NSW Water Quality and River Flow Objectives About the Objectives Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water   Select from the scrolling list, statewide map or catchment list Select a catchment Barwon-Darling and Far Western Bega River Bellinger River Border Rivers Brunswick River Camden Haven and Hastings River Castlereagh River Clarence River Clyde River and Jervis Bay Cooks River Georges River Gosford and Northern Beaches Lagoons Gwydir River Hacking River Hawkesbury-Nepean River Hunter River Karuah River and Great Lakes Lachlan River Illawarra Lake Macquarie and Tuggerah Lakes Macleay River Macquarie-Bogan River Manning River Moruya River Murray River Murrumbidgee River and Lake George Nambucca River Namoi River Richmond River Shoalhaven River Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River Towamba and Genoa River Tuross River Tweed River Williams River

Murrumbidgee River and Lake George

| Contents | Background | Consultation | Objectives | WQOs | RFOs | Glossary | Bibliography | Map | At a Glance |

Why is the NSW Government providing guidelines on environmental quality objectives?

The NSW Government has brought in wide-ranging reforms to ensure the long-term health of all our waterways. We need action now for a healthy future for both our environment and our economy.

Environmental problems are widespread in our river systems and, in many cases, also affect regional economic development. These problems include algal blooms, rising salinity, carp, and declining numbers of native fish. NSW also needs to meet its inter-governmental obligations to improve river health, such as in the Murray-Darling basin.

The community and Government have taken important steps towards attaining healthier rivers. Much has been achieved. Clearly defined, consistent objectives will allow us to direct current actions better and plan for new ones.

The Government has already implemented many of its water reforms, including introducing a better balance in sharing water between users and the environment, statewide groundwater and weir policies, regular monitoring programs, and assessing the stress on each stream and aquifer. Information on the water reforms and natural resource management reforms can be found at the website of the Department of Natural Resources www.dnr.nsw.gov.au

What are Water Quality and River Flow Objectives?

The Water Quality and River Flow Objectives set out in these pages have been developed to guide plans and actions to achieve healthy waterways.

Up to eleven Water Quality Objectives apply. Each is based on providing the right water quality for the environment and the different uses people have for water. They are based on measurable environmental values for protecting aquatic ecosystems, recreation, visual amenity, drinking water and agricultural water. Section 4 gives a more detailed explanation of how to use water quality objectives.

Each of the eleven inland River Flow Objectives deals with how water moves down rivers and streams. Each objective aims to improve river health by recognising the importance of natural river flow patterns. The Objectives are based on achieving improved environmental results from managing the riverine system. Section 5 gives more detail.

How are these guidelines to be used?

These guidelines on environmental objectives are intended mainly for local councils, Catchment Management Authorities and state agencies to consider and include in strategic, catchment and land use planning processes.

Integration of the Objectives into strategic, catchment and land use planning activities will help the community to achieve an acceptable balance between environmental, social and economic needs.

Developing the guidelines

In late 1997, the NSW Government released discussion papers called Proposed Interim Environmental Objectives for NSW Waters (EPA 1997) as the basis for a six-month community consultation. The papers gave options for interim River Flow and Water Quality Objectives in each catchment, including broad economic evaluations, as a basis for discussion.

Seeking the opinions of communities was essential. More than fifty community discussion meetings and nine special Aboriginal community meetings were held. More than 4000 people attended. The Government received 810 written submissions, and river and catchment management committees gave valuable feedback on the draft objectives.

See the summary of community comment on the guidelines for the Murrumbidgee River and Lake George catchments.

This page was published 1 May 2006