Independent reviews of proposed New South Wales Baseline Diversion Limits for Floodplain Harvesting

The BDL re-estimates are proposed by New South Wales through water resource plans (WRPs). The MDBA has commissioned independent reviews of the re-estimates associated with floodplain harvesting to provide initial input to MDBA’s assessment of WRPs and the Authority’s evaluation of the plans for accreditation. The reviews consider whether the floodplain harvesting re-estimates meet Basin Plan requirements and use the best available information, including information from the floodplain harvesting reform process.

The independent reviews of BDL re-estimates of floodplain harvesting are provided below for the NSW Border Rivers and the Gwydir, the Macquarie–Castlereagh, and the  Barwon–Darling Watercourse SDL resource units. The review for the Namoi SDL resource unit will be provided when completed.

An earlier independent review of BDL re-estimates for floodplain harvesting also occurred that drew on information provided by NSW in 2019. This earlier review evaluates the usefulness of these interim BDL volumes for floodplain harvesting proposed by NSW. Note that the models and model outputs used in this earlier review in 2019 have been updated by NSW since the review was completed.