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5. Groundwater embargo

Water Management

Embargo orders applying to groundwater outside water sharing plan areas in NSW

Embargo orders are made under the Water Act 1912 and apply until replaced by either:

1. another embargo order made under the Water Act 1912, or
2. a water sharing plan made under the Water Management Act 2000 for the water source.

Where an embargo order applies, an application for a new water licence under the Water Act 1912 cannot be lodged unless it fits within one of the exemptions specified in the order or in the Water Act 1912.

Basic landholder rights under s. 52 of the Water Management Act, including domestic and stock rights, are also exempt from the embargo orders. The only other way to obtain additional water for new or expanding activities is through trading. For more information see the Guideline to the policy for groundwater transfers in inland NSW outside water sharing plan areas (PDF 85 KB).

Almost all groundwater in NSW is managed under either a water sharing plan made under the Water Management Act, or an embargo order made under s. 113A of the Water Act 1912. 

Groundwater embargo orders currently operating in NSW are listed in the table below and cover about 80 per cent of the State including:

• all of the inland groundwater west of the Great Dividing Range
• all of the coastal alluvial groundwater outside the Sydney Metropolitan area except tidal parts
• all or part of four groundwater systems in the Sydney Metropolitan area.

NSW Groundwater Embargo Orders made under s. 113A of the Water Act 1912

Location	Groundwater sources	NSW Government Gazette date
Sydney Metropolitan	Hawkesbury Alluvials	13 February 2009
Inland NSW	All those listed in table 1 in the order	19 December 2008
Inland NSW	All groundwater not listed in table 1 in the order	22 December 2008
Coastal NSW	Coastal alluvial groundwater outside the Sydney Metropolitan area, except tidal parts	11 April 2008
Sydney Metropolitan	Botany Sandbeds	22 August 2003 8 June 2007
Sydney Metropolitan	Blue Mountains Sandstone	2 February 2007
Sydney Metropolitan	Nepean Sandstone (Southern Highlands)	21 May 2004 16 December 2005 8 June 2007