General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012–2013
Macquarie catchment
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
ii | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Publisher: NSW Department of Primary Industries, Office of Water
Level 18, 227 Elizabeth Street GPO Box 3889 Sydney NSW 2001
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012 -2013 – Macquarie Catchment
First published: January 2014
ISBN: 978 1 74256 582 8
More information
This report may be cited as:
Burrell M., Moss P., Petrovic J., Ali A., (2014) General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-
2013:Macquarie Catchment, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Sydney
www.water.nsw.gov.au
Cover image: Burrendong Dam spilling at 60,000 megalitres per day looking downstream of spillway, courtesy
of NSW Office of Water Hydrometric Gauging Team
Jobtrack 12549
© State of New South Wales through the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services 2014. You may copy,
distribute and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute the NSW Department of Primary Industries as
the owner.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (January 2014). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
iii | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Table of Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 1
Contextual Statement .............................................................................................................................. 2
Accounting extent ................................................................................................................................ 2
Climate ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Dam inflows and volume ..................................................................................................................... 7
Major high flow events ......................................................................................................................... 9
Surface water resources and management ........................................................................................ 9
Water Accounting Statements ............................................................................................................... 15
Significant water accounting policies ................................................................................................. 16
Quantification of data ......................................................................................................................... 16
Data accuracy ................................................................................................................................ 16
2012-13 Macquarie Physical Flows Mass Balance Diagram ............................................................ 17
Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities .............................................................................. 18
Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities ................................................................................ 19
Note Disclosures ................................................................................................................................... 22
Reconciliation and future prospect descriptions ................................................................................ 23
Note 1 – Allocation accounts ............................................................................................................. 25
Note 2 – Available water determination (AWD) (allocation announcement) ..................................... 28
Note 3 – Allocation account usage .................................................................................................... 32
Note 4 – Internal trading (allocation assignments) ............................................................................ 34
Note 5 – Storage spill account reset ................................................................................................. 35
Note 6 – Held environmental water ................................................................................................... 37
Note 7 – Environmental provisions .................................................................................................... 40
Note 8 – Surface water storage ......................................................................................................... 42
Note 9 – River channel storage ......................................................................................................... 43
Note 10 – Storage inflow ................................................................................................................... 45
Note 11 – Storage evaporation and storage rainfall .......................................................................... 46
Note 12 – River evaporation and river rainfall ................................................................................... 47
Note 13 – Gauged tributary inflow ..................................................................................................... 48
Note 14 – Ungauged runoff estimate ................................................................................................ 49
Note 15 – Dam releases, river inflow from dam releases ................................................................. 50
Note 16 – End of system/Regulated Effluents................................................................................... 52
Note 17 – Flow to Macquarie Marshes .............................................................................................. 54
Note 18 – Extractions from river ........................................................................................................ 56
Note 19 – Basic rights extractions ..................................................................................................... 57
Note 20 – Supplementary extractions ............................................................................................... 58
Note 21 – River and groundwater interaction .................................................................................... 61
Note 22 – Unaccounted difference .................................................................................................... 62
Note 23 – Adjusting entry .................................................................................................................. 63
Appendix 1 - Groundwater..................................................................................................................... 64
References ............................................................................................................................................ 76
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
iv | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Tables
Table 1: 2012-13 monthly rainfall and historic monthly rainfall statistics at Bathurst and Warren 5
Table 2: Water account data accuracy estimates key 16
Table 3: Explanatory information for allocation account summary 26
Table 4: Allocation account balance summary for the Cudgegong regulated river 2012-13 27
Table 5: Allocation account balance summary for the Macquarie regulated river 2012-13 27
Table 6: Priority of access licence categories 28
Table 7: Allocation summary report notes 29
Table 8: Allocation announcements for the Cudgegong regulated river water source 2012-13 30
Table 9: Allocation announcements for the Macquarie regulated river water source 2012-13 31
Table 10: Licence category metered usage apportionment table 33
Table 11: Account usage summary 2012-13 33
Table 12: 2012-13 Macquarie catchment allocation assignments summary 34
Table 13: Storage Spill forfeitures and resets 36
Table 14: Explanatory information for Environmental Account Summary 38
Table 15: Cudgegong regulated water source environmental account balance summary 2012-13 39
Table 16: Cudgegong regulated water source environmental holding summary 2012-13 39
Table 17: Macquarie regulated water source environmental account balance summary 2012-13 39
Table 18: Macquarie regulated water source environmental holding summary 2012-13 39
Table 19: Summary balance of environmental water allowance 41
Table 20: Storage summary table 42
Table 21: Summary of river channel storage calculation components 43
Table 22: Summary of River Volume Calculation 2012-13 44
Table 23: Components for backcalculation of inflow 45
Table 24: Summary of gauged tributary inflow 2012-13 48
Table 25: Summary of 2012-13 ungauged Inflow Estimate 49
Table 26: End of System Flows 52
Table 27: Breakdown of flow to Macquarie Marshes 55
Table 28: Reconciliation of physical extraction to account usage (ML) 56
Table 29: Macquarie supplementary events summary 2012-13 59
Table 30: Macquarie groundwater water sharing plan summary 65
Table 31: Macquarie surface water catchment groundwater sources summary table (1 of 2) 68
Table 32: Macquarie surface water catchment groundwater sources summary table (2 of 2) 69
Table 33: Explanatory information for allocation account summary 71
Table 34: Lower Macquarie Groundwater Source 2012-13 account summary 72
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
v | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Figures
Figure 1: Surface water geographical extent of the accounts 4
Figure 2: Monthly Rainfall Data and historical median deviations at Bathurst and Warren 5
Figure 3: Macquarie annual rainfall for 2012-13 6
Figure 4: Average annual rainfall in the Macquarie catchment (1961-1990) 6
Figure 5: Long-term inflows to Burrendong Dam against mean and reporting year inflow 7
Figure 6: Long-term inflows to Windamere Dam against mean and reporting year inflow 7
Figure 7: Daily inflows and rainfall at Burrendong 2012-13 8
Figure 8: Daily inflows and rainfall at Windamere Dam 2012-13 8
Figure 9: Burrendong Dam 2012-13 behaviour (volume and percentage) 8
Figure 10: Windamere Dam 2012-13 behaviour (volume and percentage) 9
Figure 11: Cudgegong Account Water Availability (Carryover + Available Water Determinations) 10
Figure 12: Macquarie Account Water Availability (Carryover + Available Water Determinations) 10
Figure 13: Macquarie supplementary licence usage since commencement of water sharing plan 11
Figure 14: Cudgegong total share component and usage since the introduction of the water sharing plan (excludes supplementary licences) 12
Figure 15: Macquarie total share component and usage since the introduction of the water sharing plan (excludes supplementary licences) 12
Figure 16: LTAEL vs Annual Average Extraction (LTAEL Auditable) 13
Figure 17: Environmental water allowance summary since commencement of plan 14
Figure 18: Held environmental water share component in the Macquarie catchment 14
Figure 19: Cudgegong River at Rocky Water Hole planned environmental flows 2012-13 41
Figure 20: Burrendong Dam releases 2012-13 50
Figure 21: Windamere Dam releases 2012-13 51
Figure 22: Macquarie end of system flow 2012-13 53
Figure 23: Macquarie regulated effluents 2012-13 53
Figure 24: Macquarie supplementary usage by river section 59
Figure 25: Total daily supplementary usage in the Macquarie 2012-13 60
Figure 26: Macquarie surface water catchment – groundwater water sharing plans 66
Figure 27: Lower Macquarie groundwater sources water availability summary since the introduction of the water sharing plan 70
Figure 28: Share component and account usage in the lower Macquarie groundwater source since the introduction of the water sharing plan. 70
Figure 29: Allocation assignments within Aquifer licences in the Lower Macquarie Groundwater Management Area 71
Figure 30: Lower Macquarie groundwater combined sources physical flow budget 2012-13 73
Figure 31: Lower Macquarie Groundwater Management Area, change in groundwater levels 2012-13 (based on monitoring bore data) 74
Figure 32: Potential recharge deviation non-modelled areas 2012-13 74
Figure 33: Macquarie catchment, non-modelled areas annual potential recharge (1971-72 to 2012-13) 75
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
vi | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Abbreviations
Acronym Description
ARCGIS Mapping and spatial analysis platform for designing and managing solutions through the application of geographic knowledge
AWAS Australian Water Accounting Standard
AWAS 1 Australian Water Accounting Standards
AWD Available Water Determination
CAIRO Computer Aided Improvements to River Operations
Ck Creek
DECCW NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water
D/S Downstream
EWA Environmental Water Allowance
GIS Geographic Information System
GL Gigalitres (1,000,000,000 litres)
GMA Groundwater Management Area
GPWAR General Purpose Water Accounting Report
IQQM Integrated Quantity and Quality Model
LAS Licencing Administration System
MDBA Murray-Darling Basin Authority
ML Megalitres (1,000,000 litres)
MODFLOW Modular Three Dimensional Finite-Difference Groundwater Flow Model
NSW New South Wales
SILO Climatic data provision system run by Queensland government for the provision of both measured and modeled data.
U/S Upstream
WASB Water Accounting Standards Board
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
vii | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Glossary
Term Definition
Allocation The specific volume of water allocated to water allocation accounts in a given season, defined according to rules established in the relevant water plan.
Allocation assignments The transfer of water between licence holder allocation accounts as a result of a trade agreement. The assignment becomes part of the receiver’s current year allocation account water.
Allocation Account Water account attached to an access licence used to track the balance of account water.
Aquifer Soil or rock below the land surface that is saturated with water. A confined aquifer has layers of impermeable material above and below it and is under pressure. When the aquifer is penetrated by a well, the water rises above the top of the aquifer. In an unconfined aquifer, the upper water surface (water table) is at atmospheric pressure and thus is able to rise and fall.
Available Water Determination (AWD)
The process by which water is made available for use and shared amongst water users who hold a water access licence. It determines the volume of water that is to be added to an individuals licence allocation account.
Australian Water Accounting Standard (AWAS)
A national standard that prescribes the basis for preparing and presenting a General Purpose Water Accounting Report (GPWAR). It sets out requirements for the recognition, quantification, presentation and disclosure of items in a GPWAR.
Back-calculation A calculation approach using a mass balance to determine an unknown variable (used to calculate storage inflows based on balancing the change in storage volume where inflow is the only unknown).
Basic rights The non-licensed right to extract water to meet basic requirements for household purposes (non-commercial uses in and around the house and garden) and for watering of stock. It is available for anyone who has access to river frontage on their property.
Computer Aided Improvements to River Operations (CAIRO)
A spreadsheet-based water balance model used for optimising river operations (orders and releases)
Carryover The volume or share component that may be reserved by a licence holder for use in the proceeding year.
Catchment The areas of land which collect rainfall and contribute to surface water (streams, rivers, wetlands) or to ground-water. A catchment is a natural drainage area, bounded by sloping ground, hills or mountains, from which water flows to a low point.
Conveyance licence Defined licence category that provides an allowance for losses in the delivery of water.
Dead storage The volume in storage that is generally considered unavailable for use (e.g water level below release valves) due to access and often poor water quality.
Dealings A water dealing refers to a change that can be made to a licence, in particular, those arising from trading including the sale of all or part of an access licence or account water. May also include a change in location, licence category or consolidation/subdivision of licences.
Double entry accounting Double-entry accounting is a method of record-keeping that records both where money (or in this case water) comes from and where it goes. Using double-entry means that water is never gained or lost - it is always transferred from somewhere (a source account) to somewhere else (a destination account).
Effective storage The total volume of storage minus the dead storage component – the volume generally considered as useable.
Effluent Flow leaving a place or process. Sewage effluent refers to the flow leaving a sewage treatment plant. An effluent stream is one which leaves the main river and does not return.
Entity A defined geographical area or zone within the accounting region. Transactions and reports are produced for each entity.
End of system The last defined point in a catchment where water information can be measured and/or reported.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
viii | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Environmental water Water allocated to support environmental outcomes and other public benefits. Environmental water provisions recognise the environmental water requirements and are based on environmental, social and economic considerations, including existing user rights.
Equity Total assets minus total liabilities
Evaporation The process by which water or another liquid becomes a gas. Water from land areas, bodies of water, and all other moist surfaces is absorbed into the atmosphere as a vapour.
Evapotranspiration The process by which water is transmitted as a vapour to the atmosphere as the result of evaporation from any surface and transpiration from plants.
Extraction The pumping or diverting of water from a river or aquifer by licensed users for a specific purpose (irrigation, stock, domestic, towns, etc). The volume is measured at the point of extraction or diversion (river pump, diversion works etc).
General Purpose Water Accounting Report (GPWAR)
A report prepared according to the Australian Water Accounting Standard. It is comprised of a number of components including a contextual statement, a Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities, a Statement of Change in Water Assets and Water Liabilities, a Statement of Physical Water Flows, Notes and Disclosures, and an assurance and accountability statement
General security licence A category of water access licence implemented under the Water Management Act 2000. Forms the bulk of the water access licence entitlement volume in NSW and is a low priority entitlement i.e. only receives water once essential and high security entitlements are met in the available water determination process.
Groundwater Water location beneath the ground in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations.
High security licence A category of licence water access licence implemented under the Water Management Act 2000. Receives a higher priority than general security licences but less priority than essential requirements in the available water determination process.
HYDSTRA database A database used by NSW Office of Water to store continuous time series data such as river flow, river height, and water quality.
Inflows Surface water runoff and deep drainage to groundwater (groundwater recharge) and transfers into the water system (both surface and groundwater) for a defined area.
Inter-valley trade Trade of licence holder allocation account water, via allocation assignment, from one catchment to another catchment (or state).
Intra-valley trade Trade of licence holder allocation account water, via allocation assignment, within the same catchment.
Licence Administration System (LAS)
The system used by NSW Office of Water to manage water access licence information and transaction.
Liability A legally binding obligation to settle a debt.
Median The middle point of a distribution, separating the highest half of a sample from the lowest half.
Non-physical transaction An accounting transaction representing a process that is not a component of the water cycle (e.g. an available water determination).
Physical transaction An accounting transaction representing a process of the water cycle (e.g. an extraction)
Recharge Groundwater recharge is a hydrologic process where water drains downward from surface water to groundwater. Groundwater is recharged naturally by rain, floods and snow melt and to a smaller extent by drainage directly from surface water (such as rivers and lakes).
Regulated river A river system where flow is controlled via one or more major man-made structures e.g. dams and weirs. For the purposes of the Water Management Act 2000 a regulated river is one that is declared by the Minister to be a regulated river. Within a regulated river system licence holders can order water against a held entitlement.
Replenishment flows Flows provided along effluent systems downstream of a water source to supply water for household, town use and stock.
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ix | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Return inflows Water that has been diverted from a river by a water user and is then returned to the river after use (e.g. can include non-consumptive uses, such as hydropower, cooling water for industry or water for aquaculture). This water is included as an inflow to the basin because the water is available to be diverted downstream or will pass the basin outlet.
Share component An entitlement to water specified on the access licence, expressed as a unit share or in the case of specific purpose licences (eg. local water utility, major water utility and domestic and stock) a volume in megalitres. The amount of water a licence holder is allocated as a result of an available water determination and the amount they can take in any year is based on their share component.
Snowpack Volume of water stored in packed snow that upon melting will result in a system inflow.
Steady State A condition in a physical groundwater system where the volume does not change over time, or in which any one change in volume is continually balanced by another.
Storage A state-owned dam, weir or other structure which is used to regulate and manage river flows in the catchment and the water bodies impounded by these structures.
Storage discharge The volume of water released from storage in a specified time frame.
Storage reserve Proportion of water in a storage reserved in the resource assessment process for future essential or high security requirements (e.g. town water).
Storage volume The total volume of water held in storage at a specified time.
Sub account This is the separation of account water into specific categories to allow different accounting rules to apply to each.
Supplementary water Unregulated river flow available for extraction under a supplementary licence.
Surface water All water that occurs naturally above ground including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, creeks, wetlands and estuaries.
Translucent flow The release of an agreed percentage of an incoming flow event from a dam for environmental purposes immediately downstream of the dam.
Transparent flow The release of all or part of an incoming flow event from a dam for environmental purposes at one or more sites downstream of the dam.
Tributary A smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river or stream. Usually a number of smaller tributaries merge to form a river.
Uncontrolled flow Water permitted to be extracted without debt under a general security access licence during a supplementary flow event. The extracted water may be progressively debited to the general security account if water availability exceeds predefined levels.
Ungauged catchment A catchment without a flow gauge to accurately record stream flows. Modelled estimates must be used to approximate the contribution of ungauged catchments to the main river.
Water accounting The systematic process of identifying, recognising, quantifying, reporting, assuring and publishing information about water, the rights or other claims to that water, and the obligations against that water
Water assets The physical water held in storage, as well as any claims to water that are expected to increase the future water resource (e.g. external water entering the system through intervalley trading).
Water liabilities Claims on the water assets of the water report entity including water that has been allocated to licence holder accounts or environmental accounts but yet to be taken at the end of the reporting period.
Water sharing plan A water management plan that defines the rules for sharing of water within a region under the Water Management Act 2000.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
1 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Introduction
This document is a General Purpose Water Accounting Report (GPWAR) for the regulated,
component of the Macquarie and Cudgegong River systems, prepared by the New South
Wales Office of Water under the Australian Water Accounting Standard 1 framework (WASB,
2012).
The GPWAR has been prepared for the reporting period of 1 July to 2012 to 30 June 2013
and aims to provide a consolidated and informative annual summary of the available water
resources and the water resource management that occurred during this period.
While groundwater has not been specifically included in the GPWAR (aside from physical
flow interactions with the regulated rivers), annual summary information pertaining to
physical groundwater flows, and the management of groundwater resources in the
Macquarie catchment is presented in Appendix 1 of this report.
As Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales Office of Water I hereby declare:
The information presented in these accounts as a faithful representation of the
management and operation of the Macquarie and Cudgegong regulated water sources in
2012-2013
All data presented in this report is based on the best available information at the time of
publication.
The NSW Office of Water has to the best of its ability prepared this GPWAR for
Macquarie and Cudgegong River regulated water source for the 2012-13 water year in
accordance with the Australian Water Accounting Standard 1.
Bruce Cooper
Deputy Commissioner, Water Resource Assessment and Management
NSW Office of Water
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2 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Contextual Statement
The Macquarie catchment covers an area of 74,800 square kilometres within the Murray-
Darling Basin. The headwaters of the Macquarie River originate in the Great Dividing Range
south of Bathurst, and the river flows in a north-westerly direction for 960 kilometres until it
joins the Barwon River near Brewarrina. The major tributaries of the upper Macquarie
catchment are the Cudgegong, Talbragar and Little Rivers.
Flows from the lower reaches of the Macquarie River cross into the adjacent Bogan River
through a series of regulated effluent creeks that leave the Macquarie River near the town of
Warren. The Bogan River rises in the Harvey Ranges near Peak Hill and flows roughly
parallel to the Macquarie across the north-western plains before joining the Barwon River
downstream of Brewarrina.
Elevations across the catchment range from 1,300 metres in the mountains south of Bathurst
to less than 100 metres near Brewarrina in the far north of the catchment. Below Dubbo the
valley is predominantly flat alluvial plains where elevations are less than 300 metres.
The Macquarie catchment is regulated by two major storages. Burrendong Dam supplies
water for irrigation as well as town water and stock and domestic requirements along the
Macquarie River and the lower Bogan River. It also stores water for environmental
requirements in the lower valley including the Ramsar-listed wetlands in the Macquarie
Marshes. Windamere Dam, on the Cudgegong River upstream of Burrendong Dam, provides
water for the towns of Mudgee and Gulgong and is operated in conjunction with Burrendong
to supply water requirements along the Cudgegong River and the lower Macquarie valley.
The Macquarie catchment formed part of the lands originally occupied by the Wiradjuri,
Wailwan and Wongaibon Aboriginal nations. Today the catchment supports around 180,000
people with over half of this population living within the regional cities of Dubbo, Orange and
Bathurst (all approximately 30,000 people). Regional towns include Mudgee, Wellington,
Narromine, Nyngan and Warren.
The largest agricultural use of water in the valley is for cotton production downstream of
Dubbo. Other significant irrigated crops include lucerne, cereals, oilseed, wheat and
vegetables. Most of the major cities and towns rely on the rivers in the catchment for their
water supply including Bathurst, Orange, and Oberon upstream of Burrendong Dam, and
Dubbo, Wellington, and Nyngan on the Macquarie River below Burrendong Dam. Lithgow
also receives transfers of water for town water supply from the Fish River Scheme.
More detailed information on the catchment is available in the report ‘Water resources and
management overview – Macquarie-Bogan catchment’ published in 2011 (available on the
NSW Office of Water website).
Accounting extent
The accounted river extent is illustrated in Figure 1. It includes the Cudgegong River from
Windamere Dam to Burrendong Dam, the Macquarie River from downstream Burrendong
Dam to the Macquarie River at Oxley Station, Crooked Creek, Duck Creek, Marra Creek and
Gunningbar Creek. Water received by the Macquarie Marshes has been accounted as an
effluent/outflow from the main river. All water licences managed by the Water Sharing Plan
for the Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source are considered.
The water accounting statements represent the regulated components of the system only.
The Bogan catchment has therefore been excluded from detailed accounting in this GPWAR
aside from any water that can be identified as leaving the regulated Macquarie River for
replenishment and town water purposes in the Bogan.
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While physical groundwater volumes that interact with the regulated river are included in
GPWAR statements wherever the volume can be estimated (and any interactions not directly
estimated form part of the unaccounted difference) all other groundwater aquifer flows and
groundwater management are excluded from the GPWAR. Alternatively, supporting
information for groundwater in the Macquarie catchment for 2012-13 is provided in Appendix
1 of this document.
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Figure 1: Surface water geographical extent of the accounts
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5 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Climate
The Macquarie catchment experienced a drier than average year in 2012-13 following on
from the previous 2 years of wetter than average conditions. Annual rainfall totals were
consistently 100 mm to 200 mm lower than the average across the entire catchment (Figure
3 and Figure 4).
Using Bathurst (upper catchment) and Warren (lower catchment) as reference points, while
Bathurst figures indicate close to historic median conditions with higher rainfalls in
December, January, March and June, Warren in the lower catchment indicated conditions
significantly drier than the historic median with only June rainfall being higher (Figure 2 and
Table 1).
Figure 2: Monthly Rainfall Data and historical median deviations at Bathurst and Warren
0
20
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Jul
Au
g
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v
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Bathurst historical mean Warren historical meanBathurst 2012-13 Warren 2012-13
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Bathurst mean deviation Warren mean deviation
Table 1: 2012-13 monthly rainfall and historic monthly rainfall statistics at Bathurst and Warren1
Bathurst Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Annual
2012-13 55.4 30.6 39.2 7.9 22.2 74.6 96.0 38.3 116.8 15.6 27.2 91.0 614.8
Historic statistics
Mean 49.0 49.5 47.0 60.3 61.4 66.7 68.6 58.9 51.9 41.3 41.8 44.0 639.0
Median 41.3 46.9 43.6 54.6 56.0 59.8 57.9 47.2 40.4 36.5 34.8 36.8 629.6
Lowest 3.7 1.4 3.8 2.3 0.8 0.0 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.8 375.3
Highest 154.7 163.2 130.1 215.8 195.7 218.5 223.7 235.5 205.3 166 115 193.1 1100
Highest year 1922 1986 1943 1999 1961 2010 1978 1971 1926 1990 1995 1916 1949-1950
Warren Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Annual
2012-13 37.2 2.0 19.8 7.0 32.0 9.2 1.5 9.6 15.1 0.0 21.6 116.2 271.2
Historic statistics
Mean 33.8 34.7 30.1 40.0 39.3 43.1 58.6 51.0 43.2 38.1 38.2 37.7 490.1
Median 26.3 26.6 24.1 27.7 30.2 31.1 43.2 33.3 28.1 21.4 32.3 29.7 478.6
Lowest 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 182.9
Highest 130.8 144.5 104 173.8 205.1 237 241.9 363 223.2 302.5 174 174.3 1028.4
Highest year 1897 1998 2011 1950 1950 2010 1995 1955 1956 1905 1983 1925 1955-1956
1 Long term statistics are from the Bureau of Meteorology – climate data online, using the climatic stations ‘63005 – Bathurst
Agricultural Station’ and ‘51054 – Warren (Frawley Street) ’. Historic record statistics are 1908 to 2013 for Bathurst and 1884 to
2013 for Warren.
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Figure 3: Macquarie annual rainfall for 2012-13
Figure 4: Average annual rainfall in the Macquarie catchment (1961-1990)
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7 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Dam inflows and volume
Annual inflow during 2012-13 for both Burrendong (Figure 5) and Windamere (Figure 6)
storages was well below average. The majority of inflows arrived within the first month
meaning that inflows were extremely low for the following 11 months (Figure 7 and Figure 8).
The inflow from the July event provided the only significant inflows into the storages with total
daily inflow peak volumes of approximately 36,000 megalitres at Burrendong and 1,800
megalitres at Windamere.
With Burrendong Dam, starting the year at 102 per cent, the inflow from the June event was
stored in the flood mitigation storage zone until it could be released downstream at a steady
rate. By the end of June 2013, following a dry year and high demand, the storage finished
the year at 45 per cent, with 531,915 megalitres in storage (Figure 9). Windamere began the
2012-13 year at 59 per cent of capacity and finished the year at 56 per cent, with 215,343
megalitres in storage (Figure 10).
Figure 5: Long-term inflows to Burrendong Dam against mean and reporting year inflow
0
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1,000
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Infl
ow
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L x
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)
Burrendong long term inflow 2012-13 inflow Mean inflow
Figure 6: Long-term inflows to Windamere Dam against mean and reporting year inflow
0
50
100
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250
300
350
400
18
90
-91
18
95
-96
19
00
-01
19
05
-06
19
10
-11
19
15
-16
19
20
-21
19
25
-26
19
30
-31
19
35
-36
19
40
-41
19
45
-46
19
50
-51
19
55
-56
19
60
-61
19
65
-66
19
70
-71
19
75
-76
19
80
-81
19
85
-86
19
90
-91
19
95
-96
20
00
-01
20
05
-06
20
10
-11
Infl
ow
(M
L x
10
00
)
Windamere long term inflow 2012-13 inflow Average inflow
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
8 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Figure 7: Daily inflows and rainfall at Burrendong 2012-13
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
1-J
ul-
12
1-A
ug-
12
1-S
ep-1
2
1-O
ct-1
2
1-N
ov-
12
1-D
ec-1
2
1-J
an-1
3
1-F
eb-1
3
1-M
ar-1
3
1-A
pr-
13
1-M
ay-1
3
1-J
un
-13
1-J
ul-
13
Infl
ow
(M
L/d
)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Rai
nfa
ll (m
m)
Rainfall Burrendong Inflow
Figure 8: Daily inflows and rainfall at Windamere Dam 2012-13
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
1-J
ul-
12
1-A
ug-
12
1-S
ep-1
2
1-O
ct-1
2
1-N
ov-
12
1-D
ec-1
2
1-J
an-1
3
1-F
eb-1
3
1-M
ar-1
3
1-A
pr-
13
1-M
ay-1
3
1-J
un
-13
1-J
ul-
13
Infl
ow
(M
L/d
)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Rai
nfa
ll (m
m)
Rainfall Windamere Inflow
Figure 9: Burrendong Dam 2012-13 behaviour (volume and percentage)
40%
60%
80%
100%
450,000
650,000
850,000
1,050,000
1,250,000
1-J
ul-
12
1-A
ug-
12
1-S
ep-1
2
1-O
ct-1
2
1-N
ov-
12
1-D
ec-1
2
1-J
an-1
3
1-F
eb-1
3
1-M
ar-1
3
1-A
pr-
13
1-M
ay-1
3
1-J
un
-13
1-J
ul-
13
Sto
rage
Vo
lum
e (
ML)
Sto
rage
pe
rce
nta
ge
1,215,157 (102%)
531,915 (45%)
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
9 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Figure 10: Windamere Dam 2012-13 behaviour (volume and percentage)
50%
55%
60%
65%
180,000
200,000
220,000
240,000
1-J
ul-
12
1-A
ug-
12
1-S
ep-1
2
1-O
ct-1
2
1-N
ov-
12
1-D
ec-1
2
1-J
an-1
3
1-F
eb-1
3
1-M
ar-1
3
1-A
pr-
13
1-M
ay-1
3
1-J
un
-13
1-J
ul-
13
Vo
lum
e (
ML)
Sto
rage
pe
rce
nta
ge
206,887 (59%)215,343 (56%)
Major high flow events
There were no major high flow (flood) events in 2012-13 in the Macquarie or Cudgegong Rivers.
Surface water resources and management
At the commencement of 2012-13, there was a storage of approximately 207,000 megalitres
held in Windamere Dam (59 per cent capacity) and approximately 1,215,000 megalitres in
Burrendong Dam (102 per cent capacity).
The carryover volume (including the balance of the environmental water allowance (EWA))
into the year amounted to 814,502 megalitres with the opening allocations on 1 July 2012
being 100 per cent of entitlement for domestic and stock, high security, local water utility and
supplementary licence holders. The opening announcement for general security was 0.28
megalitres per share. A number of follow up announcements occurred particularly throughout
the summer. By mid April 64 per cent of the valley entitlement had been announced.
Under the rules set out in the water sharing plan for general and high security licence
accounts, an accounting process is implemented, triggered by the storages spilling (or in the
case of Burrendong Dam entering the flood mitigation zone) whereby the water held in the
carryover sub accounts are progressively withdrawn, Cudgegong accounts when both
Burrendong and Windamere Dams spill while Macquarie accounts when only Burrendong
Dam effectively spills. In 2012-13 water year 214,639 megalitres of Macquarie licenced
carryover sub account water spilled however, as Windamere Dam did not spill, no
Cudgegong carryover sub account water was spilled. Details of the account reset process
are available in Note 5 of this GPWAR. In addition 57,071 megalitres of EWA carryover water
was spilled.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
10 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Water availability2 for general security in the Macquarie in 2012-13 was the second highest
since the system began management under the Water Management Act 2000, with carryover
plus available water determinations being 128 per cent of the total licenced entitlement
(Figure 12) while the Cudgegong was the highest at 306 per cent of the total licenced
entitlement (Figure 11).
Figure 11: Cudgegong Account Water Availability (Carryover + Available Water Determinations)[3][4][5][6]
Water Availability
0.0
50.0
100.0
150.0
200.0
250.0
300.0
350.0
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Wat
er A
vaila
bili
ty (
% o
f En
titl
emen
t)
Domestic and Stock Local Water Utility High Security General Security
Figure 12: Macquarie Account Water Availability (Carryover + Available Water Determinations)[3][4][5][6]
Water Availability
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
120.0
140.0
160.0
2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-13
Wat
er A
vaila
bili
ty (
% o
f En
titl
emen
t)
Domestic and Stock Local Water Utility High Security General Security
2 Water availability refers to the sum of water that was made available in accounts and does not take into account annual use
limits. 3 Supplementary licences have been excluded. Each year of the plan this licence category has been granted an available water
determination of 100%, however access to this water is contingent on high flow events available. Actual usage information
against this category of licence is available in note 20 of this GPWAR. 4 Includes all access licences issues under the water sharing plan and therefore held environmental water
5 Includes credits and debit resulting from account spill reset’s in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 (see note 5 for details of this
process) 6 At the commencement of the water sharing plan (2004-05) water held in general security accounts was allowed to be brought
forward as an opening balance.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
11 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Account usage (total for all licence categories) in 2012-13 was 4,493 megalitres in the Cudgegong system and 554,363 megalitres in the Macquarie. In the Macquarie 552,070 megalitres was used against categories not including supplementary for which 2,293 megalitres of usage was accounted (Figure 13). In the Cudgegong no supplementary event announcements have occurred since the commencement of the water sharing plan.
Figure 13: Macquarie supplementary licence usage since commencement of water sharing plan
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Sup
ple
me
nta
ry U
sage
(M
L)
For the Cudgegong despite very high levels of water availability usage was below the average usage since the commencement of the water sharing plan (Figure 14). In the Macquarie 2012-13 was easily the highest usage demand since the plan commenced (Figure 15). This resulted from a combination of drier than average water year with a high level of resource availability guaranteed which triggering higher demand for water.
It should be noted that the variation in the share components from year to year (Figure 14 and Figure 15) is a result of share trade between Macquarie and Cudgegong catchments.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
12 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Figure 14: Cudgegong total share component and usage since the introduction of the water sharing plan (excludes supplementary licences)
27,000
28,000
29,000
30,000
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-12
Shar
e C
om
po
nen
t
0
5,000
10,000
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Usa
ge (
ML)
Domestic and Stock Local Water Utility High Security General Security
Figure 15: Macquarie total share component and usage since the introduction of the water sharing plan (excludes supplementary licences)
640,000642,000
644,000646,000
648,000650,000
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Shar
e C
om
po
nen
t
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Usa
ge (
ML)
Domestic and Stock Local Water Utility High Security General Security
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
13 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
The high levels of water availability and the climate condition that prevailed in 2012-13 corresponded to an increase in demand across the catchment with account usage significantly higher (approximately 558,856 megalitres) than previous years under the water sharing plan. While this amount is higher than the long term average extraction limit established in the water sharing plan of 391,900 megalitres the average annual accountable take since the plan commenced is only 187,507 megalitres which is well below this limit (Figure 16).
Figure 16: LTAEL vs Annual Average Extraction (LTAEL Auditable)7
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Acc
ou
nt
usa
ge (
ML)
Annual Extractions (LTAEL Auditable)Long Term Average Extraction LimitAnnual Average Extraction (LTAEL Auditable)
The environmental water allowance (EWA) availability is directly linked to general security
availability, and as a result received significant top-ups throughout the season. The total
water available to the EWA during 2012-13 was 205,329 megalitres (including 160,000
megalitres carried forward from 2011-12) and of this 128,119 megalitres was used for
environmental outcomes in the Macquarie Marshes (Figure 17).
Total held environmental water in the Macquarie catchment continued to increase during
2012-13. General security share component grew from 145,522 megalitres to 163,628
megalitres while supplementary, high security and domestic and stock share component
remained constant at 3,340 megalitres, 0 megalitres and 40 megalitres respectively (Figure
18). A detailed account balance for held environmental water is available in Note 6 of this
GPWAR.
All minimum flow requirements outlined in the water sharing plan were considered to be met
during 2012-13.
7 Annual Extraction (LTAEL Auditable) refers to the Extractions defined in the plan that the LTAEL is audited against. In the case
of the Lachlan these are water extractions by holders of all categories of access licences, domestic and stock rights and native
title rights extractions, volumes of water delivered as adaptive environmental water, floodplain harvesting extractions (no
estimate currently available), and net allocation assignments out (zero for this water source).
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
14 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Figure 17: Environmental water allowance summary since commencement of plan
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Vo
lum
e (M
L)
EWA made available EWA used
Figure 18: Held environmental water share component in the Macquarie catchment8
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Wat
er S
har
e C
om
po
nen
t (M
L)
General Security High Security Domestic and Stock Supplementary water
8 A high security licence of zero share component has been held since 2006-07
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
15 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Water Accounting Statements
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
16 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Significant water accounting policies
The water accounting statements in this GPWAR have been prepared using an accrual basis
of accounting. All figures are in megalitres (ML).
The ‘Statement of Physical Flows’ has been excluded for this GPWAR as all transactions
have been presented in the statements ‘Water Assets and Liabilities’ and ‘Changes in Water
Assets and Water Liabilities’. A ‘Physical Flow Diagram’ that represents the physical
movements of water has been included in order to provide a clearer depict those accounting
processes associated with physical flow movement.
For a general information on how to interpret the NOW water accounting statements refer to
the Guide to General Purpose Water Accounting Reports available for download from the
NSW Office of Water website.
Quantification of data
Data accuracy
It is important to recognise that the data used to account for water movement and
management in the reporting entity has been obtained from a variety of sources and
systems. The data ranges from observed values where a high accuracy would be anticipated
through to modelled results and estimates where accuracy can be highly variable depending
on a range of factors. To address the inconsistencies in accuracy and prevent misuse of the
data in the accounts, all figures in the water accounting statements will be accompanied by
an assessment of accuracy (Table 2).
Table 2: Water account data accuracy estimates key
Accuracy Description
A1
+/- 0% Data is determined rather than estimated or measured. Therefore the number contains no inaccuracies.
A +/- 10%
B +/- 25%
C +/- 50%
D +/- 100%
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
17 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
2012-13 Macquarie Physical Flows Mass Balance Diagram
All figures in megalitres
Major Storage
Outflow
Inflow
Macquarie Marsh
Macquarie
River01/07/12: 36,362
30/06/13: 2,785 Change: (33,577)
Flow to
Macquarie Marshes
655,744
End of System at
Carinda
120,908
River Inflows
Rainfall: 9,167
Gauged Inflow: 82,745
Ungauged Inflow: 363,976
Inflow from Aquifer: 4,690
River Outflow to Aquifer: 10,459
Evaporation: 43,135
Extraction: 555,336
Effluent Outflow: 0
River Outflows
Evaporation
19,440
23,670
Release Inflow
25,504
Rainfall
9,160
Cudgegong River01/07/12: 322
30/06/13: 127
Change: (195)
River Outflows
Evaporation: 2,024
Extraction: 4,720
River Inflows
Rainfall: 1,072
Ungauged Inflow: 43,326Unaccounted difference
76,836
1,052,258
Release
24,784
Rainfall
Macquarie Inflow
376,030
Inflow
51,158
84,348
01/07/12: 1,216,809
30/06/13: 532,175
Change: (684,634)
Burrendong Dam
Volume
Unaccounted difference
01/07/12: 215,370
30/06/13: 206,924
Change: (8,446)
Windamere Dam
Volume
Evaporation
123 Denotes negative
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
18 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Macquarie catchment
Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities
As at 30 June 2013
( ) denotes negative
1. Surface Water Storage Accuracy Notes 30 June 2013 30 June 2012
Burrendong Dam A 8 532,175 1,216,809
Windamere Dam A 8 206,924 215,370
River (Cudgegong) B 9 127 322
River (Macquarie) B 9 2,785 36,362
Total Surface Water Storage (Asws) 742,011 1,468,863
Change in Surface Water Storage (726,852) 224,423
2. Allocation Account Balance Accuracy Notes 30 June 2013 30 June 2012
Cudgegong A1 1
General Security 34,014 48,651
Macquarie A1 1
Domestic and Stock 0 0
High Security (HS) (32) 0
General Security 271,651 605,851
Environmental Water Allowance A1 7 77,210 160,000
Total Allocation Account Balance (Lsws) 382,843 814,502
Change in Allocation Account Balance (431,659) 213,666
Net Surface Water Assets (Asws-Lsws) 359,168 643,605
Change in Net Water Assets (295,193) 10,758
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
19 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Macquarie catchment
Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities
For the year ended 30 June 2013 (1 of 3) ( ) denotes negative
Surface Water Storage Inflows Accuracy Notes 2012-2013 2011-2012
Burrendong Dam
Inflow (Cudgegong) A 10 51,158 136,533
Inflow (Upper Macquarie) A 10 376,030 1,108,129
Rainfall B 11 24,784 54,422
Windamere Dam
Inflow A 10 25,504 67,017
Rainfall B 11 9,160 11,641
Cudgegong River
Rainfall C 12 1,072 2,897
Ungauged Inflow C 14 43,326 126,876
Inflow from Windamere A 15 23,670 13,704
Macquarie River
Rainfall B 11 9,167 21,429
Gauged Inflow A 13 82,745 159,510
Ungauged Inflow C 14 363,976 121,843
Inflow from Aquifer D 21 4,690 3,486
Inflow from Burrendong Dam A 15 1,052,258 1,044,088
Total Surface Water Storage Increases (Isws) 2,067,540 2,871,575
Surface Water Storage Outflows Accuracy Notes 2012-2013 2011-2012
Burrendong
Releases A 15 1,052,258 1,044,088
Evaporation B 11 84,348 113,071
Windamere
Releases A 15 23,670 13,704
Evaporation B 11 19,440 17,757
Cudgegong River
Evaporation C 12 2,024 3,329
Basic Rights Extractions C 19 227 227
Licenced Extractions from River A 18 4,493 2,710
Flow to Burrendong A 10 51,158 136,533
Macquarie River
Evaporation C 12 43,135 39,154
Basic Rights Extractions C 19 973 973
Licenced Extractions from River A 18 554,363 228,657
Flow to Macquarie Marsh B 17
Licenced 137,718 65,251
Other 518,026 561,209
End of System Flow A 16 120,908 126,754
Regulated Effluent A 16
Marra Creek 21,816 32,745
Crooked Creek 13,517 18,904
Duck Creek 19,774 17,588
Gunningbar Creek 28,888 62,906
River outflow to Aquifer D 21 10,459 22,867
Total Surface Water Storage Decreases (Dsws) 2,707,195 2,508,427
Unaccounted Volume (Balancing Item) (Usws) D 22
Cudgegong 10,361 475
Macquarie 76,836 138,250
Net Surface Water Storage Inflow (Isws-Dsws-Usws) (726,852) 224,423
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
20 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Macquarie catchment
Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities
For the year ended 30 June 2013 (2 of 3)
( ) denotes negative
Allocation Account Increases Accuracy Notes 2012-2013 2011-2012
Available Water Determinations A1 2
Cudgegong
Domestic and Stock 728 728
General Security 12,843 9,834
High Security 5,452 5,452
High Security (Research) 1 1
Local Water Utility 2,600 2,600
Macquarie
Domestic and Stock 4,862 4,861
General Security 391,457 299,710
High Security 8,376 8,376
High Security (Research) 4,344 4,344
High Security (TWS) 40 40
Local Water Utility 16,205 16,205
Environmental Water Allowance A1 7 102,400 78,400
New Licence A1 1
Cudgegong 749 0
Supplementary Water Demand A 20
Macquarie 2,293 1,504
Internal Trade - Buyers A1 4
Cudgegong 34,662 189,765
Macquarie 262,200 12,142
Storage spill reset - increase A1 5 118,477
Cudgegong 0 13,763
Macquarie 0 336,002
Macquarie EWA 0 160,000
Adjusting Account Entry - increase A1 23 0 230
Total Allocation Account Increases (Iaa) 849,212 1,143,956
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
21 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Macquarie catchment
Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities
For the year ended 30 June 2013 (3 of 3)
( ) denotes negative
Allocation Account Decreases Accuracy Notes 2012-2013 2011-2012
Account Usage A 3
Cudgegong
Domestic and Stock 281 144
General Security 1,807 440
High Security 435 344
Local Water Utility 1,970 1,783
Macquarie
Domestic and Stock 1,495 1,130
General Security 530,229 279,214
High Security 7,481 3,611
High Security (Research) 718 956
Local Water Utility 12,147 7,494
Supplementary 2,293 1,504
EWA A1 7 128,119 88,232
Account Forfeiture A 1
Cudgegong
Domestic and Stock 447 584
General Security 1,769 3,247
High Security 261 863
High Security (Research) 1 1
Local Water Utility 630 817
Macquarie
Domestic and Stock 3,367 3,689
General Security 9,786 5,420
High Security 451 6,066
High Security (Research) 3,626 3,388
High Security (TWS) 40 40
Local Water Utility 4,058 8,711
Environmental Water Allowance 57,071 71,446
Licence cancelled A1 1
Cudgegong 889 0
Internal Trade - Sellers A1 4
Cudgegong 34,662 186,023
Macquarie 262,200 15,883
Adjusting Account Entry - decrease A1 23
Cudgegong 0 13
Storage spill reset - decrease A1 5
Macquarie 214,639 239,249
Environmental Water Allowance 57,071 71,446
Total Allocation Account Decreases (Daa) 1,280,871 930,290
Net Allocation Account Balance Increase (Iaa-Daa) (431,659) 213,666
Change in Net Surface Water Assets (Isws-Dsws-Usws-Iaa+Daa) (295,193) 10,757
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
22 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note Disclosures
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
23 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Reconciliation and future prospect descriptions
Reconciliation of change in net water asset to net change in physical water storage
2012-13 2011-12
ML ML
CHANGE IN NET SURFACE WATER ASSETS (295,193) 10,975
Non-physical adjustments
Net Change in Allocation Accounts (348,869)
134,727
Net Change in Claims to Water: EWA (82,790) 78,722
(431,659) 213,449
NET CHANGE IN PHYSICAL SURFACE WATER STORAGE (726,852) 224,424
Reconciliation of closing water storage to total surface water assets
30 June 2013 30 June
2012
ML ML
CLOSING WATER STORAGE
Surface Water Storage 742,011 1,468,863
TOTAL SURFACE WATER ASSETS 742,011 1,468,863
Notes: All figures can be derived from or found directly in the Water Accounting Statements of the General Purpose Water Accounting Report.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
24 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Water assets available to settle water liabilities and future commitments within 12 months of reporting date (ML) Note (ML)
TOTAL WATER ASSETS AS AT 30 June 2013 (WARP) 742,011
Plus: Water Asset increases within 12 months of reporting date (WAI)
Minimum Storage Inflow 270,000 (a) 270,000
Less: Water assets not available to be accessed and taken or delivered within 12 months of reporting date. (WANA)
Storage Net Evaporation 50,000 (b)
Essential Requirements 2014-15 170,000 (c)
Conveyance Losses 175,000 (d)
End of System Flows 15,000 (e)
Storage Reserve 100,000 (f)
Dead Storage 35,000 8 545,000
Water assets available to be accessed and taken or delivered within 12 months of reporting date.
467,011
Less: Water liabilities and future commitments expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date.
Water Liabilities expected to be delivered within 12 months of reporting date. (WLE)
Surface Water Carryover 305,633 1
EWA Account Carryover 72,210 7 382,843
Future Commitments expected to be delivered within 12 months of reporting date. (FC)
Indicative Allocations and Basic Rights (g)
EWA Increase 0 (h)
General Security 0 1
High Security 18,213 1
Domestic and Stock 5,590 1
Local Water Utility 18,805 1
Basic Rights 1,200 19
Other Essential Requirements 2013/14 40,000 (i) 83,808
466,651
Surplus of available water assets over water liabilities and future commitments expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date. (SWA) SWA = (WARP + WAI - WANA - WL E – FC)
(j) 360
Notes: (a) The statistical long term annual minimal inflow sequence to storages. For Macquarie/Cudgegong it is based on a 2-year sequence. (b) This is an estimate of the annual impact of the net effect of rainfall and evaporation on the storages. (c) The Macquarie/Cudgegong catchment puts aside sufficient amount of water asset to meet the essential requirements for two years.
This figure represents the essential requirement in year two being made up of towns, high security, stock and domestic, minimum storage releases, basic rights and estimated loss to deliver them.
(d) This is the volume of water set aside to account for the losses encountered in the delivery of the water liabilities and future commitments. This includes some additional losses for year 2 general security delivery.
(e) This is the minimum flow that is expected to leave the system in a dry year. (f) The minimum storage level set aside in Burrendong and Windamere Dams for long-term security of essential supplies of essential
requirements. (g) Indicative Allocation represents a proposed starting allocation for each licence category. Local water utilities, domestic and stock and
high security licences will receive a potential starting allocation of 100% with general security having an increase of 0% of entitlement. (h) The EWA account will increase by 0% of its 160,000 limit in line with the general security allocation announcement. (i) This is an allowance to meet replenishment flow requirements including an allowance to meet the D/S Macquarie Marsh targets as
specified in the Plan. (j) Remaining uncommitted water that is set aside for future increases to allocation. This volume is minimal and more an indication of
uncertainty about the data being used.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
25 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 1 – Allocation accounts
This note is reference for the volume held in the allocation accounts at the time of reporting
and is also relevant for the various processes that occur to either increase or decrease an
allocation account throughout the water year.
The volume of water that is in the licence allocation accounts at the time of reporting is a net
balance for the relevant licence category and represents that water that can be carried
forward to the next water year as dictated by the carryover rules in place for that year or
required under the water sharing plan.
A negative number for the carryover figure indicates that more usage has occurred than has
been allocated to the account, and the deficit must be carried forward to the next season.
Water that is in the accounts at the end of a water year but is not permitted to be carried over
is forfeited and has been represented as a decrease in water liability.
The accounting presented is relevant to licence category and is therefore inclusive of
licences held by environmental holders (these are also detailed separately in Note 6).
Data type
Derived from measured data
Policy
Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2003
Available on the NSW Office of Water website
Data accuracy
A1 – Nil inaccuracy +/- 0%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data source
State Water Corporation/NSW Office of Water – Water Accounting System (joint ownership)
Methodology
The carryover volume of water in the allocation account for each licence category is
determined once all transactions and end of year forfeit rules have been applied. Below is list
of typical transactions that can apply to an allocation account:
Available Water Determination (AWD) (detailed in Note 2)
Allocation account usage (detailed in Note 3)
Forfeiture due to:
o No or limited carryover being permitted (End of Year Forfeit)
o Account limit breaches
o Storage spills (detailed in Note 5)
o Evaporation reductions on carryover
o Cancellation of licence
Trade of allocation water between accounts (detailed in Note 4)
Determined carryover volume
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Additional information
The tables on the following page provide a balanced summary of the water allocation
accounts for each category of access licence. Below is a description of each of the table
components.
Table 3: Explanatory information for allocation account summary
Heading Description
Share This is the total volume of entitlement in the specific licence category.
Opening balance The volume of water that has been carried forward from previous years allocation account.
AWD – Available water determination The total annual volume of water added to the allocation account as a result of allocation assessments. This figure includes additional AWD made as a result of a storage spill reset as defined in the water sharing plan.
Licences New Increase in account water as a result of the issuing of a new licence.
Cancelled Decrease in account water as a result of a licence cancellation where account balance has not been traded to another licence.
Assignments In Increase in account water as a result of temporary trade in.
Out Decrease in account water as a result of temporary trade out.
Account usage
Volume of water that is extracted or diverted from the river and is accountable against the access licence allocation
Spill Increase High security and general security accounts are rest to 100% of entitlement when Burrendong Dam enters the flood mitigation zone by a volume equal to or greater than the volume currently in the carryover sub accounts.
Decrease This is that volume forfeited from the carryover sub accounts, of either general security or high security licences, as a result of Burrendong Dam entering the flood mitigation zone. The volume being forfeited is the volume in the flood mitigation zone until all the carryover water has been forfeited.
Forfeits During Year Account water forfeited throughout the year as a result of the accounting rules specified in the water sharing plan. Forfeited water may occur due to account limits being reached, conversions between licence categories and various types of other licence dealings. It also includes any reductions on carryover volumes due to storage evaporation as required by the water sharing plan.
End of year forfeit Account water that is forfeited at the end of the water year as a result of carryover rules that restrict the carry forward volume.
End of year balance Account balance that is available to be taken at the conclusion of the water year.
Carry forward This represents the account water that is permitted to be carried forward into the next water year as determined by the carryover rules.
( ) Negative figures are shown in red brackets
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Table 4: Allocation account balance summary for the Cudgegong regulated river 2012-13
Category Share Opening Balance
AWD Licences Assignments
Account usage
Spill Forfeit During
Year
End of Year Balance
End of Year
Forfeit
Carry Forward New Cancelled In Out Increase Decrease
Domestic and Stock 696 0 696 0 0 0 0 277 0 0 0 419 419 0
Domestic and Stock [Domestic] 12 0 12 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 8 8 0
Domestic and Stock [Stock] 20 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 20 0
Local Water Utility 2,600 0 2,600 0 0 0 0 1,970 0 0 0 630 630 0
General Security 20,067 48,651 12,843 749 889 5,713 29,477 1,807 0 0 576 35,206 1,192 34,014
High Security 5,412 0 5,452 0 0 429 5,185 435 0 0 0 261 261 0
High Security (Research) 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
Supplementary Water 1,390 0 1,391 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,390 1,390 0
Table 5: Allocation account balance summary for the Macquarie regulated river 2012-13
Category Share Opening Balance
AWD Licences Assignments
Account usage
Spill Forfeit During
Year
End of year balance
End of year
forfeit
Carry forward New Cancelled In Out Increase Decrease
Domestic and Stock 4,355 0 4,354 0 0 0 0 1,372 0 0 0 2,982 2,982 0
Domestic and Stock [Domestic] 332 0 333 0 0 0 0 112 0 0 0 221 221 0
Domestic and Stock [Stock] 175 0 175 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 164 164 0
Local Water Utility 16,205 0 16,205 0 0 0 0 12,147 0 0 0 4,058 4,058 0
General Security 611,649 605,851 391,457 0 0 290,557 261,561 530,229 0 214,639 6,850 274,587 2,936 271,651
High Security 8,416 0 8,376 0 0 163 639 7,481 0 0 1 419 451 (32)
High Security (Research) 4,344 0 4,344 0 0 0 0 718 0 0 0 3,626 3,626 0
High Security (Town Water Supply) 40 0 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 40 0
Supplementary Water 48,650 0 48,651 0 0 0 0 2,293 0 0 0 46,357 46,357 0
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Note 2 – Available water determination (AWD) (allocation announcement)
This is the process by which the regulated surface water asset available for use within the
regulated system is determined and shared. The process calculates the volume of water that
is to be added to an individuals licence allocation account. Announcements of allocations are
made on a seasonal basis - usually corresponding with the financial year and are updated on
a regular basis or following significant inflow events. Under the Water Management Act 2000
the announcements are termed available water determinations.
Data type
Derived from measured data.
Policy
Water Management Act 2000 (NSW).
Chapter 3 – Part 2 Access Licences.
o Clause 59 – Available Water Determinations.
Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2003
Part 8 – Limits to the availability of water
o Division 2 – Available Water Determinations.
Available on the NSW Office of Water website
Data accuracy
A1 – Nil inaccuracy +/- 0%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water.
Methodology
The AWD procedure itself is generally divided into two sections; the available water asset,
and system commitments. Once the required system commitments have been allowed for,
the remaining water asset is then available for distribution to the access licence categories in
order of priority (see following table). Announcements are expressed as either a percentage
of the share component for all access licences where share components are specified as
megalitres per year, or megalitres per unit share for all regulated river (high security) access
licences, regulated river (general security) access licences and supplementary water access
licences.
Table 6: Priority of access licence categories
Licence Category AWD Priority
General Security Low
High Security High
Conveyance Low
Domestic and Stock9 Very High
Local Water Utility Very High
Available Water Asset – this is calculated by summing the water currently available in
storage, future (minimum) inflows to the system, and additional volumes due to recessions of
inflows from the current levels to the minimum inflow levels. Also taken into consideration is
9 Domestic and Stock is further broken down into three sub categories: Domestic and Stock, Domestic and Stock (Domestic)
and Domestic and Stock (Stock). For the purposes of this report and the general purpose water account they were all treated as
Domestic and Stock.
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the reduction of the total inflows to the system for those that arrive too late in the season to
be useful.
System Commitments – this is an assessment of the existing commitments that have to be
delivered from the Available Water Asset in either the current or future years. Key
components include:
essential supplies include things such as town water supplies, stock and domestic
requirements, industrial use and permanent plantings (e.g. orchards, vineyards) and
environmental allowances
undelivered account water is the water that has already been allocated to accounts
but yet to be provided
end of system flow requirement is an estimate of the flow that to pass through the
system as a result of operation of the system
losses which are estimated as the amount of water that will be lost by the system
either through evaporation or in the process of delivering the water via transmission
losses
Available water determinations are limited to an equivalent volume of 100 per cent of share
component (entitlement) for all categories other than general security. The sum of available
water determinations for general security holders cannot exceed 1 megalitre per share,
unless the AWD is a result of a storage spill reset (see Note 5 for more details).
Additional information
The following pages contain the allocation summary reports for 2012-13. Below is a table
containing report notes to help interpret the report.
Table 7: Allocation summary report notes
Report Heading Description
Opening Remaining allocation account balances at the conclusion of the previous season that is allowed to be carried forward to this season.
Individual announcement Actual announcement made to each licence category
Share component (Entitlement) Sum of the licensed volume of water within the licence category on the announcement date.
Allocation announced volume Volume of water credited to accounts within a licence category as a result of the announcement made.
Allocation cumulative announced volume
Cumulative total of the announced volumes for the water year and licence category.
Allocation announced volume % of share
This is the announced volume expressed as a percentage of the entitlement applicable on the particular date.
Allocation cumulative announced volume % of share
This is the cumulative total percent (of total entitlement) that has been issued on the announcement date (inclusive)
Account balance available Sum of water available in allocation accounts that has been made available to be taken during the season.
Account balance not available Water allocated that is not accessible at this point in time.
Account balance total Total balance of accounts (available plus not available)
Account balance available % of share Account balance available expressed as a percentage of share component.
Account balance total % of share Account balance expressed as a percentage of share component.
Supplementary water Water that is not a stored source of water and is only made available if an uncontrolled flow event occurs.
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Table 8: Allocation announcements for the Cudgegong regulated river water source 2012-13
Date Individual
announcement Share
component
Allocation Account balance
Announced volume
(ML)
Cumulative announced
volume (ML)
Announced volume
% of share
Cumulative Announced
volume % of share
Available (ML)
Not available
(ML)
Total (ML)
Available % of
share
Total % of share
DOMESTIC AND STOCK
Start 696 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 100.0 % 696 696 696 100.0 100.0 696 0 696 100.0 100.0
DOMESTIC AND STOCK(DOMESTIC)
Start 12 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 100.0 % 12 12 12 100.0 100.0 12 0 12 100.0 100.0
DOMESTIC AND STOCK(STOCK)
Start 20 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 100.0 % 20 20 20 100.0 100.0 20 0 20 100.0 100.0
LOCAL WATER UTILITY
Start 2,600 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 100.0 % 2,600 2,600 2,600 100.0 100.0 2,600 0 2,600 100.0 100.0
REGULATED RIVER (GENERAL SECURITY)
Start 20,067 48,651 0 48,651 242.4 242.4
1-Jul-12 AWD 0.28 ML per Share 20,067 5,618 5,618 28.0 28.0 54,269 0 54,269 270.4 270.4
3-Aug-12 AWD 0.28 ML per Share 20,067 5,620 11,238 28.0 56.0 59,889 0 59,889 298.4 298.4
7-Sep-12 AWD 0.01 ML per Share 20,067 201 11,439 1.0 57.0 60,090 0 60,090 299.4 299.4
5-Oct-12 AWD 0.01 ML per Share 20,067 199 11,638 1.0 58.0 60,289 0 60,289 300.4 300.4
7-Mar-13 AWD 0.04 ML per Share 20,067 804 12,442 4.0 62.0 61,093 0 61,093 304.4 304.4
12-Apr-13 AWD 0.02 ML per Share 20,067 400 12,843 2.0 64.0 61,494 0 61,494 306.4 306.4
REGULATED RIVER (HIGH SECURITY)
Start 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 1.0 ML per Share 5,452 5,452 5,452 100.0 100.0 5,452 0 5,452 100.0 100.0
REGULATED RIVER (HIGH SECURITY)(RESEARCH)
Start 1 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 1.0 ML per Share 1 1 1 100.0 100.0 1 0 1 100.0 100.0
SUPPLEMENTARY WATER
Start 1,391 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 1.0 ML per Share 1,391 1,391 1,391 100.0 100.0 1,391 0 1,391 100.0 100.0
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Table 9: Allocation announcements for the Macquarie regulated river water source 2012-13
Date Individual
announcement Share
component
Allocation Account balance
Announced volume
(ML)
Cumulative announced
volume (ML)
Announced volume
% of share
Cumulative Announced
volume % of share
Available (ML)
Not available
(ML)
Total (ML)
Available % of
share
Total % of share
DOMESTIC AND STOCK
Start 4353 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 100.0 % 4353 4,353 4,353 100.0 100.0 4,353 0 4,353 100.0 100.0
DOMESTIC AND STOCK(DOMESTIC)
Start 332 0 0 0 0 0
1-Jul-12 AWD 100.0 % 332 333 333 100.0 100.0 333 0 333 100 100
DOMESTIC AND STOCK(STOCK)
Start 175 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 100.0 % 175 175 175 100.0 100.0 175 0 175 100.0 100.0
LOCAL WATER UTILITY
Start 16,205 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 100.0 % 16,205 16,205 16,205 100.0 100.0 16,205 0 16,205 100.0 100.0
REGULATED RIVER (GENERAL SECURITY)
Start 611,649 605,851 0 605,851 99.1 99.1
1-Jul-12 AWD 0.28 ML per Share 611,649 171,262 171,262 28.0 28.0 777,113 0 777,113 127.1 127.1
3-Aug-12 AWD 0.28 ML per Share 611,649 171,260 342,522 28.0 56.0 948,373 0 948,373 155.1 155.1
7-Sep-12 AWD 0.01 ML per Share 611,649 6,119 348,641 1.0 57.0 954,492 0 954,492 156.1 156.1
5-Oct-12 AWD 0.01 ML per Share 611,649 6,116 354,757 1.0 58.0 960,608 0 960,608 157.1 157.1
7-Mar-13 AWD 0.04 ML per Share 611,649 24,465 379,222 4.0 62.0 985,073 0 985,073 161.1 161.1
12-Apr-13 AWD 0.02 ML per Share 611,649 12,235 391,457 2.0 64.0 997,308 0 997,308 163.1 163.1
REGULATED RIVER (HIGH SECURITY)
Start 8,376 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 1.0 ML per Share 8,376 8,376 8,376 100.0 100.0 8,376 0 8,376 100.0 100.0
REGULATED RIVER (HIGH SECURITY)(RESEARCH)
Start 4,344 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 1.0 ML per Share 4344 4,344 4,344 100.0 100.0 4,344 0 4,344 100.0 100.0
REGULATED RIVER (HIGH SECURITY)(TOWN WATER SUPPLY)
Start 40 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 1.0 ML per Share 40 40 40 100.0 100.0 40 0 40 100.0 100.0
SUPPLEMENTARY WATER
Start 48,650 0 0 0 0.0 0.0
1-Jul-12 AWD 1.0 ML per Share 48,650 48,650 48,650 100.0 100.0 48,650 0 48,650 100.0 100.0
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32 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 3 – Allocation account usage
This is the volume of water that is extracted, diverted or measured as usage and is
accountable against an access licence issued under the water sharing plan.
Data type
Measured/administration data
Policy
Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2003
Data accuracy
A – Estimated in the range +/- 10%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data source
State Water/NSW Office of Water – Water Accounting System (Joint ownership of system).
Methodology
Usage information is determined by either on-farm meters that measure extraction, gauges
on diversion works or orders/releases when the volume cannot be effectively metered, such
as an environmental watering event.
Meter readings are collected for individual licence holders at intervals during the year and
converted via a calibration factor to a volume of water extracted. Water diverted from the
river is measured by recording the height at either the gauge or weir with the volume diverted
being derived by passing these heights through a rating table. With potentially multiple
categories of access licences being extracted through the same pumps additional
information and methodologies are required to separate use under the various licence
categories. Below is a description of these:
Based on periods of announcement – during periods of supplementary water
announcements extractions can be debited against the supplementary water
licences
Usage based on water orders – users place orders for water against an access
licence and usages are debited against accounts in proportion to the orders placed.
Licence category apportionment – if no water orders are available water extracted is
apportioned against categories of access licence in order of priority as set out in the
table below. The prioritising is based on the nature of and rules around each of the
licence categories.
The following table provides the order in which extractions are apportioned to access licence
categories in the water accounting system. This is a generic list where not all categories will
necessarily appear in this GPWAR. There are also various sub categories of licence
associated with some of the categories.
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Table 10: Licence category metered usage apportionment table
Priority Surface water
1 Supplementary
2 Uncontrolled Flow
3 Domestic and Stock
4 Regulated River High Security
5 Regulated River General Security
6 Conveyance
7 Local Water Utility
8 Major Water Utility
Table 11: Account usage summary 2012-13
Licence category Account usage (ML)
Macquarie Cudgegong
Domestic and Stock 1,372 277
Domestic and Stock [Domestic] 112 4
Domestic and Stock [Stock] 11 0
Local Water Utility 12,147 1,970
General Security 530,229 1,807
High Security 7,481 435
High Security (Research) 718 0
High Security (Town Water Supply) 0 NA
Supplementary Water 2,293 0
Total Usage 554,363 4,493
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Note 4 – Internal trading (allocation assignments)
This represents the temporary trading (allocation assignments) of water between allocation
accounts within the regulated Macquarie and Cudgegong water sources.
Data type
Administration
Policy
Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2003
Part 10 Access licence dealing rules
o Clause 50 rules relating to constraints within a water source
o Available on the NSW Office of Water website
Data accuracy
A1 – Nil inaccuracy +/- 0%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data source
State Water/NSW Office of Water – Water Accounting System (joint ownership of system).
Methodology
Trading is permitted between certain categories of access licences and between certain
water sources. This is detailed in the water sharing plan or stipulated under the licence
holder’s conditions.
The net internal trade for each licence category is zero for a water year. As such, trades
occur as both a water liability decrease (sellers of water) and a water liability increase
(buyers of water).
Additional information
The following table shows the internal trading figures between licence categories. All figures
represent a volume in megalitres.
Table 12: 2012-13 Macquarie catchment allocation assignments summary
Licence Category
Buyer
Seller Total Macquarie Cudgegong
General Security High Security General Security High Security
Selle
r
Macquarie General Security 260,320 129 1,112 0 261,561
High Security 617 22 0 0 639
Cudgegong General Security 27,760 12 1,276 429 29,477
High Security 1,805 0 3,380 0 5,185
Buyer Total 290,502 163 5,768 429 296,862
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Note 5 – Storage spill account reset
Windamere Dam
As set out in the water sharing plan allocation is progressively withdrawn from Cudgegong
general security and high security carryover sub accounts whenever, Windamere Dam is
spilling while the volume held in Burrendong Dam is in exceedence of full supply capacity
(i.e. in the flood mitigation zone). Water will be withdrawn monthly at a volume equivalent to
the volume spilled from Windamere Dam, while these conditions prevail, until the sub
accounts are empty.
All remaining water in the AWD sub accounts will be forfeited and reset to 1 megalitre per
share once all allocation has been withdrawn from the carryover sub accounts in the
Macquarie. Following the reset each month that Burrendong Dam remains above its full
supply level (i.e. in the flood mitigation zone) the AWD sub accounts will be topped up to the
equivalent of 1 megalitre per share. Detailed rules about the implementation of this process
are available in the water sharing plan.
Burrendong Dam
Similarly, water sharing plan allocation is progressively withdrawn from general security and
high security carryover sub accounts and the Environmental Water Allowance (EWA)
whenever the volume held in Burrendong storage is in exceedence of full supply capacity
(i.e. in the flood mitigation zone). Once all allocation has been withdrawn from the carryover
sub accounts all remaining water in the AWD sub accounts will be forfeited and they will be
reset to 1 megalitre per share or 160,000 megalitres for the EWA. Following the reset each
month that Burrendong Dam remains above its full supply level (i.e. in the flood mitigation
zone) the AWD sub accounts will be topped up to the equivalent of 1 megalitre per share
while EWA account will be topped up to 160,000 megalitres. Detailed rules about the
implementation of this process are available in the water sharing plan.
Water traded out of accounts during the year prior to a spill reset is accounted for under the
rules of its source location and licence category during the spill reset process.
Data type
Administration
Policy
Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2003
Part 9 Rules for Managing Access Licences
Division 2 Water Allocation Account Management
Clause 45 Carrying over of water allocation credits, water allocation account
limits and withdrawal of water allocations
Part 3 Environmental water provisions
Clause 15 Planned environmental water
Available from the NSW Office of Water website
Data accuracy
A1 - Nil inaccuracy +/- 0 per cent
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
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Data source
Water Accounting System
Methodology
Data is extracted directly from the corporate databases which results in a reduction and\or
increase in the associated general security account.
Additional information
Table 13: Storage Spill forfeitures and resets
Cudgegong Spill Forfeiture Spill AWD Reset
General Security 0 0
High Security 0 0
Macquarie Spill Forfeiture Spill AWD Reset
General Security 214,639 0
High Security 0 0
EWA 57,071 0
Note: As Windamere Dam did not spill no water was spilled from the general security or high
security carryover sub accounts in 2012-13.
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Note 6 – Held environmental water
This represents that environmental water that is held as part of a licensed volumetric
entitlement. These licences are either purchased on the market by environmental agencies
or issued as a result of water savings achieved through investment by those relevant
agencies.
These licences are held within the same licence categories as all other water access
licences hence are subject to the same operating rules. Therefore they are subject to the
following key rules:
Available Water Determinations (AWD) for their share of the entitlement to be added
to accounts
Carryover rules hence the forfeiting of unused water that cannot be carried over
Provide water orders prior to use.
These licences are used to provide environmental benefit and outcomes to the catchment by
either providing water to, or supplementing water requirements of, a specific environmental
events or incidents.
Measured
Policy
Water Management Act 2000
Dealings with access licences (Division 4)
o 71G Assignment of water allocations between access licences
Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2003
Available on the NSW Office of Water website
Data accuracy
A1 – Estimated in the range +/- 10%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data source
State Water/NSW Office of Water – Water Accounting System (Joint ownership of System).
Available Water Determination Register - NSW Office of Water website
Methodology
The water held for the environment represents a volume of water in corresponding allocation
accounts. This allocation account represents the sum of the remaining volume of held
environmental water at the conclusion of the water year once all transactions and forfeit rules
have been applied to the accounts. These environmental balances are at the licence
category level and represent the water that can be carried forward for use in the next year.
Below is list of typical transactions that can apply to an environmental allocation account:
Available Water Determination (AWD) (detailed in Note 2)
Allocation account usage (detailed in Note 3)
Forfeiture due to:
o No or limited carryover being permitted (End of Year Forfeit)
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o Account limit breaches
o Storage spills (detailed in Note 5)
o Evaporation reductions on carryover
o Cancellation of licence
Trade of allocation water between accounts (detailed in Note 4)
Determined carryover volume
In addition the trade and purchase of environmental water is tracked to capture the
movement of environmental entitlement both in number of entitlements, and volume.
Additional information
The table on the following page provides a summary of held environmental water for 2012-
13.
Table 14: Explanatory information for Environmental Account Summary
Heading Description
Share This is the total volume of entitlement in the specific licence category.
Opening balance The volume of water that has been carried forward from previous years allocation account.
AWD – Available water determination The total annual volume of water added to the allocation account as a result of allocation assessments. This figure includes additional AWD made as a result of a storage spill reset as defined in the water sharing plan.
Licences New Increase in account water as a result of the issuing of a new licence.
Cancelled Decrease in account water as a result of a licence cancellation where account balance has not been traded to another licence.
Assignments In Increase in account water as a result of temporary trade in.
Out Decrease in account water as a result of temporary trade out.
Account usage
Volume of water that is extracted or diverted from the river and is accountable against the access licence allocation
Spill Increase High security and general security accounts are rest to 100% of entitlement when Burrendong Dam enters the flood mitigation zone by a volume equal to or greater than the volume currently in the carryover sub accounts.
Decrease This is that volume forfeited from the carryover sub accounts, of either general security or high security licences, as a result of Burrendong Dam entering the flood mitigation zone. The volume being forfeited is the volume in the flood mitigation zone until all the carryover water has been forfeited.
Forfeits During Year Account water forfeited throughout the year as a result of the accounting rules specified in the water sharing plan. Forfeited water may occur due to account limits being reached, conversions between licence categories and various types of other licence dealings. It also includes any reductions on carryover volumes due to storage evaporation as required by the water sharing plan.
End of year forfeit Account water that is forfeited at the end of the water year as a result of carryover rules that restrict the carry forward volume.
End of year balance Account balance that is available to be taken at the conclusion of the water year.
Carry forward This represents the account water that is permitted to be carried forward into the next water year as determined by the carryover rules.
( ) Negative figures are shown in red brackets
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Table 15: Cudgegong regulated water source environmental account balance summary 2012-13
Licence Category Share Opening Balance
AWD
Licences Assignments Account
usage
Spill Forfeit End of Year
Balance
End of Year
Forfeit
Carry Forward New Cancelled In Out Increase Decrease
During Year
General Security 901 901 577 0 0 0 1,116 0 0 0 7 355 0 355
Supplementary water 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Table 16: Cudgegong regulated water source environmental holding summary 2012-13
Licence Category Number of licences Share
30 June 2012 30 June 2013 Change 30 June 2012 30 June 2013 Change
General Security 3 3 0 901 901 0
Supplementary water 1 1 0 0 0 0
Table 17: Macquarie regulated water source environmental account balance summary 2012-13
Licence Category Share Opening Balance
AWD
Licences Assignments Account
usage
Spill Forfeit End of Year
Balance
End of Year
Forfeit
Carry Forward New Cancelled In Out Increase Decrease
During Year
General Security 163,628 141,143 93,134 0 0 143,678 148,462 137,718 0 50,226 1,560 39,989 0 39,989
High Security 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Domestic and Stock 40 0 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 40 0
Supplementary water 3,340 0 3,340 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,340 3,340 0
Table 18: Macquarie regulated water source environmental holding summary 2012-13
Licence Category Number of licences Share
30 June 2012 30 June 2013 Change 30 June 2012 30 June 2013 Change
General Security 23 9 (14) 145,522 163,628 18,106
High Security 1 1 0 0 0 0
Domestic and Stock 1 1 0 40 40 0
Supplementary water 8 7 (1) 3,340 3,340 0
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
40 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 7 – Environmental provisions
There a number of planned environmental provisions allowed for within the regulated
Macquarie and Cudgegong water sources, implemented under the water sharing plan, with
the aim of enhancing environmental benefits.
A long-term extraction limit
Macquarie-Cudgegong Regulated River Water river extractions must be limited to a long
term average of 391,900 megalitres. All flows above the plan extraction limit, approximately
73 per cent, are reserved for environmental health.
Increased natural flows in the upper reaches of the Cudgegong River
This is achieved by releasing a portion of inflows to Windamere Dam to attain, in
combination with downstream tributary contributions, a flow of 150 to 1,500 megalitres per
day at Rocky Water Hole. No releases occur when the capacity of Windamere Dam is less
than 110,000 megalitres, and releases are subject to an annual limit of 10,000 megalitres.
Establish an environmental water allowance for the Macquarie River
The plan allows for up to 160,000 megalitres to be credited to an environmental water
allowance in any water year. Part of this allowance (sub account 1) is used to provide more
natural flows downstream of Burrendong Dam. Releases are made during the periods 1
June to 30 November, and 15 March to 31 May each year to attain, in combination with
downstream tributary inflows, a flow of between 500 and 4,000 megalitres per day at
Marebone Weir. The other part of the environmental water allowance (sub account 2) is
released when needed for special environmental purposes such as enhancing native fish
recruitment, ensuring completion of water bird breeding events, and alleviating severe,
unnaturally prolonged drought conditions in the Macquarie Marshes. An Environmental Flow
Reference Group provides advice on when the water should be released for environmental
purposes.
Data type
Measured
Policy
Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2003
Part 3 Environmental Water Provisions
Clause 15 Planned Environmental Water
Available on the NSW Office of Water website
Data accuracy
A1 – Nil inaccuracy +/- 0%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data source
State Water/NSW Office of Water – Water Accounting System (Joint ownership of System).
State water annual compliance report (internal document)
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
41 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Additional information
Performance against long term extraction limit
In the Macquarie Cudgegong Regulated River Water source the average annual extractions
since the introduction of the plan are 179,928 megalitres, well below the limit of 391,900
megalitres. For more information refer to section ‘Surface water resources and management’
earlier in this report.
Increasing Cudgegong River Natural Flows
During 2012-13 Windamere storage was higher than 110,000 megalitres for the entirety of
the year and as a result the requirement for environmental flows in the Cudgegong River
was triggered. Under this condition 9,904 megalitres was released from Windamere with the
resultant environmental flows illustrated in (Figure 19).
Figure 19: Cudgegong River at Rocky Water Hole planned environmental flows 2012-13
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1-J
ul-
12
1-A
ug-
12
1-S
ep-1
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1-O
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-13
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13
Flo
w (
ML/
d)
Flow at Rocky Water Hole Environmental Flow
Environmental Water Allowance
A total of 128,119 megalitres of environmental water allowance was used in 2012-13 to
provide environmental top-up flows to the Macquarie Marshes (Table 19).
Table 19: Summary balance of environmental water allowance
Water Year Carryover Account
1 July
AWD Forfeiture
Usage End of Year
Balance as at 30 June AWD
Spill Reset
Spill Evaporation
2004-05 14,803 14,400 0 0 731 0 28,472
2005-06 28,472 70,400 0 0 0 83,784 15,088
2006-07 15,088 0 0 0 2,136 0 12,952
2007-08 12,952 8,000 0 0 0 20,952 0
2008-09 0 16,000 0 0 0 0 16,000
2009-10 16,000 0 0 0 0 16,000 0
2010-11 0 160,000 160,000 99,624 0 139,098 81,278
2011-12 81,278 78,400 160,000 71,446 0 88,232 160,000
2012-13 160,000 102,400 0 57,071 0 128,119 77,210
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
42 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 8 – Surface water storage
This is the actual volume of water stored in the individual surface water storages at the date
of reporting. The volumes provided represent the total volume of water in the storage,
including dead storage which is the volume of water which can’t be accessed under normal
operating conditions e.g. volume below low level outlet. It is assumed that the dead storage
can be accessed if required via alternative access methods e.g. syphons.
Data type
Derived from measured data
Policy
Not applicable
Data accuracy
A – Estimated in the range +/- 10%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data source
NSW Office of Water – HYDSTRA
Methodology
Storage volumes are calculated by processing a gauged storage elevation through a rating
table that converts it to a volume.
Additional information
Table 20: Storage summary table
Name Capacity (ML) Dead storage (ML) % change 2012/13
Windamere Dam 368,120 1,130 3
Burrendong Dam 1,190,06010
33,730 57
For plots of storage behaviour for 2012-13, including volumes and percentages, see Figure 9
and Figure 10 earlier in this report.
10
Burrendong also has a flood mitigation storage zone of 489,940 megalitres. Combined capacity is 1,680,000 megalitres.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
43 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 9 – River channel storage
The volume of water stored in the river channel on the day of reporting.
Policy
Not applicable
Data type
Derived from measured data
Data accuracy
B – Estimated in the range +/- 25%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data sources
NSW Office of Water: HYDSTRA, CAIRO
Methodology
For each river section S(n):
V = Q x T
The river channel storage will be equal to the sum of all river section volumes.
River channel storage = S(n) V
Table 21: Summary of river channel storage calculation components
Symbol Variable Data Source Unit
Q Average flow in the river section. Calculated by averaging the daily flows at the upstream and downstream river gauges.
HYDSTRA ML/d
V Volume in each river section. Calculated ML
T Average travel time for a parcel of water to travel through the river section. CAIRO days
Assumptions and approximations:
Travel times are estimated to the nearest day.
Daily flow change between gauging sites assumed to be linear.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
44 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Table 22: Summary of River Volume Calculation 2012-13
UPSTREAM DOWNSTREAM Average Flow (ML/D)
Travel Time (days)
Volume (ML) Site Flow (ML/d) Site Flow (ML/d)
Cudgegong
Windamere Dam 17 Rocky Waterhole 18 17.5 2 35
Rocky Waterhole 18 Wilbertree 26 22 1 22
Wilbertree 26 Yamble Bridge 44 35 2 70
Cudgegong Total 5 127
Macquarie
Burrendong Dam 60 Bell River Junction 54 57 1 57
Burrendong + Bell River 54 Dubbo 205 129.5 2 259
Dubbo + Talbragar River 220 Baroona 316 268 1 268
Baroona 316 Gin Gin 334 325 1 325
Gin Gin 334 U/S Warren Weir 332 333 1 333
D/S Warren Weir 187 U/S Marebone Weir 275 231 2 462
D/S Marebone 275 Oxley 212 243.5 2 487
Duck Creek @ Offtake 25 Duck Creek @ Napali 37 31 0.4 12.4
Gunningbar Ck D/S weir 44 Gunningbar @ Fairview Dam 4,609 2,327 0.25 582
Macquarie Total 11 2,785
Macquarie-Cudgegong Water Source Total 2,912
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
45 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 10 – Storage inflow
Storage inflow refers to the volume of water flowing into the major headwater storages –
Windamere Dam and Burrendong Dam.
Policy
Not applicable
Data type
Derived from measured data
Data accuracy
A – Estimated in the range +/- 10%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data sources
NSW Office of Water: HYDSTRA, Integrated Quantity and Quality Model (IQQM)
Methodology
In most of the major storages in NSW there is no direct measurement of inflows. However, it
is possible to calculate inflows by using a mass balance approach (based on balancing the
change in storage volume) where inflow is the only unknown. This is referred to a
backcalculation of inflows.
The backcalculation figures were derived using a one day time step with the inflow
calculated according to the equation below. The daily inflows are then summed to provide an
annual inflow figure.
I = ΔS + O + Se + ((E – R)* Kp* A)
Table 23: Components for backcalculation of inflow
Symbol Variable Unit
I Inflow ML/day
ΔS Change in storage volume ML
O Outflow ML/day
Se Seepage ML/day
R Rainfall mm/day
E Evaporation mm/day
Kp Pan evaporation factor
A Surface area - derived from height to surface areas lookup curve ha
For Burrendong Dam, inflow is provided by both the Cudgegong River and inflow from the
upper Macquarie (unregulated) river. This split was estimated in the GPWAR by assuming
the total gauged annual volume passing the Cudgegong River at Yamble Bridge as the
Cudgegong contribution. The Macquarie contribution is then assumed to be the total
backcalculated volume minus the Cudgegong River estimate. For plots of daily storage
inflows refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 earlier in this report.
Assumptions and approximations:
Constant storage specific pan evaporation factors are applied (one annual factor).
Seepage was assumed to be zero
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
46 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 11 – Storage evaporation and storage rainfall
This refers to the volume of water effective on Windamere and Burrendong Dam that is
either lost as a result of evaporation, or gained as a result of rainfall.
Data type
Derived from measured data
Policy
Not applicable
Data accuracy
B – Estimated in the range +/- 25%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data source
NSW Office of Water – IQQM backcalculation, HYDSTRA
Methodology
While the backcalculation methodology requires the effect of evaporation and rainfall on the
storage to be calculated, it is currently output as a net evaporation figure. The ED AWAS 1
specifies that off-setting should be avoided and as such, a further calculation was required to
split the net evaporation figure to rainfall and evaporation. This is achieved by first,
outputting daily time-series of storage surface area from the backcalculation (which uses a
height to area lookup curve as defined in HYDSTRA). Daily rainfall and evaporation data is
then applied to the area time-series to achieve a volume in megalitres which is then
aggregated to an annual figure. The rainfall and evaporation data utilised is equivalent to the
data used in the storage inflow backcalculation, with the same pan factor applied to the
evaporation data.
Rainfall: Volume (ML) = Rainfall (mm) x Area (m2) x 10-6
Evaporation: Volume (ML) = Pan Evaporation (mm) x Pan Factor x Area (m2) x 10-6
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
47 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 12 – River evaporation and river rainfall
This refers to the volume of water effective on the accounted river reach that is either lost as
a result of evaporation, or gained as a result of rainfall.
Data type
Derived from measured data
Policy
Not applicable
Data accuracy
C – Estimated in the range +/- 50%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data source
NSW Office of Water: HYDSTRA, ARCGIS
QLD Department of Natural Resources: SILO
Methodology
The volume applied for evaporation and rainfall on the regulated river is achieved by first
calculating a daily time-series of river area. This is achieved by breaking the river up into
reaches and utilising the cross sections recorded at river gauging locations to determine the
average width of the river with a given daily flow. River length is then determined between
two gauging locations using ARCGIS and as such an area for each reach can be defined.
Area (m2) = Average W (m) x L (m)
Where W is the daily width determined from the gauging cross sections and L is the length
as determined through ARCGIS analysis.
With daily area determined, various climate stations are then selected based on their
proximity to each river reach. Rainfall and evaporation data is then extracted from SILO and
applied to the area time-series to achieve a volume in megalitres which is then aggregated
to an annual figure.
Rainfall: Volume (ML) = Rainfall (mm) x Area (m2) x 10-6
Evaporation: Volume (ML) = ET0 (mm) x Kc x Area (m2) x 10-6
Where ET0 = reference evapotranspiration from SILO and Kc = crop factor for open water
(1.05)
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
48 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 13 – Gauged tributary inflow
The inflow into the regulated river that occurs downstream of the headwater storages that is
measured at known gauging stations.
Policy
Not applicable
Data type
Measured data
Data accuracy
A – Estimated in the range +/- 10%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data sources
NSW Office of Water: HYDSTRA
Methodology
The flows are obtained by measuring river heights at gauging stations along the river, and
then passing these heights through a rating table that converts them to a daily flow volume.
Additional information
The total gauged inflow for 2012-13 is the sum of the inflows for the gauged tributaries
defined in the table below.
Table 24: Summary of gauged tributary inflow 2012-13
Station code Station name Catchment area (sq km) Volume (ML)
421048 Little River at Obley 612 2,782
421042 Talbragar River at Elong Elong 3,050 28,595
421018 Bell River at Newrea 1,620 40,977
421055 Coolbaggie Creek at Rawsonville 626 10,391
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
49 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 14 – Ungauged runoff estimate
The inflow into the river that occurs downstream of the headwater storages that is not
measured.
Policy
Not applicable
Data type
Estimated
Data accuracy
C – Estimated in the range +/- 50 per cent
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data sources
NSW Office of Water, Statewater: CAIRO
Methodology
Ungauged inflow is a very difficult component to estimate with such large volumes of water
flowing through the catchment in 2012-13. To derive an estimate a simple mass balance
approach was adopted whereby known inflows and outflows were combined with an
assumed loss factor. No estimate was made for the areas below The Yamble Bridge gauge
in the Cudgegong, and the Warren Weir gauge in the Macquarie.
UI = EoS - SR– GI + E + LE
Where:
UI = Ungauged Inflow Estimate
EoS = Gauged Flow at the point in the system where no further inflow is estimated downstream for the purposes of this ungauged calculation (Yamble Bridge in the Cudgegong and Warren Weir in the Macquarie)
SRk = Storage release
GI = Gauged inflows
E = Extractions (excluding any that are below the nominated ‘EoS’)
LE = Estimated losses. This was assumed to be 10% of the measured (gauged flow plus storage releases) entering the system for the Cudgegong and 15% for the Macquarie
Table 25: Summary of 2012-13 ungauged Inflow Estimate
Catchment Total volume estimated (ML)
Cudgegong 43,326
Macquarie 363,976
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
50 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 15 – Dam releases, river inflow from dam releases
The volume of water released from Windamere and Burrendong storages. In the accounting
process this release is represented as both a decrease in asset (of the dam) and an equal
increase in asset (of the river).
Policy
Not applicable
Data type
Measured data
Data accuracy
A – Estimated in the range +/- 10%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data sources
NSW Office of Water: HYDSTRA
Methodology
The flows are obtained by measuring river heights at a gauging station downstream of the
dam wall, and then passing these heights through a rating table that converts them to a daily
flow volume. The releases have been represented in the Statement of Changes in Water
Assets and Water Liabilities as both a decrease in water asset (water leaving the dam) and
an equal volume of increase in water asset (water released increasing the volume of the
river). It would have been also possible to account this as a transfer in asset whereby the
volumes would not appear in the statements.
Additional information
Figure 20: Burrendong Dam releases 2012-13
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
1-J
ul-
12
1-A
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12
1-S
ep-1
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1-J
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13
Re
leas
e (
ML/
day
)
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
51 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Figure 21: Windamere Dam releases 2012-13
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1-J
ul-
12
1-A
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1-S
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1-J
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13
Re
leas
e (
ML/
day
)
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
52 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 16 – End of system/Regulated Effluents
This refers to flow that leaves the entity and does not return to the entity.
Data type
Derived from measured data
Policy
Not applicable
Data accuracy
A – Estimated in the range +/- 10%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data source
NSW Office of Water – HYDSTRA
Methodology
Summation of flows at gauging site/s measuring the volume of water that leaves the entity at
end of system locations or via regulated effluents. For the Macquarie reporting entity the end
of system is considered to be the Macquarie River at Carinda (42012).
Regulated effluents leaving are considered for Crooked Creek, Duck Creek, Gunningbar
Creek and Marra Creek.
Gauges at these locations record a time series of heights which are then converted to a
volume of water based on a derived ‘height to flow’ relationship (rating table). Effluent
outflows from the Macquarie other than those defined in this note, such as flow leaving via
Albert Priest channel, have not been included in this line item and form part of the
unaccounted difference presented in the statements
Additional Information
Table 26: End of System Flows
Station name Station code 2012-13 outflow (ML)
Macquarie River at Carinda 421012 120,908
Gunningbar Creek at Fairview Dam 421166 21,816
Crooked Creek at Profile 421016 19,774
Duck Creek at Nepali 421164 13,517
Marra Creek at Billybingbone Bridge 421107 28,888
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
53 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Figure 22: Macquarie end of system flow 2012-13
Macquarie River at Carinda
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,6001
-Ju
l-1
2
1-A
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12
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2
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2
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pr-
13
1-M
ay-1
3
1-J
un
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1-J
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13
Flo
w (
ML/
d)
Figure 23: Macquarie regulated effluents 2012-13
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1-J
ul-
12
1-A
ug-
12
1-S
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1-D
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1-M
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-13
1-J
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13
Flo
w (
ML/
day
)
Duck Ck Crooked Ck Gunningbar Ck Marra Ck
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
54 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 17 – Flow to Macquarie Marshes
The flow to Macquarie Marshes is an estimate of the volume of water that enters the
Macquarie Marshes and does not pass through to the end of system (i.e. the Macquarie
River at Carinda for the purpose of this GPWAR).
The total water entering the Macquarie Marshes in a year is made up of water provided from
a variety of sources including:
Environmental Water Allowance (EWA)
Held Environmental Water (licensed)
Operational loss
High flow events
Policy
Not applicable
Data type
Measured data
Data accuracy
B – Estimated in the range +/- 25%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data sources
NSW Office of Water: HYDSTRA, CAIRO
Methodology
The estimate of water entering the Macquarie Marshes is obtained from operational data
within the Macquarie Cairo sheet. The estimate calculates the amount of flow passing
Marebone either via the Macquarie River or Marebone Break and is reduced by the amount
of water ordered by downstream licence holders.
The annual flow at Macquarie River at Carinda is then subtracted from the Cairo estimate to
obtain an estimate of water that is received by the marshes but not passed through.
The calculation is summarised below:
FMM = FMW + FMB – O – FEOS
Where:
FMM = Annual flow to Macquarie Marshes
FMW = Annual flow passing Marebone Weir via the Macquarie River
FMB = Annual flow passing via Marebone Break
O = Licenced orders for extraction
FEOS = Annual flow at Macquarie River at Carinda
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
55 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Additional Information
Table 27: Breakdown of flow to Macquarie Marshes
Source of Flow to Macquarie Marshes Flow (ML)
Environmental Water Allowance 128,119
Held Environmental Water 137,718
Other 389,907
Total flow to Macquarie Marshes 655,744
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
56 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 18 – Extractions from river
This is the actual volume of water directly pumped or diverted from the regulated river by
licence holders. Occasionally (generally in the case of environmental water) volumes are
ordered against a licence account for in-stream benefits or to pass through end of system
target points. As such the volume reported to be physically extracted from the accounted
river extent will not always be equal to the amount of water debited against accounts for
usage, which has been described in Note 3. The volume stated for extractions from river
excludes basic rights extractions, which is reported as a separate line item and detailed in
Note 19.
Data type
Measured data
Policy
Not applicable
Data accuracy
A – Estimated in the range +/- 10%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data source
State Water/NSW Office of Water – Water Accounting System (Joint ownership of system).
NSW Office of Water – Water Ordering and Usage database
Methodology
For the purposes of this GPWAR extraction from the river is considered to be the total
volume metered and debited to the allocation accounts minus any licenced account water
that can be identified as being used within the system, or ordered to be passed through the
system. These volumes are generally associated with environmental water orders and have
already been accounted for in other line items.
Additional information
Table 28: Reconciliation of physical extraction to account usage (ML)
Macquarie Cudgegong
Licenced extractions from River 11
416,645 4,493
plus
Licenced flow leaving System12
137,718 0
plus
In stream licenced usage 13
0 0
equals
Total account usage 14
554,363 4,493
11
Direct licenced extractions from the river excluding basic rights usage estimate 12
Licenced water ordered to leave the accounted Macquarie extent for environmental benefits – in this case the water was sent
to the Macquarie Marshes 13
Water ordered and used within the accounted system for environmental benefit (not extracted from the river) 14
The total amount of water accounted for usage against the allocation accounts
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
57 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 19 – Basic rights extractions
This is the non-licensed right to extract water to meet basic requirements for household
purposes (non-commercial uses in and around the house and garden) and for watering of
stock. It is available for anyone who has access to river frontage on their property.
This water cannot be used for irrigating crops or garden produce that will be sold or bartered,
for washing down machinery sheds or for intensive livestock operations.
In times of limited supply, there may be restrictions on taking water for domestic and stock
use.
Data Type
Estimated
Policy
Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2003
Part 4 Basic Landholder Rights
o Clause 18 Domestic and stock rights
Available on the NSW Office of Water website
Data accuracy
C – Estimated in the range +/- 50%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data source
Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie Regulated River Water Source 2003
Methodology
The estimation of domestic and stock rights uses a series of estimates for water usage,
stocking rates, population and property shape based on local knowledge to calculate riparian
(stock and domestic) requirements in megalitres per year. The annual extraction for
Domestic and Stock rights in the water accounts is assumed to be the estimated figure
stated in the Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water
Source 2003 (1,200 megalitres).
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
58 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 20 – Supplementary extractions
This is the volume of water extracted or diverted under supplementary access licences
during announced periods of supplementary water. Supplementary flow events are
announced periodically during the season when high flow events occur with the period of
extraction and volume of water to be extracted determined based on the rules as set out in
the water sharing plans. It is important to note that supplementary access licences differ
from other categories of access licence in that the volume of water in the account refers to
an annual upper limit for extractions and its provision is totally reliant on the occurrence of
high flow events.
Data type
Measured data
Policy
Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2003
Part 8 Limits to the availability of water
Division 2 - Available water determinations
- Clause 39 Available water determinations for supplementary water access licences
Part 9 Rules for managing access licences
Division 3 - Extraction conditions
- Clause 48 Taking of water under supplementary water access licences
Refer to applicable Water Sharing Plan on NSW Office of Water website
Data accuracy
A - Estimated in the range +/- 10%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data source
State Water/NSW Office of Water – Water Accounting System (Joint ownership of system).
Methodology
Supplementary water extraction and diversion data is collected by either on farm meters that
measure extraction or gauges on diversion works. Meter readings are collected for individual
licence holders at intervals during the year and converted via a calibration factor to a volume
of water extracted. Water diverted from the river is measured by recording the height at
either the gauge or weir with the volume diverted being derived by passing these heights
through a rating table. However, with supplementary water being extracted through the same
pumps as those extracting water under other categories of access licences additional
information is required to separate out supplementary extraction. Basically licence holders
provide notification of their intention to pump prior to pumping or diverting water during the
declared supplementary event and provide meter readings both at the commencement and
conclusion of pumping. This enables the supplementary flow extraction to be assessed
independent of other categories of access licences.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
59 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Additional information
Figure 24: Macquarie supplementary usage by river section
645
1,196
193
2
65
185
8
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400
Narromine to Gin Gin Weir
Gin Gin Weir to Reddenville Break
Reddenville Break to Beleringar Offtake
Junction Creek Confluence to Marebone Weir
Marebone Weir to Oxley
Marebone to Bifurcation
Gunningbar Offtake to Gunningbar Weir
Account Usage (ML)Total Annual Usage = 2,294 ML
Table 29: Macquarie supplementary events summary 2012-13
Event Period 12 July 2012 to 18 July 2012
Event Limit 100.0% or 1.0 ML per Share
Announcement Date 12 July 2012
Catchment Section Start Date End Date
Macquarie River Bell River to Little River 12-July-12 13-July-12
Macquarie River Little River to Dubbo 12-July-12 13-July-12
Macquarie River Dubbo to Talbragar River 12-July-12 13-July-12
Macquarie River Talbragar River to Coolbaggie Creek 12-July-12 13-July-12
Macquarie River Coolbaggie Creek to Baroona 12-July-12 13-July-12
Macquarie River Baroona to Narromine 12-July-12 13-July-12
Macquarie River Narromine to Gin Gin Weir 12-July-12 13-July-12
Marebone Break Marebone Break 16-July-12 17-July-12
Macquarie River Gin Gin Weir to Reddenville Break 13-July-12 14-July-12
Bulgeraga Creek Marebone to Bifurcation 16-July-12 17-July-12
Macquarie River Reddenville Break to Beleringar Offtake 13-July-12 14-July-12
Bulgeraga Creek Bifurcation to Macquarie Junction 17-July-12 18-July-12
Macquarie River Beleringar Offtake to Gunningbar Offtake 13-July-12 14-July-12
Gunningbar Creek Gunningbar Offtake to Gunningbar Weir 17-July-12 18-July-12
Macquarie River Gunningbar Offtake to Warren Weir 13-July-12 14-July-12
Gunningbar Creek Gunningbar Weir to Fairview 17-July-12 18-July-12
Macquarie River Warren Weir to Junction Creek Confluence 14-July-12 15-July-12
Macquarie River Junction Creek Confluence to Marebone Weir 14-July-12 15-July-12
Gunningbar Creek Fairview to Bogan Junction 17-July-12 18-July-12
Macquarie River Marebone Weir to Oxley 15-July-12 16-July-12
Gunningbar Creek Cutting 2 Gunningbar to Creek Cutting 2 17-July-12 18-July-12
Crooked Creek Crooked Creek 17-July-12 18-July-12
Duck Creek Duck Creek to Napali 17-July-12 18-July-12
Duck Creek Napali to Bogan Junction 17-July-12 18-July-12
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
60 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Event Period 13 July 2012 to 09 August 2012
Event Limit 100.0% or 1.0 ML per Share
Announcement Date 13 July 2012
Catchment Section Start Date End Date
Macquarie River Bell River to Little River 13-July-12 4-August-12
Macquarie River Little River to Dubbo 13-July-12 4-August-12
Macquarie River Dubbo to Talbragar River 13-July-12 4-August-12
Macquarie River Talbragar River to Coolbaggie Creek 13-July-12 4-August-12
Macquarie River Coolbaggie Creek to Baroona 13-July-12 4-August-12
Macquarie River Baroona to Narromine 13-July-12 4-August-12
Macquarie River Narromine to Gin Gin Weir 13-July-12 4-August-12
Marebone Break Marebone Break 17-July-12 8-August-12
Macquarie River Gin Gin Weir to Reddenville Break 14-July-12 5-August-12
Bulgeraga Creek Marebone to Bifurcation 17-July-12 8-August-12
Macquarie River Reddenville Break to Beleringar Offtake 14-July-12 5-August-12
Bulgeraga Creek Bifurcation to Macquarie Junction 18-July-12 9-August-12
Macquarie River Beleringar Offtake to Gunningbar Offtake 14-July-12 5-August-12
Gunningbar Creek Gunningbar Offtake to Gunningbar Weir 18-July-12 9-August-12
Macquarie River Gunningbar Offtake to Warren Weir 14-July-12 5-August-12
Gunningbar Creek Gunningbar Weir to Fairview 18-July-12 9-August-12
Macquarie River Warren Weir to Junction Creek Confluence 15-July-12 6-August-12
Macquarie River Junction Creek Confluence to Marebone Weir 15-July-12 6-August-12
Gunningbar Creek Fairview to Bogan Junction 18-July-12 9-August-12
Macquarie River Marebone Weir to Oxley 16-July-12 7-August-12
Gunningbar Creek Cutting 2 Gunningbar to Creek Cutting 2 18-July-12 9-August-12
Crooked Creek Crooked Creek 18-July-12 9-August-12
Duck Creek Duck Creek to Napali 18-July-12 9-August-12
Duck Creek Napali to Bogan Junction 18-July-12 9-August-12
Figure 25: Total daily supplementary usage in the Macquarie 2012-13
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
1/0
7/1
2
1/0
8/1
2
1/0
9/1
2
1/1
0/1
2
1/1
1/1
2
1/1
2/1
2
1/0
1/1
3
1/0
2/1
3
1/0
3/1
3
1/0
4/1
3
1/0
5/1
3
1/0
6/1
3
1/0
7/1
3
Sup
ple
me
nta
ry u
sage
(M
L)
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
61 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 21 – River and groundwater interaction
This note refers to water that has been identified as either flowing from the connected
alluvium to the accounted river extent (increase in water asset), or alternatively from the
accounted river extent to the alluvium aquifer (decrease in water asset).
Note while a detailed water budget for the groundwater aquifer itself had previously been
reported within the water accounting statements (Macquarie-Bogan catchment General
Purpose Water Accounting Report 2010-11), this information is now being presented in the
groundwater appendix of this document.
Data type
Modelled
Policy
Not applicable
Data accuracy
D – Estimated in the range +/- 100%
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water
Data source
NSW Office of Water MODFLOW (Data inputs from HYDSTRA, GDS)
Methodology
For the lower Macquarie groundwater source the annual budget has been estimated using
the NSW Office of Water MODFLOW for the Lower Macquarie Groundwater Management
Area (for a more detailed explanation of the Method, see ‘Method A’ in the document NSW
General Purpose Water Accounting Reports - Groundwater Methodologies, available for
download from the NSW Office of Water website).
No estimates were made for interactions with the river outside the area covered by the lower
Macquarie groundwater source
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
62 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 22 – Unaccounted difference
In theory if all the processes of a water balance could be accurately accounted for the
unaccounted difference would be zero. In reality due to the large uncertainties in many of the
volumes presented in the accounts, the various sources from which the data has been
obtained and the fact that not all processes of the water cycle have been accounted, the
statements are not balanced at the end of the accounting process. In order to balance the
accounts a final balancing entry is required, and this is termed the unaccounted difference.
As technology progresses and accuracy improves in the account estimates, it is anticipated
that relatively, this figure should reduce in future accounts.
Data type
Not applicable
Policy
Not applicable
Data accuracy
D – Estimated in the range +/- 100%
Providing agency
Not applicable
Data source
Not applicable
Methodology
The unaccounted difference is equal to the amount required to obtain the correct volume in
river at the end of the reporting period, after all the known physical inflows and outflows have
been accounted. The double-entry accounting process attempted to represent the physical
movement of water by creating a river asset. The opening and closing balance of the river
volume was estimated according to Note 9.
Surface Water Unaccounted difference
UVSW = Rs – Rc + RI - Ro
Where:
UVSW = Unaccounted difference for Surface Water
Rs = Opening river volume estimate
Rc = Closing river volume estimate
Ro = Physical outflows from the river (e.g. extractions)
RI = Physical inflows to the river (e.g. runoff, return flows, dam releases)
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
63 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Note 23 – Adjusting entry
This is a line item that is used to correct balances in the accounts. The double entry
accounting being applied is a continuous process whereby the closing balance of one year is
the opening balance for the following year.
Occasionally corrections will be required for a variety of reasons including when an error is
identified in prior year reporting, a balance in the previous year has been since adjusted or
when a process that had previously been reported is unable to be supplied and the
associated asset or liability must be removed to maintain the integrity of the statements.
This is different to the unaccounted difference component which is a physical volume
required to achieve mass balance after all the known processes have been accounted.
Data type
Calculated
Accuracy
A1 – Nil inaccuracy +/- 0 per cent
Providing agency
NSW Office of Water.
Data source
Not applicable
Methodology
A journal entry is placed in the comparative year to ensure correct opening balances are
achieved in the reporting year.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
64 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Appendix 1 - Groundwater
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
65 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Groundwater Management
Groundwater management for the area bounded by the Macquarie surface water catchment
is covered by seven water sharing plans15 and all or part of 19 of the groundwater sources
within these plans (detailed in Table 30 below). The Water Sharing Plans provide long term
average annual extraction limits for each water source within the plans which determine the
maximum volume of water that may be extracted under access licences and pursuant to
domestic and stock rights and native title rights from each groundwater source on a long-
term average annual basis.
Groundwater sources often cross multiple surface water catchment areas and hence only
part of them reside in the Macquarie. The percentage of the groundwater source within the
catchment can be seen in Table 31.
Table 30: Macquarie groundwater water sharing plan summary
Water sharing plan Water sources applicable for the
Macquarie Catchment Date commenced Expires
Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water
Sources 2012 Upper Darling Alluvial 4 October 2012 30 June 2023
Macquarie Bogan Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012
Cudgegong Alluvial Groundwater Source
4 October 2012 30 June 2023
Talbragar Alluvial Groundwater Source
Bell Alluvial Groundwater Source
Upper Macquarie Alluvial Groundwater Source
Lower Macquarie Groundwater Water Sources 2003
Lower Macquarie Zone 1 groundwater source
1 October 2006 30 June 2017
Lower Macquarie Zone 2 groundwater source
Lower Macquarie Zone 3 groundwater source
Lower Macquarie Zone 4 groundwater source
Lower Macquarie Zone 5 groundwater source
Lower Macquarie Zone 6 groundwater source
NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Water Sources 2008
Southern Recharge Groundwater Source 1 July 2008 30 June 2019
Surat Groundwater Source
NSW Great Artesian Basin Shallow Groundwater Water Sources 2011
GAB Surat Shallow Groundwater Source 14 November 2011 30 June 2022
NSW Murray Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2011
Lachlan Fold Belt MDB GW Source
16 January 2012 30 June 2022 Liverpool Ranges Basalt MDB GW Source
Orange Basalt GW Source
NSW Murray Darling Basin Porous Rock Groundwater Sources
Gunnedah-Oxley Basin MDB Groundwater Source 1 July 2012 30 June 2022
Sydney Basin MDB Groundwater Source
A spatial representation of the areas covered by each of the water sharing plans can be
seen in Figure 26 below. This shows that a number of groundwater water sharing plans
overlay the same surface area due to the varying depths of the aquifers within the
catchment.
15
By the 4th October 2012 the last of the groundwater plans were implemented for the Macquarie catchment. Up until this date
those not yet covered by a plan continued to operate under the Water Act 1912. Water sharing plan status is shown at time of
publication.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
66 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Figure 26: Macquarie surface water catchment – groundwater water sharing plans
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
67 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Groundwater Availability
In 2012-13, all groundwater licences in the Macquarie were granted an equivalent allocation
of 1 megalitre per share, with the exception of Supplementary access licences (in the Lower
Macquarie Groundwater Source).
In the Lower Macquarie Groundwater Source supplementary licences received an available
water determination (AWD) of 0.3 megalitres per share. Under the terms set out in the Water
Sharing Plan for the Lower Macquarie Groundwater Sources the available water
determination for supplementary licences is reduced each year by 0.1 megalitres per share.
This means the AWD will be zero for these licences by 2015-16. The purpose of this licence
category was to reduce entitlements to a sustainable level over time allowing affected users
to adapt to these changes.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
68 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Table 31: Macquarie surface water catchment groundwater sources summary table (1 of 2)
Groundwater Source Long Term Annual Extraction Limit (ML/Year)16
Licence Category Share (ML)
% of Share Component Announced 2012-13
Water Source % within the Macquarie Surface Water Catchment
Metered Usage 2012-13 (Total for water source)
Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 201217
Upper Darling Alluvial (Groundwater Source)
17,120
Domestic and Stock Rights18 2,283 N/A
2 Not available Local Water Utility 220 100
Salinity and water table management 3,300 100
Macquarie Bogan Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 201217
Cudgegong Alluvial 2,533
Domestic and Stock Rights18 27 N/A
100
N/A
Local Water Utility 3,000 100 172
Aquifer [High Security] 8,667 100 929
Aquifer 1,928 100 98
Talbragar Alluvial 3,473
Domestic and Stock Rights18 69 N/A N/A
Local Water Utility 656 100 0
Aquifer [Town Water Supply] 2
Aquifer 5,156 100 1,328
Bell Alluvial 3,299
Domestic and Stock Rights18 6 N/A N/A
Local Water Utility 70 100 16
Aquifer 4,292 100 1,342
Upper Macquarie Alluvial 17,935
Domestic and Stock Rights18 304 N/A N/A
Local Water Utility 4,320 100 2,782
Aquifer 27,721 100 10,608
Lower Macquarie Groundwater Water Sources 200319
Lower Macquarie Zones 1 to 6 69,293
Domestic and Stock Rights18 1,730 N/A
100
N/A
Local Water Utility 3,090 100 1,568
Aquifer 65,375 100 32,078
Supplementary 2,396 30 769
16
Extraction limits stated may exclude water for basic rights, and water allocated to supplementary licences. Check with the relevant water sharing plan for details. 17
Water sharing plan commenced 4 October 2012 prior to this management remained under the Water Act 1912. Figures provided are based on the implemented plan. 18
Domestic and Stock Rights are not a licenced entitlement and therefore do not have an allocation announcement associated with them. The value in the table for share is that volume estimated in
the water sharing plans for each of the water sources 19
There are 6 water sources covered by the water sharing plan for the Lower Macquarie Groundwater Sources (Lower Macquarie zones 1 – 6). These water sources have been combined for
reporting purposes.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
69 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Table 32: Macquarie surface water catchment groundwater sources summary table (2 of 2)
Groundwater Source Long Term Annual Extraction Limit (ML/Year)20
Licence Category Share (ML)
% of Share Component Announced 2012-13
Water Source % within the Macquarie Surface Water Catchment
Metered Usage 2012-13 (Total for water source)
NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Water Sources 2008
Southern Recharge See WSP21
Domestic and Stock Rights22 3,000 N/A
31
N/A
Local Water Utility 3,318 100 1,014
Aquifer [Town Water Supply] 25 100 0
Aquifer 5502 100 1,746
Surat 13,300
Domestic and Stock Rights22 28,100 N/A
22
N/A
Local Water Utility 2,268 100 1,510
Aquifer [Town Water Supply] 50 100 20
Aquifer 24,008 100 641
NSW Great Artesian Basin Shallow Groundwater Water Sources 2011
Great Artesian Basin Surat Shallow 143,335
Domestic and Stock Rights22 978 N/A
22
N/A
Local Water Utility 50 100 0
Aquifer 5,637 100 1,570
NSW Murray Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2011
Lachlan Fold Belt MDB 821,250
Domestic and Stock Rights22 74,311 N/A
18
N/A
Local Water Utility 5,101 100 71
Aquifer 68,498 100 5,014
Aquifer [Town Water Supply] 256 0 3
Salinity and Water Table Management 236 100 0
Liverpool Ranges Basalt 19,075 Domestic and Stock Rights22 1,828 N/A
25 N/A
Aquifer 384 100 0
Orange Basalt 16,208
Domestic and Stock Rights22 1,158 N/A
30
N/A
Aquifer 9,533 100 596
Local Water Utility 79 100 102
NSW Murray Darling Basin Porous Rock Groundwater Sources 2011
Gunnedah-Oxley Basin MDB 205,640
Domestic and Stock Rights22 5,778 N/A
10
0
Local Water Utility 420 100 0
Aquifer 16,688 100 3,643
Sydney Basin MDB 60,443 Domestic and Stock Rights22 465 N/A
100 N/A
Aquifer 2,420 100 0
20
Extraction limits stated may exclude water for basic rights, and water allocated to supplementary licences. Check with the relevant water sharing plan for details. 21
Extraction limit details available in the water sharing plan and includes adjustments for a range of water saving programs 22
Domestic and Stock Rights are not a licenced entitlement and therefore do not have an allocation announcement associated with them. The value in the table for share is that volume estimated in
the water sharing plans for each of the water sources
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
70 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Figure 27: Lower Macquarie groundwater sources water availability summary since the introduction of the water sharing plan
23
0
50
100
150
200
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Wat
er A
vaila
bili
ty (
% o
f En
titl
emen
t)
Aquifer Local Water Utility Supplementary
Figure 28: Share component and account usage in the lower Macquarie groundwater source since the introduction of the water sharing plan.
70,500
70,750
71,000
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Shar
e C
om
po
nen
t (M
L)
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Usa
ge (
ML)
Aquifer Local Water Utility Supplementary
23
The six water sources that make up the Lower Macquarie groundwater management area have been combined.
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
71 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Figure 29: Allocation assignments within Aquifer licences in the Lower Macquarie Groundwater Management Area
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Allo
cati
on
ass
ign
men
ts (
ML)
Groundwater Account Summaries
Table 34 provides a detailed 2012-13 account summary for the Lower Macquarie (combined)
groundwater sources. Below (Table 33) is a description of each of the components
contained in the account summary.
Table 33: Explanatory information for allocation account summary
Heading Description
Licence category The relevant category of access licence as defined in the water sharing plans.
Share Component This is the total volume of entitlement in the specific licence category on the last day of the accountable water year
Opening balance The volume of water that has been carried forward from previous years allocation account.
AWD
Available Water Determination. The total annual volume of water added to the allocation account as a result of allocation assessments.
Assignments In Increase in account water as a result of temporary trade in.
Out Decrease in account water as a result of temporary trade out.
Account usage Volume of water that is debited against the allocation accounts for usage
End of year balance That part of the remaining account balance that is available to be taken at the conclusion of the water year.
End of year forfeit Account water that is forfeited at the end of the water year as a result of carryover rules that restrict the carry forward volume.
Carry forward This represents the account water that is permitted to be carried forward into the next water year as determined by the carryover rules.
( ) Negative figures are shown in red brackets
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
72 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Table 34: Lower Macquarie Groundwater Source 2012-13 account summary
Licence Category Share
Component AWD Opening balance
Assignments Account usage
End of year balance
End of year forfeit Carry
forward In Out
Aquifer 65,375 65,375 39,306 387 387 32,078 72,604 35,012 37,592
Local water utility 3,090 3,090 0 0 0 1,568 1,522 1,524 (2)
Supplementary water 2,396 719 0 0 0 769 (50) 44 (94)
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
73 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Physical Groundwater Flows
The following section provides information on physical groundwater flows. For the lower
Macquarie groundwater sources a detailed annual water budget (Figure 30) has been
produced by the NSW Office of Water groundwater planning models (MODFLOW) (see
Method A in the document NSW General Purpose Water Accounting Reports - Groundwater
Methodologies, available for download from the NSW Office of Water website). The change
in groundwater levels throughout 2012-13 for these water sources is also presented (Figure
31). These estimates were obtained by the contouring of available monitoring bore data
(levels) within the groundwater sources.
For the areas outside of the Lower Macquarie groundwater sources (with the exception of the
area covered by the Macquarie Marshes), where no planning model is available, and there is
insufficient monitoring bore data to estimate a complete budget, the NSW Office of Water’s
soil water budget accounting method was applied to obtain an estimate of the potential
recharge for 2012-13. This method uses daily grid physical and climatic information to
estimate a recharge via a basic book keeping technique that tracks the balance between the
inflow of water from precipitation and the outflow of water by evapotranspiration, stream flow
and drainage (potential groundwater recharge). A detailed description of this method is
available in ‘General Purpose Water Accounting Reports - Groundwater methodologies’
(referred to as method C) and can be accessed via the NSW Office of Water website. This
method provided the information for a comparison of both the potential annual recharge
against the historical long term mean (Figure 32) and the annual potential recharges (see
Figure 33). This indicates that for 2012-13 potential recharge was well below average and
significantly down on those of the past 2 years, an indication of the falling soil moisture levels
resulting from the dry catchment conditions that prevailed during the water year.
The area covered by the Macquarie marshes was excluded from the groundwater analysis
as the system was considered too complex for the models to be applied with an acceptable
degree of confidence.
It is important to note that the data presented is modelled data and hence its quality can not
be guaranteed. Care should be taken if using this data outside the context of this report.
Figure 30: Lower Macquarie groundwater combined sources physical flow budget 2012-13
Change in Storage =
River
Recharge (Net) =
Irrigation
recharge = 19,318
Rain
recharge = 20,185
Pumping =33,977
23,308
Lateral flow out
25,472
5,769
9,131
Lateral flow in
Lower Macquarie
combined groundwater
sources
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
74 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Figure 31: Lower Macquarie Groundwater Management Area, change in groundwater levels 2012-13 (based on monitoring bore data)
Figure 32: Potential recharge deviation non-modelled areas 2012-13
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
75 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
Figure 33: Macquarie catchment, non-modelled areas annual potential recharge (1971-72 to 2012-13)
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,0001
97
0-1
97
1
19
72
-19
73
19
74
-19
75
19
76
-19
77
19
78
-19
79
19
80
-19
81
19
82
-19
83
19
84
-19
85
19
86
-19
87
19
88
-19
89
19
90
-19
91
19
92
-19
93
19
94
-19
95
19
96
-19
97
19
98
-19
99
20
00
-20
01
20
02
-20
03
20
04
-20
05
20
06
-20
07
20
08
-20
09
20
10
-20
11
20
12
-20
13
1971/72 to 2011/12 Potential Recharge 2012-13 Potential Recharge Mean
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 – Macquarie catchment
76 | NSW Office of Water, January 2014
References Ali A. (2011) General Purpose Water Accounting Reports: Groundwater methodologies, NSW Office of Water, Sydney
Burrell M., Nguyen K. (2012) Guide to General Purpose Water Accounting Reports, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Sydney
WASB 2012, Australian Water Accounting Standard 1 Preparation and Presentation of General Purpose Water Accounting Reports (AWAS 1), Bureau of Meteorology