{"id":"nsw:sl-2002-1028","name":"State Water Management Outcomes Plan Order 2002","slug":"state-water-management-outcomes-plan-order-2002","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"nsw","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"1028 of 2002","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":178862,"registerId":"nsw-nsw:sl-2002-1028-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name of Order","content":"#### 1 Name of Order\n\n1 Name of Order\n\n> This Order is the [State Water Management Outcomes Plan Order 2002](/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2002-1028).","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n2 Commencement\n\n> This Order commences on 20 December 2002.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Establishment of State Water Management Outcomes Plan","content":"#### 3 Establishment of State Water Management Outcomes Plan\n\n3 Establishment of State Water Management Outcomes Plan\n\n> The following State Water Management Outcomes Plan is established.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"sch","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"State Water Management Outcomes Plan","content":"# sch State Water Management Outcomes Plan\n\nState Water Management Outcomes Plan\n\nChapter 1 Preliminary\n\nChapter 2 Long term water outcomes and 5 year management targets\n\nChapter 3 Explanation of Outcomes and Targets\n\nGlossary\n\nABARE: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics.\n\nacid sulfate soils: Soils containing highly acidic soil horizons or layers resulting from the oxidation of soil materials that are rich in sulfides, primarily pyrite. This oxidation produces acidity in excess of the sediments capacity to neutralise the acidity resulting in soils of pH 4 or less.\n\nalgal bloom: The rapid excessive growth of algae, generally caused by high nutrient levels, high water temperatures, low flow velocities and other favourable conditions. Can result in deoxygenation of the water body when algae die.\n\nalluvial: Transported by water flow processes eg alluvial sediments.\n\nanabranch: A secondary channel of a river that usually flows only when the river levels are high.\n\nANZECC: Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council.\n\napplicable management program: A program that may be required as a condition of a licence or approval, eg a land and water management plan.\n\naquifer: A geological formation or group of formations capable of receiving, storing and transmitting significant quantities of water.\n\nARMCANZ: Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand.\n\navailable water determination: A determination under Section 59 of the [Water Management Act 2000](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2000-092) in relation to a water management area or water source which sets the amount of water available to the holders of water access licences from time to time depending on the status of the resource/storage, the extraction limit and any adjustments made necessary as a result of previous exceedence of the extraction limit as set out in the water sharing plans and associated implementation programs.\n\nbenthic: Living in the bottom sediments of rivers and lakes etc.\n\nbiodiversity: The variety of life forms, the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain and the communities and ecosystems they form. It is usually considered at three levels; genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity.\n\nbiofilms: Bacterial and algal communities living on rocks and logs submerged or partially submerged in rivers.\n\nbiogeographical regions: Areas defined by broad similarities based on climatic, topographic and geological factors that influence the hydrology, habitat and biological communities.\n\nblue green algae: Strictly these are *Cynobacteria* (not algae), being an ancient group of photosynthetic bacteria without a nucleus that produce their own energy from sunlight. Some can assimilate dissolved gaseous nitrogen. A number of species produce toxins. Cells can also cause irritation of the skin and eyes on contact.\n\nCAMBA: China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement.\n\ncapital investment: Physical capital formation such as dams, roads, equipment, irrigation development etc.\n\nchannel capacity: Flow in the river just before overbank flow commences. The flow volume varies with each river section.\n\nCOAG: Council of Australian Governments.\n\nCSIRO: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.\n\ndissolved oxygen (DO): The concentration of oxygen dissolved in water or effluent, measured in milligrams per litre (mg/L).\n\nDLWC: NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation.\n\ndomestic and stock rights: The rights conferred on a landholder under Section 52 of the [Water Management Act 2000](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2000-092).\n\necological functioning: A measure of the ecological health of an ecosystem that can be defined as the maintenance of the structural and functional (or biotic) attributes of that system.\n\necologically sustainable: This is an objective of the COAG Water Reform Policy. This means development and use is to be undertaken in a manner that improves the total quality of life, both now and in the future, and in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends. In relation to NSW, it refers to action which is consistent with the principles of ecological sustainable development as described in Section 6 (2) of the [Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1991-060).\n\neconomic efficiency: An action that is efficient in economic rather than physical or chemical terms. Examples of economic efficiency are maximum return per unit of resource used, minimum cost per unit.\n\necosystem: A term used to describe a specific environment eg lake, to include all the biological, chemical and physical resources and the interrelationships and dependencies that occur between those resources.\n\neffluent: Human and animal waste in a liquid form.\n\neffluent creek: A creek which takes flow away from the main river but which does not return water to it.\n\nenvironmental flow: A flow regime or volume protected or released to meet specific environmental requirements or triggers and for the general maintenance of ecosystem functions.\n\nenvironmental water rules: Water sharing and operational rules to provide environmental protection or specified ecosystem requirements, established under Section 8 (2) of the [Water Management Act 2000](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2000-092).\n\nEPA: NSW Environment Protection Authority.\n\nextraction limit: A limit on the amount of water that can be taken from a water source for licensed purposes and includes both the water pumped directly from the water sources as well as those volumes extracted from the water source via irrigation or other channels measured at the offtake point, and therefore includes the transmission losses associated with those extractions.\n\nflood—5 year return period: Refers to a flood that has a statistical probability of occurring once in five years on average. The 5 year flood level is generally defined as the contour on the floodplain to which a flood this size will rise. The flood has a 20 percent chance of occurring in any given year.\n\nfloodplain water harvesting: The extraction or capture of water from overland flow across a floodplain during high flow events, generally into offstream storages for later use.\n\nflow frequency: The percentage of time (or days) that a flow equal to or larger than a nominated level will occur for a given historical record of flows (often quoted for a long term eg 100 year record).\n\ngroundwater: Water that occupies the pores and crevices of rock or soil.\n\nhabitat: The environment or place where a plant or animal grows or lives (can encompass aspects of climate, water, other organisms and communities).\n\nIMEF: Integrated Monitoring of Environmental Flows.\n\ninvestment efficiency: An activity that provides the highest returns to investment, usually measured in the maximum return to capital or percentage rate return per annum.\n\nIPART: Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.\n\nirrigation efficiency: A measure, expressed as a percentage, of the volume of water used to meet crop water requirement (ie crop water requirement less effective rainfall) relative to the total volume of water delivered to the farm or farms (normally measured at the river offtake point or bore).\n\nJAMBA: Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement.\n\nlong term average annual extraction: The amount of water that can be extracted on average per year based on a long term climatic assessment.\n\nmacro-invertebrates: Animals without vertebrae (backbones) that can be seen without a microscope, and include mussels, limpets, water snails, worms, leeches, water spiders, water mites, crayfish, shrimps, beetles, bugs, insect larvae and nymphs.\n\nMDBMC: Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council.\n\nmegalitre: A commonly used term to measure large quantities of water, equal to 1,000,000 litres or 1000 cubic metres.\n\nNPWS: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.\n\noverland flow: Water that runs off the land following rainfall, before it enters a watercourse and floodwaters that overflow a watercourse onto a floodplain.\n\nprotected: Ecological function and condition maintained by limiting the potential for any further harm eg by maintaining water level variability and connectivity, and ensuring wise and compatible land and water management practices.\n\nreliability of supply: Probability associated with a water access licence-holder obtaining the volume or some proportion of the volume of water specified in the water entitlement.\n\nrestored: Returned to good condition, healthy ecological functioning, and biodiversity, generally requires a move towards a more natural, although not necessarily a reinstatement of the complete range of natural characteristics.\n\nregulated river: River where flows are supplemented and rescheduled by artificial means eg via a government owned headwater storage and declared by the Minister by an order published in the Gazette to be a regulated river.\n\nRFO: River Flow Objective.\n\nriparian vegetation: Vegetation growing along the banks of rivers or other waterbodies.\n\nriparian zone: The zone along or surrounding a water body where the vegetation and associated ecology are influenced by the passage and storage of water, and conversely the aquatic environment benefits from the proximity of the vegetation (eg from bio-filtering of sediment or pollutants, inputs of detritus, shading etc).\n\nsalinity: The measure of total soluble (or dissolved) salt ie mineral constituents in water. May be expressed as Total Soluble Salts (TSS) or Total Dissolved Salts (TDS) which are measured by different processes but both define the salt load measured in milligrams per litre (mg/L) or parts per thousand (ppt). Salinity may also be expressed as electrical conductivity, measured by an electrical probe (conductivity meter).\n\nsalinisation: The process, normally associated with rising water tables, by which land becomes salt affected.\n\nstormwater: Rainwater that has run off the ground surface, roads, roofs, paved areas etc and is usually carried away by drains.\n\nSustainable Yield: The limits on potentially extractable water from an aquifer at or below the average recharge level which takes into account “in situ” values and environmental water needs, so that water extraction does not cause lowering of the water table, intrusion of more saline water or environmental damage.\n\nSWMOP: State Water Management Outcomes Plan.\n\nthreatened species: Animal or plant species which are either vulnerable, endangered or presumed extinct.\n\nunregulated river: A natural surface water source that is not supplemented by releases from a dam. A river which is not a declared regulated river but which may still be subject to water extractions and include on-river storages for town water supply or industrial purposes.\n\nwater allocation: A volume of water which is available to a holder of a water access licence from time to time as a result of an available water determination.\n\nwatertable: The saturated level of the unconfined groundwater. Some wetlands and lakes or base flows in streams may be surface expressions of the water table.\n\nwater use efficiency: Volume of crop or other product produced (eg harvested dry matter) per unit of water delivered. (for irrigation water use efficiency this is normally expressed as tonnes per megalitre.\n\nwetland: Area of seasonal, intermittent or permanent waterlogged soils or inundated land, fresh or saline, eg swamp or lake.\n\nweir: A structure (including a dam, lock, regulator, barrage or causeway) across a defined watercourse that will pond water, restrict flow or hinder the movement of fish along natural flow paths, in normal flow conditions (NSW Weirs Policy 1997).\n\nWQO: Water Quality Objective.\n\nWWF: World Wildlife Fund.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"Part 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Role of the State Water Management Outcomes Plan","content":"# Part 1 Role of the State Water Management Outcomes Plan\n\nPart 1 Role of the State Water Management Outcomes Plan\n\nThe aim of the [Water Management Act 2000](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2000-092) (the Act) is to provide for the sustainable and integrated management of the water sources of the State for the benefit of both present and future generations. The Act provides for the establishment of this State Water Management Outcomes Plan (SWMOP) to set out the over-arching policy context, targets and strategic outcomes for the development, conservation, management and control of the State’s water sources.\n\nThis SWMOP is the first of its kind and will have effect for five years from the date of its gazettal. It will then be reviewed and updated.\n\nThis SWMOP promotes the objects of the Act and its water management principles, and seeks to give effect to the NSW Government’s salinity strategies. It is also consistent with government legislative obligations, Commonwealth international agreements and government policy. It has had regard to relevant environmental, social and economic considerations, and the results of monitoring and assessment programs.\n\nThe SWMOP explicitly provides for the protection and enhancement of the environmental services provided by aquatic ecosystems, while delivering a stronger and clearer framework for the use of water to meet human needs, including more secure access licences. It details the Government’s commitment to effectively manage the important linkages between environment, human health, prosperous communities and profitable industries.\n\nThis SWMOP provides clear direction for all water management in New South Wales including (but not limited to) the creation of management plans addressing:\n\n> • water sharing,\n\n> • water use,\n\n> • drainage management,\n\n> • floodplain management,\n\n> • controlled activities and aquifer interference, and\n\n> • environmental protection.\n\nIn particular, it seeks to ensure that the NSW Government’s Interim (Water Quality and River Flow) Environmental Objectives for NSW waters are explicitly addressed in future water resource management and action.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"Part 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Content of this SWMOP","content":"# Part 2 Content of this SWMOP\n\nPart 2 Content of this SWMOP\n\nOver the last ten years or so, a wide range of policies and inter-government agreements have been developed which set in place principles, standards and processes to ensure better management of the State’s water and related resources, promote rehabilitation of the State’s environmental and social assets, and realise higher returns on each megalitre of water extracted. This SWMOP is grounded in these existing policies but, consistent with the requirements of the Act, it establishes short term targets that will drive the intent of these policies in more specific and tangible ways.\n\nThis SWMOP therefore sets both long term outcomes and 5 year management targets for water management. These are based on a principle of continuous improvement in the water-dependent environment and in the social and economic benefits the community receives from its water sources and their dependent ecosystems.\n\nTo ensure improvement, management objectives and targets must be responsive and adaptive to improved knowledge and changing social and economic circumstances and values. It is therefore appropriate that the management planning is staged over five to ten year cycles. The SWMOP will therefore be reviewed in five years allowing the subsequent generation and review of management plans to respond to any new directions or priorities.\n\nThe outcomes and targets identified in this SWMOP do not attempt to be exhaustive. Instead the focus is on those outcomes which reflect the highest priorities and/or are good indicators of overall improvement. Similarly the targets selected are those which are likely to achieve the greatest gains towards the outcomes in the short term. The targets do not therefore seek to establish an ultimate position or standard but rather to take a significant but practical step in the process of continuous improvement. Such steps will involve consultation with the community concerned and assessment of social and economic impacts.\n\nIn a few cases this SWMOP sets what might be termed “enabling” targets. These typically require identification and assessment to be completed within the five years as an essential prerequisite for determining a more specific management outcome. This recognises that in these cases, action cannot be taken in the short term without such information. Where the information is locally available then action should commence earlier.\n\nThe outcomes and targets span regulated river, unregulated river, groundwater, estuarine and coastal water sources. They are consistent with the Objects and provisions of Section 3 of the Act. In particular they:\n\n> • are in accord with the principles of ecologically sustainable development and will protect and/or restore water sources and their dependent ecosystems,\n\n> • seek to prevent declines and make improvements in the ecological health and productivity of water sources,\n\n> • promote recovery of threatened species and communities and the management of key threatening processes listed under the under the [Fisheries Management Act 1994](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1994-038) and the [Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995](/view/html/repealed/current/act-1995-101) (arising from the UN Biodiversity Convention),\n\n> • seek to protect and restore habitats, water sources, floodplains and dependent ecosystems,\n\n> • seek to protect and restore wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention, and wetlands of national significance listed in the Directory of Australian Wetlands,\n\n> • seek to protect migratory waterbirds listed under the Convention on Migratory Species, and JAMBA and CAMBA agreements,\n\n> • seek to protect the Aboriginal customary and contemporary ties to water,\n\n> • seek to halt or reverse the decline in key water quality parameters,\n\n> • will foster social and economic benefits to the State,\n\n> • will foster benefits to Aboriginal people in relation to their spiritual, social customary and economic use of land and water,\n\n> • provide greater certainty and flexibility in the exercise of access rights,\n\n> • encourage water to move to higher value use,\n\n> • encourage water to be managed and used efficiently, and\n\n> • optimise the economic value of water diverted from water sources and encourage best practice in its use.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"Part 3","sectionType":"part","heading":"Water Quality and River Flow Objectives","content":"# Part 3 Water Quality and River Flow Objectives\n\nPart 3 Water Quality and River Flow Objectives\n\nIn 1999, as part of its Water Reform package, the NSW Government worked closely with the community to develop Interim Environmental Objectives for Water Quality (WQOs), and River Flow (RFOs) for each catchment in New South Wales. Longer term objectives have been set for some individual catchments through Healthy Rivers Commission inquiries.\n\nThe Interim Environmental Objectives identify the broad goals to achieve long-term river health, maintain biodiversity and secure sustainable water sources for communities and industries dependent on water of a certain quality. Water quality objectives are based on measurable environmental values that provide the appropriate water quality for environmental and human-related needs. River flow objectives aim to improve and maintain river health by recognising the importance of natural river flow patterns in managing the riverine water sources.\n\nThe Interim Environmental Objectives are designed to support a range of values identified by the community, including:\n\nWater Quality Objectives (WQOs)\n\n| WQO 1 | Aquatic ecosystems |\n| WQO 2 | Visual amenity |\n| WQO 3 | Secondary contact recreation |\n| WQO 4 | Primary contact recreation |\n| WQO 5 | Livestock water supply |\n| WQO 6 | Irrigation water supply |\n| WQO 7 | Homestead water supply |\n| WQO 8 | Drinking water at point of supply—Disinfection only |\n| WQO 9 | Drinking water at point of supply—Clarification and disinfection |\n| WQO 10 | Drinking water at point of supply—Groundwater |\n| WQO 11 | Aquatic foods (cooked) |\n\nRiver Flow Objectives (RFOs)\n\n| RFO 1 | Protect pools in dry times |\n| RFO 2 | Protect natural low flows |\n| RFO 3 | Protect important rises in water levels |\n| RFO 4 | Maintain wetland and floodplain inundation |\n| RFO 5 | Mimic natural drying in temporary waterways |\n| RFO 6 | Maintain natural flow variability |\n| RFO 7 | Maintain natural rates of change in water levels |\n| RFO 8 | Manage groundwater for ecosystems |\n| RFO 9 | Minimise effects of weirs and other structures |\n| RFO 10 | Minimise effects of dams on water quality |\n| RFO 11 | Make water available for unforeseen events |\n| RFO 12 | Maintain or rehabilitate estuarine processes and habitats |\n\nThe [Water Management Act 2000](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2000-092) requires the SWMOP to be consistent with these Objectives, and states that all management plans developed under the Act should be consistent with government policy in relation to environmental objectives for water quality and river flow.\n\nThe Interim Environmental Objectives for Water Quality and River Flows should therefore be considered when assessing progress against the long term objectives and 5 year management targets set in the SWMOP. In cases where longer term objectives have been set through the Healthy Rivers Commission, these individual objectives should be considered.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"Part 4","sectionType":"part","heading":"Responsibilities for the Outcomes","content":"# Part 4 Responsibilities for the Outcomes\n\nPart 4 Responsibilities for the Outcomes\n\nAll management plans developed under the provisions of the [Water Management Act 2000](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2000-092) will be framed to be consistent with those targets that are relevant to a particular plan, and to the longer term outcomes, and should indicate the degree to which they will contribute to them. The degree to which each water management area should contribute to the achievement of a State target will depend upon:\n\n> • the degree to which the target is relevant to the area,\n\n> • the social and economic impacts,\n\n> • the relative management priorities, risks and costs, and\n\n> • the relative environmental importance.\n\nIn assessing the adequacy of any management plans prior to endorsement, the Minister will need to, in consultation with the Minister for the Environment, take into account the degree to which the management plan has addressed the relevant outcomes and targets.\n\nSome water sources may already be better than a particular target while others which are currently below target, may seek to go measurably beyond it within the 5 years. Some water sources that are significantly below a SWMOP target, may achieve a positive result in moving towards the target but, in falling short, will need to seek further improvement in future planning cycles. In all cases, such action would be consistent with the principle of continuous improvement and, subject to appropriate cost for benefit considerations, will be supported as being consistent with the SWMOP.\n\nSection 9 of the Act requires that all functions exercised under that Act must be in accordance with this SWMOP. This is a wide-ranging requirement and will affect much of the day-to-day work of the Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC) and others exercising functions on its behalf. For example, care must be taken to ensure that licences and approvals do not detract from the achievement of the SWMOP outcomes and targets, but as far as possible, positively contribute towards their achievement.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"Part 5","sectionType":"part","heading":"Impact of the SWMOP","content":"# Part 5 Impact of the SWMOP\n\nPart 5 Impact of the SWMOP\n\nThis SWMOP is expected to:\n\n> • improve the quality of water sources and the health, productivity and diversity of their dependent ecosystems,\n\n> • increase the economic value of water extracted from water sources and used, and\n\n> • protect the long term interests of regional communities.\n\nThe implementation of management plans may result in transitional impacts and the Government may provide guidance on arrangements and assistance to help affected parties overcome any short term problems.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"Part 6","sectionType":"part","heading":"Monitoring and reporting","content":"# Part 6 Monitoring and reporting\n\nPart 6 Monitoring and reporting\n\nMonitoring compliance with the requirements of management plans, benchmarking and assessing changes in the state of our water ecosystems and in the economic and social factors influenced by water management actions, is clearly an essential component of the cyclic management planning established by the [Water Management Act 2000](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2000-092).\n\nIt is therefore required that water management provides for the collection of information which will allow:\n\n> • assessment of performance against the management targets,\n\n> • assessment of social and economic impacts, and\n\n> • benchmarking of current conditions and evaluation of future trends in respect to the long term outcomes.\n\nA performance assessment strategy covering these three aspects will be established within six months of the gazettal of this SWMOP.\n\nManagement plans developed under the [Water Management Act 2000](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2000-092) should provide for the monitoring of performance of relevant local management targets and this information will be collated and reviewed to assess performance against the SWMOP targets. The Minister may provide guidance on objectives, strategies and performance indicators for this purpose (as required in a management plan under Section 35 (1) of the Act). The monitoring and assessment of the long term outcomes, however, will be designed and undertaken through statewide programs and targeted local activities which ensure that sampling and analysis is carried out at a scale and density appropriate to deliver meaningful and cost effective information.\n\nSeveral programs are already in place to monitor the physical, chemical and biological status and response of aquatic systems (eg. Integrated Monitoring of Environmental Flow (IMEF), fish, wetlands and waterbird surveys). Other programs provide social and economic data relevant to the analysis of social and economic responses to water management. Performance monitoring for this SWMOP will build, as far as possible, on these existing programs.","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"Division 1","sectionType":"division","heading":"Environmental outcomes—healthy, productive and diverse water ecosystems","content":"## Division 1 Environmental outcomes—healthy, productive and diverse water ecosystems\n\nDivision 1 Environmental outcomes—healthy, productive and diverse water ecosystems","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"Division 2","sectionType":"division","heading":"Social outcomes—the community’s basic needs and values sustained","content":"## Division 2 Social outcomes—the community’s basic needs and values sustained\n\nDivision 2 Social outcomes—the community’s basic needs and values sustained","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"Division 3","sectionType":"division","heading":"Economic outcomes—the economic value of water improved","content":"## Division 3 Economic outcomes—the economic value of water improved\n\nDivision 3 Economic outcomes—the economic value of water improved","sortOrder":19},{"sectionNumber":"Division 4","sectionType":"division","heading":"Groundwater dependencies","content":"## Division 4 Groundwater dependencies\n\nDivision 4 Groundwater dependencies\n\n| Five year target | Why is it needed? | What are the expected outcomes? |\n| Target 10 Degree of connectivity between aquifers and rivers assessed, and zones of high connectivity mapped to enable baseflows to the river to be maintained or improved | • To improve base (dry period) flows (RFOs 1,2)• To improve water quality• To protect downstream water supplies | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Degraded wetlands improved and significant wetlands protected and restored• Assured water supplies to maintain or improve the health and wellbeing of rural and urban communities• Incidents of problem blue green algal blooms affecting essential water supplies and recreational values reduced |\n| Target 11 Groundwater dependent ecosystems identified and mapped for all priority aquifers, and the ecological water requirements assessed to enable local groundwater extraction rates and/or Sustainable Yields to be reviewed | • To sustain groundwater dependent vegetation (RFO 8)• To maintain water levels in wetlands such as hanging swamps (RFOs 4, 8)• To maintain springs• To maintain the ecology of the hyporheic zone (the zone in the river channel kept wet by groundwater seepage)• To maintain limestone cave systems | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Degraded wetlands improved and significant wetlands protected and restored• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• Aboriginal traditional and contemporary dependencies on, and cultural association with water protected and improved |","sortOrder":27},{"sectionNumber":"Division 5","sectionType":"division","heading":"Basic and cultural needs","content":"## Division 5 Basic and cultural needs\n\nDivision 5 Basic and cultural needs\n\n| Five year target | Why is it needed? | What are the expected outcomes? |\n| Target 12 Measures in place in all water sources subject to a gazetted water sharing plan to protect domestic and stock rights from the impact of other water access and use | • To prevent excessive water extraction from threatening essential water needs. | • Assured water supplies to maintain or improve the health and wellbeing of rural and urban communities• Aboriginal traditional and contemporary dependencies on, and cultural association with water protected and improved |\n| Target 13 The knowledge sharing, training and resources necessary to ensure that Aboriginal people have the capacity to be effectively involved in water management identified and addressed | • To more effectively engage Aboriginal people in water management• To recognise the value of shared information and experience | • Aboriginal traditional and contemporary dependencies on, and cultural association with water protected and improved |\n| Target 14 Water sources, ecosystems and sites of cultural or traditional importance to Aboriginal people identified, plans of management prepared, and measures put in place to protect and improve them | • To ensure water access, works and use do not threaten or impact on Aboriginal sites, values or needs | • Aboriginal traditional and contemporary dependencies on, and cultural association with water protected and improved• Degraded wetlands improved and significant wetlands protected and restored.• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored |","sortOrder":28},{"sectionNumber":"Division 6","sectionType":"division","heading":"Water use efficiencies","content":"## Division 6 Water use efficiencies\n\nDivision 6 Water use efficiencies\n\n| Five year target | Why is it needed? | What are the expected outcomes? |\n| Target 15 At least 90 percent of approved water management works for the extraction of surface or ground waters (excepting domestic and stock bores) metered and reported in each water source that is subject to a gazetted water sharing plan | • To ensure compliance with water access rules and extraction limits• To provide information on water use efficiency• To enable an effective water market• To protect access rights and environmental provisions | • Assured water supplies to maintain or improve the health and wellbeing of rural and urban communities• Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored |\n| Target 16 Improved and extended water markets through:Target 16a All share components of access licences tradeableTarget 16b Separation of existing water licences (excepting domestic and stock bores) under the Water Act 1912 into water use approvals and water access licences completed for:100 percent of licences in water sources subject to initial round of gazetted water sharing plans50 percent of licences across the remainder of the State.Target 16c Conversion factors and protocols established to facilitate trading and dealings between water sources, whilst also protecting existing access and environmental water.Target 16d Reduced conversion factors only applied when necessary to offset increased losses associated with water supply delivery.Target 16e Any unassigned access rights identified and clear mechanisms established for their future assignmentTarget 16f Zones established where necessary for environmental protection and limits/constraints on water dealings in them made explicitTarget 16g Full public disclosure of access licence dealings and market prices | • To clarify and secure licensed access to water• To ensure an effective and efficient water market• To meet COAG competition requirements• To encourage water to move to higher value uses | • Water use efficiency increased• The economic efficiency of investment in water industries improved |\n| Target 17 In determining the best environmental and health outcomes for an effluent management scheme, decisions to have considered all practicable options to replace high value water used for urban and industrial purposes with treated effluent | • To reduce wastewater• To encourage higher value use of water• To improve water quality | • Water use efficiency increased• Incidents of problem blue green algal blooms affecting essential water supplies and recreational values reduced |\n| Target 18 High quality return flows credited against town (local water utility) water access licences where all environmental requirements for a credit are met | • To make higher treatment of effluent cost effective• To improve downstream water quality• To protect low flows and downstream water supplies (RFO 2)• To reduce wastewater | • Water use efficiency increased• The economic efficiency of investment in water industries improved• Incidents of problem blue green algal blooms affecting essential water supplies and recreational values reduced |\n| Target 19 Country town (local water utility) water consumption to decline by greater than 5 percent per head of population on average statewide, excluding Sydney Water Corporation and the Hunter Water Corporation whose demand management targets are set in their operating licences | • To reduce the impact of growth in town water requirements on the rights of other users• To increase water use efficiency | • Water use efficiency increased• The economic efficiency of investment in water industries improved |\n| Target 20 Nil or minimal increase in basic domestic and stock rights resulting from rural subdivisions in sensitive or stressed water sources | • To protect groundwater levels and pressures• To protect low flows in rivers (RFO 1, 2)• To protect existing water uses and basic rights | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• Assured water supplies to maintain or improve the health and wellbeing of rural and urban communities• Incidents of problem blue green algal blooms affecting essential water supplies and recreational values reduced• The economic efficiency of investment in water industries improved |\n| Target 21 At least 60 high flowing bores (>5 litres per second) in the NSW Great Artesian Basin capped and piped | • To protect groundwater levels and pressures• To reduce waste water• To encourage higher value use of water• To improve water quality | • Assured water supplies to maintain or improve the health and wellbeing of rural and urban communities• Water use efficiency increased• The economic efficiency of investment in water industries improved |","sortOrder":29},{"sectionNumber":"Division 7","sectionType":"division","heading":"Cost recovery","content":"## Division 7 Cost recovery\n\nDivision 7 Cost recovery\n\n| Five year target | Why is it needed? | What are the expected outcomes? |\n| Target 22 The NSW Government to seek full cost recovery in all practicable cases excepting where capital infrastructure cannot reasonably be funded by small numbers of water access licence holders. Water access licence holders to face water charges as determined by IPART | • To meet COAG water reform requirements• To ensure that licensed rights to access water are appropriately valued | • Water use efficiency increased• The economic efficiency of investment in water industries improved |","sortOrder":30},{"sectionNumber":"Division 8","sectionType":"division","heading":"Artificial barriers and openings","content":"## Division 8 Artificial barriers and openings\n\nDivision 8 Artificial barriers and openings\n\n| Five year target | Why is it needed? | What are the expected outcomes? |\n| Target 23 Review of all licensed weirs on 3rd order and larger rivers completed, a review of unlicensed structures on these rivers substantially progressed, a priority listing prepared, and action taken to:Target 23a Ensure that there is no net increase in the number or total capacity of weirs in each water management areaTarget 23b Remove at least 10, and structurally modify 15 of the priority weirs recommended for action across the State (eg install fishways)Target 23c Establish improved operational protocols for priority operable weirs that will reduce their environmental impacts | • To restore water level variability within weir pools (RFOs 6,7)• To improve habitat conditions within weir pools (RFO 9)• To restore wetting and drying cycles within adjacent wetlands and riparian land (RFO 5)• To improve base (dry period) flows (RFO 2)• To improve water quality• To reduce the incidents of blue green algal blooms• To increase the transfer of organic (food) inputs down rivers• To restore the movement of fish up and down rivers (RFO 9) | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Degraded wetlands improved and significant wetlands protected and restored• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• Incidents of problem blue green algal blooms affecting essential water supplies and recreational values reduced |\n| Target 24 Review of all existing tidal barriers completed, and action taken to remove, or partially, or periodically open at least 100 tidal barriers/gates | • To restore wetting and drying cycles within coastal wetlands (RFO 4)• To reduce the incidence of acid drainage• To restore the movement of fish between estuaries and coastal rivers and floodplains.• To improve water quality downstream of dams | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Degraded wetlands improved and significant wetlands protected and restored• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored |\n| Target 25 Action taken to (re)connect at least 60 percent of the natural 1 in 5 year flooded area to the river for 11 key rural floodplains by ensuring:Target 25a The major flood paths and flood dependent ecosystems are mappedTarget 25b The significant barriers to flooding are identified and action to deal with the major barriers commenced | • To restore inundation frequency and duration in floodplain wetlands (RFO 4)• To sustain flood-dependent vegetation eg river red gums• To restore groundwater recharge events• To restore the connection between floodplain wetlands and rivers for transfer of organic matter, invertebrates and fish | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Degraded wetlands improved and significant wetlands protected and restored• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• Aboriginal traditional and contemporary dependencies on, and cultural association with water protected and improved |\n| Target 26 Dams responsible for cold water pollution identified, a priority listing prepared, and action initiated to ensure that the temperature regime below these dams is kept within the 20th to 80th natural percentile range for each month (or within bounds determined by site specific investigations), by ensuring:Target 26a Structural modification of at least 2 priority damsTarget 26b. Improved operational protocols established for priority dams with existing temperature management infrastructure | • To restore natural temperature regimes in rivers (RFO 9)• To address the impact of cold water on the reproduction, survival and growth rates of native fish and the biodiversity of macroinvertebrate communities | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored |\n| Target 27 Frequency of artificial manipulations of coastal lagoon entrances reduced, and management strategies to improve natural flow dynamics recognising their consequences on ecosystems and social assets | • To maintain natural salinity regimes of coastal lagoons• To improve patterns of water inundation in coastal wetlands (RFO 12) | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Degraded wetlands improved and significant wetlands protected and restored• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored |","sortOrder":31},{"sectionNumber":"Division 9","sectionType":"division","heading":"River channel rehabilitation","content":"## Division 9 River channel rehabilitation\n\nDivision 9 River channel rehabilitation\n\n| Five year target | Why is it needed? | What are the expected outcomes? |\n| Target 28 Percentage cover of native riparian vegetation within waterfront land increased consistent with an approved catchment management plan, or by at least 5 percent where it is currently less than 50 percent of the natural average on 3rd order and larger rivers | • To restore the shade and temperature characteristics of rivers• To increase the entrapment of nutrients moving overland to rivers• To restore the input of detritus (food) into rivers• To provide perching and roosting sites for birds• To restore wildlife corridors• To restore riparian habitats | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• Aboriginal traditional and contemporary dependencies on, and cultural association with water protected and improved• Incidents of problem blue green algal blooms affecting essential water supplies and recreational values reduced |\n| Target 29 No net decrease in the length of natural river corridors through urban areas | • To restore the shade and temperature characteristics of rivers• To increase the entrapment of nutrients moving overland to rivers• To restore the input of detritus (food) into rivers• To provide perching and roosting sites for birds• To restore wildlife corridors• To restore riparian habitats | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• Incidents of problem blue green algal blooms affecting essential water supplies and recreational values reduced |","sortOrder":32},{"sectionNumber":"Division 10","sectionType":"division","heading":"Drainage management","content":"## Division 10 Drainage management\n\nDivision 10 Drainage management\n\n| Five year target | Why is it needed? | What are the expected outcomes? |\n| Target 30 Coastal floodplain areas with high water quality risk (eg acid drainage and/or oxygen depletion) addressed by:Target 30a Areas of drained natural wetlands identified and mappedTarget 30b 7 pilot remediation projects completedTarget 30c Future program of land rehabilitation developed and commencedTarget 30d No increase in acid drainage resulting from any new development in a mapped acid sulfate soil hotspot. | • To reduce acid drainage problems• To restore wetting and drying cycles in coastal wetlands (RFO 4) | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Degraded wetlands improved and significant wetlands protected and restored• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• The productive capacity of land and water maintained |\n| Target 31 The peak volumes of urban stormwater runoff reaching natural watercourses reduced | • To improve water quality• To reduce the incidence of blue green algal blooms• To increase low flows• To reduce downstream storm events and storm pulses and associated erosion | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• Incidents of problem blue green algal blooms affecting essential water supplies and recreational values reduced• Assured water supplies to maintain or improve the health and wellbeing of rural and urban communities |\n| Target 32 The adoption of water efficient and sensitive urban design measures in urban areas/rivers increased | • To improve water quality• To reduce the incidence of blue green algal blooms• To increase low flows• To reduce downstream storm runoff and associated erosion | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• Incidents of problem blue green algal blooms affecting essential water supplies and recreational values reduced• Assured water supplies to maintain or improve the health and wellbeing of rural and urban communities |\n| Target 33 Zones of high irrigation salinity risk mapped, and irrigation accession rates assessed to enable action to be taken to stabilise or reduce accession rates within these zones | • To reduce the loss of productive land• To maintain crop yields• To reduce land salinisation• To reduce salt load to rivers | • Assured water supplies to maintain or improve the health and wellbeing of rural and urban communities• The productive capacity of land and water maintained |\n| Target 34 Major irrigation drains to natural watercourses carrying saline discharges identified, and priority drains monitored to enable action to be taken to ensure no net increase in the load or concentration of the saline drainage (unless agreed to in an applicable management program with approved offset provisions) | • To minimise further increases in the discharge of salt from point sources | • Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• Assured water supplies to maintain or improve the health and wellbeing of rural and urban communities• The productive capacity of land and water maintained |","sortOrder":33},{"sectionNumber":"Division 11","sectionType":"division","heading":"River and groundwater quality","content":"## Division 11 River and groundwater quality\n\nDivision 11 River and groundwater quality\n\n| Five year target | Why is it needed? | What are the expected outcomes? |\n| Target 35 All management plans incorporating water quality objectives that have considered Government approved Interim Environmental Objectives, the current ANZECC Guidelines and the recommendations of relevant Healthy Rivers Commission Inquiries | • To improve water quality• To reduce the incidence of blue green algal blooms• To protect essential water supplies and recreational values | • Assured water supplies to maintain or improve the health and wellbeing of rural and urban communities• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• Incidents of problem blue green algal blooms affecting essential water supplies and recreational values reduced• The productive capacity of land and water maintained |\n| Target 36 River salinity maintained at levels consistent with the salinity targets specified in approved catchment management plans | • To reduce the rate of increase in river salinity | • Assured water supplies to maintain or improve the health and wellbeing of rural and urban communities• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• The productive capacity of land and water maintained |\n| Target 37 Sources of non-saline water contributing significant dilution flows downstream prioritised to enable action to be taken to protect these sources | • To maximise the opportunity for natural dilution of downstream salt pulses | • Assured water supplies to maintain or improve the health and wellbeing of rural and urban communities• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• The productive capacity of land and water maintained |\n| Target 38 Aquifer water quality vulnerability zones mapped and extraction limits reviewed to reduce the risk of lateral intrusion of poor quality water | • To protect groundwater quality• To protect domestic water supplies | • Assured water supplies to maintain or improve the health and wellbeing of rural and urban communities• The productive capacity of land and water maintained |","sortOrder":34},{"sectionNumber":"sch-inc-sch","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"References","content":"# sch-inc-sch References\n\nReferences\n\nAustralian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) 2001. Australian Fisheries Statistics.\n\nAgriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ) 1996. Allocation and Use of Groundwater—National Framework for Improved Groundwater Management in Australia.\n\nAgriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ) and Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) 1996. National Principles for the Provision of Water for Ecosystems, Occasional Paper SWR no 3.\n\nAustralian Nature Conservation Agency 1996. A Directory of Important Wetlands, 2nd Edition.\n\nAustralian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), 2000. Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters, National Water Quality Management Strategy.\n\nCouncil of Australian Governments (COAG) 1994. Third Meeting Communique (Attachment A: Water Resource Policy, Hobart.\n\nCommonwealth Government of Australia 1992. National Strategy for Ecological Sustainable Development.\n\nCo-operative Research Centre (CRC) for Freshwater Ecology 2002. Watershed Newsletter, February 2002.\n\nCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 2001. Rivers as Ecological Systems. In: The Murray Darling Basin, Murray Darling Basin Commission.\n\nDepartment of Land and Water Conservation 1997. The NSW State Groundwater Policy Framework Document.\n\nDepartment of Land and Water Conservation 1998. The NSW Groundwater Quality Protection Policy.\n\nDepartment of Land and Water Conservation 2001. The NSW State Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Policy.\n\nDepartment of Land and Water Conservation 2001. Integrated Monitoring of Environmental Flows Design Report.\n\nDepartment of Land and Water Conservation 1996. NSW Wetlands Management Policy.\n\nDepartment of Land and Water Conservation 1998. NSW Wetlands Action Plan.\n\nDepartment of Land and Water Conservation 1997. NSW Weirs Policy.\n\nDepartment of Land and Water Conservation 2000. NSW Salinity Strategy.\n\nDepartment of Land and Water Conservation 1998. Stressed Rivers Assessment Report: NSW State Summary.\n\nDepartment of Urban Affairs and Planning 1997. NSW Coastal Policy.\n\nDepartment of Urban Affairs and Planning 2001. PlanFirst: A Review of Plan Making in New South Wales. White Paper.\n\nEnvironment Australia 2001. National Objectives and Targets for Biodiversity Conservation 2001–2005.\n\nGehrke P, Brown P, Schiller C, Moffat, D and Bruce A 1995. River regulation and fish communities in Murray Darling River System. Regulated Rivers Research and Management 11: 363–375.\n\nGlaister J P 1978. Prawn catches affected by river flow. *Australian Fisheries 37(10):*4.\n\nHealthy Rivers Commission 2001. Independent Inquiry into Georges River-Botany Bay System. Final Report.\n\nHillman T, Koehn J, Woodside D, Thompson D, Mitchell D, and Sobels J 2000. The Murrumbidgee: Assessing the “health” of a working river”. Report commissioned by Agribusiness Taskforce, DLWC & EPA.\n\nLonergan N and Bunn S 1999. River flows and estuarine ecosystems: Implications for coastal fisheries from a review and a case study of the Logan River, SE Queensland. Australian Journal of Ecology 24: 431–440.\n\nLugg A 1999. Eternal Winter in our Rivers: Addressing the Issue of Cold Water Pollution. unpublished\n\nMarsden Jacobs and Associates 2000. Review of Operation of the Cap—Economic and Social Impacts. Companion Paper 2 Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council.\n\nMurray Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) 1994. Algal Management Strategy for the Murray Darling Basin.\n\nMurray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council (MDBMC) 1995. An audit of water use in the Murray-Darling Basin.\n\nEnvironment Protection Authority (EPA) 1999. Interim Environmental Objectives: Water Quality and River Flow Objectives.\n\nNational Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) 1999. NSW Biodiversity Strategy.\n\nNSW Fisheries 1999. Policy and Guidelines for Aquatic Habitat Management and Fish Conservation.\n\nNSW Agriculture 1998. Policy for Sustainable Agriculture in New South Wales.\n\nNSW Water Resources Council 1993. State Rivers and Estuaries Policy.\n\nRuello N V 1973. The influence of rainfall on the distribution and abundance of the school prawn Metapenaeus macleayi in the Hunter River region (Australia). Marine Biology 23: 221–228.\n\nState Planning Commission 1994. Planning and Management Guidelines for Water Sensitive Urban (Residential) Design.\n\nThomas J F (ed) 1999. Water and the Australian Economy. Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Canberra.\n\nWest R J, Thorogood C A, Walford T R, and Williams R J 1985. An estuarine inventory for New South Wales, Australia. Fisheries Bulletin No 2, NSW Department of Agriculture.\n\nWilliams R J, and Watford F A 1996. An inventory of impediments to tidal flow in NSW estuarine fisheries habitat. Wetlands (Australia) 15(2): 44–54.\n\nWorld Wildlife Fund (WWF) 2001. Thermal Pollution Workshop: Executive Summary and Recommendations.","sortOrder":50}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"There is insufficient content in the extracted text to assess whether the plan's scope changed from its original intent. The plan was made in December 2002 and remained in its original form (only one version exists) until it ceased to have effect by operation of the Water Management Act 2000. No amendments or scope changes are recorded."},"complexity_factors":["The legislation itself is no longer in effect, making substantive legal analysis largely moot","The actual content of the plan is not reproduced in the extract provided — only administrative and status metadata is visible","Cross-reference to the Water Management Act 2000 (specifically section 6(6)) is needed to understand why and how the plan ceased to have effect","The document is administratively straightforward — a single-version order with no amendments"],"plain_english_summary":"## State Water Management Outcomes Plan Order 2002\n\n**What is this?**\nThis was a NSW government order made in December 2002 under the *Water Management Act 2000*. It established a **State Water Management Outcomes Plan** — essentially a government blueprint setting out goals and targets for how water resources across NSW should be managed.\n\n**Who was affected?**\nThis order would have affected water users across NSW, including farmers, local councils, industries, and environmental managers who rely on or manage water resources.\n\n**The key thing to know: this plan no longer has any effect.**\nThe plan has **ceased to operate** (stopped being legally active) under section 6(6) of the *Water Management Act 2000*. This means it has no practical impact on anyone today. It exists on the legislation register purely as a historical record.\n\n**Why does this matter?**\nFor most people, it doesn't — at least not directly. If you were researching the history of NSW water policy or trying to understand how the current water management framework evolved, this document provides useful context. But it creates no current legal obligations or rights for anyone.\n\n**Bottom line:** A now-defunct 2002 NSW water policy plan that has expired and carries no current legal weight."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[{"type":"self_contradicting","section":"Status Information / Notes","severity":"medium","reasoning":"A legislative instrument that is described as 'in force' and 'current' but has 'ceased to have effect' occupies a logically contradictory status. Being 'in force' and having 'ceased to have effect' are mutually exclusive legal conditions. The instrument either operates as law or it does not. Presenting it as a current in-force version for over two decades while acknowledging it is legally inoperative creates a zombie-law absurdity with no clear practical meaning for compliance purposes.","confidence":0.82,"description":"The legislation is described as 'Current version for 20 December 2002 to date (accessed 5 April 2026 at 14:29)' while simultaneously noting that 'The State Water Management Outcomes Plan has ceased to have effect.' The instrument is presented as a current, in-force version of legislation that has no legal effect."},{"type":"self_contradicting","section":"Provisions in force / Notes","severity":"low","reasoning":"Commencement and operative effect are distinct concepts, but presenting both statements together without reconciliation creates confusion about the actual legal status of the provisions. A reader is told the provisions have commenced (implying they are live law) while also being told the Plan has ceased to have effect (implying they are not). No guidance is offered to resolve this tension.","confidence":0.7,"description":"The document states 'The provisions displayed in this version of the legislation have all commenced' immediately alongside a note that the Plan has ceased to have effect. Provisions cannot meaningfully be described as commenced and operative if the Plan they form part of has ceased to have effect under the parent Act."},{"type":"other","section":"File last modified / Currency of version","severity":"low","reasoning":"While not strictly a legal logical flaw, the combination of a 2007 modification date, a 2026 'current' designation, and a ceased-effect status creates an absurd temporal situation where the legislation is perpetually 'current' in a database sense while being legally defunct. This may mislead practitioners as to whether they need to take any action in reliance on or compliance with this instrument.","confidence":0.6,"description":"The file was last modified on 21 December 2007, yet the legislation is described as 'current to date' as of 5 April 2026. This implies the instrument has been legally static and unmodified for approximately 18 years while still being characterised as actively current, despite the underlying Plan having ceased to have effect."}],"contradictions":[{"severity":"high","section_a":"Currency of version — 'Current version for 20 December 2002 to date (accessed 5 April 2026 at 14:29)'","section_b":"Notes — 'The State Water Management Outcomes Plan has ceased to have effect. See sec 6 (6) of the Water Management Act 2000 No 92'","confidence":0.85,"description":"The instrument is simultaneously classified as 'in force' and 'current' on the NSW legislation website while the authoritative note within the same document declares the Plan has ceased to have effect under the parent Act. These two characterisations directly contradict each other as to the operative legal status of the instrument."},{"severity":"medium","section_a":"Provisions in force — 'The provisions displayed in this version of the legislation have all commenced'","section_b":"Notes — 'The State Water Management Outcomes Plan has ceased to have effect'","confidence":0.75,"description":"Stating that all provisions have commenced implies those provisions are operative law. The note that the Plan has ceased to have effect under s 6(6) of the Water Management Act 2000 directly contradicts the implication of operative commencement, as cessation of effect renders commencement practically moot."}]},"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"completionTokens":634},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This appears to be the original 2002 gazetted version of the State Water Management Outcomes Plan. The scope aligns with the original intent under the Water Management Act 2000 — establishing statewide policy context, targets and strategic outcomes for integrated water management. No evidence of significant scope creep beyond the original environmental, social and economic framework."},"complexity_factors":["38 detailed targets with nested sub-targets (e.g., Target 4a-d, Target 16a-g)","Extensive cross-referencing to other legislation (Water Management Act 2000, Fisheries Management Act 1994, Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, etc.)","Multiple interconnected management frameworks (water sharing plans, catchment management plans, environmental water rules)","Technical scientific concepts requiring definition (hyporheic zone, biogeographical regions, production-to-respiration ratios)","Conditional implementation pathways ('in the absence of such assessment...' fallbacks)","Glossary of 47+ defined technical terms","Nested divisions and subdivisions (Part 2, Division 6, Target 16a-g structure)","Performance metrics requiring baseline assessment and monitoring programs"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a **strategic planning document** that sets the big-picture goals for how New South Wales manages its water resources for five years from 2002.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Establishes **long-term environmental, social and economic outcomes** for water management across the state\n- Sets **specific 5-year targets** (38 in total) covering everything from capping water extractions to rehabilitating wetlands and improving water quality\n- Creates a framework for more detailed **water sharing plans** that will be developed for individual river systems and groundwater sources\n\n**Key areas covered:**\n- **Environmental protection** — restoring river flows, protecting wetlands, recovering threatened fish species, reducing algal blooms\n- **Water access and trading** — making water licences clearer, more secure and tradeable between users\n- **Aboriginal water rights** — recognising cultural connections to water and improving economic access\n- **Efficiency and cost recovery** — metering water use, reducing waste, moving toward full cost pricing\n- **Infrastructure fixes** — removing or modifying weirs that block fish movement, fixing dams that release cold water, opening floodgates to reconnect floodplains\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Farmers and irrigators (new rules on extraction limits and water trading)\n- Town water suppliers (efficiency targets, effluent reuse)\n- Aboriginal communities (cultural protection and economic opportunities)\n- Regional communities (secure water supplies, environmental health)\n- Anyone using rivers, groundwater or wetlands in NSW\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis was the first statewide plan of its kind under the *Water Management Act 2000*. It tried to balance competing demands — keeping rivers healthy while supporting agriculture and towns — through a \"continuous improvement\" approach where targets would be reviewed and tightened over time."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/state-water-management-outcomes-plan-order-2002","history":"/api/acts/state-water-management-outcomes-plan-order-2002/history","analysis":"/api/acts/state-water-management-outcomes-plan-order-2002/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/state-water-management-outcomes-plan-order-2002/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/state-water-management-outcomes-plan-order-2002/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/state-water-management-outcomes-plan-order-2002/documents"}}