural water sources was initially administered by a Water Use Agreement between HWC and the (then) NSW Department of Water Resources. In 1997, amendments were made to the WA by adding Part 9 to permit the licensing of water management authorities such as state-owned water corporations and electricity generators. At the same time, the Hunter Water Act 1991 was amended to remove the rights to the use, flow and control of natural water sources conferred on HWC by that Act. HWC was first issued with a Water Management Licence (WML) under Part 9 of the WA on 26 December 1998. The first major revision of the HWC WML occurred in 2004, following commencement of the Water Sharing Plan for the Tomago Tomaree Stockton Groundwater Sources 2003. The 2004 revision of HWC’s WML resulted in a combination of WMA components (water access licences and work/ use approvals) for the groundwater sources and WA components (the Part 9 WML) for the surface water sources. There have been two major changes since the 2004 licence revision that have been incorporated into the current licence and approval package. In 2008, Dungog Shire Council transferred its water supply responsibilities for the towns of Gresford, Vacy, Paterson, Clarence Town and Dungog to the HWC, and in 2009 the Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources commenced, completing the coverage of all water sources utilised by HWC by WSPs. The Office completed the process of reviewing and converting the remaining licences under the WA to access licences and approvals under the WMA in November 2011. The approvals include a number of conditions in addition to the conditions of the previous Part 9 WML that give effect to the clauses of the relevant water sharing plans (mandatory conditions). Additional discretionary conditions to mitigate potential environmental impacts were also developed for the water supply work approvals for the Tomago and Tomaree Groundwater Sources. The combined approvals contain conditions regarding the operation of Seaham Weir and the Balickera pumps, release requirements for Chichester Dam (transparency/translucency rules) and access conditions to ensure the sustainable use of groundwater from the Tomago and Tomaree aquifers. There are also detailed monitoring and reporting requirements for each of the groundwater sources and surface water storages. The approvals also have requirements for HWC to undertake scientific investigations into the sustainable use of its groundwater and surface water entitlements.



Water Sources and Management Zones All water sources from which HWC extracts water are located within WSP areas. A WSP area can cover multiple catchment areas, referred to as water sources, and these can be further divided into management zones. The WSPs, water sources and management zones from which HWC extracts (or takes) water are:

1. Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2009

a. Paterson/Allyn Rivers Water Source i. Allyn River Management Zone

b. Williams River Water Source i. Williams River Management Zone ii. Seaham Weir Management Zone

c. Newcastle Water Source

2. Water Sharing Plan For The Tomago Tomaree Stockton Groundwater Sources 2003

a. Tomago Groundwater Source b. Tomaree Groundwater Source

3. Water Sharing Plan For The Paterson Regulated River Water Source 2007 a. Paterson Regulated River Water Source

Volumetric Entitlement, Points of Accounting and Access Rules HWC’s annual entitlement and offtake point for each access licence that it holds for the purposes of urban and town water supply are specified in the table below. These offtake points are also the points of accounting for bulk water usage charges, except for Balickera Water Pumping Station (WPS). HWC’s annual bulk water usage charges do not include extraction at Balickera WPS as this water is accounted for in usage at George Schroder WPS. Metering at Balickera WPS is maintained for accounting purposes in relation to entitlement.

Offtake Point WAL No. NOW. Ref. No. Licenced

entitlement (annual) (ML)

Chichester Dam (Chichester Trunk Gravity Main (CTGM) flow)

23976 20AL211006 50,000

Balickera WPS (Balickera WPS extraction plus Boral extraction from Balickera Channel)

27368 20AL212239 189,000

Newcastle Water Source (George Schroder WPS extraction plus Grahamstown Dam raw water users)

23880 20AL211005 100,000

Tomago Sandbeds (raw water output to Lemon Tree Passage Water Treatment Plant

(WTP) and Grahamstown WTP)

11332 20AL203129 25,300

Tomaree Sandbeds (raw water output to Anna

Bay WTP and Glovers Hill WTP) 11333 20AL203130 3,700

Allyn River WPS at Gresford 27427 20AL212261 75

Paterson River WPS at Gresford 20212 20AL211033 75


http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/wspfthuaaws2009686/

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/wspftttsgs2003708/

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/wspftprrws2007624/


The access licence condition statements specify the following requirements relating to the volume of water that HWC can take.

1. Access licences for the Seaham Weir Management Zone of the Williams River Water Source, Newcastle Water Source, Allyn River Management Zone of the Paterson/Allyn Rivers Water Source and the Paterson Regulated River Water Source allow the licensed volume to be taken within any given year. There is no carry-over volume for these access licences.

2. Access licences for the Williams River Management Zone of the Williams River Water Source, Tomago Groundwater Source and the Tomaree Groundwater Source allow carry-over of unused water entitlement volume from one year to the next, with carry-over of up to 3 years entitlement permitted. The access licences have respective maximum volumes of 150,000 ML, 75,900 ML and 11,100 ML for a 3 year period, which reflect the 3 year carry-over limit.

3. The combined extraction volume from the Allyn River and Paterson River must not exceed 75 ML in each year.

4. The rolling 10 year average annual net supply from the Newcastle Water Source, Tomago Water Source, Tomaree Water Source, Williams River Management Zone of the Williams River Source (Chichester Dam), Allyn River Management Zone of the Paterson/Allyn Rivers Water Source and Paterson Regulated River Source plus water supplied from the Central Coast system into HWC’s Area of Operations minus water supplied from HWC into the Central Coast system must not exceed 78,500 ML per year. The rolling 10 year average annual extraction limit does not include extraction from the Williams River Water Source at Balickera. The rolling 10 year limit is referred to as the Long Term Average Annual Extraction Limit (LTAAEL).

Fixed and Usage Charges Entitlement and bulk water usage charges are determined periodically by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). The charges applicable to HWC are those set by IPART for Hunter Valley regulated rivers, unregulated rivers and groundwater sources. The State Water Corporation (SWC) is responsible for the management of water orders, maintenance of water allocation accounts, invoicing of water charges and the processing of temporary water transfers. HWC is invoiced by SWC, on behalf of the Office of Water, for entitlement charges and bulk water usage charges. Usage charges are based on the volumes of raw water extracted at the points of accounting, except volumes extracted at Balickera WPS, on an annual basis. The Office of Water obtains annual usage data from HWC and provides verified data to SWC for invoicing of the water usage charges. Entitlement charges are levied annually on the entitlements set out in the relevant WSPs (and shown in the table above). Entitlement charges apply to all entitlement, including the Balickera WPS entitlement. Licence Management Charges The WMA contains provisions for the Minister to impose fees and charges for the purposes of the Act. The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has determined that a licence management charge be levied by the Minister to recover its costs in relation to day to day management of WAL condition statements and work/use approvals. Cost recoverable



activities include: ongoing administration, amendment, response to approval condition breach notifications, review of annual compliance reports and conducting special studies/investigations (if required). Administration A licence working group comprising representatives from the Office of Water and HWC meet to discuss issues relating to the access licences and work/use approvals, and the results of monitoring programs required by the approvals. Corporate Licensing within the Office of Water is the primary contact for all enquiries regarding the package, notifications, annual compliance reporting and the general management of the licence condition statements and approvals. Reporting and licence/approval correspondence to be addressed to: Manager Corporate Licensing NSW Office of Water PO Box 323 Penrith NSW 2751 Immediate notification reports are to be reported to the Manager Corporate Licensing by phone and confirmed by email. Term of the Approvals and Licences Specific purpose and high security access licences are issued in perpetuity and do not require renewal. Major utility WALs are issued for the duration of the purpose for which they are granted and major utility work/use approvals are issued for a period of 20 years, and can be extended for further periods of 20 years on application. For approvals converted from licences under the WA, the issue date is the commencement date of the relevant WSP. Reviews and Amendments HWC may apply to review and vary the authorised works or conditions of the licences and approvals at any time, including in the event of unforeseen circumstances or emergencies. The Office of Water may also vary the conditions at any time. Reviews or variations must be undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the WMA. A mandatory review of the activities of HWC as a Major Utility (Schedule 2 of the WMA 2000) must be conducted every five years. Reviews and amendments will be undertaken with the intent to improve the functionality of the regulatory instruments and will incorporate any new legislative or other changes that have occurred in the preceding period. Recommendation/s from annual compliance reporting may result in the amendment of conditions.




Annual Compliance Reporting The requirement of an annual compliance report (ACR) is a condition of HWC’s combined approvals, and the HWC must submit an ACR by 30 September each year. This report demonstrates how HWC has met the requirements of each of the conditions of the work/use approvals. Each condition has a minimum reporting requirement, which may include provision of data, graphs and discussion. The Office of Water assesses the information provided in the ACR against the minimum reporting requirements to determine if the conditions have been met. Electronic Version of the Package HWC’s water access licence conditions and combined water supply work and water use approvals can be viewed at the following website http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/Water-Licensing/Corporate-licences/default.aspx

http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/Water-Licensing/Corporate-licences/default.aspx



ATTACHMENT 1: SCHEMATIC OF AUTHORISED WATER SUPPLY WORKS

MAITLAND

Seaham Weir

Chichester Dam

Grahamstown

Dam

Tomago Groundwater

Source

North Stockton Groundwater

Source

Tomaree Groundwater Source

Tillegra Gauging Station 210011

Bandon Grove Pipeline Weir

Mill Dam Falls Gauging Station 210010 Boags Hill Control Gate

Balickera Canal (Diversion Channel)

George Schroder Pumping Station

BalickeraPumping

Station

NEWCASTLE

LAKE MACQUARIE

Port Stephens

Pacific

Ocean

Produced by

Hunter Water Corporation

Campvale Pumping

N


ATTACHMENT 2: TOMAGO, TOMAREE AND STOCKTON GROUNDWATER SOURCES


Water access licence conditions

Statement of Conditions as at 1 July 2004 issued under the Water Management Act 2000.

Licence Number 11332 NOW Ref. No. 20AL203129

Contact Details

Name Hunter Water Corporation

NOW Customer ID 825781

Contact Address Hunter Water Corporation 36 Honeysuckle Drive (PO Box 5171 HRMC) Newcastle NSW 2310

Licence Details

Status Current

Category Major Utility

Subcategory Urban Water

Date of commencement 1 July 2004

Tenure type Specific Purpose

Share component 25,300 megalitres per year

Tomago Groundwater Source Water Source

Tomago Tomaree Stockton Groundwater Sources 2003 Water Sharing Plan

Conditions Schedule 1


Hunter Water Corporation – Water Access Licence Conditions Tomago Groundwater Source

Mandatory Conditions Under section 66 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this access licence is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the licence by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Tomago Tomaree Stockton Groundwater Sources 2003. Such conditions are known as mandatory conditions, and the mandatory conditions of this licence are 4-8. Discretionary Conditions Under section 66 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this access licence is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may impose on the licence as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this licence are 1-3.

Schedule 1 – Conditions

1. The Licence Holder must only extract water via the water supply works authorised by the nominated water supply work approval.

2. The Licence Holder must only take water in accordance with any conditions specified

on the nominated water supply work approval.

3. The Licence Holder must monitor and record the daily extractions of water via each of the works authorised by the nominated water supply work approval.

4. The Licence Holder must provide the Minister with figures recording the quantity of

water taken via each of the works authorised by the nominated water supply work approval, when required to do so, and in the form specified by the Minister.

5. The Licence Holder must not take any water using the works authorised by the

nominated water supply work approval if the water allocation account of this licence is, or will go into debit.

6. The Licence Holder must not take any water via any nominated work in an area

declared by the Minister to be a local impact area, except in accordance with the terms of the declaration.

7. Water taken under this licence must be for urban use in accordance with the terms of

a current Operating Licence issued to the Licence Holder by the State of New South Wales.

8. The Licence Holder must ensure that the volume of water taken under this access

licence does not exceed 76,000 ML in any three (3) consecutive water accounting years.



11333 NOW Ref. No. 20AL203130 Licence Number

Contact Details




Licence Details

Status Current






Tomaree Groundwater Source Water Source

Tomago Tomaree Stockton Groundwater Sources 2003 Water Sharing Plan



Hunter Water Corporation – Water Access Licence Conditions Tomaree Groundwater Source

Mandatory Conditions Under section 66 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this access licence is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the licence by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Tomago Tomaree Stockton Groundwater Sources 2003. Such conditions are known as mandatory condtions, and the mandatory conditions of this licence are 4-8. Discretionary Conditions Under section 66 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this access licence is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may impose on the licence as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this licence are 1-3.


1. The Licence Holder must only take water via the water supply works authorised by the nominated water supply work approval.








6. The Licence Holder must not take any water via any nominated work in an area

declared by the Minister to be a local impact area, except in accordance with the terms of the declaration.



8. The Licence Holder must ensure that the volume of water taken under this access

licence does not exceed 11,000 ML in any three (3) consecutive water accounting years.




Contact Details




Licence Details

Status Current





Share component 75 Megalitres per year

Water Source Paterson/Allyn Rivers Water Source

Water Management Zone Allyn River Management Zone

Water Sharing Plan Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2009



Hunter Water Corporation – Water Access Licence Conditions Allyn River Management Zone of the Paterson/Allyn Rivers Water Source

Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources

Mandatory Conditions Under section 66 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this access licence is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the licence by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources. Such conditions are known as mandatory conditions, and the mandatory conditions of this licence are 1-2, 5-7. Discretionary Conditions Under section 66 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this access licence is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may impose on the licence as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this licence are 3-4.










6. The Licence Holder must not use water taken under this access licence for any

purpose except for the supply of potable water to an urban area, town or village.

7. The Licence Holder must ensure that the total volume of water taken under this access licence and access licence number 20212 (NOW Ref. No. 20AL211033) does not exceed 75 ML/year.




Contact Details




Licence Details

Status Current

Category Regulated River (High Security)

Subcategory Town Water Supply



Share component 75 Megalitres per year

Paterson Regulated River Water Source Water Source

Paterson Regulated River Water Source 2007 Water Sharing Plan

Schedule 1 Conditions


Hunter Water Corporation – Water Access Licence Conditions Paterson Regulated River Water Source

Mandatory Conditions Under section 66 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this access licence is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the licence by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Paterson Regulated River Water Source. Such conditions are known as mandatory conditions, and the mandatory conditions of this licence are 1-2, 5-6. Discretionary Conditions Under section 66 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this access licence is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may impose on the licence as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this licence are 3-4, 7.



2. The Licence Holder must only take water in accordance with:

a. any conditions specified on the nominated water supply work approval; and b. a water supply order approved and accepted by the State Water Corporation.

3. The Licence Holder must monitor and record the daily extractions of water via each of

the works authorised by the nominated water supply work approval.

4. The Licence Holder must provide the Minister with figures recording the quantity of water taken via each of the works authorised by the nominated water supply work approval, when required to do so, and in the form specified by the Minister.



6. The Licence Holder must not use water taken under this access licence for any

purpose except for the supply of potable water to a town or village for domestic use or as defined in section 66 (3A) of the Water Management Act 2000.

7. The Licence Holder must ensure that the total volume of water taken under this

access licence and access licence number 27427 (NOW Ref. No. 20AL212261) does not exceed 75 ML/year.


Statement of Conditions as at 1 August 2009 issued under the Water Management Act 2000.


Contact Details




Licence Details

Status Current



Date of commencement 1 August 2009


Share component 50,000 megalitres per year at Chichester Dam

Williams River Water Source Water Source

Williams River Management Zone Water Management Zone

Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2009 Water Sharing Plan



Hunter Water Corporation – Water Access Licence Conditions Williams River Management Zone of the Williams River Water Source


Mandatory Conditions Under section 66 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this access licence is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the licence by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources. Such conditions are known as mandatory conditions, and the mandatory conditions of this licence are 1-2, 5-12. Discretionary Conditions Under section 66 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this access licence is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may impose on the licence as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this licence are 3-4, 13-14.


1. The Licence Holder must only extract water via the water supply works authorised by the nominated water supply work approval.










7. The Licence Holder must record the volume of water received from the Central Coast

Water Corporation via the Hunter pipeline link, and provide this information when requested by the Minister.

Note 1: This volume will be debited against the long-term average annual extraction limit for the major utility access licences in the Hunter Extraction Management Unit.

8. The Licence Holder must record the volume of water sent to the Central Coast Water

Corporation via the Hunter pipeline link, and provide this information when requested by the Minister.

Note 1: This volume will be debited against the long-term average annual extraction limit for the local utility access licences in the Gosford and Tuggerah Extraction Management Units within the Water Sharing Plan for the Central Coast Unregulated Rivers. It will not be debited against the long-term average annual extraction limit for major utility access licences in the Hunter Extraction Management Unit.


Hunter Water Corporation – Water Access Licence Conditions Williams River Management Zone of the Williams River Water Source



9. The Licence Holder must ensure that all extraction under this licence is subject to the water allocation account management rules and carry over rules when established by the Minister.

Note 1: Account management rules and carry over rules for natural inflows to Grahamstown Dam will be based on the study Development of Access Rules for the Lower Williams River to be undertaken by the Hunter Water Corporation as directed by the Minister.

10. The Licence Holder must comply with the long-term average annual extraction limit

for all access licences held by the Licence Holder in the Hunter Extraction Management Unit. The long-term average annual extraction limit for all the access licences held by the Licence Holder in this unit is 78,500 ML/year minus the long-term average extraction under access licences held by the Licence Holder in the Tomago, Tomaree and Stockton Groundwater Sources.

Note 1: The points of accounting for the long-term average annual extraction limit are Chichester Dam Diversion Works, points of raw water extraction from the Chichester pipeline at Gresford, Grahamstown Water Treatment Plant, points of raw water extraction from Grahamstown Dam, the point of supply to the Central Coast and the point of supply from the Central Coast. Extraction at Balickera Pump Station is not included in the calculation of the long-term average annual extraction limit.

11. The Licence Holder must not take an average annual volume of water over rolling ten

consecutive year periods under all the major utility access licences held by the Licence Holder that exceeds the volume equal to the long-term average annual extraction limit required by condition ten (10) of this licence.

12. The Licence Holder must provide the Minister each year with the following

information:

a. daily and total volumes of water passing the outlet of Grahamstown Water Treatment Plant, minus any water passing the boundary meter from the Hunter Water Corporation to the Central Coast Water Corporation, plus

b. daily and total volumes of water passing the boundary meter from the Central Coast Water Corporation to the Hunter Water Corporation, plus

c. daily and total volumes of water taken by any other major utility infrastructure nominated by the Hunter Water Corporation and agreed to by the Minister.

13. The Licence Holder must monitor and report to the Minister each year the total water

extractions under all access licences held by the Licence Holder.

14. The Licence Holder must ensure that the volume of water taken under this access licence does not exceed 150,000 ML in any three (3) consecutive water accounting years.


27368 NOW Ref. No. 20AL212239Licence Number

Contact Details




Licence Details

Status Current





Share component 189,000 megalitres per year at Balickera Pump Station

Water Source Williams River Water Source

Water Management Zone Seaham Weir Management Zone

Water Sharing Plan Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2009



Hunter Water Corporation – Water Access Licence Conditions Seaham Weir Management Zone of the Williams River Water Source


Mandatory Conditions Under section 66 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this access licence is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the licence by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources. Such conditions are known as mandatory conditions, and the mandatory conditions of this approval are 1-2, 5-14. Discretionary Conditions Under section 66 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this access licence is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may impose on the licence as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this approval are 3-4, 15.



















Hunter Water Corporation – Water Access Licence Conditions Seaham Weir Management Zone of the Williams River Water Source




Note 1: Account management rules and carry over rules for extraction from Seaham Weir Pool will be based on the study Development of Access Rules for the Lower Williams River to be undertaken by the Hunter Water Corporation as directed by the Minister.

10. The Licence Holder must not take water under this access licence when water levels

in Seaham Weir Pool are equal to or less than 0.42 m pool height, or when flows are equal to or less than 15 ML/d in the Williams River at Mill Dam Falls, Gauging Station Number 210010.

Note 1: The Seaham Weir Pool level is measured continuously relative to the Australian Height Datum (AHD) at Seaham Weir and Boags Hill Offtake using telemetered measuring equipment.

11. Notwithstanding condition ten (10) of this licence, the Licence Holder may take water

under this access licence when water levels in Seaham Weir Pool are greater than 0.32 m pool height and when flows are greater than 600 ML/day in the Williams River at Mill Dam Falls, Gauging Station Number 210010.


for all access licences held by the Licence Holder in the Hunter Extraction Management Unit. The long-term average annual extraction limit for all access licences held by the Licence Holder in this unit is 78,500 ML/year minus the long-term average extraction under access licences held by the Licence Holder in the Tomago, Tomaree and Stockton Groundwater Sources.



(10) consecutive year periods under all the major utility access licences held by the Licence Holder that exceeds the volume equal to the long-term average annual extraction limit required by condition twelve (12) of this licence.


information:








Contact Details




Licence Details

Status Current






Newcastle Water Source Water Source

Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2009 Water Sharing Plan



Hunter Water Corporation – Water Access Licence Conditions Newcastle Water Source


Mandatory Conditions Under section 66 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the approval by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources. Such conditions are known as mandatory conditions, and the mandatory conditions of this approval are 1-2, 5-12. Discretionary Conditions Under section 66 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may impose on the approval as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this approval are 3-4, 13-15.



















Hunter Water Corporation – Water Access Licence Conditions Newcastle Water Source




Note 1: Account management rules and carry over rules for natural inflows to Grahamstown Dam will be based on the study Development of Access Rules for the Lower Williams River to be undertaken by the Hunter Water Corporation as directed by the Minister.


for all access licences held by the Licence Holder in the Hunter Extraction Management Unit. The long-term average annual extraction limit for all access licences held by the Licence Holder in this unit is 78,500 ML/year minus the long-term average extraction under access licences held by the Licence Holder in the Tomago, Tomaree and Stockton Groundwater Sources.



(10) consecutive year periods under all major utility access licences held by the Licence Holder that exceeds the volume equal to the long-term average annual extraction limit required by condition ten (10) of this licence.


information:






14. The Licence Holder may take water via the nominated water supply work approval for Grahamstown Dam without any restrictions in rate from that work.

15. Notwithstanding condition fourteen (14) of this licence, the Licence Holder must

comply with the long-term average annual extraction limit required by conditions ten (10) and eleven (11) of this licence.

Combined water supply work and water use approvals

Statement of Approval as at 1 July 2004 issued under the Water Management Act 2000.

Approval Number 20CA203131

Contact Details



Hunter Water Corporation 36 Honeysuckle Drive

Contact Address

(PO Box 5171 HRMC) Newcastle NSW 2310

Approval Details

Status

(See Note 1) Current

Tomago Groundwater Source Water Source

Water Management Area(s) Lower North Coast and Hunter Water Management Areas

Kind of Approval Water Supply Work and Water Use

Date of Commencement of

Conditions 1 July 2004

30 June 2024 Expiry Date

This approval is for the authorised water supply works described in Schedule 1

Authorised Water Supply

Works

Urban Water Supply as described in Schedule 1 Authorised Water Use

Conditions This approval is subject to the conditions set out in Schedule 1

Approval Holder Hunter Water Corporation as further described in Schedule 2 1. The status of an approval may change. An approval may be "current", in addition, an

approval is no longer in force if it has "expired", been "surrendered", “suspended” or "cancelled".

2. During periods of severe water shortages, the Minister may suspend part or all of the provisions of a management plan under section 49A of the Water Management Act 2000. Whilst an order under s49A is in force, depending on the terms of the order, the mandatory conditions applying to this approval may be affected.

Notes

3. Information or data that is required to be provided to the Minister under this approval should be provided to the contact person agreed upon between the NSW Office of Water and the Approval Holder.

NOTICE OF CHANGE OF HOLDER OR CONTACT

1. The NSW Office of Water is to be advised of any change of Approval Holder. This will occur whenever there is a change of ownership of works shown in this approval. The advice should be accompanied by evidence of transfer of ownership of the works.

2. If the Approval Holder wishes to nominate a new contact person a written statement signed by the holder should be submitted to the NSW Office of Water.

3. The contact person should advise the NSW Office of Water of any change of mailing address as soon as possible.


Hunter Water Corporation – Water Supply Work and Water Use Approval Tomago Groundwater Source

Mandatory Conditions Under section 100 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the approval by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Tomago Tomaree Stockton Groundwater Sources. Such conditions are known as mandatory conditions, and the mandatory condtions of this approval are 1-11, 13, 17-22. Discretionary Conditions Under section 100 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may impose on the approval as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this approval are 12, 14-16, 23-43.

Schedule 1 – Conditions AUTHORISED WATER SUPPLY WORKS AND WATER USE

1. The Approval Holder is authorised to use the water supply works listed below and further described in Schedule 1 – Attachment 1 and Schedule 1 - Attachment 2 (‘the authorised water supply works’) to extract and use water.

PS1 PS7 PS11 PS19 PS25 PS2 PS7A PS12 PS20 PS26 PS3 PS8 PS14 PS21 PS27 PS4 PS9 PS15 PS22 LTP PS5 PS9A PS16/17 PS23 PS6 PS10 PS18 PS24

Note 1: Under section 90 (2) of the Water Management Act 2000 the term ‘construct’ is defined to

include install, maintain, repair, alter or extend the work.

2. The use and operation of the authorised water supply works are subject to the conditions of this approval.

3. Notwithstanding condition one (1) of this approval, the Approval Holder must not alter,

augment, extend or enlarge any of the authorised water supply works in such a way as to change the capacities of the works relative to the capacities in Schedule 1 - Attachment 2 without the written approval of the Minister.

Note 1: To amend an approval the process in section 107 of the Water Management Act 2000

must be followed.

4. The Approval Holder is authorised to use water for urban water supply within the Hunter Water Corporation’s area of operations. Note 1: Hunter Water Corporation’s area of operations is specified in the Hunter Water Act 1991 and in

the Hunter Water Corporation’s Operating Licence.



5. The Approval Holder must not take any water using any work on this approval if the water allocation account of the access licence from which the water is to be taken, is or will go into debit.

6. The rate of extraction by the Approval Holder in the Tomago Groundwater Source

must not exceed 200 ML per day in the Tomago Special Area at those times when the Minister announces that water is available, at such rate as the Minister announces.

7. The Approval Holder must not construct, cause or allow to be constructed the

approved groundwater extraction work unless construction of the work is carried out by a person who holds a current bore driller's licence under the Water Act 1912 or the Water Management Act 2000 authorising the driller to construct groundwater extraction works of the class to be constructed. The work must be constructed in accordance with Minimum Construction Requirements for Water Bores in NSW. Land and Water Biodiversity Committee, 2003.

8. The Approval Holder must not construct or allow to be constructed any groundwater

extraction work that will cause contamination between aquifers. If during the construction of the work, saline or contaminated water is encountered above the producing aquifer, such saline or contaminated water must be sealed off by:

a. inserting the appropriate length(s) of casing to a depth sufficient to exclude the saline or contaminated water from the work; and

b. placing an impermeable seal between the casing(s) and the walls of the groundwater work from the bottom of the casing to ground level; or

c. adhere with any other standard of construction as specified by the Minister.

9. The Approval Holder must decommission any groundwater extraction work when the work ceases to function or is abandoned for future use by the Approval Holder. When a groundwater extraction work is decommissioned, the Approval Holder must:

a. notify the Minister that the work is being decommissioned; and b. withdraw the casing (lining) from the work in the manner specified by the

Minister; and c. seal off the aquifer by backfilling the work to ground level; or d. adhere with any other standard of decommissioning as specified by the

Minister.

10. The Approval Holder must within two (2) months of completing construction of the work permitted by this approval and in a form approved by the Minister, provide the Minister with the following:

a. the location of the authorised work on the lot and deposited plan preferably using GPS references;

b. details of the work, the water bearing zones and geology encountered during construction of the work; and

c. details of an analysis of the water quality and pumping tests.

11. The Approval Holder is permitted to relocate or replace the extraction works in the Tomago Groundwater Source, provided that:

a. the relocation or replacement of the extraction work is within 50 m of a boreline, where the boreline location is defined by the boreline header pipe;

b. the relocation or replacement of the extraction work does not increase the installed extraction capacity, except with the agreement of the Minister;



c. the relocation or replacement of the extraction work does not adversely impact upon any environmental, economic or social value of the Tomago Groundwater Source;

d. any abandoned extraction work is abandoned by means suitable to prevent degradation of the Tomago Groundwater Source and the Minister must be notified of the method of abandonment; and

e. the Minister must be provided with details of relocation and abandonment annually.

MONITORING Water Quantity Monitoring

12. The Approval Holder must monitor and record daily extractions from all those water supply works listed in Schedule 1 – Attachment 2 in accordance with a Water Quantity Monitoring and Reporting Protocol approved by the Minister.

Measurement and Data Quality Standards

13. The Approval Holder must install, maintain and operate any device or devices for measuring the volume of water extracted in accordance with any manufacturer's specifications or, where given, in accordance with any written direction from the Minister.

14. The Approval Holder must provide written evidence of certification of the accuracy of

the device or devices used for measuring the volume of water extracted, in accordance with any written direction from the Minister.

15. The Approval Holder must have metering equipment installed on the works

authorised by this approval to measure extraction and diversion that meets the following requirements or as advised from time to time by the Minister by notice in writing:

a. the metering equipment must comply with the NSW Interim Water Meter Standards (issued by the NSW Office of Water) as may be updated or replaced from time to time;

b. the metering equipment must be operated and maintained in a proper and efficient manner at all times; and

c. any other requirements as to type, standard or other criteria for the metering equipment specified by the Minister by notice in writing.

16. The Approval Holder must undertake all monitoring consistent with appropriate quality

assurance and quality control procedures, to the satisfaction of the Minister. The Approval Holder may include data of acceptable quality from other sources to meet the monitoring requirements of this approval.

Water Level and Water Quality Monitoring

17. Should any of the monitoring bores used for the monitoring required by conditions eighteen (18) to twenty (20) of this approval, the locations of which are shown in Schedule 1 - Attachment 3 and specified in Schedule 1 – Attachment 4, become lost



or unsuitable for measurement, the Approval Holder must substitute the point with a suitable nearby point, or sink a point, at the previous location within three months. The Approval Holder must notify the Minister of the replacement.

18. The Approval Holder must undertake the following monitoring in Tomago:

a. approximately weekly, that is at intervals of no more than 10 days, measure the groundwater level at monitoring bore IP109 (nominated level RL 5.2 m AHD), and

b. once every month, measure the groundwater levels at the following 4 monitoring bores:

i. bore number 40A (nominated level RL 0.9 m AHD); ii. bore number SK3534 (nominated level RL 2.5 m AHD); iii. bore number SK3491 (nominated level RL 4.0 m AHD); and iv. bore number 284 (nominated level RL 6.0 m AHD);

c. maintain hydrographs showing the trends in groundwater levels since 1990 at monitoring bore IP109 and at the 4 observation bores monitored in accordance with condition (18)(b);

d. once every 3 months, measure the groundwater levels at the following 32 monitoring bores: SK5266, 295, SK3505, SK4932, SK3514, SK3530, SK4934, SK4939, SK5387, 230A, SK3499, SK5819, SK5992, F8, 9-SE-4000, SK3524, 287, SK5389, SK3525, SK1709, SK3516, SK3493, SK3523, SK4936, SK4935, SK3492, SK4933, SK3487, SK3481, SK3500, P2, and P5;

e. once every 3 months measure the groundwater level and salinity profile at the following 15 monitoring bores: BL501, BL502, BL503, BL84, SK3508, SK5676, BL504, BL505, BL506, SK3515, BL507, BL508, BL69, BL509 and BL37;

f. measure the electrical conductivity (µScm-1) at each of the nominated monitoring bores in condition (18)(e) at 2 m intervals measured from the top of the bore casing to the base of the bore; and

g. measure the electrical conductivity (µScm-1) monthly, and, iron (total in mgl-1), manganese (mgl-1) and arsenic (mgl-1) weekly, at each pump station, when operating.

19. If the groundwater level in any 2 or more of the monitoring bores in Tomago,

monitored in accordance with conditions 18(a) and 16(b) falls below the levels nominated in those subclauses, the Approval Holder must:

a. advise the Minister of the situation in writing within 7 days of the reading, or readings, being taken;

b. increase the frequency of the monitoring in condition 18(b) to once fortnightly; c. once every month, measure the groundwater level at the following 9

monitoring bores: SK5266, SK1709, SK3505, SK4932, SK3514, SK3530, SK4934, SK4939, and SK5387; and

d. maintain monitoring in accordance with this condition until groundwater levels are higher than the nominated levels in condition 18(a) and 18(b),and the Minister approves a return to the monitoring regime prescribed in conditions 18(a) and 16(b).

20. If any electrical conductivity measurement taken in accordance with conditions 18(e)

and 18(f) from monitoring bores BL503, SK5676, BL506, BL508, or BL37, excluding any measurement taken within 2 m of the aquifer basement material, is greater than or equal to 10,000 µScm-1, the Approval Holder must:

a. advise the Minister in writing as soon as practicable; b. increase the frequency of the monitoring in conditions 18(e) and 18(f) to

fortnightly; and



c. maintain monitoring in accordance with this subclause until electrical conductivity measurements fall below 10,000 µScm-1, and the Minister approves a return to the monitoring regime prescribed in conditions 18(e) and 18(f).

21. If, at any of the Tomago pump stations, 3 consecutive measurements of one or more

determinands specified in condition 18(g) exceed the rolling mean plus two standard deviations, the Approval Holder must report the exceedance in the Annual Compliance Report and include:

a. the date and pumping station, or stations, where the exceedance was detected; and

b. the level of the exceedance; c. the risk of harm or damage to Hunter Water Corporation infrastructure and/or

the environment, or any other parties; d. any action taken to prevent, control or mitigate the exceedance; e. any action that has been taken or will be taken to prevent the re-occurrence of

the exceedance; and f. the rolling mean and standard deviation for iron, manganese and arsenic is to

be calculated using the data for the given station once a minimum of 50 measurements for the determinant has been obtained. The rolling mean and standard deviation for electrical conductivity is to be calculated using the data for the given station once a minimum of 20 measurements has been obtained. This clause applies when the appropriate quantity of measurements is available in relation to the monitoring specified in condition 18(g).

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Local Impact Restriction

22. The Approval Holder must not operate the authorised works to extract water other than in accordance with the terms of any local impact restriction, if such a restriction is announced by the Minister.

Cease to Pump

23. Notwithstanding the groundwater extraction access given in this approval, the Approval Holder must cease pumping in a groundwater management zone (Schedule 1 – Attachment 5) when directed to do so by the Minister.

Note 1: Prior to issue of any notification to cease pumping, the Minister will convene the Licence

Working Group (LWG) when water stress is indicated in a groundwater management zone. The Minister’s decision on a ‘cease to pump’ notice in a groundwater management zone will be based on the recommendations of the LWG. The LWG will develop recommendations to the Minister considering, but not limited to, the following relevant factors:

a. the results of the water stress monitoring program and other monitoring parameters; b. climatic conditions and outlook; c. water levels; d. the ability to continue to balance water supply and demand including social and

economic impacts arising from an inability to extract groundwater; and e. any other relevant factor/s.



24. When cease-to-pump is triggered in accordance with condition twenty three (23) of this approval, the Approval Holder must not resume pumping until the water level in the zone reference bore has been higher than the 95th percentile water level for a period equal to the duration of the preceding extraction below the 100th percentile water level, unless otherwise approved by the Minister.

Baseline Ecological Monitoring

25. The Approval Holder must undertake the Baseline Monitoring Program in accordance with condition thirty six (36) of this approval for all groundwater management zones.

26. The Approval Holder must notify, and report the results of the Baseline Monitoring

Program to the Minister in accordance with the Notification, Reporting and Review Schedule determined by the Minister.

Note 1: The Notification, Reporting and Review Schedule will be developed by the NSW Office of

Water in consultation with the Hunter Water Corporation following the development of the Baseline Monitioring Program and the Water Stress Monitoring Program. This schedule will include details of the requirements for a major periodic review of both the results and content of the monitoring programs to facilitate the adaptive management process.

Extraction Depth Access Regime

Between Full and 95th Percentile Levels

27. The Approval Holder is permitted access to extract groundwater in a groundwater management zone above the 95th percentile reference levels in Schedule 1 – Attachment 6 without additional monitoring to that required by condition twenty five (25) of this approval.

Between 95th Percentile and 100th Percentile Levels

28. The Approval Holder is permitted access to extract groundwater between the 95th percentile and 100th percentile reference levels in Schedule 1 – Attachment 6 subject to undertaking the monitoring program in accordance with condition thirty seven (37) of this approval.

29. The Approval Holder must notify, and report the results of the Water Stress

Monitoring Program to, the Minister in accordance with the Notification, Reporting and Review Schedule determined by the Minister.



Between 100th Percentile and ‘Empty’ Levels

30. The Approval Holder is permitted access to extract groundwater between the 100th percentile and ‘empty’ reference levels in Schedule 1 – Attachment 6 subject to



undertaking the monitoring program in accordance with condition thirty seven (37) of this approval.

31. The Approval Holder must seek the Minister’s approval, in writing, for an initial three

month period and for any subsequent extension of three monthly approvals at least 10 working days prior to exceeding the 100th percentile in Schedule 1 – Attachment 6 or the start of any subsequent extension.

32. The Approval Holder must provide weekly water level and water extraction data to the

Minister for each management zone that is below the 100th percentile water level in Schedule 1 – Attachment 6.

33. The Approval Holder must cease pumping in a groundwater management zone 12

months after the groundwater level in the management zone first exceeded the 100th percentile water level in Schedule 1 – Attachment 6 unless a ‘recovery’ has occurred in the interim in accordance with condition twenty four (24) of this approval.




Water in consultation with the Hunter Water Corporation following development of the Baseline Monitoring Program and the Water Stress Monitoring Program. This schedule will include details of the requirements for a major periodic review of both the results and content of the monitoring programs to facilitate the adaptive management process.

Limit of Extraction Level

35. The Approval Holder must not extract water in a groundwater management zone below the “empty” level in Schedule 1 – Attachment 6.

Ecological Monitoring Programs

Baseline Monitoring Program

36. The Approval Holder must:

a. develop a long-term ecological monitoring program to assess the effects of groundwater extraction on the ecology of groundwater dependent ecosystems by 30 June 2011 in accordance with the monitoring guidelines in Schedule 1 - Attachment 7;

b. submit the monitoring program to the Minister for review and approval; c. implement the monitoring program in accordance with condition twenty five

(25) of this approval; d. report the monitoring results in the Annual Compliance Report; e. comply with the requirements of the Notification, Reporting and Review

Schedule; f. store and archive data for future use; and g. provide the Minister with access to all up-to-date monitoring data from the

monitoring program within 5 working days of the Minister’s written request.



Water Stress Monitoring Program

37. The Approval Holder must:

a. design a preliminary investigation that will facilitate the development of a water stress monitoring program to assess the effects of groundwater extraction below the 95th percentile water level in each groundwater management zone on groundwater dependent endangered ecological communities by October 2011;

b. submit the design of the preliminary investigation to the Minister for review and approval;

c. develop a draft water stress monitoring program to assess the effects of groundwater extraction below the 95th percentile water level in each groundwater management zone on groundwater dependent endangered ecological communities by May 2012 in accordance with the monitoring guidelines in Schedule 1 - Attachment 8;

d. submit the monitoring program to the Minister for review and approval; e. implement the monitoring program in accordance with conditions twenty eight

(28) and thirty (30) of this approval; f. report the monitoring results in the Annual Compliance Report; g. comply with the requirements of the Notification, Reporting and Review

Schedule; h. store and archive data for future use; and i. provide the Minister with access to all up-to-date monitoring data from the

monitoring program within 5 working days of the Minister’s written request. REPORTING

Water Quantity Report

38. The Approval Holder must monitor and record daily extractions from all those water supply works listed in Schedule 1 – Attachment 2.

Annual Compliance Report

39. The Approval Holder must, within 90 days of the end of each financial year, must prepare and submit to the Minister, a written report on the previous water year from 1 July to 30 June, called the Annual Compliance Report. The report is to be combined with reporting requirements of other water supply work and water use approvals, and water access licences held by the Approval Holder. The Annual Compliance Report must be provided to the Minister in the form of one (1) hard copy and one (1) electronic copy. The report must include, but is not limited to including, the following information:

a. an introduction, including an overview of the Approval Holder’s water management and supply activities associated with these water sources;

b. updated maps to scale, depicting the location of the water sources and the authorised water supply works listed in Schedule 1 - Attachment 2 if any details have changed;

c. a statement of overall compliance for the year that identifies any areas of non-compliance and the actions taken in accordance with conditions forty (40) and forty one (41) of this approval;



d. a water monitoring section that includes the following: i. yearly data summaries and graphical presentation for all monitoring

required in this approval; ii. hydrograph of groundwater levels showing trends since 1990, in

accordance with condition eighteen (18) of this approval; iii. exceedance reporting in accordance with conditions nineteen (19),

twenty (20) and twenty one (21) of this approval; and iv. a brief description of the methodologies used and data interpretation.

e. a water extraction section that includes the following: i. total extraction for the Tomago Groundwater Source for each water

accounting year, commencing with 2004/05; ii. the Available Water Determination; iii. details on the rates of extraction (ML/d) in reference to the extraction

rate required by the access licence to which this approval is linked; and

iv. a description of the methodologies used, including possible limits of error.

f. results and interpretation/discussion of results of the ecological monitoring programs required by conditions thirty six (36) and thirty seven (37) of this approval; and

g. all electronic data used in the preparation of the Annual Compliance Report. Incident Reporting

40. The Approval Holder must notify all events which result in non-compliance with the conditions of this approval to the Minister as soon as practicable after it becomes known to the Approval Holder in accordance with the Incident Reporting and Notification Protocol approved by the Minister.

Note 1: Incidents may include accident, equipment failure or any other such cause outside of

Approval Holder’s effective control. Note 2: Verbal notification should be made to the Manager, Corporate Licensing and confirmed by

the next working day by email using the template provided by the NSW Office of Water.

41. The Approval Holder must prepare a written report of all events which result in a non-compliance with the conditions of this approval within 14 days or within such shorter time as may be specified, when requested by the Minister. The written report must include the following information:

a. the date, time and exact location of the event or works involved; b. the authorised water supply works involved or likely to be involved; c. the cause and nature of the non-compliance and details of any harm or

damage to the environment, or any other parties; d. any action taken to prevent, control or mitigate the non-compliance; and e. any action that has been, or will be taken, to prevent a re-occurrence of the

non-compliance. Provision of Data and Information

42. The Minister may, from time to time, request data arising from the operation of the authorised water supply works to undertake its resource management functions. Within one (1) month of the Minister making such a request, the Approval Holder must provide the required data.




43. The Approval Holder must maintain, in a form that can be readily accessible by the Minister, all information and records required by the monitoring and reporting conditions in this approval. The information or records include those that comprise the Annual Compliance Report.


SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 1: LOCATIONS OF AUTHORISED WATER SUPPLY WORKS



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 2: DETAILS OF AUTHORISED WATER SUPPLY WORKS Details of the water supply works authorised by this approval are tabled below.

Bore and tubewell stations for the extraction of water from Tomago Groundwater Source

Description

Capacity 26 stations, comprising 168 bores and 360 tubewells with an approximate installed extractive capacity of 200 ML/day

Work ID Easting Northing Work ID Easting Northing PS1(1) 383409 6368707 PS15(1) 400946 6375288

PS1(21) 384078 6368555 PS15(30) 401534 6375653

PS2(1) 382850 6369867 PS16(1) 402399 6375488

PS2(9) 383073 6370243 PS16(28) 404926 6376047

PS3(1) 386236 6370011 PS16/17(11) 403621 6375659

PS3(9) 386910 6369896 PS18(1) 396652 6373352

PS4(11) 384918 6371747 PS18(13) 395987 6372388

PS4(9) 385113 6372897 PS19(1) 387700 6373726 PS5(1) 387986 6370479 PS19(8) 389000 6373550 PS5(14) 389132 6370162 PS20(1) 380701 6369460

PS6(1) 386938 6370702 PS20(8) 381207 6370907

PS6(14) 386254 6371827 PS21(4) 383559 6369540

PS7(1) 390472 6371460 PS21(1) 383938 6369451

PS7(60) 391063 6371406 PS21(16) 384245 6369233

PS7A(1) 390233 6371670 PS22(1) 384180 6370002

PS7A(3) 390365 6371547 PS22(10) 384991 6370477

PS8(1) 389547 6372743 PS23(1) 392730 6372104

PS8(30) 390276 6372727 PS24(1) 383305 6368686

PS9(1) 393027 6370714 PS24(2) 383195 6368684

PS9(60) 393570 6371141 PS24(4) 383038 6368551

PS9A(1) 393227 6371236 PS 24(5) 382900 6368425

PS9A(6) 393101 6371977 PS25(1) 394237 6372242

PS10(1) 391499 6372918 PS25(10) 395868 6373263

PS10(30) 392163 6373218 PS26(1) 400465 6374949

PS11(1) 395632 6371732 PS26(10) 400312 6374057

PS11(60) 394932 6371544 PS27(1) 401468 6375298

PS12(1) 393523 6372972 PS27(10) 402305 6375454

PS12(30) 394240 6372863 LTP1 405249 6376280

PS14(1) 398741 6374581 LTP2 405170 6376218

PS14(30) 399394 6374815

Note 1: The above table provides the coordinates of the terminal bores of each branch of each authorised water

supply work (boreline) in Tomago Sandbeds. Some borelines and branches comprise straight-line segments, branch junctions and elbows between the terminal bores that are not identified in the above table.



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 3: LOCATIONS OF MONITORING BORES



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 4: DETAILS OF MONITORING BORES The coordinates below are the locations of the monitoring bores on the Tomago Sandbeds (Map Grid of Australia Zone 56).

Work East North Work East North Work East North IP109 389098 6371695 SK1707 393741 6371321 SK3539 378970 6371365 40A 382378 6370445 SK1709 394205 6371405 SK3542 379800 6366741 230 380331 6370896 SK3471 386240 6371081 SK3544 401658 6373910 230A 380332 6370897 SK3474 386401 6371409 SK3545 404155 6374926 284 402683 6376657 SK3480 387939 6372076 SK3546 404074 6375111 287 403692 6374664 SK3481 391613 6372963 SK4930 381363 6369900 295 379498 6369391 SK3482 392390 6373104 SK4931 385066 6370478 9-SE-4000 393923 6369994 SK3483 391969 6373018 SK4932 384567 6372426 BL37 405022 6375868 SK3484 391773 6372624 SK4933 390193 6372071 BL56 382367 6368003 SK3487 384943 6371959 SK4934 390460 6373629 BL62 393454 6373573 SK3488 390840 6371393 SK4935 393735 6374313 BL65 397368 6372813 SK3489 390855 6371809 SK4936 395552 6374163 BL69 405128 6375345 SK3490 389562 6372755 SK4939 382065 6369112 BL77 389323 6367630 SK3491 397076 6373067 SK4942 388260 6370421 BL84 386455 6368394 SK3492 393675 6372881 SK5082 392657 6369996 BL92 383031 6368542 SK3493 398721 6374432 SK5266 391911 6373704 BL96 388287 6371607 SK3495 395609 6371698 SK5299 389745 6373308 BL98 387792 6371434 SK3496 393142 6371971 SK5387 397384 6375328 BL110 388038 6371234 SK3497 383170 6369188 SK5389 405715 6376922 BL114 396524 6370946 SK3499 381241 6367742 SK5676 386424.7 6368890 BL136 389163 6368521 SK3500 388341 6372859 SK5802 388013 6372128 BL267 391802 6368222 SK3501 386727 6373292 SK5819 384141 6369855 BL419 383258 6368555 SK3502 385731 6372051 SK5869 387092 6372165 BL420 383258 6368555 SK3504 388014 6372839 SK5992 386577 6369953 BL421 383258 6368555 SK3505 386153 6373194 SK6203 385882 6369384 BL501 379875 6370187 SK3506 389749 6373998 SK6201 385974 6369796 BL502 380125 6370125 SK3507 391655 6374180 SK6347 400993 6370823 BL503 380375 6370075 SK3508 386435 6368752 SK6348 393071 6368075 BL504 393500 6369575 SK3509 386453 6368369 SK6438 397288 6370892 BL505 393475 6369825 SK3513 384460 6373394 SK6439 395260 6369410 BL506 393450 6370087 SK3514 391890 6369276 SK6564 386347 6368605 BL507 399775 6373075 SK3515 399779 6372775 SK6623 384876 6369685 BL508 399800 6373250 SK3516 399106 6376019 SK7222 390706 6372865 BL509 405075 6375675 SK3519 384019 6370520 SK8106 393362 6373575 F8 389033 6368536 SK3520 383704 6368243 SK8309 399405 6376565 P1 388673 6373895 SK3523 395888 6373277 SK8310 399984 6376402 P2 388675 6373897 SK3524 397258 6371693 SK8312 399828 6376814 P3 388000 6373802 SK3525 404093 6377794 SK8316 401378 6377124 P4 387566 6373695 SK3526 404125 6378066 SK8315 401421 6377011 P5 387567 6373693 SK3527 400319 6374883 SK8319 403357 6377658 P6 387191 6373608 SK3529 401702 6375307 SK8320 403357 6377658 WR1000 396521 6372015 SK3530 401533 6377031 SK8322 404300 6378097 WR1010 396521 6372015 SK3534 386562 6370457 SK8323 405297 6378174 SK1148 388898 6373576 SK3535 384779 6369213 SK8324 405225 6378362 SK1710 394449 6371453 SK3536 389175 6371846 SK1708 393961 6371357 SK3537 394566 6372435



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 5: GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ZONES



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 6: REFERENCE GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION LEVELS AND DRAWDOWN PERCENTILES Groundwater level

Zone 1 reference bore: 40A

Zone 2 reference bore: SK3534

Zone 3 reference bore: IP109

Zone 4 reference bore: SK3491

Zone 5 reference bore: 284

Full 2.97 5.75 7.53 6.52 8.07 95th %ile 0.77 2.36 4.08 4.28 6.25 100th %ile 0.57 1.27 3.67 3.48 5.22 Empty 0.30 1.10 3.10 2.30 4.62 Level in metres AHD at the groundwater management zone

reference bore Note 1: The groundwater extraction levels and drawdown percentiles for the five groundwater management

zones at Tomago form the benchmark for the groundwater access regime. The levels can be corrected from time to time on agreement between the Approval Holder and the Minister.

Note 2: The percentiles represent historical AHD groundwater levels up to March 2008 and remain the fixed

benchmark for the extraction conditions, subject to further corrections which may be agreed between the Approval Holder and the Minister.



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 7: TOMAGO BASELINE MONITORING PROGRAM: MONITORING AND REPORTING GUIDELINES

Monitoring

Locations of ecological monitoring sites within and outside the areas of influence of pumping, including justification for selection of study sites

Frequency of ecological surveys

Details of ecological, chemical and physical parameters to be monitored, including procedures and protocols for sampling

Locations of groundwater monitoring bores and surface water level gauges adjacent to ecological monitoring sites within and outside the areas of influence of pumping

Depths of groundwater water level monitoring

Frequency of groundwater water level monitoring

Locations of potential saltwater intrusion monitoring bores Depths of salinity monitoring Frequency of salinity monitoring Procedure for replacement of monitoring bores and managing information gaps due to failure of instruments

Frequency of measurement of other parameters

Reporting

Mapping of groundwater dependent ecosystems for each sampling period indicating different ecological communities

Changes in area of ecological communities (if any) in areas both within and outside the areas of influence of pumping presented in both GIS overlay and tabular formats

Discussion of results from both test and reference sites in relation to the pumping regime of production bores, water levels in groundwater management zone reference bores, water levels in ecological monitoring bores, other parameters, climatic factors and any other influencing factors

The results of any water stress monitoring undertaken during the year (annual summary) Recommendations for adaptive management, improvement to the program and/or borefield operation

Note 1: The reporting guidelines in Schedule 1 - Attachment 7 may be used as guide in the development of the

Baseline Monitoring Program component of the Notification, Reporting and Review Schedule.



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 8: TOMAGO WATER STRESS MONITORING PROGRAM: MONITORING, REPORTING AND NOTIFICATION GUIDELINES

Monitoring

Objectives of the monitoring program

Locations of ecological water stress monitoring within and outside the areas of influence of pumping, including justification for selection of study sites

Locations of associated ecological monitoring bores and locations of the measurement of other parameters within and outside the areas of influence of pumping, including justification for selection of study sites

Details of parameters to be monitored, including referenced justification for selection based on both local and international literature

Procedures and protocols for sampling, including details of accuracy for measuring devices and analyses

Frequency of monitoring of each parameter commensurate with increasing duration and depth of extraction, including for the recovery period following approved exceedences of the 100th extraction level percentile

Reporting

Written report on the results of the program submitted to the Minister within 20 working days of the start of a cease to pump period, at least 10 working days before the end of a recovery period, and accompanying an application for a three month extension of pumping below the 100th percentile water level


Water Stress Monitoring Program component of the Notification, Reporting and Review Schedule.

Notification

Minister notified within 2 working days if a result of the monitoring program in a groundwater management zone indicates water stress

Note 1: The notification guidelines in Schedule 1 - Attachment 8 may be used as a guide in the development of

the Water Stress Monitoring Program component of the Notification, Reporting and Review Schedule.



SCHEDULE 2 – APPROVAL HOLDER Pursuant to section 106 of the Water Management Act 2000, this approval is taken to be held by, and for the benefit of, each successive landholder for the time being of the land specified in the approval as the land benefited by the approval. For the purposes of section 106 (3) of the Water Management Act 2000, Hunter Water Corporation is taken to be a landholder of land in respect of which a water management work approval held by it is in force. The current landholder (being the most recent information held) is shown below. Approval Holder ACN

Hunter Water Corporation 228 513 446


Statement of Approval as at 1 July 2004 issued under Water Management Act 2000.

Approval number 20CA203132

Contact details




Contact address

Newcastle NSW 2300 PO Box 5171 HRMC NSW 2310

Approval details

Status

(See note 1) Current

Water Source Tomaree Groundwater Source

Water Management Area(s) Lower North Coast and Hunter Water Management Areas

Water Supply Work and Water Use Kind of Approval

Date of Commencement of Conditions

1 July 2004

Expiry Date 30 June 2024

Authorised Water Supply Works


Authorised Water Use Urban Water Supply as described in Schedule 1


Approval Holder Hunter Water Corporation as further described in Schedule 2 1. The status of an approval may change. An approval may be "current" or "extended

pending renewal" (ie the expiry date has passed but an application has been made for renewal) or “suspended”. In addition, an approval is no longer in force if it is "expired", "surrendered" or "cancelled".

Notes 2. During periods of severe water shortages, the Minister may suspend part or all of the provisions of a management plan under section 49A of the Water Management Act 2000. Whilst an order under s49A is in force, depending on the terms of the order, the mandatory conditions applying to this approval may be affected.


NOTICE OF CHANGE OF HOLDER OR CONTACT 1. The NSW Office of Water is to be advised of any change of Approval Holder. This will

occur whenever there is a change of ownership of works shown in this approval. The advice should be accompanied by evidence of transfer of ownership of the works.




Hunter Water Corporation – Water Supply Work and Water Use Approval Tomaree Groundwater Source

Mandatory Conditions Under section 100 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the approval by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Tomago Tomaree Stockton Groundwater Sources. Such conditions are known as mandatory conditions, and the mandatory conditions of this approval are 1-11, 13, 17-25. Discretionary Conditions Under section 100 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may impose on the approval as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this approval are 12, 14-16, 26-42.


1. The Approval Holder is authorised to use the water supply works listed below and further described in Schedule 1 – Attachment 1 and Schedule 1 - Attachment 2 (‘the authorised water supply works’) to extract and use water.

AB1 AB8 AB15 AB2 AB9 AB16 AB3 AB10 NB1 AB4 AB11 NB2 AB5 AB12 NB3 AB6 AB13 NB4 AB7 AB14 NB5

Note 1: Under section 90 (2) of the Water Management Act 2000 the term ‘construct’ is defined to




augment, extend or enlarge any of the authorised water supply works in such a way as to change the capacities of the works relative to the capacities in Schedule 1 - Attachment 2 without the written approval of the Minister.


must be followed.

4. The Approval Holder is authorised to use water for urban water supply to the Hunter Water Corporation’s area of operations. Note 1: Hunter Water Corporation’s area of operations is specified in the Hunter Water Act 1991 and in

the Hunter Water Corporation’s Operating Licence.



5. The Approval Holder must not take water using any work specified on this approval unless in compliance with the conditions of the access licence under which water is being taken.

6. The Approval Holder must not take any water using any work on this approval if the

water allocation account of the access licence from which the water is to be taken, is or will go into debit.

7. The Approval Holder must not construct, cause or allow to be constructed the

approved groundwater extraction work unless construction of the work is carried out by a person who holds a current bore driller's licence under the Water Act 1912 or the Water Management Act 2000 authorising the driller to construct groundwater extraction works of the class to be constructed.

8. The Approval Holder must not construct or allow to be constructed any groundwater

extraction work that will cause contamination between aquifers. If during the construction of the work, saline or contaminated water is encountered above the producing aquifer, such saline or contaminated water must be sealed off by:

a. inserting the appropriate length(s) of casing to a depth sufficient to exclude

the saline or contaminated water from the work; and b. placing an impermeable seal between the casing(s) and the walls of the

groundwater work from the bottom of the casing to ground level; or c. adhere with any other standard of construction as specified by the Minister.

9. The Approval Holder must decommission any groundwater extraction work when the

work ceases to function or is abandoned for future use by the Approval Holder. When a groundwater extraction work is decommissioned, the Approval Holder must:

a. notify the Minister that the work is being decommissioned; and b. withdraw the casing (lining) from the work in the manner specified by the

Minister; and c. seal off the aquifer by backfilling the work to ground level; or d. adhere with any other standard of decommissioning as specified by the

Minister.

10. The Approval Holder must decommission any groundwater extraction work when the work ceases to function or is abandoned for future use by the Approval Holder. When a groundwater extraction work is decommissioned, the Approval Holder must:

a. notify the Minister that the work is being decommissioned, and b. withdraw the casing (lining) from the work in the manner specified by the

Minister, and c. seal off the aquifer by backfilling the work to ground level; or d. adhere with any other standard of decommissioning as specified by the

Minister.

11. The Approval Holder is permitted to relocate or replace the extraction works in the Tomaree Groundwater Source provided that:

a. the relocation or replacement of the extraction work is within 50 m of a

boreline, where the boreline location is defined by the boreline header pipe; b. the relocation or replacement of the extraction work does not increase the

installed extraction capacity, except with the agreement of the Minister;



c. the relocation or replacement of the extraction work does not adversely impact upon any environmental, economic or social value of the Tomaree Groundwater Source;

d. any abandoned extraction work is abandoned by means suitable to prevent degradation of the Tomaree Groundwater Source and the Minister must be notified of the method of abandonment; and

e. the Minister must be provided with details of relocation and abandonment annually.


12. The Approval Holder must monitor and record daily extractions from all those water supply works listed in Schedule 1 – Attachment 2 in accordance with a Water Quantity Monitoring and Reporting Protocol approved by the Minister.


13. The Approval Holder must install, maintain and operate any device or devices for measuring the volume of water extracted in accordance with any manufacturer's specifications or, where given, in accordance with any written direction from the Minister.

14. The Approval Holder must provide written evidence of the certification of the accuracy

of the device or devices used for measuring the volume of water extracted by the approved works, in accordance with any written direction from the Minister.

15. The Approval Holder must have metering equipment installed that meets the following requirements or as advised from time to time by the Minister by notice in writing:




16. The Approval Holder must undertake all monitoring consistent with appropriate quality assurance and quality control procedures, to the satisfaction of the Minister. The Approval Holder may include data of acceptable quality from other sources to meet the monitoring requirements of this approval.

Water Level and Water Quality Monitoring

17. Should any of the monitoring bores used for the monitoring required by conditions eighteen (18) to twenty four (24) of this approval, the locations of which are shown in Schedule 1 – Attachment 3 and specified in Schedule 1 – Attachment 4, become lost or unsuitable for measurement, the Approval Holder must substitute the point with a suitable nearby point, or sink a point, at the previous location within three months. The Approval Holder must notify the Minister of the replacement.



18. The Approval Holder must undertake the following operational monitoring in Tomaree:

a. approximately weekly, that is at intervals of no more than 10 days, measure

the groundwater level at monitoring bore SK1273B; b. once every 3 months, measure the groundwater level and salinity levels at the

following 6 monitoring bores: SW1, SW8, SW2, BL40, BL68, BL206 (at Shoal Bay);

c. once every 3 months, measure the groundwater level and salinity levels at the following 4 monitoring bores: SW4, SW5, SW6 and SW7 (at Fingal Bay); and

d. measure the electrical conductivity (µScm-1) at each of the nominated monitoring bores in condition eighteen (18(b) and 18(c)) of this approval at 2 m intervals measured from the top of the bore casing to the base of the bore;

e. once every 3 months, measure the groundwater level at monitoring bore SK3913; and

f. measure the electrical conductivity (µScm-1) quarterly, and pH (pH units) daily, at the inlet to the water treatment plant for Glovers Hill and Anna Bay, when operating.

19. If the monitoring specified in condition eighteen (18(f)) of this approval with respect to

pH gives 14 consecutive measurements of one or more determinands which exceed the rolling mean plus or minus 0.5 pH units, or with respect to electrical conductivity gives 3 consecutive measurements which exceed the rolling mean plus two standard deviations, the Approval Holder must report the exceedance in the Annual Compliance Report and include:

a. the date and water treatment plant, or plants, where the exceedance was

detected; b. the level of the exceedance; c. the risk of harm or damage to Hunter Water Corporation infrastructure and/or

the environment, or any other parties; d. any action taken to prevent, control or mitigate the exceedance; e. any action that has been taken or will be taken to prevent the re-occurrence of

the exceedance; and f. the rolling mean and standard deviation for pH is to be calculated using the

data for the given water treatment plant once a minimum of 50 measurements has been obtained. The rolling mean and standard deviation for electrical conductivity is to be calculated using the data for the given water treatment plant once a minimum of 30 measurements has been obtained. This applies when the appropriate quantity of measurements is available in relation to the monitoring specified in condition eighteen (18(f)) of this approval.

20. If any electrical conductivity measurement taken in accordance with condition eighteen (18(b) and 18(d)) from the monitoring bores for Shoal Bay, SW2 or BL40, excluding any measurement taken within 2 m of the aquifer basement material, is greater than or equal to 10,000 µScm-1, the Approval Holder must:

a. advise the Minister in writing as soon as practicable; b. increase the frequency of the monitoring in condition eighteen (18(b) and

18(d)) to once fortnightly; and c. maintain monitoring in accordance with condition twenty (20(b)) of this

approval until EC measurements fall below 10,000 µScm-1, and the Minister approves a return to the monitoring regime required by condition eighteen (18(b) and 18(d)) of this approval.



21. If any EC measurement from the monitoring bores for Fingal Bay taken in accordance with condition eighteen (18(c) and 18(d)) of this approval, excluding any measurement taken within 2 m of the aquifer basement material, is greater than or equal to 10,000 µScm-1, the Approval Holder must:

a. advise the Minister in writing as soon as practicable; b. increase the frequency of the monitoring in condition eighteen (18(c) and

18(d)) to fortnightly; c. measure the watertable level at SK5059D at One Mile Beach fortnightly; d. not extract more than 150 ML per year from the Fingal Bay bores (AB12-

AB16), calculated from the date when at least 10,000 µScm-1 is detected in either SW5 or SW7; and

e. maintain monitoring and extraction in accordance with condition twenty one ((21) (b), (c) and (d)) of this approval until EC measurements fall below 10,000 µScm-1, and the Minister approves a return to the monitoring regime prescribed in condition eighteen (18(c) and 18(d)) of this approval.

22. If any watertable level measurement for One-Mile Beach monitoring taken in

accordance with condition 21(c) from monitoring bore SK5059D is equal to or less than 0.9 m AHD, the Approval Holder must:

a. advise the Minister in writing as soon as practicable; b. not extract more than 150 ML per year from the Anna Bay bores (AB1-AB11),

calculated from the date when a watertable level equal to or less than 0.9 m AHD is detected at SK5059D; and

c. maintain monitoring in accordance with condition twenty one (21) of this approval and extraction in accordance with condition twenty two ((22) (b)) of this approval until watertable level measurements exceed 0.9 m AHD at SK5059D, and the Minister approves a return to the extraction and monitoring regime required by condition twenty one (21) of this approval.

23. If any watertable level measurement taken in accordance with condition eighteen

(18(e)) of this approval at monitoring bore SK3913 (One-Mile Beach) is equal to or less than 1.4 m AHD, the Approval Holder must:

a. advise the Minister in writing as soon as practicable; b. increase the frequency of the monitoring in condition eighteen (18(e)) of this

approval to once fortnightly; c. measure the watertable level at SK3917 fortnightly; d. not extract more than 150 ML per year from the Anna Bay bores (AB1-AB11),

calculated from the date when a watertable level equal to or less than 1.4 m AHD is detected at SK3913; and

e. maintain monitoring in accordance with condition twenty three (23(b) and 23(c)) of this approval and extraction in accordance with condition twenty three (23(d)) of this approval until watertable measurements exceed 1.4 m AHD at SK3913, and the Minister approves a return to the monitoring regime prescribed in condition eighteen (18(e)) of this approval.

24. If any watertable level measurement taken in accordance with condition twenty three (23(c)) of this approval from monitoring bore SK3917 (One-Mile Beach) is equal to or less than 1.3 m AHD, the Approval Holder must:

a. advise the Minister in writing as soon as practicable; b. not extract more than 150 ML per year from the Fingal Bay bores (AB12-

AB16), calculated from the date when a watertable level equal to or less than 1.3 m AHD is detected at SK3917; and



c. maintain extraction in accordance with condition twenty four (24 (b)) of this approval until watertable level measurements exceed 1.3 m AHD at SK3917, and the Minister approves a return to the extraction regime prescribed in condition twenty three (23 (d)) of this approval.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Local Impact Restriction

25. The Approval Holder must not operate the authorised works to extract water other than in accordance with the terms of any local impact restriction, if such a restriction is announced by the Minister.

Cease to Pump

26. Notwithstanding the groundwater extraction access given in this approval, the Approval Holder must cease pumping in a groundwater management zone (Schedule 1 – Attachment 5) when directed to do so by the Minister.

Note 1: The Minister has the discretion to implement additional management measures (e.g.

depth/duration/frequency restrictions) in accordance with condition 26 to mitigate any threats to vegetation communities from the existing extraction regime if the results of monitoring indicate that there is connectivity between the aquifer and the vegetation community.

Note 2: Prior to issue of any notification to cease pumping, the Minister will convene the Licence

Working Group (LWG) when water stress is indicated in a groundwater management zone. The Minister’s decision on a ‘cease to pump’ notice in a groundwater management zone will be based on the recommendations of the LWG. The LWG will develop recommendations to the Minister considering, but not limited to, the following relevant factors:

a. the results of the water stress monitoring program and other monitoring parameters; b. climatic conditions and outlook; c. water levels; d. the ability to continue to balance water supply and demand including social and

economic impacts arising from an inability to extract groundwater; and e. any other relevant factor/s.

Baseline Monitoring

27. The Approval Holder must undertake the Baseline Monitoring Program in accordance with condition thirty five (35) of this approval for all groundwater management zones (Schedule 1 – Attachment 5).

28. The Approval Holder must notify, and report the results of the Baseline Monitoring

Program to the Minister in accordance with the Notification, Reporting and Review Schedule determined by the Minister.





Extraction Access Regime

Above the 95th Percentile Levels

29. The Approval Holder is permitted access to extract groundwater in a groundwater management zone above the 95th percentile reference level in Schedule 1 – Attachment 6 without additional monitoring to that required by condition twenty seven (27) of this approval.

Between 95th Percentile and 100th Percentile Level

30. The Approval Holder is permitted access to extract groundwater between the 95th percentile and 100th percentile reference levels in Schedule 1 – Attachment 6 subject to undertaking the monitoring program in accordance with condition thirty six (36) of this approval.





Below the 100th Percentile Level

32. The Approval Holder is permitted access to extract groundwater below the 100th percentile reference level in Schedule 1 – Attachment 6 subject to undertaking the monitoring program in accordance with condition thirty six (36) of this approval.

33. The Approval Holder must provide weekly water level and water extraction data to the

Minister for each management zone that is below the 100th percentile water level.

34. The Approval Holder must notify, and report the results of the Water Stress Monitoring Program to, the Minister in accordance with the Notification, Reporting and Review Schedule determined by the Minister.



Note 2: A review of all monitoring results will be undertaken by the Minister every 3 months after

the 100th percentile water level in a groundwater management zone is exceeded, with a major review conducted 12 months following the date of exceedence.



Monitoring Programs

Baseline Monitoring Program

35. The Approval Holder must: a. develop a long-term ecological monitoring program to assess the effects of

groundwater extraction on the ecology of groundwater dependent ecosystems by 30 June 2011 in accordance with the monitoring guidelines in Schedule 1 - Attachment 7;

b. submit the monitoring program to the Minister for review and approval; c. implement the monitoring program in accordance with condition twenty seven

(27) of this approval; d. report the monitoring results in the Annual Compliance Report; e. comply with the requirements of the Notification, Reporting and Review

Schedule; f. store and archive data for future use; and g. provide the Minister with access to all up-to-date monitoring data from the


Water Stress Monitoring Program

36. The Approval Holder must: a. design a preliminary investigation that will facilitate the development of a

water stress monitoring program to assess the effects of groundwater extraction below the 95th percentile water level in each groundwater management zone on groundwater dependent endangered ecological communities by October 2011;

b. submit the design of the preliminary investigation to the Minister for review and approval;

c. develop a draft water stress monitoring program to assess the effects of groundwater extraction below the 95th percentile water level in each groundwater management zone on groundwater dependent endangered ecological communities by May 2012 in accordance with the monitoring guidelines in Schedule 1 - Attachment 8;

d. submit the monitoring program to the Minister for review and approval; e. implement the monitoring program in accordance with conditions thirty (30)

and thirty two (32) of this approval; f. report the monitoring results in the Annual Compliance Report; g. comply with the requirements of the Notification, Reporting and Review

Schedule; h. store and archive data for future use; and I. provide the Minister with access to all up-to-date monitoring data from the




REPORTING Water Quantity Report

37. The Approval Holder must monitor and record daily extractions from all those water supply works listed in Schedule 1 – Attachment 2.


38. The Approval Holder must, within 90 days of the end of each financial year, prepare and submit to the Minister, a written report on the previous water year from 1 July to 30 June, called the Annual Compliance Report. The report is to be combined with reporting requirements of other water supply work and water use approvals, and water access licences held by the Approval Holder. The Annual Compliance Report must be provided to the Minister in the form of one (1) hard copy and one (1) electronic copy. The report must include, but is not limited to including, the following information:



c. a statement of overall compliance for the year that identifies any areas of non-compliance and the actions taken in accordance with conditions thirty nine (39) and forty (40) of this approval;

d. a water monitoring section that presents the following: i. yearly data summaries and graphical presentation of all monitoring as

required by the conditions of this approval; ii. exceedance reporting in accordance with conditions nineteen (19) to

twenty four (24) of this approval; and iii. a brief description of the methodologies used and data interpretation.

e. a water extraction section that includes the following: i. total extraction for the Tomaree Groundwater Source for each water

accounting year, commencing with 2004/05; ii. the Available Water Determination; iii. details on the rates of extraction (ML/d) in reference to the extraction

rate required by the access licence to which this approval is linked; and

iv. a description of the methodologies used, including possible limits of error.

f. results and interpretation/discussion of results of the ecological monitoring programs required by conditions thirty five (35) and thirty six (36) of this approval; and

g. all electronic data used in the preparation of the Annual Compliance Report.




Incident Reporting

39. The Approval Holder must notify all events which result in non-compliance with the conditions of this Approval to the Minister as soon as practicable after it becomes known to the Approval Holder in accordance with the Incident Reporting and Notification Protocol approved by the Minister.




40. The Approval Holder must prepare a written report on all events which result in non-compliance with the conditions of this approval within 14 days, or within such shorter time as may be specified, when requested by the Minister. The written report must include the following information:

a. the date, time and exact location of the event or works involved; b. the authorised water supply works involved or likely to be involved; c. the cause and nature of the non-compliance and details of any harm or

damage to the environment, or any other parties; d. any action taken to prevent, control or mitigate the non-compliance; and e. any action that has been, or will be taken, to prevent a re-occurrence of the non-compliance.

Provision of Data and Information


42. The Approval Holder must maintain, in a form that can be readily accessible by the

Minister, all information and records required by the monitoring and reporting conditions in this Approval. The information or records include those that comprise the Annual Compliance Report.


SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 1: LOCATIONS OF AUTHORISED WATER SUPPLY WORKS



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 2: DETAILS OF AUTHORISED WATER SUPPLY WORKS Details of the water supply works authorised by this approval are tabled below. Description Bores for the extraction of water from Tomaree Groundwater Source

Capacity 21 bores with an installed extractive capacity of 32 ML/day

Work ID Easting Northing Work ID Easting Northing AB1 419818 6376400 AB12 420062 6375946 AB2 419736 6376438 AB13 420359 6375909 AB3 419650 6376434 AB14 420675 6375956 AB4 419574 6376423 AB15 421005 6376027 AB5 419473 6376419 AB16 421242 6376083 AB6 419312 6376307 NB1 422208 6379134 AB7 419202 6376235 NB2 422111 6379083 AB8 419133 6376124 NB3 422028 6378997 AB9 420062 6376543 NB4 421875 6379006 AB10 418885 6376093 NB5 421774 6379051 AB11 418677 6376147



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 3: LOCATIONS OF MONITORING BORES



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 4: DETAILS OF MONITORING BORES The coordinates below are the locations of the monitoring bores on the Tomaree Sandbeds (Map Grid of Australia Zone 56).

Work East North Work East North Work East North AB-N1500b 419630 6376831 SK1276b 419767 6375832 SK4471 421954 6379452 AB-N500b 419465 6376575 SK1277b 419538 6377910 SK4472 417964 6375018 AB-N100b 419473 6376458 SK1278b 420150 6378159 SK4472 417965 6375018 AB-S100b 419476 6376392 SK1279b 419636 6377058 SK4473 418028 6375465 AB-S500b 419487 6376267 SK1280 418820 6376140 SK4552 422448 6379341 AB-S1100b 419498 6376048 SK1285b 418636 6376237 SK4553 422484 6379426 AB-W5 419479 6376419 SK2509 418151 6376038 SK4554 422279 6379370 BL40 422098 6379425 SK2510 418144 6375905 SK4555 422179 6379491 BL41 417695 6375292 SK2512 418341 6375787 SK4556 422194 6379566 BL53 421309 6377963 SK2959b 420055 6376517 SK4557 422304 6379491 BL66 418030 6375727 SK3900 418624 6375840 SK4567 419134 6376120 BL68 422107 6379536 SK3901b 418900 6375602 SK5054b 421237 6376103 BL83 418655 6376160 SK3913 417121 6375039 SK5055b 420724 6376278 BL206 422121 6379568 SK3915 417479 6375537 SK5056 420531 6376596 BH1 418005 6375815 SK3917 417711 6375806 SK5057b 421640 6375819 BH2 418075 6375766 SK4250b 416939 6374591 SK5058 421419 6377059 BH3 417721 6375820 SK4251 416971 6375172 SK5059c 421960 6376320 SW1 421883 6379830 SK4252 418693 6375860 SK5059d 421549 6376367 SW2 421784 6379640 SK4253b 419177 6375204 SK5392 420082 6376501 SW4 422293 6376325 SK4255b 420370 6375909 SK5466 422163 6379389 SW5 422223 6376306 SK4256 421296 6377598 SK5467 422281 6379370 SW6 422247 6376721 SK4258 421259 6377975 SK5468 422401 6379350 SW7 422195 6376704 SK4260b 420212 6377282 SK5626b 420308 6379113 SW8 42102.2 6379747 SK4261 417024 6376253 SK5704a 421568 6379026 NB-N100 422031 6379041 SK4262 419393 6375483 SK5705a 420683 6375973 NB-N500b 422042 6379161 SK4264b 420406 6377912 SK5706a 421002 6376018 NB-N1500 422130 6379440 SK4265b 420244 6375590 SK5709b 420935 6378205 NB-S100 422001 6378980 SK4464 422406 6379260 SK5719b 420189 6377038 NB-S500b 421963 6378870 SK4465b 422332 6378882 SK5720b 419176 6376286 NBS1500b 421827 6378602 SK4466b 422211 6378304 SK8091 420056 6375951 NB-W5 422021 6379013 SK4467b 422115 6376868 SK9594 420473 6375387 SK1273b 420344 6376920 SK4468b 421322 6376757 SK9595 421203 6375661 SK1274b 420835 6377212 SK4469b 420752 6376722 SK9596 421237 6379411 SK1275b 421673 6378294 SK4470 422008 6379677



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 5: GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ZONES



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 6: REFERENCE GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION LEVELS AND DRAWDOWN PERCENTILES – TOMAREE SANDBEDS Groundwater level Zone 1 reference bore: SK1273b Full 11.7 95th %ile 5.76 100th %ile 4.69 Empty 2.0 Level in metres AHD

Note 1: The groundwater extraction levels and drawdown percentiles for the groundwater management zone at

Tomaree trigger a number of monitoring requirements and will ultimately form the benchmark for the future groundwater access regime. The number of zones can be revised and the levels corrected from time to time on agreement between the Approval Holder and the Minister.

Note 2: The percentiles represent historical AHD groundwater levels up to 23 August 2010 and will form the

benchmark for future extraction conditions, subject to further corrections which may be agreed between the Approval Holder and the Minister.

Note 3: The zone 1 reference bore is located in one of two separate groundwater catchment areas at Tomaree,

with the zone 1 catchment area draining to Fingal Bay and Anna Bay, containing approximately 90% of the installed extraction capacity at Tomaree. The other catchment area drains towards Shoal Bay. A second zone and reference bore has not been established for the Shoal Bay catchment area at this stage as other existing constraints limit extraction from the Shoal Bay bores. These constraints include potential for salt water intrusion and relatively low yields from the bores. In a study conducted by Driscoll and Bell in 2006, the wetland adjacent to the bores was assessed to be perched and in good condition. The Hunter Water Corporation has, however, agreed to implement water level monitoring in the wetland. These water levels will be assessed in relation to groundwater levels to determine if there is connectivity between the wetland and the aquifer. A second groundwater management zone may be created in the future if the data do not support the hypothesis that the wetland is perched.




SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 7: TOMAREE BASELINE MONITORING PROGRAM: MONITORING AND REPORTING GUIDELINES

Monitoring

Locations of ecological monitoring sites within and outside the areas of influence of pumping, including justification for selection of study sites Frequency of ecological surveys Details of ecological, chemical and physical parameters to be monitored, including procedures and protocols for sampling Locations of groundwater monitoring bores and surface water level gauges adjacent to ecological monitoring sites within and outside the areas of influence of pumping Depths of groundwater water level monitoring Frequency of groundwater water level monitoring Locations of potential saltwater intrusion monitoring bores Depths of salinity monitoring Frequency of salinity monitoring Procedure for replacement of monitoring bores and managing information gaps due to failure of instruments Frequency of measurement of other parameters

Reporting

Mapping of groundwater dependent ecosystems for each sampling period indicating different ecological communities Changes in area of ecological communities (if any) in areas both within and outside the areas of influence of pumping presented in both GIS overlay and tabular formats Discussion of results from both test and reference sites in relation to the pumping regime of production bores, water levels in groundwater management zone reference bores, water levels in ecological monitoring bores, other parameters, climatic factors and any other influencing factors The results of any water stress monitoring undertaken during the year (annual summary) Recommendations for adaptive management, improvement to the program and/or borefield operation


Baseline Monitoring Program component of the Notification, Reporting and Review Schedule.


SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 8: TOMAREE WATER STRESS MONITORING PROGRAM: MONITORING, REPORTING AND NOTIFICATION GUIDELINES

Monitoring

Objectives of the monitoring program Locations of ecological water stress monitoring within and outside the areas of influence of pumping, including justification for selection of study sites Locations of associated ecological monitoring bores and locations of the measurement of other parameters within and outside the areas of influence of pumping, including justification for selection of study sites Details of parameters to be monitored, including referenced justification for selection based on both local and international literature Procedures and protocols for sampling, including details of accuracy for measuring devices and analyses Frequency of monitoring of each parameter commensurate with increasing duration and depth of extraction

Reporting

Written report on the results of the program submitted to the Minister within 20 working days of the date the 100th percentile water level is first exceeded and then every 3 months following the date of exceedance for the first 12 months following exceedence


Water Stress Monitoring Program component of the Notification, Reporting and Review Schedule.

Notification

Minister notified within 2 working days if a result of the monitoring program in a groundwater management zone indicates water stress

Note 1: The notification guidelines in Schedule 1 - Attachment 8 may be used as a guide in the development of

the Water Stress Monitoring Program component of the Notification, Reporting and Review Schedule.



SCHEDULE 2 – APPROVAL HOLDER Pursuant to section 106 of the Water Management Act 2000, an approval is taken to be held by, and for the benefit of, each successive landholder for the time being of the land specified in the approval as the land benefited by the approval. Pursuant to section 106 (3) of the Water Management Act 2000, a major utility is taken to be a landholder of land in respect of which a water management work approval held by it is in force. The current landholder (being the most recent information held) is shown below. Approval Holder ACN





Contact Details



Hunter Water Corporation Contact Address 36 Honeysuckle Drive (PO Box 5171 HRMC) Newcastle NSW 2310

Approval Details

Status


Paterson/Allyn Rivers Water Source Water Source

Water Management Zone Allyn River Management Zone







Works

Town Water Supply as described in Schedule 1 Authorised Water Use


Hunter Water Corporation as further described in Schedule 2 Approval Holder(s) 1. The status of an approval may change. An approval may be "current", in addition, an



Notes







Hunter Water Corporation – Water Supply Work and Water Use Approval Allyn River Management Zone of the Paterson/Allyn Rivers Water Source


Mandatory Conditions Under section 100 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the approval by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources. Such conditions are known as mandatory condtions, and the mandatory condtions of this approval are 1-10, 12. Discretionary Conditions Under section 100 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may from time to time impose on the approval as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this approval are 11, 13-21.


1. The Approval Holder is authorised to use the water supply works listed below and further described in Schedule 1 - Attachment 2 (‘the authorised water supply works’) to capture, store, extract and release water.

Overshot Dam Two (2) 65 mm Centrifugal Pumps mounted in drywell building Note 1: Under section 90 (2) of the Water Management Act 2000 the term ‘construct’ is defined to

include install, maintain, repair, alter or extend the work. Note 2: The combined pump rate of the two 65 mm centrifugal pumps must not exceed 5 litres per

second in accordance with the rate of the original 80 mm centrifugal pump authorised by 20SL028292.

2. The use and operation of the authorised water supply works are subject to the

conditions of this approval.

3. Notwithstanding condition one (1) of this approval, the Approval Holder must not alter, augment, extend or enlarge any of the authorised water supply works in such a way as to change the capacities of the works relative to the capacities in Schedule 1 - Attachment 2 to affect the flow, volume, quality and behaviour of the water, without the written approval of the Minister.


must be followed.

4. The Approval Holder is authorised to use water for town water supply within the Hunter Water Corporation’s Area of Operations.

Note 1: The Hunter Water Corporation’s Area of Operations is specified in the Hunter Water Act 1991

and in the Hunter Water Corporation’s Operating Licence.

5. The Approval Holder must not take water using any work specified on this approval unless in compliance with the conditions of the access licence under which the water is being taken.




6. The Approval Holder must ensure that water taken using any work authorised by this approval is not in excess of the balance of the volume allocated to, or assigned to, or recredited to the water allocation account of the access licence to which this approval is linked.

7. The Approval Holder must obtain prior approval for activities of maintenance,

refurbishment or modification of works that will or could prevent the Approval Holder from meeting the conditions of this approval for a period of more than 24 hours.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Minimum Flows

8. The Approval Holder must not extract water using the works authorised by this approval when the flow in the Allyn River at Halton (Gauging Station Number 210022) is equal to or less than 25 ML/day.

9. Notwithstanding condition eight (8) of this approval, the Approval Holder may take

water when the flow in the Allyn River at Halton (Gauging Station Number 210022) is equal to or less than 25 ML/day, but greater than 15 ML/day on a rising river or 7 ML/day on a falling river, when water quality in the Paterson Regulated River is unable to be treated to a potable standard by the Gresford Water Treatment Plant due to blue green algae toxins being present at the water treatment plant offtake.

Note 1: The Very Low Flow Class is when the flow in the Allyn River at Halton (Gauging Station

Number 210022) is equal to or less than 15 ML/day on a rising river, or equal to or less than 7 ML/day on a falling river, and there is no visible flow in the Allyn River at Flying Fox Lane (Gauging Station Number 210143).

Note 2: A1 Class is when the flow in the Allyn River at Halton (Gauging Station Number 210022) is

greater than 15 ML/day and less than 58 ML/day on a rising river, or greater than 7 ML/day and less than 58 ML/day on a falling river, and there is a visible flow at the Allyn River at Flying Fox Lane (Gauging Station Number 210143).

Note 3: A2 Class is when the flow in the Allyn River at Halton (Gauging Station Number 210022) is

greater than 25 ML/day and less than 58 ML/day. Note 4: B Class is when the flow in the Allyn River at Halton (Gauging Station Number 210022) is

equal to or greater than 58 ML/day.

10. Notwithstanding conditions eight (8) and nine (9) of this approval, the Approval Holder may take water when the flow in the Allyn River at Halton (Gauging Station Number 210022) is equal to or less than 15 ML/day on a rising river, or equal to or less than 7 ML/day on a falling river, and there is no visible flow in the Allyn River at Flying Fox Lane (Gauging Station Number 210143).

Note 1: Access to the very low flow class will not be permissible if major augmentation of local

water supply works occurs. Major augmentation includes anything which enhances or increases the Hunter Water Corporation’s capacity to take water to meet the town water supply requirements of Gresford as a result of demand for water exceeding the sustainable yield of the existing infrastructure, for example, a larger pump, a larger storage facility, a larger pipe, or a secondary or additional water source.





11. The Approval Holder must monitor and record daily inflows to, extractions from and releases from all those water management works listed in Schedule 1 – Attachment 2 in accordance with a Water Quantity Monitoring and Reporting Protocol approved by the Minister.


12. The Approval Holder must install, maintain and operate any device or devices for measuring the volume of water extracted in accordance with any manufacturer’s specifications or where given in accordance with any written direction from the Minister.


any device used for measuring the volume of water extracted by the approved works in accordance with any written direction from the Minister.








REPORTING Monthly Water Quantity Report

16. The Approval Holder must, by or on the 25th day of each month, submit a Water Quantity Report for the previous month to the Minister. The report must be provided in both electronic and hard copy formats and must contain, but need not be limited to, the following:

a. total daily inflows to the weir pool; and b. total daily extractions from the weir pool.







b. a map to scale, depicting the location of the water sources and the authorised water supply works listed in Schedule 1 - Attachment 2;

c. a statement of overall compliance for the year that identifies any areas of non-compliance and the actions taken in accordance with conditions eighteen (18) and nineteen (19) of this approval; and

d. all electronic data used in the preparation of the Annual Compliance Report. Incident Reporting

18. The Approval Holder must notify the Minister of any incident that results in a non-compliance with this approval as soon as practical after it becomes known to the Approval Holder in accordance with the Incident Reporting and Notification Protocol approved by the Minister.


Approval Holder effective control.

Note 2: Verbal notification should be made to the Manager, Corporate Licensing and confirmed by the next working day by e-mail using the form provided by the NSW Office of Water.

19. The Approval Holder may be requested by the Minister to prepare a written report of

any incident that has resulted in non-compliance with the conditions of this approval, within a specified timeframe. The report must include, but is not limited to including, the following information:

a. the date, time and exact location of the works involved; b. the authorised water supply works involved or likely to be involved; c. the cause and nature of the non-compliance and details of any potential or

actual harm or damage to the environment, or any other parties or property; d. details of actions taken to control, prevent or mitigate the non-compliance; and e. details of actions that have been or will be taken to prevent a recurrence of

the non-compliance. Provision of Data and Information





21. The Approval Holder must maintain, in a form that can be readily accessible by the Minister, all information and records required by the monitoring and reporting conditions in this Approval. The information and records include those that comprise the Annual Compliance Report.




SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 1: ALLYN RIVER MANAGEMENT ZONE WITHIN THE PATERSON/ALLYN RIVERS WATER SOURCE, HUNTER UNREGULATED AND ALLUVIAL WATER SOURCES




SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 2: DETAILS OF AUTHORISED WATER SUPPLY WORKS

Details of the water supply works authorised by this approval are tabled below.

OVERSHOT DAM 65 MM CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS “GRESFORD 2 WPS”

Description Concrete weir – dowelled/anchored to riverbed

Two (2) KSB Ajax M40-315 Centrifigual Pumps Mounted in Drywell Building

Use Weir pool for raw water extraction for Gresford Town Water Supply.

Extract water from weirpool and pump to raw water tank at Membrane Filtration Plant

Lot & DP Lot 27 DP1059846 Coordinates Easting: 363859.266, Northing:

6412075.106 (MGA) Easting: 363847.023, Northing: 6412112.476 (MGA)

Wall Height 1.8 m Wall Length Weir has two components

4.7 m, 21.3 m

Spillway Crest 1.93 m below benchmark* Spillway Crest Elevation 39.51 m AHD FSL (m) AHD 39.51 m AHD Total capacity (ML) Outlet Works Pump suction line with foot-valve

installed adjacent to weir to extract water from weirpool.

1.2 km long DN100 PVC delivery main to raw water tank.

Maximum pump rate 5 litres per second Flow/Level Measurement Device

No level or flow sensors installed on weir/overhot dam to monitor river characteristics.

DN100 ABB ‘WaterMaster’ electromagnetic flow meter installed on delivery line from pumps to monitor flows. Flow meter is linked to HWC SCADA system.

Other Details Pumps operated via variable speed drives, monitored on HWC SCADA system.

Note 1: The benchmark for the spillway crest of the overshot dam is established on an oak stump on the left

bank of the Allyn River near the work.





SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 3: GAUGING STATIONS

Gauging Station Number Gauging Station Location 210022 Allyn River at Halton 210143 Allyn River at Flying Fox Lane



Contact Details




Contact Address

(PO Box 5171 HRMC) Newcastle NSW 2310

Approval Details

Status


Water Source Paterson Regulated River Water Source

Water Management Zone







Works

Authorised Water Use Town Water Supply as described in Schedule 1





Notes







Hunter Water Corporation – Water Supply Work and Water Use Approval Paterson Regulated River Water Source

Mandatory Conditions Under section 100 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the approval by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Paterson Regulated River Water Source. Such conditions are known as mandatory conditions, and the mandatory conditions of this approval are 1-8, 10. Discretionary Conditions Under section 100 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may impose on the approval as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this approval are 9, 11-19.



Submersible Pump (80 mm) and associated Infiltration Gallery Note 1: Under section 90 (2) of the Water Management Act 2000 the term ‘construct’ is defined to




augment, extend or enlarge any of the authorised water supply works in such a way as to change the capacities of the works relative to the capacities in Schedule 1 - Attachment 2 to affect the flow, volume, quality and behaviour of the water, without the written approval of the Minister.


must be followed.

4. The Approval Holder is authorised to use water for town water supply within the Hunter Water Corporation’s Area of Operations. Note 1: The Hunter Water Corporation’s Area of Operations is specified in the Hunter Water Act 1991



6. The Approval Holder must not take water using the works authorised by this approval

unless in accordance with a water supply order lodged with and approved by the nominated State Water Customer Service Officer not less than 2 days prior to when the water is to be taken.





refurbishment or modification of works that will or could prevent the Approval Holder from meeting the conditions of this Approval for a period of more than 24 hours.


















a. total daily inflows to the locations specified in the Water Quantity Monitoring

Protocol; and b. total daily extractions.




b. a map to scale, depicting the location of the water sources and the authorised water supply works listed in Schedule 1 - Attachment 2;

c. a statement of overall compliance for the year that identifies any areas of non-compliance with the conditions of this approval and the actions taken in accordance with conditions sixteen (16) and seventeen (17) of this approval; and

d. all electronic data used in the preparation of the Annual Compliance Report. Incident Reporting







a. the date, time and exact location of the works involved; b. the authorised water supply works involved or likely to be involved;



c. the cause and nature of the non-compliance and details of any potential or actual harm or damage to the environment, or any other parties or property;

d. details of actions taken to control, prevent or mitigate the non-compliance; and e. details of actions that have been or will be taken to prevent a recurrence of




Minister, all information and records required by the monitoring and reporting conditions in this Approval. The information and records include those that comprise the Annual Compliance Report.



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 1: PATERSON REGULATED RIVER WATER SOURCE





PUMPING STATION INFILTRATION GALLERY Description Grundfos SP46.9 Submersible Multi-

Stage Infiltration gallery with bore pumps and precast pipe well located within bed of river

Use Extraction of water for Gresford town water supply

Extraction of water for Gresford town water supply

Lot & DP Lot 21 DP 1014637 Lot 21 DP 1014637 Coordinates MGA 361914.65, 6411190.5 MGA 361907, 6411194.5 Pump Diameter 80 mm Pump Capacity (L/s) 10 L/s at 90 m Pump Well Diameter 1800 mm Pump Well Height 2440 mm Dimensions Length 6400 mm, Width 4000 mm,

Depth 2300 mm Other Details Single pump authorised but 2 exist – 1

duty and 1 standby

Further Details Refer to detailed specifications on NSW Office of Water file number 20CA211175

Refer to detailed specifications on NSW Office of Water file number 20CA211175


Statement of Approval as at 1 August 2009 issued under the Water Management Act 2000.

20CA211018 Approval Number

Contact Details




Approval Details

Status



Williams River Management Zone Water Management Zones



Conditions 1 August 2009

Expiry Date 31 July 2029


Works


Authorised Water Use Urban Water as described in Schedule 1





Notes







Hunter Water Corporation – Water Supply Work and Water Use Approval Williams River Management Zone of the Williams River Water Source


Mandatory Conditions Under section 100 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the approval by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources. Such conditions are known as mandatory conditions, and the mandatory conditions of this approval are 1-9, 13. Discretionary Conditions Under section 100 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may impose on the approval as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this approval are 10-12, 14-23.


1. The Approval Holder is authorised to construct and use the water supply works listed below and further described in Schedule 1 - Attachment 2 (‘the authorised water supply works’) to capture, store, extract and release water. Water is released for environmental and other purposes as required by the Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources (hereafter the ‘Water Sharing Plan’).

Chichester Dam Bandon Grove Pipeline Weir and Fishway Note 1: Under section 90 (2) of the Water Management Act 2000 the term ‘construct’ is defined to






must be followed.

4. The Approval Holder is authorised to use water for urban water supply within the Hunter Water Corporation’s area of operations. Note 1: The Hunter Water Corporation’s area of operations is specified in the Hunter Water Act 1991








refurbishment or modification of the works authorised by this approval that will or could prevent the Approval Holder from meeting the conditions of this approval for a period of more than 24 hours.

CHICHESTER DAM Releases

8. The Approval Holder must make the following releases from Chichester Dam. a. When the combined inflows from the Chichester and Wangat Rivers,

measured at the Chichester River at Chichester, Gauging Station Number 210136 and the Wangat River at Wangat, Gauging Station Number 210137 (Schedule 1 – Attachment 5), into Chichester Dam storage are less than 14 ML/d, then a release equivalent to the combined inflow must be maintained.

b. When the combined inflows from the Chichester and Wangat Rivers into Chichester Dam storage are equal to or greater than 14 ML/d, and Chichester Dam is not spilling, then a release of at least 14 ML/d must be maintained. The Approval Holder may control this release from Chichester Dam using the hydroelectric plant.

c. When controlling the 14 ML/d release from Chichester Dam in accordance with condition eight (8) (b) of this approval, the Approval Holder must control the release in the range of 10 to 30 ML/d in accordance with the release pattern shown in Schedule 1 – Attachment 3.

d. The Approval Holder may, when Chichester Dam is spilling at a rate of more than 14 ML/d, cease to make releases through the work.

e. The Approval Holder must, when Chichester Dam is spilling at a rate less than 14 ML/d, ensure that the flow downstream of the dam equals the lesser of either 14 ML/d or the combined inflows from the Chichester and Wangat Rivers into Chichester Dam storage.

9. The Approval Holder must reduce or cease releases from Chichester Dam when and

as directed by the Minister, if the Minister is of the opinion that the release may adversely affect the downstream environment.

BANDON GROVE PIPELINE Maintenance

10. The Approval Holder must maintain the rock ramp fishway on the Bandon Grove Pipeline Weir specified in Fishway Plan No. 14596-01 at original design specifications and in a structurally sound condition.






Water Quality Monitoring

12. The Approval Holder must undertake all water quality monitoring and reporting specified in Schedule 1 - Attachment 4, in accordance with procedures determined by the Minister.




any device used for measuring the volume of water extracted by the approved works, in accordance with any written direction from the Minister.













a. total daily inflows to storages where required in the Water Quantity Monitoring

Protocol; b. total daily environmental and other releases from storages; c. total daily extractions from storages; and d. daily storage levels.


18. The Approval Holder must, within 90 days of the end of each financial year, prepare and submit to the Minister a written report on the previous water year from 1 July to 30 June, called the Annual Compliance Report. The report is to be combined with reporting requirements of other work and use approvals, and water access licences held by the Approval Holder. The Annual Compliance Report must be provided to the Minister in the form of one (1) hard copy and one (1) electronic copy. The report must include, but is not limited to including, the following information:

a. an introduction, including an overview of the Approval Holder’s water

management and water supply activities associated with these water sources; b. updated maps to scale, depicting the location of these water sources and the

authorised water supply works, sampling sites and the gauging stations listed in Schedule 1 - Attachments 2, 4 and 5 if any details have changed;

c. a statement of overall compliance for the year that identifies any areas of non-compliance and the actions taken in accordance with conditions nineteen (19), twenty (20) and twenty one (21) of this approval;

d. a water monitoring section that presents the following: i. yearly data summaries and graphical representation of all data

required by condition twelve (12) of this approval ii. summary of exceedence reporting required by condition twelve (12) of

this approval; iii. a brief description of the methods in data collection, and iv. data analysis, where appropriate.

e. a hydrograph of Chichester Dam inflows when less than 14 ML/d, and a corresponding hydrograph for releases from Chichester Dam; and

f. total annual and daily extraction from Chichester Dam.





Incident Reporting

19. The Approval Holder must notify the Minister of any incident that results in non-compliance with the conditions of this approval as soon as practical after it becomes known to the Approval Holder in accordance with the Incident Reporting and Notification Protocol approved by the Minister.




20. The Approval Holder may be requested by the Minister to prepare a written report of any incident that has resulted in non-compliance with the conditions of this approval, within a specified timeframe. The report must include, but is not limited to including, the following information:

a. the date, time and location of the non-compliance; b. the authorised water supply works involved or likely to be involved; c. the cause and nature of the non-compliance, including details of any potential

or actual harm or damage to the environment or to other parties or property; d. details of actions taken to control, prevent or mitigate the non-compliance, and e. details of actions that have been or will be taken to prevent a recurrence of

the non-compliance.

21. The Approval Holder must notify the Minister in writing in a format approved by the Minister if the monitoring required by condition twelve (12) of this approval triggers the Notification Requirement specified in Schedule 1 - Attachment 4.


22. The Minister may, from time to time, request data relating to the operation of the authorised water supply works to undertake its resource management functions. Within one (1) month of the Minister making such a request, the Approval Holder must provide the required data.





SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 1: CHICHESTER DAM ON THE CHICHESTER RIVER WITHIN THE WILLIAMS RIVER MANAGEMENT ZONE OF THE WILLIAMS RIVER WATER SOURCE, HUNTER UNREGULATED AND ALLUVIAL WATER SOURCES







CHICHESTER DAM BANDON GROVE PIPELINE WEIR Description Mass concrete storage dam on the

Chichester River Concrete crest overshot weir and apron across the Williams River

Use Storage and supply of town water Encasing of 900 mm mild-steel pipeline used to transfer water from Chichester Dam to the Newcastle region

Lot & DP Portion 80, Parish of Tillegra, Gloucester County

Between Portion 10 & 15, Parish of Tillegra, Gloucester County

Coordinates MGA 376555, 6432500 MGA 379200, 6425420 Wall Height R abutment – 162.0 m AHD

L abutment – 163.2 m AHD

Wall Length R abutment – 81.5 m L abutment – 50 m

40 m

Crest Elevation 156.2m AHD 74.98 m RL at lowest point (dished weir 0.6 m lower in centre than at ends)

Spillway Centrally located 112 m wide Ogee crest Gates Spillway is not gated FSL 156.2 m AHD Total capacity 22,200 ML Operational Capacity 21,500 ML Outlet Works Main: 1100 mm pipe with 900 mm valve

Minor: 3 outlets: 50mm, 150 mm, 200 mm

Diversion Works 1350 mm pipe to Dungog Water Treatment Plant

Flow/Level Measurement Device

Level: hydrostatic water level sensor Flow: spillway flow by formula = f(level) Pipe flow by ultrasonic flow meter Hydro flow by magnetic flow meter Scour flow by formula = f(% open) Net down river flow by formula for

high flow = spillway + scour + hydro Net down river flow by Cipoletti weir

for low flow

Other Details This is a prescribed dam under the Dam Safety Act 1978 Hydro-electric outlet 740 mm x 540 mm, owned by Delta Electricity and not licensed by this Approval

Fishway Plan No. 14596-01 specifications can be obtained from the NSW Office of Water



SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 3: CHICHESTER DAM HYDRO-POWER STATION RELEASE PATTERN (REFER TO CONDITION 8 c).

Hydro pattern (7 day cycle)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Day (0 = Sunday)

Flo

w r

ate

(M

L/d

ay

)




SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 4: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Monitoring Requirements for Chichester Dam

Licence Rationale (Impacts from works and use)

Site Name HWC Site No. Determinand Monitoring Frequency

Guideline Target for Annual Water Licence Report (based on ANZECC / ARMCANZ, 2000)

Explanation of Guideline Target (Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems)

Managing potential for downstream impacts due to “pollutant” releases from dam (eg thermal pollution and anoxic water)

Chichester River u/s dam wall Depth above bottom

35B00# (where # is the depth of sample in m.) 4m - 35B0025 2m - 16D0011 1m – 35D0099

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) profile 2m intervals to 12m, then 15m & 20m

Weekly To achieve ≥ 80% saturation from April to October; To achieve ≥ 60% saturation from November to March

To ensure minimal impacts on biota from dam releases within accepted HWC operating constraints

Temperature profile as above

Weekly The difference in temperature between surface and bottom waters does not exceed 3oC

To ensure minimal impacts on biota from dam releases within accepted HWC operating constraints

Regional algal contingency planning

Dam off-take level (1m above bottom), or if spilling then surface sample

16D0020 CYANOPHYCEAE (cells/mL, mm3/L)

Weekly As advised by the Regional Algal Coordinating Committee (RACC)

Protection of stock & recreation waters downstream

Regional algal contingency planning

Chichester River @ caravan park 1 km d/s dam

16DO122 CYANOPHYCEAE (cells/mL, mm3/L)

As required As advised by the RACC Protection of stock & recreation waters downstream

Maintenance of ecological health


16DO122 Nitrogen – Total (mg/L)

Quarterly Not to exceed 0.6 mg/L Protection of aquatic ecosystem guidelines - lowland trigger used

Note 1: Sampling at “Chichester River @ caravan park 1 km d/s dam” is required when cyanobacterial concentrations in Chichester Dam at the offtake level exceed

guidelines as advised by the RACC. Monitoring to continue at in this site until cyanobacterial concentrations at the offtake level in Chichester Dam are below the guideline limit for two (2) consecutive samples.

Note 2: The lowland trigger for Total Nitrogen was used for “Chichester River @ caravan park 1 km d/s dam” as the upland trigger was considered too conservative.








Maintenance of ecological health


16DO122 Nitrogen – NOx (mg/L)

Quarterly Not applicable NOx provides an indication of bioavailable N as a proportion of the Total N pool

pH (pH units) Quarterly To remain within the range 6.5 – 9.0

Protection of aquatic ecosystems range – normal pH range

Phosphorus – Total (mg/L)

Quarterly Not to exceed 0.05 mg/L Protection of aquatic ecosystem guidelines - lowland trigger used

Phosphorus – Soluble Reactive P (mg/L)

Quarterly Not applicable Soluble Reactive P provides indication of bioavailable P as a proportion of the Total P pool

Turbidity (NTU) Quarterly Not to exceed 25 NTU Protection of aquatic ecosystem guidelines - upland trigger used

Note 1: The upland trigger for turbidity was used as the lowland trigger was considered too high for the river.





Water Monitoring Notification and Response Requirements for Chichester Dam

Site Determinand Notification Requirement Response Requirement

Chichester River u/s dam wall

Dissolved Oxygen Notification is required at the end of each calendar month if the Dissolved Oxygen for any of the weekly samples for the calendar month is less than 80% saturation from April to October, or less than 60% saturation from November to March.

Hunter Water Corporation must provide notification reports in accordance with condition twenty one (21) of this approval. These notifications must include the monitoring to be undertaken to assist in the management of the event.

Chichester River u/s dam wall

Temperature Notification is required at the end of each calendar month if the difference in temperature between surface and bottom waters is greater than 3°C for any of the weekly samples for the calendar month.

Hunter Water Corporation must provide notification reports in accordance with condition twenty one (21) of this approval. These notifications must include the monitoring to be undertaken to assist in the management of the event.

Chichester Dam Offtake-level

CYANOPHYCEAE HWC must provide the results of algal sampling to the RACC Secretariat within 1 working day after receipt of results.

Hunter Water Corporation must follow the management actions as detailed in the Guidelines for Management Response to Marine and Freshwater Algal Blooms in the Hunter Central Rivers Region unless varied by agreement.







Gauging Station Number Gauging Station Location 210136 Chichester River at Chichester 210137 Wangat River at Wangat




Contact Details




Approval Details

Status



Water Management Zones Seaham Weir Management Zone




31 July 2029 Expiry Date



Works


This approval is subject to the conditions set out in Schedule 1 Conditions




Notes







Hunter Water Corporation – Water Supply Work and Water Use Approval Seaham Weir Management Zone of the Williams River Water Source


Mandatory Conditions Under section 100 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the approval by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources. Such conditions are known as mandatory conditions, and the mandatory conditions of this approval are 1-7, 9-10, 21, 25. Discretionary Conditions Under section 100 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may impose on the approval as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this approval are 8, 11-20, 22-24, 26-35.


1. The Approval Holder is authorised to construct and use the water supply works listed below and further described in Schedule 1 - Attachment 2 (‘the authorised water supply works’) to capture, store, extract and release water. Water is released for environmental and other purposes as required by the Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources (hereafter the ‘Water Sharing Plan’).

Seaham Weir Seaham Weir floodgate structures Boags Hill Control Gate Balickera Pump Station Balickera Diversion Channel (Boags Hill section of channel) Note 1: Under section 90 (2) of the Water Management Act 2000 the term ‘construct’ is defined to






must be followed.

4. The Approval Holder is authorised to use water for urban water supply within the Hunter Water Corporation’s area of operations.

Note 1: The Hunter Water Corporation’s area of operations is specified in the Hunter Water Act

1991 and in the Hunter Water Corporation’s Operating Licence.





6. The Approval Holder must ensure that water taken using any work authorised by this

approval is not in excess of the balance of the volume allocated to, or assigned to, or recredited to the water allocation account of the access licence to which this approval is linked.


refurbishment or modification of the works authorised by this approval that will or could prevent the Approval Holder from meeting the conditions of this approval for a period of more than 24 hours.

SEAHAM WEIR AND BALICKERA PUMPS Operation

Seaham Weir Pool Operation Protocol

8. The Approval Holder must develop a protocol for the operation of Seaham Weir Pool by November 2012. The protocol must be submitted to the Minister for review and approval.

Note 1: The Seaham Weir Pool Operation Protocol will include details of the operation of Seaham

Weir and the Balickera Pumps to achieve the requirements of conditions nine (9) to twenty (20) of this approval and to further optimise operation to minimise impacts on the holders of land adjacent to the weir pool and the environment.

Cease to Pump 9. The Approval Holder must not take water from the Seaham Weir Pool when water

levels in the Seaham Weir Pool are equal to or less than 0.42 m AHD, or when flows are equal to or less than 15 ML/d in the Williams River at Mill Dam Falls, Gauging Station Number 210010 (Schedule 1 – Attachment 4).

Note 1: The Seaham Weir Pool level is measured continuously relative to the Australian Height

Datum (AHD) at Seaham Weir and Boags Hill Offtake using telemetered measuring equipment.

10. Notwithstanding condition nine (9) of this approval, the Approval Holder may take

water from the Seaham Weir Pool when water levels in the Seaham Weir Pool are greater than 0.32 m AHD and when flows are greater than 600 ML/d in the Williams River at Mill Dam Falls, Gauging Station Number 210010 (Schedule 1 – Attachment 4).




Default Mode 11. The Approval Holder must operate the Seaham Weir gates and the Balickera Pump

Station to target the weir pool level within the range 0.42 m AHD to 0.53 m AHD when upstream flow is less than 600 ML/d on a falling hydrograph or less than 650 ML/d on a rising hydrograph.

Note 1: A rising hydrograph is deemed to occur when flow increases from below 600 ML/d to

above 650 ML/d. A falling hydrograph is deemed to occur when flow drops from above 650 ML/d to below 600 ML/d.

12. The Approval Holder must operate the Seaham Weir gates and the Balickera Pump

Station to maintain the weir pool level at greater than or equal to 0.32 AHD, and to target the weir pool level within the range 0.32 m AHD to 0.42 m AHD, when upstream flow is greater than 600 ML/day on a falling hydrograph or greater than 650 ML/d on a rising hydrograph.


above 650 ML/d. A falling hydrograph is deemed to occur when flow drops from above 650 ML/d to below 600 ML/d.

13. If, when operating in accordance with condition eleven (11) of this approval, the weir

pool level decreases to below 0.42 m AHD, the Approval Holder must ensure that the gates are closed and pumping ceases until upstream flows have been sufficient to raise the water level to 0.42 m AHD, and any other actions in accordance with the Seaham Weir Pool Operation Protocol.

Note 1: The weir pool level may fall below the minimum target operating level required by condition

eleven (11) of this approval when inflow is less than uncontrollable losses and extraction for irrigation from the weir pool or when the weir pool level is still recovering from prior operation in accordance with condition twelve (12) of this approval. Uncontrollable losses include flow through the fishway on Seaham Weir, evaporation and infiltration to groundwater.

14. If, when operating in accordance with conditions eleven (11) or twelve (12) of this

approval, the weir pool level exceeds the maximum nominated operating level due to flooding or due to prior operation in accordance with condition sixteen (16) of this approval, the Approval Holder must ensure that the Seaham Weir gates are opened until the weir pool levels return to the operating range required by conditions eleven (11) or twelve (12) of this approval.

Note 1: The weir pool level may rise above the maximum target operating levels required by

conditions eleven (11) or twelve (12) of this approval when high tide prevents water escaping from the weir, when the river is in flood or when the weir pool level was being drawn down during prior operation in accordance with condition sixteen (16) of this approval.

15. Notwithstanding conditions eleven (11), twelve (12) and fourteen (14) of this approval, the gates may be closed if the differential between the tidal pool level and the weir pool level is less than 0.1 m, and may then remain closed while the differential between the tidal pool level and the weir level is less than 0.3 m.

Note 1: Tidal pool level is the instantaneous water level recorded at the weir gates (downstream).

Harvesting Mode

16. Notwithstanding condition twelve (12) of this approval, the Approval Holder must operate the Seaham Weir gates and the Balickera Pump Station to maintain the weir pool level at greater than or equal to 0.32 AHD, and to target the weir pool level within the range 0.32 AHD to 0.92 AHD, when operating two (2) or more of the Balickera




pumps and the flow at Mill Dam Falls is greater than 600 ML/d on a falling hydrograph or greater than 650 ML/d on a rising hydrograph.

Note 1: It is considered that two (2) or more pumps are being operated if the net volume pumped

in any twenty-four (24) hour period is greater than or equal to continuous operation of two (2) pumps, and that breaks in pumping do not exceed six (6) hours within that twenty-four (24) hour period.


above 650ML/d. A falling hydrograph is deemed to occur when flow drops from above 650 ML/d to below 600 ML/d.

17. If, when operating in accordance with condition fifteen (15) of this approval, the weir pool level exceeds 0.92 m AHD due to flooding or the high tide, the Approval Holder must ensure that the gates are opened until the weir pool level is equal to or less than 0.92 m AHD.

Note 1: The weir pool level may rise above the maximum target operating level required by

condition sixteen (16) of this approval when high tide prevents water escaping from the weir or when the river is in flood.

18. Notwithstanding conditions sixteen (16) and seventeen (17) of this approval, the

gates may be closed if the differential between the tidal pool level and the weir pool level is less than 0.1 m, and may then remain closed while the differential between the tidal pool level and the weir pool level is less than 0.3 m.

Data Collection

19. Notwithstanding conditions eleven (11) to eighteen (18) of this approval, the Approval Holder must operate the weir for data collection purposes required for Approach 1B of the Study to Determine Surface Water Access Rules for the Lower Williams River (Schedule 1 – Attachment 5) in accordance with a protocol when established by the Minister.

Note 1: The requirements for the Study to Determine Surface Water Access Rules for the Lower

Williams River will be retained in the approval until the environmental flow requirements for the Williams Estuary (and the Hunter Estuary) have been determined as part of the Lower Hunter Water Plan.

20. When operating in accordance with condition nineteen (19) of this approval for data

collection purposes, the Approval Holder must notify the Minister by email:

a. at least one working day in advance, of the date of commencement of the data collection and associated weir operations;

b. on the next working day following the conclusion of the data collection and associated weir operations with reference to the email provided in accordance with condition twenty (20) (a) of this approval.

Study to Determine Access Rules

21. The Approval Holder must complete the study Development of Surface Water Access Rules for the Lower Williams River, in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 1 – Attachment 5 or as directed otherwise in writing by the Minister.




Maintenance

22. The Approval Holder must maintain the Seaham Weir floodgate structures listed in Schedule 1 - Attachment 2. The Approval Holder must maintain the earthen embankments associated with the floodgates at original design heights.

Note 1: Hunter Water Corporation’s responsibilities for maintenance of the earthen embankments

is limited to rectification of naturally occurring changes in bank height and does not include remediation of damage to banks caused by stock trampling or over grazing, vehicular damage, or other damage caused by the actions of land-holders or lessees.



Water Quality Monitoring

24. The Approval Holder must undertake all water quality monitoring and reporting specified in Schedule 1 - Attachment 3, in accordance with procedures determined by the Minister.




any device used for measuring the volume of water extracted by the approved works, in accordance with any written direction from the Minister.







assurance and quality control procedures, to the satisfaction of the Minister. The




Approval Holder may include data of acceptable quality from other sources to meet the monitoring requirements of this approval.



a. total daily inflows to storages where required in the Water Quantity Monitoring

Protocol; b. total daily environmental and other releases from storages; c. total daily extractions from storages; and d. daily storage levels.


30. The Approval Holder must, within 90 days of the end of each financial year, prepare and submit to the Minister a written report on the previous water year from 1 July to 30 June, called the Annual Compliance Report. The report is to be combined with reporting requirements of other water supply work and water use approvals, and water access licences held by the Approval Holder. The Annual Compliance Report must be provided to the Minister in the form of one (1) hard copy and one (1) electronic copy. The report must include, but is not limited to including, the following information:

a. an introduction, including an overview of the Approval Holder’s water

management and water supply activities associated with these water sources; b. updated maps to scale, depicting the location of these water sources and the

authorised water supply works, sampling sites and the gauging stations listed in Schedule 1 - Attachments 2, 3 and 4 if any details have changed;

c. a statement of overall compliance for the year that identifies any areas of non-compliance and the actions taken in accordance with conditions thirty one (31), thirty two (32) and thirty three (33) of this approval;

d. a water monitoring section that presents the following: i. yearly data summaries and graphical representation of all data

required by condition twenty four (24) of this approval; ii. summary of exceedence reporting required by condition twenty four

(24) of this approval; iii. a brief description of the methods in data collection; and iv. data analysis, where appropriate.

e. a progress report for the study Development of Access Rules for the Lower Williams River outlined in Schedule 1 - Attachment 5;

f. a tabular and graphical presentation of Seaham Weir Pool water levels and flow at Mill Dam Falls, with weir operation modes indicated; and

g. total annual and daily extraction from Seaham Weir Pool.




Incident Reporting

31. The Approval Holder must notify the Minister of any incident that results in non-compliance with the conditions of this approval as soon as practical after it becomes known to the Approval Holder in accordance with the Incident Reporting and Notification Protocol approved by the Minister.




32. The Approval Holder may be requested by the Minister to prepare a written report of any incident that has resulted in non-compliance with the conditions of this approval, within a specified timeframe. The report must include, but is not limited to including, the following information:

a. the date, time and location of the non-compliance; b. the authorised water supply works involved or likely to be involved; c. the cause and nature of the non-compliance, including details of any potential

or actual harm or damage to the environment or to other parties or property; d. details of actions taken to control, prevent or mitigate the non-compliance, and e. details of actions that have been or will be taken to prevent a recurrence of

the non-compliance.

33. The Approval Holder must notify the Minister in writing in a format approved by the Minister if the monitoring required by condition twenty four (24) of this approval triggers the Notification Requirement specified in Schedule 1 - Attachment 3.


34. The Minister may, from time to time, request data relating to the operation of the authorised water supply works to undertake its resource management functions. Within one (1) month of the Minister making such a request, the Approval Holder must provide the required data.






SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 1: SEAHAM WEIR MANAGEMENT ZONE WITHIN THE WILLIAMS RIVER WATER SOURCE, HUNTER UNREGULATED AND ALLUVIAL WATER SOURCES






SEAHAM WEIR Grout-sealed rock weir on the Williams River with fixed crest concrete spillway and gates

Description

To provide a tidal barrage and store fresh water in a pool to allow extraction of water for town water supply

Use

Portion 26, 51 & 55, Parish of Thornton, County of Gloucester and Part 40, Parish of Seaham, County of Durham

Lot & DP

MGA 381470, 6385715 Coordinates 1.84 m AHD Wall Height

Wall Length 220 m Spillway Height 1.178 m AHD Spillway Length 120 m

2 x 20 m vertical lift gates with a sill level of Gates -0.5 m AHD

Diversion Works Boags Hill Control Gate and Balickera Pumps Other Details Concrete baffle fishway installed between the rock

wall and fixed crest spillway sections




Boags Hill Control Gate Balickera Pump Station Balickera Diversion Channel (Boags Hill

side of channel) Description Control gate that allows water from

Seaham Weir Pool to enter the lower section of the Balickera Diversion Channel

Extraction of water from the lower part of the Balickera Diversion Channel to the upper section of the Channel (approx. 12.5 m lift)

8.8 km of unlined channel, 1.2 km partially concrete lined tunnel

Use As above Water transfer and lift to allow gravity feed via the Channel to Grahamstown Dam

Transfer of water from Seaham Weir Pool to Balickera Pump Station

Lot & DP Lot 4 DP 214077 Lot 11 DP 849064 From Seaham Weir Pool to Balickera Pump Station - Lot 4 DP 1104604, Lot 1 DP 214077, Lot 5 DP 214077, Lot 2 DP164511, Lot 1 DP 164511, Lot 1 DP 502683, Lot 1 DP 563432, Lot 1 DP 528041

Gate Invert RL -4.4m AHD Located 5.2 km along the Channel from Boags Hill Radial Gate

Other Details

6 pumps (each 490 kW, 900 mm) and 2 pumps (each 650 kW, 900 mm) Inlet mechanical weed screens Total capacity 1,800 ML/d




Seaham Weir Floodgate Structures

Description Thirty-three steel floodgates of various sizes in concrete supporting structures with compacted earth and/or sheet steel side embankments.

No. Easting Northing No. Easting Northing No. Easting Northing Location

R1 380960 6386210 R12 383450 6390370 L23 383150 6390510 R2 380500 6387000 R13 382930 6391130 L24 382210 6389570 R3 380330 6388490 R14 382950 6391350 L25 381220 6389030 R4 380120 6388500 R15 383740 6390930 L26 381060 6388840 R5 380160 6388650 R16 383910 6390940 L27 381060 6388530 R6 380280 6389020 R17 384000 6390960 L28 380870 6388360 R7 380270 6389120 R18 384750 6391020 L29 380040 6388230 R8 381910 6388350 R19 386210 6393630 L30 380230 6387760 R9 381980 6389950 R20 386520 6393430 L31 380710 6387060 R10 382100 6390280 R21 386600 6393670 L32 381220 6386320 R11 381960 6390550 L22 385330 6392850 L33 381930 6386370




SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 3: MONITORING, NOTIFICATION AND RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS FOR SEAHAM WEIR Monitoring Requirements


Site Name HWC Site No.

Determinand Monitoring Frequency



Regional algal contingency monitoring

Williams River @ Clarencetown

15R0006 CYANOPHYCEAE (cells/mL, mm3/L)

Weekly As advised by the RACC

Protection of stock and recreational waters

Maintenance of ecological health within and d/s of weir pool. For example weir pool stratification, sediment water interface, minimising impacts to estuary processes.

Algal management including stock, domestic, recreation & health issues

Williams River @ Boags Hill

15C1000 Temperature profile Weekly The difference in temperature between surface and bottom waters does not exceed 3°C

To ensure minimal impacts on biota from dam releases within acceptable HWC operating constraints

Dissolved Oxygen – profile

Weekly To achieve ≥ 80% saturation from July to October; To achieve ≥ 60% saturation from November to June

To ensure minimal impacts on biota within accepted HWC operating constraints

Nitrogen – Total (mg/L)

Weekly Not to exceed 0.35 mg/L Protection of aquatic ecosystem guidelines - coastal trigger used as weir pool more susceptible to algal blooms

Nitrogen - Free NH3

(mg/L) Weekly Not applicable Requested due to weir pool

conditions. No reporting required against a guideline target – most interested in species ratios rather than exceedence

Note 1: A study determined that aeration of Seaham Weir Pool was not feasible. 60% dissolved oxygen saturation is only used as a benchmark.








Nitrogen – NOx (mg/L)

Weekly Not applicable No reporting required against a guideline target – most interested in species ratios rather than exceedence

pH – profile (pH units)

Weekly To be within the range 6.5 – 9.0

Protection of aquatic ecosystems

Phosphorus – Total (mg/L)

Weekly Not to exceed 0.025 mg/L Protection of aquatic ecosystems - coastal trigger used as weir pool more susceptible to algal blooms

Phosphorus – Soluble Reactive P (mg/L)

Weekly Not applicable Protection of aquatic ecosystems - coastal trigger used as weir pool more susceptible to algal blooms

Turbidity – profile (NTU)

Weekly Not to exceed 6 NTU Protection of aquatic ecosystem guidelines - coastal trigger used as weir pool more susceptible to algal blooms

CYANOPHYCEAE (cells/mL, mm3/L)

Weekly As advised by the RACC Protection of stock and recreation waters

Regional algal contingency monitoring

Williams River d/s Seaham Weir

15C0877 CYANOPHYCEAE (cells/mL, mm3/L)

As required As advised by the RACC Protection of recreation and estuary health

Note 1: Sampling at “Williams River d/s Seaham Weir” is required when cyanobacterial concentrations in the Williams River at Boags Hill offtake exceed guidelines advised by the RACC. Monitoring is to continue downstream of Seaham Weir until cyanobacterial concentrations at Boags Hill are below the guideline limit for two (2) consecutive samples.





Monitoring Notification and Response Requirements

Site Determinand Notification Requirement Response Requirement

Site 15R0006, Williams River @ Clarencetown



Site 15C1000, Williams River @ Boags Hill



Site 15C0877 Williams River d/s Seaham Weir






Gauging Station Number Gauging Station Location 210010 Williams River at Mill Dam Falls Williams River at Boags Hill Offtake Williams River at Seaham Weir




SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 5: STUDY TO DETERMINE SURFACE WATER ACCESS RULES FOR THE LOWER WILLIAMS RIVER The aim of the study is to develop surface water access rules (share component and extraction component) for Seaham Weir extractions and Grahamstown Dam inflows. Development of the access rules will take place as a two-phase project, where:

1. Phase 1 is an information gathering and collation phase, consisting of two strands: i. Strand 1A—Hunter Water Corporation (HWC) Operations; ii. Strand 1B—Environmental Flow Requirements for the Williams River Estuary;

2. Phase 2 involves an analysis of information, leading to the development of a final option(s) for access rules.

The information collated in Strand 1A will be used in conjunction with the Williams/Hunter estuary management planning process (Strand 1B) to develop access rules under Phase 2. Transitional arrangements for the introduction of the access rules will also need to be considered, particularly if the access rules result in the bringing forward of augmentation options. The final access rules will be determined via consultation between the NSW Office of Water (NOW) and HWC following the completion of the Study to Determine Surface Water Access Rules for the Lower Williams River. Progressive determination of access rules is consistent with Section 56 of the Water Management Act 2000 and the approach to water sharing plans. PHASE 1: INFORMATION GATHERING AND COLLECTION Objectives

1. To collate information relating to: i. HWC water use and water requirements from all water sources, including

demand projections and augmentation options, and ii. assessments of the impacts of HWC extraction and Seaham Weir on flow;

2. To develop preliminary environmental flow requirements for the Williams River Estuary (from Seaham Weir to the junction of the Williams River with the Hunter River), for use in determining access rules for HWC.

Strand 1A: HWC Operations The information is required to inform the development of management and access rules that recognise demands for water now and into the future, while at the same time providing water for environmental requirements. It is recognised that the access rules will need to consider both extractions via the Balickera pumps and the Seaham Weir operation.

1. HWC must produce a report that addresses, but is not limited to, the following social, economic and operational considerations:

a. an assessment of the system yield from each current water source available to HWC, incorporating current environmental restrictions;

b. average annual demand for current and future population/industry projections, to include a planning window of at least 20 years;




c. an assessment of options based on future demand management strategies, population forecasts, average household water use, future infrastructure development program and associated economic analysis;

d. a review of HWC’s security of supply criteria, including an assessment of the impact on system yield of varying these security criteria;

e. current or future studies to improve yield from weir pool extractions and reduce the impacts of constraints (e.g. pre-treatment, pump enlargement);

f. assessment of the impact of extraction and Seaham Weir operation on downstream hydrograph, as compared to hydrographs at Mill Dam Falls and downstream of the weir assuming no weir or pumps in place; and

g. current/historical level of extraction from the weir pool and other sources, including assessment of the constraints (on volumes of water available) imposed by discretionary water quality conditions.

2. This work should build on the current HWC Integrated Water Resources Plan and consider other relevant studies, including the Sydney Metropolitan Strategy. The potential impacts on HWC operations should be addressed.

Strand 1B: Environmental Flow Requirements for the Williams River Estuary The basis of the NSW government’s water reforms, including the Water Management Act 2000, are to provide security of supply to water users, while allocating a share of water to the environment aimed at maintaining or improving freshwater ecosystem functioning.

Estuaries are complex areas, representing a mixing of both freshwater and marine environments. Little work has been undertaken within Australia on determining environmental water requirements for any given estuary. One study was undertaken on the Richmond River tidal pool (in northern NSW) in 1999, however, it primarily focussed on potential ecological impacts of tidal pool extraction, rather than the setting of defined end-of-system flow requirements. Pierson et al (2002) in a report prepared as part of the National River Health Program states that the “physical, chemical, sediment, water quality, and ecological processes within estuaries are exceedingly complex primarily due to their dynamic nature, complex mixing processes, stochastic influences, strong antecedent effects and the vast number of complex ecological linkages”. Potential impacts of altering flow regimes to estuaries are documented in Pierson et al (2002) and include issues such as:

a. extended durations of high salinity levels in the middle and upper estuaries, adversely affecting sensitive flora and fauna;

b. invasion of marine biota into brackish environments; c. extended durations when flow-induced currents cannot suspend or transport eggs or

larvae of estuarine fauna; d. reduced frequency of estuarine flushing; e. reduced inputs of nutrients and organic material; f. reduced lateral connectivity; g. dissipated salinity/chemical gradients used for animal navigation and transport; and h. decreases in the availability of critical habitat features.

Policy Advice No. 10 to Water Management Committees recommends the following principles be adhered to when developing water sharing plans where estuary inflows need to be considered:

Principle 1: Coastal catchments must be considered and managed as whole systems that extend from the upper catchment down to the offshore waters.




Principle 2: Water management decisions should recognise that freshwater inflows are an essential requirement for the maintenance of estuarine and coastal ecosystems.

Principle 3: River flows should be managed so that a sufficient share of the total freshwater in a catchment is protected as inflows to maintain and protect the biophysical processes and biodiversity of estuarine and coastal ecosystems.

Principle 4: All water extractions from tidal pools will be licensed and conditions of access carefully assessed. This may include limits on diversions and will be linked to river access rules.

Principle 5: Where scientific knowledge is lacking, the precautionary principle should be applied to protect estuarine ecosystems. The development of adaptive management systems and research to improve understanding of the impact of freshwater extraction on estuarine and coastal ecosystems is essential for their management.

Approach (1B) Pierson et al (2002) outlines a method for determining environmental water requirements of any given estuary, consisting of Phase 1 – Preliminary Evaluation and Phase 2 – Detailed Investigations, and requires adequate data and knowledge of the estuary to inform modelling and decision-making. Tasks

1. HWC is to undertake collation of existing data in collaboration with NOW (e.g. estuary process study) and identify any critical data gaps (assessed against the Pierson et al 2002 requirements) that can be used to inform the expert panel process.

2. NOW will: a. develop terms of reference/brief for the expert panel process in collaboration

with HWC and provide reference data collated in Task 1; b. convene and facilitate the expert panel (including representative from HWC)

to assess: i. the value of the estuary (the key assets that rely on freshwater

inflows); ii. the vulnerability of the estuary (the sensitivity of these assets to altered

freshwater inflows); and iii. broad principles for which an environmental share for the estuary may

be set. c. NOW will document the results of the expert panel and provide to HWC.

3. HWC is to undertake data collection if required (as recommended by expert panel and negotiated between NOW and HWC) to fill critical knowledge gaps (for use in adaptive management for future licence reviews as the information becomes available).

HWC must produce an annual progress report on this study for the Annual Compliance Report.





PHASE 2: DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF OPTIONS Objective and Rationale To develop and assess options for access rules and their implementation. A requirement of the Water Management Act 2000 is that licences have access rules. Access rules for HWC are required to minimise the impact of HWC operations on the environment, and provide a level of certainty to HWC regarding access to water from the water source. Approach

1. HWC to consider the information collated in Phase 1 to develop options and proposed access rules;

2. HWC to present options to NOW for assessment;

3. NOW will review impacts of recommended options for access rules and negotiate changes where appropriate with HWC;

4. NOW will incorporate access rules into licence, allowing for implementation timeframes if augmentation is required.


20CA211019 Approval Number

Contact Details




Approval Details

Status Current

(See Note 1)

Newcastle Water Source Water Source

Water Management Zone




Expiry Date 31 July 2029


Works



This approval is subject to the conditions set out in Schedule 1 Conditions




Notes







Hunter Water Corporation – Water Supply Work and Water Use Approval Newcastle Water Source


Mandatory Conditions Under section 100 (1) (a) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such conditions as are from time to time required to be imposed on the approval by the relevant management plan, in this case the Water Sharing Plan for the Hunter Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources. Such conditions are known as mandatory conditions, and the mandatory conditions of this approval are 1-6, 8, 10. Discretionary Conditions Under section 100 (1) (b) of the Water Management Act 2000 this approval is subject to such other conditions as the Minister may impose on the approval as the Minister thinks fit, including conditions relating to the protection of the environment. Such conditions are known as discretionary conditions, and the discretionary conditions of this approval are 7, 9, 11-19.



Grahamstown Dam George Schroder Pumps Campvale Pumps Note 1: Under section 90 (2) of the Water Management Act 2000 the term ‘construct’ is defined to






must be followed.

4. The Approval Holder is authorised to use water for urban water supply within the Hunter Water Corporation’s Area of Operations.

Note 1: The Hunter Water Corporation’s Area of Operations is specified in the Hunter Water Act 1991



6. The Approval Holder must ensure that water taken using any work authorised by this

approval is not in excess of the balance of the volume allocated to, or assigned to, or




recredited to the water allocation account of the access licence to which this approval is linked.

7. The Approval Holder must maintain and operate the Campvale Pumping Station

(identified in Schedule 1 - Attachment 2) at Grahamstown Storage to minimise local flooding.


refurbishment or modification of works that will or could prevent the Approval Holder from meeting the conditions of this Approval for a period of more than 24 hours.



















a. total daily inflows to Grahamstown Dam at the locations specified in the Water

Quantity Monitoring Protocol; b. total daily releases from Grahamstown Dam; c. total daily extractions from Grahamstown Dam; and d. daily storage levels.





c. a statement of overall compliance for the year that identifies any areas of non-compliance and the actions taken in accordance with conditions sixteen (16) and seventeen (17) of this approval;

d. estimates of monthly inflows (rain on lake, tributary inflow, catchment runoff, Balickera inflow, Tomago inflow) and outflows (spill, evaporation, extraction volume) for Grahamstown Dam;

e. a hydrograph of monthly inflows (rain on lake, catchment runoff (including tributary inflow), Balickera inflow) and outflows (spill, evaporation, extraction volume) for Grahamstown Dam;

f. total and daily extraction volume from Grahamstown Dam; g. daily and total volume supplied to the Central Coast Water Corporation; h. daily and total volume received from the Central Coast Water Corporation;

and i. all electronic data used in the preparation of the Annual Compliance Report.





Incident Reporting







a. the date, time and exact location of the works involved; b. the authorised water supply works involved or likely to be involved; c. the cause and nature of the non-compliance and details of any potential or

actual harm or damage to the environment, or any other parties or property; d. details of actions taken to control, prevent or mitigate the non-compliance; and e. details of actions that have been or will be taken to prevent a recurrence of







SCHEDULE 1 – ATTACHMENT 1: NEWCASTLE WATER SOURCE, HUNTER UNREGULATED AND ALLUVIAL WATER SOURCES





GRAHAMSTOWN DAM GEORGE SCHRODER PUMPS CAMPVALE PUMPS BALICKERA DIVERSION CHANNEL –

DELIVERY SIDE OF BALICKERA PS Description Sand embankment, ~5km long with a

clay and bentonite core 6 pumps with a combined capacity of 340 ML/d

4 pumps with a combined capacity of 455 ML/d

4.1 km of unlined channel, 1.2 km partially concrete lined tunnel

Use Storage and supply of town water Transfer water from Grahamstown Dam to Tomago &/or Grahamstown WTPs

Transfer of water from Campvale Canal to Grahamstown Dam

Transfer of water from Balickera Pump Station to Grahamstown Dam

Lot & DP Parts 1, 2, 8, 9, 10 and 16, Parish of Eldon, County of Gloucester

Lot 1, DP 873569 Lot 2, DP 837621 From Balickera Pump Station to the north west edge of Grahamstown Dam - Lot 1 DP 230094, Lot 1 DP 206272, Lot 158 DP 1143946, Lot 2 DP 206272, Lot 74 DP 1105713, Lot 75 DP 753200, Lot 5 DP 237127, Lot 47 DP1138947, Lot 1 DP 502019

Coordinates MGA 386685, 6377660 MGA 386960, 6373800 MGA 389365, 6374425 MGA 389090, 6383575 Wall Height Elevation – 14.8 m AHD Wall Length ~5km Spillway Concrete 10 cycle labyrinth spillway,

91m channel width, 323.3 m length of walls, 300.2 m effective spillway length, PMF compliant: 611 m3/s at dam level of 13.94 m AHD, crest elevation 12.8 m AHD, controlled releases via twin 1.8 m x 2.4 m gated box culverts with sill level at 8.0 m AHD

FSL 12.8 m AHD Total capacity 198,150 ML Operational Capacity

190,150 ML

Diversion Works

2 x 212 kW pumps, 500 mm diameter 2 x 300 kW pumps, 500 mm diameter 2 x 900 kW pumps, 750 mm diameter

2 x 154 kW and 2 x 185 kW axial flow pumps, 750 mm diameter each

Level Measurement

Electronic water level sensor near George Schroder Pump Station

Other Details Prescribed Dam under the Dam Safety Act 1978

Note 1: A bathymetric survey of Grahamstown Reservoir in 2009 indicated a decrease in the total capacity of the storage from 198,150 ML to 192,750 ML, with a revised operational capacity of 182,800 ML (decreased from 190,150 ML). The authorised capacities will be reviewed by the NSW Office of Water following review of the bathymetric survey data.


Hunter Water Corporation – Water Licences and Approvals Dictionary

Dictionary Words and expressions that appear in this approval have the meanings set out in this Dictionary. Words and expressions defined in this Dictionary that appear in the Dictionary of the Water Management Act 2000 (WMA) are the same. A reference in this Dictionary to a section is a reference to a section of the WMA. Abandoned work means a water supply work that is no longer being used. Access licence means an access licence referred to in section 56. Approval means a water use approval, a water management work approval or an activity approval referred to in section 89. Available water determination means the written order by the Minister as to the availability of water for various categories of Access Licence in relation to a specific water management area or source. An available water determination gives rise to a water allocation that is credited to a water allocation account for each licensed holder. Boreline header pipe means the pipeline that the bores pump into. It is limited to the section of the pipeline that lies between the terminal bores at a bore station. Diversion works means infrastructure built to divert water away from the natural watercourse. Drawdown means the difference between the groundwater level profile that occurs when a water bore (or boreline) is not operating and the groundwater level profile that occurs when it is operating. When considering long-term impacts, drawdown means the difference between the groundwater level that would have occurred naturally (without operation of bores) and the groundwater level that occurs as a result of borefield operation. Emergency may include an event that is pending, or an event that has already occurred but could not be reasonably foreseen or scheduled, including occurrences such as:

a. major infrastructure failures, or b. a water contamination incident that may place the Hunter Water Corporation in

serious breach of either its Operating Licence or the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), or

c. declared disasters or any other event considered by the Ministerial Corporation to constitute an actual or potential emergency.

Environment includes all aspects of the surroundings of human beings, whether affecting them as individuals or in their social groupings. Full Supply Level (FSL) is the storage level considered to be the limit for the purposes of storage of water, except in periods of flood operation. Groundwater means water that occurs beneath the ground surface in the saturated zone. Groundwater dependent ecosystems means ecosystems which have their species composition and natural ecological processes wholly or partially sustained by groundwater. Groundwater level means the level to which water will rise in a piezometer. It is expressed relative to the Australian Height Datum.



Megalitre (ML) means one megalitre, which is equivalent to 1,000,000 litres. Minister means the Minister for Primary Industries. The Minister may delegate functions under section 389. Monitoring bore means a bore constructed for the purpose of measuring water levels and/or taking samples for water quality analysis. Outlet works means infrastructure built to control the release of water from a water impoundment or distribution system. Piezometer means a bore constructed for the purpose of measuring water levels and/or taking samples for water quality analysis. River includes:

a. any watercourse, whether perennial or intermittent and whether comprising a natural channel or a natural channel artificially improved, and

b. any tributary, branch or other watercourse into or from which a watercourse referred to in paragraph (a) flows, and

c. anything declared by the regulations to be a river,

whether or not it also forms part of a lake or estuary, but does not include anything declared by the regulations not to be a river.

Spill means the uncontrolled discharge of water from an impoundment to the natural watercourse when the storage level rises above the full supply level. Water management area means an area of land that is constituted as a water management area by an order in force under section 11. Water management work means a water supply work, a drainage work or a flood work. Water management work approval means a water supply work approval, a drainage work approval or a flood work approval. Water source means the whole or any part of:

a. one or more rivers, lakes or estuaries, or b. one or more places where water occurs naturally on or below the surface of the

ground,

and includes the coastal waters of the State. Water storage means a dam, weir or other structure, which is used to regulate and manage river flows and the water body impounded by this structure. Water supply work means:

a. a work (such as a water pump or water bore) that is constructed or used for the purpose of taking water from a water source, or

b. a work (such as a tank or dam) that is constructed or used for the purpose of: i. capturing or storing rainwater run-off, or ii. storing water taken from a water source, or

c. a work (such as a water pipe or irrigation channel) that is constructed or used for the purpose of conveying water to the point at which it is to be used, or




d. any work (such as a bank or levee) that has the effect of diverting away from a water source any overflow from the water source, or

e. any work (such as a weir) that has the effect of impounding water in a water source, including a reticulated system of such works, and includes all associated pipes, sluices, valves and equipment, but does not include:

f. any work (other than a water supply work under the control or management of the Sydney Water Corporation, the Hunter Water Corporation or a local water utility) that receives water from a water supply work under the control or management of the Sydney Water Corporation, the Hunter Water Corporation or a local water utility, or

g. any work declared by the regulations not to be a water supply work. Water supply work approval means an approval referred to in section 90 (2).

Hunter Water Corporation – Water Licences and Approvals Abbreviations

Abbreviations ACN Australian Company Number AHD Australian Height Datum (elevation relative to standardised mean sea level) ANZECC Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council AWD Available Water Determination FSL Full supply level m Metre

Megalitre ML Megalitres per day ML/d New South Wales NSW Reduced Level RL


Hunter Water Corporation · At the same time, the Hunter Water Act 1991 was amended to remove the...

Documents

Transcript of Hunter Water Corporation · At the same time, the Hunter Water Act 1991 was amended to remove the...