Numeric LTAAELs in inland regulated valleys

Introduction

The department is developing a method to determine a numeric long term average annual extraction limit (LTAAEL) for most inland unregulated valleys by the end of 2026.

We are working on developing the numeric LTAAEL based on the current water sharing plan (WSP) definition and are developing the processes to undertake assessments for the remaining inland unregulated valleys.

The LTAAEL in a WSP sets a limit on how much water can be extracted from a water source.


Each plan has an annual requirement to assess current take against the LTAAEL to determine if it is compliant. Work has commenced on the numeric LTAAEL project to undertake assessments in the remaining inland unregulated valleys, following a 3-step process:

  1. Use the existing water sharing plan definition to determine a number and publish that number.
  2. Develop a method to assess current take (in the absence of sufficient meters).
  3. Commence compliance assessments.

We are required to publish the numeric LTAAELs by 31 December 2026.


We are undertaking targeted consultation with holders of unregulated licences in inland valleys to:

  • Explain the process and method we are using to determine a number for the existing WSP definition.
  • Gain input into the method to assess current take.
  • Discuss more broadly the LTAAEL definition, assessment and compliance clauses.

The data we collect in this survey will assist with the method used to determine annual current use of unregulated water for irrigation, in the absence of lodged records.


Enquiries and assistance: water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au


Please submit this form by: 11.59 pm (AEDT) on Wednesday 23 December 2026.

Privacy and confidentiality

Your privacy is important to us. Our stakeholder management system is compliant with NSW Government’s information security requirements. The data is stored in NSW, only for as long as needed and in accordance with the State Records Act. Users manage data under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 and in accordance with our Privacy Management Plan. We will not disclose your personal information to anybody else unless you have given your consent or we are required to do so by law. More information on how the department complies with privacy requirements can be found on our website.

Permission


All feedback received by the department will be reviewed. We value your input and accept that information you provide may be private and personal.

If you would prefer your feedback or your personal details to be treated as confidential, please indicate this by ticking the relevant box below.

If you do not make a request for confidentiality, the department may make your feedback, including any personal details contained in the feedback, available to the public.

Please note that, regardless of a request for confidentiality, the department may be required by law to release copies of feedback forms to third parties in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009.


Your details








Your responses 


We are seeking input from holders of unregulated licences in inland valleys. Thank you for your time. If you would like to stay up to date with the department’s upcoming engagement activities, you can subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter.

Please press Submit to close out of this survey. 
Irrigation efficiency factor


We need an irrigation efficiency factor (IEF), to input into the method. The IEF is applied after the volume of water has been calculated by remote sensing. The default IEFs are sourced from work undertaken with the northern NSW cotton industry and the Department of Planning, Industry and Regional Development—Agriculture in regulated systems.


We need to understand if you take every opportunity to take unregulated water or only take it if you need it for irrigation purposes. We also need to understand the likely impact of storage on the IEFs. 


Please select the most appropriate response to the following statements.






Seasonal variation in use of unregulated water

We know that unregulated water is the cheapest but the most unreliable of water types.  We can also, on a valley-by-valley basis, determine the seasonal variation of regulated water use, that is, in some valleys 60% of the regulated water is used in the 4 warmer months between December and March. 

We want to understand the seasonal patterns of use of unregulated water by people who hold both an unregulated licence and a groundwater and/or a regulated licence.


Licence type

Choice of water

There may be circumstances where we cannot easily determine if you are using water from your unregulated licence or your groundwater licence to irrigate. We need your input to create a decision tree. The information we have available is the ratio between unregulated and groundwater licences, and if it is a wet or dry year. 



The following questions help us understand how effective our communication and engagement activities are in reaching our diverse community and stakeholders. This enables us to communicate more clearly and improve opportunities for everybody to have their say.




To finish this survey and have your responses recorded, please press the submit button below.

NSW DCCEEW - Water Group