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Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 24 February 2005 INCREASED SECURITY FOR WATER LICENCES ON THE WAY Around 6,000 water licence holders will receive letters in coming days outlining the next step forward in water reform in NSW, the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning & Natural Resources, Craig Knowles, said today.
“These new water arrangements, which apply to water users in established Water Sharing Plan (WSP) areas, are the next key step in our strong and detailed plans to ensure available water is shared fairly between the environment and extractors.
“The new system provides farmers with greater flexibility in how they manage their water and ensures that essential ecosystems also receive their fair share of available water.
“In the regions covered by WSPs water will now be recognised as a separate asset to the land.
“Importantly for farmers, the water they are licenced to extract can be independently traded with its own certificate of title.
“In an Australian first, these changes also provide an unprecedented level of security around water access for the majority of commercial users.
“Most licences will now provide perpetual access to a share of available water,” said Mr Knowles.
Water Sharing Plans, which cover around 80 per cent of NSW’s surface water use, came into operation on 1 July 2004.
Mr Knowles said that licence holders not in areas with a WSP would continue to operate under existing licence conditions and that those using water from unregulated water sources or coastal groundwater in areas with a WSP would receive further information in coming weeks.
“About 6,000 licence holder across the State have been mailed information which they will receive over the next few days.
“Local information sessions are also being held to assist water users in fully understanding the new arrangements.
“For those licencees who can’t get to an information session, a free-help line has been established that will put them in touch with a local contact who can answer their questions.
“Information is also available on the internet at www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au or licence holders can send questions to wma.info@dipnr.nsw.gov.au .”.
© NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources
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